APRIL 2012

GET MARRIED IN RAVELLO

04012012 Italy is top of so many of our travel bucket lists, so obviously we couldn’t resist sharing this sweet Ravello Destination wedding with you. It’s simple – just two people professing their love to each other in the sweetest way. The town of Ravello is made up of gardens, small cobble stone alleyways, birds singing, roosters crowing in the morning, church bells in the distant hills, beautiful cliff side gardens and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Amalfi Coast Wedding Film from Life Stage Films | Style Me Pretty
04022012 We've stayed at some of the best hotels in the world and in our opinion, Palazzo Sasso ranks as being in our top 3 favorite hotels.  Its' really hard to find ANY flaws.  My wife and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary at the hotel complete with a ceremony renewing our vows and a whirlwind "fashion shoot" by Gianni, an amazing local photagrapher that we hired for the ceremony. Ravello..the Beverly Hills of the Amalfi Coast. |  MyLALifestyle.com
04032012 Villa Rufolo is named after the family that built it, the Rufolo family. The architecture is a perfect fusion of Arabic, Sicilian and Norman design. One of the major aspects of the villa is the Torre Maggiore, a large tower of thirty meters that looms over the town and the sea. It was built to signify the wealth and prominence of the Rufolo family. The gardens of the villa are also notably one of the most beautiful in the world and are said to be the inspiration for Richard Wagner’s opera “Parsifal”. They are full of cypresses and exotic plants and flowers.  It is also home to the famous Ravello Festival, a series of concerts held in the villa as well as other sites around Ravello. Talented musicians and performers travel from around the world to perform for guests under a sky full of stars and a backdrop of jagged coastline. A Magical Place Called Villa Rufolo in Ravello | Italia Living
04042012 Our fabulous London-based Venetian architect, Alvise Orsini, has helped me select the most dreamy handcrafted silken chandeliers from Aqua Creations to illuminate both of my shops at Le Sirenuse. Aqua Creations is a small (and quite young) specialized company in Tel Aviv, producing innovative and highly unique lighting (along with some equally intriguing seating), ranging from incandescent organic globes (like our chosen “9 Palms” design, above) to fantastical ambient sea-creature-like shapes. Aqua Creations | Sirenuseblog.com
04052012 Formerly the property of opera director Fanco Zeffirelli, Villa Tre Ville is a unique villa that is available for rent. Nestled between the village of Positano and Hotel San Pietro, the property offers a spectacular view of the sea spread over four private deluxe villa buildings and plenty to keep entertained. If you’re looking for a nice place to relax for cocktails and other drinks, look no further than the Salone Bianco. Done in the Positano style, the Salone was designed by Renzo Mongiardino and includes white ceramics made by Scotto of Vietri sul Mare. Syrian mother-of-pearl furniture that once belonged to Zeffirelli decorates the Salone. Dine, Drink and Daydream at Villa Tre Ville | Haute Living Magazine
04062012 Procida is less well-known than Capri and other islands in the glorious Bay of Naples, chiefly favored by Italians, a scant 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland and barely a half square mile in size. On Easter weekend, though, the ferries are full because Procida’s Mysteries of the Dead Christ processional—begun in 1754 as a macabre march of flagellants—is one of the most colorful in Italy. Good Friday Festivities on Procida | The Constant Traveler
04072012 If Americas Cup Naples wasn’t already big enough, a number of events and free concerts have been planned for the Event Village and around the city during the week of America’s Cup. The festivities kick off with the inauguration of the Public Event Village at Villa Comunale on the morning of Saturday April, 7th with an inauguration and ribbon cutting ceremony and the passage of the Tricolor Arrows. That evening, Roy Paci e Aretuska will perform a live concert in the historic Cassa Armonica at Villa Comunale. The America’s Cup Naples Opening Ceremony will be held in Piazza del Plebiscito on the evening of Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, Jazz musicians Enrico Rava e Julian Oliver Mazzarello will perform live at the Cassa Armonica in Villa Comunale. Countdown to Americas Cup | Napoli Unplugged
04082012 Another view of Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Tour Day 5, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast | Peggy's Photos
04092012 Fortunately, looking for holiday reading my 16-year old had spotted Mary Beard's Pompeii (an award-winning book that became a TV series), which is rich in absorbing detail and this helped to whet young appetites and arouse curiosity. No youth hostel: we stayed at Sorrento, at the other end of bite-shaped Bay of Naples from the city itself, within sight of Vesuvius. Around the corner of the promontory is the lovely Amalfi coast, offshore the much-sung Isle of Capri, and the Emperor Augustus had a holiday villa in Sorrento, part of it in the grounds of our hotel , the sedately magnificent Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. The Edwardians loved Sorrento and you can see why. The view across the bay to the volcano turned even a salty sailor like Horatio Nelson into a romantic - he wooed Emma Hamilton away from her husband, the British ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples. Pomp and splendour | Mail Online
04102012 They are the new faces of an old folk tradition, but they are also part of an unrivaled sideshow of music freaks. This is the new generation of new melodic singers from Naples: a boundless battalion of the youngest performers of the local melodic taste, trying to replicate Nino D'Angelo's fame which burst on to the scene in the 90's. Alessio, Raffaello, Rosario, Nancy and Fortuna grew up watching local Tv programmes, dreaming of being part of the dream factory that is show business. Naples. Neomelodici: the new music circus | Storee.se
04112012 In 1325 Charles, Duke of Calabria began construction on what is now one of the richest monuments in Naples, the monastery of San Martino. The extensive layout of the place, serenely ensconced just below the massive Castel Sant’Elmo, is nothing less than palatial, boasting two fine cloisters and a dazzling array of architectural and artistic wonders. Certosa di San Martino | DK Travel
04122012 "This collection for Macy's captures the essence of the Italian summer lifestyle and is at the same time true to my style,” said Alberta Ferretti. “I imagine a sensual woman that was joyfully elegant and unequivocally Italian. I am happy that Maria Carla’s unique style, Ellen Von Unwerth’s modern eye, and the fairy-tale atmosphere of Positano made my imagination become real. I'm glad I had the opportunity to give a solar, fresh and joyful Italian dream to the customers of Macy's and I believe that these items will become staple dresses in their wardrobe.”
04132012 Il Costa Torre is a former Saracen tower dating back to the 15th century. It’s located along the Amalfi Coast about 2 km from Maiori, in a dominating position sheer above the sea. This property provides a fantastic atmosphere.It stretches from the panoramic coastal road right down to the sea. As you descend, you will discover a delightful and perfectly-tended Mediterranean garden full of surprises: from the Jacuzzi located on a terrace ledge, suspended between the sea and the sky, to a sauna hidden behind a rock that looks onto a beautiful inlet of the Mediterranean. Il Costa Torre | RentaVilla Europe
04142012 The journey starts in Cava de’ Tirreni: the perfect starting point for your journey and an ideal way in to the coastal walks towards the marine villages of Vietri sul Mare and Cetara. Tramonti, a pleasant location of Amalfi Coast untouched by mass tourism, is embedded in an interesting rural surroundings and it is perfect to live a peaceful sojourn enjoying wonderful atmosphere, traditional food and renowned local wine. Highlights & Backroads of the Amalfi Coast - Hiking tour | Much Better Adventures
04152012 In the vast choice of Sorrento restaurants Italy, stands for color and originality the restaurant Aurora Light, one of the few light restaurants in Sorrento, located in the central Piazza Tasso. If, however, to the tantalizing flavor of the Aurora Light dishes adds the class and elegance of the great wines in large format, here are ready the evenings "The colors of Aurora Light & the Magnum of Canonico 1898". Three themed evenings dedicated to the primary colors and fine wines of the Canonico. When the color meets the wine in Sorrento | Sorrento Plares
04162012 Asprinio has very particular viticultural and vinification traditions The grape variety is grown on local poplar trees and can rise up to 30-45 feet in the air. The vines grow up the trees and then are bent onto wires that are strung between the poplars. This was apparently an Etruscan technique. This vine wall is quite a sight. This system is called vite maritate (married vines). In order to pick these grapes, the growers have to climb very high in the air on thin ladders called scale napoletane (Neapolitan ladders). Asprinio, a Grape That Has Been Made Into Wines for 2000 + Years | Alta Cucina Inc
04172012 The 1934 taurasi is a deeply pitched, intense wine that boasts incredible richness considering its 76 years of age. Dried prunes, leather, tobacco, licorice and spices are woven together in this fully esolved Taurasi. Even though the 1934 is full of tertiary aromas it also retains just enough freshness to keep things interesting. Sweet scents of pipe tobacco linger on the harmonious finish. This is an unbelievable bottle. Mastroberardino Taurasi 1934 | csp.skynetblogs.be
04182012 The culinary story of well-coiffed grandmother of six Maria Caputo begins on her family's farm in Taurasi, near Naples, in Italy's Campania region. She began to cook aged nine. By 10, she could mostly do it all herself. Caputo is among a number Italian families in Canberra who keep the family traditions alive. Nonnas doing it the old way | Canberra Times
04192012 On the America's Cup World Series Naples final day Chris Draper led his Luna Rossa crew to a thrilling win in the final fleet race, collecting 50 points for his efforts to vault up the leaderboard and win the AC World Series Naples Fleet Racing Championship. The victory kicked off celebrations among the tens of thousands of Italian America’s Cup fans lining the Naples waterfront to catch a glimpse of their heroes. Thrilling win for Luna Rossa | Sail-World.com
04202012 Quite simply, the AC World Series hit a new level in Naples. On and off the water. On the water, the racing was phenomenal. There were nine crews competing, the same as in the first three events, but the addition of the two Luna Rossa crews raised the competitive bar considerably. Clearly, Chris Draper and his Luna Rossa Piranha team, despite protestations to the contrary, arrived in Naples ready to challenge the series leaders. With a win in the Fleet Racing Championship and a second place finish behind Artemis Racing in the Match Racing, the new Italian team served notice there's another crew to be reckoned with at the top. If the competition on the water was at an all-time high, off the water, Naples was a mind-blowing experience. The crowds were like nothing previously seen at an AC World Series event (or indeed, other sailing events). Organizers estimated crowds of over 500,000 through the Race Village over the course of the event (and more than double that along the extended waterfront), including a massive turnout on the holiday Easter Monday and again on the final Sunday. Reflection on Naples | America's Cup
04212012 I love starting the day at Pignasecca Market–buckets full of glistening fish, baskets overflowing with friarielli, those tasty bitter greens, and big, full operatic voices all around. Panificio Vincenzo Coppola (Via Pignasecca 35) is a favorite stop for taralli, studded with almonds. Then to slip into the Santa Maria della Concezione a Montecalvario and light a candle…ah, the drama! Lunch at Trattoria Nennella (Vico Lungo Teatro Nuovo 103, closed Sun). I’ve never seen a menu here. Nennella’s son bellows out what mamma’s cooking–from lasagna to gnocchi alla sorrentina. It’s homey and delicious and there’s always going to be a laugh watching this family in action. Golden Day Sixty-Three: The Spanish Quarter of Naples | Golden Days in Italy
04222012 This magnificent Tower hugs the shore line of the Amalfi Coast just outside Positano on the beach of Fornillo and its 13th century origins are typical of this area and its Saracen history, but one of its more recent owners was a real Princess! Hence the name: Torre Principessa. Its original pentagonal shape makes it one of the truly outstanding properties on the Amalfi Coast. In the 1920’s Gilbert Clavel a renowned Swiss contemporary architect and writer embraced this largely destroyed historic tower and nurtured it back to life with his innovative and artistic flair, filling it with his signature wooden furniture and colourful well known celebrities like Pablo Picasso, Cocteau, Depero and many others. It became a well known haven for the creative elite! Torre Principessa | Amanda Tabberer
04232012 The following image was taken as we approached the island of Capri. It can be seen in the distance across the bow of the boat where my two daughters rode with a couple of the people that traveled with us. The Mediterranean Sea was calm and beautiful, at times a deep blue and at other times a brilliant turquoise, and the island of Capri was rugged with mountains and cliffs that dropped into the sea. From Positano by Boat to Capri and Back to Positano | Stephen L Tabone Nature Photography
04242012 The tour boat rounded a bend. “Look up there,” the driver told us. “That’s the Punta Tragara, the fanciest and best hotel on the island.” Everyone looked up at the grand orange palace, all jutting balconies and terraces, perched on the top of one of Capri’s highest spots. The Punta Tragara is magnificent. It’s a Capri classic, built in 1920 as a private villa on the suggestion of Le Corbusier. During WWII it was used as a headquarters for the American command and in 1968, it was bought by one Count Manfredi and turned into the hotel it is today, bar a few changes, such as updated rooms and a spa. On top of the world at Capri’s Punta Tragara | City A.M.
