Pastiera is a traditional Easter dish and is one of the most famous dishes in Naples. The story of its origin begins with a fairy tale, that the Neapolitans made offerings to mermaid named Partenope to thank her for her beautiful voice. They offered flour and orange blossom water to both symbolise the wealth of…
Where do Venetians holiday?
Moneyed Venetians have been holidaying in the Colli Asolani (the hills of Asolo) since the time of the Venetian Republic as evidenced by the many Palladian villas, which were country estates built in the 16th century and designed by Andrea Palladio. A mere half hour drive to the west of Venezia brings you first to Padova…
What do Homer Simpson and Joseph (as in Joseph and Mary) have in common?
The 19th of March is the Festa di San Giuseppe in Italy in honour of Joseph, Jesus Christ’s step-father. It is celebrated as Father’s Day and a type of doughnut, Bignè di San Giuseppe is served. The idea of celebrating Father’s Day with doughnuts reminds me of Homer Simpson rather than of Joseph and Christ….
A Guide to Good Value High Quality wines: What makes a true wine aficionado?
Nowadays many people seem to be of the opinion that loving wine means drinking the most expensive wines in existence. While particularly at the more affordable end of the market, the price tag has some correlation with the quality of wine as it will determine how much the wine maker could afford to spend on creating the…
Top 19 off-the-beaten-track places to visit in Italy
We spent 3 months last summer travelling through 12 of the 20 regions of Italy. Our objectives were to stay as much as possible in the countryside because it was summertime and to visit places we had never been to before. We were rewarded with unforgettable, unique experiences in pristine locations untouched by mass tourism….
The Best General Wine Apps and Italian Wine Apps
Think Italian wine complicated? Think you need to remember every wine? Think again. I often remember the place I enjoyed a wine or with whom rather than the details of the wine. Nor can I remember every producer and which of their many wines they do best. With the apps I list below, you can record every wine…
Planning to visit Italy? How to avoid the tourist trap restaurant and find authentic Italian food
The holy grail of travel in Italy is the small , family-run trattoria with nonna (grandma) in the kitchen rolling out the pasta and the children picking the produce from the garden in the back for her to make into a nice lunch. Instead what many travellers are confronted with is the classic “national menu”,…
Why is this week full of love, gossip and lies?
I remember this same week in 1995. I decided to go to the seaside town of Viareggio in Toscana with a friend. As we were young students at the time, we went expecting a bit of a parade with prospects of a street party. I was walking down the street, watching enormous comical floats go past when an elderly…
3 Steps to Plan the Perfect Italian Holiday
Overcome the winter blues by planning a trip to Italy this year. Want to stay in a hotel characteristic of the area run by friendly locals who make you feel instantly at home? Nothing ruins a trip more than staying in a carbon-copy hotel in the wrong neighbourhood run by drones. Don’t miss out on…
Cellar Tour: Vigne di Zamo and their surprising wines
I vividly remember 20 years ago, a Shanghainese friend telling me that she would love to travel to Europe one day. I was shocked when she said she really wanted to see Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia. The most obvious destinations were clearly Paris, Rome, Venice and Barcelona. But she knew little of these cities. This…
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