The Grottoes of Castellana, Puglia

These grottoes of the town Castellana in Puglia, Italy were discovered in 1938 by Prof Franco Anelli.  We took the long itinerary (3 km) which took about 2 hours, and we reached the magnificent "white cave". A wonderous trip indeed!

sindaco mayor in Italy

 The sindaco in Italy (mayor of the town/ city/ province) is powerful and important in the everyday life and political life of their area.

At left in white is the Sindaco of Roma, Virginia Raggi.  Below her is the Sindaco of Cascina, Susanna Ceccardi.

The Sindaco is often seen at public events with an official  red white and green sash over his/her shoulder and across the chest.

Il Ceppo. Food wonderful food in Vicenza

 Il Ceppo in Corso Palladio, 196, Vicenza reminds me of Peck in Milano, except that Ceppo is 1/10th the size.  The food is well presented, with much of their offerings made in house.

They also do A great business with Bacala, if you like that fish.  try their Bistrot del Bacala.. Sotobotega.

In these photos you can find: Provola Affumicata Fresca at a cost of E 19.90 per kg, Tortelloni con ricotta e spinaci at E 29 per kg, and a great variety of cheeses.

The top photo indicates a Festival della Sopressa - the house speciality at E. 23 per kg.

A light lunch outside on the footpath of a pedestrian road, opposite the " MUST SEE" Tempio di Santa Corona.

Sirmione, Lake Garda and Scaliger Castello

 On a map of Lake Garda in Northern Italy, Sirmione is the toe of a ballet dancer's leg, sticking out into the big lake.  The centro storico of Sirmione is a little island, now linked to the nearby mainland by bridge.

The Castello is its own little island, right at the entrance to the town.  It has not only one but 4 drawbridges over the moats ( 2 are just wider enough for one of two people or horses to cross), so to get entry to the medieval castello,  you would have needed to cross  double drawbridges. 


The castle also has a "curtain wall"  for extra security, which you can see in  the top photo.

One of the drawbridges can clearly be seen in the third photo.

The butterfly type tops of the walls indicate allegiance to the ghibelline faction (as opposed to the guelfs) in Medieval Italy.

It is possible to enter this fortress, and walk up steps to the top of the castle walls or further still inside up to the top of the tower. We climbed only to the top of the walls (an easy climb of about 80 wide steps),and the area to walk is surrounded by a low balustrade (Photo number 4).

Well worth the effort!

Il Cucciolo, Giorgio al Cucciolo, Anacapri

Although this restaurant does take big groups, they are not seated in the same area as couples, singles, small groups or small families who have pre-booked their tables.
With a view to die for, and excellent service and food, a free shuttle just adds to its allure! September 2014.

Grotta Azzurra: the Blue Grotto, Capri

The Blue Grotto must surely be on everyone's Bucket List.  Probably best to go around midday to get the best colours of the sea inside the Grotto. If the sea is rough, boats are not allowed in, so check before you take a boat from Marina Grande.

It's not difficult to get to the grotto, either from land or sea.  If travelling by land, take a bus or taxi from Capri town or Anacapri, and walk down the steps, to stand in line for a boat and "driver" to take you inside the Grotto. 

Boats from Marina Grande (the main port of Capri) or from the mainland (Sorrento / Positano / Massa Lubrense etc) can take you to the grotto. Allow time for a long queue. ( You may not enter in your own boat.)

If arriving at the Grotto by sea, again there's a queue, as the many small passenger boats and small motor boats vie for a front position.  Actually it's all fairly organised, in an Italian kind of way, and boats take their turn, with the  drivers trying to attract the attention of their favourite oarsmen.  However you arrive there's a Euro 13 per person fee to get into the rowboats with the "gondoliers".  And they require a tip. You need to lie down in the boat to get through the low entrance, so don't wear glam. 

Quattro Passi Restaurant. Michellin Stars

www.ciaobellatours.com.auWhat a wonderful evening we had last night at 2 Michellin starred restaurant Quattro Passi in Massa Lubrense, Italia, thanks to chef Antonio Mellino, Rita Mellino, Sasha, Mario, Alesandro, and staff. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel, through the walk in the underground cellar, the wines, the degustazione menu, and all the little extras, the excellent table service, the magnificent view, and finally , just for us, a rather grand fireworks display.  Here are photos of some of the courses we enjoyed....

