Andiamo! | Citalia Magazine Summer 2022

Summer 2022
Andiamo!
Follow in the Footsteps of Literary Greats
See Italy through the eyes of celebrated scribes
The Art of Italian Shoemaking
Step into an ancient craft
A Homegrown Holiday
Italy’s top foodie regions
Italy’s Must-Visit Natural Wonders
Let nature enchant you!
Delight in the sunshine! Citalia takes
you into the Italian summertime,
from the sun-soaked coast
to the scoop on gelato.
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WELCOME
Andiamo!
SUMMER SPIRIT
When holidaying by the great lakes last month, my spirit
absolutely soared. Summer was already in full swing, with gelato
carts on the cobblestoned streets as sun rays glittered on the
waters. So it felt appropriate that we celebrate this summer
feeling in our latest edition of Andiamo!
Italy has been a magnet to the world’s most celebrated writers
(some of whom stayed for years) and we showcase this in our
cover feature, Follow in the Footsteps of Literary Greats.
The summertime is when you can taste Italy’s freshest and finest
ingredients. Why not discover our favourite summer foodie
regions in the first of our new article series, A Homegrown Holiday?
Or, you may simply wish to go shopping in Rome or Milan for a
new pair of Italian crafted shoes – you’ll understand why once
you’ve read The Art of Italian Shoemaking. I should add, the
attention-to-detail that Italian cordwainers have to shoes is how
our Citalia Personal Travel Planners have to craft holidays…
Our team is ready to offer you personalised service and support
at every stage of your tailor-made holiday, and our Book with
Confidence guarantee continues so that your holiday plans are
protected.
Citalia looks forward to welcoming you to Italy this summer,
whichever tailormade adventure you choose.
It’s also a time to marvel in the brilliance of nature, whether
that’s through journeying to Italy’s Must-Visit Natural Wonders,
or by enjoying the sprawling 5,000 miles of golden coastline,
as highlighted in It’s a Beach Life. While there, you’ll want to know
how to identify authentic gelato, which we share in The Scoop on
Italian Gelato. For family time, we look to Gino D’ACampo in
Gino’s Italian Family Adventure.
Off-the-beaten track, we invite you to embrace the country’s
quirky side, whether that’s discovering a ‘monster garden’
in Lazio, or visiting the world’s smallest bar in our article,
Weird & Wonderful Experiences.
Helen Adamson
Managing Director
Citalia.com
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Andiamo! Summer Spirit
COVER FEATURE
KEY FEATURES
08 16 20
Follow in the Footsteps
of Literary Greats
See Italy through the eyes of celebrated
scribes, who drank from the fountain
of inspiration and imagination that Italy
provides.
A Homegrown Holiday
Get to the heart of Italy’s top exported
ingredients and time-honoured recipes
as we take you to our cherished foodie
holiday hotspots.
It’s a Beach Life
With 5,000 miles of coastline, it’s time you
learn about Italy’s bagni concept!
INSIDE
OUR SUMMER
2022 EDITION
6
8
Summer Spirit
with Citalia
Follow in the
Footsteps of
Literary Greats
20
22
It's a Beach Life
The Art of Italian
Shoemaking
14
Gino's Italian
Family Adventure
26
Weird &
Wonderful
Experiences
16
A Homegrown
Holiday
30
AVIS Road Trips:
Puglia & Basilicata
Andiamo! is a publication of Citalia | Citalia.com | Travel with Confidence | 01293 839110 | customerrelations@travelopia.com
Connect with us
Managing Director: Helen Adamson | Publisher: Madhatter Creative Co. – Jen Marsden | Design: K8 Design & Marketing Ltd – James Palmer
Cover image: Venice Gelato (Bissun, Shutterstock)
4
Citalia.com

YEARS
Bespoke Luxury Holidays with
Award-winning Service
Sovereign.com
YEARS
Exclusive Experiences
& Expertise
COLLECTION 2022
YEARS
Handpicked Accommodation
& Destinations
YEARS
CONTENTS
22 26 38
The Art of Italian
Shoemaking
Weird & Wonderful
Experiences
Italy’s Must-Visit
Natural Wonders
Step into the meticulous and magical world
of cobbling! Italy is at the centre of this
ancient craft.
The real Italy has a quirky side, with
unique places and activities that you
simply won’t find anywhere else.
Are you ready to be enchanted
by the brilliance of nature? Our
must-visit marvels are always worth
the extra distance.
32
Love for
Limoncello
38
Italy’s Must-Visit
Natural Wonders
46
Artistic Venice
34
Family Fun at
Chia Laguna
42
The Scoop on
Italian Gelato
50
Amber Guinness’
A House Party
In Tuscany
36
Untouched Waters:
Lake Orta &
Lake Iseo
45
That's Jazz!
A Perugian festival
51
Discover our
sister brands
ABTA No.V4068
Images courtesy of: Amber Guinness, Thames & Hudson, AVIS, BackDoor 43, Milan, Baia: Alamy, Ca' Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art by Roberto Serra, Castello di Casole, Tuscany, Chia Laguna
Resort, Sardinia, Ernest Hemingway Collection: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Geox shoes by Warinhari, Grand Hotel Royal, Viareggio, Hotel Brunelleschi, Florence, Hotel Des
Iles Borromees, Lake Maggiore, Palace Hotel, Viareggio, Peggy Guggenheim, Venice - Photos by Matteo De Fina, Eduardo Chillida, Jean Debuffet [Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Hannelore B. and
Rudolph B. Schulhof Collection, bequest of Hannelore B. Schulhof, by SIAE], Shutterstock, Studio Ramsay Global (Gino D'ACampo), Umbria Jazz.
Prices are estimations based on 2022/2023 travel and are correct at going to print but are subject to change. Please note that any flight or travel times included are approximations.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Summer Spirit
with Citalia
Embrace the sunshine with our
Italian summer activities
1
Tuck into
authentic
Italian gelato
on the
Neapolitan
Riviera
2
Jazz it up
in Perugia
3
Picnic on
the tiny
islands around
Sardinia
4
Visit the
natural
wonders
of Capri
5
Tune into
the summer
opera in the
Arena di
Verona
6
Sip a glass
of limoncello
on the Amalfi
Coast
7
Enjoy
watersports
on Lake Garda
8
Spend a day
on the beaches
of the Tuscan
Coast
9
Visit the
trulli houses
in Puglia
10
Shop for
Italian shoes
in Rome
6
Citalia.com

INSIDE ITALY
TRENTINO-
ALTO ADIGE
FRUILI-
VENEZIA
GUILIA
AOSTA
VALLEY
7
WATERSPORTS
LOMBARDY
VENETO
SUMMER OPERA
5
PIEDMONT
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
LIGURIA
8
DAY ON THE BEACH
TUSCANY
2
JAZZ
MARCHE
UMBRIA
10
SHOE SHOPPING
LAZIO
ABRUZZO
MOLISE
1
CAMPANIA
AUTHENTIC GELATO
LIMONCELLO
6
PUGLIA
TRULLI HOUSES
9
SARDINIA
4
NATURAL WONDERS
BASILICATA
3
PICNIC
CALABRIA
SICILY
Discover Italy at Citalia.com >
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Follow
in the
Footsteps
of Literary
Greats
Many of the world’s literary greats have drunk from the fountain of inspiration and imagination that Italy provides -
from those who came upon her through world war, to immortal Romantics who lingered in Italy during their Grand
Tours of Europe, to modern-day authors. Some have sought refuge and solitude here, some friendship, while a few
even chose Italy as their final resting place. So come, let us show you Italy through the eyes of celebrated scribes.
For many European Romantic writers, Italy became a ‘paradise of
exiles’ as the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley described it. The landscapes
inspired breathtaking descriptions that could be used in their
emotive and imaginative fiction.
However even contemporary writers, such as Zadie Smith of White
Teeth (2000), or Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love (2006) fame
continue to find their muse in Italy, ever inspired by the seclusion,
simplicity and historic grandeur.
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COVER STORY
Ernest Hemingway’s Veneto
& Lake Maggiore
An enthusiastic young Ernest Hemingway applied to serve in the US
Army but failed his physical examination, so instead volunteered for the
American Red Cross. Stationed in Fossalta di Piave in the northern region
of Veneto, Hemingway distributed postcards, chocolate, and cigarettes
to Italian soldiers.
He got wounded in a mortar shell explosion and spent time in a hospital
in Milan where he fell in love with a nurse. These Great War experiences
shaped his debut novel, The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms
(1929), as well as his non-fiction book, Death in the Afternoon (1932),
and The Nick Adams Stories (1972).
Later in life even when Hemingway lived in Paris, he frequently returned
to il bel paese (the beautiful country). Hemingway lived with his wife in
Venice for several months, where he had a love affair with a young girl
who inspired his novel Across the River and into the Trees (1950). She
became his muse, sparking The Old Man and the Sea (1954), which won
him his Nobel Prize in Literature.
Legend has it that the night Hemingway lethally shot himself as he sang
a song he had learned in Northern Italy.
“I'm up here in Stresa, a little resort on Lake Maggiore.
One of the most beautiful Italian lakes.”
Letter from Hemingway to his parents, 1918
Muriel Sparks’ Tuscany
The feisty Scottish author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961),
Muriel Sparks fell in love with Italy in her youth - before she even
visited. Her teacher, Miss Kay, who incidentally inspired the book’s
main character Miss Brodie, had instilled in Sparks an appreciation
of Italian politics and Renaissance artists.
The writer moved to Italy as an adult to avoid difficult familial
relationships and taxation, and is where she stayed for over 40 years.
Her first decade in Italy was spent in Rome.
The rest of her life she spent in the seclusion of a crumbling farmhouse
near Arezzo in the Tuscan countryside, living with her former secretary,
the Italian-born painter Penelope Jardine. She was known to flit around
in an Alfa Romeo, and together they would take many road trips.
Sparks passed away in Florence, aged 88 years.
Follow in Sparks’ Footsteps
• Get your hair styled in a salon in Rome, before taking to the
independent boutiques and vintage shops on Via del Governo
Vecchio or the antique dealers along Via dei Coronari.
• Hire a car and discover the Tuscan olive groves and vineyards
that the writer was so fond of.
• Visit the final resting place of Sparks in the cemetery of Sant'Andrea
Apostolo in Oliveto.
Follow in Hemingway’s Footsteps
• Stay in the Gritti Palace in Venice where Hemingway
occasionally stayed.
STAY: 5 nights at Castello di Casole in the Tuscan countryside
from £2,369 per person
• Eat scampi and the northern Italian red wine, valpolicella,
a favourite meal of his.
• Spend a night at the notorious Harry’s Bar where Hemingway
often indulged in wine and the legendary Montgomery cocktail,
made with gin and a touch of vermouth.
• Take a boat ride to the Venetian island of Torcello where
Hemingway and his wife lived.
• In his ‘home from home’ of Lake Maggiore, stay in the Hemingway
Suite of the Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees, which is the same
room he stayed in during his wartime leave. Order a Hemingway
Special cocktail or a dry martini in his honour!
• Explore Acciaroli in Cilento, where Hemingway allegedly liaised
with local fishermen, which inspired his greatest work.
STAY: 7 nights at Hotel Des Iles Borromees, Lake Maggiore
from £1,069 per person.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

