Liguria: Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante is also known as the city with two seas since its hystorical centre overlooks two different bays: the one of Silence and the one of the Fairytales.

LIGURIA the closest sea for people living in the Northern regions of Italy: in 2 hours you can delight both your eyes with breathtaking landscapes overlooking the sea or your taste with fresh fish, focaccia or pesto... 

Hallmarks:

- Caròggi: very narrow and dark streets;

- Focaccia: one of the best produced in Italy; locals are used to      have it in the morning with milk and you can taste it in multiple variants;

- Pesto: sauce for pasta made of basil, oil and pine nuts;

- the succession of a plenty of little towns that overlook the sea and reflect their brightul colours in the water of the sea;

- Beaches, most of which with stoned instead of sand, but this is a warranty for clean water!!!

- Fishmongers' carts on which fresh fish is exposed for sale;

- The peaceful atmosphere of the streets that are full of tourist but that are not so chaotic as a seaside city should be in summer.

Sestri Levante is a little pearl of the coast and looks like a strip of land surrounded by the sea: Silence bay is very little and short and if you want to find enough place where to stay, it's much better to get there early in the morning so that you can also observe the dinghies that transport people from the land to spots nearby but that can be reached only by sea. This part of the town is charcaterized by these coloured houses that reflect themselves in the water of the sea where boats are moored. 

On the other side, opposite to this you can find the Bay of Fairytales where equipped beaches alternate themselves with free ones. Beach on this side is much longer and the seafront is characterized by authority buildings. 

The hystorical centre is located among the two bays and the isthmus and is characterized by soaring roofs, bell towers and the tower of Fascie Rosse Palais, that faces one of the main square. Every corner is full of flowers and bouganville, that is one of the most widespread flower of this region. 

Reach the seafront and look for Pelagica Pescaturismo, an organization that plans excursions aboard fishboats to let you experience the life of fishers and taste delicious food, freshly caught. 

For further information check www.pelagicapescaturismo.com/escursioni/

Don't leave this region without having tested:

PASTA COL PESTO


Ingredients:
Leaves of basil, 50g
Pinefruits, 15g
Parmesan Cheese or Pecorino, 100g
Salt, a pinch
Garlic, 2 pcs
ExtraVergin Oil, 100ml

Pasta, like Trofie or Bavette, 400g
Peeled potatoes

Prepare the sauce by mixing basil leaves, oil, salt, cheese, pinefruits, garlic together. It should be much better to use a mortar but, if you haven't got it, you can use an electric blender; may the sauce become darker, don't get afraid, it's something natural. In the meantime let water, where you have thrown in some pieces of potatoes, boil, salt it and cook pasta. As soon as it's ready, dress it with the sauce that you have previously tasted.

May you want to eat a delicious ice cream go to:
- Baciollo, Piazza Matteotti 55 - Sestri Levante;
May you want to buy some fresh made pasta or pesto go to:
- Pastificio Moderno, Via XXV Aprile, 58 - Sestri Levante.

Umbria: Orvieto

By approaching Orvieto you will notice that it stands on a cliff, a large mass of tufa rock that seems to be dued to a volcanic eruption of the big crater that now is filled in by the nearby Bolsena Lake.  The consistency of this rock is characterized by different textures and this allowed man to mould and modify it in order to create cavities and caves that are still visible. We reach the city along Viale Crispi that conveys in Saint Patrick square where you can leave the car and look around the town.

Quod natura munimento inviderat industria adiecit 

what nature stinted for provision, application has supplied

First stop: Saint Patrick's well... that allowed the transportation of water from the buttom of the valley up to the town, avoiding to pass on the only available way. It's more than 5o meters deep and with a diameter of 13 m, just 248 steps to reach the buttom and to restore breathing the fresh air.
Access is granted by a system of two one-way helical stairs: you enter from one door and you exit from the opposite one ... if you get out ... since the name was inspired  by medieval Irish legend according to which Saint Patrick's purgatory in Ireland gave access to Purgatory.
All around this site you can enjoy of the beautiful view on the valley and Albornoz Fortress.
Walk along Corso Cavour and you will find yourself in the historical centre; follow the touristic route and reach the square of the Dom: an authentic Gothic masterpiece. Because of its position it conveys the idea of dominating the entire city and the valley: you can see it from far away, while reaching the town. The facade is characterized by very beautiful mosaics and with a large rose window that enlights the interiors where two chapels and important paintings - among which some from the Judgment Day - are still preserved.
Next to the Cathedral you can visit also the Palace of the Popes that was built at the end of the XIII century when the Popes moved to Orvieto to escape conflicts in Rome.

In the same square of the Cathedral you can enter a labyrinth of grottoes, hidden in the silent darkness of the rock and where you will find out something marvellous...
Discover it at: www.orvietounderground.it
I just tell you that one of the most famous dish of Orvieto is the pigeon and after having visited the underground it will be easier for you to understand why.

