They may not be the tallest mountains in the world but they are by far the most beautiful. My love affair with the Sassolungo continues. I can’t come to italy without visiting the Dolomites, these most majestic mountains that soar so high into the sky, they literally leave you just breathless.
After two weeks spent in the coutryside I was ready for the big smoke, and what better city to visit than Milano with all that it has to offer. My biggest surprise was when I went to my favourite food store to buy some cheese and ended up in the shoe shop next door and with four pairs of shoes. I just couldn’t decide which ones I liked best so I got them all.
I spent the two most extraordinary weeks of Christmas and New Year in Tuscany. First at Cantagallo with my long time friend Grazia and her husband Roberto at her home at the foothills of the Apennine mountains in the north east.
I then moved on to Casole d’Elsa a location just outside of Siena for a retreat. The sheer beauty of the countryside was breathtaking.
Mangiare! … Let’s eat. This is probably my favourite post so far, for it has everything to do with food, glorious food. Sicily is famous for its excellent cuisine and I can certainly vouch for that. Take a look, read the captions, and it might be a good idea to have something to eat close by.
The good, the bad and the downright ugly. That was my first impression as I stepped out onto the streets of Italy’s fifth largest city.
The cab ride from the station to the B&B Amelie, (which I had very carefully chosen in the ‘swish’ end of town for security reasons) was quite an eye opener, and I realized I was in for a pretty wild time, a sense of organized chaos, a city with a pulse, a city with character.
I was excited to be moving west to see the ancient Greek temples in the Valley of the Gods but not before making a stop to see an old Roman villa, which had been lost and buried under rubble and over grown trees and only discovered 50 years ago. What a find!
Our day trip to Noto and its surrounds was filled with contrasts. I love that you don’t have to travel too far appreciate what this area has to offer. Again Marco’s guiding was fabulous and his recommendations of where to eat were even better. Remember to follow the story of the day by hovering over the photos for the captions.
Sicily is home of the Baroque architecture circa 1700 onwards. I saw spectacular examples of this beautiful style on my visit to the towns of Ragusa Ibla, Modica and Scicli. I can tell you that I was baroqued out by the end of the day. Thank you Marco for your wonderful guiding.
Ortigia is a part of the 2,500 year old city of Syracuse. This city has seen rulers and has had influences from many parts of the globe and it is steeped in history.
Remember to tap, click, roll over the photos to enlarge and read the captions.
I came here for the very reason to see Mount Etna and how very considerate that it was snow covered which is quite unusual for this mild weather we are having here around 18 degrees. It was spectacular, especially at sunset. See the post under Taormina, Mount Etna.
Sicily and beyond 