Archive for the 'Italy' Category

Before you travel to Italy you should be aware that amongst the basics of the Italian food and drink culture are not only pizza, pasta, and red wine; an essential one simply cannot exclude is coffee.  Those who have stayed in apartments in Venice, Rome, or any other Italian city even say the coffee in Italy is the best in the world.  It comes in so many variations that you could easily get a little lost, especially when you are trying to shine by placing your order in Italian.  Thus, let us explore in depth five types of Italian coffees and what is in them so that you know what you are ordering:

1. Espresso – also known as Caffé Normale is the most classic coffee beverage in Italy.  It is a shot of espresso served in a small porcelain cup and it alone comes in many variations depending on the amount of espresso, the container it is served in, and the temperature.  If you would like to do it like the Italians: order it directly at the bar and drink it standing up.
2. Cappucino – one of the most popular Italian coffee “exports” that consists of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, and 1/3 foam layered on top of each other.  In Italy it is most commonly consumed for breakfast.  Italians even frown upon ordering it in the afternoon.
3. Caffè Macchiato or Macchiato Caldo – if you need a shot of espresso for the caffeine boost, but the taste is too intense, order one of these.  It adds a bit of steamed milk to the espresso.
4. Latte Macchiato – this drink is the Caffé Macchiato’s counterpart, as the amount of milk and espresso are the opposite.  It is a glass of milk with a shot of espresso poured over.  If you prefer half coffee/half milk order a Caffé Latte.
5. Caffè Corretto – in this coffee a little bit of alcohol is added to the espresso.  It is great to consume after meals.  The most common types of alcohol added are cognac or grappa.

Why do you not put this newly acquired information to the test by staying in one of the Venice apartments?  There you will find Caffè Florian located at Piazza San Marco.  This historical coffee bar which first opened in 1720 and is amongst the oldest coffee houses in continuous operation is guaranteed to serve excellent coffee, however be warned as great taste has its price here.  The price for a cup of coffee is one of the most expensive in the world.

Maike accidentally on purpose stumbled into writing.  She is the daughter of a German father and a Filipino mother; she grew up in Germany, lived in the US andDenmark, though currently resides in Barcelona.  To see more of her writing follow her on Twitter @antsinmypants15.

Despite having a five hour bus ride to Rome ahead of me, I had butterflies in my stomach — if my unforgettable Trafalgar Tours trip needed to come to an end anywhere — I could not think of a better place.  During the long drive an enormous full moon, which turned the sky a gorgeous shade of pink, kept me company.

Upon arrival into the Eternal City, we immediately checked into the Kolbe Hotel, a stunning 15^th Century luxury hotel, with the the Roman Forum in its backyard.  Unfortunately, I would not be able to truly enjoy my two-level suite, as I had to be at the airport at 4AM for my flight back to the States, however when I return to Rome in the future I will definitely be staying there again.  Before our farewell dinner, we stopped at one of the most famous landmarks in the world: the Colosseum.

Dinner could not have been at a better restaurant, The Cabiria, located in the Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, and Chef Luigi Sorrentino could not have created a more memorable last meal in Europe; even the table setting had creative touches!

The culinary journey began with fresh cherry tomato focaccia.

Our next course was rigatoni pasta “Amatriciana style.”

Our final course was a white fish with natural green beans and fried potatoes.

And to complete the meal, we had a delicious fruit tart with vanilla ice cream.

Our Travel Director Marco thought it was essential that we see Rome illuminated at night, thus we made two important last stops.  The first was to St. Peters Basilica, where the Pope just so happened to be that evening.

The second was to the Roman Forum, which as previously mentioned was conveniently next to our hotel.

As I was finishing packing, I was overwhelmed with the thought that I always have when traveling: life should be about exploring the unknown and embracing the joy of new experiences and relationships in other places.  We must begin the expedition and follow wherever the path leads.  And I highly recommend allowing Trafalgar Tours to lead the way from time to time.

