Monday, December 31, 2012

DECEMBER 2012


ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUM

























12012012 Day 1: It took us 3 hours by train to get to Naples Napoli... visited the Archeological Museum at Naples. Lots of statues... Don't mean to be rude to post up these (naked) statues but seriously, every museum had tons of these statues... had to take pictures with at least one. Europe - Italy! | sakura redmacaron
12022012 Naples is a city of diverse contrasts and one that evokes fierce pride amongst the locals. Its rich history, staunch Catholicism and exasperating charm make it one of the most engaging cities in the country. We start this morning with a visit to its National Museum, one of the most important archaeological museums in mainland Europe and indeed one of the most prestigious museums of ancient art in the world. A quite extraordinary collection includes antique marbles, bronze sculptures, beautiful mosaics and a myriad of treasures from the renowned sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, including household items that illustrate in poignant detail the everyday life of the Roman people. Most notable amongst the museums fabulous collections are the mosaic of Alexander the Great defeating the Persians at the Battle of Issus and the colossal Farnese Bull, believed to be the largest piece of sculpture ever discovered. Visit National Museum of Naples and PM city tour on foot. | AdventureLink
12032012 One of the things that made me super excited was the small amphitheatre that held local productions during Pompeiian times. These guys were the master of acoustics playing with angles so that their voice carried all over with little or no effort. With a quick clap you could hear the echoing across the bleachers. Uncovering the Unwritten Past of Pompeii with Walks of Italy | Over Yonderlust
12042012 The corpse is apparently well preserved: a young woman, lying face down, shielding her face with her hands at the moment of death. Her dress has risen up and is tangled around her waist, her bare legs exposed beneath. She is currently on display at the J Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, as the first exhibit in a show that explores the ways that modern artists - from Francesco Piranesi to Anthony Gormley - have responded to history's most famous volcanic eruption. "Welcome to Pompeii," she is meant to say. "The city of the dead". A Point of View: Pompeii's not-so-ancient Roman remains | BBC News Magazine
12052012 After discovering a scene from one of my favorite movies "Under the Tuscan Sun" had been filmed on a balcony at Hotel California Positano (the particular room is now named after the film), and being that I’m from California, I felt I was meant to stay there during my travels to the "Jewel of the Amalfi Coast".  "Plenty of Room at the Hotel California, Such a Lovely Place" | AFAR
12062012 The Hotel Punta Tragara, ingeniously built on the craggy cliffs is perfectly placed on one of the islands most spectacular locations where you have full view of the hypnotic trio, the white marble Faraglioni; three rocky spires which soar an imposing 92 metres above the water where they seem to proudly anchor the south east coast. My love affair with the boot | Showcook
12072012 Positano is simply breathtaking, and seeing Ashley and Dave driving down the coast on the Vespa after their ceremony was awesome! The day was a fairytale for Ashley and Dave. From the getting ready at Le Sirenuse to the boat ride along the coast, everything was perfect. When they had visited Positano the year before, they could not have imagined that they would be married in the same magical place the following year. Italy Wedding Video by Joe Simon Wedding Films | Style Me Pretty
12082012 The Destinations Collection of Archipelago candles lets you experience some of the best fragrances collected from around the world. Each candle is packaged in its own gift box – complete with a removable and fully functional luggage tag. Archipelago Positano Destinations candle combines white nectarine with sweet persimmon and pomegranate. Archipelago Destinations | All the Best Blog
12092012 This is just a small section of miniature houses built into the cliff face at the side of the road in Praiano. We spotted similar model villages elsewhere along the Amalfi Coast, just another part of the charm of the area. Amalfi Coast | James Denyer
12102012 By 1830 the “Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba” of Naples had become the first true pizzeria and is still in business today. In the 1800’s, the tools of the typical pizzerias included shelves lined with ingredients, a marble counter where the pizza crust was prepared and a large brick oven to cook the pizza in. Pizzaioli (makers of pizza) often assemble the entire pizza on a marble counter right before the customer’s eyes. The History of the Pizza | Menuism.com
12112012 Few, around the globe, know one thing about Pizza: it wasn’t invented in Italy, but in Naples. Which is the difference? Naples isn’t Italy in the same way New York isn’t U.S.. In a way or in an other, having a tour in Naples, is an unmissable experience, because is a concentration of anything you wish. Naples | Italia4Fun
12122012 Thanks to our good friend Dim in Sydney we were able to get ourselves a table at Dora on our Saturday night in Napoli. Knowing that we would be feasting on fresh seafood we arrived with empty stomachs and ready for a feast. Da Dora is a family run seafood restaurant situated up a small alley from the water and slightly off the walking path of most tourists. The place is known to serve the best fish in the city and if you do have any troubles finding it, just grab a local and ask them for directions. Ristorante da Dora - Via Ferdinando Palasciano | My Kiki Cake
12132012 La traviata, the season-opener for Naples’ ravishing 275-year-old opera house, is a major undertaking for the beleaguered company. With its financial instabilities more or less resolved, the house has invested considerable resources in a high-carat staging, with a top-drawer cast and a big-name stage director. Turkish-Italian Ferzan Özpetek is better known for his films. His Traviata staging is a visually opulent yet strictly conservative affair, with a few Turkish touches in Alessandro Lai’s costumes. Conductor Michele Mariotti makes clear from the opening bars that this is his Traviata, with a raft of unconventional tempi which he argues convincingly. The orchestra plays well for him. Both Carmen Giannattasio as Violetta and Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo look and sound insecure and sing sharp in the first act, but they warm up as the opera progresses, with a committed second act and a conclusion of shattering emotional power. La Traviata, Teatro di San Carlo, Naples | The Financial Times
12142012 After visiting the Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa,  sights of Naples, Giancarlo Vesce and I set out on the road toward Gesualdo. The imposing Gesualdo castle, with several town notables in the foreground (the visit of an American journalist caused a bit of a stir). One of the larger rooms of the castle, which is undergoing renovation in preparation for the four hundredth anniversary of Gesualdo’s death, in 1613.  A Gesualdo Photojournal | The New Yorker
12152012 This artefact is a manor farm called Casino Rivellini, located in Calvarole, a district of Vitulano, (BN). This structure was built in the 18th century by local workers, with Rivellinis’ will, an aristocratic family that owned this and other very huge amount of land. It it set on a circular layout, but the volume of the entry is rectangular. The building, built directly on the rock, consists of two levels. The ground floor has one single big room, while the second level has a small room that gives access to the pigeon-house. The two floors are connected by an internal winding staircase. The structure is in limestone masonry. As far as the horizontal structures, the building has a nice dome at the ground floor, while the pitched roof is made of a wood structure with roman roof tiles. As far as the finishings, the circular room at the ground floor is made of limestone flagstones, arranged in a pattern to converge to the centre where the impluvium is. The ground floor was used as an animal shelter and the first floor as a private home in former times. Manor farm – Vitulano | CampaniaCRBC
12162012 Don't be fooled by their young age, if it is true that they are only 16 and 17 years old, is also true that their mothers and grandmothers have already pass on their secrets of Pisciotta gastronomic traditions, of which are protective guardians. We refer to the girls of Pisciotta, they are already using to the best the olive oil (of the pisciottana species, scientifically recognized and disseminated on all the cilentano territory) for the best sughetti, the fabulous salads, the pizza napoletana and to keep moreover the olives for a great appetizer. Home Made Food | pisciotta.net
12172012 Paolo quickly convinces us to leave the car behind, and we climb down to Naples’ rattling metro - our first subterranean impression of the city - headed for La Sanità. As we emerge from the subway, we find ourselves right in the middle of charming, chaotic Sanità with its street musicians and colorful outdoor markets, selling everything from fresh fish and vegetables to shoe polish and safety pins. The narrow streets are clogged with traffic. The houses, though once beautiful, could use a good scrubbing. Laundry flutters high above. The clothes lines span the distance between the houses. Vespa scooters with up to three passengers piled on the flimsy seats race in breathtaking speed around the waiting cars. Horns honk, dogs bark, people laugh. Expeditions in Naples | Go World Travel
12182012 High up on the Vomero Hill lays a great treasure of Naples, the Certosa di San Martino. This former monastery turned museum has impressive sweeping views over the Bay of Naples and lovely fruiting gardens to stroll within.  Our photo of the day shows the skulls mounted on the balustrade of monk’s burial site located in the Chiostro Grande (Grand Cloister), a fine example of Neapolitan Baroque architecture. Naples Photo  of the Day: Certosa di San Martino | Context Travel
12192012 Villa Lysis, also known as Villa Fersen, is without doubt one of the most prestigious homes in Capri. It has all the right qualities: a unique location, interesting architecture and an exciting history. Built in 1905 in a Neo-classical style by count Jacques d’Adelswärd-Fersen, this magnificent villa is uniquely situated in a dramatic setting. D’Adelswärd-Fersen was one of the most flamboyant visitors to the island. He wanted to build a residence in a secluded area – a romantic place on a cliff overlooking the sea – and create arcs and dome roofs that would give it a classical flair. Where history and architecture come together | The Address
12202012 How breathtaking is the maiolica tile above?! This gorgeous tile technique of tin-glazed pottery dates back to the  Renaissance…and you’ll find it everywhere in Capri. Another great find in Capri? Local markets selling some of the most amazing produce and goods…I mean, look at this lemon?! Are you not just instantly inspired to cook? Escape to… Capri, Italy | Santa Barbara Chic
12212012 A mountainous territory, between the rivers Sele, Tanagro and Calore, nearby the monti Alburni (which surpass the 1400 m.m.s.l.). Abundant woods and valleys plenty of peasantry villages rich of history. Art, flavours and traditions of the Lands of Campania | Ruralità Mediterranea
12222012 We returned to Capua today for the amphitheater and the Mithraeum. The current amphitheater was built around the time of Hadrian and Trajan. I liked being able to see the drains under the structure, probably for washing away animal manure, etc. Italy Trip | Mary Lou Burke
12232012 But with a little common sense and precaution, Napoli — as the Italians call it — can also steal your heart. Especially during the Christmas season. “Look around you,” our tour leader said as we entered Old Napoli. “Do you feel frightened?” The narrow cobblestone streets were shared by pedestrians, motorbikes and cars. There were no rules, no sidewalks and no traffic signs; yet it all seemed to be working in perfect harmony. Neapolitan women were returning from the markets and the aroma of simmering tomato sauce was everywhere. After lunch, we headed for a tiny, winding street known as “Nativity Row,” where handcrafted, elaborate scenes of the birth of Christ are sold year-round. Seize the moment: Christmas in Naples | Napa Valley Register
12242012 If you like cribs (presepe in italian) and want to see really all about the Neapolitan Crib, you should definitely visit the famous street of the nativity scene makers, in Naples’s historic city, the Via San Gregorio Armeno. Here you can admire numerous shops with creative nativity figurines in all variations. Besides the Jesus- and Madonna figurines you will also find detailed copies of all household objects, gastronomic delights, exotic animals, and sometimes even caricatured politicians. Moreover you can get thousand of accessories and building material for your presepe, like cork to create the mountains, ready-to-place houses, wells, waterfalls powered by electric engine, small lakes with water, trees, grasslands, bridges, towers. The street of the nativity scene makers | The International School of Naples
12252012 Hotels and spas in Ischia don’t cost nearly as much as you may expect them to and in the off-season, some incredible bargains can be found at many hotels around the island. Spa treatments aside, the island’s climate unto itself can have an enormously beneficial impact on overall health. The island is like one massive floating green-house, with tropical plants like palm trees, Hybiscus flowers, lemon and orange trees lining the roads and turquoise waters kissing the shores. Incredible Island of Ischia | Mediterranean Visits Blog
12262012 The Regina Isabella Hotel was founded in the 50s, thanks to Angelo Rizzoli’s farsightedness and commitment. Enchanted by the Thermal baths and the tradition that lies behind them, the famous film editor and producer created the thermal baths and the hotel, bearing the same name, on ancient Greek-Roman ruins. A few years after its foundation, the Regina Isabella Hotel found itself at the centre of the jet set life, customs and culture, all enticed by the important appointments taking place on the island. L’Albergo della Regina Isabella | The World of Envy
12272012 One of my favorite relatively unknown red wines from that region (Campania) is Lacryma Christi or “Tears of Christ”, which is made from Piedirosso grapes grown on the volcanic soil of Mt. Vesuvius. There are several interesting stories about the religious reference… One version as Burton Anderson tells it in his book, Vino, The Wines & Winemakers of Italy, “the Archangel Lucifer, cast from heaven, desperately grabbed a piece of it with his fingernails as he fell and placed it on earth as the Gulf of Naples and environs. Noticing the loss, the Lord wept, and where each of his tears fell the first vines grew on earth.” Another version of the tale proposes that when Jesus was ascending into heaven he glanced at the Earth and saw the Bay of Naples beneath him. He was so moved by the beauty of it he cried tears of joy, his tears falling on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius. Wines of Pompeii- Death, Destruction and the Tears of Christ… | Tolerant Taster
12282012 I’m just back from a trip to southern Italy for Bianchirpinia, an event highlighting the two principal white varieties of this Campanian zone, Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino, and featuring their new releases – mostly 2011, with a few 2010s. I was very, very impressed by almost every aspect of the event: the quality of the wines, the number of producers participating, the degree of cooperation and openness exhibited by everyone involved. Irpinia is the traditional name for an area roughly 50 kilometers east of Naples, high in the hills around the two principal towns of Avellino and Atripalda. Irpinia in the Crystal Ball | Tom's Wine Line
12292012 De Conciliis Selim spumante is one of the first Aglianico-based sparkling wines to ever come from Campania. Aglianico is one of of the deepest, richest and most tannic red grapes known to Italy, so it amazes me that Bruno De Conciliis in Prignano Cilento can make such an elegant sparkler. He uses young vine Aglianico and blends some Fiano and Barbera in as well to give the wine a superior amount of freshness, a fine bead and a mouth-feel that leaves you yearning for another glass. The Selim, when read backwards, reads out “Miles” for Miles Davis because Bruno is infatuated with jazz music, so much so that he actually plays jazz to his wines as they rest in barrel! Go-To-Wine Tuesday | Inside IWM
12302012 Serving since 1919, La Bersagliera is one of the few places you can still hear mandolin played. In this historic Naples restaurant, overlooking the port and the Castel dell’Ovo, try the clam and mussel soup. Another signature dish is the taglierini with baby octopus, black olives and tomato. Naples | Up Magazine - TAP Portugal
12312012 Naples has given the world of music songs like O Sole Mio and Funiculì, Funiculà. In terms of theatre, it has given Pulcinella, a character from 17th-century commedia dell’arte. When it comes to ancient philosophy, Campania lent Parmenides and Zeno, the father of the dialectic, inspiring the poet Virgil to write the Aeneid. The region also inspired the painters Caravaggio and Giotto who spent time here during the Renaissance. Naples became one of the stops on the Grand Tour – the journey made by young European aristocrats in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilisation, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries because of the music schools and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. La vita è bella | Up Magazine - TAP Portugal