“To have seen Italy without having seen
Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all,
for Sicily is the clue to everything.”
Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Sicily
Like many 18th century wealthy young men, German born Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe went on a Grand Tour in 1786 and stayed two
years in Sicily. The lyrical poet behind Faust (1808) came alive under the
Mediterranean sun.
Starting out in Rome and Naples, it didn’t take long for Goethe to
venture south. Fortunately for us, he felt inspired enough to pen his
experiences in a diary that later became the autobiographical travel
memoir Italian Journey (1816). In this he describes that he was lost for
words at the enchantment of the Greek Theatre, staying with his friend
until well after sunset.
“I don't have words to express how she [Sicily]
has welcomed us: with fresh green mulberry trees,
evergreen oleanders, lemon hedgerows etc.”
Literary historians say that it was more than the monuments but the
alternative culture so different from Germany that fed his soul.
Follow in Goethe’s Footsteps
• Wander Palermo’s Botanical Gardens and visit the historical fountain
in Piazza Pretoria.
• Explore the ancient monuments of Segesta and Agrigento, and find
the Temple of Concordia, which Goethe adored.
• Take the cable car up to the hilltop town of Taormina to breathe in
the ‘magnificent scenery’. Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an
ancient Greco- Roman amphitheatre.
• Climb the cliffs or take the cable car up Mount Etna to witness ‘the
purity of the sky, the tang of the sea air, the haze which, as it were,
dissolved mountains, sky and sea into one element…’
• Tuck into Sicily’s fresh cuisine that Goethe so loved, particularly
salad greens, olive oil and fish, all washed down with wine, of course.
STAY: 7 nights at Villa Belvedere in Sicily from £1,299 per person.
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LITERARY GREATS
Lord Byron’s Venice
Romantic writer Lord Byron (born George Gordon) lived in Italy for six
years - and it’s here that he wrote his great work, Don Juan (1819). Byron
departed England to avoid social scandal. He was the catalyst for many
other prestigious 19th century writers to live in Italy.
A favourite city for Byron was Venice, where he stayed for three years in
a palazzo right on the Canal Grande.
Several of Byron’s poems are based on the city, including the serious
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1812-1818) and Ode on Venice (1819), and
the witty satire Beppo (1817), which was shaped by the Italian rhyming
stanza, ottava rima.
Byron travelled extensively throughout Italy. While he wasn’t fond of
Florence, he did declare that he felt ‘drunk with beauty’ visiting the Uffizi
Galleries. In later years, he lived in Rome. Then, for three years, Byron
cohabited in Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna with a young married Contessa,
Teresa Guiccioli, before moving to Pisa.
Byron’s final home was in the Ligurian port city of Genoa.
Follow in Byron’s Footsteps
• Visit the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri). Byron himself coined this
name in his narrative poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimagage, as it was the
last view of Venice before criminals were imprisoned.
• Visit Palazzo Mocenigo, where Byron lived with 14 servants and an
exotic menagerie of animals.
• Explore the island of Lido, where Byron would swim from to visit his
favourite spot of the ancient Jewish Cemetery.
• Head to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, where Byron found
intellectual stimulation through living with a small community of
Armenian monks, even learning their language. There’s a small museum
dedicated to Byron's life here.
STAY: 4 nights at Hotel Savoia and Jolanda in Venice
from £649 per person.
“The greenest island of my imagination.”
Byron on Venice
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Percy & Mary Shelley’s Italian Riviera
Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley, famed for her Gothic novel Frankenstein (1818),
inhabited several Italian cities during their extended Grand Tour. It
was also a time of loss, as two of their young children died within nine
months of each other. Despite this, during their journey, Mary was
still able to recall that Italy was ‘a country which memory painted as
paradise’, and they embraced their creativity, writing several books and
poems between them.
The couple eventually settled down on the Ligurian coast, where their
friend, Lord Byron, joined them. They lived in a large mansion right
on the beach by the town Lerici, which Mary described as having
‘unimaginable beauty’.
Percy became thoroughly involved in the country’s heritage and politics,
engaging in Renaissance ideals and learning Italian. Sadly, in 1822 Percy
drowned when his boat overturned while sailing during a great storm
in the Gulf of La Spezia, aged 29 years. His ashes were interred at the
Protestant Cemetery in Rome.
In later years, Mary Shelley revisited Lake Como with friends, spending
the summer there, and documenting her travels.
Follow in The Shelley’s Footsteps
• Visit Liguria’s Bay of Poets, named after the Shelleys and their
literary friends.
• Discover the piazza named after Shelly in Bagni di Pisa.
• Explore St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, the Baths of Caracalla,
and the Pantheon in Rome, which Percy Shelley loved.
• Spend time embracing the waters of Lake Como.
STAY: 5 nights at Bagni di Pisa on the Tuscan coast
from £859 per person.
E.M. Forster’s Tuscany
E.M. Forster wrote two great novels in Italy in quick succession, the first
of which was Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), which showcases Italian
culture.
The iconic novel A Room with A View (1908) is E.M Forster’s love story to
Florence, as it depicts the many landmarks from Arno River to the Santa
Croce. The principal figure Lucy Honeychurch, a young woman who
abandoned English high society to discover liberal, open attitudes
in Italy was inspired by Forster’s own Edwardian travel experiences.
Follow in Forster’s Footsteps
• As Miss Lavish did for Lucy, throw away your guidebook and allow
yourself to get lost into the ‘true Italy’ of Florence’s streets and
piazzas.
• Try to find Via dei Girolami, the opening shot of the film version of
A Room With a View.
STAY: 3 nights at Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence
from £789 per person.
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Citalia.com

LITERARY GREATS
John Keats’ Rome
The famous sensualist poet John Keats came to Rome terminally ill with
tuberculosis as his doctor thought that the milder winter climate would
help him - that and a diet of anchovies. Unfortunately, Keats passed
away after a few months.
Follow in Keats' Footsteps
• Visit Keats’ last home, in Piazza di Spagna near to the Spanish Steps,
which has been transformed into The Keats-Shelley House, and is a
place for poetry lovers and artists.
• Pay your respects at the tranquil Protestant Cemetery, home to the
graves of both Keats and Shelley.
STAY: 3 nights at Hotel Alexandra in Rome from £595 per person.
Patricia Highsmith’s Neapolitan Coast
American novelist Patricia Highsmith’s famed psychological thriller
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), was set across Italy, from Naples to Rome.
The story was inspired by Highsmith’s own travels. She first visited Italy
in 1950 with her wealthy socialite friend, where they enjoyed a three
week romantic liaison, starting in Rome, before moving onto Positano on
the Amalfi Coast, and enjoying boat trips to Palermo and Capri.
Highsmith again returned to Italy later in life, however this time without
her secret lover.
Follow in Highsmith’s Footsteps
• Visit Ischia and Procida, which the 1999 film adaptation used as the
base of the novel's fictitious southern Italian island of Mongibello.
• Enjoy live music at Caffè Latino on Via Monte Testaccio in Rome and
Caffè Florian in Venice, which also feature in the film.
STAY: 7 nights at Grand Hotel Punta Molino in Ischia
from £1,159 per person.
Which literary figure do you want to remember in Italy? Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Gino’s Italian Family
Adventure
Citalia were proud to support
the Italian chef, Gino D’Acampo,
as he shared with the nation his
family adventure through Italy,
digging deeper into his roots
and passion for food.
If you haven’t already seen Gino’s Italian Family Adventure series, which screened last
winter, then we highly recommend you watch it on the ITV Hub.
Gino took his wife Jess and their three British born and bred children, Luciano, Rocco and
Mia, to southern Italy and Sardinia to help them connect with their Italian heritage and
give them a taste of the real Italy.
“I am back in Italy and this time I am in the land
I love with the people I love. Taking my British-born
bambinos from rustic Sardinia to my crazy home town
Naples and immersing them in the amazing places that
only the locals know…This is what Italy is all about,
simplicity, family and great food!”
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Sardinia
During the series, the D’Acampo family spent a lot of
time in Sardinia, where they enjoyed idyllic beach picnics
and coastal adventures across the north and south of the
island, and to neighbouring islands. Gino fully embraced
the simple Italian life, sharing with us some of his closelyguarded
Italian family recipes as he went. The family
actually own a villa in Sardinia, where they spend many
months of the year - and where Gino stores his red Ferrari.
Naples
In Gino’s native Naples, he embraced the street food
culture with his son Rocco, where they tried the pizza
fritta (a deep-fried but ‘non-greasy’ pizza), before he
cooked up some of his mum’s recipes. Funnily enough,
Citalia’s private street food tours are one of the most
popular activities within our tailor-made family holidays.
If you’re visiting Naples, in addition to the il fiocco
di neve or snowflake pastry that the duo enjoyed at
Pasticceria Poppella, we also recommend you try the
Neapolitan desserts of sfogliatella or zeppola, which are
mouthwateringly good!
“I think when I took my son Rocco to Torre
Del Greco, which was the town that I was
born - that probably was the highlight of the
series for me. To be able to take Rocco around
Naples on a scooter, and for him to understand
the mentality of Neapolitan people, definitely
a highlight for me. It’s important for them to
understand where the craziness comes from!
Then we went to see the grave of my father
which I had never been, which was another cool
thing to do. We ate buffalo mozzarella together,
because that’s what I used to do with my dad.”
Cilento
Gino and his family looked into the long-life secrets of the
Mediterranean Diet along the coast of Cilento, which we
just so happened to feature in the last issue of Andiamo!
There's an interactive museum in Salerno, where you and
your family can learn all about ancient medicine, and you
can discover the region’s ancient worlds at the Museo
Archeologico Virtuale. You may want to learn about
Amalfi’s papermaking traditions and try your hand at
making paper for yourself! Time your trip with the Giffoni
Film Festival, Europe’s largest children’s film festival,
which is held every July!
Puglia
Before the final episode, which had the family reunited for
an authentic Italian family Christmas feast in Sardinia, Gino
and Jess enjoyed a romantic getaway in Vico del Gargano,
the so-called ‘village of love’ in Puglia. Under the stars they
feasted on a meal that Gino had lovingly made for Jess at a
beautiful masseria (farmhouse).
During your own Italian family holiday, we highly
recommend that you take time to enjoy some hands-on
cooking experiences, for much fun and entertainment can
be had in the cucina, plus you’ll get to bring home some
new culinary skills, from making fresh pasta and pizza to
fashioning sweet treats for the festive season.
While in Puglia, we highly recommend you visit the
trulli town of Alberobello, which feels like stepping into
the pages of a fairytale for children and adults alike! Or,
you might like to explore the dazzling Castellana Caves
together. You can even go on safari at Fasano Zoo, where
there are thrilling theme park rides for all the family.
One thing Gino hinted at throughout the programme was
the importance of embracing the Italian philosophy ‘iI bel
far niente’ - the beauty of doing nothing.
Why not practise it for yourself by stopping to breathe in
the many beautiful views you encounter? You can watch
waves hypnotically lap against the rocks, savour every
delicious mouthful as you tuck into flavourful regional
dishes with your loved ones, or simply float in the sea.
In today’s fast-paced world, we feel that slowing down is
an incredibly important element of any Citalia family holiday
so that you switch off, relax and all return refreshed.
Calabria
The D’Acampo family ventured along the gorgeous
Calabrian coast right at the toe of Italy, where they took to
the waters on a swordfishing boat in the Strait of Messina.
While you’re in Calabria, we recommend you embrace a
rural farm holiday stay. You can also go trekking, cycling or
ziplining and even enjoy treetop adventures in the region’s
incredible national parks. Plus, there are many gorgeous
beaches to unwind on, especially the soft white sands
found at Tropea Beach. Bliss.
We love Gino’s new
book, Gino’s Italian
Family Adventure:
All of the Recipes
from the New ITV
Series, filled with
over 80 effortless
yet inspiring
recipes!
A 7 night holiday at the Hotel Colonna Resort starts from £935 per person.
Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