04252012 It was a honeymoon destination for Greek shipowner Aristotile Onassis and his bride, Jacqueline Kennedy; a playground and movie set for screen goddesses Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren; a magnet for artists and writers such as Graham Greene and W. Somerset Maugham. Today's see-and-be-seen crowd includes Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts and supermodel Naomi Campbell. Every year, nearly a quarter-million vacationers join the glitterati, squeezing onto the 2-by-4-mile island, mostly in July and August. So many people pack Capri's winding cobblestone streets and rocky beaches each summer that some travel guides, such as Fodor's and Rick Steves, dismiss it. But there is a way to avoid the madness: See it in May or September. Getting the timing right for Capri, Italy | latimes.com
04262012 In most of the world, scheduling a concert for 6 a.m. would be eccentric, to say the least. Not so on Capri, the idyllic island in Italy’s Gulf of Naples whose natural beauty has drawn gatherings since Roman times. Finally, after negotiating a series of steep stone steps down the side of a cliff, we arrived at the candlelit Matermània Grotto, a cavern half open to the night sky, where traces of an ancient Roman shrine are still visible. In antiquity, this had been a nymphaeum, or shrine to water nymphs, decorated with marble statues and glass mosaics, artificial pools and seashells. Legend holds that the grotto was also a place for the worship of Cybele, the pagan goddess of the earth, known as Magna Mater, or Great Mother, who gave it its name. The Lure of Capri | Smithsonian Magazine
04272012 The dark-red bullet-shaped "Italo" trains are run by NTV, a company headed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo who wants to take a quarter of the market from state rail network Trenitalia, the biggest employer in the country. "Italo has arrived, the competition has kicked off," NTV told its first passengers on an inaugural trip from Rome to Naples as they admired interiors that included a cinema carriage, leather seats and panoramic windows. Italy launches Europe's first private high-speed train | theSundaily
04282012 Italy's burgundy red Ferrari on rails is finally going into service. Starting on April 28, the "Italo" will travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour between Milan, Rome and Naples. The new high-speed train is more environmentally friendly and also cheaper than its competitors - on both the rails and roads. Private 'Italo' Train - Italy Introduces Ferrari on Rails | Spiegel Online
04292012 Since Queen Margherita put her name to Naples' signature dish in the late 19th century, the pizza has spread through the world with a success that even Joolz Caesar himself couldn't match. Then we absolutely can't do the same for some of Britain's best-known food brands whose new toppings make Jamie's Union Jacks look like Naples' legendary pizzeria Michele..."We do [adhere to the Neapolitan rules] where we think it's necessary," he tells me. "In Naples it's literally like a religion, if your pizza is not made with the right flour or the right tomatoes, cheese and oven at the right temperature –they don't count it as pizza." Trending: Pizza - death by a thousand slices | The Indipendent
04302012 I turned up at Da Michele just as they opened at 10.30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. At midday, the place can be a zoo, but in the morning it's very quiet. It's an ordinary looking place and the moment I saw an old man who later introduced himself as Luigi Condurro, dressed in a shirt, tie and white jacket, stoking the wood fired oven, I knew the place wasn't a tourist trap. After my first bite, I had to stifle a laugh. The look on my face as I ate this remarkable pie must have been one of shear bliss. I couldn't stop smiling. I've never taken ecstasy but both Leo and I were sort of overcome with happiness as we savored the perfect blend of crust, sauce and Buffalo mozzarella. "This pizza is outrageous!" my son said, and he was right. It was ridiculously good. The sauce was sweet and a bit tangy, just right. Da Michele Pizzeria In Naples: Is This Really The World's Best Pizza? | Gadling

MARCH 2012

VESUVIUS BEYOND

03012012 A sprawling metropolis in one of the world’s most beautiful natural settings,Naples is a city of contrasts. Combining more than its fair share of Italy’s artistic and cultural riches with high levels of noise and chaos, the capital of Campania province is the kind of place where magnificent palazzi crumble beside busy roads, and a priceless Caravaggio hangs in a shabby church guarded only by a snoozing caretaker. Look one way and there’s Mount Vesuvius. Look the other, and Capri shimmers on the horizon. Above your head, washing hangs like flags between the cliff-like rows of apartments, while a Greco-Roman street remains intact underground after 2000 years. Slick Chiaia and middle-class Vomero are refuges from the anarchic alleys of Spaccanapoli, Naples’ centre. Further up the bay, the upper-crust of Neapolitan society live on Posillipo’s cliff. Head in the other direction and you reach Pompeii, that unique city of the dead. Nowhere, like Naples | Delicious
03022012 The region of Campania was an important point of intersection between the cultures of antiquity. As the center of the Greek colonial presence in mainland Italy, Campania later became a focus for Roman interest in Hellenistic culture. For educated individuals like Cicero, Seneca and Pliny the Younger, the region was associated with artistic and intellectual pursuits, but also with the pursuit of luxury and excess. The purpose of this panel is to prompt new inquiries into Campania’s distinctive multicultural identity. Campanian Cultures: Poetics, Location and Identity | rogueclassicism
03032012 The brilliant colours, the energy, the wildness, the sheer sensory overload of Naples make Palermo - until now my personal gold standard for the most attractive example of chaotic urban vitality - seem, by comparison, as orderly and restrained as Zurich. One hears stories and warnings about petty crime in Naples, but though tourists should never flash valuables, I never felt unsafe in the city. If I were staying a month in Naples, I could happily spend whole days wandering up and down the Via dei Tribunali, the lively and congested street that for part of its length follows the course of the central decumanus of the ancient city, along the route that led past the Greek agora and the Roman forum. High art is the Naples diet | Brisbane Times
03042012 Naples was the best walk of my life; it was so fun and amazing. It made me feel at home because there weren’t thousands of tourists and it wasn’t very loud. On the walk I saw markets that sold different kinds of fish from which they get from their coast. Then came time for tasting pastries at the bakery fried Graffa was so delicious it reminded me of donuts from home. I also had the chance to experience a Gothic church (Basilica di Santa Chiara) and a Baroque church (Gesù Nuovo) that were right across from each other. The difference between the two churches was very noticeable. In the Baroque church everything was so huge and fancy with detailed decoration that will take someone years to analyze. As I was walking around, I began to see beautiful graffiti everywhere. Some people may get mad about it, but to me it’s art and a way of expression. I ended up taking pictures of most of them and found a new topic that intrigued me. St. Hope travel scholarship | Context Foundation
03052012 An awesome pop song about the destruction of Pompeii. The video has lots of lava, models of body molds and dancing skeletons. As a bonus prize, we also get Budgie painted white doing interpretive dance about what it's like to have hot ash fill your mouth. Goths heart old stuff. Need I say more? Music to Dig By: Souxsie and the Banshees, 'Cities in Dust' | Archaeopop
03062012 Mezzatorre Resort & Spa is a stunning establishment situated in Forio d'Ischia, at the end of the island Ischia's San Montano Bay and within easy reach of the town of Lacco Ameno. The imposing tower and villa are surrounded by 7 hectares of Mediterranean scrub and subtropical plants and boast fabulous views of the sea, Mount Epomeo, and Vesuvius. Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Ischia | ItalyTraveller
03072012 Even in the dark we noticed that the Aquapetra Resort and Spa resembled a small village. Our dinner lasted several hours and the wine and food was excellent. The food was paired with wines made from a few of the common grapes grown in the Campania wine region. We tasted different wines made from the white grape Falanghina and the red grape Aglianico. On the next day we took a tour of the facility that included the spa area and grounds. A church, across from the check-in, provides a glimpse of the past. The spa offers many amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, a jacuzzi, sauna, bath, and a relaxation area.The resort makes for a relaxing stay and provides a base for exploring the wineries in the region. Aquapetra Resort & Spa by Terry Sullivan | Aquapetra
03082012 From the tourism point of view, Herculaneum is known for the vibrant colors of the frescoes inside some of the villas. The details are, indeed, pretty impressive. So, moving on to things that, I must admit, I find much cooler: mosaics and stonework. One of the things that I find both exhilarating and shocking about historical sites and artifacts in Italy is how close you can get to them. There are certainly some things that are too delicate to allow rough handling by the masses, but there's a surprising amount that you can not only touch, but walk on. Herculaneum: Pompeii’s mud-covered sister city | TourAbsurd
03092012 Reopening, March 8th 2012, are some long-closed sections of the remains at Stabiae – the female bath and spa area, previously closed to visitors. Pompeii – baths at Stabaie reopened | Tickitaly
03102012 The sea at Via Caracciolo in Naples is normally slow-moving at this time of year, but the waters have been made choppier this year by cranes preparing a new cliff. The world's best skippers, including the Australian sail magician, James Spithill, will face off in the knockout match race, but also in spectacular fleet regattas, with the head-to-head between boats visible throughout the city, as the hills overlying the Gulf of Naples form a natural amphitheatre. Neapolitan imagination has already been shown, with strategic spots identified on balconies and terraces to see the races close up. Sailing: Naples preparing for world showcase in America's Cup | ANSAmed
03112012 Spend an idyllic week cruising around the gorgeous Amalfi coast on your very own yacht. Bareboat Sailing Holidays has yachts for charter for those with sailing qualifications, while the rest of us can hire a skipper to do the hard work as we kick back on deck or swim in the sea. Either way, the Bay of Naples and beyond is your oyster. Drop anchor at Capri, volcanic Ischia or the other Phlegrean islands; work your way along the Amalfi coastal resorts of Sorrento, Positano and Ravello; or head north to the Pontine islands. The area is dotted with great beaches and rugged landscapes, plus top-notch nightlife for party animals. Sailing, Amalfi coast | The Guardian