Friday, November 30, 2012

NOVEMBER 2012



11012012 What happens when a volcano that has been active for centuries suddenly stops erupting? South of Italy is famous for illustrious monsters such as Vesuvius (which stopped losing its head in 1944) and Mt. Etna (which is still fuming), but in the commune of Roccamonfina, it left behind fertile soil on which farmers cultivate chestnuts aplenty. Living in the fire bed of southern Italy | The Times of India
11022012 This burning territory that extends from Naples along the coast of the gulf of Pozzuoli is rich of fascination and history. Still today the Phlegrean Fields conserve are a place of entertainment, leisure, but also of cure and well-being of the body and the spirit. The climate and the terrain have permitted the cultivation of local wines that have the Doc marking “Campi Flegrei”. The Doc wines are Piedirosso and Falanghina, cultivated here for centuries; Biancolella and Coda di Volpe for the whites, Olivella and Sciascinoso for the reds. Wine Trails in the Phlegrean Fields | Tour Guide Naples
11032012 The wine we drank was a Bianco Terra del Volturno IGP 2010 called 3-tre, punto trentatre 33(3.33). It is 100% Pellagrello Bianco and the producer is Tenuta Pezza Pane. 3.33 refers to the bushel, the ancient unit of measurement used in agriculture in the province of Caserta corresponding to 3.33 sq. ft. Eating and Drinking Along the Costiera Amalfitana | Charles Scicolone on Wine
11042012 Instead of navigating overcrowded Pompeii, why not explore another intriguing ancient city—resting just five to 15 feet underwater off Naples. You’ll be snorkeling past eerily beautiful mosaic-floored villas at Italy’s Parco Archeologico Sommerso di Baia. Grab Your Scuba Gear | Business Insider
11052012 Clean the lens, rush up to rocks, capture photo, run away like a little girl before the wave crashed on me, check photo, adjust settings, clean lens - Wash – Rinse – Repeat…  That was the sequence of events yesterday evening as I tried to capture the sunset in Monte di Procida/Bacoli.  The conditions were pretty adverse, and sea spray was terrible, forcing me to wipe off the lens as best I could every minute.  For the photo below, I stood my ground a fraction of a second longer and paid the price…  Soaked. Soaked at Sunset | Catch the Jiffy
11062012 And then there is Cavascura always in the municipality of Barano. A place that still evokes deep impressions, with pools carved in the rock where flows water, which acquires its healing qualities by contact fire smoldering in the depths of the island. Spa and Wellness, the miraculous waters of Ischia | Visit Ischia
11072012 Cuma is probably the oldest urban settlement in Italy. The area was already inhabited in prehistoric times. The Greek colonization dates back to 740 BC The city was able to maintain a vast domain on the coast untill Punta Campanella (the extreme point of the Sorrento peninsula). Cumae | blog.studenti.it
11082012 The historic centre of Naples has earned the Unesco World Heritage Centre denomination. It has one of the biggest historical city centres in the world, and its pride are the 448 historical and monumental churches, the highest number in the World for a single city. In Naples, some may find the actual conditions of many buildings and streets, and the rampant graffitti, off-putting. others clain this is "the immense character and culture of Napoli.... and even the dirt and grime has its own flavor .... a Neapolitan recipe for reality and great fun!" Learn something about Naples | Learn something from a postcard
11092012 One of the treasures of Herculaneum is its library at the Villa of the Papyri, which, because of the way the ash and mud from Mount Vesuvius hit the town, is the only library of the time to survive. The scrolls which once filled the library’s shelves are now stores in the National Library in Naples. The vast majority of them are, sadly, quite damaged – but some have been unrolled and scanned. Visiting Herculaneum: Pompeii’s Overlooked Neighbor | WhyGo Italy
11102012 “Pompeii was considered a city of pleasure.” Sophia, our guide, smiles and lets the last word roll off her tongue. She’s not wrong – in the last hour of my tour of this ancient Roman city, I’ve seen more phallic symbols than you’d get in the latest issue of a lad’s mag. From penises carved into the roadways pointing in the direction of brothels to erotic frescoes of, er… leap frogging activities, the citizens of Pompeii knew how to have fun. In fact, hedonism was king here. Pompeii was an affluent city filled with millionaires and mansions, a wealth built from its amazingly fertile soil and its prime position as a sea port town. Pompeii: A City Frozen in Time | Viator.com
11102012 In the al fresco kitchen at Tenuta Seliano we’re about to learn how to make pasta, my son’s favourite food since he could mouth the word. First we have to shoo away a pack of rumbustious dogs who rule the roost at this agriturismo. This working farm near Paestum in Campania is one of southern Italy’s finest, where rustic three-course dinners are the main attraction. There are cookery lessons too. Italy: best local food is down on the farm | The Times
11122012 The grottoes of the Angel at Pertosa are set in an evocative natural amphitheatre in the green of the Alburni mountains. They twist and turn for about 2.500 meters through galleries, tunnels and immense caverns; a truly enchanting place full of stalactites, stalagmites and huge underground halls. To add to its charm, this is the only cave in Italy, where, to gain access, one has to row across a small lake originating from the underground river. ...from Palinuro to Sapri | Hotel Ristorante Miramare
11132012 La Tagliata is distinguished by the authenticity of its products directly derived from the orchard, the primary source for the kitchen of the restaurant. The simple ingredients and a passion for cooking create a strong bond to create delicious and tasty dishes, ideal for discovering the authentic tastes of Positano's land. La Tagliata - restaurant in Montepertuso | latagliata.com
11142012 These tomatoes are named after one of the comunes (towns) in which they are grown, San Marzano sul Sarno, in the province of Salerno and region of Campania in Southern Italy. This area south of Naples is known for volcanic soil courtesy of nearby Mount Vesuvius and a temperate climate. It is believed that the soil and climate combine with the specific characteristics of this tomato cultivar to create its unique flavor. A can of true San Marzano tomatoes will be labeled "Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP". The most important label to look for here is "DOP" which stands for Denominazione d'Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin). This is a certification bestowed by the European Union and administered by the Italians that guarantees the can of San Marzano you are buying is the real deal. The Story of San Marzano Tomatoes | 29-95.com
11152012 Making pasta in Gragnano is ancient form of art, that involves history, culture, patience, secrets and traditions. to be born and raised in gragnano means to be  surrounded by the exalting  taste and  scent of the  durum wheat  semolina and from the pasta that comes from it! … and  like an enchantment, you just can’t live without!!! Mario Moccia, our father, in the 1976, even if he owned a very well known cheese aging factory, could not resist the fascination the pasta making has on those who are from Gragnano. he bought a famous pasta factory in commercial trouble, and devoted all his time and efforts in the revamping of the factory and its brand. Pasta makers since ever | lafabbricadellapastadigragnano.it
11162012 In my town the origin of pasta is lost in the centuries really! The name Gragnano come from Gens Grania, grain merchants in the 2′ century BC who wanted to protect their businesses. You have to know that Gragnano has a number of unique characteristics respect other places … tonight I’d like to explain you one, “The Mistral!”. A Twitter Tale: Gragnano and the Mistral | Pastificio dei Campi
11172012 Still in Positano, sunbathing, reading, swimming, resting...soaking up culture and history... On the front, by the sea, the promenade is the same one trodden in the past by Rudolf Nureyev, the famous ballet dancer. He would come over from where he lived on the Galli Islands. I can see them across the sea from here. One More Day in Positano... | Beneath Magenta Skies
11182012 Cross House is an historical villa, 10 minutes walk from the Piazzetta and located along the quiet pedestrian street which leads to Villa Jovis. The house, a few minutes away from the Arco Naturale, is ideally situated for nature walks and archeological visits to the east side of the island as well as tourist and beach destinations. The house was built in 1870 by Henry Wreford , the first non-Italian resident of the island of Capri and is beautifully preserved in its original state surrounded by a sizeable garden. Its thick stone masonry wall and domed roof ensure a naturally cool climate. Cross House | Bed and Breakfast
11192012 So, for the last time, allow me to direct your mind's eye to Italy, its delicious island of Capri and the famous Blue Grotto, a very nice cave with a very small entrance. Having paid, we joined a bobbing queue of boats waiting to enter the grotto, the opening of which is so small that punters have to lie on their backs while the oarsman grabs a chain and pulls the boat inside. When it was our turn, I wasn't lying down flat enough and very nearly left my nose, chin and lips smeared on to the top of the arch. This terror, though, was worth it. Inside, boats circled in the dark, their oarsmen crooning "Volare", while we found ourselves silhouetted against azure light like a Bond film title sequence. Donald MacInnes: The Italian sea grotto was blue – so was my language | The Indipendent
11202012 The new mayor Luigi de Magistris has been giving Naples, Italy a facelift that includes reducing traffic congestion. This past week he inaugurated the Naples Bike Path, which is expected to be the longest in southern Italy. Together with the European Commission, Naples also participated in European Mobility Week last September and the city council continues to encourage citizens to try alternatives to car use. Green Travel Arrives in Naples, Italy with Bicycle Lanes and Walking Tours | SFGate
11212012 When the going gets tough, never mind an SUV, what you need is a Fiat Panda 4x4. This new model is built at Fiat’s refurbished plant near Naples, also known as Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s big bet on Italy as a manufacturing base. Fiat Panda 4x4 review | Telegraph
11222012 Why not see the volcano from a different point of view?  Instead of taking the bus with all the other tourists, Hostel of the Sun is now offering trips up the mountain by horseback! You won’t be going along the roadway but up through the forests of the Vesuvius National Park, stopping half way to take in the breathtaking view over the Bay of Naples and  eventually coming out by the crater on the top of the volcano. Vesuvius on Horseback | Hostel Of The Sun, Naples, Italy
11232012 A tradition in the cafés of Naples is to order a caffè sospeso – literally, a coffee "in suspense" (aka. caffè pagato, or "paid coffee") – as a sign of your good fortune. When a sospeso is ordered, the customer pays for two coffees, but only receives one. That way, when a person who is homeless or otherwise down on their luck walks into the café, the person can ask if there are any coffees held in suspense, and can have one as a courtesy of the first customer. Though the custom has been a part of Neapolitan society for many years, it is somewhat less common today. The old Tradition of the caffe sospeso | Hostel Of The Sun, Naples, Italy
11242012 A big favorite of our guests while dining on the vineyard has been the spaghetti with colatura di alici. An original recipe from the seaside fishing village of Cetara, colatura di alici is an amber-colored fish oil, or sauce, that is derived from a sea-salted press of fresh anchovies. The process requires about four to five months. It’s the essence of the anchovy that turns a simple spaghetti dish into a complex flavorful creation.  And it’s easy to make! Colatura di Alici Recipe |  I Heart Italia
11252012 Passing by Ristorante Buca di Bacco in Positano one day, I noticed a raucous group of tourists with aprons on, and wine glasses in hand, in the kitchen. Upon further inspection, I figured out it was a cooking class… and I signed up immediately. The next day I arrived at the restaurant promptly at 3:30 for the class. Wine was poured and we, more or less, got to work. Our first task was to peel and slice eggplant… for eggplant parmigiana, one of three items on our menu. The Joy of Cooking | ObjectsBlog
11262012 I asked a friendly waiter in our hotel bar for a lemon and to my delight he brought me this one, complete with leaves. Sorrento is surrounded by lemon groves and lemon flavor and scent are used in numerous products. I thought that it was the perfect journal sketch for my newly acquired lemoncello recipe. I can't wait to try it. Lemoncello | Paper and Threads
11272012 Served chilled as a palate cleanser or as an after-dinner drink, limoncello is traditionally made in the Amalfi region of southern Italy, where lemons are particularly intense in flavour. There are quite a few stockists in London. Where can I get authentic limoncello in the capital? | Telegraph
11282012 One can tell from the very word, Forastera. Grapes that come from elsewhere (fuori, in Italian), i.e. forestiera. This white was introduced because, history repeats itself, it was considered superior to the delicate Biancolella that has always been grown on Ischia, Capri, and part of the Amalfi coast. The discovery was made by Casa D'Ambra a few years ago, and now Pietratorcia, the beautiful winery surrounded by olive trees, prickly pears, and Mediterranean scrub forest founded in 1966 by the Iacono, Verde e Regine families, has joined them. Garantito IGP: Forastera 2011 Ischia doc Pietratorcia | Kyle Phillips's Italian Wine Review
11292012 We spent most of our trip in Positano, and it was spectacular. Michael and I both agree that our hotel there, Il San Pietro di Positano, was one of the most beautiful and special hotels we have ever stayed. By far. The views, the rooms, the service, the food, the cocktails, the atmosphere ... the definition of elegance. italy (part 1) rome, capri, & positano | What's Cooking Good Looking
11302012 It's as close to perfection as I am likely to get. Below lies the sea, a brilliant, all-embracing blue, with the tracks of boats and the paths of currents marking its still surface. A mile away in that misty blue are the islands where the Sirens sang to Ulysses, and would have wrecked him and his ship if he hadn't ordered his oarsmen to plug their ears with wax. Opposite is a steep spur of rock leading down half a mile to the sea, with dozens of houses in lines on it, pastel-painted. At any time of the day or night, looking across at them is like being on stage and watching the doings of the audience. Letter from Positano, Italy | High Life

