Top 10 wine bars in Florence
Florence is a city bursting with a number of fantastic wine bars to experience. In Italy, wine bars are called enoteca. You can have an excellent meal and of course, taste a number of fantastic wines without having to buy an entire bottle, or settle for a house wine. Here...
24 hours in: Lucca
If all things Renaissance fascinate you, it’s time to discover Lucca’s cobblestoned streets! Lucca is a beautiful city in the Tuscany region of Italy, famous for its well-preserved Renaissance architecture and walls. The region is known as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and has produced many historical figures that helped...
How to make Venetian frittelle at home (and where to get them in Venice)
The annual Venetian Carnival is known for a lot of things, like the gorgeous masks you’ll see around town and the fun parties along the Grand Canal. But for the locals of Venice, it also means something very, very important: frittelle time! Frittelle are sugary treats that are only available...
Like a local: The artisans behind the Venice Carnival masks
Did you know that when Carnival (or Carnevale) was held during Venice’s Golden Age (about the 18th century), it was much longer than the few weeks it lasts today? Or do you know the significance of the “Plague Doctor” mask? No? Well, if you step into Giancarlo Tamburini’s shop, he’ll tell you...
Second time’s the charm in Venice
I’m not a romantic. I don’t get carried away by whimsy, never bought a poster of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s for my dorm room, and didn’t dream of being proposed to in Paris. I don’t think the romance languages are necessarily romantic (although I do speak them and...
New Year’s Eve traditions and superstitions in Venice
How to have the Best. Year. Ever.: a short, half-serious look at local Venetian New Year’s Eve traditions and superstitions. Yes, it’s part of us. Being Italian means being superstitious, and New Year’s Eve is one of the best occasions to practice and prove this national trait. Want to ring in the new...
Like a local: Where to find the best panettone in Venice
Food, as you probably know, is something Italians take very seriously — especially when it comes to Christmas desserts. So, instead of talking about birds and stuffing and seafood, let’s dig straight into the last course, where a very rich variety of Christmas cakes are good for all flavours and tastes! In Italy,...
How to make spiced wine… Venetian-style
Okay, so you could say that spiced wine is the same no matter where it’s made. Take some wine, some fruit, some spices, and drink up, right? Well, not exactly. The traditional winter drink can be found throughout Europe and beyond (North and South America have variations as well), but...
Living local in tourist-packed Venice
“Excuse me, can you tell me where is the bridge?” a tourist asked me the other day. “Of course…” I said, a little perplexed. As is often the case in Venice, you could see several bridges from where we were standing. “Do you mean Rialto?” I tried to narrow it...
24 hours in: Rome
Think of Rome, and your mind can’t help but conjure up images such as the opulence of the Sistine Chapel or the deep history of the Colosseum. It’s likely your thoughts will immediately be drawn to the Roman Forums or even the Vatican Museums. It’s the beauty of Rome. That’s...