03122012 The principal source is a book published in 1904 called "La Prima Repubblica Marinara d'Italia - Amalfi", written by a gentleman called Umberto Moretti. In what is described as 'il capitolo unico' (the only chapter) in the section headed 'Notes on Industry and Commerce' Moretti discusses the traditional industries of the area (both manufacture and agriculture). His first stop is with the fishing industry which brought in, among other things, coral, tuna, mackerel and swordfish which were sold in the markets in Naples and Salerno. The agricultural muscle of the area is dedicated principally to the lemon groves followed by the grape. Such was life in Amalfi | From Amalfi to Crewe - A Criscuolo Diaspora
03132012 Vegetables are sneaking onto to the dessert menu. Vegetables are sneaking onto to the dessert menu. "Eggplant and chocolate is a classic Neapolitan dessert that's existed for hundreds of years on the Amalfi coast." Dulce de Lettuce? | The Wall Street Journal
03142012 For purists, the pizza story stops with two classics. "Everything else is dross." The most ardent observer of this rigorous approach is a Neapolitan pizzeria called Da Michele. Since 1847, it has only sold pizza Marinara and, in a reckless extension of the menu after 1889, pizza Margherita. Just add parmesan: Tracing the roots of Italian food | The Independent
03152012 Gragnano is called "La Citta' della Pasta" because its history of pasta making is 500 years old. Last century, every family would make pasta using the pure water from the local springs (it is still pure, with limited calcium content) and drying it in the streets, taking advantage of the warm breeze that would flow through the main road like a channel from the mountains to the sea.There are very few pastifici left in the center of Gragnano but they no longer dry the pasta in the streets, for hygienic reasons. Pastificio Faella is the only Pastificio left in the main square, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi. Don Mario Faella told me with an authority and a passion I will never forget: pasta needs its time to rest! In fact, he believes that the drying phase is the most crucial and delicate in the production of pasta. Why is Faella the Best Artisanal Pasta in Gragnano? | Gustiamo
03162012 Caggiano is one of our favorites! This estate is beautiful (pristine vineyards, vaulted cellars, a little wine museum) and the wines are sleek and elegant. Caggiano´s Taurasi Vigna Macchia dei Goti is considered to be one of the best Taurasis in Campania, on a par with a very good Barolo. The white Fiagrè, made with Fiano and Greco, is a sexy white with a bewitching nose. Beautiful place, great wines. You can visit the local castle while in the area. Campania Wine Travel Notes - Antonio Caggiano | Cellar Tours Blog
03172012 It was Salvatore Ferragamo’s dream “to dress a customer from head to foot”, says Ferruccio, the son of the man who set up the global luxury Italian leather and fashion brand. The latest venture is into fine jewellery, launched late last year, and perhaps the culminating step of Salvatore’s vision. Salvatore Ferragamo was a pioneer who in 1911, at the age of just 13, set up shop in his home town of Bonito, south of Naples. When Salvatore died in 1960 he was still only making ladies’ shoes and the rest of the growth of the company was down to his family. That Ferragamo should enter the largely unbranded world of jewellery makes sense: the strong look of this Italian house lends itself to jewellery, and product extension is how luxury companies grow from shoes to fragrances to fashion. Ferragamo: Fulfilling father’s dream of dressing from top to toe | Financial Times
03182012 Napoli isn’t Napoli if you didn’t visit a classic tailor. Invited by one of the best I found my way thru the narrow streets to a small square, ringing the bell of the house of Gino Cimmino. The first room is the fitting room with rows of fabric samples hanging down the walls between a few yellowed images of past style icons. The second room is the tailor room. Here, all the Gino Cimmino suits are made end send out to customers around the globe. Gino Cimmino started at the age of 14 at one of Naples’ tailors as his apprentice. When he turned 23 he decided to start on his own, and since than establish himself among the great couturiers of Naples. It’s inspiring to see a craftsman working in this sober workshop 3 stores high somewhere in the centre of Napoli. Sartoria di Gino Cimmino | Anothersomething
03192012 Alicia Frankovich’s The Opposite of Backwards (2008) involves the artist hanging from the five-story exterior of Galleria Annarumma404 in Naples. Unannounced, this gesture, so slim and formless, relies on you—her audience—to add value; even as I write this document, given that none of us could have ever been there, except by chance encounter. Random Entrant and the Force of Failure. | image and text
03202012 Starting from the iconography of Our Lady of Sorrows, I photographed old ladies in their own house at Quadrelle (AV), party tablecloth becomes canceling intimate space and common knives are converted into symbolic ornament. Forever And Ever | Saurin Natalia
03212012 I like discovery. I get excited over good wines from obscure places made from grape varieties I don’t recognize. This can make me insufferable at tastings, because I’m also pretty bad at hiding my enthusiasm. Vestini Campagna, Kajanero, Terre del Volturno 2010 is the kind of wine I get enthusiastic about. This Italian red is a blend of Pallagrello Nero, Casavecchia, Pizzutella and Aglianico grapes. It’s on the bold side, with cherry and spice notes dominating. There is enough power in the tannins that this novel but well-made wine can easily stand up to roast meats, strong cheeses or other hearty foods. Where to Go For a Torta | The Lo-Down
03222012 Lucio Mastroberardino was in Portland recently to promote the unique terroir of his homeland. Mastroberardino is the chief winemaker at Terredora di Paolo, the only Campania winemaker whose wines all are estate-grown and -bottled. (That doesn't make them "better," necessarily, but it does make me feel a closer connection to the whole of their being.) Mastroberardino dispelled the notion that Campania fits a southern Italy stereotype of "hot, dry, flat." Southwest coast of Italy produces sublime wines | Portland Press Herald
03232012 Each summer, the treacherous coastal road in Italy linking picturesque Sorrento with postcardy Positano is jammed with cars and buses bringing tourists through the fragile hill towns of the Amalfi Coast. But just south of Amalfi is Cilento National Park. The white sand beaches here are quiet and the sea is crystalline — two things you won’t find in Amalfi. The Anti-Amalfi | T Magazine
03242012 Positano Italy. That’s where I want to be. | Pic Saga
03252012 The existence of the Blue Grotto was revealed in August 1826 by the German writer August Kopisch, who described its extraordinary beauty. Since then the Blue Grotto has become the emblem of the island of Capri; but the enchantment of this place goes back further in time, when it was well known by the Romans, as proved by the antique statues which were found in the Grotto.This discovery, the remains of an ancient landing place and the work on an underground tunnel, create an image of a natural cavern adorned by statues: a nymphaeum built around the intense and brilliant blue of the sea which still today fascinates its visitors.The grotto was known to the locals under the name of Gradola, after the nearby landing place of Gradola, but it was avoided because it was said to be inhabited by witches and monsters. Blue Grottos of Capri | Live Fabulous
03262012 In my imagination, there is plenty going on in the garden that points to capricious behaviour. Just look at the two characters in the scene above. Balzac must have read the mind of the Classical Roman in the background who appears to be confounded by the modern-day woman sharing his part of the Garden of Augustus. Capricious Anacapri Garden | My Garden Haven
03272012 If one can sometimes compare a biography to a novel, “A Book of Secrets” reads like a series of linked short stories. At its heart it weaves together the lives of several not-especially-well-known women, around whom more famous men (Lord Randolph Churchill, Auguste Rodin, D. H. Lawrence and E. M. Forster among them) sometimes revolved. Place is a resonant character in “A Book of Secrets.” Much of the action revolves around the palatial Villa Cimbrone, located on a hill above the Italian village of Ravello, where many of these women visited. Mr. Holroyd refers to it, a bit melodramatically, as “a place of fantasy that seems to float in the sky,” a spot that “answers the need for make-believe in all our lives.” In the Fast Company of Women on the Edge | The New York Times
03282012 Sant'Angelo on the Italian island of Ischia, which served as the fictitious seaside village of Mongibello in "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Must-see movie Location: Bagno Antonio beach | msnbc.com
03292012 I struggle to stay still for a whole week. I remember trying to have a relaxing holiday on Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples, and if I was lying by the pool, I wanted to play table tennis; if I was playing tennis, I wanted to be by the pool. A holiday that combines all three is fantastic for me. My Life In Travel: Jake Humphrey, BBC sports presenter | The Independent
03302012 When I was in Italy I had a chance to see the oldest image and representation of an aquatic athlete in Greek art which dates back to I think it's 500 BC and this was the painting of the Tomb of the Diver in a city called Paestum today but in the olden days when it was a Greek colony in Italy which is about 85 kilometers south of Naples, it was known as Poseidonia, which was named after the god Poseidon, the god of the sea. And not only did I find some incredible old swimming pools in this town but I really went to see the Tomb of the Diver and the Tomb of the Diver is an artwork that's on a four-sided tomb of limestone slabs and the roof of it is the one that contains this really incredible painting. Ancient Greek Painting Details Early History of Aquatic Sports | SwimmingWORLD
03312012 Paestum began its life as a Greek city, and the original circular civic meeting space is preserved, though later built over by a Roman building. This is where early democracy of sorts played out over 2500 years ago. In contrast, the amphitheatre built by the Romans illustrates the change in government as the city became more and more Latinized. Paestum #4: A Circle and an Ellipse | Saint Louis Patina

FEBRUARY 2012

SUBWAY EXCAVATIONS

02012012 Naples was once upon a time the largest city in Italy, and also in Europe. Today, it is better known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with history, arts, music, architecture, culture, and gastronomic adventures. You can relax and unwind at Orto Botanico which is one of the most beautiful landscaped gardens in the city. It was created nearly 200 years ago. You can take a leisurely stroll and discover its array of unique flora, be it palms, tree fern glades, cacti, shrubs, or flowering trees. The site is open daily, and admission is free. 48 hours in Naples | 48 Hour Visit
02022012 Face it - Naples is likely not the first destination to come to mind when planning a trip to Italy. So imagine my surprise, on a recent trip there, when I discover a dynamic, architecturally and artistically interesting city with enough world-class sights to keep me occupied for days. The city has devoted itself to cleaning up its act over the past decade, and while it retains elements of the old Naples, today’s Naples is well on its way to reclaiming its 2,800-year birthright as one of Italy’s most important centers of art, gastronomy, architecture, and culture. The Brighter Side of Naples | National Geographic Traveler