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

OCTOBER 2012

ALWAYS HAPPY HERE!









10012012 My idea of a great escape is… a weekend at Lo Scoglio, a restaurant and hotel on a tourist-free strip of the Amalfi Coast. The food is perfect, the sea is gorgeous, the people are loving. Meet Pavia, the globe-trotting brainchild behind dreamy travel site, Fathom | Kate Spade
10022012 Inside the park, at the end of all the fountains and cascades, there is a botanical garden, called “The English Garden”, designed in the 1780s. Queen Maria Carolina of Austria, Ferdinando IV’s wife and Marie Antoinette’s sister, wanted a garden in the english style and entrusted the task to the German-born botanist, nurseryman, plantsman-designer John Graefer. The english garden was a new way of landscaping which emerged in England in the early 18th century and replaced the more formal, symmetrical italian renaissance garden. Unlike the italian garden, the english one was inspired by Romantic ideas about an idealized view of nature and featured grottoes, temples, tea-houses, belvederes, pavilions, sham ruins, botanical curiosity and flowers. Royal Palace of Caserta, the Park. | Rocaille
10032012 In the north part of the the English Garden is situated one of the most spectacular structures, created by modifying a large unused tank, built by Luigi Vanvitelli many years before the arrival of Graefer. The tank, sustained by solid pylons, was placed on the top of a small wooded hill that was to be used in case of damage to the Carolino water system; it was never used, and during the French era, became the site for the production of honey (hence the name "beekeeping area"). in 1826, during the reign of Francesco II, it was used for the flora, as a green house, for the cultivation of arboreal plants. therefore the statue of flora or cerere, work carried out by Tommaso Solari in 1761, paid for by Luigi Vanvitelli. in this part of the garden is combined wit flowers and divided in five large plots of land, called scolle, for the cultivation of small and large trunk trees. The beekeeping area | reggiadicaserta.beniculturali.it/
10042012 Yay! It worked. Now, this is how the little American prefers to take in the sights. See you later palace. There are a series of six fountains which are all fed from an aqua duct that spills out of the Briano hillside you will see as we approach the end of the roadway. As the water falls down the hillside it disappears under grassy strips and reappears in fountains and feeds ponds along the way. Caserta Palace Part II...The Gardens | Beaux Mondes Designs
10052012 The monumental sacristy of the Basilica of Saint Domenico Maggiore in Naples contains, in a suspended gateway close to the vault, 38 wooden sarcophagi with the mummies of ten Aragonese kings and other Neapolitan nobles who died in the 15th and 16th centuries. Mary of Aragon (1503—68) is a typical example of a Renaissance noblewoman, whose beauty attracted the admiration of the humanists. She was a member of the literary circle of Ischia, founded by the Renaissance poetess Victoria Colonna, friend of Michelangelo. Her artificial mummy, still wearing precious Renaissance clothing and showing asymmetrical swelling of the lower limbs, due to oedema, revealed a syphilitic gumma of the skin with typical treponemes. Human papillomavirus in a 16th century mummy | The Lancet
10062012 The mountains descend in spurs and slopes towards Nusco, which at an elevation of 914 meters lies above the Apennines dividing the Ofanto and Calore river valleys. We are in the heart of the Irpinia area and in the ancient territory of the wolf (hirpus, in the language of the Samnites). A land of deep-rooted traditions and memories, Nusco is compact and discreet in its architecture, silent and dynamic in the pulsing of its day-to-day life. Nusco Where the Irpinia Region Resembles Switzerland | I borghi più belli d'Italia
10072012 Get off the beaten track in the Italian region of Irpinia, near Naples, for a gourmet tour experiencing local cuisine, cheese and wine production and save $500 a person. A taste of Italy | Herald Sun
10082012 Organiser RCS Sport officially unveiled the 2013 Giro d'Italia today in Milan, a route that starts in Naples, takes in Galibier and returns to Tre Cime. It includes a long time trial, which should please Tour de France champion, Bradley Wiggins (Sky). The Grand Départ in Naples | Cycling Weekly10052012
10092012 Last month, I had the opportunity to attend an amazing Yoga retreat  with  9 other wonderful women on the volcanic island of Ischia. This gorgeous and healing island is located off the coast of Naples. Our fabulous host & yoga instructor, Erin, started our morning with a yoga practice followed by Villa Lina’s healthy, fresh breakfast. The villa is high up top the island with a view so serene. Eat.Pray.Move. - Ischia 2012 | Warm Pears
10102012 The Talented Mr. Ripley filmed the end of the movie (remember the amazing aerial views of colorful Mediterranean houses?) in the historic harbour of Procida (photo above); home of the most amazing bruschetta that I have ever tasted in my life. Destination: Procida | The Anthrotorian
10112012 2,700 years ago, on the sun drenched slopes of Mount Falernus near Campania and Latium in Southern Italy. The Falernian wine made from these ancient Aglianico grapes, from the Faustus vineyard were the world’s first Premier Cru, and were reserved for the extremely wealthy and important members of Roman society. It was a wine of legend and heritage, written about by famous poets, philosophers, scholars, and historians. The grapes were harvested late in the season and had tremendous levels of sugar resulting in a sweet wine with very high alcohol content. The World’s First Premier Cru: Aglianico | 303 Magazine
10122012 Among the many bottles we opened, there was an extraordinary Fiano: Cupo 2008, produced by Sabino Loffredo’s Pietracupa winery. We go down to the cellar and, from the stainless steel vats, we try his 2010 whites: Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino. They are pervaded by extremely attractive and intriguing smoky notes as well as by really well-defined citrus-like sensations, with bags of acidity and salinity, and tremendous length on the finish: this description encapsulates perfectly the great terroir of Montefredane! Sabino Loffredo PIETRACUPA and the Great Terroir of Montefredane | Italian Wine Club
10132012 So you`d like to go on a trip with your friends? And you're looking for a house with a garden and a pool? You want infinite space and privacy as well? You're looking for a house with great flair and authentic atmosphere? You want to walk to a village? The famous Campanian cities such as Naples and the ancient Pompei worth seeing for their history and art should be within easy reach? And, above all, an excursion to the seaside and the scenic Amalfi coast should be possible too? Villa della Marchesa offers you all of this and much more. The imposing villa sits on a fenced property in the centre of the historical village of Lauro. Lauro, 34 km from Naples, is located in an area renowned for its archeological and historic heritage. Villa della Marchesa | Hidden Italy
10142012 The Hotel and Restaurant “La Castagna” is situated at a height of 725m in an enviable position on the steep slopes of the The Partenio Mountain. It is an oasis of calm, the perfect place to relax within the harmony of nature and enjoy the gastronomic delights of traditional Irpinia food. “La Castagna ”,established in 1969, and run very professionally by the Basile family, offers its guests a warm and friendly welcome. To relax between nature and culinary tradition Irpina | La Castagna
10152012 We are driving through the green hills of Caserta. We finally get to Caseificio Il Casolare in Alvignano where we meet master cheese maker, Mimmo La Vecchia [short for Domenico]. Mimmo has one of the best smiles I have ever seen. We meet his family: wife, son and daughter; they all work in the family business. We are just in time. The fresh milk arrived; 100% buffalo milk from nearby farms. I make my way into the creamery where the fresh cheeses are still handmade. In a silent and disciplined manner the cheese makers transform the buffalo milk into ciliegine {cherries} and trecce {braids}. Mozzarella di Bufala‘s by product, sweet whey, is used as raw material for an exquisite Ricotta di Bufala. Mimmo La Vecchia: Master of Mozzarella | The Curious Eater
10162012 The Saraceno Grand Hotel Amalfi is a place to dream, a One Thousand and One Nights-style location, wrapped in a bright and magical atmosphere. The 56 rooms, all overlooking the sea, are equipped with the most modern amenities and are appreciated by a discerning clientele. The bathrooms have been recently restored: in some there are showers with color therapy, ceramics of Vietri sul Mare and mosaics. The use of the Palace of Suleiman as a hotel goes back to the 60s-70s. Restoration and renovation have not altered its original Arabic style. The restaurant Mashreq resembles an Arab tent, with columns covered with damask. The Bar Doge boasts graffiti and portraits of Arabs on total black walls. The beach restaurant El Qusary has tiled floors with handmade arabesques decorations. Saraceno Grand Hotel Amalfi | That's Amalfi
10172012 On our last day on the Amalfi Coast, Dan and I concluded that we  had soaked up all the Italian sun our skin could handle. Thus, we figured we’d do something totally ordinary (not) and hire a driver to take us to Tramonti for a day to visit Tenuta San Francesco’s vineyard. After the tour came the tasting, and we all gathered around a table adorned with a blue and white checked table cloth to indulge in vino, bruschetta, and parmigiano. As Gaetano poured each of us wine, he shared stories about the vineyard’s history and his passion for winemaking. I Love This; This is My Life | Blissful Basil
