Italy Holidays Travel

Your trip to Italy is not complete if you miss visiting the best Italian restaurants in the country. There, you will get the chance to sample the cuisine that Italy is famous for. There are many excellent restaurants in Italy. Among the famous ones are the Quattro Passi and La Caravella. Read on to know some of Italy's best restaurants.

Quattro Passi

Quattro Passi is located between Capri and Positano in the countryside of Marina del cantone. The hotel/restaurant takes pride on its excellent wine cellar stocked with the finest wine from Italy and from foreign countries. Another great thing about this retaurant is that it is not far from the sea. Quattro Passi offers authentic Italian menu including pizza and pasta dishes.

La Caravella

If you want a romantic dinner for two, there's no other place in Italy to make reservations in than in La Caravella. La Caravella is found in Venice. It is located behind the La Fenice Theatre on Via XXII Marzo. The restaurant opened in the early '60s. The place offers traditional Italian dishes on its menu. Another great thing about the restaurant is its romantic, warm and elegant ambiance.

If you are going to these two restaurants in group, it is better that you make reservations. You can also inquire beforehand if they can give you package deals and special offers. Sometimes these restaurants offer discount prices if you order packaged meals. Make sure that you check the schedule of the restaurants' opening and closing time before you go there.

Italy is famous not only for the country's architecture and historical landmarks. It is also famous for its cuisine. A vacation in Italy is not complete if you haven't tasted authentic Italian pizza and pasta. Pizza and pasta are the dishes that the Italians are famous for. Read on to know some popular pizza and pasta dishes you should not miss when you're going to visit Italy.

Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita is a delicious pizza with tomatos, mozzarella cheese, and basil. This pizza got its name from the Italian Queen Margherita. The first Margerita pizza was baked in 1899 by the Italian chef Raffaelle Esposito when Queen Margheria visited Naples to escape a cholera epidemic in the northern part of Italy.

Ravioli

If you love to eat pasta, you should sample authentic Italian ravioli. It is a type of filled pasta. The filling is sealed between the two layers of pasta dough. The filling may be meat-based, fish-based, or cheese-based. Other fillings used are ricotta mixed with grated cheese and vegetables such as spinach, nettles, and swiss card. According to historical accounts, ravioli were already in existence in 14th century England.

Italian cuisine is truly magnificent. The food is actually one of the major reasons why tourists flock in Italy. So if you are planning on a vacation, you have to take time to visit Italian restaurants and have a sample of their pizza and pasta. Only then you are allowed to say that you did have an authentic Italian experience. To make the most out of your budget, visit restaurants in groups and inquire about package deals or special offers.

Aside from pizza and pasta, Italy is best-known for its amazing structures such as churches and cathedrals. When you visit Italy, you should not miss these structures that have been witnesses of the colorful past of the country. Read on to know some of the must-see cathedrals in Italy.

Italy tourist information: Amalfi Cathedral

Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Sant'Andrea) has history written all over it. It has survived numerous changes through the years. Built as early as the 1200s, this cathedral is best remembered for its exterior that has the Arab influence for style. Here, you can also find the St. Andrew the Apostle's relics in the crypt. Adding to its dramatic overall design is the older basilica where the cathedral is connected. The basilica now serves as a museum. Medieval murals can also be found in the Cloister of Paradise.

Italy tourist guide: Florence Cathedral

A trip to the Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria della Fiore) will have you gaping in awe upon being surrounded by world-class collection of Renaissance and medieval art. The famous cathedral of Italy was established as far back as the 1200s. The cathedral is best known for its dome in red tiles.

When you take a vacation to Italy, you should not miss visiting these two cathedrals that are not only important religious structures but are also important historical frames of the country.

Italy is such as nice place to visit such that one would wish to spend a whole year and go to every province and city. However, most of us have limited time and money that we’d have to pick a few among the many places to go. If you can visit only three places in Italy, it would have to be Rome, Venice, and Florence.

Rome

A visit to this dynamic city will overwhelm you with its architecture that speaks of its glorious past as the former capital of the world. While the city doesn’t shed its centuries-old adornment, its people are as modern and dynamic as anyone in the modern world.

Venice

Venice is meant for slow travel and if you take the time to explore the city on foot, you will encounter a lot of pleasant surprises along its labyrinthine lanes. Recommended must-sees are the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco.

Florence

Soak up with more art and culture in Florence. See first-hand the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. You will come to realize that your visit to Italy will be one of the best experiences in your life.

There are many reasons why one should visit Italy at least once in their lives, but the three main ones are to experience Italian food, fashion, and architecture.

A taste of authentic Italian food

Go beyond pizza and pasta. Italians are very passionate about their cuisine and truly enjoy cooking and eating. Every region in Italy has its own specialties that reflect their geographical location and local culture. You can even learn Italian cooking while you’re at it.

