Archive for the ‘Italy’ Category

By: Elizabeth Varian

I have loved and lived for Italian food for all of my life. So when I went to Italy the biggest excitement for me was EATING! Little did I know that having authentic Italian food would ruin me for the American-Italian food I grew up eating!!

While in Italy I ate a lot of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and tomato. It was so filled with flavor. The healthiest meal I’ve ever eaten and I didn’t miss the extra breads or need any extra sides. A definite must have, in my humble opinion.

Pizza in Italy is nothing like the pizza here in the USA. We smother our extra-thick bread with lots of sauce and cheese. In Italy, there was less sauce and more fresh vegetables. Their pizza was very tasty with flavor and less grease.

I can’t talk about the food in Italy without mentioning the coffee. I am a real American. And by this I mean, I am a Starbucks, Mocha Latte with extra syrup and whipped topping coffee drinker. So my first day in Italy I only felt certain to order a cappuccino. My driver, Leonardo, laughed with a comment that it was typical for Americans to order cappuccinos. Well, I didn’t want to be typical. I felt challenged by that the next morning at the hotel to order a café. O-M-G, what a great experience! I thought the espresso here in the USA was good. Doesn’t compare at all.

So upon my return to the USA, I tried to mimic my new found love for prosciutto, mozzarella, basil & tomato. I had no problem with the vegetables. The prosciutto was bland beyond measure and I couldn’t find fresh mozzarella. I have to go to a gourmet shop that imports from the Lazio region to get the prosciutto with the flavor I grew fond of in Itay.

I found a place on Palm Beach Island that makes authentic Italian pizza with prosciutto, arugula and mozzarella. It takes me back to Italy every time I order from there.

The coffee, on the other, is a different story. The water here is apparently different. Even having the coffee imported from Italy doesn’t taste the same. The Starbucks is just not the same anymore. I miss my morning café as I have my new breakfast with Nutella on toast.

Italy has ruined me for the American version of Italy cuisine.  It’s one more reason I need to return to Italy.

Situated on a hill of olive groves and cypress trees, Assisi stretches out along the slopes of Mount Subasio. Every part of this Umbrian town is full of beauty from its stone houses to the piazzas and streets. Spending the day here is like going back in time. Just walking the paths of Assisi and taking in the sights and its remarkable views makes a visit well worth it. Most of the town streets are narrow and short which offers perfect shade for wandering in the hot summer months.

An obvious attraction is the St. Francis Basilica. The huge size of this magnificent complex can be seen from a distance as you approach Assisi. Both the lower and upper churches were consecrated by Pope Innocent IV in 1253.

As you approach the main entrance from the piazza below you will see a series of low arcades to the sides of the slope and the immense structure of the Basilica directly ahead of you, dominated by a square bell tower decorated with mullioned windows and large arches. The entrance way into the lower church is one of the most beautiful in the world with its double portal surrounded by rose windows and a portico.

Inside there is a staircase that leads down into the crypt where the sacred remains of St. Francis are kept in a stone urn. The lower and upper churches are connected by a small courtyard where you can stock up on souvenirs.

The St. Clare Basilica is much smaller than St. Francis but still worth a visit as the original wooden crucifix that allegedly spoke to St. Francis and told him to fix the church is found here along with the tomb of St. Clare.

The Temple of Minevra is one of the best preserved monuments of the classical world. Dedicated to Minevra because of a female statue found in the ruins of this Roman Temple but unlikely to actually be that of the Roman Goddess. Next to the Temple you will find the Palace of the People and facing it, the Palace of the Deputies. The Tower of the People is also here.

The Castle of Rocca Maggiore dominates the entire skyline and the town below with its towers and imposing ramparts. The ancient fortress of Assisi, once connected to Rocca Minore, has been restored over the years and its impressive and elegant rooms can now be visited by tourists. It is also often used as a location for art exhibitions.

Whether you decide to visit the numerous churches, the medieval castles or just take in the atmosphere of this stunning town, you will have a feast for your eyes in Assisi.