10182012 We arrived at the winery many hours later after a very long drive. Dorotea greeted us…she’s the daughter of the owners. In 1980, her father Andrea Ferraioli acquired Gran Furor Divini Costiera wine, established in 1942, and gave it to her mother, Marisa Cuomo, as a wedding gift honoring their shared passion for wine. Thus was born what is now the award wining winery of the Amalfi Coast…Cantine di Marisa Cuomo. The family owns 3.5 hectares of the 18 that grow the grapes for their nine wines and two grappa. 41 families own the other hectares of terraced vineyards. The area is a site to be seen…grape vines growing on the pergola system planted into small plots of land that stair step the rocky cliffs with the sea 500 meters below. Harvesting is done by hand with dangerous climbs to be made while carrying the grapes. With no irrigation, the wines must grow on their own. The pergola system also allows the growing of other fruit and vegetables underneath. Due to the rocky soil and sunny conditions, the wines produced are salty and fruity in nose and taste. Amalfi Wine Welcome | Grape Occasions
10192012 If you have a hankering for serious exercise, set aside a day for the region's Path of the Gods. The 12km trek links Positano with the southern village of Praiano, carving through spectacular countryside and limestone cliffs. Much of the walk requires navigating steep, rocky paths. If you're short on time, here's a shortcut. Take the bus from Positano to Nocelle, then walk down the Path of the Gods to Positano and absord the heavenly views on the way. Travel: Sorrento, Italy | Bay of Plenty Times
10202012 A few days earlier, on the Amalfi Coast, my wife and I walked from the doors of the cliff-side Hotel Santa Caterina, taking the endless steps down the rocky cliff face into the ancient town of Amalfi, our legs trembling in penance. “Come,” I whispered to my wife. We disappeared up a darkened passageway no wider than a donkey. It twisted under a window, past a terrace garden filled with lemon trees, up another set of steep stone steps, past wooden doors and washing lines hung with underwear. And then, somewhere in that raked meeting of mountain and town and blue Tyrrhenian Sea, I experienced that moment of peace I craved. There was no one else but us in the world. The lesson was not lost on me: the value in travel – as in investing – is rarely found in the clogged main thorough fares but in quiet side-streets where few travelers care to go. From Italy: Lessons in Value Investing | Penta
10212012 Atrani is a medieval village close to Amalfi which is a 4 minutes stroll along the corniche overlooking the sea. In times gone by Atrani was the residence of the aristocratic families of Amalfi and home of the Republic of Amalfi's nobility. The stone-paved paths between Atrani's houses ascend from the "Piazza" towards Monte Aureo and Monte Civita where the village was built and carve themselves a niche among the two rocky hills, the Dragone river and its quiet beach; much to be preferred to that of overcrowded Amalfi. The Town | That's Atrani
10222012 England was having the coldest and wettest spring in one hundred years, so when my friend Lesley —with whom I was visiting in Devon — suggested we go down to Italy, I was very much in favor of the idea. Our impromptu booking at last moment turned out to be a real money saver. Lesley’s travel agent found us a charter flight going direct from Bristol to Naples with a week at the Jaccarino Hotel in Sorrento plus half board (breakfast and dinner) for just £461 or about $725 a person including airport transfers. A Week in Sorrento |  The Garden Island
10232012 After the Haute Couture and some business meetings in London, I took a little break and went to Capri for 5 days. I hadn’t been there in 10 years, but I remembered it being very charming so I was curious to see it again. This time I stayed at the Capri Palace in Anacapri. It’s not in the main center but it came so highly recommended I thought, “Why not?” I’m glad I took the chance, because it was fabulous. The gardens, pool, restaurant and well-known Beauty Farm spa were out of this world. I really needed some rest and relaxation–and this was perfect. Best of all, the weather was hot, which I adore. My summer holiday in Capri | Susan Tabak LLC
10242012 For scenesters who want to be part of the action, Capri town is the kind of place where the party never stops, at least during the high season. But those who prefer a more laid-back vacation need walk only a few narrow streets from the cluster around the piazzetta (main square) to find quiet, flower-scented paths leading past huge silent villas with overgrown gardens and ceramic signs heralding names—Isabella, Sarah, Tosca—that sound like those of heroines in a novel. Destination: Italy: Capri | Indagare
10252012 Take out Le Sirenuse's own luxury Italian speed boat for a cruise along the scenic coast! The Riva Aquarama Special vintage speedboat, a timeless classic, is perfect for a special day out on the sea to make your time even more unique and fantastic. Zip around the Amalfi Coast in luxury and fall in love with the views of Positano's cliffs from the water! Must Do? | Valerie Wilson Travel
10262012 There are times in history when music becomes part of the world's artistic heritage, and the traditional Neapolitan songs certainly have. "The Neapolitan song collection" offers a systematic overview of Naples' outstanding musical tradition, unique in its kind, in a five part anthology of priceless historical records and songs both famed and forgotten, with the voices of the most well-known Italian singers and rare footage from Istituto Luce and RAI. Just to mention some artists: Roberto Murolo, Mario Merola, Elvis Presley, Totò, Enrico Caruso, Mina, Domenico Modugno e Renato Carosone, and among the many songs performed 'O Sole mio, Torna a Surriento, 'O Sarracino, Malafemmena... Neapolitan Song Collection | Rai Trade
10272012 One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, the historic centre of Naples follows the grid of the ancient Greek city of Neapolis. Walking around this area today - which is tightly packed with stunning Baroque churches, crumbling 18th-century palaces, cafes, food vendors, street performers and narrow shops selling everything from fresh octupus to handmade paper - brings to mind the rhythm, smells and atmosphere of a north-African city such as Marrakech. The centro storico is dominated by two ruler-straight roads: the Via dei Tribunali and Spaccanapoli - the central axis of the city. There is plenty here to occupy you in the morning: ornate, dusty churches filled with skulls and relics (Neopolitans are superstitious, and obsessed with memento mori), independent shops, and squares echoing to the sound of locals chattering and gesticulating wildly. There's food and drink at every step, from elegant outdoor cafes serving exquisite sfogliatelle pastries, such as Scaturchio in Piazza San Domenico, to tiny, noisy, narrow pitstopsserving the city's famously strong, sweet espresso. My kind of place: Naples | The National
10282012 Greeks landed in Ischia in the 8th century B.C. It was the perfect base for them to reach the mainland. Today it is a huge resort with sandy beaches and more than 50 mineral springs. The thermal springs are generated by the heat from the extinct volcano Monte Epomeo. Mount Epomeo has a summit of 2,585 feet and the summit is the highest point on the island. The volcano has not erupted since the 14th century. Ischia is called the Island of Eternal Youth because it has more than 150 spas and curative thermal springs. Captivating Southern Coast of Italy in Campania | Vino Con Vista
10292012 The Boutique SPA La Serra is a unique location within the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria’s two acre orange grove. Created in a converted 19th Century greenhouse, adjoining the hotel’s swimming-pool, La Serra is surrounded by olive and orange trees and enjoys natural sunlight for most of the day. The Boutique SPA La Serra offers exclusive rituals and treatments to purify the body and soothe the senses with the most natural products and essential oils of the Organic Pharmacy, Salin de Biosel and Signature brands. La Serra has two separate treatment suites, a single one and a double one for couples. Each suite fully equipped for the ultimate pampering has its own private Jacuzzi bath-tub, a rain shower and according to the season or weather conditions, a private garden for outdoor relaxation, private changing room; a single room for shiatsu massage and treatments with private changing room and an additional room for manicure and pedicure. Very popular is the Honeymoon treatment in the tween suite. Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Sorrento | 604bc.ca
10302012 Campania is famous for producing the best wines of the Roman Empire. The capital city of Campania is Naples, and the region is home to such ancient sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. Since 1978, Terredora Di Paolo has played a key role in the rediscovery of ancient grape varieties and uses modern technology to reintroduce them to wine drinkers around the world. Included in these varieties are aglianico, used to make red wine, and falanghina, for white. These grapes are among those that have been part of Campania’s wine renaissance. Wine critic Hugh Johnson describes them as being “excellent native grapes.” Wine Finds: Italian wineries rediscover ancient grapes | stltoday.com
10312012 Citrus groves cling to the slopes below, and far beyond the medieval town of Amalfi appears, framed by limestone cliffs rising from the sea. I’m walking an ancient donkey path toward the sound of rushing water until we come upon its source: a spring waterfall hidden under a thick canopy of trees, part of a natural hydropower system for mills that made the Amalfitan Maritime Republic’s legendary bambagina paper. Not your typical morning stroll. But, as I discover, nothing about the Amalfi Coast is average: Lemons grow to the size of footballs, locals smile warmly and greet you on the street, and the scenery makes for a photo op at every turn. Amalfi Amore | Virtuoso Life

