Sub Categories in Italy

Category of: Italy

Carnevale di Venezia – masks, costumes, boats and fritelle

January 26, 2016

Masks are an integral part of Venetian history and there is no better time to see them (and wear them) than during the annual Carnevale di Venzia, an event with historical roots that go back several centuries. This year’s carnevale takes place between January 23 and Feb 9 and we took the high speed train from Rome to Venice to participate in the opening weekend festivities of the famous event.   We arrived a day... View Article

Rome’s Hotel Hassler – reliving a moment in time

January 18, 2016

Cover image credit I was recently asked by a friend what my favourite culinary experience was during my travels. After giving it some thought I realized that my favourite experience was not as much about the taste of the food as it was about the setting and how it was experienced. And my most memorable food experience was here in Rome many years ago when I was still in my 20s. I was visiting Rome... View Article

When in Rome…….the food “Rules”

January 16, 2016

When we travel, I try to learn about local customs and adapt to them the best I can. Most places are pretty lax about “rules” and you only have to figure out a couple of local customs, but when it comes to Italy, food is a serious business and there are “rules” to follow if you don’t want to annoy the locals to no end, which occasionally we manage to do. Take coffee for example.... View Article

Rome – food tour with Context Travel

January 10, 2016

Whether you are a foodie or not, one of the best ways to get a sense of local culture is through its food and I can’t think of a better place to do this than in Rome. In Italy food is important, and Italians take the time to enjoy it in a way that is unique and truly inspiring. To do a food tour it’s always best to sign up with a local company and... View Article

Rome – pasta workshop with Elvira Zilli

January 4, 2016

Before we left for Italy my Roman friend Gabri Ella Stone of Gaby’s Italian Kitchen introduced me (online) to her friend Elvira Zilli, a foodie and a blogger living just outside of Rome. I checked out Elvira’s blog EZy Cooking and More and was taken with her photography, food and engaging prose. I emailed Elvira asking if she was offering any cooking classes or food tours. Here is what she said: “I think I know... View Article

Rome – took some getting used to

January 1, 2016

We left Florence by train, travelling to Rome in executive class. First class was fine as well but I was curious about travelling executive and wanted to experience it en route to Rome. Our luggage has grown by a suitcase by now so we accepted the offer of a porter to pile our luggage onto his cart, drop us and the luggage off in a cafe at the station, come back to get us when... View Article

Adler Thermae Spa – a luxurious Tuscan interlude

December 26, 2015

My built in GPS for luxurious experiences hit gold when it navigated to the lobby of the 5 star Adler Thermae Spa and Relax Resort in Val d’Orcia of southern Tuscany. There is more to Tuscany than meets the eye and the hot springs of the Bagno Vignoni are one of the secrets yet to be discovered. We took a few days off our month-long stay in Florence to indulge in the healing qualities of the... View Article

Florence – the art of the panini

December 24, 2015

After travelling for a few weeks around Tuscany and indulging in three and four course meals, sometimes twice a day (when in Rome….), we were happy to arrive in Florence and see that it is okay to have just a sandwich for lunch. Every second store in Florence seems to be a sandwich shop and standing at the counter with a sandwich is part of the lunch routine here or so it seems. To be... View Article

Grilled Radicchio di Treviso with Balsamic drizzle

December 24, 2015

The radicchio here in Italy is a completely different experience than the compact round ones we get in Canada. I have been buying them and indulging in salads of all kinds and also grilled them a few times. The radicchio rosso di Treviso, the elongated one resembling a Belgian endive, is what you find here right now at the markets. If you don’t have the Treviso type use the regular radicchio but perhaps but it... View Article

Florence food tour with “Italy Customized”

December 8, 2015

One of the best ways to get an insider view of a city’s food scene is to do a food tour with a local guide. We chose Italy Customized, a Florence based custom tour company run by the lovely Linda Sorgiovanni. Linda also owns the Florence franchise of Urban Adventures, a company offering tours in over 105 destinations around the world.  Between her two companies she offers food, markets and aperitivo tours in Florence as well... View Article

Tuscany road trip day 1- 4: Siena

December 2, 2015

After spending a few days in San Miniato for the white truffle festival we decided to head south and explore some of the Tuscan medieval towns, on my list for their unique history or wine production and to see the countryside beauty of Tuscany. We did not reserve hotels except for that night in Siena. We’ll stop where and when we want, with some time constraints of course. We fell head over heels for siena... View Article

Tuscany off the beaten path – a weekend at Palazzo del Duca in Tavernelle

November 28, 2015

After beating the path to many of the well known destinations in Tuscany (posts coming) we wanted to explore the road less travelled and booked a weekend at Palazzo del Duca in Tavernelle. The town is located in Northern Tuscany’s “land of the moon”, Lungiana, known for its chestnuts and DOP honey. Travelling off season we were going to be the only guests at the palazzo and the owners Mirella and Francesco drove up from... View Article