One of the first things that comes to mind when people think of Italy is the iconic cuisine. Pasta, gelato, tiramisu, cannoli, pizza… With so many options for delicious dishes, a holiday in Italy is a foodie’s dream. To get your taste buds tingling, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to find the most scrumptious Italian specialities to enjoy during your holiday. Pasta: Italy’s most popular dish Pasta is perhaps the dish that’s most associated with Italy and you’ll truly be spoilt for choice. From freshly made tortellini and ravioli, to pasta dishes such as carbonara, lasagna, spaghetti alla puttanesca and spaghetti cacio e pepe, all topped off with a generous helping of grated parmesan, Italy is a pasta lover’s dream. The aforementioned tortellini famously has its origins in Modena, a region located 90 miles north of Florence. With traditional recipes perfected and passed down from the nonnas (grandmas) of Italy, you won’t have any trouble finding your favourite pasta dish. Gelato: A must for those with a sweet tooth You can’t have a holiday in Italy without sampling the traditional gelato. In fact, having a scoop or two of gelato each day is nothing to feel guilty about as it’s the norm! More creamy and flavourful than normal ice cream thanks to its lower amount of butterfat, there’s no artificial colouring in the best gelato and the fruit-flavoured gelatos (also known as ‘sorbetto’) is said to contain more vitamins… That’s enough to win us over! If you’re looking for delicious gelato, Florence is the place to visit! The modern version of this refreshing delicacy is widely thought to be created by Bernardo Buontalenti, a resident of Florence. Today, Florence is filled with traditional gelaterias and is reputed to be one of the best cities in Italy for gelato. Coffee: Enjoy a brew by the masters
Italian coffee has long been regarded as the best brew in the world thanks to the love that’s poured into it. Like many Italian delicacies, coffee is considered an art form, so the standard of coffee in Italy is very high. Coffee lovers should head to Naples, the birthplace of the espresso. Get your caffeine kick at a sidewalk café and enjoy a delicious cannoli with your brew as you watch the world go by. It’s the perfect opportunity to sit back and relax. Make your Italian holiday dream a reality If your stomach is rumbling at the thought of all this heavenly food, book a holiday to Italy to give your taste buds a treat (or two)! With so many great places to visit in the country, let Eurocamp help you explore all the wonderful culinary surprises and satisfy your hunger, thanks to many of their holiday parc locations located close to these delicious Italian cuisine hotspots. *This post has been sponsored by Eurocamp
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A perfect balance of zen and hippy vibes to rejuvenate the mind, body and soulDaily meditation, world-class yoga, nourishment and holistic therapies, Kali Yoga, has it all, making it the perfect retreat to re-balance, escape modern life, and submerge in daily practice. The yoga This 7-day retreat combines daily Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga classes and activities that focus on awaking 'the inner you'. Teachers are on hand to help you break down each pose to allow your body and mind to engage with each asana (posture). Whatever your level of expertise from beginner to advanced, a positive outlook and eagerness to learn will set you up for regular practice and healthier choices when you return home leaner, healthier and happier. The food Kaliyoga’s menu varies according to the season. Each day yogis are treated to inspiring and delicious culinary treats from raw salads to super food, with a daily mid-afternoon raw food snack - a welcome treat after relaxing in one of the hammocks or taking a dip in the on-site pool. You’ll be inspired by the recipes and the chefs - be ready to jot down a recipe or two! What to pack
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Kaliyoga is perfect for anyone with a desire to revitalise and a curiosity to explore yoga and meditation as a way to get to know their body better. After spending a week at Kali Yoga, I have a renewed passion for yoga and healthy eating. To book, visit www.kaliyoga.com. Rosanna J. Head Sardinia is known for its spectacular coastline and hidden beaches, but it is also one of the most ancient lands in Europe and its rich archaeological heritage can be seen in the interior of the island, too. Sardinia has many fascinating places still waiting to be explored...