Italian fashion and leather shoes

Italians are also known for their flair in fashion. Stroll along the main thoroughfares in every Italian city you visit and browse through the various shops for clothes and shoes. If you are a shoe addict, visit the trade fair that is held every Saturday morning in Padova’s town centre.

Everywhere you go in Italy, whether you visit for the food or fashion, you cannot help but notice the grand Italian architecture. Visits to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Basilica of St. Peter are a must.

There are a hundred ways to spend your time in Italy, but for a truly Italian experience, you shouldn’t miss the following:

A gondola ride

A gondola is the traditional means of transportation within Venice. It is a flat-bottom Venetian rowing boat that is very popular among tourists as they go about their sightseeing tours. Riding one will let you savor slowly the wonderful Italian sights and experiences.

Miracle Square in Pisa

Don’t forget to visit the Square of Pisa’s Cathedral more commonly known as the “Miracle Square.” A UNESCO World Heritage site, this walled area in the heart of Pisa is known as a primary destination for enthusiasts of medieval art.

The Canal Grande

For a truly romantic holiday, get a gondola and ride it through the Canal Grande. This canal is a major water highway in Venice. You can admire beautiful architecture that date back to as far as the 13th century. For a more exciting experience, witness the century-old annual Regatta along the Canal.

If there's one thing very peculiar and admirable among Italians, it's their flair for presentation. They know how to make even the most simple recipe delectable and teasing. They have fun and experiment a little, and I'm sure you'll have be feasting your eyes on my Italian recipe for grilled fish with anchovy butter sauce. All I can say is, try it so you'll share the same food delight that we had. I know I am not supposed to be that generous, especially when everybody is trying to beat and be like somebody, but I don't want to be the reason for a lousy dinner meal. You know how it is when people make and prepare their food nicely and with complete ingredients at that, but you know what they miss? Sauces. I tell you that these garnishes can do wonders and in this recipe, it is no different -- the secret's on the sauce!

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 ounces anchovy fillets, drained, rinsed and patted dry
Juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons dried parsley (use fresh if available)
Pepper to taste
4 tilapia fillets, 6 to 8 ounces each, or other firm white-fleshed fish

In a small sauce pan, heat the oil and melt the butter. Mix in garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Sprinkle some anchovies and sauté until it melts with other ingredients. Then, season to taste with pepper, parsley while you stir in the lemon juice. Remember to keep it warm and fresh. Next, pat the fish fillets with olive oil and dredge on some salt and pepper. Set them aside while you heat on a lightly oiled grill pan. Grill the fillets with the skin side facing down. When slightly brown and flesh starts to be flakey, turn over to the other side. Grill for one more minute depending on the thickness. It takes only minutes before you can serve the grilled fish with sprinkled anchovy butter sauce on top. The sauce is another reason we can't get enough of Italian gourmet cooking.

What is the best way to enjoy an afternnon? Of course, with an afternoon snack! Who can resist the fresh goodness of cookies? We all love it from chocolate chip to gingerbread. It's an all-time classic. Do you want to know more about Italian variety? Here's a recipe for the Italian Biscotti. This recipe's been with the family ever since and I hope you'll love it as much as we do.

3 large eggs
3/4 cups of sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons of butter, melted
1 tablespoon of grated orange zest
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon of all purpose flour
2/3 cup whole hazelnuts
1/3 cup unblanched whole almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees then grease the cookie sheets. Beat eggs and mix sugar in a large bowl until thick and pale. Add the butter, orange zest and vanilla and whisk them well. Combine the sifted flour and baking soda and stir into the mixture. Then sprinkle on nuts and mix them until dough is already sticky. Next, divide the dough. Place the half on the cookie sheet. Smooth it into a flat loaf (4-inch wide and 10-inch long). Do the same with the remaining dough. For 20 minutes, bake it until firm. Then let it cool for 3 to 4 minutes. On a cutting board, slice the loaves diagonally into 1/2-inch slice. Bake the cookies back into the oven until it is already brown and toasty. Let the cookies cool on a rack. Preserve it using an airtight jar and it will last up to one month. Italian Biscotti is a great afternoon snack.

Even if you wear the pants, "mama" is still the queen of the house. Girls will swoon over Italian bachelors but they may get the poison ivy and its itch just by thinking how their mother-in-law will be. The concept of the Italian family is to stay close together. Even at 20's, children still live with their mama while uncles and aunts are always around to play a big role in their lives. When Italain folks get old, they live with their children and take responsibility in raising their grandkids.

