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by: Compulsiv… |
views: 7930 |
04:37
Alba in Piedmont is a very small town but it’s big in 3 areas: Art…. Food, bein…moreAlba in Piedmont is a very small town but it’s big in 3 areas: Art…. Food, being the world capital of black and white truffles and Wine, producing world reknown Barolo right here.
The Ceretto family in Alba is literally and seriously involved in all 3 area.
Established wine growers for 70 years they also own their own upscale restaurants and have enlisted major world artists to decorate their building.
This never consecrated psychedelic chapel was painted by Saul Lewitt in 1999.
Their winery is in nearby Castiglione Falletto, an old medieval town. However true to their adventurous spirit they picked Turin architect De Abate to design their modern building with a glass cube for the tasting room.
On these hils on 20 acres they produce 3 outstanding Barolos which have won the company many awards:
Bricco Rocche, Prapo and Brunate.
So for their Piazza Duomo restaurant they picked Enrico Crippa, an awarded chef who paints beautiful dishes in the kitchen and the artist Francesco Clemente who painted the walls.
Of course their Barolo is always on the table.
The Chef explains that the fresco it represents happiness, the vineyard, nature and freedom.
He also remembers that Clemente was painting with natural colors, made with flowers and natural herbs so while painting the room always filled up with insects and bees which were following the scent as if they were in an open field instead of a room in the center of town.
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by: Compulsiv… |
views: 2343 |
12:00
Zagreb is a bustling modern city with a thousand year history. The 20th century…moreZagreb is a bustling modern city with a thousand year history. The 20th century blends without effort with its great buildings and monuments from the 17th 18th and 19th century.
Samobor is where people from Zagreb come to relax. The town with its beautifully preserved medieval plan looks almost unreal. When here must try the famous aperitif called Bermet and its very special custard cake which the people of Samobor claim has no calories.
30 minutes from Zagreb is a small winery called Korak. The family has been in the wine business for centuries. The current winery has been producing superior wines for 20 years Rieslings and Sauvignons are exceptional.
Opatje is a popular Summer and Winter resort on the Adriatic. The emperor of Austria loved this place. It was the Austrian nobility favorite spot in the 19th centuries and it shows. This place is all about indulging and pampering.
Motuvun is an old medieval town on top of a hill is in the heart of Istria. Population 500 tradition lives on in Motuvun.
In Li’vade there is an outstanding restaurant called Zigante, the cathedral of the Istrian truffle . The Chef prepares a pasta with black truffles, the Summer variety. A white truffle found by Zigante is in the Guinness Book of Records. And of course the store is all about …what else?
Great food needs great olive oil. In Buje one can taste what has been a specialty of Istria for centuries: the many varieties of olive oil.
In Brtonigla is Astarea one can taste traditional recipes of Istrian grandmothers prepared to perfection by loving traditional hands
In the rich wine country of Umag, is another outstanding winery: Kabola with its awarded wines like Malvasia and Grey Pinot.
Fusion spa in the hotel Melia has experts from Thailand and India practicing a range of sophisticated massages from Thai to Ayruvedic, to Tibetan Chi Nei Tsang massage
In Umag another major winery: Coronica . The wines of Istria are shaped by the red soil rich in iron and the salty sea air. Coronica uses no fertilizers and focuses on its native grapes producing mostly Malvasia for whites and Teran red.
Rovinj is a beautiful Adriatic town with a beautiful harbor and a charming an old town which owes its goods looks to the long presence of the Venetians. With a big influx of tourists from nearby Italy and northern Europe it has great hotels and restaurants
Pula was an administrative center of Istria since Roman times and the roman arena still stands as a sign of old roman glory. And an old culinary traditions which shows in its great markets.
Valsabbion is a sophisticated boutique hotel and a much awarded restaurant with very innovative cuisine both in content and presentation.
Down toward the central region of Licka are the Plitvize lakes. Surrounded by 3 mountains feeding the lakes this world heritage site is a grand collection of amazing waterfalls and 16 lakes known for their unusual changing colors colors ranging from blue to aqua to turquoise
Then through the ancient village of Mlinize with looks to have stepped out right out of the Middle Ages.
Nearby in Kuterevo in the Licka region there is a shelter for bear cubs run by volunteers and worth a visit.
The peninsual of Primosten is one of the most photogenic places on the Adriatic. This is also a rich wine country.
Further south is Trogir a World Heritage site with great architecture and the feeling of having stepped right into the Renaissance.
Split is another World heritage site with a very old history: it has an amazing old city built inside the huge palace built by on Roman Emperors’ Diocletian.
Split is a lively city with large markets and great outdoor life
Ston was a small town built to defend nearby Dubrovnik and its 5 kilometers wall it has the longest fortiefied walls in Europe. Ston is also the center of oyster growing in Dalmatia. Freshness does not come any closer.
Korchula is another spectacular island settled since Neolithic time Its most famous citizen Marco Polo is supposed to have been born here.