Top Secret Cuisine Fusion Sardinian with Catalan. Alghero’s Catalan past is evident in its street names (such as Carrer del Bisbe) its cultural heritage, its traditions and its cuisine. Even the Town Hall proudly flies the red and yellow striped flag to announce its allegiance and the ‘Sardinian’ dialect of Alghero is officially recognized as a variant of Catalan. Among Alghero’s foodie treats, don’t miss the Aragosta alla Catalana (lobster served with tomatoes and onions) Cassola de Peix (a rich fish soup) and Polpo alla Catalana (a refreshing octopus salad). These dishes are all descended from Catalan specialities but have a Sardinian twist, just like the crema bruciata – a puff pastry roll filled with cream and covered with burnt sugar, reminiscent of the more famous Catalan crema catalana. For wine lovers, there are interesting local white wines produced with grapes brought by the Catalans such as Torbato and Vermentino. Try out the fabulous restaurants in Alghero’s old town – the maitre d’ is sure to be happy to advise. Top Secret Frescoes Bosa is a delightful town on the west coast. It’s a surprise to the senses when you first come across its brightly-coloured houses on the riverbank and beyond. But the real secret in Bosa is a little harder to find. Take your time wandering the narrow cobblestone streets (Bosa is a town founded by the Phoenicians) where you may well come across a decorative festa or the popular local market featuring artisan crafts of the area. Then walk through the olive groves and blue jasmine up the winding stone steps to the castle, which offers spectacular views of the church of San Pietro, the Temo river valley and the red roofs of the Sa Costa quarter. But the secret lies within the small fourteenth century Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos chapel. Restoration in the 1970s has brought to light the most stunning cycle of Catalan school frescoes – unexpected, vivid and truly beautiful to behold. Top Secret Beach Although there are some stunning secluded coves on the southern coast between Chia and Teulada, my choice would be Cala Domestica in the west. Head for the old mining town of Buggerru, where you can still see some of the caves, tunnels and buildings used in this industry, now crumbling and abandoned. Beyond Buggerru, take the SP83 into the mountains (a spectacular drive and you will see more deserted mining villages on the way) then take the signposted right turning down to the secluded beach of Domestica overlooked by a solitary Spanish tower. Park on the grass and walk the boardwalk past deserted mining buildings over the dunes to the beach. Its fine white sand is peppered with bright mineral specks and the water is blue and clear as glass. This is a perfect place to snorkel as the waters of Sardinia abound with flora and fauna. But you will also see a path that leads intriguingly around the rocky promontory. Follow this until you reach a tunnel through the rocks and on the other side you will find the tiny bay of Caletta, invisible from both the sea and Cala Domestica, lying at the mouth of a river surrounded by myrtle and juniper-scented maquis. Top Secret Catacombs Further down the coast towards southern Sardinia you can visit another island –Sant’Antioco, which is connected to Sardinia by a causeway. Here the remains of a Roman bridge are still visible from the road. This ancient town was also founded by the Phoenicians (in the eighth century BC) and was a flourishing port until pirate raids in the Middle Ages led to its gradual decline. The town itself is very pretty, but climb up to the church and look for the man with the key who will be pleased to let you in to see the catacombs through the transept. The catacombs are underground caverns, in which the first Christians met clandestinely to celebrate rituals and to bury their dead. The chambers are less than six feet high and some are decorated with frescoes. If you sense a slightly ominous vibe, this may be because the martyred patron saint of Sant’Antioco is said to have floated here after he was killed by the Romans in Africa... In fact, you can still see the altar-sarcophagus, which apparently held his relics once upon a time. Top Secret Sculpture This has to be the elephant sculpture on the Torre dell’Elefante in the Castello district of Sardinia’s lovely capital city of Cagliari. Cagliari is a great place for history – you can visit the old Roman amphitheatre, the elegant houses and arcades of the Via Roma on the promenade and walk around the old City Walls. As you do this, why not visit the Romanesque Santa Maria Duomo which boasts a fine multi-coloured marble interior, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Porta dei Leoni. If like me, you can’t find the Torre dell’Elefante at first, let alone the secret sculpture, it’s a mediaeval tower made of limestone bricks, 31 metres high and is situated right by the City Gate at Via Universita. It was built by local architect Giovanni Capula in 1307 and for 4 euro you can walk up the 120 steps for a magnificent view of the city, the harbour and the distant mountains. The tower was once used as a prison and the heads of the executed were put on display. Nice. But the secret lies in whether or not you can spot the elephant on the tower – the reason why it was so named. The Little Theatre by The Sea by Rosanna Ley is out on 9th March (Quercus, £20.99). Rosanna Ley
There are few people over whom Italy fails to cast its spell - of all European countries, it seems to offer a mix of food, history, culture, landscape and architecture so spellbinding that hardly anyone who visits fail to return. Considering its relative compactness, too, it’s remarkable for its wealth of desirable destinations: so many areas have such a gorgeously glowing reputation that it can make choosing one single place to visit a comparatively tough task.
