Vatican City hasn’t got a stranglehold on icons; the beauteous boot-shaped peninsula has bestowed our planet with innumerable gifts -- venerated the world over. Go ahead and get in your imaginary gondola as I wax poetic on five wonders of Italy…

Gelato
When it comes to the incomparable Italian ingestibles, did you believe for even a single minuto this sweet-toothed Mama would go the predictably “pizza” route? Naturally I’m passionate about all things Parmigiana, and fond of foods Florentine, but for a lovely and literal melt in your mouth experience, the joys of gelato are unsurpassed. Dense. Delicious. Dolce.

Sophia Loren
The complete -- and voluptuous -- package.
Her Talent:  Among a host of others, she’s received Oscars for Best Actress (1961) and Lifetime Achievement (1991).
Her Beauty: In 2007, at the age of 71, Sophia appeared in the world-renowned Pirelli Pin-Up Calendar.
Her Wit: On her famous and fabulous figure, “Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti.”
Her Compassion: Along with friend and fellow actress Jessica Lange, she’s helped increase awareness for HIV-positive children in Russia.
Simply put, she’s my Roman role-model.