Sunday, September 30, 2012

SEPTEMBER 2012


PARADISE ON EARTH


















09012012 Time seems to stand still in Capri. I have been visiting the island for many years and aside from the new storefronts, the newer style, cute open-air taxi cabs and some extra-large mega yachts, the island looks the same as it did in the photos from the 1950′s with Jackie O and Brigitte Bardot strolling the slippery stone streets. Capri’s Dolce Vita | The Leading Hotels of the World
09022012 Our tour of the Roccamonfina Regional Park starts at the Sanctuary of St. Mary of the Lattani which houses a 15th century church, a Franciscan monastery, magnificent cloisters and a hermitage overlooking the vast and luscious Campanian landscape and poised on the edge of the Roccamonfina volcano. The religious complex was founded in 1430 when a statue of the Virgin Mary was miraculously discovered in a nearby grotto where a shepherd kept his sheep. The news spread and pilgrims soon began to appear. Il Convento dei Lattani | Savour The Sannio
09032012 The traditional ceramics, merit and boast of the city, can be admired in the Museum of Cerretese Ceramics and in the artisan shops with the traditional methods, the production of good quality artistic ceramics goes on: it is the value added of a handicraft tradition that includes the art of stone, of wood and of wrought iron. Cerreto Sannita |  Seguendo Ulisse
09042012 The river Bussento, after having crossed 6 kms in the bowels of the earth, resurges under the medieval suburb of Morigerati. Here the WWF manages one of the most important oasis’ of Southern Italy. The whole zone offers one of the most beautiful spectacles and is one of the greatest naturalistic attraction of the National Park of Cilento and Diano’s End. From Morigerati or from its fraction Sicilì you go down a beautiful muletrack paved in stone passing through the evergreen bush, that leads you to an ancient watermill on one side and to the entry of the resurgence cave from the other. From here you can go beyond the deep and spectacular canyon dugged by the river. Outside, then, the river offers suggestive views along the gorge, where clear and fresh waters form, flowing among deep puddles, rapids and falls. The WWF oasis, Bussento's caves | Seguendo Ulisse
09052012 Salerno is a wonderful port city and the second largest in Campania after Napoli, and like it’s big sister it has a wonderful ancient area full of crazy little shops that sell everything from horse harnesses to coffee grinders, you can also pick up a fabulous panama hat at a very decent price and a plated leather belt for 3 euro! Take a stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the  exciting modern promenade close to the sea front also full of fashionable shops, you can find some great bargains. There is a great café on every corner and a lot of hot suntans decked out in chic linen shirts and very brightly coloured cotton trousers! Not to mention the numerous benches along the way for a rest seated next to a newpaper clad Italian! Cetara & Salerno | Amanda Tabberer On The Amalfi Coast...
09062012 Massa Lubrense – the sunsets along the Amalfi Coast are absolutely breathtaking but rent a motorcycle or moto and head to the cliffs of Massa Lubrense.  Just before sunset, stop at the top of the hill and watch as magic happens with the island of Ischia silhouetted in the distance. Top 5 Romantic Things on Amalfi Coast | blog.davidsbeenhere
09072012 The "Enzo Avitabile Music Life", shot entirely in Naples, centers around jam sessions with a dozen world musicians at a Baroque church along with scenes from Avitabile's life, his middle class Naples apartment and the nitty gritty of his hometown of Marianella on the outskirts of Naples. "I did have a lot of confidence in the visual power that lives in Naples," Demme said. "I was capturing Enzo's Naples," which he called "a tremendous melting pot." Jonathan Demme returns to live music film | finance.yahoo.com
09082012 The Castel dell’Ovo, or Egg Castle, juts out from Naples into the bay. A friend took a helicopter ride over the city and when looking through her photographs I realised I wanted to paint the castle from this unusual angle. Buildings are stylised, reduced to a few simple forms, but can still be recognised. As with every painting, I want the result to be principally about the impact of colour. Painting by Penny Ewles-Bergeron | Gerard O'Keeffe
09092012 The Greeks had a point when they lowered anchor in the bay of Naples and claimed it for their own almost 3000 years ago. One of the most naturally beautiful areas of Italy with Vesuvius rising above the bay and so much glory nearby. I love a visit to Naples but hey if you have a come all the way to Naples why not go a couple more miles and see some of the most incredible history, coastline and islands in the world. What To See Around Naples | Carla Loves Photography
09102012 Settembrata! Settembrata on Anacapri means Italian musicians singing in the street, pacchiane-local women dressed in Neapolitan garb carrying baskets of grapes on their heads, and contadini-farmers pushing wooden wagons piled high with the first seasons grapes. This is la festa dell’uva e alla vendemmia, the festival of the grape and wine harvest. The festa takes its name from the month September, and starts on the last Sunday of August. It blesses the coming vendemmia-grape harvest and kisses summer good bye. Settembratta was first started in 1923 by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti,  Edwin Cerio, and Lino Lipinsky. Fresh Recipes, Kitchen Ideas, Food News & Fun Things To Do In Sunny Italy | Cooking Vacations
09112012 I have been on the Amalfi Coast for five months. I spent five months locked in an Italian summer in an Italian world; my days consisting of sun, sea and lemons. Now I am stuffing my carry-on bag into the overhead compartment on a cold airplane that will take me back to my other life in my other world; the life and the family that waits for me across the Atlantic in New York. Throughout the past five months I explored a new part of the coast every day. I met new people every day until they eventually turned into familiar faces. I was able to spend more time with my Italian family and to get to know them better. I learned how to understand the local dialect. I ate (way too much) pasta. I fell in love (or lust?) with an Italian man. Most importantly, I found myself. Tasting the Bitter and Savoring the Sweet | Italia Living
09122012 In Spring 2013 the British Museum will present a major exhibition on the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, sponsored by Goldman Sachs. This exhibition will be the first ever held on these important cities at the British Museum, and the first such major exhibition in London for almost 40 years. It is the result of close collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Naples and Pompeii, will bring together over 250 fascinating objects, both recent discoveries and celebrated finds from earlier excavations. Many of these objects have never before been seen outside Italy. The exhibition will have a unique focus, looking at the Roman home and the people who lived in these ill-fated cities. Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum | artdaily.org
09132012 There’s a reason Shakespeare cast Romeo as an Italian, and when it comes to the language of love no nation is better versed. Whether they’re showering women with compliments or singing sweet nothings below a vine-covered balcony, Latin men have seduction down to a fine art. Humble Englishmen wishing to learn a trick or two should enrol in Hotel Caruso’s Dolce Vita Serenade and Seduction classes. After learning a few important phrases in Italian, lacklustre lovers can practise singing ‘amore’ in a myriad of different tones and pitches. (It’s the way you sing, not what you sing that really counts here.) Hobby holidays | Yorkshire Evening Post
09142012 In “Love Is All You Need,” two very different families meet in a beautiful, old Italian villa, in the middle of a lemon grove. The occasion is a romantic wedding, meticulously planned to the smallest detail. Of course, nothing goes according to plan and yet everything works out in the end. The plot is mainly acclimated in a village of the Italian peninsula of Sorrento, perfect setting for Philip and Ida. To give an even greater atmosphere of romance, the soundtrack features popular Italian songs, perfect for legitimizing this love Mediterranean. Love Is All You Need | Zimbio
09152012 The beach, like many on the Sorrento peninsula and environs, has no sand. Rather there are rocks the size of mangoes, pears, plums, and kumquats that crackle like breaking glass when the waves go out. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, but don’t expect a high end stabilmento (Italian beach front with services). You can sit a yard from the water with a view of the peak where Emperor Tiberius forced his young victims to jump to their deaths. The Mediterranean is cristalline, drawing you in until you leave your sunbed and go for a swim. The local Capri Beach | ItalianNotebook
09162012 The Hotel Caesar Augustus on Italy’s isle of Capri is cooking up a fantastic summer season with a new Executive Chef at the helm of the restaurant. Eduardo Vuolo is developing daily menus based on the ripest vegetables he finds in the on-site organic garden every day. Here are some sample dishes: Buffalo mozzarella with tomato & basil sauce; I Ravioli alla Caprese (ravioli filled with fresh caciotta cheese) and Le polpette di melanzane con salsa "sciuè sciuè" (eggplant balls served with fresh tomato sauce). The best part of all? While the chef experiments with recipes in the kitchen, he sends out samples to hotel guests lounging by the pool. Perched on a sheer cliff high above the Bay of Naples, the Hotel Caesar Augustus has one of the prettiest infinity pools in the world-- surrounded by turquoise sea and sky. New Chef Eduardo Vuolo for Capri’s Hotel Caesar Augustus | Luxury Travel Advisor
09172012 I’ve fallen in love with Ravello’s secret gardens and twisty cobblestone streets spilling with limoncello stands and colorful handmade pottery. And I‘ve fallen in love with the Palazzo’s warm staff, ancient walls, stunning sea views and soul. Be it Palazzo Sasso or Palazzo Avino, for me, this hotel – and Ravello – is one of my favorite places in the world to be. From Italy – With Love | jajoftravel.com
09182012 The architecture of Positano is distinctive for its simplicity and beauty: the houses are shaped like cubes, with low circular arched roofs, and often have their small porticoes open to the sea. For years the village, once famed for its skilled sailors, has been an elegant and exclusive tourist town: there are dozens of small meeting places in its narrow terraced lanes, and the craft shops sell brightly-coloured clothes in lots of patterns and colours. From Salerno to Positano and Sorrento | Italia.it
09202012 The organic methods used at Monte di Grazia in Tramonti also further limit the yields. The vines were planted in the tendone method. This is the traditional method for planting vines in Southern Italy. The leaves are trained to form a canopy that protects the grapes from the sun. It is like a pergola with an overhead trellis from which the grapes hang down. In one of the vineyards an old vine looked like it was holding up the whole tendone. The poles that hold up the tendone are made of chestnut wood from trees in the nearby hills and the vine “branches” are attached to the tendone by willow shoots. All the grapes are picked by hand. Azienda Agricola Biologica Monte di Grazia Winery | Charles Scicolone on Wine
09212012 What makes the Pasta di Gragnano – European IGP label – so special? On the one hand, the IGP label has been recognized because of the 2000 years of historical pasta production in the town of Gragnano. On the other hand, because of the manufacturing process, based on bronze drawing technique (using 100% Italian grain) and low temperature drying technique, allowing the transfer of flavours to obtain a unique pasta. Pastificio Di Martino celebrates 100 years of success | connect.it
09222012 For those coming from the North Coast, Campania begins where the Appian Way branches off into a variety of minor roads. Everything about this area speaks of ancient times. We leave Minturno, this side of Garigliano, cross the river and get to the land of Falerno, with its vineyards sloping down Monte Massico almost to the coastline. We are in the homeland of one of the most delicious cheeses: Mozzarella di Bufala. Campania | sipItaly
09232012 During a few mozzarella tastings arranged by SipItaly, that Patrizia La Trecchia. attended over the past month, she and Vincenzo D’Antonio provided some entertaining remarks for the guests, explaining everything they needed to know about the mozzarella di bufala Campana. The real thing comes from Campania in Southern Italy. “Italians all over the country consume mozzarella di bufala campana only when it is fresh or within a couple of days of its preparation. After two days, they only use it as an ingredient for the preparation of other dishes such as lasagna. When it arrives frozen, the authentic taste is altered,” she said. Italian Food for Thought | University of South Florida
09242012 We enjoyed this heavenly reward on the Path of the Gods, named for the Roman temples that once stood here. It's a 10km section – between Praiano and famous Positano – of one of Italy's most picturesque hiking routes, along the Amalfi coast. For more than an hour we had climbed steps that zig-zagged up the mountain. Lizards lazed on rocks and butterflies fluttered among the trees. The views became more dramatic with every step: the sea fizzing over the craggy coast and, further ahead, Positano's landslide of matchbox houses tumbling down the cliffs. Far below, Praiano's traffic hummed. Walking the Amalfi coast | The Guardian
09252012 You'll either love it or hate it, but one thing's certain: Curzio Malaparte's "house like me" is the most striking work of modern architecture on the island of Capri. Pizzolungo | italyTraveller
09262012 Vertiginous terrace of Baron de Fersen bedroom, French dandy, poet and writer, in love with Capri. He made built this house (also named "Villa Lysis") in top of a cliff around 1905 and lived there till his death in 1923. His story is told in Roger Peyrefitte's novel "L'exilé de Capri".
09272012 For my first vendemmia of 2012, I chose a small vineyard with a big story. The Asprinio di Aversa vineyard belonging to Az. Agrituristico Arbustum in the town of Casel Di Principe in Caserta... about 30 minutes from Naples. Asprinio di Aversa a white grape found in this part of the country has been around a long time, some believe as far back as the Etruscan period. And that explains the training system that many vineyards that produce this grape still use today. Vineyard Hopping | andiamotrips
09282012 Amalfi Coast in Capri, Cliffs overlooking Bay of Naples in Sorrento, Limoncello. Pompei: Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79AD and buried the city of Pompei. We visited the fascinating ruins in the once thriving city. And Naples home of the pizza... oh and Gelato. At every stop. Capri, Sorrento, Pompei and Naples: Highlights | Food to Run For
09292012 The Amalfi Coast of Italy is known for its lemons which are hand picked between February and October.  In Sorrento, you'll be hard pressed to find anything that doesn't have to do with that aromatic yellow citrus fruit.  From art work, to beauty products, to food and drink, everywhere you look is evidence that their world revolves around the lemon. Italians are proud of their limoncello and many restaurants bring a frosted cordial glass of the liqueur after the meal, compliments of the house.  Some restaurants leave the entire bottle at the table for refills at your discretion.  A taste of Italy | Examiner
09302012 My personal favourite brand, il Gusto della Costa (the flavour of the coast) is made by a true “limoncello-master”, Valentino Esposito, whose “factory” is a street-front store in Praiano. While the glass frontage affords the passerby the opportunity to see the master at work, Valentino is more than happy to stop the process to explain just why his Limoncello is so special. The fragrance of the lemons being peeled in preparation is heady enough but it’s the readily offered tasting session that makes for a particularly happy visit. Il Gusto use a particular lemon grown on the farms in the area called “Sfusato Amalfitano” and the oily “juice” of the lemon peel is like perfume when he squeezes a slither of the peel on to your skin. Passion secret ingredient for great Limoncello | Independent Online

