Italy FYI (Italy in the popular press that we've come upon and think you might want to bookmark for future reference. We update this post regularly)
Published Tuesday, June 14th 2022 - Updated Friday, July 22nd 2022
July 11, 2022
A Glimpse Inside a Florentine Silk-Weaving Workshop
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/11/travel/antique-florentine-silk-mill.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DKDm8biPgPCpaN_wDEY7ZifsY-mjqfQ8VMNqMuQvE31e5bPAloSg2s5JuYnZBPawMElbWOZEJklZTcQeJ_tjbwcmiyLOo4m-TitkjaOzX1CPTd1mkmdghnvZsyJV613SMLwqnCFeUjj9B-zu5hUs4hPUoIYCmNu_HqCR9sap7RPlyHtF5AC6wOUirTnNWc97sFbA1SbFvFR3h96mw4g8hObJJVZO2sak59J7etxOkZGWdqL4y2BpwuR4Cylr1isrfFqxPk29Ng2_j4qjnXO-2NM2XAkUsA&smid=url-share
This is a free article, with no paywall.
Another example of Italian artisans being replaced by technology and changing tastes.
At the end of the article, the artisan says that what he is selling is not fabric but a piece of his heart.
"But for Mr. Giachetti, the weaver, the final product encompasses so much more than just the technical processes involved in its creation. When he weaves, he told me, he supplies not just his time, but also his heart, his passion.
“You are not just buying a fabric,” he said. “You are also receiving a part of my heart.”
“This,” he added, “is the real difference between an artisanal textile and one made industrially.”
July 2, 2022
The Palio in Siena
The first time we were in Siena was pre- iPhones and laptops and I had this feeling of having been there before come over me. I came to realize that it was the sense of lifestyle familiarity that was causing me to feel so comfortable. Why? This ancient city felt like my childhood in Brooklyn! As you'll see by clicking on the link to the article about the Palio, Siena is a gigantic town square where "the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker" are all located. It is a neighborhood. I remember saying to Jacqui that "if they ever invent a portable computer I could sit here all day long and work over an espresso and a pastry".
Anyway, the Palio is a bucket list item for me, and today, July 2 is the first of two Palio days in Siena. August 16 is the next one.
https://www.discovertuscany.com/siena/palio-siena.html?fbclid=IwAR3D5RKGl9o6eAdhCiGYYLqyKYnSaQ09r5r1IT8CU1DsHmzYDcx480LAD18
June 24, 2022
When, Exactly, Did Mount Vesuvius Erupt?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/world/europe/pompeii-mount-vesuvius-erupt.html
In case you were wondering, it was Oct 17, not August 24 in AD 79. Have you been to the excavation sites in Pompeii?
As the article says, "Since 1748, when the first excavations began, the ancient city of Pompeii has captured the popular imagination as a testament to the arbitrariness of nature and the fragility of humankind."
Given the large crowds that have discovered the route from Rome, through Naples, past Pompeii, and into the Amalfi Coast, it might be best, if you have a choice, to visit this part of Italy before or after the summer heat.
June 13, 2022
Best Wineries to Visit in Tuscany
This may be the most magnetic article ever written about Italy. "Magnetic"? Yes, it creates a force that makes me want to get on a plane this afternoon to return to Badia a Coltibuono (https://www.coltibuono.com/en/).
We dare you to click here and not feel the same.
https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/best-wineries-visit-tuscany?slide=4ceab5b7-7510-4229-aaad-bbe0b073c7af#4ceab5b7-7510-4229-aaad-bbe0b073c7af
We still have a few bottles of wine and probably a bottle of olive oil or two for special occasions.
Note that Badia a Coltibuono is located in Siena. If you are unfamiliar with Siena then watch the opening sequence of the James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace" which was filmed in Siena during the Palio horse race. Here's a glimpse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtd16vKiDw.
If you're not familiar with the Palio, then you may want to time your trip to Siena around one of the two races, July 2 and August 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena. But if you want to see the Palio you will need reservations quite far in advance or transportation to/from beyond Siena on Palio day.
And........if Siena ends up on your bucket list then the Cathedral in Siena is the must-see highlight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena_Cathedral. It is a jaw-dropping architectural experience.
Ya see, that article was magnetic!
