Journeys Viaggio

For an entire year, an Airbus 330 in Alitalia’s fleet will be the site of an exhibit of 28 images by Tuscan photographer Alessandro Moggi.

The photos, featuring the many aspects of Tuscany, will be positioned above the overhead compartments of the aircraft, which serves some of Alitalia’s intercontinental routes to the United States, China, Brazil and Japan.

In the display, Moggi’s works-Tuscan landscapes, from the seaside to the mountains and the countryside, and Tuscan art-create a dialogue about similarities and differences: the precise geometry of Versilia and bright colours of the Lucca countryside; the wild nature of the woods; many of the region’s gardens and vineyards; and the representation of Salome by Filippo Lippi in the Prato Cathedral and the contemporary Gori Collection of Villa Celle in Pistoia. Along with subject matter appropriate for the venue, Moggi’s photographs were adaptable to the specific requirement of horizontal format.

The on-board exhibit ‘emphasizes the international vocation of Tuscany,’ said Tuscan president Enrico Rossi, ‘and enriches the journey of those who will fly on the new Alitalia planes, inviting them to come and enjoy our rich culture and landscapes.’

photos by Alessandro Moggi

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The Florentine

Italians will often conclude the meal with a ‘digestivo’ – a digestive shot of grappa, limoncello (lemon liqueur made from Sorrento lemons) or Vin Santo sweet dessert wine. If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Vin Santo.

There are, as with any great Tuscan tale, several versions of just why Vin Santo – ‘Holy Wine’ – is so called. Vin Santo is made by leaving the Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes on the vine a little longer to allow the sugars inside the grapes to intensify. They are then hand-picked and carefully hung out to dry not in a cellar, but in the attic – that is, close to the saints. Vin Santo is the juice of choice used in mass, and this is possibly the most likely reason why it is called ‘Holy Wine’. Then there is the great legend that during the 1300s, the sweet Tuscan wine was given to help cure the sick who found this ‘miracle cure’ worthy of the title. Bottling also occurs at around Easter time, giving yet another holy association to this delicious Tuscan wine.
Once pressed, the small amount of liquid that remains is intensely sweet. It is then placed into a particular barrel known as ‘caratelli’, in which is kept for even up to a decade.
Vin Santo is traditionally enjoyed with Biscotti di Prato – crunchy biscotti that are dipped into the sweet liqueur for the simplest and most delicious of Tuscan desserts.

One of the notable producers of superb Vin Santo is Lornano, who ages it 10 years in wood barrrels before bottling. By the way Lornano produces some fabulous Super Tuscan red wines as well. Our villa company, Invitation to Tuscany, carries three apartments located on the vineyard estate in the heart of Tuscany for rent. So we can get our guests into the winery for special tastings.
http://www.invitationtotuscany.com/properties/property-detail?property_id=18

rome-in-the-snow.html

Romans bewildered by their city’s first big snowfall in 26 years used government-issured shovels to clear sidewalks and piazzas, and kitchen utensils to clear windshields on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. The snow was as deep as 8 inches in some neighborhoods, according to the Associated Press reports, and shut down tourist sites such as the Colosseum.
Riccardo De Luca | AP

Vatican City, Rome, Italy – A nun of the Missionaries of Charity shelters from the snow with an umbrella as she walks through St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Friday.

Experience a taste of Italy on the Southern California coast at The Resort at Pelican Hill, rated the number one Resort in the U.S. and the number one California Golf Resort by Conde Nast Traveler readers! The Spa at Pelican Hill is rated Five-Star by Forbes and Andrea, one of four dining venues, is among the “Top 50 U.S. Italian Restaurants”.
The Resort at Pelican Hill is perched on the coastline between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean from almost anywhere on this Mediterranean-like resort. The architecture was inspired by the 16th century Italian, Andrea Palladio, best known for his grand villas across the Venitian countryside.