Friday, August 31, 2012

AUGUST 2012


FISHING VILLAGE


















08012012 In the past month, I've often found myself in the Naples seafront hamlet of Marechiaro. Here, Neapolitan individualism is on full display, usually tucked into a tight Speedo. In the 1950s and 1960s, Hollywood stars flocked here to get away from Rome. The district is full of fishermen, as well as residents who swim over to individual rocks to splay out beneath the sun. On a popular outcropping, a small stand sells water and fruit. Further out, fishermen collect mussels in large plastic buckets. If you approach them in a boat or kayak, they may offer you some to eat raw. I can't get enough of this place, perhaps because it strikes me as so Neapolitan. On a recent visit, I was trying to figure out how to get to a beach bar located across the water (apparently, you have to swim) when I ran into a group of fisherman who offered to take me out on their boat for a small fee. I said yes, mostly for the opportunity to snap photos of nearby rocks and buildings along the shore. Pure li pisce | The American
08022012 I specifically wanted to find the best pizza margherita, the classic 19th-century Naples pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil. After a few weeks of sampling several hallowed pizzerie, I couldn't identify a clear winner. Even after narrowing down our pizzerie preferite to two finalists, the venerated Da Michele, of "Eat Pray Love" fame (closed most of August), and Pellone, a less-celebrated personal favorite on Via Nazionale, we couldn't agree on who had won the head-to-head comparison. Not surprisingly, the results seemed partially dictated by which pizza we ate first, when we were actually hungry. And it also depended on which pizzaiolo, or pizza maker, was working that day. (The gruff, grey-haired man with an eye-patch at Pellone is my favorite). The pizza chronicles | The American
08032012 "If it form the one landscape that we, the inconstant ones, / Are consistently homesick for, this is chiefly / Because it dissolves in water." When W. H. Auden wrote those lines he was here in the bay of Naples on the island of Ischia. Happy Birthday, Premio Ischia | The TLS blog
08042012 Wystan Hugh Auden was compelled to describe what he observed around him. The most important thing, beyond his poetry, was sharing his vision with a friend. Niebuhr’s biography tells us he was among the many writers and artists who were drawn to Ischia. Truman Capote, another of Niebuhr’s friends, came to the island and hoped to visit Auden at his home in Forio. But the poet, saying he was too busy, would not receive the emerging young writer. The two, apparently, had “irreconcilable disagreements.” Memories of the Isle of Ischia! An oasis for a great number of artists, dramatists, writers, poets, thinkers, and musicians, who spent pleasant days drinking aromatic cups of Italian coffee at Maria’s International Bar, while we - the children of that time - played among the little tables under a flowery pergola, running and laughing,observed by subtle and… pensive eyes. Castigat ridendo mores! | Florigium - The tree of my life
08052012 Gore Vidal, the prolific American author who passed away on July 31, left behind both an intellectual legacy and a reputation for living large. His former home in Ravello, Italy, dubbed Villa La Rondinaia or Swallow's Nest, which he sold in 2004, isn't open to the public, but has long been surrounded by rumors that it will be turned into a seven-room hotel by local hotelier Vincenzo Palumbo, who has said he would keep mementos from the famous author around the house. Gore Vidal's Former Italian Home |  TheHuffingtonPost.com
08062012 Located along the coastline of the Neapolitan Riviera, a holiday in Ischia draws upon the strengths of what embodies the best of a coastal holiday in Italy. Backdrops of hills covered in lemon groves and olive trees, dotted with whitewashed and multi coloured towns that lead down to the sea or in the case of Ischia Town a lake, holidaymakers have plenty of exploring to do after relaxing in the thermal springs. Aside from the beaches and the spas, the Grand Hotel Punto Molino offer is also an excellent chance to explore botanical gardens, castles, old towns and churches and the nearby island of Procida. Staying at the Luxurious Grand Hotel Punto Molino on the Italian Island of Ischia | digitaljournal.com
08072012 The island of Nisida belongs to the archipelago of the Flegree islands. Its circular form is a clear indication of the volcanic origin. Nowadays it is linked to the mainland by a bridge-dyke, from which there is a fine view of the coast to Pozzuoli. In the surrounding waters we can see the submerged park of Gaiola, of both archaeological and environmental interest. The island of Nisida | italia.it
08082012 From the Piazzetta, the pulsating heart of Capri, a pathway festooned with Mediterranean flowers leads to the viewing point from where to see a spectacular view of the Faraglioni rocks and one of the world's most exclusive 5 star properties: Hotel Punta Tragara. Conceived by none other than the great Le Corbusier, Hotel Punta Tragara is one of the boldest works of architecture on the whole island. Le Corbusier and the Faraglioni | italyTraveller
08092012 As a child in Naples, Italy, guitarist Marco Cappelli had little exposure to American surf music—the instrumental guitar-centric dance sound of the early 1960s popularized by the likes of Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, Link Wray and the Ventures featuring Bob Bogle. But, like many of his countrymen, he heard the twangy surf guitar featured in the film music of Luis Bacalov, Ennio Morricone, Carlo Rustichelli and Piero Umiliani, composers who scored Italian spaghetti westerns, gangster flicks and comedies. Catch a Wave | The Wall Street Journal
08102012 I think it’s not a secret that famous American people love Italy and apart those with Italian descends, many of them even decided to buy a home in the Belpaese. But, I was astonished when read a short news about Leonardo Di Caprio who after the purchase of a luxury apartment in Verona, came in my city because is daft about buffalo mozzarella. According to his entourage, the beauty of Titanic would be interested to start an in-house production of mozzarella, which is extremely fond. The Hollywood star is serious, and began to investigate the Campania region, in particular the area of Caserta and Salerno, to find a dairy farm to manage. Leonardo Di Caprio’s mozzarella | Italian Culture
08112012 One of the most prized cheeses in Italy is the mozzarella di bufala. Other forms of mozzarella can be found by different names, but they are made from cow's milk. It is the mozzarella di bufala that reigns supreme on an Italian's dinner table! So much so, that the production of mozzarella di bufala is strictly limited to only seven provinces in Southern Italy. Rigorous guidelines must be followed along with traditional methods in order to display the label "Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP." You know you are getting the 'real deal' when you purchase cheese stamped with this label. Italy's Mozzarella di Bufala Cheese | Travel With Julie
08122012 The Amalfi Coast lemons are iconic. You see them painted on ceramics and tiles, you drink them in the famous limoncello, and you eat them in gelato, cakes and regional pasta dishes. So what makes them so special? Lemons from the Amalfi Coast are larger and sweeter than the lemons we are more commonly familar with. There are two kinds grown in the region.The Sfusato Amalfitano, grown along the Amalfi Coast, is a more elongated lemon with knobby ends. It is a juicier lemon making it perfect for lemoncello. Grown along the Sorrento Coast is the Sfusato Sorrentino, a rounder and bumpier lemon with a meatier pulp, ideal for marmalades and desserts. Amalfi Coast Lemons | Travel With Julie
08132012 Charming hilltop towns, acres of lemon groves and vineyards, mile after mile of stunning cliffs kissed by cobalt-blue waters… its official name is the Amalfi Coast, but this magical land answers to ‘heaven.’ On this trip, you’ll live like one of the region’s (incredibly lucky) locals, discovering the small towns, mountain trails and local customs of this uniquely beautiful place. Explore the ruins of Pompeii in the morning, hike the coastline of the Med by afternoon, and tuck into bed at your converted 17th-century monastery homebase at sundown. Paradise incarnate. Amalfi Coast Local Living | G Adventures
08142012 Villa Rufolo is located in the historic center of Ravello. Built in the 13th century by the wealthy Rufolo family, a member of which was cited by Boccaccio in the Decameron, the villa was also the residence of several popes as well as of Charles of Anjou. It offers a stunning panorama over the Amalfi coast and the Gulf of Salerno. The German opera composer Richard Wagner was so moved by the beauty of the location that he imagined the setting as Klingsor’s enchanted garden in the second act of Parsifal. As a tribute to this inspiration, every year the lower garden of Villa Rufolo hosts a Wagnerian concert. Wagner said he would never have been able to complete his ultimate masterpiece had he not been inspired by its gripping beauty. Villa Rufolo, Ravello, Campania | Slow Italy
08152012 To capture the essence of Procida within the walls of an ultra modern design hotel was never going to be easy, but this is exactly what the owners of La Suite, an exclusive 5 star hotel bang in the center of the smallest island in the Bay of Naples, have done - to perfection. La Suite Hotel & Spa | italyTraveller