A Homegrown Holiday
Italy's Top Foodie Regions
Every region of Italy has its own deliciously distinctive flavours,
which are deeply rooted in historic traditions that have been
shaped by the climate and terrain, or in some cases, the sea!
Get to the heart of Italy’s top exported ingredients and time-honoured
recipes as we take you to our cherished foodie holiday hotspots.
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Buffalo Mozzarella
Campania
It’s probably no surprise that Campania produces Italy’s finest buffalo
mozzarella, given that it's the star ingredient in arguably the world’s most
popular recipe, Pizza Napoletana, which comes from the region’s capital.
Buffalo have been bred in Italy since the 10th century and local buffalo
mozzarella was only consumed within the country until the 1980s. That’s
because Italians eat mozzarella fresh - this cheese only has a short shelf
life and is usually eaten within a couple of days of creation. Refrigerating
authentic mozzarella is frowned upon. Genuine Mozzarella di Bufala
Campana has its own DOP status (protected Designation of Origin) and
follows stringent production guidelines.
For your ultimate mozzarella experience, you must visit Tenuta Vannulo.
Crowned as the world’s best mozzarella producer, the 600-strong
herd of black water buffalo are pampered beyond belief. Classical and
jazz music is piped into where the buffalo lounge around on rubber
mattresses, and they receive deep tissue massages and shower mists.
The herd solely uses homoeopathic medicine and eat an organic diet,
which means this farm makes the world’s only truly 100% organic
mozzarella di bufala. While there you can tuck into buffalo milk ice cream,
yoghurt, and even milk chocolate.
We recommend you stay at the wonderfully restored country hotel of Il
Granaio dei Casabella, located just a six minute drive away from Tenuta
Vannulo, which is also conveniently located near the Paestum temples.
It would be rude not to nod to Campania’s love for lemons, where you
can get your citrusy fill of limoncello (see page 32) and granita along the
Amalfi Coast, as well as the Babà Napoletano, the classic rum-soaked
pastry of Naples.
A 7 night holiday at Il Granaio dei Casabella in Cilento
starts from £735 per person.
Pistachios
Sicily
Sicilian people possess their own natural green gold - and that’s
pistachios! These were first planted by Arab rulers in the ninth century,
and today pistachio harvesting is a family-honoured tradition that’s
passed down the generations. At certain times of year you’ll find the
pistachios drying out in the sun on terraces of local houses.
Pistachio is used in both sweet and savoury dishes, including as a
spread and as pesto, and pistachios are best purchased while they
are still in their shells.
The village of Bronte, near to the hills of Mount Etna, grows a delicious
and protected variety that has a longer, pointed shape, a violet skin,
and a distinctly vibrant green inner colour. It also has an aromatic smell
and you’ll find the flavour to be both spicy and sweet.
It’s such a prized and expensive variety that during harvest time the
crop has to have police protection as criminals have been known to
steal them, with one kilogram being worth approximately £14. Taste
the Pistacchio verde di Bronte DOP for yourself during your Sicilian
holiday, but be warned that if you try to pick a pistachio outside of
harvest time, then the residents are said to curse you with a fever!
A more affordable variety of Sicilian pistachio is the Ribera variety,
which can be found growing and harvested in another small village
called Raffadali.
We recommend you stay in the coastal town of Taormina, where you
can enjoy pistachio in ice creams, sauces, desserts and, of course, that
famous Sicilian pastry, cannoli!
A 7 night holiday at Villa Diodoro in Taormina
starts from £1,129 per person.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Datterini Tomatoes
Puglia
Sun-soaked Puglia is in the prime position for growing sweet and juicy
fruits. It’s not only the largest producer of olive oil in Italy, it’s also the
native home of the deliciously plump and rich datterini tomatoes, which
thrive in the hot sun before being picked by hand. Their name means
‘little date’ as they take on a similarly small, elongated oval shape.
Puglian cuisine usually only features a couple of ingredients, and this
flavoursome tomato, which is fleshier and with less seeds than most
tomato varieties, is often the hero in salads, bruschetta and as a
pasta sauce.
Your Puglian foodie stay is best enjoyed at Masseria Montenapoleone,
a restored farmhouse, where you can tuck into the fresh, organic
produce while dining al fresco.
A 4 night holiday at Masseria Montenapoleone in Puglia
starts from £1,389 per person.
'Nduja
Calabria
Italy isn’t best known for its spicy cuisine, yet there’s one destination
where that’s turned on its head, and that’s Calabria. The climate and
terrain of this region make it the perfect spot to grow peperoncino -
otherwise known as red hot chilli peppers! You’ll find this ingredient
served in penne all’arrabbiata, which literally translates as ‘angry pasta’,
but it’s also included in one of the top trending foods: ‘nduja.
‘Nduja - pronounced en-doo-ya - is essentially a spreadable pork
salami that’s spiced by the chilli peppers but also has a buttery, creamy
consistency. This salami is made in the wintertime and left to naturally
cure for three to six months.
With its origins in Naples, it was the Calabrians who fired it up and gave
its bright red colour by adding their native Calabrian chilli, which also
acts as a natural preservative.
Remarkably, this salami was at one time considered a pauper dish,
created as a way to avoid wasting any parts of the pig. Today however
the fleshy, fatty parts, such as the cheek and belly, are used.
You can tuck into 'nduja directly onto bread, but also enjoy it as a pizza
topping, in arancini, pasta, omelettes, as well as the small southern
Italian calzone known as panzerotti.
An annual traditional festival, Sagra della ‘Nduja, takes place on 8th
August each year in the village of Spilinga, which is known for its fine
‘nduja products, however you can take a 20 minute drive from coastal
Ricadi to this area at any time of the year to taste ‘nduja at source.
A 7 night holiday at Baia del Godano Resort & Spa in Ricadi
starts from £1,289 per person.
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A HOMEGROWN HOLIDAY
Bottarga
Sardinia
From one pauper dish to another, as we take you to the fishing villages
where you’ll find Sardinia’s very own ‘golden caviar’.
After a day at sea, lowly Sardinian fishermen would extract the ovarian
sac from female fish and carefully clean and salt it without breaking it,
before allowing it to age for several months in the air and sunshine.
The roots of this local fish roe delicacy is an ancient one: the word
bottarga allegedly derives from the Arabic expression for salted
fish eggs, butarikh.
Bottarga is a heady, strong flavour so you only need a little grated over a
dish of pasta, and it’s often perfectly paired with another local speciality,
the Sardinian spiny artichoke DOP.
Bottarga is an ideal accompaniment to bread or salad if you’re planning
to have a picnic on one of the island’s wildly divine beaches. For the
finest bottarga, head southwest of the island to Cabras lagoon, which
sells grey mullet roe.
A 7 night holiday at Hotel Bouganville in Forte Village Resort
starts from £1,499 per person.
Pesto
Liguria
It never ceases to amaze us how a few simple, quality ingredients can
create the most decadent dishes - and one shining example is of course
the go-to fresh pasta sauce of pesto.
Not to be confused with other pesto varieties like the red sun-dried
tomato pesto rosso of Sicily, pesto alla genovese is the sauce we Brits
celebrate. Its name hints at where it comes from, the Ligurian capital
of Genoa.
Pesto's principle ingredient is the small leaves of fragrant and fresh basil,
and the reason this simple sauce works is down to the region's mineralrich
soil that grows the herb in abundance. Also in this raw sauce is
garlic, parmesan and/or pecorino cheese, pine nuts, and salt, which are
then ground together in a pestle and mortar.
While today you can enjoy pesto in all sorts of dishes, including baked
into the other Ligurian speciality of focaccia, pesto is typically added
after a dish is cooked so that it retain its fresh flavour and vibrancy.
The most classical way to enjoy this sauce is to take a day trip to Genoa
from Rapallo, where you can have lunch and try authentic trofie al pesto,
a dish with the small handmade spiral-shaped pasta known as trofie.
This recipe is also sometimes served con patate e faglioni -
with potatoes and French green beans.
A 7 night holiday at Excelsior Palace Hotel in Rapallo
starts from £1,229 per person.
Visit
page 50 for
an authentic
trofie al pesto
recipe!
Our Homegrown Holiday adventures will continue in the autumn edition of Andiamo!,
as we take you to Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscany!
The authentic flavours of Italy are calling you! Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

It's a
Beach Life
Italy’s 5,000 miles of coastline boasts some of the most remarkable and safe beaches.
While all the country’s beaches are government owned with public access
and spaces reserved for spiaggia libera (free beach), most of Italy's beaches
are home to the bagni concept.
“Bagno is one of those hard-to-translate Italian words”,
explains Heather Green, Regional Destination Manager
at Citalia.
“It’s somewhere between a bathing establishment and a
private beach club, where you’ll find comfortable beach
facilities, everything from an all-day café-bar on the beach
that serves refreshments and aperitivi, to changing rooms,
showers, toilets, and that all important matching sun
lounger and parasol.”
Indeed, once you get on the beach, bagni are easily
recognisable by their perfectly positioned rows of
multicoloured yet uniformed umbrellas, deckchairs,
and sunbeds that line the beach.
“Bagni are comfortable and
convenient for that all
important day on the beach.”
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An astonishing 30,000 businesses, usually small and family-owned,
run these operations, which are often passed down the generations.
You’ll also see bagni being promoted from the road as lido or stablimenti
balneari (bathing facilities).
Grand Hotel Royal
Most bagni charge a fixed entrance fee that includes an umbrella and
two deckbeds, and a premium is usually charged for the rows nearest to
the sea, or prima fila.
It’s quite common for Italians who have homes by the sea
to purchase a season pass, and book their highly-coveted
beach positions months in advance.
Every beach club has its own culture - some are simple affairs, or familyfocused
with beach games, paddle boats, kayaks and floatables, while
others ooze luxury, with divine eateries and gelateria. You’ll always find
a lifeguard on hand who doubles up as the individual who maintains the
on-beach facilities.
“Another important section of the ‘free beach’ is the battigia, the space
between the sea and the beach club,” adds Heather, “which is always
left open and public for people wishing to stroll or access the water.”
On the Tuscan Coast: Viareggio
The Art Deco resort town of Viareggio was reportedly one of the first
places to establish a bathing establishment back in 1827. With over six
miles of golden sands, you’ll find plenty of picturesque and equipped
beach options that boast excellent views of the Apuan Alps right from
the sands.
If you’re up early, you may be in luck to secure a sunbed on the
‘free beach’ of Lido di Camaiore, located between Viareggio and Marina
di Pietrasanta, which has the facilities of a bagno without the fee.
Palace Hotel
Alternatively, a stay at either of these two Viareggio institutions includes
your serviced, private beach club fees.
Grand Hotel Royal
Just moments from the beach with its own beach club, the iconic
four star Grand Hotel Royal has been welcoming a royal and celebrity
clientele since the early 20th century.
A 7 night stay starts from £829 per person.
Palace Hotel
Located on Viareggio’s enviable palm-fringed promenade, the four star
Palace Hotel embodies old world elegance, spacious rooms, wonderful
views, as well as use of the deckchairs, seawater swimming pool and
jacuzzi right at Bagno La Pace.
A 7 night stay starts from £729 per person.
Are you ready for a beach holiday in Italy this summer? Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