02032012 Naples is a very old place and has many legends and spirits associated with it. Of the two most famous spirits in Naples, the bella ‘Mbriana is certainly the more positive one. The other is Munaciello, a much darker and frightening entity. The bella ‘Mbriana only appears for an instant, as a reflection in a window or through a curtain swaying in a breeze. She is described as a beautiful young woman with a gentle face, and there is brightness about her. Her name derives from the Latin “Meridian;” the brightest hour of the day. This is significant because Southern Italians are referred to as Meridionali, a word that has the same Latin origin and refers to the people of the midday sun. Lessons from the bella ‘Mbriana | Magna GRECE
02042012 No matter where I go in Italy and the world, I come home and find myself relieved to be back in Naples. Ultimately, though, the reason I love living in Naples is that the people here rarely treat me like a foreigner. In Naples, you know what happens when I speak Italian? Nothing. The waiter brings me a cup of coffee. Or the water or wine I ordered. It's expected that you speak Italian, almost as Americans expect people to speak English in the United States. Non si muove | The American
02052012 Lulu Kennedy, Fashion East founder, began her degree in Contemporary Cultural Studies at Middlesex University then transferred to ‘Instituto Orientale’ in Naples where she also organised acid house raves, booking London DJ's to come and play, including Princess Julia. One legendary rave was in a medieval castle and when the police arrived to close it down Lulu’s team just hoisted the drawbridge and carried on! After a little too much fun, Lulu decided it best to come back to London where she finished her degree and started working in contemporary art galleries. We Love Lulu Kennedy | Fashion's Most Wanted
02062012 I’m discovering great things about every port. Today for instance, after visiting the Silhouette, the newest ship that is nearly identical to the ships I’ve been on, we went out for pizza in Naples, Italy. It was pretty good. They cooked it in a wood fired oven which gave it a smoky and even a bit charred flavor. Very good. Three Cruises Down. | RyanOnTheShip
02072012 On Friday night, we joined a tour offered by the USO to a local winery for grape picking and wine tasting. Just the drive to the winery was an adventure. We left for what was supposed to be a 20 minute drive to a winery located on the side of Mount Vesuvius. This winery does not sell their wine to any other stores or distributors, and they're only open on Saturday & Sunday to the public... except for special events and tours such as ours. Since we were very, very late, we were quickly led into the vineyard and given shears & crates to get to clipping. Pepe the Winemaker supervised. Grape Stomping & Wine Tasting | In Search of Gelato
02082012 “Falanghina is a historic grape from Campania, the region that includes Naples. Sannio is a hilly region of Campania, north of Naples, with a wine-growing history so ancient that it was favorably mentioned – as Samnium in Latin – in the works of Pliny, Cato and Horace.” Vin Bar – Santa Monica | Refined Palate
02092012 A meal is like a fine Italian opera, many singers of differing range coalesce into a beautiful entertaining story and a memorable experience. And like wandering upon some street corner in New Orleans, you may fortuitously stumble upon such a talent. That is exactly what happened when I wandered into The Chefs of Napoli. Having been to Italy and particularly to Naples several times, I know the real deal. Chefs Luigi Barile and Antonio Cacace are the real deal. Both hail from the hometown of Sophia Loren, Pozzuoli, Italy. A small seaside town nestled in the outskirts of Naples about twenty minutes drive from the big city. Both their fathers were fishermen. Childhood friends, they grew up together and were introduced to the cucina at an early age. Learning how to make gnocchi from Grandmother led to working in family restaurants and eventually here to America. The Chefs of Napoli | Basil Magazine
02102012 Executive chef Andrea Froncillo came to Salito's after being executive chef at an impressive list of Bay Area restaurants including Calzone's, the Stinking Rose, the Crab House at Pier 39, Bobo's, the Franciscan at Fisherman's Wharf, and the Old Clam House, all in San Francisco, and the Dead Fish in Crockett. Froncillo was born in Naples, Italy, learning to cook in his grandmother's kitchen before receiving his formal training from the E.N.A.L.C. culinary school, graduating with honors. Bread & Butter | Marin Independent Journal
02112012 Even after the post Neapolitan pizza invasion took captive our minds and stomachs, Di Fara remained a critic and consumer favorite. Some might say this is a purely American pizza, and I couldn’t disagree more. Is very much an Italian pizza, made to order, by a single hand. Even the afternoon intermissions evoke memories of Napoli. Dom has expertly crafted the perfect fusion of American and Italian principals, ingredients, and flavors. In Brooklyn, a Pizza thats all Heart | Authentic Italian American
02122012 On the way to Amalfi the coach stopped to admire the view of the town of Positano that clings improbably to a vertical cliff with buildings tumbling chaotically from the top right down to the beach at the bottom. All transport in Positano is only possible on foot but it looked well worth the effort as it boasted the most picturesque pastel villas adorned by pink bougainvillea and pots of boiling red geraniums and sweet smelling Mediterranean herbs. Best of all, in my opinion, was the village of Vallone di Furore, where steep rock walls sheltered an enclave of abandoned and partially collapsed fishermen’s houses and a tiny harbour with a beach littered with small hard working fishing boats all resting up for the day. The Amalfi Drive | apetcher.wordpress.com
02132012 The Amalfi drive is noted as one of the world's most picturesque coastline drives. Sorrento, Italy | Liquid Blue
02142012 A crenellated castle, pink-washed clifftop church, and pebbled beach make Vico Equense perhaps the most dramatic—though surprisingly undiscovered—village on the Sorrento Coast. A Village Escape in Vico Equense | Travel + Leisure
02152012 Naples is a diamond-in-the-rough, offering stunning landscapes, historical monuments and a burgeoning art scene. Though Naples is not a touristy city in the same sense as Venice, Florence or Rome, it should be. This is a city teeming with grandiose monuments, piazzas, churches and museums, and some of Italy’s finest and best-value-for-money cuisine. Beauty Amid the Chaos in Naples | TravelMuse
02162012 In the evening, we took the underground tour of Naples. Naples, like many cities in Italy, was built on top of old Roman cities. The interesting part was the aqueducts. It was 40 meters below ground level. Plants in the aqueducts. There is so much water in the air down in the aqueducts that these plants grew without the need for watering. Naples, Pizza, Pompeii, and Brothels | paydrotalks.com
02172012 Paestum is an ancient Greek coastal town about 80km south of Naples with a surrounding area partially devoted to the cultivation of their Carciofo di Paestum (Paestum Artichokes). Most of the fields we occasionally saw as we drove into town were full of plump purple buds floating above a mass of green foliage. The predominant method to cook the Paestum artichokes is to roast them above (but not touching) hot coals. The Artichoke Blog | Feast of Paestum Artichokes
02182012 The martyrium complex founded by St. Paulinus at Cimitile, near Nola. The bishoprics of Neapolis and Nola had a complex relationship in late antiquity. Ancient Naples: A Documentary History | Rabun Taylor
02192012 Arpaise in the Province of Benevento is a nature lover's paradise hiking and horseback riding. Arpaise | travelcampania
02202012 Ischia has all the beauty of Capri at about half the price. It has great beaches, friendly restaurants and thermal hot springs bubbling up from its volcanic core. For sightseers and photographers alike, the Aragonese Castle and the Gardens of La Martella are must-sees. | BootsnAll
02212012 In 1976, Gore Vidal wrote of Villa Cimbrone: Twenty five years ago I was asked by an American magazine what was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen in all my travels and I said the view from the belvedere of the Villa Cimbrone on a bright winter's day when the sky and the sea were each so vividly blue that it was not possible. The Terrace of Infinity, entirely restored by Lord Grimthorpe in 1907, commands a sublime view. The high point literally and figuratively of our trip to the Amalfi coast. This balconata belvedere is believed to have existed ever since the days of ancient Rome. Standing on the stone balcony, one feels weightless, dizzily suspended between earth and heaven over the blue Bay of Salerno. The Splendor of Ravello | Your Garden Matters
02222012 Villa Peirce is nestled in the beautiful park of Rocca Matilde. The large enchanting park spreads from Posillipo's hill to the sea providing the perfect setting for a variety of citrus trees, caves, temples, fountains, paths, bridges and terraces and was documented by many famous authors. An extremely beautiful natural setting was further inspired by true romantic English taste. Enchanted by the Posillipo's natural beauty and troubled by her marriage, the Marchesa left England to reside in Naples in 1842. The three story building, as it appears today is laid out at sea level on a small man made harbour. The vaults, terraces, pillars, towers, marbles recall Moresque inspiration. In 1909, the Peirce family bought the property and more recently the villa was owned by Achillle Lauro. Gala Dinner | European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors 2007
02232012 From the tourism point of view, Herculaneum is known for the vibrant colors of the frescoes inside some of the villas. The details are, indeed, pretty impressive. One of the things that I find both exhilarating and shocking about historical sites and artifacts in Italy is how close you can get to them. There are certainly some things that are too delicate to allow rough handling by the masses, but there's a surprising amount that you can not only touch, but walk on. Herculaneum: Pompeii’s mud-covered sister city | TourAbsurd
02242012 Remains of rotten fish entrails have helped establish the precise dating of Pompeii's destruction, according to Italian researchers who have analyzed the town's last batch of garum, a pungent, fish-based seasoning. The desiccated remains were found at the bottom of seven jars. The find revealed that the last Pompeian garum was made entirely with bogues (known as boops boops), a Mediterranean fish species that abounded in the area in the summer months of July and early August. Fish Sauce Used to Date Pompeii Eruption | Discovery News
02252012 Pizzeria Anna, in the small town of Agropoli, is a place without pretension. I ordered the pizza a sorpresa, the surprise, which turned out to be divided into eight sections, each representing a different selection from the menu. It arrived like a painting, like a masterpiece you see, smell and eat. The base was light and crisp – not too crisp, but nowhere near soft or spongy. One section was a sample of the remarkable and rare duchessa – a ham and mashed potato pizza, which tasted much better than it sounds, and was not at all stodgy or bland. Another section held perfectly cooked squid and huge, succulent prawns. Yet another was a triangle of salad, with rocket leaves, slivers of carrot and what I think were pumpkin flowers. Elsewhere there was creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and a rich, sweet, almost fruity tomato sauce. I travel to Italy regularly and I eat plenty of pizza so believe me when I tell you that this was extraordinary. Is this the best pizzeria in Italy? | The Guardian
