Getting robbed is a terrible experience, made even worse if you are in a foreign country. Even if you are not physically threatened the loss of money and documentation can mean huge headaches. Unfortunately theft is a common occurrence in Europe, especially in areas that draw many tourists, where […]
Massa Marittima is a town located in Tuscany, in the province of Grosseto. The history of Massa Marittima goes back to 1000 AD when the seat of the bishop was moved here in the middle ages. The town was under the rule of the Republic of Pisa until it gained […]
Wine tasting doesn’t have to be stuffy. Too many people shy away from tasting and comparing wine because they think they don’t know “how to do it”. Well, what’s to know? Take, for example, an impromptu wine tasting we had with two of our neighbors recently. They had come over […]
The European olive tree (Olea europaea) has come to symbolize, more than any plant, the essence of the Mediterranean region and its gardens. Growing from 8 -12 meters tall in the poorest, rockiest of soils and depending on ferocious Mediterranean sunshine, the olive tree has truly won the battle of […]
The Fall is knocking at our doors, and we start feeling like getting all warm and cozy, even in the kitchen: soups take the place of salads, mature cheeses that of mozzarella and we all feel like eating more… Beans, in all their varieties and associated with a plethora of […]
Montefalco is a stunning town located in the heart of Umbria and offers some interesting attraction for tourists. Its ancient walls, cobbled streets and stone buildings, along with lovely examples of medieval architecture preserved in beautiful churches, are just some of the sights to see and treasure. Just across the Spoleto valley, Montefalco provides some of […]
A bit of history of Livorno Antagonists of immigration and refugees would do well to study 17th and 18th century Italy, for its was during this period that Iberians sought shelter in Italy, and built a harbor that launched the country into the mainstream of maritime commerce. The indigenous population, […]
We have seen on movies and television where the Lord of the manor summons the butler to retreat to the wine cellar for a bottle of wine. How impressed would your family and friends be if they discovered you had your own little wine cellar? Home wine cellars are becoming […]
The painter went on to say “In fact it is something that gives me lots of satisfaction”. “Why?” asked the peasant. “Because I imagine that this painting will be displayed in some important exhibition halls and lots of people will see it”. “Oh in that case…”. In the second […]
Cheese Spoils the Taste of Wine Don’t waste your money on quality wine if you also intend to eat cheese at the same time. New research conducted at the University of California, Davis shows anyone who eats cheese first will find it nearly impossible to distinguish the subtle tastes […]