The Art of
Italian Shoemaking
The art of cobbling is one of the world’s oldest professions - and Italy has always stood centre stage
in this meticulous craft. Step away with Citalia into this magical world!
There’s always been a kind of magic in shoes - as we are reminded of in
fairytales like Red Shoes, Cinderella, and Tuscany’s favourite wooden boy,
Pinocchio, whose father was a shoemaker.
The most unlikely shoe enthusiast, Daniel Day-Lewis, famously said,
“Shoes are strange things. If you take your shoes off in a situation in which
you're vulnerable, you'll feel 10 times more vulnerable.”
The cobbler workshops of yesterday were more than just places of
shoemaking, they were also places for communities to gather and
navel-gaze and to ponder the meaning of life.
Italy firmly has its feet in the shoemaking business, as it was the Romans,
alongside their Greek counterparts, who first began wrapping their feet
in animal hide, which evolved into the world’s first leather sandals. With
these raw materials being expensive, the concept of cobbling was born -
where shoes are repaired by replacing parts rather than creating each pair
from scratch.
By the 17th century, the profession had evolved into high heels and boots.
Shoes became a status symbol for the wealthy and - you guessed it -
‘well-heeled’.
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Beyond Cobblers!
In Italy, the cobbling trade evolved into cordoncino or cordwainers - shoe
artisans in their own right who were technically trained to handcraft
made-to-measure shoes in a really intricate, multi-step process that used
new leather.
Both cordoncino and cobblers were highly respected, and through
guilds these professionals had strict standards to maintain, from
the quality of leather used, to ensuring they worked in front of their
bottegas so customers could see their handcrafted efforts.
The more talented artisans gained notoriety, growing their family
workshops with support from apprentices who helped with the
preparation of materials. These dextrous shoe skills were just like
closely guarded family recipes, and handed down from generation
to generation.
Did you know? The Italian shoemaking industry
is protected against outsourcing by a strict
‘100% Made in Italy’ certification (known as IT01).
Italian leather gained a reputation in its own right too, given that it is soft
and supple and both stained and finished by hand, which creates a more
streamlined and elegant shoe that develops an appealing, unique patina
as it ages.
A Step in the Right Direction
Across Italy you’ll find little clusters of workshops that celebrate timehonoured
shoemaking traditions.
Italy’s historical shoemaking has its roots in the medieval and rural region
of Marche in the east of the country, about a three hour drive from Rome.
Tucked between mountains and the Adriatic Sea within the districts of
Fermo and Macerata, you’ll find towns that in the 11th century were
known for a particular style of heelless and lightweight slipper called ciocie.
Even today, you will still find this slipper made there following precise
traditional methods, and each town has its own legacy speciality:
men’s shoes are found in Montegranaro, women’s shoes in and around
Sant’Elpidio a Mare, and children’s shoes in Monte Urano.
Several of the cities, including Milan, Naples and Florence, also had their
own districts dedicated to the craft.
In Florence’s Oltarno district, you’ll find flourishing
cobblers and cordoncino that continue to use
the traditional handmade techniques of yesterday.
We highly recommend you wander around and
watch these talented artisans in action.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

