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Tuscany offers outstanding wine destinations, like the Chianti, Montalcino and Montepulciano areas south of Florence, where you can travel through camera-ready vineyard landscapes and enjoy famous vintages at their source. But no fan of superb wines should miss another key territory, where the Super Tuscans, those relatively new (since the 1970s an...

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The city of Cremona binds its fame not only to the extraordinary tradition linked to violin making, of which Stradivari was the greatest exponent, but also to some gastronomic excellences, and between this – first of all – to nougat, one of the Italian capitals. The nougat, in fact, is a real symbol of Cremona and its culture, and finds its temple...

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What happened in Murano, stayed in Murano. So was the rigidly guarded way of life on the tiny island in the Venetian Lagoon, about a mile north of Venice, where, in the late 1200s, the Venetian government mandated that the furnaces used by local glassmakers, and the glassmakers themselves, be relocated from the city center. Intended as a measure to...

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Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916, and developed a reputation for mechanical ingenuity when he was stationed as a vehicle maintenance supervisor for the Italian Royal Air Force. Stuck on an island in the middle of World War II meant the supply chain for parts wasn't reliable, so he had to get creative to keep things running. When he...

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Prosecco is one of the most loved wines by Italians and not only. Ideal for an aperitif or to accompany any meals with joy. It is the pride of wine production in north-eastern Italy. The story of his name is long and fascinating, dating back to ancient Roman times. Although there is a village near Trieste that is called just Prosecco, it is not fro...

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My friend Joel Reese, our local history man at the Iredell County Library in Statesville, recently gave me a Christmas gift that I especially appreciated: “The Travels of Marco Polo,” translated by Henry Yule, and published by Sterling Publishing Company of New York in 2012. It is illustrated with many maps and color photographs of places mentioned...

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When temperatures drop low, what’s better than a steaming hot drink to warm the body and spirit?! Here are nine drinks to enjoy in Italy in winter.  Bombardino The name alone is enough to bring on some cheer. Bombardino (meaning ‘little bomb’) may very well be the favorite hot drink of skiers as you will see many of them gulp one down at Italy’s ri...

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Early mornings are Mauro Nesi’s best time. As he walks down the gentle hill to his workplace—an ancient oak forest—his tawny Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, Spritz and Brisa, scamper ahead of him. In the quiet, Nesi’s senses are alive, attuned to the sounds of the birds and the leaves underfoot. He scans the trees and keeps his eyes trained to the ground,...

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Several studies have been made over the years, reportedly proving that Ferrari is one of the most powerful brands in the world in terms of recognition and significance. It's right up there with Apple, Ford, and Coca-Cola. Perhaps this explains why Ferrari felt it was important to design a new logo ahead of 2022, when Italy's scarlet car manufacture...

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If there is one Italian wine people know, it’s Chianti (pronounced “key-on-tee”). This lovely, medium-bodied wine is omnipresent in Italian-themed restaurants, supermarkets and wine shops. But consumers know little about it, because the labels generally give only flowery descriptions of the taste or origin. However, clues to its source and quality...

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