How to Attract Italian Butterflies into Italian Gardens One of the most spectacular sights in Italian gardens has to be the European swallowtail butterfly flitting, effortlessly over lavender, buddleja, valerian or any other nectar-providing flower. This large and beautiful butterfly is a master of the air and glides from flower […]
Mineral Waters Italy is among the leading producers, exporters and consumers of mineral water in the world with over 250 brands of Italian mineral water on the international market. Italy produces about 12% of the world’s mineral water, however they consume far more than their fair share – over twice […]
You may have seen it at the supermarket, packed in individual slices next to the other pre-packaged baloney products. Sadly this is what most Americans think of when they hear the word mortadella. However real Italian mortadella, the pride of the city of Bologna is more than just fatty […]
Standing at 1738m above sea level, Monte Amiata is passed by to many people racing along the old Cassia road between Rome and Siena, and the Aurelia passing Grosseto near the coast. Try to find a day to explore this unspoilt treasure. Mount Amiata is under the province of Siena […]
Don’t you think it’s very sad when you hear a particular breed of animal or a species of plant has almost run into extinction, and even more terrible, when there’s no chance of revival? One particular breed of pig, the Cinta (meaning belt) Senese (of Siena) had almost been lost […]
See also: Southern Italy Regional Food Northern Italy Regional Food Regional food: Introduction Much of what the rest of the world considers Italian food hails from the central regions of Italy. Velvety smooth olive oils, world-famous cheeses, savory cured meats and rich tomato sauces grace the tables of the […]
In almost every authentic Tuscan garden one can find an ancient Mulberry (or ‘Gelso‘ or ‘Moro’) tree, with a large canopy and very thick, gnarled trunk. This curious tree can grow for eighty to a hundred years or more and in Tuscany the mulberry’s large canopy is always pruned drastically […]
When going to Italy during the summer, some ‘seasonal’ terms can turn out to be quite useful for those who want to plunge into Italian culture, as well as into the deep blue Italian sea. By doing so, you’ll be able to get familiar with local culture through language, and […]
Italian wild plants and herbs Nothing evokes the coming of Spring more than the scent of wild flowers and plants. About a year ago, I happened to drive to my grandparents’ village for the first time during Spring in decades. Here, in the lovely, mellow rolling hills of the Alessandria province, […]
How to Use Iris Flowers in Italy Members of the Iris family (Iridaceae) have sprung from almost every country- and every corner of this world can boast at having its own variety. But surely for most it must be Italy that springs to mind as the month of April arrives, […]