The Bull in the Arcade: the Living Room of Milano

In the 4 storey galleria/arcade built in 1861 (to 1877) in Milano, and  named for the first King of the Kingdom of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, there is a BULL. 
It's a particular bull, made of ceramics, with the power to bring women happiness in their emotional and love relationships.  Or good luck to anyone, who knows the secret .

Near Louis Vuitton there's a Torino Coat of Arms, and inside it  is the bull:

Gently place your right heel on the bull's genitals, and spin 3 times: this is sure to bring good luck!!





It's not encouraged overly  by the local ufficials as it causes damage to the mosaics.

Tripe tripe tripe: yum yum yum

 A popular lunch time treat in Firenze/Florence is a panino filled with tripa and your choice of sauces and condiments.  A busy tripe cart can be found most days opposite the ancient San Ambrogio church, not far from the San Ambrogio market, outside the famous upmarket Cibreo restaurant in Firenze. 
And who said Italians don't queue?

Dottore Dottore!! a Ferrara

In October many university students around Italy were receiving their first degree.  In Ferrara this young man, according to tradition, was wearing a wreath of leaves on his head, carrying a bottle of wine, surrounded by friends: at every stop point his friends sing "Dottore, Dottore!", and he has to have a swig of his bottle.

Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

In October six of us on Ciao Bella Tours' "Food for Thought: Wrapping Emilia Romagna" tour dined at the best restaurant in Italy.   Or, more accurately, nominated as the best restaurant in Italy according to the 2013 Michelin Guide, the Espresso Guide, and the Pelligrino Guide.  And the 3rd best in the world. Chef: Massimo Bottura
What an experience!
We all chose the degustazione menu with paired wines (although it started with a beer!) .

This was the menu:

Memory of a mortadella sandwich

Prosciutto from Parma by F.lli Galloni Langhirano

Massimo Spigaroli Culatello aged 42 months DOP

Tagliatelle with ragù

Traditional Modenese Tortellini served with
cream of “Bianca Modenese” Parmigiano Reggiano

Mora romagnola ribs lacquered with Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from Modena

Warm and cold “zuppa inglese”

And the wines:

Beltaine beer smoked chestnut and juniper

Timorasso Farewell 2011 Massa GLOCAL

Ribolla gialla 2008 Damijan Podversic

Friulano 2010 Marco Sara

Croatina Stagioni 2008 Massa GLOCAL

Moscato d’Asti Lumine 2012 "Ca’d’Gal"

Bellini , Catania Sicily, Pizza

Sadly today was the final day of our tour in Sardegna and Sicilia.
We left Siracusa after breakfast to check out the amazing Fish Market of Catania, and a visit to the nearby Duomo of Catania. Probably the most famous son of Catania was Vincenzo BELLINI, born here in 1801.  A child prodigy, he composed several operas  one of the most famous being "Norma" in 1831. So we've been eating a few versions of "Pasta alla Norma". 
Although Bellini lived most of his short life in Italy, he actually died in Paris in 1835, and only later were his remains brought to the Duomo of Catania, where stands his large marble memorial. And the opera theatre here of course is Teatro Bellini.

So tonight, alone after a wonderful fortnight of dining with our fellow travellers, what better than a "Pizza alla Norma", delivered to my door at a cost of only Euro4.  Hard to believe!  So here's a promo for Pizzeria La Principessa, in via Sebastiano Catania, 175 - in case you're ever in Catania searching for an excellent wood fired pizza.
P.S. we also enjoyed drinking more than a few "Bellini"s.... same surname, different family, artist not composer.

Orgosolo, Sardegna

Orgosolo, in the mountains of central Sardegna, is steeped in history, hundreds of Murals on the walls of houses, rocks and shops telling stories of shepherds lives, people's struggles, and political  comments.  Allow yourself an hour or more to stroll down the main street, and other more secret places.

Sail boat in Sardegna

 

 
A wonderful day on a sailboat in Sardegna.  Great weather and great company.  Hoisting the sails.  Swimming and snorkelling in the clear clean waters of the Mediterranean.