If The Shoe Fits
There are several classic Italian shoemakers who in spite of
industrialisation remained stalwart. By the 20th century, several of
the leading Italian brands gained global notoriety and evolved into the
luxurious designer brands we are familiar with today. Here’s a rundown of
our favourite shoe designers.
Salvatore Ferragamo
Salvatore Ferragamo was an absolute pioneer in turning shoes into a
fashionable accessory in their own right, and for putting Italian footwear
on the global stage. Born in Naples, it was in the 1930s in his Florence
workshop that Ferragamo began experimenting with materials, from
exotic hides like crocodile and kangaroo, to raffia and Sardinian cork. He
began being known as the shoemaker to the stars as he fit shoes for clients
like Eva Peron and Marilyn Monroe. His 1938 platform shoe The Rainbow,
designed for Judy Garland, attracted much attention. Today this luxury
brand is still owned and managed by Salvatore’s extended family.
Bontoni
Founded in 2004 by Franco Gazzani, a third-generation family shoemaker
from Montegranaro, Bontoni has an in-home, family-owned nine-person
workshop just on the outskirts of the town. They tan their own leather
and handcraft just 2,100 pairs of shoes a year, with each pair taking about
26 working hours to complete over 14 weeks.
Federico Badia
Don’t miss the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum
during your next visit to Florence, which pays homage
to the renowned shoe designer and boasts a collection
of photographs, sketches, and over 10,000 pairs of shoes
that Ferragamo owned and created.
Born in Rome, in his teenage years Federico Badia learnt leather craft
before turning to traditional shoemaking. Since 2011, he’s been running
his own workshop out of the medieval city of Orvieto in Umbria.
Roberto Ugolini
You’ll find Roberto Ugolini’s workshop situated right across from the
Basilica di Santa Spirito in Florence. The cobbling craft is in his blood,
going back to his great grandfather, however after being an apprentice
to a master cordoncino, Primo Vessilli, he founded his own workshop in
2008, and has since made shoes for everyone from Mel Gibson to band
members of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Each pair of handmade shoes
takes six months to make, so they do cost a pretty penny.
Canfora
You may think the island Capri is an unusual setting for an Italian shoe
brand, but in 1946, a modest little workshop was opened up by cordoncino
Amedeo Canfora, who made beautiful, handmade sandals. Canfora sandals
became known as the best sandals on the island. Among the locals who
flocked to his shop were jetsetters like Grace Kelly, Princess Margaret and
Maria Callas. In 1962, the US First Lady Jackie Kennedy asked Amedeo to
open his shop at midnight for an exclusive visit. He created the simple yet
chic K model for her, which even today is its most popular sandal. You can
still find Canfora’s artisan workshop on Via Camerelle in Capri, and it is
now Amedeo’s grandchildren continuing the craft.
Alberto Fermani
Alberto Ferani is another family shoemaking brand, founded by Alberto in
the 1960s that hails from the eponymous shoemaking region of Marche,
and is now run by his son. You’ll find these ready to wear hand-finished
shoes in the world’s leading boutiques and department stores.
Stefano Bemer
When you wander into the original workshop and flagship store of
Stefano Bemer in Florence, which was started in the 1980s, it really feels
like stepping back in time. Bemer’s goal was somewhat ambitious: to
create the perfect Italian shoe. While this master craftsman passed away
in 2012, his brand philosophy very much lives on.
The Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis disappeared
off to Florence for five years in the mid-1990s to learn
the art of shoemaking with Stefano Bemer, from cutting
and shaping, to nailing and fitting shoes.
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THE ART OF ITALIAN SHOEMAKING
Moreschi
Founded in 1946 in the town of Pavia (near Milan), Moreschi has become
the footwear of choice for aristocrats and sheiks, celebrities and even
popes. The brand brings innovation and hand-dyed textiles to classical
Italian shoemaking methods. Look out for their shops in Milan, Rome
and Venice.
Alberto Zago
Like Moreschi, Alberto Zago established an independent and artisan
shoemaking business in Pavia, in 1965. Nowadays, his son and daughterin-law
run the business, which focuses on ready to wear luxury handmade
women’s shoes that carry the 100% Made in Italy badge. If you’re looking
for quality shoes, it’s well worth the hour’s drive from Milan.
Santoni
Since the 1970s, the family-run Santoni has made a name for itself in
fine Italian men’s shoes, and today makes both bespoke and ready to
wear footwear for men and women, including the classic Oxford shoe,
to loafers, sneakers and strap shoes. The brand often collaborates with
other luxury brands, from producing leather luggage sets for Mercedes
AMG to creating distinct timepiece straps for the esteemed Swiss watch
brand, IWC.
Fratelli Rossetti
From another shoemaking region, Parabiago, located just northwest
of Milan, came Fratelli Rossetti, established in 1953. By the 1960s, the
brand was collaborating with fashion leaders Valentino, Pierre Cardin, and
Armani. With carefully positioned shops across the world, Fratelli Rossetti
opened its new flagship store in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in
January 2022.
Cesare Paciotti
In the seaside town of Civitanova Marche in the Marche region, a husband
and wife duo founded Cesare Paciotti in 1984, naming their business after
their son, who eventually inherited the business. Featuring its memorable
dagger logo, the brand rose to fame with its iconic stilettos. With shops
across Italy, you’ll find an array of classic Italian dress shoe brands,
sneakers and boots, including children’s footwear.
Bruno Magli
Grown out of a workshop in the family home’s basement in Bologna
in 1936, Bruno Magli was very much a family brand, focused on
craftsmanship. The Magli moccasin was a desirable piece of footwear in
the 1960s, and was worn by Sophia Loren, Princess Margaret and the
Greek socialite Christina Onassis. Even today, some 30 people contribute
to each handmade shoe.
Giuseppe Zanotti
Want to meet Lady Gaga’s shoemaker? Giuseppe Zanotti was a DJ in the
1980s, but he learnt the art of shoe design and manufacture from local
craftsmen. The town he grew up in, San Mauro Pascoli in Emilia-Romagna,
was also known for its shoemaking history, and after working for different
fashion houses he purchased an old shoe factory in his hometown. Taking
Italian’s shoe heritage to another level, Zanotti shoes are all about avantgarde
style and statements - with bejewelled and sculpted heels.
Other notable luxury Italian shoe brands you’ll find today include Melluso,
Paolo Scafora, Enzo Bonafè, Sergio Rossi, Riccardo Frecci, Bestetti, Gucci
and Prada.
Modern Shoemakers
A humble trade that was once held in such high regard, our
appreciation for handcrafted shoemaking has been fading into
the mouth of modernity.
Luckily for us, there’s been a reawakening of traditional
shoemakers in Italy who embrace the ancient craft that’s
perfectly coupled with a loyal customer base to, erm, boot.
We highly recommend you look out for these three modern
shoemakers: Antonio Meccariello of Meccariello Shoes in Naples,
Edhèn Milano in Milan, and Scarosso in Montegranaro, Marche.
Shoes that Breathe
Let’s take a wander away from traditional shoemakers for just a
moment. When talking about the impact of Italian shoes on the
world, it would be rude not to mention Italy’s largest shoemaker,
Geox. Established in 1995 by Mario Moretti Polegato, Geox was
the company that invented the waterproof yet perforated rubber
outsole. This breathable shoe revolutionised our entire footwear
industry. You’ll find Geox shops in every major city of Italy.
We can arrange a tour to one of Italy’s leading shoemaking workshops during your next holiday!
Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Weird &
Wonderful
Experiences
The real Italy has a quirky side, with unique places and
activities that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Come, celebrate the weird and wonderful with us!
Get licensed to be mad in Umbria
Holidays are generally a time to claw back your sanity, but did you know
that in the medieval town of Gubbio, a 45 minute drive from Perugia,
that you can get a licence declaring that you’re certifiably insane?!
Within this charming little town is a pretty piazza that holds a 16th
century fountain. While it’s official name is Fontana del Bargello, the
locals call it the Fontana Dei Matti, or Fountain of the Madmen. If you
run three times around it and are baptised with water, you can then
purchase a certificate verifying that you’re a matto di Gubbo (madman of
Gubbio), along with honorary citizenship of the town. There is a catch
however - you need to ensure a citizen is in attendance.
While all this may seem like utter lunacy, there is a reason for this
legend. Surrounding Gubbio are some unusual rock formations that
are contaminated with iridium, a highly toxic chemical with potential to
cause 'madness'.
Get Lost in the World's Largest Labyrinth in Parma
Located an hour’s drive from Bologna is the world’s largest maze, the
Labirinto della Masone.
An Italian art editor and publisher, Franco Maria Ricci, first planted a
Chinese bamboo grove at his garden in Milan. Surprised by how quickgrowing
it was, Ricci realised bamboo would be the perfect material for
an open-air topiary maze at his country estate in Fontanellato, and so
planted a few thousand bamboo plants of 20 different species in the
early 2000s.
Today, an incredible 300,000 bamboo plants make up this impressive
eight-pointed star shaped labyrinth, and in the middle you’ll find arcades
and a pyramid-shaped chapel!
This maze is more than mere child’s play though. Given that living
bamboo releases oxygen, it’s reported that the labyrinth supplies enough
oxygen for 95,000 people every year! While visiting the maze, you can
also appreciate Ricci’s considerable art collection.
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Play a Living Chess Game in Veneto
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be physically
transported into the heart of a chess board? Well this year, you can
stop wondering and experience it for yourself and head to Marostica, a
town an hour and a half’s drive north of Venice in the region of Veneto.
Every two years, Marotisca holds a human chess game festival in
its main piazza, complete with 700 members of the town dressed in
medieval costumes!
You’ll find yourself transported back in time, to a world of horses,
armed knights, and court jesters breathing fire or juggling,
and can enjoy watching four chess games over three days.
The festival has been taking place since 1923, and was inspired to
represent local events from the 15th century. The royal of that time
decreed that the two suitors - both knights - who wanted to win his
daughter’s hand should avoid a bloody sword duel and instead play a
game of chess.
While celebrating this historic occasion you can enjoy music, parades,
fireworks and period dances.
This year the event is taking place from the 9th to 11th September 2022,
and there’s rumours of a special anniversary festival in 2023.
Visit an Eccentric's Villa in Lake Garda
What would life look like for a wealthy eccentric? Our next experience
sounds like something from a work of fiction! Looming over Lake
Garda stands the estate of Vittoriale Degli Italiani, which was owned
by a rich 19th century politician and poet called Gabriele D’Annunzio.
D’Annunzio, as it happens, was a stubborn and controversial
nationalist, and was good friends with Mussolini. After a murder
attempt, D’Annunzio decided to purchase the estate that became his
ultimate legacy, which was allegedly bankrolled by his facist friend.
In the architecturally quirky yet grand mansion, you can wander
through rooms that all have a unique story, such as a room where
D’Annunzio only slept when depressed, a room holding global relics
of faith, and a separate waiting area for uninvited guests! Given that
D’Annunzio was a short man with small feet, you’ll also find many pairs
of delicate shoes.
Outside are lush, sprawling gardens complete with a classicallyinspired
amphitheatre that often holds concerts in the summertime,
and also houses a car collection, several military craft, and the
eccentrc’s mausoleum.
Eat Rose Petal Jam from Monks in Venice
Have you ever tasted rose petal jam? Have you had it made for you by
monks? If you haven’t then have we got an experience for you!
The island monastery of San Lazzaro degli Armeni in the Venetian
Lagoon - the same place where Lord Byron spent many months - is home
to around 30 Armenian monks.
The monastery is a truly tranquil place, home to an impressive library, and
beautiful gardens where the monks lovingly tend to artichokes and roses.
When the rose gardens are in full bloom, the monks harvest the flowers
at sunrise, and gently massage the petals to release their fragrant oils.
The monks then use an ancient, original, and top secret recipe that they
first brought with them from Armenia to make Vartanush, a rare fushiacoloured
and delightfully fragrant jam. A mere 5,000 jars are made each
year, most of which are for the monk’s breakfast.
From Venice, take a vaporetto ride to the island for one of the daily
tours. If you’re lucky, you may be able to try this rare condiment for
yourself, as traditionally it is offered to guests of the monastery, or you
might get the chance to purchase a jar to take home with you!
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Explore a Sunken City off Naples
Move over Las Vegas! During Roman times there was a hedonistic city
called Baia. Located off the Gulf of Naples it became popular among the
influential Roman elite, such as Nero, Caesar, Virgil, Pliny and Cicero.
They built prominent holiday villas over natural volcanic vents that
produced healing mineral hot springs. Muddled with self-indulgence and
corruption, Baia was an environment of ‘anything goes’. There was even
a nymphaeum, a private natural grotto holding marble statues in various
states of earthly pleasure!
Due to an invading army, the decadent city was fully abandoned
by 1,500 A.D. Over time, due to volcanic vents, Baia drowned and
became fully submerged in water. Today, it’s one of few underwater
archaeological parks in the world, where you can view some of the
barnacle-covered remnants of this debaucherous metropolis, either in
a glass-bottomed boat, transparent canoe or while scuba diving.
Discover a Monster Garden in Lazio
Just a 20 minute drive from the city of Viterbo in central Italy, you’ll find
the strangest, fearsome sights in an otherwise pretty Italian garden.
Among the verdant shrubbery, the Gardens of Bomarzo house the Parco
dei Mostri or Park of the Monsters, home to bizarre and often frightful
stone sculptures.
It’s often said that people act in the strangest ways during grief. For
Orsini, a 16th century military leader who had suffered through war
and then lost his beloved wife, the way he decided to share his anguish
with the world was to have a respected architect, Pirro Ligorio, design
him this horror show.
You’ll find a monstrous fish-head, a war elephant, a giant attacking
another giant in half, and a ghoulish head with a screaming mouth,
where the tongue is oddly a picnic table for visitors to use. There’s
also an octagonal Temple of Eternity, believed to be a memorial to
Orsini’s wife.
The garden has always been a favourite of ‘tortured artists’, including
the surrealist Salvador Dalí, inspiring his 1946 artwork, The Temptation
of Saint Anthony.
Look Inside an Active Volcano in Naples
In the same region where Baia once proudly stood are the Phlegraean
Fields, where cauldron-like calderas sizzle and hiss across the earth
with a sulphuric stench.
Legend has it that this is where Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, abides,
and is where you’ll find the mythological gate to Hell. It’s also home
to the world’s oldest volcanology research centre, the Vesuvius
Observatory, which carefully monitors the area.
Vulcano Solfatara is in the midst of all this seismic activity, and it’s here
where you can visit and watch boiling mud and smoking, steaming
fumaroles. It looks rather like a scene from an apocalyptic film!
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ITALY'S WEIRD && WONDERFUL WONDEFUL EXPERIENCES
Head into the Underground Abyss in Puglia
Venture into one of Italy’s largest cave systems, the Grotte di Castellana.
These otherworldly subterranean caves are filled with epic geological
formations that are about a hundred million years old.
You can look for objects in breathtaking and often bizarre stalactites and
stalagmites, observe ethereal rainbow colours when an opening allows
natural sunlight to hit the chambers, and find yourself bedazzled by
white alabaster and crystals.
Stretching impressively across two miles there are still many areas
unexplored in these karst caves.
Enjoy a Drink in the World’s Smallest Bar in Milan
For a truly quirky pitstop, you’ll want to visit BackDoor 43 in Milan,
which is considered the world’s smallest bar! It’s in an unlikely spot,
located on the water’s edge of Ripa di Porta Ticinese and surrounded by
luxury restaurants. Getting a table here however does feel like you’re in
your own private club.
When BackDoor 43 first opened, the team left riddles and puzzles
throughout the city, which created a huge buzz.
Measuring just 13 square feet, this quirky pub only fits three bar stools,
a tiny wooden bar, a camp stove, and a bathroom. Old apothecary
shelves are stacked from floor to ceiling and are brimming with a
cabinet of curiosities, from tinctures and flowers to antique relics and
mugs dangling from hooks. There’s also a collection of 60 rare whiskys
on the top shelf.
The joyful thing about this miniscule bar is that it has all the spirit of a
speakeasy. You have to have a key and secret password in order to enter.
You can book a slot at BackDoor 43 for two hours - and when you
do the drink’s menu is tailored to you and your small party’s preferred
tipples and flavours. You even get to choose your preferred music and
glassware in advance. If you’re struggling with availability, there’s always
the tiny slot window through which you can order drinks from a masked
bartender, which adds an extra layer or mystery to this weird and
wonderful experience.
Which weird and wonderful experience excites you? We can plan your entire tailor-made holiday around it!
Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Ultimate Road Trips
ADVERTORIAL
Avis offers strategically located pick-up points across Italy, so whether you arrive
by air, land or sea, you can enjoy a quick and easy check-in, giving you more
time to spend exploring Italy’s incredible landscapes and historic sites.
&
Puglia
Basilicata
With the help of our friends at Avis, our Ultimate Road Trips itineraries are carefully designed
so that you can easily explore our favourite hidden destinations across Italy.
There’s always plenty to do at each stop, so if you wish to swap any details or add more nights to our suggested
itineraries then our Personal Travel Planners are here to help. This season, we take you on a round road trip
through Puglia and Basilicata, which starts and ends at the international airport in Bari.
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ADVERTORIAL
Days 1-4 MATERA
Arrive at Bari International Airport and, once you've picked up your car, take the one hour drive to
Matera at your leisure, perhaps stopping off for lunch en route.
Matera is an often forgotten destination, despite being featured in an epic car chase scene in
James Bond’s 2021 film, No Time to Die. Matera’s history is remarkable however: it’s believed
to be the world’s third oldest continually inhabited city, and it was carved into rock. There’s an
entire network of caves that date back to the Paleothic era to be explored here, as you wander
the maze of alleyways, stone staircases, and picturesque piazzas, which today host trattorie, cafés,
boutiques and enotecas. Before you explore the Sassi of Matera, be sure to visit Casa Noha, a
short multimedia exhibition that explains the history.
You have plenty of time here to explore the region. Surrounding the city is the protected Parco
della Murgia Materana, and you can take a short drive to a viewpoint at Belvedere Murgia
Timone, which offers a wonderful panorama of Matera, especially at sunset. Incidentally, this is
where the crucifixion scene took place in the 2004 film, The Passion Of The Christ. You might also
like to drive to La Cripta del Peccato Originale (The Crypt of Original Sin), an eighth century natural
cave that holds treasures of ancient rock, including some of Italy’s earliest Christian imagery.
Suggested Stay: Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Days 4-8 LECCE
On your fourth day, you can drive to the small university city of Lecce, renowned for its fabulous
Baroque architecture.
Your first port of call here should be the main square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, where you will unearth
an impressive sunken Roman amphitheatre, the bronze-topped Roman column of Sant’Oronzo,
and the impressive 20 metre-tall bronze clock, Orologio Delle Meraviglie. Within the quieter
Piazza del Duomo lies Lecce’s incredible baroque cathedral, designed by architect Giuseppe
Zimbalo, which is beautifully lit in the evenings. If you like this then you’ll love the Basilica di Santa
Croce. Head to the Museo Faggiano, an archaeological museum that was once a Knights Templar
residence, or explore Lecce’s Jewish history in the former synagogue at Museo Ebraico.
Lecce is the ideal launchpad to discover the Salento region. Head out of the city to discover wonderful
seaside towns, such as Otranto by the Adriatic Sea, and Gallipoli by the Ionian Sea, and perhaps enjoy
gelato on the coast. Plus there are plenty of pretty beaches just north of Porto Cesareo.
Suggested Stay: Risorgimento Resort
Days 8-12 SAVELLETRI
On day eight, it’s time to drive north to Savelletri, a simply enchanting area. The small village
by which it gets its name is picture-perfect, with a bustling port where fishermen unload their
catch of the day. Nearby, explore the huge complex of Roman ruins at the Museo Archeologico
Di Egnazia. Or you may like to enjoy a round of golf at the 18 hole San Domenico golf course, or
spend a day splashing around waterslides in the Acquapark Egnazia.
Not to be missed is the fairytale town of Alberobello. Head to the small two-storey museum of
Trullo Sovrano to learn about the history of the unique trulli houses, or try the town’s own unique
sandwich, Pasqualino!
For more photogenic moments, drive to the whitewashed hilltop town of Ostuni and get lost in its
labyrinth of steep streets, and explore the interiors of its beautiful 15th century Gothic cathedral,
before the town pauses for its afternoon siesta. We also recommend you take a trip to the
fascinating karst caves of Castellana Grotte - for ethereal underground experiences!
Suggested Stay: Canne Bianche Lifestyle Hotel
Our 12 day Avis Ultimate Road Trip of Puglia and Basilicata starts from £1,979 per person.
Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

