When in Romagna, Italy do as the Romagnoli do. Go to the beach. Bring your friends, your kids, your parents, even your dog. The hotels in hotels near Rimini, in Italy’s Romagna region, accommodate all tastes. While most guests come for the sun and the sand, “taste” is also important: they want good food. The hotel’s kitchen is more important in many ways than the amenities in the room, since ... Read Full Article
Cooking Peasant Style in Emilia Romagna
Why does “peasant cooking” get such a bad rap? In Italy, peasants seem to eat better than patricians in many other countries. That is certainly the case in Romagna, based on my recent trip there at the invitation of #lovingromagna. Admittedly the organizers had an ace: they are related to Nonna Violante, a famed local chef who gives cooking lessons at her family’s hotel in Bellaria- Igea ... Read Full Article
Reveling in the Sights of Emilia-Romagna
Killer cheeses. Secret caves. Pagan rites. Pirate raids. These are some of the surprises awaiting a visitor to coastal Romagna -- the eastern part of the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, bordering the Adriatic. This area is known mainly for its family-friendly beaches, wide and sandy with shallow coastal waters. But by venturing just north of Rimini, the provincial capital, or by ... Read Full Article
History on Horseback in Lipica, Slovenia
You don’t have to be a lover of horses or history to visit Lipica, Slovenia. . . but it helps. This tiny village situated a few miles east of Trieste, Italy, encompasses a concentration of international culture and equine athleticism equaled by no other location on earth. Hippophiles will be in heaven, surrounded by 355 pureblooded Lipizzaners – snowy stallions, milky mares, and incongruously ... Read Full Article
Losing it in a Luxurious Slovenian Spa
This year, I spent three weeks at a Slovenia Spa. Every day, I was confronted with difficult decisions. Should the oil for my massage be grape seed (antioxidant effect), almond (softens the skin), or herb-infused oil (detox benefits)? Did I prefer classic, Hawaiian, Tibetan, Indian, or Thai style? What was my preference for duration: the choice ranged from 20 minutes to 90. Making these decisions ... Read Full Article
Puglia: Where to Stay on Italy’s Boot
The most characteristic choice for lodging in Puglia is a trullo, a stone hut topped by a cupola. These peasant dwellings, found only here in this region of Italy, date back to the 13th century, but don’t worry – those that have been turned into luxury hotels or rental properties are of more recent vintage, with all the mod cons an international visitor expects. The problem with trulli, aside ... Read Full Article
Puglia: A Gastro-Blitz on Italy’s Boot
Halfway through a four-day gastronomic tour of southern Puglia, we were struggling to digest the experience. At least I was, as the only one in our group who was not in the food business as a sommelier, restaurateur, or wine journalist. At this point we were in a gently rocking fishing boat off the shore of Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea, perfect weather on a late May morning. “If you want to eat ... Read Full Article
Solomeo Brings a Renaissance Fair and Luxury to Umbria
Solomeo, a tiny town 14 km. (about 10.5 miles) southwest of Perugia, in Italy’s Umbria region, brings history to life every summer with its Renaissance Fair. For ten days between late July and the first few days of August the handful of streets in this dollhouse village (population: 500) are crowded with more than 15,000 visitors from elsewhere in Italy and from abroad. Street performers in ... Read Full Article