All about La Dolce Vita
Recently I read Follett’s latest book “The Evening and the Morning” A prequel to the [more] successful “Pillars of the Earth.” It was the Cathedral building adventures that captivated me, although much more so in the “Pillars” than on this last book. But it was the book that pushed me to visit a Cathedral as […]
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Strassoldo Perhaps one of the best hamlets on the The most beautiful Village list. Strassoldo is one quiet place where I would want to just move there for the summer and nobody should bother me until September 30th. It is a rare example of an ancient medieval village, extremely well preserved, and of unique charm. […]
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In these times of Post-Covid (not so sure it is really “post”), businesses need to reinvent themselves. Restaurants in particular, with their necessity to keep customers “socially distanced” can really be a challenge. Moreover, most fancy weddings, where canceled or postponed; see Princess Beatrice of England and her Italian beau, for example. Weddings cancellations was […]
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What’s best to do in these times of restrictions than a visit a winery for an afternoon of wine-tasting, immersed in green surroundings. We craved fresh air and sunshine, an invitation to visit a small winery in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, was a welcomed surprise. Paradiis Winery Paradiis Winery was founded at the end of […]
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COVID-19 is all over the news, and yes the situation is serious. No one (state or country) should underestimate it. It will get there too. We are all asked to stay home! Or #StayHome to reach the social media addicts. That means avoiding social events, gathering, going to crowded bars for our beloved aperitivo. What […]
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Venzone is on the list of the most beautiful villages, hence a place to see. Like all others, Venzone only has about 2000 habitants. A lovely village at the foot of the Alps, which gives it a stunning background to the houses. Venzone was declared National Monument in 1965 because it is a unique fortified […]
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Wherever you are in Italy, if you like photography you don’t really need to be in Florence, Venice or the Amalfi Coast. Any small town can surprise you with its architecture, lovely corners, or landscapes. Just walk around with eyes wide open.
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A New School of Fashion By the end of World War II, Italian fashion artists understood the desperate need for more accessible, comfortable, and yet equally refined and tailored collections. By the ‘59s names such Emilio Schuberth, Sorelle Fontana (the Fontana sisters), Contessa Simonetta Visconti, Roberto Capucci, and Alberto Fabiani from Rome, Jole Veneziani of […]
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The Best For Last The last stop on this one-day tour of the oriental part of Italy that borders Slovenia was a stop at the Castle of Spessa. A place I truly loved, where I’d love to spend a long weekend as spring settles in. The origins of this castle dates back to the 1200s, […]
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San Floriano del Collio Not far from Gorizia, there is a Castle perched on a lovely hill, well visible from afar—at least in winter—that is where I went for lunch after visiting the Gorizia Fortress. The castle of San Floriano was part of the defensive system that included the fortresses of Gorizia and was involved […]
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Gorizia is a border town located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. Until 2004 it was physically divided by a wall, just like Berlin. It was not a wall though, rather a fence. Nevertheless Gorizia was practically divided; half italian and half [then] Yugoslavia, now Slovenia. The twin town across the border […]
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PALAZZO VALVASON MORPURGO Have you ever wondered what the story behind a beautiful facade of an important residence? We tend to believe that the lifes of the People residing were cared and protected by those thick walls, who conducted a privileged life in wealth and entitlement. Many buildings and palazzi have lots of stories to […]
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Life in Italy 