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Love for
Limoncello
The fresh lemons of the Amalfi Coast create the most delicious summer spirit -
quite literally! It’s time to get intoxicated by the citrus tang of sweet limoncello.
At every turn along the Amalfi Coast, you’ll
find lemons.
Their colourful pop of yellow is encountered
hanging unpicked by the side of cobbled
lanes and in sprawling terraced gardens, just
as easily as they’re found served as granita in
a small street cart on the promenade. You’ll
even find them in the mosaics of ancient
Roman villas. Lemons are everywhere.
First brought to southern Italy by Arab
traders around 200AD, the local people
of the Amalfi Coast eventually cross-bred
them with their own native bitter oranges
to create the special Amalfi lemon, known
as sfusato amalfitano, which translates
as ‘spindles of Amalfi’. These are literally
double the size of most lemons, with thick,
knobbly skin and pointed ends.
Amalfi lemons grow nearly all year around.
They turn yellow and are harvested from
February right through to October, and
you’ll find them used amply in local recipes,
whether that’s for fish and seafood, or in
desserts. However, one of their most popular
uses is in the classic Italian liquor, limoncello,
which is an ideal digestif after a hearty meal.
Limoncello is best served slightly chilled - so
we suggest you keep it in the fridge, and
then leave it to rest a few minutes before
drinking. If you wish, you can also use
limoncello in baking! A simple sponge cake is
heightened with a limoncello cream.
Avoid the almost fluorescent yellow
limoncello as that’s the chemically-made
variety. Authentic limoncello will have a
more natural colour, and the shade changes
depending on the time of year it’s made.
“Limoncello producers really put their heart
and soul into their products using only the
most quality ingredients,” explains Raggy
Singh, Senior Personal Travel Planner.
“Aside from the bottling, the process is still
completed by hand, making it a real labour
of love.”
“One of their secrets to making great
limoncello is to not use the largest lemons
- it is in fact often the smaller lemons that
provide a better flavour.”
Why not learn how limoncello is made
on your next Citalia holiday? You can head
through the pretty town of Praiano and
pop into the small scale limoncello factory
of Il Gusto della Costa, or any number
of local limoncello workshops that are
open to the public.
Protected by the mountains, Amalfi lemons flourish in the
sunshine and the sea breeze - and locals argue they taste
different to lemons grown on other coastlines. Not only are
they extra juicy, they have the most amazing fragrance!
You'll find Il Gusto della Costa in the village of Praiano on the Amalfi Coast.
A 7 night stay at Hotel Marina Riviera, Amalfi starts from £989 per person. Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

ADVERTORIAL
Family Fun
at Chia Laguna Resort
in Sardinia
Join us in a world tailor-made for families! Hotel Village within
Sardinia’s Chia Laguna Resort is ideal for summer spirit.
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ADVERTORIAL
Our ultimate family destination in Italy for the summer vibe has to be southern Sardinia,
where safe, stunning beaches and plenty of activities in and around your resort will
keep everyone entertained - and happy!
A place that truly has it all is in the expansive delights of Chia Laguna Resort. Here
you’ll find three accommodation options that satisfy a range of guests, from families to
luxurious and romantic escapes, all to the backdrop of award-winning powdery white
sand beaches and lush grounds. If you want an even more luxurious stay then the five
star Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia or Baia di Chia Resort Sardinia, Curio Collection by
Hilton are also available within the resort.
Oh and did we mention the pink flamingos in
sparkling lagoons and golden dunes? These are a treat!
The beating heart of Chia Laguna Resort is Piazza degli Ulivi, which brings together
all the entertainment, including inviting boutique shops, a fabulous number of
restaurants - nine in total that you can choose to dine around in - and bars, as well as
plenty of sports facilities.
For family accommodation, look no further than the children-friendly and pet-friendly
Hotel Village, where you can stay in spacious cottage-style rooms that are encircled by
Mediterranean greenery and close to the piazza and central ‘mezze’ outdoor swimming
pool and kids’ pool.
Your stay includes breakfast and dinner at the buffet-style Ristorante Domus, home
to an array of international and local cuisines, served up with entertainment, themed
buffets and popular demonstration cooking stations. Teenagers receive their own
corner of the restaurant to escape the adults, while parents may be tempted by an
extensive wine menu also included in your stay!
Unique to Chia Laguna Resort is Bimbi Restaurant,
an informal and joyful restaurant dedicated to children,
with made-to-measure furniture, a simple and healthy
yet yummy menu, and an interactive kitchen where young diners
can learn about the dishes as they tuck into them.
There are active kids’ and teens’ clubs that provide supervised and tailored activities for
ages 0-17 years, including sport tournaments, beach and pool games.
Because you’re close to the main facilities, it’s easy to get involved in sports such as
five-a-side football games. There’s a tennis club that arranges games for all ages from
beginner to expert levels, and a football academy supported by professional coaches
and top players.
If your family is competitive and likes a challenge, then time your visit with the
Chia Sports Weeks, where you can take on contests with other guests, such as half
marathons and triathlons in among the breathtaking Sardinian scenery.
You have easy access to the family-oriented Le Dune di Campana Beach by taking
the Trenino Chia express, a delightful ‘land train’ shuttle service that departs every 15
minutes in the summer.
At the beach you can enjoy many watersports, including kayaking, inflatable banana
boating, or receive surfing and windsurfing lessons from the friendly team. Scuba diving
is also available, where you can discover gorgeous underwater worlds of biodiversity.
If you feel like exploring Sardinia further, then why not head on a hike or a horseback
ride? Just another of the many activities that can be arranged for you. At Hotel Village
in Chia Laguna Resort, it’s all about making happy memories to last a lifetime.
A 7 night holiday at Hotel Village in Chia Laguna Resort starts from £969 per person.
Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Untouched
Waters:
Lake Orta & Lake Iseo
You’re probably already familiar with Italy's great lakes, but if you’re seeking
a more tranquil and remote lakeside experience, then we’ve got two lakes just for you.
Lake Orta
Just west of Lake Maggiore, petite Lake Orta remains one of Italy’s most precious
and untouched regions. Wander around the pastel-coloured buildings, tiny harbour,
and the UNESCO World Heritage site chapels found in Orta San Giulio.
Take a walk of silence around enchanting Isola San Giulio, and listen closely in
case you hear the beautiful chanting of the island’s Benedictine nuns from
Mater Ecclesiae, or explore the 12th century Romanesque basilica.
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Lake Iseo
One of Italy’’s best-kept secrets, Lake Iseo sits right between Lake Garda
and Lake Como, but remains crowd-free and utterly charming.
The picturesque harbour town of Iseo is centred around a bustling piazza
that hosts a Friday market, and its side streets boast little craft shops
and cosy trattorie (restaurants). There are plenty of vineyards nearby too,
where you can taste the region’s top tipple, Franciacorta DOCG.
Within the sparkling waters you’ll find Monte Isola,
Europe’s largest inhabited lake island.
A 7 night holiday at Iseolago Hotel in Lake Iseo starts from £899 per person.
Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Italy’s Must-Visit
Natural Wonders
Are you ready to be enchanted by the brilliance of nature?
We take you to some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders of Italy.
These marvels are always worth the extra time, distance and, occasionally,
wait, to experience them for yourself.
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Mount Etna
Immortalised in Greek mythology as the mountain that Zeus
trapped a deadly monster under, stretching 11,000 feet high
it’s fair to describe Mount Etna in Sicily as a natural beast!
Etna is Italy’s most active volcano and is constantly grumbling
and smoking, even when camouflaged by snow during the
winter months! This UNESCO World Heritage site had its last
major eruption in 2017, and it’s expected to blow again (without
calamity) in the future. Until then, take the cable car and hike
up close to the summit crater and, with an expert local guide
on hand, safely peek into the fiery pits of flowing lava.
You’re bound to get an adrenaline rush! Remember to layer
up and wear waterproofs as it can feel nippy that high up.
STAY: Hotel Excelsior Palace, Taormina