Tuscany has long held travellers in its thrall, overshadowing its neighbour Umbria with glamorous ex-pat tales of farmhouse restorations and ancient frescoes springing up behind stripped wallpaper - but that’s actually quite happy news for the rest of us, as it means that this glorious region remains relatively undiscovered and infinitely more charming. Placed bang in the centre of the country, Umbria is known as the ‘green heart of Italy’ - a name which suits its verdant, rolling hills, which are peppered with pinkish towns that cling to hillsides in glorious feats of gravity defiance and glow rosily at sunset. Explore these on foot to fully appreciate their steep, winding loveliness, where just the turn of a corner brings you face to face with either beautiful medieval architecture, a breathtaking vista, or a sight as simple as local store owners standing outside, with faces turned up to the sun … sometimes even all three.
Beyond Assisi
Visitors to Umbria are understandably drawn to legendary sites like Assisi, but we took the bold move of avoiding it altogether, preferring instead to delve into villages with names less instantly recognisable: Todi, Cannaro, Scheggino, Monte Castello di Vibio… The appearance of each is picture-postcard “Umbria” but don’t allow this sense of quasi-familarity to fool you into thinking that you already ‘know’ these places .. each has its own unique highlights and charms, whether it’s a cramped alcove under some stairs in which St Francis was housed on his travels (Cannara) or the gloriously ornate Teatro della Concordia in Monte Castello di Vibio - the smallest theatre in the world, so ornately decorated and trinket-like that not being able to scoop it up and thrust it in your pocket doesn’t quite seem to make sense…
What to do
Eating is, of course, one of Italy’s most irresistible siren-songs - no mean feat, when its other enormous appeals are taken into consideration - and Umbria is an ideal place to sample much of what the country has to offer, especially as so many specialties are produced within this area. Head to Urbani Tartufi for the most wonderful truffle products, stay at agriturismo Zafferano e Dintorni in San’Anatolia di Narco to experience life on a saffron farm - or time your stay to coincide with Cannara’s annual late-summer Festa della Cipolla (Onion Festival) where visitors have the opportunity to sample completely onion-based menus at a variety of locations, as well as to enjoy the atmosphere of the produce markets lining the streets. Many of the restaurants in the region proudly showcase the best of Umbria’s edible specialities: at Il Rientro in Collemancio (not far from Cannara and itself the site of Roman and medieval monuments) we feasted on homemade pastas and pizzas delicately flavoured with truffle and onion, plus prosciutto shaved into impossibly thin slices in front of us, alongside sharp, creamy cheeses and a hearty lentil-based soup.
Umbria is also steeped in culture and there is no shortage of museums and galleries to visit, as well as richly decorated churches - the church at Montefalco , in particular, is stunning. The Museum of Wine in Torgiano provided fascinating insights into the history of one of our favourite tipples; nearby, The Museum of Olive Oil was similarly interesting - all the more so as we’d just had a mind-blowingly good lunch at Lungarotti, where we’d supped amply on both. Of course, wine and food can eventually take their delightful toll, leading you to either want to work it off with some physical activity or collapse in a blissed out stupor - for which the adults-only Borgobrufa Spa Resort is marvellous, not least because its heated pool leads (literally) swimmingly outdoors, where you can take in the most wonderful views of the surrounding terraced countryside while you drift around in the soothingly warm water. For those with a thirst for adventure, Umbria’s landscape, which soars to high points in the Appenines and swoops down to low-lying lakes and valleys, provides the perfect setting for a number of outdoor pursuits, from mountain biking and hiking, to rock climbing and white water rafting.
Where to stay
There’s no end of choice when it comes to accommodation in Umbria - many old buildings have been refurbished for this very purpose, often with a faithful attention to the preservation and restoration of original features. We wanted a rural setting with proximity to Perugia, where the thrum of a lively student population blends effortlessly with awe-inspiring antiquity: enter Castello di Monterone , a medieval castle, with sweeping panoramas of the verdant Umbrian countryside beyond its crenellated edges. Each of the castle’s 18 rooms boasts exquisite details and unique character, while suits of armour and other curiosities dot the warren-like maze of public spaces. The restaurant is very good - head to the terrace for the best atmosphere and view, and take time out from exploring in the rose garden, or with some genuine chill-time in the pool, spa and wellness facilities. Sarah Rodrigues *During my stay I was hosted by Regione Umbria, www.umbriatourism.it. All words and opinions are my own. Ready to book your holiday to Umbria? Check out the offers below from Booking.com |
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