The Matusko winery is right outside Dubrovnik and it produces excellent full bodied reds like Dingac and Plavac.
And then there is Dubrovnik .
This is the city of all cities a fortress town a port a living museum the jewel of the Adriatic with great beaches history and a feel of having entered a magic place.
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by: cherryfrog |
views: 7680 |
10:10
The region of Apulia at the heel of Italy has 1000 hours more sunlight a year t…moreThe region of Apulia at the heel of Italy has 1000 hours more sunlight a year than the rest of the country and its local sun drenched grapes make superb wines. On this trip you will meet some of the top winemakers of the region, taste their wines and be dazzled by Apulia’s undiscovered richness of wine, food and art . Join us on this spectacular tour.
Castel del Monte in Andria is a 13th Century castle and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Carlo de Corato, Rivera’s owner says the unique terrain around the Castle combined with the cool breezes coming down from the Balkans are the reason for outstanding wines like Falcone. You’ll also taste other top wines like Cappellacio and Rupicolo.
Mr. Cocevola oversees the working farm, and winery near Castel del Monte producing superior wines likeVandalo. Other good wines are Rosso Cocevola, Pampanuto and Il Tratto.
La Corte in Fiore, Trani. Housed in a 16th Century building, this restaurant has won many awards for its seafood specialties. You will love it.
Trani is a medieval town built on the Adriatic Sea with one of the most spectacular 13th Century Cathedrals right on the water. You’ll have special access to the cript with splendid frescoes and mosaics.
Hidden in the midst of an ancient olive grove this 500 year old Masseria where you will be staying has been a fortress, a farm and a refuge for pilgrims. Today Masseria Torre Coccaro is a 5 star resort, a sublime mixture of Apulian rusticity and world class luxury where you’ll begin to understand the magical allure of Puglia.
Alberobello is famous for its 1,500 conical trulli homes. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Enjoy strolling through the hilltop town of Martina Franca, a beautiful baroque city full of great churches and palazzos from the 17th and 18th century.
Small fishing boats deliver the fish daily to the door of L’Ancora Restaurant built on the rocks right on the sea in Monopoli. Enjoy “crudo”, the Italian equivalent of sushi or their cooked specialties.
Enjoy a free afternoon at Masseria Torre Coccaro with its own private beach on the Adriatic sea. For further pampering retreat to a cool spa built in in an underground cave.
Ostuni known as "the White Town" is an architectural jewel with a striking medieval cathedral and endless winding streets to get lost in before your first glass of wine.
At Torre Coccaro the Chef displays his remarkable skills at blending tradition with innovation using just picked seasonal foods grown locally on Coccaro’s land.
A private yacht takes guests for swims in the crystal-water coves of Monopoli.
Brindisi was a major port city during Roman times and a column still marks the end of the Appian way.
Rubino is a family owned winemaker in Brindisi growing local varieties in vinyeards near the Adriatic sea. Luigi Rubino holds his wine tasting at the restaurant Penny, a hot spot on the harbour, housed in a 12th Century building in order to highlight food pairing. Enjoy a lunch with orecchiette, a local pasta specialty with fresh tomatoes and basil that works well with the red negroamaro. Then artichoke ravioli with shrimps sauteed in garlic and slivers of parmesan and tagliolini sauteed with squid and crabmeat, both served with the white malvasia called Giancola. Giancola is a beach on the Adriatic and the sea breezes give it its unique character. Rubino revived a 2000 year old indigenous vine called Sussumaniello producing a superb red called Torre Testa to be paired with red meat and aged cheeses.
Cantine Due Palme in Cellino San Marco, is a co-operative of 1,000 growers specializing in local grape varieties like Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera and Primitivo. The Top wines Primitivo Ettamiano, Red Salice Talentino, Canonico Negroamaro, have consistently been winning awards. Taste their top wine Selvarossa with the enologyst and Winery Director Angelo Maci.
Lecce is nicknamed "The Florence of the South" Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments carved out of the local white stone.
In Lecce you’ll stay at the Hotel Risorgimento, a five star Luxury Hotel in a spectacular 18th Century Palace in the heart of town .
Have lunch at Atenze a landmark restaurant housed in a baroque palace with superb Apulian specialties.
Go out on the town. Lecce at nite is a throbbing city in a magical setting.
The original Leone de Castris was a Spanish nobleman who bought 10 thousand acres in 1665 planting olive trees and vines. The most famous is Five Roses born during World War II in discarded GI’s beer bottles when the wine became popular with U.S. top military brass. Taste the top wine of the collection: the Salice Salentino Donna Lisa.
You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the harbour from your Palazzo Papaleo, a 5 star hotel in a 17th Century palazzo next to the Cathedral.
Walk around Otranto, a bustling sea side town with remarkable monuments from the Middle Ages.
Meet the fishing boats as they unload their catch at the harbour with Chef Massimo of Vico Lopez Restaurant. You will pick the fish to eat at his restaurant that night.
After this magical tour Apulia will have carved out a place in your heart forever.
copyright Christinatours,LLC
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