02262012 A pizzeria called Sorbillo was on my list of 'places to eat pizza' and according to my Time Out guide to Naples it didn't close for August. So we walked down Via Santa Maria di Constantinopoli, through Piazza Bellini, ending up at the beginning of Via dei Tribunali. This was another arrow straight road but it seemed to have much more shops along it than its parallel, Spaccanapoli. We even found a SSC Napoli store where we bought Rory the team's football kit. Forza Napoli | Colin Owen
02272012 The exact circumstances of the discovery and description of the fossil of Scipionyx is an intriguing story. Giovanni Todesco during a journey in South Italy visited the site of Pietraroia and hoping to collect some fossils he examined a slab of unusual shape in a dump of rocks used for the construction of a new street. Observing more carefully the rock he noted imprints of bones covered by a thin layer of sediments. He took the slab home and tried to remove the thin layer of sediments, but soon abandoned this arduous task and the presumed bird-fossil became forgotten for years. Only in 1992 Todesco contacted the palaeontologist Giorgio Teruzzi, who finally recognized it as dinosaur and contacted the rare Italian dino-experts. The history and geology of the first Italian dinosaur: Scipionyx samniticus | History of Geology
02282012 The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s greatest treasures; in contrast to the landlocked beauty of Tuscany, the Amalfi region is all about the interplay of the Mediterranean sea and the hilly coast line, with all the plunges and beautiful colors associated with the villages that dot the coastline. Positano, Sorrento, and Amalfi are just three of the towns worth exploring here, but the entire region offers a luxurious artist’s haven. Artistic Travel along Italy’s Amalfi Coast | TravelSort
02292012 As is well documented by a bunch of archival sources, for about five years Giotto served as court painter to King Robert the Wise in Naples. He first appears on the king’s payroll in late 1328, was made an official member of the Royal household on January 20, 1330, and remained in Robert’s service at least until 1333 or perhaps even early 1334. A document dated May 20, 1331, also provides information what Giotto was working on: An altarpiece (which had already been completed by that time), and wall-paintings in the Capella Secreta as well as in the Capella Magna of the Castel Nuovo, the most important of the city’s Royal residences. Giotto’s Frescos in Naples (Lost Artworks #1) | L’historien errant

JANUARY 2012

HIGHEST ITALIAN WINE

01012012 Just north of Naples, green walls appear, some more than 30 feet high, with treetops poking out like pickets at regular intervals. These unusual walls are grapevines, and the wine that is made from them is quite unusual too. It's called Asprinio di Aversa. Because the phylloxera infestation that devastated European vineyards never happened here (the loose, sandy soil makes it impossible for the insects to burrow into the roots), these vines are all ungrafted. Thus, with asprinio, the connection to the distant past -- Greek grape, Etruscan viticulture -- is virtually intact. Bizarre Vines, Old Roots Make Fine Wine | The New York Times
01022012 Aglianico is an important Italian red grape variety, that together with Piedmont's Nebbiolo and Tuscany's Sangiovese, is one of the robust and noble grapes of Italy. In the same way as Nebbiolo is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco, and Sangiovese (in various clones) is famous for Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, Aglianico's DOCG wine is known as Taurasi, which like the former four wines has to be produced under very exacting and strict rules and methods. A Taste of Italy: Campania | Reno Spiteri's Wineopolis
01032012 Aglianico’s high tannins and acidity, and its evident ability to age, have inspired some to call it the “Barolo of the south”. Praise indeed – although Aglianico is generally a much deeper crimson colour than the Nebbiolo grape that is responsible for Barolo. Aglianico is the signature grape of Taurasi in Campania and Aglianico del Vulture, just over the border in the hills of Basilicata. Although it buds early, it ripens very late, and its grapes are so naturally high in acidity that it has traditionally been assumed that the variety simply wouldn’t ripen sufficiently often further north. At higher altitudes in Taurasi it has often been picked well into November. Italy’s Aglianico | FT.com
01042012 The Sorgeto Hot Springs, perhaps the most well-known of Ischias many volcanic attractions, offers a unique view of thermal water gushing into the sea. Small rocks and stones form a variety of pools where the waters meet, providing a range of natural "spas" to choose from. Be careful here, as the temperature is (literally) scalding in some areas, but the warm waters in other pools afford pleasant bathing even in winter months. At Citara Beach in Forio the thermal water mixes with the sea, allowing you to swim in the comfortably-warm salinity while also, if ancient lore is to believed, reaping the health benefits of the thermal water. Thermal Hot Springs on Ischia Island | Traveldudes
01052012 Neapolitans are known for their hedonistic attitude – the still-active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii in 79AD and last erupted in 1944, dominates the city skyline, a constant reminder that life is meant to be lived to the full. This devil-may-care attitude is evident in the cuisine (at times, not even pizza escapes the deep fryer), such as creamy mozzarella di bufala and ricotta-rich sweets. Of course, the freshest seasonal fruit, vegetables and frutti di mare is available everywhere, but kiss the diet goodbye when you visit because the golden rule is to embrace excess like the locals. Getting to Naples is a cinch. The high-speed TAV train from Rome takes about 90 minutes and once you arrive, there is a host of upmarket hotels lining the Gulf of Naples to choose from. 48 hours in Naples | Gourmet Traveller
01062012 It’s worth mentioning that the new train company, called Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (or NTV), is run by the chairman of Ferrari – so the fact that it’s focusing only on high-speed trains shouldn’t be surprising. For now, starting in March 2012, you can ride NTV trains (called “Italo”) all the way to Salerno. Salerno is the big city on the other end of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento – it’s the end of the region that most people don’t visit, because they come in through Naples and Sorrento and go back out the same way. Salerno, however, makes an equally good base from which to explore the area. What’s more, coming from Salerno, you’re closer to Paestum, which is oftern overlooked entirely by people focused only on Pompeii. Salerno | WhyGo
01072012 In the splendid town of Sorrento, a magical place and an important tourist destination located in the heart of the historical course of Italy and the ancient walls of the city a charming villa: Villa Fiorentino. Chosen as the residence of Mr and Mrs Fiorentino in the thirties and completed by Eng. Almerigo Gargiulo,on 1935-36, in a typical American style, became the hub of commercial activities of the two spouses, one of the finest embroidered handkerchiefs so that, soon became known worldwide as Villa handkerchiefs. On the death of Mrs. Fiorentino the villa, which has three floors and enjoys a wonderful as wonderful garden, was bequeathed to the city because of Sorrento, and is still the case, the garden was a park for recreational children and the house was used for cultural events and museums. Villa Fiorentino | Fondazione Sorrento
01082012 This was our final day in Sorrento, and I think we did it up right. Our driver from Tuesday, Maurizio, picked us up at 9 AM for a tour of the Amalfi coast. We stopped for a photo break before we’d reached the first town to take pictures of the coastline and the Siren Islands. After that quick stop, it was on to Positano. As we drove, Maurizio pointed out gorgeous hotels, famous people’s houses, Byzantine and Norman towers, etc. He told us there were 1600 curves on the road, so it’s understandable that the adults were slightly nauseated the whole day. The kids, remarkably, were fine. Sorrento, Day Four | Food/Fashion/Flight
01092012 Hike along the magnificent Amalfi Coast, Walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in Pompeii, Hike to the summit of mighty Mount Vesuvius, Be amazed by spectacular 360 degree views atop Capri, Take a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Walk along the impressive 'Path of the Gods'. naples to amalfi | Intrepid Travel
01102012 Go Underground. Go spelunking. Kind of. Naples has a sort of mirror subterranean city. Guided tours are available and last about 60 minutes and cover several kilometers of tunnels, caves, and terrain, all the while discussing the history of the city. Things to Do Naples | Europe a la Carte Blog
01112012 A wonderful place to stay in Sorrento is the Bellevue Syrene. It was built over a Roman villa, and was once a private home, so it has lots of history and an intimate feeling–65 rooms, and each one is different. The hotel’s loggia, draped with wisteria, is extraordinary. The view of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples from there is one of the best in Italy–my husband and I couldn’t drink in enough of it–we never wanted to leave! After a breakfast there, relax on the hotel’s private sunbathing deck, take a morning swim, or indulge in a spa treatment. Sorrento with Mary Sherman Indelli | Golden Days in Italy
01122012 After lunch, we walked around Sorrento for a while longer, Matt popping into a pastry shop to try out a chocolate filled cannoli. The wind was still ferocious, so we decided to head back to the hotel for a little down time. That evening we decided to drive back to the little town of Piano di Sorrento to do a little shopping. We grabbed a bag of grapes from a market and snacked while we walked. The little town was alive with activity. People were everywhere, drinking at outdoor tables, wandering down the cobbled streets with shopping bags, or buzzing by on scooters. The Amalfi Coast, Italy: Day Three | vicki_h
01132012 Across a busy medieval lane is a far spookier, skull-festooned church, built in the 17th century by a cult called the Souls of Purgatory, which dedicated itself to adopting the bones of the dead to pray over and rescue the souls associated with them from eternal oblivion. Presiding over this in the Church of Santa Maria delle Anime dell Purgatorio is an actual crowned skull called “Lucia” and a sculptural masterpiece of a winged skull. This macabre landmark fronts a fresh vegetable market that resembles a Food & Wine magazine cover, decorated with strings of garlic, peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. Behind it, a huge open-air bazaar dedicated to creating and selling the phallic lucky charms of Naples that look like little red horns, called pulcicorni. Next door is the always mobbed Pizzeria Sorbillo, which serves up Neapolitan pies of legend. A Gothic Tour of Italy | The New York Times
