Italy Photography

While doing some research for future travel to Italy I came acorss the Facebook page of professional photographer Jim DeLutes  https://www.facebook.com/italyphotography

On his page he shares the beautiful images he took while driving 11,000 miles over a 3 month period in Italy. Jim has some amazing Italian travel photos.  
If you will LIKE his page he is glad to send you weekly updates.

My Favorite Places For Italy Travel

Italy is definitely one of my favorite travel destinations.  Having been there several times I have definitely started list of favorite Italian travel destinations.   So far the list includes:

• Portofino and Santa Margarita Ligure (check out the Portofile 2014 calendar below)
• Venice
• Lake Garda - check out the beautiful photos http://www.lakegardatourist.com/

I also have a bucket list of places in Italy that I have yet to visit.  They include:

• Rome and Vatican City
• Florence
• Tuscany
• Sicily
• Capri

 What is your favorite place to visit for an Italian vacation.   Please leave me a comment below to tell me about it.

portofino 2014 wall calendars by cardart
View more 2014 Calendars at zazzle.com

Venice Travel

The best time to travel is the summer time (May to June), however even though traveling in fall and winter season, you can also enjoy the beauty of Venice. The cheapest season to travel to Venice is September to April, there is a lot of hotel offering discount. If you are not on tight budget, traveling to Venice in the season of Venice's annual Carnival celebration is very nice and funny. You can see photo venise here. The Cities come alive during festival, with people wearing exquisite mask and costume. 

What has not been written about the exceedingly romantic city of Venice? Well, one thing that often might be overlooked is that Venice would be a magnificently beautiful city even if it wasn't built on the green-blue water of a lagoon. The quaint streets, the famous landmarks and Venice's rich history and culture all make it a top-draw destination. Remember, this was a vibrant, world-renowned trading city even in Shakespeare's time – so famous in fact that the bard could write his play The Merchant of Venice without even travelling there. See more information at Venise tourisme

Gourmet travel and the Amazing Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Italy, Bologna, Sunny Day with Portico di San Post Card by danitadelimont
See more Terry eggers Postcards

Wonderful Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale (Balsamic vinegar) has been made and enjoyed in Modena for centuries.  True Balsamic is an artisan product which has been made in Modena as far back as 1046, when in it mentioned in a document. It is not a wine vinegar which has been matured, as many people think, but is made quite differently. 

 The basic ingredient is grape Must (juice) from predominantly Trebbiano grapes (sometimes with the addition of Lambrusco grapes).  The must is simmered (never boiled!) for a lengthy period to reduce and concentrate the liquid.  This liquid is then allowed to ferment and mature for a minimum of 12 years in the case on a “true” Balsamic.  It is a laborious process!  From the first, largest cask, the precious liquid is gradually  transferred  each year to ever-smaller casks, each made of a different wood such as chestnut, cherry wood, ash, oak and mulberry, each of which imparts its’ own flavour and character to the vinegar.  When the first portion is removed from the largest (Mother) cask, this cask is topped up with Must from the latest harvest, so the production is a continuous cycle. 

 During the maturation, a portion of the liquid evaporates (the Angel’s share!) and the final product is rich, thick, dark and luscious!   This genuine article will be marked “Tradizionale” or D.O.P. and, as you can imagine, it is very expensive. It is only produced by 2 consortia, Modena and neighbouring Reggio Emilia.   The two regions use different ways of designating the ages of their product, Reggio Emilia by label colour (red label – at least 12 years; silver label at least 24 years, gold label 28 years) and Modena by cap colour; a cream cap means that the vinegar is at least 12 years matured while a magenta cap would indicate the product is extra old, in excess of 25 years maturation.

It would be considered terribly wasteful to cook with this product!  It is generally used, by the drop…no more…to dress a lovely slice of Parmesan cheese, top a sliver of prosciutto or to anoint some fresh strawberries.  The very old product – matured for more than 20 years sometimes, is even drunk as a Digestif!  This is truly Italian “Black Gold”.

A cheaper version does exist, thank goodness!  Cheaper Aceto  Balsamico di Modena IGP is made along the same lines as described above, but often wine vinegar is added and this product is not aged as long;  the result is still delicious but not as intense.  Sometimes these versions are flavoured with caramel and thickened to imitate the original, so it is worth checking the label for ingredients.  This is the type of Balsamic widely sold outside of Italy and used for salad dressings, marinades, etc.  You can easily make your own Balsamic Reduction from this vinegar, evaporating off some of the liquid to concentrate the flavours. It could never be the same as “Tradizionale”, but it is a great kitchen stand-by!

Less than 13000 litres of “Black Gold” is released each year, making it very valuable indeed.   The best way to learn even more about this famous Italian export is to take time to visit a producer. Balsamic vinegar tours are available from  Bologna, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena to show you how it is made and more about its’ history.

Tuscany’s Top Children-friendly Destinations

The Italians are generally a very friendly, accommodating people, especially to children. It is no wonder then that visitors to the country, particularly in the region of Tuscany, find their stay quite pleasant and memorable. In Tuscany, there are several destinations or institutions that are especially made for children, whether for the purpose of education, art or simply entertainment.

We are all aware of the fact that having children with us in our travels means we have to put up with not only their constant demands for attention and care, but also to attend to their needs and ensure their safety. Moreover, your children may have an entirely different idea when it comes to which places to visit or what things to appreciate. That is why when planning your vacation, keep your itinerary flexible. Also, when travelling in Tuscany, villas are often found in locations that are conveniently accessible to many tourist spots. So it’s all a matter of identifying which places are best for children. One suggestion would be to take the kids to see the world famous Pinocchio statue located in Collodi Pescia or the Pinocchio park as you would say in English.

Pinocchio Statue in Collodi Pescia, Tuscany, Italy

Ever since Carlo Collodi’s tale about a wooden boy that magically comes to life was published in the 1880s, Pinocchio’s name has been on the mouths of children for several generations. So, with Pinocchio as known among children as he is, visiting a park dedicated to the author and the magical wooden boy will surely delight Pinocchio’s young fans. Located in Collodi Pescia, the Pinocchio Park (or “Parco di Pinocchio di Collodi” in Italian) is a wonderful place designed around the themes and visuals that can be found in the tale. Tuscany villas are often found in locations a stroll away from the park, which ensures the minimum hassle if you have children in tow. Don’t miss the park’s special entertainment offerings for children, such as a puppet show, art workshop and other fun activities.