Faraglioni Rocks
The Faraglioni Rocks of Capri are visually awesome. Their collective
name is thought to derive from the Italian word for lighthouse ‘faro’.
Just metres from the southern coast of the island, these dramatic
rock formations burst forth out of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The three
jutting stacks are between 80 and 150 metres tall, and each have
their own character. ‘Saetta’ is still connected to the mainland and
holds remains of a Roman villa, ‘Stella’, the Faraglione di Mezzo in
the middle, has a large arching gap that small boats can pass under
and is a popular proposal spot. The furthest rock from the mainland
is Faraglioni di Fuori, also known as ‘Scopolo’, which boasts a unique
species of blue lizard that can only be found in Capri. Why not take a
boat trip out to visit them? Or, you could view them from one of the
nearby beach clubs or the terraced Gardens of Augustus.
STAY: Caesar Augustus, Capri
Emerald Grotto
Imagine an underwater world that sparkles with emerald hues.
Until you’ve visited, it’s hard to comprehend the magical nature
of the Grotta dello Smeraldo, as it's known in Italian. Located a
12 minute drive from the town of Amalfi, this small karst cave
was naturally formed over a millenia and is steeped in legends.
For centuries, the local folk spoke of its existence, but it was
only formally discovered - accidentally - by a fisherman in 1932.
The grotto gets its soul-stirring glow when sunlight filters into
the cave’s seawater pool, which is experienced best in the early
afternoon. You can access the Emerald Grotto by taking stairs or
an elevator down to its entrance from land, or you can book a
private boat and head to the sea entrance, where you join up and
board the small rowboats that take you inside.
STAY: Hotel La Conca Azzurra, Amalfi Coast
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Scala dei Turchi
Move over White Cliffs of Dover! Sicily’s Scala dei Turchi (Staircase
of the Turks), situated between Realmonte and Porto Empedocle,
is a coastline spectacle with its stratified sparkling white cliffs.
It gives the impression of a layered wedding cake or an organic
amphitheatre! These captivating soft clay and limestone rocks
are being continually forged by wind and sea erosion, crafting its
rounded and wavy staircase shape. The unusual name comes from
ancient times when Saracen pirate ships from Arabia sought shelter
here in the 16th century. Its modern claim to fame however is that
it was featured in the Italian detective series Inspector Montalbano.
Stay at the Scala dei Turchi Resort and you can visit or view the
chalky Scala dei Turchi every day of your holiday if you wish!
STAY: Scala dei Turchi Resort, Agrigento
Blue Grotto
Sitting along the coast of Capri, the Grotta Azzurra or Blue Grotto
is a flooded sea cave that creates a mystical blue glow from the
light of another underwater entrance. Back in the 18th century,
locals and sailors believed the cave was riddled with witches
and monsters and would purposefully avoid it. At just 60 metres
long and 25 metres wide, the experience only lasts five minutes
aboard a wooden rowing boat, although you will have to wait a
while to enter. Your skipper will ask you to lay down in the boat
to pass through the low one metre high arch, but it’s absolutely
worth it once you’re in as you witness the bedazzling silver and
blue colours that twinkle across the water and onto the stone
walls. We recommend you visit in the early afternoon.
STAY: Caesar Augustus, Capri
Maddalena Archipelago
The Maddalena Archipelago of northern Sardinia is a natural
wonder in its own right. Home to seven islands and 55 islets,
there’s something paradisiacal and idyllic about them with their
rugged coastlines and pristine beaches that lap into the sparkling
azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Taking a boat trip from Palau
will allow you to explore the archipelago’s many tiny coves and
bays. The largest island is Isola Maddalena, home to a historic old
town and the beautiful Spalmatore Beach. From your boat, witness
the beauty of the protected Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) on the
island of Budelli, with its unusual pink coloured sand.
STAY: Hotel Capo d'Orso Thalasso & SPA, Palau
Cascate del Mulino
Dive into the healing waters with a natural spa in the
Tuscan town of Saturnia, situated two hours south of Siena.
Cascate del Mulino (Waterfalls of the Mills) is a simple yet
delightful thermal bath experience, which you can visit any
time of the year. The steaming geothermal sulphuric waters,
which maintain a soothing 37ºC heat, trickle into natural
tiered pools where you can bathe and unwind.
Be sure to bring your own towel and waterproof
sandals as the rocks can get slippy.
STAY: Castel Monastero Resort, Siena
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ITALY'S MUST VISIT NATURAL WONDERS
Val d’Orcia
The rolling hills of Val d’Orcia in Tuscany, which embraces Siena,
Pienza, and Montalcino, are an absolute spectacle in the autumn
months. Lined with the grandeur of cypress trees, Strada di
Valoresi, the main road of this poetic rural region, winds through
some breathtaking valley scenes. Due to the low sun, the foliage
of vineyards and olive groves glow with golden and orange
hues. With plenty of old world charm viticulture and olive oil
production to discover along the way, it’s no wonder this region
is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Castelluccio di Norcia
Each springtime - between May and July - an astonishing natural
spectacle blooms in the small Umbrian village of Castelluccio di
Norcia: La Fiorita (The Flowering). By the side of the lush Apennine
Mountains in Mount Sibillini National Park, what you’ll witness is
a vibrant patchwork mosaic of flowers, including poppies, violets,
narcissus, daisies, and the native bloom of lentils. While wandering
through these flowering fields, you may be lucky to catch sight of
roe deer grazing too. Located an hour and half’s drive from Assisi,
you can easily take a day trip here.
STAY: Country House Tre Esse, Assisi
STAY: Borgo Tre Rose, Montepulciano
Are you ready to experience the best of Italy’s natural world?
Speak to one of our ​Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

The Scoop
on Italian Gelato
This is not just ice cream, this is velvety smooth,
decadent gelato! Discover the history of this quintessential
Italian summer favourite and ensure you’re getting the
real deal with our tips and pick of Italy’s best gelaterie.
Gelato is undeniably best enjoyed at source in Italy, where you will
appreciate just how different it is to your bog-standard ice cream.
The predecessor to gelato has a history stemming 2,000 years in ancient
Rome, when mounds of frozen ice made with compacted snow from
Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius were topped with sweet ingredients,
which were then shaved off and sold by street vendors. (As an adjective,
gelato literally means ‘frozen’ in Italian.) This refreshing slush was
enjoyed by both nobility such as Emperor Nemo, as well as commoners.
In the 13th century while on his famous Silk Road explorations,
the Venetian merchant Marco Polo discovered and returned to Venice
with Chinese and Persian recipes that used milk as the main ingredient.
Marco Polo
Gelato grew in popularity among the nobility in the 15th and 16th
century, and the actual recipe we see today hasn't dramatically
changed much since then.
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Gelato Legends
According to historical records, the original gelatieri
(gelato makers) that are responsible for modern gelato are:
Cosimo Ruggieri, who won a contest in the regal court
of renowned noblewoman Catherine de' Medici
by creating fior di latte.
Bernardo Buontalenti, an architect who invented his own gelato
alla crema concoction, which was made with cream and eggs,
bergamot, lemons, and oranges. He also found a novel way
to refrigerate gelato using cork and wood clad underground
rooms. In 1979 there was a competition to create a flavour that
honoured Buontalenti, and even today you can taste the winning
‘Buontalenti flavour’ at the Gelateria Badiani in Florence.
When made right, you need never feel guilty for tucking into
gelato or sorbetto. In 1775, a Neopolitan doctor called Filippo
Baldini published his treatise De’ Sorbetti that declared that
these two sweet treats are beneficial to both the mind and
body, declaring they “...are the products of the most refined
human intelligence.”
Francesco Procopio di Coltelli, a Sicilian fisherman who used
an old sorbetto machine left to him by his grandfather to
dabble in gelato-making. He was the first known person to use
sugar instead of honey in his recipes. While gelato was a
product solely for the benefit of the wealthy, he successfully
brought gelato to the masses when, in 1600, he opened
Paris’s oldest Café Procope.
According to Italiangelato.info, Italy boasts over 10,000 pure gelaterias
and 29,000 bars and pastry shops that sell gelato.
One thing to know: not all gelato is created equally. While you will
find mounds of vibrant ‘gelato’ on Italy’s streets, these are best to be
avoided. Colour should never be a factor when choosing your gelateria -
in fact authentic gelato tends to have more muted shades.
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for un assaggio
- a taster - before you choose to buy.
Authentic gelato is made with more milk than cream, which means it has
two-thirds less butterfat and more natural sugar than ice cream.
Gelato is also churned more slowly so that it becomes denser and more
velvety smooth and flavourful. The other difference with gelato is that
it should be served at a higher temperature so it has less crystallisation
and a softer consistency.
Artisan, homemade varieties boast fresher ingredients and are expected
to be enjoyed within 24 hours of them being made. Seek out signs such
as gelato in casa, gelato artigianale, or fatto in casa, and be sure to select a
gelateria that stores the gelato in lidded stainless steel tubs.
Not to disappoint dairy-free guests visiting Italy, the lighter fruit
sorbetto is just as much a treat, and we recommend you try sorbetto
pompelmo, which has the tasty, fresh tang of grapefruit, perfect to cool
you off on a hot summer’s day.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

THE SCOOP ON ITALIAN GELATO
Italy’s Best Gelaterie
Wondering where to taste the best gelato during your next tailor-made
holiday? Stefano Nirta, Citalia's Regional Destination Manager,
has it sussed.
“In Rome, Al Settimo Cielo has been crafting natural artisan gelato for
over 20 years and is a firm favourite of mine.”
“The birthplace of gelato, Florence arguably has the best gelaterie.
While the masses flock to Florence’s oldest gelato shop, Vivoli, which
was first opened in 1929, I recommend you head south of the river to
Gelateria La Carraia, which is an institution in its own right.”
“Always worth the one hour road trip from Perugia, visit Gelateria
Crispini in the Umbrian city of Spoleto for its award-winning pistachio
gelato that features three varieties of slow-roasted Sicilian pistachios.”
“For fresh gelato with quality and often forgotten native ingredients,
then the family-run Alberto Marchetti Gelaterie in Turin is another
must visit of mine.”
A World of Gelato
For a family-friendly experience centred around Italy’s summer hero,
head to Bologna, where you can visit the Carpigiani Gelato Museum,
where the whole family can try their hand at making artisan gelato in
a workshop or learn new techniques and taste test special varieties
in a masterclass, as well as learn about the evolution of gelato, and its
production techniques and technology on an interactive guided tour.
Gelato’s Tried &
Tested Flavours
Fior di latte is the base of all gelato. This decadently creamy
and sweet flavour is perfectly satisfactory in its own right,
but if you're looking to enhance it then these classic,
intense flavours won’t disappoint!
Pistachio: When made properly with real pistachios, this is Italy’s
most decadent gelato
Cioccolato fondente: The quintessential dark chocolate gelato
Bacio: A chocolate hazelnut concoction that’s the real Nutella deal
Amarena: Gelato speckled with rich tart cherries
Nocciola or Mandorla: Two exquisite nut flavours of hazelnut
or almond
Fragola or Lampone: Your classic sweet summer flavours of
strawberry or raspberry
Cocco: A tropical taste of coconut
Fico: A harder to find gelato that’s worth the hunt with its earthy
fig ingredients
Limone: Refreshingly crisp and sweet lemon
A 3 night holiday at Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence starts from £789 per person. Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
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That's
Jazz!
A PERUGIAN
FESTIVAL
Do you love jazz? Or do you want to get
more familiar with this epic music genre?
Well there’s one place to be in July: Perugia!
While it may seem like an unlikely place for jazz, Perugia and its
surrounding cities have been hosting the Umbria Jazz Festival
since 1973. In fact, it’s one of the top jazz festivals in Europe,
lasting a fabulous tune-filled 10 days.
From Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie to Art Blakey, Chet
Baker and Gerry Mulligan, the festival attracts some first-class
jazz artists. The headline acts perform at Santa Giuliana Arena,
while more orthodox jazz can be found at Morlacchi Theatre.
Even if you don’t book a concert, it’s still possible to enjoy both
jazz and other music genres in Perugia’s streets and in main
outdoor venues like Giardini Carducci and Piazza IV Novembre.
There’s also a daily traditional street parade, because well, why
not?! This is the spirit of summer we love to see!
This year, Umbria Jazz Festival takes place from 8th to 17th
July 2022. We recommend you book your holiday early to avoid
disappointment as accommodation and tickets are always
high in demand.
If you want more time to plan your jazzy holiday, then you can
always swing over to Orvieto in December/January for the
annual Umbria Jazz Winter Festival.
A 5 night holiday staying at Hotel SINA Brufani in Perugia
starts from £1,235 per person. Speak to one of our ​
Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Artistic
Venice
When it comes to artistic treasures, Venice is
utterly beguiling. From the great masterpieces of
Renaissance, neoclassical and contemporary art,
to its more industrial, artisanal side, we share
our favourite museums and galleries in Venice
that you won’t want to miss.
You don’t need to step into a formal museum or gallery to
be blown away by the Venice art scene. From masterpieces
in the Basilica di Frari and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco
to the monumental palazzi architecture of the Grand Canal,
there’s always surprises to be found in the floating city.
The streets of Venice may provide you with the same
inspiration that it did for the contemporary artists of the
20th century, the gentlemen who embarked on the Grand
Tour in the 19th century, and the Renaissance artists who
ventured before them in the 15th and 16th centuries.
However, should you wish to dig a bit deeper into the
extraordinary art world of Venice, then you’ll be spoilt
for choice.
“I recommend you visit Venice’s
museums and galleries during
the middle of the week and first
thing in the morning. I’d avoid
visiting on the weekends
if you can as this is when
they attract the most crowds.”
Heather Green
Citalia's Regional Destination Manager
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Gallerie dell’Accademia
Renaissance
Even if you're unfamiliar with Renaissance art, the Academia
is one museum not to miss. With its lavish interiors and
impossibly high ceilings, the building alone is worthy of your
eyes. The huge walls are covered in paintings that urge you to
fall into their stories, from religious masterpieces to historical
scenes depicting old merchant Venice. Every important painter
from this era has art displayed here - masters like Vittore
Carpaccio, Jacopo Tintoretto, Andrea Mantegna, and the
two brothers Gentile and Giovanni Bellini. The most popular
artwork here is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (Study of the
Proportions of the Human Body).
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Modernism & Futurists
Before we delve into the thought-provoking collection, we
need to mention the history of the building, as Palazzo Venier
dei Leoni has an eclectic past. Built in the 18th century, this
incomplete and single storey residence is said to be named
after a lion that prowled its central courtyard. What is true is
that a wealthy Italian heiress by the name of Marchesa Luisa
Casati Amman owned the palazzo and used to parade around
with a pair of leashed cheetahs. The palazzo is unusually light,
modern, and airy compared to other renowned Venetian
establishments that grace the Grand Canal, and still maintains
the vibe of a private home.
The American socialite, eccentric, and art collector Peggy
Guggenheim settled in Venice in 1949, and began publicly
displaying her personal collection seasonally. After her death
in 1980, her residence became a year-round collection.
You’ll find some of the finest works of cubism, surrealism,
and abstract expressionism here, with work from 20th
century masters like Salvador Dalí, Barbara Hepworth,
Pablo Picasso, René Margritte, Max Ernst, Alberto
Giacometti, Leonora Carrington, and Jackson Pollock.
Marino Marini’s provocative Angel of the City sculpture sits on
the front terrace, and rumour has it that Guggenheim would
unscrew the sculpture’s phallus on religious days, so as not to
upset passing nuns!
The Pinault Collection
Contemporary
A French billionaire and leading art collector by the name of
François Pinault has been bringing a world of contemporary art
to Venice since 2006. You will find his epic collection spread
across two locations on the Grand Canal. The first is at the
18th century Palazzo Grassi, close to the Accademia Bridge,
and the second is at Punta Della Dogana, a 15th century naval
customs house near to the university district of Dorsoduro,
where you’ll find thematic shows.
The Pinault collection allows you to have an intimate
experience with temporary exhibitions from top contemporary
artists, such as Damien Hirst and Luc Tuymans.
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