01142012 According to true believers in Naples, pizzas come in only two varieties: the marinara (largely tomato - nothing to do with seafood, as some suppose, but named after a fisherman's wife who made tomato pizzas for her husband's packed lunch) and the margherita (tomato, mozzarella and basil). Giuseppe regrets that too few British travellers have discovered the charms of Naples - he suspects that the city's lawless reputation may have something to do with this. But with new direct flights from the UK to Naples being added next year, he believes the southern Italian city will become a big favourite. These are his reasons for visiting - they start of course with eating out, and the search for the perfect pizza... See Naples and dine! An insider's guide to Pizza City from a man who really knows his margheritas | Daily Mail
01152012 Tucked away up a stepped lane, La Stanza Del Gusto is one of those intense foodie restaurants where what you eat on any given evening depends very much on the latest whims and passions of the host-chef. Mario Avallone is an authority on the cuisine of Campania, the region around Naples, but he likes to give the tradition a creative twist in dishes such as pasta fresca alla genovese di finocchio in which a fennel sauce replaces the orthodox onion version, and squid and octopus baked in aubergine sauce. Guide to Naples | Conde Nast Traveller
01162012 Oasis Sapori Antichi is surely one of the most appropriately named restaurants in Italy. It's in the Irpinia area of Campania, a few kilometers off the A16 (Napoli-Bari), in the middle of nowhere Vallesaccarda ( Avellino), and the flavors are ancient. The restaurant is a family affair, involving the collaboration of over a dozen members of the Fischetti family. Mom Giuseppina and her sister, Vituccella, help Fischetti offspring, daughters in the kitchen, sons in the dining room, along with cousins, spouses, and kids--Nicola, Raffaella, Serena. Carmine, Puccio, and Nicola actively source the greatest local ingredients; Maria, Lina, and Maria Grazia do them justice, cooking with recipes and flavoring with roots, using old-fashioned techniques. In Italy, Food is a Family Affair | The Atlantic
01172012 Yeah, I'm completely fixated on the tile pattern. It mentally took me back to Italy, to my honeymoon (on '06), to an adorable Italian hotel in Sorrento called the Hotel Parco dei Principi, designed by famed Italian architect, Giò Ponti. This place was all about the tile. Flashback – Italy | The Goods design
01182012 In Herculaneum the city was buried by mud flows, and is better preserved as a result. One is struck by how beautiful and civilized the city and its grand villas must have been - walls and ceilings richly decorated, floors covered in intricate mosaics and colourful marble tiles. Floors of Herculaneum | Poul Webb
01192012 The tiny bricks I employed are supposed to recreate the structure of Pompeii's houses and streets and in particular the opus latericium, that is a building technique with a core of opus caementicium (= building technique in which the mortar was made up of a mixture of sand or crushed stones and lime) in which tiles or bricks of different sizes were laid in regular overlapping rows. I must admit it took me quite a long time (and a lot of patience...) to get together the structure of the bricks and make sure the necklace still retained enough elasticity. Requiem for Pompeii Necklace | Irenebrination
01202012 I'd heard and read about how beautiful the Vietri ceramics are. Each shop is selling handmade items, they all have slight differences. While the bowls, plates, mugs, platters are similar shapes, the actual artwork is subtly different. And there are a few stores that have broken from tradition and have very unique, different artwork on their ceramics. Vietri has a ceramics factory which sells a good number of cast-offs, irregulars, and the like. But the best thing is it's Gaudi-esque building containing the showroom. Vietri sul Mare | In Search of Gelato
01212012 I visited the Amalfi Coast, Italy in 2006 with my mom and grandmother. We had such a blast. Just us girls with the time to peruse all of the shops, eat gelato and sample the limoncello! Best of all were the memories I have of that amazing trip. Adventures in Amalfi | Rachael Ray Mag
01222012 Enjoy a half day leisurely tour to Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, a small village not far from Sorrento, where you will visit a local farmhouse which excels in the production of mozzarella and limoncello, to say nothing of their hand-made pizzas. On arrival you will be met by the owner for coffee and home-made biscuits before taking a stroll through the farmhouse’s beautiful gardens. Then there is a hands-on demonstration of mozzarella making, pizza throwing and limoncello tasting – all three of which are yours to enjoy for lunch. Limoncello and the flavours of Sorrento | Expressions Holidays
01232012 While the sfogliatella is considered a signature Neapolitan pastry, the birthplace of this tasty treat was in Conca dei Marini, a tiny village located in the mountains of the Amalfi Coast. In the 1600s the precursor to today’s sfogliatella was created by nuns at the Monastery of Santa Rosa. You’ll still find this variety of sfogliatella, called santarosa after the monastery, in pasticcerie throughout the region. It differs in that it’s filled with a crema pasticcera instead of ricotta and is topped with a dab of crema di amarene (sour black cherry). Sfogliatella | My Bella Vita
01242012 This area has been made famous by the little village of Taurasi and the great DOCG wine to which the village gives its name. The region is also famous for a variety of other products: chestnuts, nougat, olive oil, and even truffles, but most visitors are interested in the wines. We are staying in a beautiful agriturismo between the villages of Taurasi and Sant’Angelo all’Esca, surrounded by row upon row of vines, the slopes painted with the beautiful colors of fall: dark red aglianico grapes still ripening on the vines and the red, yellow, and orange vine leaves which, when the sun hits them just so, look like they are on fire. The owner of the agriturismo, Milena Pepe, an energetic young woman who grew up in Belgium, but whose parents are originally from this area, moved here several years ago and started making wines from the indigenous grapes. Harvest at Tenuta Cavalier Pepe | Slow Travel
01252012 The pignata, seemingly straight out of Geppetto’s workshop in Pinocchio, is a ceramic pot that comes in various sizes. It has an adorable tubby body with two stout handles attached lopsidedly to the jug. Facing away from the fire, they never get hot even after hours in the red-hot embers… very clever. Many people have fireplaces around here and the pignata continues to be used in the Sannio to this day. Throughout the whole morning, with little more than a stirring and a topping up of liquid, the little pot has sat staunchly in the fire all on its own, bubbling quietly, delicately cooking its contents of beans, celery, garlic and guanciale (pork jowl… like bacon, only better) with absolutely no fuss. Ladled onto hot bruschetta, with a drizzle of olio piccante, this is a meal fit for food afficionados! Pizza, Pane & a Pignata | Savour The Sannio
01262012 Fishing and preserving anchovies is an ancient tradition for centuries and a major source of livelihood for anglers in Cetara, a tiny fishing village overlooking the sea along the Amalfi Coast. Anchovies are preserved in oil or salt or worked to produce various condiments with an anchovy base. “Pull up a chair,” Gina says, “we’ll show you how it’s done.” Pasquale Battista began his family run seafood company in 1950. After 80 years, his son Giuseppe and his wife Gina Ferrigno, and three other sisters accompanied by their husbands, all continue to work together. They continue the success of the business following the same artisanal traditions and techniques as it has in the past, with passion and pride. Nothing has changed. Prized Anchovies from Cetara on the Amalfi Coast | Alta Cucina Inc
01272012 It's an eerie place to visit, with steam billowing out of its moon-like crater top, offering spectacular views around the Bay of Naples and beyond to the islands of Capri and Ischia. And if you needed a reminder of how awesome the power of nature can be, a trip to Pompeii does the job. Our guide for the day showed us around this ancient Roman city -- and it was some city, sprawling on a New York-style grid. He showed us the grooves in the cobblestones made by horse carriages, the old bakery ovens which look as if they'd still bake a mean pizza to this day, and, everyone's highlight -- one of its brothels. Everyone else on the coach hated the place, but not me. Full of passion and idiosyncrasies, with great food and amazing shopping, I adore Naples, warts and all. Capri's beautiful, but not my cup of tea as it's pricey and full of Eurotrash, but the hillside town of Positano is a must-see. Strangely, the highlight of the trip was also the most low key -- an afternoon on a local farm. Sitting surrounded by olive groves, we were treated to freshly baked bread, homemade mozzarella, and plenty of farm wine, like a family from a Dolmio ad. Life is sweet indeed. Cappuccino… | Herald.ie
01282012 She may be a 41-year-old mother-of-three but Claudia Schiffer showed she still has a sultry side at an Italian photo shoot. With smokey eyeshadow, big hair and a leopard print bra the supermodel looked every inch the screen siren in Sorrento yesterday. And proving she still has the perfect bikini body the German model flaunted her washboard stomach and killer legs as she draped herself on a boat. Smoking hot Claudia Schiffer goes Brigitte Bardot on Italian photo shoot | Daily Mail
01292012 Jackie Onassis, Tiberius, Capri pants – the island of Capri is synonymous with glamour, sexual mores and fashion. Small wonder it's packed out with tourists most of the year. But while most of the real fashionistas have disappeared (though there's still plenty of money washing around), and it can get unbearably crowded, there is still plenty of glamour to be found here in the designer shops and swanky restaurants and bars. As for the sex, I can only say that it's the favoured destination of many a honeymooner, thanks to the gorgeous hotels that dot the island. Sex and glamour | Simonseeks
01302012 “Most of the prostitutes in Pompeii were probably the barmaids or the landladies who sometimes slept with customers after closing time, sometimes for money, sometimes on the premises, sometimes not. I doubt many of them really wore togas, thought of themselves as prostitutes or defined their place of work as a brothel.” Rather, sex was everywhere. Erotic murals and images were commonplace in homes. The phallus was a symbol of “power, status and good fortune” and when 19th century excavations uncovered an abundance of objects dating from ancient Rome they were considered so erotic that they were kept in a “secret cabinet” at the National Archeological Museum in Naples and only those who were deemed to be of “mature age and respected morals” were allowed in. The Roman Empire of Sex | Daily Express
01312012 Mario Sorrenti (born 24 October 1971) is a photographer and director best known for his spreads of nude models in the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Sorrenti was born in Naples, Italy, but moved to New York City at the age of ten where he is still based. He is the son of New York based advertiser, Francesca Sorrenti. He has had exhibitions in London (Victoria and Albert Museum), Paris, Monaco and New York (Museum of Modern Art). He has undertaken campaigns and directed commercials for Calvin Klein, and has shot Kate Moss for the Calvin Klein Obsession ads. Sorrenti Mario : photographer | Kroutchev Planet Photo

DECEMBER 2011

NAPOLI GAVE US PIZZA!