Our final Trafalgar Tours Be My Guest lunch at Fattoria di Maiano was truly an experience that I will never forget and without a doubt my favorite of the trip.  If you have been following my European adventures, then you know that is a bold claim, as the previous Be My Guest lunches were extraordinary!  Prior to our meal, we had a quick tour of the olive oil factory on the property.

There are nearly 20,000 olive trees throughout the completely organic agricultural estate.  The Frantoio and Moraiolo olives are picked by hand during the months of November and December and then pressed in the mill.  The finished product is Laudemio, a premium extra virgin oil with a high nutritional value and a taste that leaves you wanting more.

Lunch was served at Lo Spaccio, the estate’s restaurant, which also has an attached gift shop, where you can purchase the Laudemio along with other olive oil products such as soap and lotion, as well as a delicatessen that offers typical Italian products such as cheese, meat, and wine.

Besides the fact that the restaurant contained cosy rooms filled with charming furniture and crackling fireplaces, the panoramic views from the windows would make any meal taste sensational.

I could not wait to drown my pasta and bread in the Laudemio while looking out onto the Tuscan countryside.

I do apologize deeply for not taking any pictures of one of the many outstanding courses that we enjoyed, however I was too consumed by the greatness of the moment to capture it on film.  Before leaving though, I took one last, longing look out the window and made sure to count my blessings, which were abundant.

Now it was time to travel south to the ‘Eternal City’. . .

There should be a sign on the door of Villa di Maiano at Fattoria di Maiano: Warning entering this villa may make your heart stop.  It certainly caused mine to skip a beat.  The first thing that I noticed were the magnificent chandeliers.  If I owned a Tuscan villa every single room would have one (even the bathrooms).

The villa features all original furniture from the 17 and 18th Centuries.  The rooms are filled with richly colored frescoes, elegantly refined tapestries, and furniture fit for royalty.  Can you imagine getting married in such a grand place?  Count Francesco Miari Fulcis’ wife is in charge of organizing all of the events on the property.

The history of Villa di Maiano is incredibly fascinating, in fact I hope that someone writes a book about it one day, since I would be the first person to buy a copy.  The details are what make it so special and are which I chose to photograph.

Our walk through the villa was brief, as we had a tour of the olive oil factory and a Trafalgar Tours Be My Guest lunch awaiting us.  But first, I took a moment to stop and smell the roses olives.

Of course, I had to pick one, so that I could now say in the future: I remember that time that I picked an olive from a Count’s olive grove in Tuscany. . .

Trafalgar Tours certainly knows how to take your mind off of the sadness of a trip coming to an end, as the second we stepped foot on the grounds of the magnificent Fattoria di Maiano estate, I no longer cared that in less than ten hours I would be starting the long journey back home.

Tucked away in the hills just outside Florence is the town of Fiesole, whose origins date to the 15th Century.  In the heart of the town lies Fattoria di Maiano, the estate of Count Francesco Miari Fulcis, whom had graciously invited our group into his house, so that he could personally show us around the property where his family has been making olive oil for generations.

Imagine living in a place so grand that it has its own chapel.  I wonder if there is a Patron Saint of olive oil that the family prays to?

Fattoria di Maiano covers almost 300 hectares of land.  This was my first time visiting an olive grove, which is surprising considering my healthy love for olive oil.

The main building on the estate, Villa di Maiano, is drop-dead gorgeous, so much so that it has been used in several films, such as Tea with Mussolini and A Room with a View.  The surrounding Tuscan views are equally as dazzling.

As we wandered around, the intoxicating scent of the fragrant olive trees was overwhelming and I could not wait to sample the different oils later with lunch.

It was now time to see the inside of Villa di Maiano.  Considering how stunning the exterior was I could only imagine what the interior looked like. . .

The final day of our extraordinary European trip with Trafalgar Tours had unfortunately arrived.  Thankfully, the day was packed full of more unforgettable experiences in three magnificent parts of Italy: Tuscany, Florence, and Rome.  Before our last Be My Guest experience, we made a quick stop at Piazzale Michelangelo — arguably the best place for a panoramic view of Florence that promises to take your breath away.

If you are not fortunate enough to visit The Academy to see David, do not worry because the famous square, which is dedicated to the prolific Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo himself, has an impressive replica of him.

