Florence, Italy: foodie heaven

Dining on traditional local dishes is a reason to visit Italy in itself. But for foodies in Italy, it is the selecting of food items from the local vendors, just as the locals do, which truly presents one of the best things to do in Italy – besides, of course, the actual eating!

Wandering down narrow cobbled laneways through Florence, Italy, you visit first of all ‘il fruttivendolo’ – the friendly grocer offering a great range of fresh in-season fruits and vegetables. ‘Che si fa per cena sta sera?’, they ask. ‘What’s for dinner tonight?’ From the brightly coloured items before you, you’re tempted to say, ‘tutto’ – everything! But based on the grocer’s advice, you manage to narrow the selection down. The grocer carefully hand-selects each item you choose, suggesting a few other items, and throws in a handful of fresh herbs along the way.

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American Contemporary Art in Florence, Italy

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By artist in Florence, Helen Bayley.

2012 Florence, Italy: This year is the 500th anniversary of the death of Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512).

Amerigo Vespucci, the man after whom America was named, was born in Florence, Italy and was an explorer, navigator and cartographer.

To mark the 500th anniversary of his death, a series of events and exhibitions around Florence are being held.

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Ristorante, Trattoria, Osteria: 3 courses for dining in Italy

(Photo courtesy of The European Traveller)

If you dine out in Italy, you’ll likely be doing so in a Ristorante, a Trattoria or an Osteria.

But what exactly is the difference between a Ristorante, a Trattoria or an Osteria?

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UNESCO International Jazz Day event in Rome, Italy

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On April 27th, the UNESCO First Annual International Jazz Day kicks off its series of events being held around the world.

The official launch is being held at the UNESCO Headquaters in Paris and will feature jazz legend and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.

In Italy, Rome will be holding its UNESCO International Day of Jazz on April 30th, 2012.

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25th April in Italy: Festa della Liberazione Italiana

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25th April is la Festa della Liberazione Italiana - Liberation Day in Italy.

It commemorates the anniversary of the 1945 end of the Italian Social Republic led by Mussolini, who was captured a few days later as he attempted to flee.

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Vatican Museum on Time Magazine’s list of The Most Influential Places in History

 

And we have no argument with that!*

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Time magazine states, ‘The museums house Raphael’s The School of Athens, Leonardo da Vinci’s St. Jerome in the Wilderness and the Belvedere Torso as well as Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel. More than 4 million people visit each year.’

The full list of Time Magazine’s Most Influential Places in History is:

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Happy 2765th Birthday to Rome, Italy

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Although she doesn’t look a day over 2000, today is in fact the 2765th birthday of Rome, Italy.

Rome’s birthday was calculated by Roman mathematician and astrologer Lucius Taruntius Firmanus who, in the 1st century BC worked out that the Eternal City was founded on 21st April, 753 BC.

Since around that time, Romans have celebrated their beloved city’s special day with festivals and celebrations. And no decent Italian festival is complete without an accompanying feast!

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Artisans & Art in Florence, Tuscany – Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato

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Florence, the majestic capital of Tuscany, is known for being the capital of the Renaissance. Some of the history’s greatest artists produced some of the world’s best artworks here.

This artistic flair has also been applied to artisan crafts the local Florentines have come to specialise in – most prominently jewellery-making, leather crafts, gold leaf gilding, book binding, sartorial work and the like.

Carefully honed throughout the century in tiny artisan workshops known as ‘botteghe’, many of Florence’s best artisan crafts are produced in the Oltrarno area, Florence’s most charming quarter.

This month sees the Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato (The International Handicrafts Trade Fair) being held in Florence’s Fortezza da Basso from 21st-29th April, 2012.

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Dining in Florence: when size matters

One way to detect a good restaurant in Tuscany, and its capital of Florence, is by the size of the menu.

If there are only a few simple starters, a handful of entrees and a minimum number of main meals, it usually means that this is a place where they make a few things well – really well – and use only the freshest of fresh ingredients to do so.

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Stracciatella – The Streaky, Easy & Tasty Rome Recipe

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‘Stracciatella’, when referring to gelato, means choc-chip. It is also a type of creamy cheese from the south of Italy.

But when referring to a delicious traditional starter, it is a typical Roman recipe of home-made broth into which an egg mixture is added to make a ‘stripy’, hearty entrée.

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