Orvieto, as many other Umbrian town, is beautiful to observe in every details a great city has to offer. 

Don't miss it!!!

Umbria: One morning at La Scarzuola

At the Scarzuola, when someone points out that it was not built in accordance with franciscan rules, I answer saying "of course it isn't, it rapresents the whole world, my own world, the one in which I had the fortune to live and work in, the Worlds of Art, Culture, Mondanity, Elegance, Pleasures (vices, wealth and powers included) where I made room for my oasis of meditation, study, work, music and silence, Grandeurs and Poverty, of social and hermit life, of contemplation in solitude. It's my Realm of Fantasy, Fairytales, Myths, Echoes and Reflections out of the time and space because all of you can find the own echoes from the past and some notes for the future"... Tomaso Buzzi

It's an experience everybody should make and even if it is out of the most well known tourist routes and very few people know it, please visit this place that ... will astonish you!

This is a Franciscan convent that dates back to 1218 when St. Francis of Assisi planted here a but of bay and roses. Scarzuola derives its name from Scarza, a marsh plant the Saint used to build himself a shelter with. We started our guided tour in the Church where an earlt 18th century fresco depicting the Saint in levitation is still preserved.

In 1956, the convent complex was acquired by the Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi and, between 1958 and 1978, he planned and erected his own "Ideal City" conceived as a theatrical machine.

This city inclueds 7 different theatres and culminates in the upper part called Acropolis, a piled-up wealth of buildings comprising numerous archetypes, empty inside and provided with as many compartments as a termites' nest, that provides many surprising vistas.

An iniziatic relationship is thus estabilished between the Convent that rapresents the Sacred City and the theatres that stand for the profane one; both laden with symbols and screts, references and quotations.

The source of inspiration for this place and its building was Francesco Colonna's "Hypnerotomachia Polyphili" and the prevailing style is neo-mannerism: stairs used in all directions, the deliberate disproportion of some parts, a few monsters, the heaping together of building and monuments, amounting to surrealism, something of the labyrinth, something evocative, geometric, astronomic, magic.

But, apart for the place and its architecture, also the owner of this place, the nephew of the ancient architect will leave you stunned... but I don't want to spoil you the surprise.

Book your visit at least one day before calling +390763837463 - www.lascarzuola.com

After the visit you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views: you are surrounded by green hills and not far away from Scarzuole we found a little bar with a terrace and so we enjoyed our chopping board of cold cuts and cheeses ... delicious.

Emilia Romagna: The Riviera Romagnola

In the summer there is a place where Italians like spending a week-end, a week or the whole holiday because it provides you with all the services you may need even if the sea is not very beautiful and clean. 

It's nice to visit this part of Italy during the first week-end of July when everything gets PINK!!!

LA NOTTE ROSA, it is called and Rimini, Riccione, Milano Marittima, Cervia, Cesenatico, Bellaria, Cattolica, Milano and Gabicce transform themselves... It's just one night during which a lot of events of whatever type are going to be organized, beach parties, concerts, music everywhere....

But during the day, these beaches are very well furnished: they have very well-functioning bathhouses that provide visitors with umbrellas, deckchairs, swimming pools, bars, games for the children, entertainment,....so on and so forth.

You just have to choose the one you prefer. I visited both Cesenatico and Riccione on this occasion but, of course Riccione is the destination for the youngest, Cesenatico is much better for families and children.

Days pass by beach life while during the night you can choose between a lot of alternatives, depending on your own needs.

The most common thing is to go and walk several times along the main street of the town that is full of shops, bars and attractions for the children.

Cesenatico is very little and towards north-west, it ends with the little harbour from where many fishing boats leave every night for the fishing of the certified mussels this town has become famous for.

It's really very nice to walk and to eat something along this little river that leads to the open sea and is characterized by little coloured houses, very pretty bar and restaurants and the sea atmosphere. Here you can find a lot of places where to taste the best Piadina. Do you know what it is?



PIADINA ROMAGNOLA
500g flour
1 little cup of olive oil
2 teaspoons of salt
a pinch of baking powder for salted cake
1 glass water

Work all the ingredients together until you get a smooth dough and then start rolling it out but without using more flour and cut out some circles with the circumference you prefer.
Cook them in a non-stick pan until it start getting a little bit boloured.
You can fill it with whatever you prefer: cheese, ham, sausages, tomatoes, salad,....

Not so far from Cesenatico, just 10 km northwards, you can visit Cervia also known as the City of the white gold, an ancient production that goes back to 1274 when salt was firstly produced in Cervia and then sent out to Venice from where it was shipped all over the world.
A very nice shop where to buy typical products: "Gust'appunto", Corso Garibaldi 51 - Cesenatico www.gustappunto.com

This salt is known as Sweet Integral Salt which preserves its salting quality because it is not artificially treated and keeps its natural humidity and all the elements the sea water is rich of.
So, before leaving this part of Italy, remember to go and visit the ancient plant of production of salt.