As well as a replica of the four allegories found in the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo.  While the originals are made of white marble, the copies are made of bronze.

In front of me was one of the best view’s the world has to offer, however my eyes were drawn to something else.  Since it was 11/11/11, seven couples from China had decided to celebrate the auspicious day by getting married in Piazzale Michelangelo.  Our timing was perfect, as we arrived just as two weddings were taking place.

Having been recently married myself, I could not help but get emotional watching these young couples in love commit the rest of their lives together with such a romantic backdrop.

As we were leaving the square I happened to spot one of the wedding present’s.

My Italian Travel Director Marco whispered in my ear, “In Italy, the couple that drives a Lamborghini together, stays together.”  Maybe I should have had my wedding in Italy and not Argentina?

Florence, the second time around, did not cease to amaze me.  It had been a decade since I had visited the city, yet as soon as I began wandering around, it felt like it had only been days since everything seemed surprisingly familiar.  Trafalgar Tours presented our group with two choices: a tour of The Academy or shopping time.  I chose to do the former, even though I had previously been there.  I would never turn down the opportunity to get up close and personal with the “world’s most handsome man.”

Cameras are strictly prohibited within the museum.  If our guide had not started off the tour by informing us that the reason why cameras are not allowed is because the gift shop wants our money, then I would have followed the rule.  However, I believe that some rules are made to be broken and since the statues would not be harmed by me taking some pictures without a flash, I decided to sneak a couple with both my iPhone and DSLR.

Michelangelo is one of the most talented and prolific artists to ever grace this planet and his genius is evident inside The Academy.  The statue of David does not disappoint and the history behind it is fascinating.  I highly recommend paying extra for a tour if you should find yourself there.

As karma would have it, both of my cameras began to die and while I would have loved more pictures, I decided to save my remaining battery lives for downtown Florence.  Less than a five minute walk away from the museum is another artistic wonder — the Duomo.  I attended a traditional Latin mass there during my first trip to Florence and it is something that I will never forget, as I have never felt so authentically transported to another era before.

One of the fellow journalist’s on the trip and I decided to go off on our own for the rest of the evening.  She was very familiar with the city and also spoke Italian, thus she played guide.  Before we set off on our adventure though, we decided that a trip to Florence was incomplete without some gelato.

Florence continues to become more multicultural and cosmopolitan than its reputation for style, delicious food and wine, and passion for art.  It is truly one of the greatest cities in the world to photograph, especially at night when it shimmers and the cars dance through the neighborhoods with people out having fun.  Fair warning: the Florentine lifestyle is addictive and many tourists fall in love with the city and adopt is as their second home.

To end the day on the perfect note, my companion and I looked for the pizzeria with the most locals inside.  Once we found it, we shared a large margarita pizza and bottle of wine.  We toasted to our last night in Tuscany — tomorrow we would journey to Rome!

No matter if you enjoy being on a guided vacation or not, there is no question that most local guides are going to know about certain spots in the city that you are currently visiting that you would have never discovered on your own.  Trafalgar Tours has a reputation for having the best Travel Directors in the world, because each of them have thoughtfully selected the most extraordinary “Hidden Treasures” to share with their group of travelers.  One of the best examples of this is San Miniato al Monte.  Before going into downtown Florence, Marco our Italian Travel Director, took us to this basilica.  It is one of his favorite places, since it attracts very few tourists, yet it deserves to be a major tourist attraction.

It was built in 1013 atop one of the highest points in the city, thus it is impossible to find better unobstructed views of Florence anywhere else.

As with all churches in Italy, the interior was as equally impressive as the exterior.  The way the light streamed in from the windows illuminating the colorfully painted marble was marvelous.

We did not have time to linger, as we had a special date with a famous Italian named David, but we left at the ideal time, as day was beginning to turn into night and the lighting was perfect for some final photos.