You might be disappointed but Italians don't really go out on dates as normal Americans do. They enjoy hanging out more with a crowd or group of friends where they can just be themselves, you know, slack and loose. But when it comes to romance, they're spicy and sweet like their gourmet cooking. You'll normally receive flowers, perfume, chocolates and a usual peck on the cheek or a kiss. Diamonds are also popular during Valentine's Day.

After a tour around the Italian city, I was tired and starving. I was in a mood to sip on a hot soup so I went to a local restaurant and ordered for Bean Soup with Kale. It was appetizing, delicious, and nutritious. So soon as I got back home, I searched for the recipe to share the same delight with my family and friends. I can't imagine an Italian experience without their gourmet cooking.

1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
8 large garlic cloves, crushed or minced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cups chopped raw kale
4 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 (15 ounce) cans white beans, such as cannellini or navy, undrained
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons dried Italian herb seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chopped parsley

Use olive oil and spill some in a large pot. Saute garlic and onion then mix kale and saute until sifted off water. Add the other ingredients like 3 cups of broth, 2 cups of beans as well as tomato, herbs, salt and pepper. For 5 minutes, let it simmer. Use a blender or food processor and put the remaining beans and broth all in until smooth. Stir and then simmer for 15 minutes. When cooked, serve in a bowl with chopped parsley on top. It's a soothing appetizer for the main course or meal.

If there's an Italian love affair I would like to pursue, it's my romance with pastas. I've always been a fan and I'll never outgrow my love for it. So for our anniversary, I asked my wife to cook a pasta specialty to pamper me with her expert cooking skills. What I love about her is she cooks with delight. She uses her full senses instead of reading measuring cups and tables of what to do. I hope you'll have the same fun in cooking. Here's a recipe for our anniversary meal, Rigatoni with Marinara Sauce.

1/2 cup olive oil
2 ounces fat back, thinly sliced (optional, but adds lots of flavor)
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
6 large cloves garlic, minced
3 cans (14.5 ounces each) whole tomatoes, crushed finely with fingers, with juices
1/2 cup dry red wine, such as a merlot
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
2 teaspoons dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound rigatoni (or other tubular pasta)
Freshly grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese

Prepare a large saute pan and place it over low heat. Use olive oil and reduce heat if necessary and be careful not to overcook the fat until transparent. Adjust the heat to medium high while you mix and saute onions and peppers until soft. Saute the garlic with the other ingredients. Then, add tomatoes, wine, spices, salt, and pepper. Cook until liquid is drained for about 20 minutes. Make sure that the sauce is not too thick. Season to taste and adjust to lower heat. Cover the pan partially until ready to serve. For the pasta, follow instructions on the wrapper or package. When pasta is already firm and al dente, add the sauce and grate cheese on top. And there you have it, Rigatoni with Marinara Sauce.

Talking about opera, it is but inevitable to mention the name of Giuseppe Verdi. He is considered as one of the most influential composer in Italy, and perhaps all over the world. Over a century after his death, his famous operas still live on to entice classical music lovers in every part of the globe. Personally speaking, I first got to know Verdi through his famous compositions. I enjoy listening to opera arias, especially those sang by altos like Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Verdi's arias are some of the most commonly played classical pieces. I bet some of you have heard it already in some gathering or as a score in a movie. The ubiquitous aspect of Verdi's works only proves the how his music c is appreciated by people in all walks of life.

Most of you may remember Luciano Pavarotti singing this aria. For most tenors, this seemed to be the piece that will ultimately showcase the vocal prowess. I first heard this piece during my kindergarten Thanksgiving play. I was enchanted by its lively tempo and through the years I wondered about the title of the song. It was my father who told me all about its composer, Giuseppe Verdi, and the opera Rigoletto from which the aria came from. La donna è mobile means "woman is fickle" with the first line of the aria going "Woman is unpredictable, like a feather in the wind."

Aside from Madama Butterfly and La bohème, La traviata is one of the most performed opera. I was nine when my parents took me to a performance of this opera by Giuseppe Verdi. The extravagant production and the rich music were still vivid in my memory up to now. The plot of this opera spawned a lot of versions including Pretty Woman and Julia Roberts. I'm sure many hopeless romantics out there will appreciate this opera.

"Alfredo's coming?", my wife yelled down the kitchen. "Oh, we've got a visitor? Wait, who the hell is Alfredo?", I was surprised. "You silly fool, Alfredo's a sauce!", my wife laughed out loud. I was blushing in front of my kids, so I better give this Alfredo a try and let's see if it's worth my embarrassment. Here's a recipe Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. I hope you'll like it as much as the family did with a quick, easy meal flavored with a little garnish of my ignorance.

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
6 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 pound fettuccini pasta
1 onion, diced
1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
3 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup sour cream