Museo di Palazzo Grimani
Neoclassical Delights
If you’re seeking out classical antiquity art then there’s one
place to go: Palazzo Grimani. Located near to the Campo
Santa Maria Formosa in Castello, the palace dates back to the
Middle Ages and is named after its former owner, the doge
(chief magistrate) of Venice, Antonio Grimani. When you’re
not enjoying masterpieces by Titian, Veronese and Giorgione,
you can be inspired by the building’s impressive motifs. The
greatest room in the palazzo is the Tribuna, which was inspired
by the Pantheon in Rome, where a single window within the
domed ceiled pours an angelic light into the room and onto the
sculpted centrepiece, the Abduction of Ganymede.
Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery
of Modern Art
Modernism
Peggy Guggenheim has a rival in terms of the impressive
assemblage of 19th and 20th century modern art found
at Ca’ Pesaro.
Housed in a stunning marble Baroque palace on the waterfront
in Santa Croce, some argue that the building is more valuable
than the masterpiece it holds.
The main rooms shine a light on modern artwork from Venice
and Italy, such as Medardo Rosso and Giorgio Morandi,
but you’ll also discover art from the likes of Henry Moore,
Gustav Klimt, Adolfo Wildt, and Auguste Rodin. The top
floors host a unique Oriental Art Museum, with artistic
creations from Japan, China, and Indonesia.
Contini Art Gallery
Contemporary/Modern
Just minutes from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute,
you’ll find the impressive Contini Art Gallery,
which is housed across five floors and
was established by Stefano Contini in 1979.
You’ll find an array of great works from international
contemporary and modern artists, such as Robert
Indiana, Igor Mitoraj, Christo, Julian Schabel, and
Fernando Botero, as well as homegrown talent from the
likes of Enzo Fiore, Fabio Aguzzi, and Giuseppe Cesetti.
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ARTISTIC VENICE
Fancy a break from the Venetian
art world? Then why not visit these
extraordinary museums?
Museo del Merletto
Lacemaking
Away from the usual museum crowds in Burano, you’ll get to witness the
island’s most famous craft: lace-making. In fact, the museum building used
to be a lace-making school. There's an epic collection dating back to the
16th century to the present day. Seeing the incredible detail that goes into
Renaissance lace is enough reason to visit!
Museo Storico Navale Di Venezia
Naval History
The Venetians seriously love their boats and their waterways, and there’s
one place that magnificently showcases this. Located in an 11th century
palazzo in Campo San Basio, you’ll find yourself anchored by the 42
exhibitions housed in this naval history museum. There are so many boats
to discover - from gondolas like you’ve never seen before to 16th century
warships and historically significant ships. Come, sail away with us!
Palazzo Mocenigo
Perfume & Costume
Yes, Palazzo Mocenigo is the very same regal palace where Lord Byron
lived with his menagerie in 1818! Today, this fabulously chandelier-clad
building located by the Grand Canal has become a celebration of historic
fashion! The ground floor usually boasts temporary exhibitions, while the
main floor (known as the piano nobile) boasts several collections of grand
and glamorous outfits, from embroidered silk waistcoats to glamorous ball
gowns. You’ll also get to inhale Venice’s fascinating history with perfume,
as there’s a special exhibition all about fragrance.
“Palazzo Mocenigo is
often overlooked but it’s my
personal favourite. You’ll find
rare textiles and costumes,
mostly of Venetian origin.”
Heather Green
Citalia's Regional Destination Manager
Museo del Vetro
Murano Glass
A pinnacle of Venetian artistry has
to be its history of glassblowing. The
highly treasured glassblowers moved
to the island of Murano to ease the
temperatures caused by their furnaces in the
city centre. Located in a grand gothic palace on
the island, the Murano Glass Museum is the ideal
place to understand its evolution, which is laid out in chronological order.
Unsurprisingly the museum also hosts the world’s largest collection of
Murano glass, including some pieces that date back to the 15th century.
Palazzo Fortuny
Progressive Fashion
Wander into this 15th century Venetian-Gothic palazzo and enter a world
of fashion and design from the early 1900s to 1920s. As the former
home and personal atelier of the Spanish fashion designer Mariano
Fortuny, you’ll find an array of luxury fabrics and textile designs, as well as
photography and paintings. There’s an essence of theatre, romance and
eccentricity here, which perfectly fits the city it stands in.
Doge’s Palace
Opulent architecture
Overlooking Piazza San Marco, the incredibly decadent Doge’s Palace is
Venice’s most visited museum. This gothic palace was first built in the 9th
century for a Venetian duke, but it’s been rebuilt and expanded several
times over the centuries. In the 14th to 18th centuries the palace held the
city government. Today you'll see a glamorous mishmash of architectural
styles, as you visit the council chamber, the grand inner courtyard, former
prisons (including a chamber of torments), the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s
Apartment, and the Golden Staircase.
Museo della Musica
Musical instruments
Located in an old Venetian church that has history dating back to the
10th century, is the Museo della Musica, which celebrates liuteria: the
Italian craft of musical instrument-making. You’ll find classical stringed
instruments from 18th century Venice. Given its niche, it’s a delightfully
quiet museum away from the usual throng of visitors.
DON'T
MISS!
Biennale di Venezia 2022
Don’t miss the 59th International Art Exhibition, this year entitled
Milk of Dreams, which is taking place until 27 November 2022
in the modern museum of Arsenale della Biennale di Venezia
and the outdoor Giardini della Biennale.
With all our recommendations, we hope that you have a wonderfully inspired visit to Venice!
A 3 night stay at Ca' Sagredo in Venice starts from £739 per person. Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer 2022
Andiamo!

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RECIPES
Sapori
D’italia
Flavours Of Italy
Trofie with Pesto and
Cherry Tomatoes
with Amber Guinness
Inspired by the traditional recipe of
Liguria, our friend Amber Guinness
shares with us a delicious summer recipe
from her new book, A House Party in
Tuscany, which is filled with recipes for
classic dishes and cocktails, feast curation,
seasonal menu suggestions and notes
on an Italian pantry and wines.
Serves 5-6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
• 150g basil leaves, stalks removed
• 50g pine nuts
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• Salt
• 150ml olive oil
• 100g parmesan, finely grated – plus extra, to serve
• 500g trofie (or your preferred short dry pasta)
• 25g cherry tomatoes, halved
Method
While I know that pesto is a world-famous
sauce, I eat it so regularly myself, and serve
it so often to crowds of delighted guests at
Arniano, that it would be a pity to skip it here
for the sake of originality.
It is also a fantastic dish to serve to large
numbers of people - you can pre-make a
big batch of pesto and pour it over large
quantities of pasta - and as part of a broader
meal, as it goes with lots of things. Pesto
alla senese features chopped raw cherry
tomatoes added to the traditional sauce.
Although I can’t remember whether the
following recipe is an ‘official’ Siennese
variation, this is what it has always been
called in our house.
Trofie are pleasing short twists of pasta from
Liguria, but you can of course use any short
pasta shape. I also love fusilli with this pesto.
Put the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, a pinch
of salt and the olive oil in a food processor.
Blitz until you have a runny paste. Transfer
to a bowl. (You can freeze your pesto at this
stage, before adding the parmesan.) Using a
spoon, mix the grated parmesan through the
paste until thoroughly combined.
Taste for seasoning, adjusting as necessary.
If it looks a little dry, add another drizzle of
oil, and stir again. This pesto sauce will keep
in the fridge for up to three days, but is most
vibrantly green when used fresh.
Bring a large pan of salted water to a vigorous
boil. Add the trofie or your preferred pasta
and cook until al dente.
When the pasta is almost ready, spoon the
pesto into a large serving dish or bowl. Using
a slotted spoon, transfer the trofie to the
serving dish and mix the pasta through the
pesto, pouring over half a ladleful of the
pasta cooking water if the pesto needs any
help to thoroughly coat the pasta.
Toss the cherry tomato halves through the
pasta and serve immediately, with extra
grated parmesan on the side.
Find out more about Amber’s book, A House Party in Tuscany,
and where to get your copy on the publisher website, Thames & Hudson.
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