Adjoining San Miniato al Monte is both a monastery and a graveyard, both of which I would have further liked to explore.  As the rest of my group headed to the coach, I could not ignore a feeling in my stomach that told me to make a quick visit to the graveyard.  I had only but a minute, however I immediately saw why I felt the urge that I did: there was a stunning statue with a view of Florence in the background that begged to be captured on camera.

I only took one photo and it is now amongst my most favorite photos that I have ever taken in all of my adventures around the globe. . .

Leaving Florence was difficult, because every ounce of my being wanted to stay and explore the magnificent city further, however I was excited to participate in our next Trafalagar Tour’s Be My Guest dining experience and we would be returning later in the evening.  Within minutes the cobblestone streets and ancient cathedrals gave way to sprawling villas surrounded by olive groves — we were back in the heart of Tuscany again.

I Tre Pini, the restaurant where we would be both cooking and dining, is located in the Chianti region.  It is the creation of Chef Libero, our guide through the food market in Florence.

The elegant restaurant is housed in a 500-year old restored farmhouse with manicured gardens and an adjacent vineyard.  If you are looking for the best in Tuscan cuisine, look no further than this establishment.  Each traditional dish has been passed from generation to generation and I am confident that they have been even further perfected by Chef Libero.

If you have been following my blog, you would know that champagne is one of the loves of my life.  Thus, imagine my delight when I was introduced to a new hybrid of champagne called Fragolino.  It is a sparkling wine infused with strawberries and quite possibly one of the best things I have ever tasted.

Chef Libero has worked tirelessly to create other award winning wines from his vineyard, and while they really were sensational, I kept asking for refills of the Fragolino.

After our introduction to the restaurant and its wines, we donned aprons and hairnets and were each instructed to complete different tasks in the kitchen.  Thankfully, all I had to do was add some bread crumbs to the stew, as I am not gifted when it comes to cooking.  Being a part of the entire process was a special experience for me though and it definitely made me appreciate each bite of food that I put into my mouth more.

Around the 5th course, an incredibly charming gentleman surprised us by performing some classic Italian songs for us.  During his rendition of “That’s Amore” he asked me to dance with him.  How could I say no to that face?

Before we departed, I, of course, had to buy a bottle of Fragolino to gift my family.  I wish that I could have bought more, however my luggage (and honestly myself after all of the food I had just consumed) was already over the required weight limit. . .

For some reason, most people when traveling to Italy cannot miss the experience of having an aperitivo in one of the trendiest bars in the city.  Really it is nothing than some after-work cocktail with food included, similar to Spanish style tapas, which in some places like Andalusia or Galicia can be even more generous than the aperitivo’s snacks.

Is it all about the name then?  Is it simply the fact that aperitivo sounds cool and in brings to mind Italian design, fashion, cuisine, and way of life that makes it so different and inviting?

For those who never heard of it, let me briefly explain what it is all about: You go to a bar where when ordering a drink (usually more expensive than during the day) you have the  right to dig into a buffet with different type of snacks like pizza, focaccia, canapés, or in some cases almost a complete meal with salads, pasta, rice, and vegetables.  It is supposed to be a pre-dinner cocktail where people go to spend some time and chat with colleagues and friends and it usually takes place between 7-9PM.  To experience the true aperitivo ambiance do not go too early when the bars are half empty, nor too late as you risk missing the best snacks.  As it is a relaxed and informal occasion there is obviously no dress code, but do not forget that you are in Italy, where fashion is an important issue.   Just try your best to not stand out for your lack of elegance and style.

Traditionally Milan is the queen of the aperitivo, but during the last couple of years many other cities have gained ground to the capital of Italian fashion.  Such is the case while staying at apartments in Florence, where you will have plenty of choices.

My recommendations are as follows.  Close to Piazza Santa Croce on Via Greci 1 there is the modern Oibò.  For a more traditional aperitivo, far from the touristy areas, try Pigmento Cafè on Via Erbosa 12 or Rosso Rubino on Viale Europa 96/98.  Younger people and students meet at Kitch on Via Gramsci.  One last suggestion before taking a rest in one of your Florence apartments: make sure to try at least one or two of the excellent Tuscan wines, a Chianti or a Brunello di Montalcino, for instance.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.