blog.italytraveller.com

A journey to Calabria to discover the many varieties and uses of the region’s devilishly hot chili pepper, which has inspired any number of dishes, festivals and even the institution of the Italian Chili Pepper Academy.

A fun gastronomic guide to Italy’s legendary Amalfi Coast, discovering the ancient recipes passed down from generation to generation, prepared by local fishermen and great chefs alike, using the area’s delicious fish and the fruit and vegetables grown on the coast’s spectacular cliff-edge terraces.

The dream of every traveler: to make the journey down the Italian peninsula, from the old maritime republic of Genoa to the city of Naples, tracing the steps of the wonderfully romantic and surprisingly intrepid British aristocrats who participated in the Grand Tour.

A journey to five of Italy’s most beautiful fortresses, from the Fosdinovo castle in Sarzana to the Castel dell’Ovo in Naples, discovering the myths, legends and unsolved mysteries hidden within their ancient walls.

The furious battle of oranges in Ivrea, the elegant 18th century costumes of Venice, the masked balls of Madonna di Campiglio and the procession of incredible allegorical floats along Viareggio’s seafront promenade: the history, traditions, and curiosities of the Italian Carnival.

A selection of unforgettable experiences for this coming Valentine’s Day: a romantic weekend in Verona, a balloon ride over the skies of Aosta, a famous lover’s fancy dress competition, and a limousine ride through the streets of Rome.

The nativity scenes recreated in the towns of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the caves of Custonaci, in Sicily, and the castles of Umbria: in Italy the magic of Christmas is brought to life in any number of the country’s historic piazzas and tiny medieval villages.

A tour of Italy’s historic coffee houses, from the 18th century botteghe del caffè overlooking St. Mark’s Square in Venice to the elegant Caffè of Milan, where Italian patriots and the great names of Classical Music all regularly stopped for a cup of  “boiling black water“.

Not late, just wonderfully slow. Vintage steam engines, classic “one hundred door” carriages, and the charm of traveling slowly by train across some of Italy’s most beautiful countryside. Quite unforgettable train journeys through Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia, and Sardinia’s Ogliastra, Gallura, Barbagia, Gennargentu .