DECEMBER 2016

PARSIFAL'S MAGIC GARDEN 

12012016 It was only when Richard Wagner arrived in Ravello, perched above the Amalfi Coast, that he decided that the gardens of the Villa Rufolo here resembled what his imagination told him Klingsor’s garden looked like. In the Footsteps of Wagner: Writing 'Parsifal' in Italy | WQXR
12022016 An Agriturismo is a farm or vineyard in Italy where you stay on the property and have wonderful meals made from the products of the farm .. Villa Maria on the Amalfi Coast is primarily a Lemon Farm, but Vincenzo has Olive Trees (Olive Oil), Fruit Trees (Peaches, Pears, Apples), and Grapevines. My Trip Capri Positano Napoli The Amalfi Coast | Daniel Bellino Zwicke
12032016 Maison Cilento 1780 is known for its “special” ties, which pay tribute to the Neapolitan tradition and history. The company is preparing to launch a new perfume line. “There are five fragrances inspired by some of our products like the seven-fold tie, or important places for us like Passeggio di Chiaia.  Maison Cilento 1780 launching five Naples-inspired artisanal fragrances | ItalyEurope24
12042016 Travellers flying into Naples with EasyJet can visit the archaeological museum in Naples and the archaeological area at Paestum for half the usual ticket price under a joint initiative of the Italian culture ministry and the low-cost carrier. 'Culture flies' to Naples with EasyJet-ministry initiative | ANSAmed
12052016 The planet’s top pie-making school in Naples teaches 300 years of Italian technique. The normal course of study at Coccia’s Pizza Consulting school in Naples lasts for a month. Learning to Make the Best Pizza in the World | Bloomberg
12062016 Pasta con patate e cozze – pasta with potatoes and mussels – is a dish typical of Ischia, a small, volcanic island in the gulf of Naples. This way of cooking pasta is similar to that of risotto – in fact, it is called risottare la pasta. A mouthwatering mussels with potato and pasta recipe from southern Italy | The Guardian
12072016 Q. How would you describe your style of cooking? A. Experimental. I take whatever knowledge I have gained during my travels and applied it to my food. For example, I took inspiration from Asian cuisine and fused it with Neapolitan style and created a Neapolitan sushi! Q&A: Italian Michelin chef Paolo Gramaglia on what inspires him and the food he loves | The National
12082016 Wall paintings at an old brothel in Pompeii have revealed some raunchy secrets. The numerous paintings depict group sex as well as other acts. Pornographic Pompeii wall paints reveal the raunchy services offered in ancient Roman brothels 2,000 years ago | The Sun
12092016 The Monastero Santa Rosa is far less glammed out than most of the Amalfi Coast’s luxury hotels. When A-listers come to stay, they usually request the Citrus Suite - the hotel’s most expensive room, and the only one with a private terrace. The Most Expensive Suite at Monastero Santa Rosa on the Amalfi Coast | Architectural Digest
12102016 Pozzuoli is a beautiful city of Naples located in the Campania region and also the main city of the Phlegrean Peninsula. This fabulous old town was created in 530 BC and was the first harbor of the Roman Empire. Naples Yacht Charter Guide – All You Need to Know | Cruising Sea
12112016 Returning back in the direction of the Solfatara volcano, fishermen work their nets in boats and sell live fish and octopus at the port town of Pozzuoli. Restaurants along the water provide a perfect stop for lunch or dinner. Spaghetti Vongole (pasta with clams) is a classic regional dish on most menus. The Phlegraean Fields: A Family Excursion to the Gates of Hell | GoNOMAD.com Travel
12122016 The day was finished off in style as we were fed a lavish dinner in the evening at Gli Ulivi restaurant. Having explored the Ischia’s mountains, spas and town centre, the final full day of the trip took us out on the Tyrrhenian sea, as we boarded the Gioia boat for a six-hour trip around the island. Ischia – an Italian island steeped in history, luxury and Limoncello | The Jewish News
12132016 The 2014 Terredora di Paolo Irpinia Falanghina is forcefully persistent in sexy aromas and rich, sensuous notes of honeysuckle, ripe pineapple, red apple and peach marmalade, along with a hint of forest pine - but it’s the very bright acidity of young mango and accents of green olive, white pepper and bitter citrus rind on the finish that really gives it a kick and extra thrust. Great Wine: Terredora di Paolo Irpinia Falanghina | The Corkscrewer Report
12142016 A good introduction to Italy’s best white wines is fiano, which hails mostly from southern Italy’s Campania region. Its lemony acidity and medium weight makes it versatile with most dishes, especially pasta creations with nuts or basil, both of which are also signature scents in the wine. 6 Amazing Italian Wines To Drink Right Now | Maxim
12152016 On the way, the ferry to Positano only stops in Amalfi, but we had fun trying to identify the villages along the coast from a distance. The first of course being Vietri Sul Mare that shone white in the morning sun just a short distance from the port of Salerno. My 12 euro cruise along the Amalfi Coast | Italian  Notes