08162012 This is one of the palaces of the island, located on the heights of the very popular village. The property has been completely renovated under the guidance of Giampiero Panepinto in the idea of recreating "the atmosphere of a cozy house and embodied with here and there, references to the journey." The former fashion designer become interior chose to inspire Capri, imagining spaces both contemporary and timeless charm imprinted on the island. Capri Tiberio Palace Hotel & Spa | Artravel Magazine
08172012 Most of the Cilento region south of Naples is a national park with stunning rugged scenery lending itself perfectly to a week of horseriding on trails alternately running through ancient villages, olive groves, coastal paths and wild hilltops. The routes offered are suitable for beginner riders through to advanced and for those keen to taste more of Italian culture than horse hair, meals (along with accommodation) are provided at I Moresani, a farm which prides itself on its organic and home-grown produce. Horse riding in Italy | The Guardian
08182012 The Antiche Terme di San Teodoro combine both the well-known therapeutic treatments and a new wide series of services addressed to younger guests to enjoy them together with the quiet, unpolluted and green hills of Irpinia all around. Phylosophy of thermal baths | Terme San Teodoro Villamaina
08192012 A BBC crew has reached the rim of the crater the 1st of May. The aim is to produce a documentary during which it will be discussed about volcanic risk and scientific hypotheses on future eruptions of Vesuvius. Photo featured by an interview with prof. Mastrolorenzo. BBC on the crater | GuideVesuvio.it
08202012 Visit a vineyard at the foothills of the Vesuvius, where vines find nutrients and minerals in the thousand-year old lava, giving its wines particular colors and aromas. Explore the bustling streets of Sorrento, where you will find an extraordinary view of the entire Gulf of Naples. Relive history in Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by volcanic ash for centuries after the devastating eruption of 79 A.D. Discover how local products are made, such as Mozzarella di Bufala and Limoncello, take cooking classes, visit vineyards as you soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant Mediterranean coast. Jewels of the Amalfi Coast Tour | Nada's Italy
08212012 Locally they claim the Greco grape has grown near Naples since 800 B.C. and as you might expect it originally came from Greece – the southern end of the Italian Peninsula was part of the Ancient Greek world until the Romans took over. The soil is very mineral rich and to combat the heat the vines are grown at between 350 and 700 metres above sea level. Another fascinating grape that has been grown in the area for, Fiano is believed to have been the grape used for Apianum one of the famous wines of Ancient Rome. Avellino neighbours Tufo and again the height and mineral rich volcanic soils help counteract the heat to produce beguiling wines. Southern Italy – an eruption of terrific white wines | Quentin Sadler
08222012 The Irpinia tour is a celebration of Italy’s Renaissance with white wines that are produced in Irpinia, Fiano di Avellino and Falanghina. Situated 25 miles east of Naples and resting in the Apennine mountains, Irpinia is home to some of the oldest wineries in Italy. Operator Offers Wine-focused Tours of Italy | Luxury Travel Advisor
08232012 Campania, the rich region around Naples where the Roman nabobs had their villas, was the source of the celebrated Falernian wine, matured in terracotta amphorae for years or even decades. Wine is still made there today: the dark, berryish (and, in truth, rather variable) Falerno del Massico. Savouring wine from southern Italy | The Telegraph
08242012 We boarded the highs-peed ferry from Sorrento to Capri and suddenly I found I had Gracie Fields singing in my head: 'Twas on the Isle of Capri that he found her beneath the shade of an old walnut tree...' When we reached Anacapri, I decided I wanted to see Gracie Fields's house. It is where she lived for most of her life after the Second World War with her husband Boris, a former radio repairman from Romania. She owned La Canzone Del Mare, a swimming and restaurant complex which her home overlooked. It was a place frequented by passing Hollywood stars during the Fifties, with regular guests including Richard Burton, Greta Garbo and Noël Coward. Ferocious quizzes and dropping in on Gracie on a luxury European cruise | Daily Mail
08252012 Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton arrive on the island of Capri in June 1962. The screen stars, who were both married, were guests at Dame Gracie Field’s exclusive hotel on Capri, La Canzone Del Mare. New Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Photo | Lisa's History Room
08262012 The final 24 hours of the Roman city of Pompeii are being relived on Twitter today - exactly 1,933 years after an eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the city beneath a blanket of ash. The minute-by-minute reconstruction of the city's destruction is based on the tale of Pliny the Elder, the Roman scholar and admiral who took command of the city's evacuation. The city's cataclysmic final day will be retweeted as it happened from the Twitter account Elder_Pliny, who has been brought to life by experts from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Final hours of Pompeii retold on Twitter (almost) exactly 1,933 years after Vesuvius eruption | Daily Mail
08272012  Across the bay of Naples from Pompeii, where thousands were incinerated by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, lies a hidden "super volcano" that could kill millions in a catastrophe many times worse, scientists say. The boiling mud and sulphurous steam holes of the area west of Naples known as the Campi Flegrei or Phlegraean Fields, from the Greek word for burning, are a major tourist attraction. But the zone of intense seismic activity, which the ancients thought was the entrance to hell, also could pose a danger of global proportions with millions of people literally living on top of a potential future volcanic eruption. "These areas can give rise to the only eruptions that can have global catastrophic effects comparable to major meteorite impacts," said Giuseppe De Natale, head of a project to drill deep under the earth to monitor the molten "caldera". "Super volcano", global danger, lurks near Pompeii | af.reuters.com
08282012 We are proud to share with you the first published photos of the House of the Telephus Relief at Herculaneum since archaeologists started their reconstruction of its wooden roof and completed studies of its decorated ceiling. Its extravagant decorations make it one of the most prestigious houses in the city, and one that once would have enjoyed spectacular views across the Bay of Naples. On the top floor, the sumptuous dining room with marble wall and floors, was surrounded by a terrace and topped by the multicoloured and gilded wooden ceiling. Raising the roof on the House of the Telephus Relief | Current World Archaeology
08292012 Rossellini, known as much for his colourful love life as for his movies. He filmed in Maiori, and stills from his famous scenes are displayed around the town. Visitors walk the streets recreating the poses of his leading ladies, Ingrid Bergman and Anna Magnani, pretending to star in their own movies. One person who doesn’t need to fake it is former builder Carlo Rumolo. Still sprightly at the age of 100, he was spotted by Rossellini in an amateur dramatics production in the early 1950s. Soon after, he was cast as a police brigadier in The Machine that Kills Bad People, a morality tale about a photographer whose camera has the power to kill. Carlo couldn’t be happier that visitors to Maiori still want to talk about his moment of stardom. ‘It is wonderful to have done something in my life that people care about so much,’ he says with a huge smile. Live the good life on the Amalfi Coast Live the good life on the Amalfi Coast | BBC Travel
08302012 "So why would anyone want to visit Naples? Because the city is magical! When you walk from the West district towards the sea, you see beautiful views and there are many nice places to swim. Naples is full of smells - from flowers, the sea but also from the garbage. Sometimes I recognise a scent when I'm in Milan and it immediately brings me back to Naples. The city is continuously balancing between love and hate, cruelty and holiness. It's like a lift, always going up and down. The landscape is somewhere between flatness and hills, and on the streets the past meets the present. When you visit Naples, you will find that people there are very friendly. If you ask a person on the street for directions, he will probably walk with you to the place, because people cannot speak English. Naples is a port city, so everyone is open to other cultures. All these reasons combined make the city very attractive to artists." Diana Marrone talks about Naples | Mediamatic
08312012 Naples. The largest and most extraordinary ancient center of Europe is an immense, gigantic ruin. Naples is a "Pompeii, which has never been buried," wrote Curzio Malaparte. In older neighborhoods along the Decumani, the ancient history of the city emerges from the catacombs, monuments, churches of every age, unknown masterpieces, palaces undone. City convent and monastic unique in the world, its greatest wealth lies in the numerous churches, chapels, cloisters, speakers with frescoed ceilings, arches, domes, incredible art treasures accumulated over the centuries. Almost everything in between alleys and abandoned homes defaced by graffiti, rubbish dumps and scaffolding that save crumbling walls after the earthquake of 1980. Ornaments and costly furnishings: stolen. In Naples, nothing is normal, the ordinary is extraordinary. Naples, the normal emergency | The Art Newspaper