June 11, 2022
11 Food and Drink Rules Italians Live By
foodandwine.com June 10, 2022
The first time I became aware of certain "rules" that Italians live by that were different than the way we live in the states was many years ago when I first discovered cappuccino. I enjoyed it so much that when I ordered one at lunch a friend looked at me and said, "you know, if you ever go to Italy, you can't order a cappuccino after breakfast; espresso only for the rest of the day; if you order a cappuccino in the afternoon you will get a very strange look". This and other interesting rules to live by when you are traveling in Italy and care whether you are seen as a tourist are discussed in this informative article.
https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/italian-food-drink-rules
June 9, 2022
In Struggling Murano, a Design Intervention
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/arts/design/murano-italy-glass-resurgence.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DLDm4diO0PH5PH90rWZKVlIN4uxT2dQ5pALLYrVbl9yuZEJAl3RhK1uJSJnp8IZSUprIb5FkUH46XwZ5Fquzn7cjv-b-5l2Ly0ux_BaDLpX6Dc0HQ-JgkyoI9idV-oxScLxqbaG-J239gqivl3Vc1-Vi5AMHfRx4TgDxV5PN2EbBvOuEJhC6wCB2alzZPL4KkAcQ5SFVvCUHp0hG89495XM94XV73te19iIIGtxOVMVRE7aduhFJYzRIPLlrt1sL6rqBaEzcq-wv5eB7xR9AOCukdkegzCkOilD6jc&smid=url-share
After 700 years, the glass blowers of Murano, an island just a stone's throw from Venice, is undergoing a major transformation.
June 8, 2022
The Making of 100-Point Wines: Two Compelling Brunellos From a Superlative Vintage
The Wine Enthusiast article by Kerin O'Keefe
If you are a wine enthusiast then make it a high priority to experience Montepulciano and their Brunellos. This article references a few vineyards that get rave reviews.
June 7, 2022
The Four Seasons Will Take Over Venice’s Historic Hotel Danieli
Jacqui and I stayed at the Hotel Danieli on one of our trips to Venice and we were in awe of its majesty. We often tell new visitors to Venice to make having tea at the Danieli a must-do activity. After all, it is not every day that you experience being in a 14th-century building that once was home to the ruler of the land.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will have a new property in Venice in 2025.
The company announced on Monday that it will assume management of the historic Hotel Danieli, a five-star palatial hotel located close to St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The hotel is currently a Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel and will remerge, after an extensive refurbishment, as a Four Seasons in 2025.
The hotel, whose structure goes back to the end of the 14th century, is one of the city’s most notable properties and has long had a place at the top of top hotel lists in the city. Over the years, it has become known as one of the most popular choices for artists and celebrities including Charles Dickens, Leonard Bernstein, Harrison Ford, and more.
Its location in Venice along the Grand Canal includes three different buildings—the 14thcentury Palazzo Dandolo and two 19th-century additions linked by bridges (Palazzo Casa Nuova and Palazzo Danieli Excelsior). It is also just a short work from the market stalls of Piazza San Marco and the Basilica San Marco and offers incredible city views from rooms and restaurants on-site.
The Four Seasons says that the renovation will keep the hotel’s historic charm—Pierre-Yves Rochon, who has worked on other historic Four Seasons properties in Europe, including in Florence, Paris, Cap-Ferrat, and Megève, is overseeing the interiors. When it does reopen, guests will still be able to enjoy four restaurants on-site, and seven meeting and event spaces.
"With Hotel Danieli, we are adding another iconic property to our Italian portfolio, where we will honor the historic legacy of this Venetian landmark while also introducing the exceptional Four Seasons service experience to one of Italy's most popular destinations,” Bart Carnahan, president of global business development and portfolio management at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts said.
The hotel will remain open during the renovation under the name The Hotel Danieli, Venezia.
This is a view from the rooftop restaurant at the Hotel Danieli
https://www.cruiseplanners.com/static/imago/25400/119CDC86-C152-4457-9973-BF5A3BB7EFBC1654615310.jpeg
May 31, 2022
Italy, once the pandemic’s grim epicenter, lifts requirements for visitors.
All travelers to Italy will no longer be required to have a valid coronavirus pass as of Wednesday, Italian authorities announced.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/31/world/covid-19-mandates-vaccine-cases?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur#italy-once-the-pandemics-grim-epicenter-lifts-requirements-for-those-entering-the-country
May 31, 2022
Circling Sicily on Its Regional Trains
From today's NYT.......
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/travel/sicily-regional-trains.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Travel
A Dutch photographer, documenting the culture of regional train travel, managed to get around the Italian island for less than $100. Here’s what she saw.
Ciao,
Larry
The Washington Post ran this article a few weeks ago. Puglia is east of Naples and I'd venture a guess that it has fewer tourists than the more famous cities on the west coast. But, if we could get a taste of this pastry it might get more visitors!
In southeast Italy, this pastry is king
Pasticciotto is the pride of Puglia. Try it at these four bakeries
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/puglia-bakeries-pasticciotto/
By the way, here is a map showing where Puglia is.
https://www.cruiseplanners.com/static/imago/25400/F73ECEAA-4CCA-4447-A867-5992CE2DEC65.jpeg
Ciao,
Larry
May 23, 2022
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