Podcast Episode 3: La Befana
In this episode, I talk about the Italian festival of la Befana which falls on January 6 each year explaining its origins and current form.
history
Simple fig and mozzarella salad
Recipe #5 in my new vegitalian series August is right in the middle of the Italian fig season and shops, markets, and the ubiquitous trees are heaving with the fruit. What better way to eat them than in this simple salad which enhances but respects the integrity of their flavour. Perfect for a summer lunch or antipasto.
Rome shorts: la via delle sette chiese
In Italian, ‘ho fatto il giro delle sette chiese’—I’ve been around the seven churches— means that you’ve been absolutely everywhere looking for something. But what are the origins of this phrase? Today, the city of Rome has more churches than any other city in the world, about 900 to be precise. But not all churches …
Weird Venetian house numbers explained
Venetian house numbers are notoriously difficult to understand. This article looks at the history of them and explains how they work.
Venetian word of the day: capitèlo
12th Century nightmare Roberto Tiraboschi, in his novel La bottega dello speziale set in 1118, paints a picture of Venice very different from the city we know today. As soon as it gets dark, the calli are filled with gangs of people intent on bloody murder and general mayhem. It reminds me very much of NYC …
Winter sun, a castle, and a restaurant review
A walk along a sunny beach, a visit to the fairy-tale castle of Santa Severa, and a wonderful fish lunch. What could be better in November?