This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Many Tuscan cooks – in their homes and their restaurants – are passionately committed to slow food that highlights local, seasonal cuisine, not so much because it’s a movement of the moment, but because it’s a way of life. Chef Emiliano Rossi of Osteria del Teatro– just north …
People to Know in Cortona: Marco Molesini of Enoteca Molesini (August 2019)
This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Continuing along Via Nazionale leads to Piazza della Repubblica, the vibrant heart of Cortona. It’s framed by the massive stairs of the 12th-century Palazzo del Comune on one side and the 13th-century Loggia della Pescheria on the other side. Frances has called this piazza “the living room of …
How to Buy A House Under the Tuscan Sun (August 2019)
This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Is it Possible to Have Your Own Home “Under the Tuscan Sun?” The opening line of Under the Tuscan Sun sets the stage for Frances Mayes to explore the dream and document the reality of owning a home in Italy. “I am about to buy a house in …
Authentic Places to Stay in Cortona (August 2019)
This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. When it comes to finding a place to rest your head in Cortona, you have the complete range of options – from luxury hotels to more affordable accommodations plus B&Bs and agriturismi– both inside the town walls and in the nearby countryside. Here are some recommendations: Monastero …
Where to Eat in Cortona (August 2019)
This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. “We are so lucky,” Frances Mayes says on the Dream of Italy Podcast.“In the walls of the town, there’s a restaurant every time you look, and you can’t go wrong. They’re all wonderful.” How many places can you say the restaurants are all good? Most chefs in …
What to Do in Cortona (August 2019)
This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. If you’re visiting Cortona, here are key events and sights to factor into your plans. Special Events Archidado– Each spring, in late May and early June, Cortona holds a week-long medieval festival. The Archidado Joust commemorates the 1397 wedding of the Lord of Cortona to a noble …
Masterpieces of Etruscan Art (May 2019)
This article originally appeared in the May 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Sarcophagus of the Spouses National Etruscan Museum, Villa Giulia, Rome This amazing sarcophagus, the so-called the “Sarcophagus of the Spouses” (sarcofago degli sposi) was discovered during the course of archaeological excavations in 1881 at the Banditaccia necropolis, outside of Cerveteri. The Etruscan Museum at the Villa Giulia in …
Marigold: The Micro-Bakery Rome Was Missing
This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. From the moment I stepped into Marigold Roma, Rome’s new micro-bakery/café/restaurant, I felt like I was visiting the home of a chic, Scandinavian friend with excellent taste in décor. Tucked on a side street in the Ostiense neighborhood, a short walk from Testaccio and the massive, seemingly out-of-place …
Following in Dante’s Footsteps
This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Although millions of people have followed routes related to Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage , since before the beginning of the Grand Tour, the country still preserves little-known routes and itineraries. A favorite of mine follows one of the best known and greatest Italian writers of all time: …
Perfect Places to Stay in Palermo
This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Only a few years ago, the options for accommodations in Palermo were limited, but now there are new hotels, B&Bs and hostels opening every day. The city can be noisy and a bit intimidating on a first visit, so it’s a fine idea to spend a little …