12162016 Most people are aware that Vesuvius’s eruption in 79AD. However, every ash-cloud has a silver lining, and such is the miracle of agriculture that, once molten lava has cooled for a couple of hundred years, volcanic soils provide excellent nourishment for vine roots. So destruction becomes transmuted into a rather nicer liquid. Sipping the wines that grew from molten lava | New Statesman
12172016 Put on your most comfortable footwear and go for a jog by belvedere la Migliera along the Via Migliera footpath. Discover the stunning coastal path that winds past Capri's ancient block houses, amidst vineyards and woodlands with views of the sea peeking through at every turn. An Insider's Guide To Capri | HuffPost Travel
12182016 Spaghetti alle vongole is a light and tasty dish of Neapolitan tradition which has long won the hearts of Italians from north to south. It is not a difficult recipe, but to prepare it properly, as they say in Naples, we must unveil its secret. A recipe from the sea: spaghetti alle vongole | Let It Wine
12192016 It covers an area of ​​134 hectares. It looks like a forest interspersed with extensive meadows, valleys dotted with small streams and areas rich in quarries, a typical feature of the hills in Naples. The area adjacent to the Museo di Capodimonte is characterized by wide meadows with different plant species. Parco di Capoldimonte | ViaggiArt
12202016 Luigi Moio’s Quintodecimo is sort of a balance between the old and the new world. If wine is an expression of the land it comes from, then it is certainly also a reflection of the winemaker. In this regard, Moio’s full line of wines, most notably the Exultet (named after Echezeaux, his favorite wine), is amazing. Irpinia is the new Tuscany | Feast on History
12212016 This tiny drinking den in the old working-class “Spanish Quarter” of Naples is as basic as they come, but it’s always packed, and the overspill of students and arty types fills the narrow street outside. Prices are absurdly low: an Aperol spritz – served in a plastic cup – is €1. Naples: what to see, plus the best restaurants, bars and hotels | The Guardian
12222016 “There are 14 stages in the making of a pair of gloves and everything is done by hand”. In Naples we make our way to one factory, located down a steep alleyway off a street near Capodimonte (also famous for porcelain) where Rosaria, a fourth generation artisan runs the business. Glove affair: The journey of luxury leather goods from Naples to Dublin | Irish Times Life & Style
12232016 Painting for the Fondazione Alfonso Gatto which was one of the most important 20th century Italian poets and born in Salerno. The foundation asked Alice Pasquini to create a work inspired by his poetry.  The Italian artist Greenpino painted the words of his poetry on the steps, while she painted the walls of the staircase. Alice Pasquini paints a new piece in Salerno, Italy | StreetArtNews
12242016 Volcanic soils with the unique indigenous varietals and the peculiar climate conditions (over 200 days of rain per year), make Irpinia a wonderful terroir for both white and red wines.  Campania is probably one of the most interesting regions for white wines. Campania Food & Wine Pairing; Mussels with Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina | Vino Travels
12252016 “The book will explore the broad cultural, political and economic currents that link the stories of the three palace built by King Charles of Bourbon ­at Caserta, Capodimonte and Portici” Robin Thomas, specialized in Baroque architectural history,  explained. Art history professor conducts research at Caserta | Penn State
12262016 Furore is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It’s famous mainly because of the Fjord – a small crack in the rocks, an ancient gorge that was a hidden place for the bandits in the past. Fiordo di Furore | Unusual Places
12272016 Lemons are at the heart of everything on the Amalfi Coast. Lace makers embroider lemon motifs on aprons, artisans mold them into soap, chefs infuse them into antipastos to desserts and the general populace considers them a cure - all for colds, as a well as a natural energy booste. Positano – Lemon Oil (Natural Handcrafted Soap) | Natural Handcrafted Handmade Soap Company
12282016 "Set like an eagle's nest above the dizzying landscape of the coast, Ravello is the most peaceful and charming resort on the Neapolitan Riviera," says Telegraph Travel's Joanna Symons. Escape the tourist hordes: 21 Italian gems you never thought to visit | The Telegraph
12292016 In the 1950s the Attolinis made Neapolitan-style suits for a number of high-profile clients, including such Hollywood celebrities. By that time, word was getting out. For those seeking expertly tailored clothing, Naples was the place to go. An Insider Look at Neapolitan Style - Both Past and Present | Robb Report
12302016 Alongside the giggling teens that head to the main square on Vespas for gelato at sunset are old men with craggy faces adorning the benches, happy to while away the hours watching the evening passeggiata (walk). Welcome to glamorous Sorrento. Step right in and join the throng. Vespas, vistas and villas in Sorrento | Daily Express
12312016 When people think of Italy and romance, most think of the Tuscany region or Rome. But Sorrento and Capri remain for me among the top spots for lovers. Swept off your feet by Sorrento and Capri | Detroit Free Press