The latest news from the experts in Italian Travel
In the Basilicata episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy tries a local dessert at the same café frequented by acclaimed movie director Francis Ford Coppola. Scorzetta, a hazelnut cookie with chocolate ganache, is often served with Amaro, a bittersweet herbal liqueur. The dessert is a favorite of director Francis Ford Coppola, who owns Palazzo …
In the Basilicata episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy meets a native comedian of the region. Comedian Dino Paradiso who is a native of Bernalda formed his cabaret show around characters he saw reflected in everyday life – at home, at the bank, or at the bar. His comedy focuses on current topics with …
In the Basilicata episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy learns to fish for and cook the tiny clams of the region. Kathy fished for telline along the beach in Metaponto, but these tiny clams are plentiful, and spaghetti con telline is a popular dish along the entire coast of Basilicata. Kathy and chef Mario …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy makes a stop in the countryside for a delicious road-side treat. At the roadside Ristoro Mucciante (Localita Madonnina, Castel del Monte), you can buy arrosticini (lamb skewers) inside and grill them outside with the locals, who frequent this spot for a picnic with a mountain …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy enjoys nature in the greenest region in Europe. Abruzzo is known as the greenest region in Europe, partly for its Gran Sasso National Park. Among the largest protected and most biodiverse places in Europe, the park contains the rocky Gran Sasso massif, the highest mountain …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy visits an archeological site home to discoveries dating back to 6th century B.C. Nestled in the Gran Sasso National Park, the town of Capestrano has a fascinating and ancient archaeologi- cal history. In 1934 archaeologists discovered the limestone statue of the Warrior of Capestrano, which …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy visits a local winery and tastes some of the region’s most iconic wine. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a dry, medium-bodied red wine with dominant fruit flavors, is the region’s most famous wine. Its Denominazione di Origine Controllata status covers all of Abruzzo’s four provinces, and ensures that …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy learns about a unique slithering reptile celebration in Cocullo. The patron saint of Cocullo, San Domenico, also protects people from animal bites, and it is said that serpents came to honor him in pagan times. Held annually on May 1, the town’s snake festival dates …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy tries a one-of-a-kind dessert at Caffè Ovidio. Like its name, the ca’ffetto drink is a mash-up between coffee and confetti in an espresso-sized glass. The original creation, invented by Vincenzo of Caffè Ovidio (Corso Ovidio, 224), combines espresso with syrup, sweet almond paste and crushed …
In the Abruzzo episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy visits the factory of a 7th generation family business of hand-made delicious candy coated treats. Confetti, those colorful candy-coated almonds known to Americans as Jordan almonds, was created when the Pelino family opened their confetti factory in the beautiful city of Sulmona in 1783. Seven …