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

JULY 2012

FORMER MONKS' CELL
















                                                                                                                                                           

07012012 A cluster of buildings sit atop the cliffs of a small rocky island, connected to the much larger island of Ischia by a narrow causeway. It's a perfect natural defensive position – as was obvious to settlers from as early as 1400 BC. Nowadays visitors climb steps (or take the lift, deep in the bowels of the island) to wander around the ruins of the 15th century castle. Come the evening, most return to Ischia – but not all. For the lucky few, the Albergo Il Monastero hotel allows them to stay overnight in this extraordinary location. Hot spot: Castello Aragonese's Albergo Il Monastero | travelbite.co.uk
07022012 I have always found myself overcome by the irony of random displays. I especially love dolls and mannequins,  and the unintentional power these inanimate objects seem to have over me. For some reason, my beloved Naples forever feeds my gluttonous eyes and fascination with these  odd, sometimes unintentional exhibitions… Le bambole di Napoli (The Dolls of Naples): Part 2 | Slam The Local
07032012 On 25th April, Il Giorno della Liberazione (Liberation Day), the citizens of Naples were invited to celebrate the day and the new space by bringing kites to fly. My friends and I were astonished, never having seen a kite in Naples before; how many would there be? We had no need to worry; there were plenty of kites dancing in the cobalt sky and hundreds of families claiming the lungomare back from the cars. Meanwhile everyone has been invited to submit ideas for how best to enjoy and preserve one of the most spectacular coastal walks in the world. Sea Naples and Revive |  ItalianNotebook
07042012 The author designates himself “a traveling citizen,” adapting Walter Benjamin’s phrase, to distinguish himself from vast numbers of “tourists’’ visible and scurrying all around him in Italy. And, this makes way for his next striking observation concerning the spirit of the city. Naples, he tells us, was long a Greek colony, a City of Pagan devotions. From as far back at 1800 B.C, when the Mycenean traders establish themselves at Vivara, an island located between Ischia and Procida, and well into the fourth century B.C. when the Roman dominated, it remained in their hands. Taylor shows us how this spirit pervades it still. He observes that “…Naples was a civilization founded by Hellenes, and ‘Greekness’ has been, despite chances and changes, the living subterranean truth of the place.” It was named by them Parthenope, for the Siren who flung herself into the gulf and washed ashore after Odysseus rejected her. Hats Off to the City of Naples: An Underestimated Work of Art | California Literary Review
07052012 In this readable, entertaining information guide for tourists, Zaragoza takes readers from the heights of Mount Vesuvius to the ruins of Pompeii and beyond. Part atlas, part history lesson, part epicurean review, this comprehensive handbook to Naples is without peer. She knows that anyone who wishes to see “The Sanctuary of Mithras” in Capua needs to see a custodian off premises, where he or she will grab a key and beckon travelers to follow the route to the actual site. It’s tips like these that make this guide so special. Zaragoza starts off with a background history lesson before providing directions to the places she describes—some off-the-beaten-path destinations would be difficult if not impossible to find otherwise. The Espresso Break: Tours and Nooks of Naples, Italy and Beyond | Kirkus Reviews
07062012 Farnese Hercules (a.k.a. Weary Hercules) Roman marble copy after a bronze original, circa 320 BC. The Farnese Hercules is a copy of a lost masterpiece by the Greek sculptor Lysippos. Lysippos was a star of the Late Classical period of Greek art (so much so that Alexander the Great chose him to be his official portraitist) and this is the best-known copy of one of his most famous works. When the colossal statue was displayed at the Palazzo Farnese in Rome from 1545 to 1787, it was considered an essential stop for artists and travelers. So, the next time you're in Naples, go to the Archeological Museum and visit (or revisit) the Alexander Mosaic, the Farnese Hercules, the Farnese Bull and the Doryphoros ('spear bearer") inside. You tell me if you leave thinking about dust bunnies, or with the image of Hercules' fantastically muscled buttocks chiseled into your brain. The Steves Syndrome | The American
07072012 Ferdinando Scianna will disclose his enormous archive to help us build a road map through 25 works of art recounting a chronologically ordered story by images. His story will conclude with the pictures (15 shots) he took when he was staying in Capri; faces, portraits, home interiors and sea views. Irene Kung, a photography artist whose background is in painting, offer a vibrating representation of the mighty landscape and architecture of Capri. The formats are big. The colours are intense and saturated as to allow the power of nature and the power of the images flow in a dialogue. IV Edition of Capri Photography Festival | Fondazione Capri
07082012 There is a range of hotels and guest establishments where you can base yourself – ranging from five-star film celebrity pads to smaller, family-run hotels. It is at one of these, Hotel La Certosella, that I make my home for two nights. At La Certosella, there is a quiet, understated Italian elegance in the decoration of the large double room. With attractive ceramic tiles on the floor (a must in the heat of summer), effective air-conditioning and a top-notch bathroom, the hotel offers everything you could wish for. La Certosella is not like any mainland European chain hotel. It’s on a property which has been there for a century and a half and is more like a family villa, with a cool, well-cared-for garden and a pool deck offering a view of the western side of the island. Capri: Italy’s treasure island | Independent Online
07092012 Prepared by the European Centre for the Study of Normans (CESN), since its establishment, the Museum of Norman Civilization of Ariano Irpino plays - next to the fundamental conservative function – a broader mission and cultural nature. The museum, in fact, has established itself immediately as an effective means of active participation, promoting artistic and cultural development, and the spreading of knowledge. The entrance to the museum in the spring and summer, also allows for a scenic stroll within the city walls and towers of the castle, ending the tour with a stop on the high lookout. Museo della Civiltà Normanna | museincampania.it
07102012 From the South Italian city of Napoli, Carola was a much loved DJ on the Cocoon terrace over the last number of seasons in Ibiza and news of his move to a new, stand alone night, was greeted with surprise but quickly followed by anticipation of what is sure to be an underground Techno treat of pure quality. Fridays Techno Special : Marco Carola Presents Music On @Amnesia | Clubtickets
07102012 My street in Chiaia district of Naples has lots of character, especially now that August holidays are open and everything has reopened... the restoration and upholstery shops, the local cheese shop, wine shop and salumeria, churches at each end of the street, and many small monuments in between... will get out one afternoon and photograph the street... Spoiler alert: I'm thinking my next book will be about... | Blurb
07112012 In a quiet cathedral in Sorrento Italy, 5-year-old Harry Poitras drops to his knees in the pew, clasps his hands, and prays: “Please God, make there be something besides spaghetti and pizza on the menu.” European Travel: Taking the kids to Italy, just for fun | Toronto Star
07122012 One of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world is Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Nestled south of the bustling seaport of Naples, the tiny towns composing this scenic coastline offer some of Italy’s most breathtaking views. The Amalfi coast stretches from the Sorrento Peninsular almost as far as the port of Salerno. The town of Amalfi is in the middle and at the northern end is the scenic town of Positano, with its hundreds of houses, restaurants and hotels built into and on the mountainside. Compared to other tourist sites, the Amalfi Coast gives visitors a real taste of what life is like in Italy’s sun soaked south. 24 hours on the Amalfi Coast | FOX News
07132012 Iain Stewart sees the destruction wrought by Vesuvius in the Roman town of Herculaneum. The town destroyed by Vesuvius | BBC
07142012 The steep walk up a wide, well-maintained trail to the cone of Vesuvius takes 30 minutes, making it the briefest trek of the four volcanoes. Once at the top you can walk around half of the cone while peering directly inside — an experience that is simultaneously captivating (it’s impossible not think of the eruption that buried Pompeii) and forbidding (volcanologists predict Vesuvius will have a major eruption in the future). Hiking Italy, Volcano to Volcano | The New York Times
07152012 A recent study of the Early Bronze Age community of Afragola, buried under ash fall about 3,800 years ago, has given researchers a glimpse into both life on an Early Bronze Age village and how Bronze Age farmers lived and survived with an active volcano in the background. The Campanian plain is a large, flat area in southwestern Italy on the Gulf of Napoli, that contains the modern cities of Naples and Salerno, and the ancient buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. There were at least twenty Bronze Age villages buried in the Vesuvius' eruption of 3760 ± 70 BP. One of the most intensively studied to date is Afragola. Other Vesuvian Eruptions | About.com
07162012 The new TV spot that is titled "Immigrants" tells the tale of the 500's departure from the beautiful Amalfi coast and Sorrento in Italy with several cars jumping into the sea and driving under water all the way to New York City. At the same time, we're listening to the sounds of a popular Italian song called 'Torna a Surriento,'(Come Back to Sorrento) sung by international artist, Arianna and composed by Flavio Ibba. New Fiat 500 Ad: The Next Wave of Italian Immigrants Has Come to America | Carscoop
07172012 "Amalfi Blue, lost & found in the south of Italy," is a story of self discovery. Author Lisa Fantino lost her heart and soul along the magical Amalfi Coast and found herself along the way. It's a true story of love and lust, men and women, friendships and family, death and re-birth, set in some of the most beautiful locations in Europe. Toss in kidnapping, intrigue, hot salsa nights and sex and you've got passion, Italian style. Join Lisa as she shares what it takes to live la vita bella. Amalfi Blue Benvenuti | Wanderlust Women Travel
07182012 Located in Praiano, a fishing village between Amalfi and Positano, Villa Mida is a two story property just 1.3 km from the center of a fully equipped town. Its privileged position, high above the coastline, grants spectacular views. The trendy style of Villa Mida is felt in the mixing luxury fabrics and splashes of color with contemporary and sophisticated pieces. Villa Mida | Bravo Holiday Residences
07192012 We sunbathed and swam our way around the Amalfi Coastline from Agerola to Positano between the 14th and 18th June. Below you will find all our favourite Instagram photos, travel tips and places we visit during our trip to help you plan your next trip to the Amalfi Coast. Live Blogging from the Amalfi Coast | Four Jandals
07202012 The Amalfi Coast - the perfect place to unwind after exploring Italy's cities. Hostels in Amalfi Coast | Hostelworld.com
07212012 Our pizza making class shows kids, step-by-step, how to mix, knead and roll out the dough. A variety of pizzas are made using local seasonal ingredients, along with local antipasto and a dessert. Everyone enjoys the pizza together after the lesson. Kids will also learn a little history on where and how the first pizza was made in Naples. Chef Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan chef and baker, created a special pizza for the Queen Margherita. Using tomato, mozzarella, and basil, in the colors of the Italian flag – red, white & green, he named it Margherita. To date, the Pizza Margherita is Italy’s most popular. Kids Cooking Programs | Cooking Vacations
07222012 The Hotel Caruso, in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, offers a breathtaking range of possibilities for our guests. Very spacious rooms, each room with its own unique style. The furniture reflects Neapolitan style and tradition and has been exclusively created for Hotel Caruso; some rooms also feature antique 18th and 19th-century pieces. The hotel has a panoramic heated pool. The fully equipped fitness centre provides everything you need to maintain your exercise routine away from home. At the Wellness Centre, guests enjoy superb treatments by Aromatherapie and Maria Galland. Hotel Caruso 5 stars luxury | italyTraveller
07232012 In the summer of 1962, at the invitation of writer Gore Vidal, Jackie Kennedy - the wife of JFK - took her children to Ravello for a three-week holiday on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Among her favourite activities was driving down to Conca dei Marini to waterski (this was a gift for paparazzi who followed her). One of the thousands of pictures of Jackie that filled the Italian papers that summer is on the wall of the bar of the Monastero Santa Rosa; it captures the First Lady effortlessly riding the waves with impressive style. Oh Amalfi: The return of Monastero Santa Rosa, Jackie Kennedy's Italian hideaway | Daily Mail
07242012 The name Villa Cimbrone comes from the rocky ridge on which it stands known as “cimbronium.” Englishman Ernest William Beckett, Lord Grimthorpe, purchased the property in 1904 after his grand tour –– a trip through Europe the sons of Englishmen of the time took to see the world and finish their education. Lord Grimthorpe sought to create a garden for the villa like no other. He consulted a French botanist for the choice of the trees and plants for the flowerbeds. According to recent studies, the English writer and gardener Vita Sackville-West may have helped plan the garden. She was a friend and admirer of the English garden designer Gertrude Jekyll, whose numerous books line the shelves of the villa’s private library. Jekyll represented the latest fashion for the English garden at the turn of the 19th century, especially with her herbaceous borders. Today the park-like garden covers what seemed acres. Thomas Mickey: An English garden on Italy’s Amalfi Coast | Chronicle-Express
07252012 It has an impressive list of former guests. Goethe, the Duke of Wellington and Shelley are among those who have graced La Cocumella with its presence. Even in 1825, when it opened as a hotel, the building was well-established. In fact it is the oldest building on the entire Sorrento peninsula, having been originally constructed as a Jesuit monastery in 1597. We were lucky enough to visit on the evening of a concert taking place in the cloister, the hotel's largest indoor space. The acoustic is excellent, allowing audience members to hear even the subtlest performances from a distance. La Cocumella has a reputation for its musical programme: as well as a series of early season concerts it also offers further events in September organised by a local impresario. Hot spot: Grand Hotel La Cocumella | travelbite.co.uk
07262012 Nocelle is one of the access points for the Sentiero degli Dei, or Path of the Gods, perhaps the most spectacular of the ancient footpaths that criss-cross the hills here. You could start the walk in Positano but you need to climb a lot of steps from Positano to get to Nocelle and the view is just as good from the bus. From Nocelle, the walk heads out into the pristine hillside and from here it's only about two hours until you finish in the village of Bomerano, rather than closer to four. Walkers enjoy gorgeous views of the coastline and its scalloped bays. Along the way, the terrain changes from lemon groves to scrubby hillsides to shady glens to terraced vineyards. Splendour by the sea | The Age
07272012 The non-stop presence of the green woodlands on each plateau, the wonderful views you can enjoy from the summits of Montevergine, Vallatrone, Toppola Grande and Ciesco Alto over the Gulf of Naples, the town of Avellino, and the Plain of Noli, enchant the tourist visiting Partenio. Discovering Partenio means reliving the emotions of a millenary history in symbiosis with Nature! In the Heart of Campania, A Trail between Nature and Man | Parks.it
07282012 Luckily for those of us who love Rosé, low demand means high supply at low prices, so it's often possible to get some of the best wines available at $15 or less. We had the opportunity to taste three great examples recently. The most delicate and easiest to drink was Terredora di Paolo's Rosæ­novae ($15), a delightful Italian wine from the Campania area. It's made from the free run juice of the Aglianico grape. This method provides the least amount of violence to the grape, and offers a light, fragrant drink ideal for a hot summer evening. Favorite Rosés for the Summer | Austin Chronicle
07292012 Sorrento coastline, the island of Capri and the Amalfi coast, which are Campania’s jewels, abound in the terrace cultivations of lemons which make the scenery even more colourful, and since the 19th century, there is proof of the tradition of offering the blend made out lemon known as limoncello to visitors and nobles that passed by the coast. In Capri, Sorrento and Amalfi, there are many legends and stories on the origin of this liqueur; some say the limoncello is as ancient as lemon cultivation itself. Others say that it was used by fishermen and farmers to fight off the cold of the morning. Some others say that the recipe was originated in a monastery. How about some limoncello? | Bit Community
07302012 Day 1: Coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice on the sunny Piazza San Domenico close to the apartment. Following Patrick through the back streets and marvelling at the extravagance of the Baroque churches. Eating vast quantities of gelato. A late afternoon climb up to San Martino to visit the museum and macabre charterhouse cloisters. Naples - a couple of weeks ago. |  sarahhickson
07312012 About 40,000 years ago, a huge volcanic eruption west of what is now Naples, Italy, showered ash over much of central and Eastern Europe. Some researchers have suggested that this super-eruption, combined with a sharp cold spell that hit the Northern Hemisphere at the same time, created a “volcanic winter” that did in the Neandertals. Humans Blamed for Neanderthal Extinction | Wired