12012011 Bob: "Italy gave us pizza - we give them Mickey D's." Jokes & Trivia - Just For Laughs | CruiseMates
12022011 Naples. The Naples of our collective imagination. The old country, where one was always led to believe it all started. With a spoonful of nostalgia and even more sauce, we were told the Italian food we ate in America came from here. But to what extent was what we knew as Neapolitan ever Italian or even from Naples? What was lost in the long trip over all those years ago when the people who started these businesses first arrived? I thought I'd find out. Off to Naples, following the red sauce trail - Controsenso - that means ‘against sense.’ And very little about Naples makes sense. In the beginning, certainly, many will say, not the way they drive or navigate the roads in Naples' historic central district. Generally, everything here that you want to do -- the answer is ‘maybe,’ ‘we hope so,’ ‘I don't know.’ It's exactly like what's so great about this town. It doesn't really work.” - Anthony Bourdain, host of No Reservations. Tony Bourdain's Guide to Naples | Travel Channel
12032011 Quick: What looks like an oyster, but is crunchy and a little sweet? We’re talking sfogliatelle (say it with an Italian lilt: svohl-yah-TELL-eh), the crinkly, ricotta filled pastries from Naples which are, in my opinion, the crowning glory of Italian pastry. What makes them so charming, in addition to being absolutely delicious, is that they look impossible to make, almost mysterious. Sfogliatelle! The French make their mille-feuille (thousand layer) through a rigorous process of rolling, smearing with butter, then folding, rolling, resting, folding, rolling, resting. “Napoleons”, by the way have nothing to do with the little emperor, rather the word is a bastardization of napolitan, referring to Naples, Italy. Flaky Times in a Flaky World | myMEGusta
12042011 Thanks to the ancient import and export activities of its massive port cities and Mediterranean hubs, Campania Felix amassed a significant patrimony of grapevine material. Fertile growing conditions and volcanic soils, plus the proximity of Rome, a major domestic market, gave rise to authentic, varied and unique wines, represented today by crisp and polished whites such as Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo, hearty reds like Taurasi made from the Aglianico grape, rosés, passito sweet wines and now metodo classico sparklers. Not only do many of the varieties come directly from ancient Greece, so do some of the growing methods. In Irpinia, the hilly growing area inland from Naples, cherry, pears and fruit trees were planted between grapevines as an alternative crop and as a trellis system for the grapes. This technique, borrowed from the ancient Greeks, was implemented as a way of suspending grape clusters sometimes as much as 16 feet off the ground to free space for vegetables and legumes planted underneath. Touring the Amalfi Coast | WineEnthusiast
12052011 The novelist Ali Smith feels her spirits lift as she explores the borderlands between fact and fantasy at the Villa San Michele on Capri. Earlier this year I stood in the sculpture loggia at the Villa, and I didn’t just look a god in the eye, I poked a god in the eye. Even better: I cleaned out the eye of a god. I leaned forward under the green bronze head of a Mercury looking down at me, one wing spread open on the side of his head, and removed a small piece of cobweb from the hollow of one of his eyes. It didn’t matter—or rather, it wasn’t what mattered. I was high up on Capri, whose rearing rock bluffs rise out of the sea into a choreography of cloud and cliff, a never-ending shape-shift between mist and revelation. Now you see, and now you don’t. Capri has a way of letting you see differently. A “dreaming sphinx”, Munthe noted in his travel journal in 1885; that’s what the poets called Capri, an “antique sarcophagus”. The Wings of Capri | Intelligent Life
12062011 The grandmother-granddaughter pairing didn’t greet me with hugs like I imagined. In fact, I didn’t know what I imagined, signing up to live with a host family for a month in Sorrento, Italy. The grandmother began grabbing my bag even to my English-Italian protest. “Faccio io! Faccio io!”, she kept saying. With jet lag and fear hanging over, all of the Italian I had picked up in one year in a classroom in California soared out into the Sorrento sky. Tongue-tied and tired, they showed me to my room, pointing to the shower. I can take a hint in any language. “Alle otto per cena, OK?” I mustered up a “Sí” and went straight for the shower. Learning Italian and How To Travel From The Nonna | Lonely Planet
12072011 Here is a video of the event "The Sound of 3R", that took place in Naples last weekend. "3R" stands for "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". The performance, jointly realized by local environmental activists and a band of percussionists, underlined the fundamental importance of responsible environmental practices - such as working for a drastic reduction of waste, and re-using and recycling items as much as possible. The Sound of 3R | CIEE Study Center in Naples, Italy
12082011 Antonio Salvatore Dattilo-Rubbo was born in Naples on June 22, 1870. Young Antonio showed early a talent for art, won a drawing prize at fourteen, and began his art training at the School of Fine Arts in Rome, then joined the Academy School in Naples. Although Dattilo-Rubbo’s painting was dark and academic on his arrival in Australia and it was these portraits and genre paintings, with their skilful craftsmanship and sound drawing, that gained him immediate acceptance by the art community in Sydney, the seeds of experimental development and interest in colour had already been sown. Cavaliere Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo: Painter and Teacher and some prominent pupils | Manly Art Gallery & Museum
12092011 Inaugurated in 2009, following Marco de Luca’s stunning restyling of Anacapri’s historic Add’O Riccio restaurant, located on the rocks just meters away from the Grotta Azzurra, provides the perfect water’s edge location in which to enjoy the island’s traditional fish and seafood specialties. With 6 terraces of various dimensions, and a total seating capacity of 300, Il Riccio easily transforms into a stunning venue for an unforgettable sea edge wedding reception or glamorous social event. Il Riccio, Capri, Italy | Live Fabulous: Nikki Fowler
12102011 We arrive at the Terme Belliazi at Casamicciola Terme about ten minutes later and once I have established that I can have a look at the Roman baths underneath before a massage, Richard goes to a sunny square to do a watercolour. This spa is like something out of a Fellini movie. I am taken past cublicles and through the half-closed curtain I can glimpse old men wrapped in sheets and moaning softly. On the black and white marble floor are buckets of mud and plastic sheets smeared with mud. This is fango. 'Si,' I reply bravely. 'I'll have the fango.' Roman Mysteries & Western Mysteries | flavias.blogspot.com
12112011 The book opens in Rome where her group of 10 women arrive to tackle jet lag while discovering some of the city’s ancient and modern treasures. On their transfer to the Sorrento Peninsula in Campania, the group stops off for a visit to explore the ruins of Pompeii. The next day they’re off to discover Campania’s ancient Greek heritage at Paestum. A brief stop at Vietri sul Mare gets the ladies in a flurry of ceramic shopping excitement, but it’s not until their third day in Campania that they get the first full taste of the Amalfi Coast’s beauty by visiting Positano. Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore by Chantal Kelly | Ciao Amalfi !