The accommodations consist of Bungalows with large private ocean-view terraces, hand-hewn vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, Italian limestone gas fireplaces, granite wet bars, generous sitting area, very large bathrooms with walk-in marble showers and oversized soaking tubs, and state of the art technology. The Bungalows begin at 850 sq ft, not including the well furnished terraces, which become an extension of the living area.
The Villas range from two, three, and four bedrooms, each with gourmet kitchens with all of the necessities, from dishes, to cookware and top notch appliances. Fully furnished terraces, private garage, and washer/dryer make for a perfect family or friend get-away.
Though Pelican Hill Resort is only a few years old, the landscaping is fully mature and abundant. Century-old olive trees throughout are harvested in the autumn and the resort celebrates with a weekend festival complete with wine and oil tastings, Italian delicacies, music and entertainment….you feel as though you are in the piazza of an Italian hill village. Other themed events happen throughout the year that would make for a great excuse to plan a visit for a weekend or more.

The main resort swimming pool is a perfect circle, 136 feet in diameter, aptly named ‘The Coliseum’. Luxurious cabanas and lounging areas line two levels of comfortable space around the pool….all enjoying a fabulous ocean-view. A great place to be at sunset for an incredible visual treat. The same view can also be enjoyed al fresco at most of the Resort’s restaurants and lounges. The Newport Coast enjoys an average of 340 days of sunshine a year.

The two 18 hole championship golf courses were designed by Tom Fazio and are set among over 400 acres of deep canyons with panoramic views of the Pacific.
The Resort at Pelican Hill is located across from Crystal Cove State Park which has 3.5 miles of beach offering spectacular sunbathing, swimming, surfing, diving and tide pool exploration. There are also miles of trails on the bluffs above the beach for walking, jogging and biking. Balboa Island and Newport Harbor offer sailing, deep-sea fishing and dinner cruise excursions. Laguna Beach hosts several annual arts events and festivals and has abundant art galleries, shops and restaurants. And for the serious shopper, First- class shopping is close by at the renowned Fashion Island and Crystal Cove Promenade.
So if you do not have the time to fly to Italy for your much needed Mediterranean break, you might consider a visit to The Resort at Pelican Hill, as I recently have!

Italians love festivals and the ending of the old year and beginning of the new year, il capodanno, is a great time to celebrate in Italy.

La Festa di San Silvestro is celebrated December 31 on New Year’s Eve. As with most Italian festivals, food plays a major role. Families and friends get together for a huge feast. The star of the dinner is lentils, symbolizing money and good fortune for the coming year. Traditionally, the dinner in many parts of Italy also includes a cotechino, a large spiced sausage, or a zampone, stuffed pig’s trotter. The pork symbolizes the richness of life in the coming year
Fireworks and Dancing
Huge midnight fireworks displays celebrate the coming of the new year. Most towns have public displays in a central square but private parties will also include firecrackers or sparklers, too, and will continue for a long time. Naples is known for having one of the best and biggest New Year’s fireworks displays in Italy. Some smaller towns build a bonfire in the central square where villagers will congregate into the early morning. If you’re near the coast, lake, or river you will hear boats and ships blowing their horns.

Dancing is also popular and many towns have public music and dancing before the fireworks. Rome, Milan, Bologna, Palermo and Naples put on huge popular outdoor shows with pop and rock bands. These events can sometimes be seen on television, too.

More New Year’s Eve Traditions in Italy
Guests of private or public parties are sometimes entertained with a game called “Tombola”, similar to Bingo.

The New Year is also celebrated with spumante or prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. New Years parties, whether public or private, will often last until sunrise in order to watch the first sunrise of the newborn year.

An old custom that is still followed in some places, especially in the south, is throwing your old things out the window to symbolize your readiness to accept the New Year. So, keep an eye out for falling objects if you’re walking around near midnight!

Oh, one more thing, don’t forget to wear your red underwear to ring in the new year! They say it’ll bring you luck in the coming year.

Some travelers are intimidated by the thought of using a hotel’s concierge. Don’t be! The concierge is available to all guests and is able to assist with a variety of requests including event tickets, dinner reservations, and destination advice.

Click here for more information:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/07/travel/hotel-concierge-tips/index.html?hpt=tr_c2