12122011 The big boat takes you past these amazing cliffs of insanity to rowboat jockeys. Then you wait near the grotto entrance for your rowboat turn, and then your guide takes you into the legendary sea cave. The process takes an hour for a five minute cave tour but the journey makes it all worthwhile. As we approached the cave in our little boat, I had that same sensation I do in the opening moments of The Pirates of the Caribbean. Here, there are no rails. The blue reflection is spectacular. Our guide sang well, putting others to shame. Instead of sailing back to Capri’s main harbor, we asked our guide to drop us off at a pier nearby. capri | Rachel: Photo Diary
12132011 Our walking/hiking tour of the Amalfi Coast begins in Cava de’ Tirreni, a town with a thousand years of history, nestled in a hilly landscape overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and known as the “green gate of the Amalfi Coast.” The location of this town, with its impressive Benedictine Monastery, is the perfect starting point for our adventure and an easy access to the coastal walks. Walk ancient paths and dramatic seascapes. | Siciclando
12142011 Journeying to the Amalfi Coast, you’ll enter a landscape dominated by limestone cliffs and brilliant blue seas. In Pompeii and Positano, archaeological wonders mingle with ristorantes serving Italy’s best-known dishes, regional wines, and chilled liqueurs like limoncello. Guided Walking | Country Walkers
12152011 The city of Salerno has taken holiday lights to another level with their whimsical and creative Luci d’Artista displays. Stroll through the medieval streets of Salerno’s historic center through Il Giardino Incantato, The Enchanted Garden, where you’ll discover dragons and fairies surrounded but a world of colorful floral lights. It’s a magical setting for holiday shopping in Italy! 5 Ways to Celebrate Christmas and New Year’s in Campania! | Charming Italy
12162011 Kelly Brook is staying at the L'Albergo Della Regina Isabella on the island in the Bay Of Naples and chose to have a dip in one of the hotel's three pools. She turned tourist as she strolled the streets of old Napoli before taking to the waves on a boat trip. The brunette beauty also cooled down with an ice cream as she checked out the pottery on a souvenir stand. She wrote on her official Twitter last night: 'In Naples! Men are looking at me like I am Gelato!! Are there women in Italy??' Ciao bella! | Daily Mail
12172011 The book opens in Rome where her group of 10 women arrive to tackle jet lag while discovering some of the city’s ancient and modern treasures. On their transfer to the Sorrento Peninsula in Campania, the group stops off for a visit to explore the ruins of Pompeii. The next day they’re off to discover Campania’s ancient Greek heritage at Paestum. A brief stop at Vietri sul Mare gets the ladies in a flurry of ceramic shopping excitement, but it’s not until their third day in Campania that they get the first full taste of the Amalfi Coast’s beauty by visiting Positano. Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore by Chantal Kelly | Ciao Amalfi !
12182011 South of Naples, Positano is one big cliff rising from the Bay of Salerno. The town’s one road winds, turns back on itself, loops around churches and villas and trees that have been here since donkeys determined where the road would go. The advent of the automobile gave Positano to the world. Yet, despite metallic din drowning whispery breezes, I have not found a corner of Positano that lacks an avian chorus. Perhaps natural selection increased the volume of birdsong to give visitors the music they did not know they missed until they arrive woozy and white-knuckled from the hairpin road from Naples, vacation nerves jangling, inner accountant snapping, “You paid a lot for this, and you better get your money’s worth.” Positano | Stiggerink's Blog
12192011 From the first moment, you're transfixed. Must be something about standing hundreds of feet above the blue-green Mediterranean. Or the lemon-infused air wafting through olive groves. Or the fishing villages carved out of cliffs. Your feet glide upon centuries-old cobblestones. Up ancient steps etched into rugged hillsides. To the magnificent vistas from Path of the Gods. From Italy's Amalfi Coast to the Isle of Capri | Backroads
12202011 The Cilento coast is fairly rocky territory, with the shoreline lapped by a crystal sea. We cycle through quaint fishing villages where the traditional way of life is still very evident. We ride to the Greco-Roman city of Paestum with its well-preserved temples and amphitheatre, before heading to the stunning Amalfi Coast itself. We spend two days riding here, visiting beautiful towns like Minori and Positano, but also exploring the peaceful hills inland with their spectacular sea views. Cycling tour in Cilento and Amalfi | Explorer Travel
12212011 Caught the train to Naples and then took the local train (Circumvesvian) to Sorrento. The Circumvesvian wasn't the most comfortable ride, but the cheapest way to get to Sorrento. The hostel (Seven Hostel) we stayed at was great, I absolutely loved staying there. It felt more like a resort than a hostel and it was cheap. We dropped off our stuff and walked along the coastline, stopping at a few viewpoints suggested on the map. The water was amazing, it was blue and so clear that you could see everything on the bottom. My favorite place - Sorrento | TravBuddy
12222011 There is no end to the wealth of native grape varietals in Campania, whether white or red. Vines seem to love its volcanic soils, spilled so many centuries ago from Mount Vesuvius and Mount Massico along the northern coast. Ancient Romans used Campania as their playground, and who can blame them—with perfect produce and vineyards which practically grow themselves. The Romans’ most famous wine—Falernum—is believed to hail from these volcanic soils. Powerful Aglianico flourishes here (as it does too in Basilicata, which claims similar volcanic soils) while native grape Casavecchia is bottled by a handful of winemakers intent on preserving history in a bottle. White wines from Falanghina, Biancolella, Greco or Fiano are a good reason to spend long evenings on the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, gazing at the sea and indulging in fresh seafood. Italy > Campania | north berkeley wine
12232011 Victor Burgin used the photograph as a starting point and a diagram. "It tells me to begin in Pompeii." Before his trip, he thoroughly researched the Pompeii ruins from books. In Pompeii, Burgin found the same columns where the woman and photographer once stood. He first took a panorama of stills as well as photos of the columns. The video installation combines both series of photographs. Burgin quotes from his own accompanying text, which describes the basilica: "The capitals are Pompeian Ionic, their volutes embellished with palmettes curling back to the abacus." Victor Burgin: Voyage to Italy: 'It's not simply an architectural photograph' | Press Republican
12242011 ‎"Our peculiar tradition has been to combine art, creativity, design and industrial products," said Vincenzo De Luca, the Italian Consul General to Shanghai. "When I was in high school, I read a lot of newspapers and magazines about international issues and affairs. I also enjoyed movies and music from foreign countries. Beginning in the 1970s in Italy in the schools and universities there was a lot of attention paid to international issues and foreign culture," De Luca told the Global Times. "Students were also very interested in those fields." It was in his final year of university, when he attended a course in international relations, that a teacher told him that he had the makings of a good diplomat. "And he encouraged me to attend preparation courses for the diplomatic career examination when I graduated. I passed the examination soon after. That was in Naples in 1987." The perfect blend | Global Times
12252011 The history of the Greek community of Cumae is of great historical importance for the West since it transmitted the Greek culture to the local communities, and it made the letters of the Greek alphabet known to the Latins, laying the basis for the alphabet which would afterwards become the most important in the world. archaeological trip to cumae | CIEE Napoli
12262011 I Borboni is a leading producer and champion of Asprinio di Aversa, an ancient white wine varietal with tree-hugging vines. The winery, which I visited in May, is situated in the town of Lusciano, about halfway between the two provinces where Asprinio is produced, Naples and Caserta. The appellation takes its last name from Aversa, the town in Caserta around which most of the vineyards are found. To grow Asprinio, I Borboni supports a traditionally Etruscan viticultural system known as vite maritata (“married vine”) by which the vines wrap around the tree trunks of poplar trees and climb to heights of 15 metres. This poses special challenges for the grape pickers, hence the made-to-measure scala napoletana. Joseph’s ladder & the vineyards of Aversa | youngandfoodish
12272011 Some maintain that it comes from a wild native variety domesticated by the Etruscans living in Capua (a city in the province of Caserta). It has similar etymological origins as some of the primitive Lambruscos (Aspro and Cruet) and was cultivated in the same way (vines trained to live supports such as trees, in the case of Asprinio, popular trees) as many of the Lambruscos from the Po River Valley. So there. Asprinio | my life italian
12282011 Follow me inside the kitchen of working-class pizza joint in downtown Napoli and see how they make deep fried pizza, the cult Neapolitan street food. Pizza Fritta is a Neapolitan street food that has never quite taken on outside Naples but enjoys a cult-like reverence amongst the locals. The concept is simple - seal the toppings between two layers of pizza dough and deep-fry it until crispy. Pizza Fritta | fxcuisine.com
12292011 You all might wonder how come I have this access to the kitchen of one of the best restaurants in Amalfi Coast – Conca del Sogno. Well, this is because my husband’s grandfather was one of the first customers of the Tizzani family, the owners of this wonderful restaurant, so they know my husband’s family since they started this business. My husband always tells me his grandfather Enzo used to be quite a personality. Whenever “nonno” Enzo visited Conca del Sogno, he would sneak into the kitchen to see what the chef and the cooks where preparing. Behind the kitchen door of Conca del Sogno | Tales of Ambrosia
12302011 Our winery, Cantina Episcopio, founded in 1860, embodies a tradition which we have never betrayed. In 126 years, the Don Pasquale bar has “sipped” stories from the movies world, confessions from stars in the show-business, melanchonies of love, dreams of freedom, ideas for tales, and inscrutable silences. Hotel Palumbo’s Ristorante “Confalone” provides pleasure for the palate and a feast for the eye. In the Sala San Giovanni – a 17th century dining room that boasts a priceless painting of St. John the Baptist by Guido Reni, one of Caravaggio’s pupils – and in the Sala Grande – with its 18th century majolica floor and panoramic terrace with superb view – guests can enjoy beauty in its noblest and most varied forms – right here in Ravello. Hotel Palumbo stands 350 metres above sea level: the astounding blues of sky and sea are enhanced by the intense green of the Hotel’s Mediterranean gardens. Luxury Hotel in Ravello: Hotel Palumbo | Italian Collection
12312011 Review of Mustilli Falanghina Sant'Agata de' Goti DOC 2010 by Franco Ziliani: “This wine is vinified in a very simple way. The grapes are hand-selected and -picked. Crushed immediately, the must is fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature for about two weeks and is subjected to frequent bâtonnages (stirring of the lees). When needed, a portion of the must undergoes malolactic fermentation. The wine ages at least three months in bottle. My tasting "told" me this about the wine: A vibrant golden color, dry nose, focused, great backbone and elegance, intense and layered, with notes of citrus and orange blossom, hints of white peaches and apple and almond. Altogether a fragrant, zesty wine with a marked minerality. When you first drink it, its attack is dry and clean, rapidly expanding on the palate with great freshness and richness. On the finish fills your mouth and has a rather long finish, all underlined by a wonderful acidity. This Falanghina has a load of energy and liveliness, making it a pleasure to match with your meal and, indeed, to be drunk as an ottimo aperitif. Again, many thanks to Leonardo Mustilli for having rescued Falanghina and made it one of the key white wines of the South.” Ode to Falanghina | Muddy Boots