http://www.sitebits.com/italy/ Italy en Copyright &copy; 1999-2009 Gromco, Inc. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:32:56 EST Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:20:00 EST info@sitebits.com info@sitebits.com A host of Italian politicians and businessmen became on Saturday the first passengers of the newly launched high-speed Milan-Bologna line dubbed Frecciarossa (red arrow). The inaugural crowd (which consisted, as would be expected, almost entirely of middle-aged men in suits) talked cheerfully to journalists and didn't even try to contain their excitement. "The country's longest subway line" was just one hyperbole coined during that amicable chatter. <br><br> One can easily understand the reasons for their enthusiasm. After 99 months of work and almost 7 billion euros of investments, the high-speed Milan-Bologna line is operational and they are probably going to be its most loyal customers. The new line promises to radically improve travel times between Italy's industrial centers.. Gromco http://www.sitebits.com/2008/milan-to-bologna-in-one-hour-high-speed-9688716.html Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:20:00 EST Don't know about you, but I've always thought Italy was a bit of a scam as far as food is concerned, in a roundabout sort of way. You go there, you eat, you get exited - ecstatic even, you scribble the names of your new favorite dishes on any and every scrap of paper, you bring the scraps home, you go to your local Italian restaurant, order and then.. you realize it's really not the same. At all. <br/><br/> While I can't offer a real solution to this, I might be able to point you to somebody who can, at least when it comes to pasta dishes and Cucina bolognese in general. This is not one person but rather a group of individuals who run a small tourist-friendly cooking school called "La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese" (Bologna's Old School)... Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2008/vecchia_scuola_bolognese.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EDT <b>La Giostra</b> is a fine restaurant in Florence where the flavors (and quantities) of yesterday coexist in peaceful harmony with the culinary and trends of tomorrow. <br/><br/> Just for its atmosphere, somehow combining old-school cordiality with a good-hearted laidback attitude, eating at <b>La Giostra</b> would be a worthwhile experience. The restaurant's history also makes it unusual, as does the fact that it is run by members of the Hapsburgs - a royal Austrian family. And then there's food.. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/ristorante-la-giostra.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT Perhaps because it's more out of the way, smaller, and slightly less spectacular than the <b>Mercato Centrale</b>, the <b>Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio</b> is frequented mostly by genuine Florentines and their wannabe compatriots. <br/><br/> However, since it's only a 15-20 minute walk from the <b>Duomo</b>, it can't really be considered off-the-beaten track, and certainly such a convenient yet relatively uncrowded market deserves a gastronomic visit... Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2008/mercato-di-sant-ambrogio-08.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EDT The Trattoria da Rocco, inside the Mercato Sant' Ambrogio is one of the rare places in Florence where you will still hear more Italian than English at mealtime. Everyone eats lunch here, from the occasional bewildered tourist to businessmen to construction workers. It's open for lunch, from about 11 to whenever they run out of food. <br><br> The market itself is wonderful and deserves a review of its own, so suffice it to say that the trattoria is the same size as the regular stalls in the market but it's the one that looks more like a greenhouse. Don't be concerned if you can't find the door, there isn't any. Simply open one of the windows/walls and slide into a booth and prepare for a cheap, simple, and simply good meal... Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2008/trattoria-da-rocco-08.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:50:00 EST This particular beauty was spotted at a grocery shop (La Standa, via Pietrapiana, 42, near Piazza Cesare Beccaria). And there's more good stuff in that neighborhood (read on)... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2008/testa-di-maiale-etc.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:15:00 EST The flavours for this venture are those of Florence, Italy – that famous Tuscan cooking! If you can go armed with some knowledge or at least a culinary guidebook, you'll be able to spot some of the most savoury and intriguing ingredients, which will aid you in your menu choices later on. Andrea http://www.sitebits.com/2007/gastronomy-through-the-back-door-markets-florence.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:15:00 EST Cinque Terre is situated in the Ligurian coast and without exaggeration, it's one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Italy. What's more, people are nice, the food is good and the scenery is fantastic... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2007/cinque-terre.html Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:10:00 EST Attitudes to public drinking in Italy seem to be more lax than in most other places I've been to. Slavito http://www.sitebits.com/2007/drinking-champagne-trevi-fountain.html Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:25:00 EDT Italy is known for its coffee. Here's how to order it properly. Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/how_to_order_drink_coffee_in_italy.html Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="Roman Forum as seen from the Coliseum" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="77" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/roman-forum-seen-from-the-coliseum_small.jpg"> My fiancée and I were in Rome because I had to get a visa at the Canadian Embassy. While in town, we managed to avoid most tourist traps, staying at a reasonably priced hotel and working a couple of delicious meals into our busy schedule - all while remaining consistently vague about our nationalities... And of course, doing as the Romans do... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/when_in_rome_do_as_the_romans_do.html Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:30:00 EDT <img ALT="Rome Zoo: Monkey Pit" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="77" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/rome-zoo-monkey-pit_small.jpg"> When (or if) you ever get sick of all those remnants of the Roman Empire and that over-rated Michelangelo and you really want to forget where you are, check yourself into the Zoo in Rome. It's also one place in Rome where you probably won't run into your neighbors from Nebraska, your roommate from the hostel, or anyone other than Roman grandpas with little kids in tow. <br><br> The entire Zoo is in a gentle state of decay, and the reptile room was vaguely "under construction" when we visited (that is to say, Not Open). A few peacocks wandering around adds to the general mêlée, and the surrealistic atmosphere is sad but pretty... Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/monkeying_around_in_rome.html Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:30:00 EDT <img ALT="Monteriggioni Doorway" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="80" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/monteriggioni-doorway_small.jpg"> Monteriggioni is a thirteenth century fortified town on a hilltop in Tuscany. It was founded to defend the city of Siena against invaders from neighboring <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/italy/florence/">Florence</a>, hence the high walls interspersed with towers and only two entry gates. Ree http://www.sitebits.com/2006/postcard_from_monteriggioni.html Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:50:00 EDT <img ALT="Palio di Siena (2004): The Race" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="88" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/siena-palio-2004_small.jpg"> If you want to understand Siena and its people, you should attend the Palio at least once in your life. The Palio of Siena is a basically a twice yearly horse race during which the usual nightlife trinity of sex, drugs, and rock and roll is replaced by wine, drugs for the horses, and medieval songs... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/siena-palio-medieval-tradition.html Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="River View" WIDTH="117" HEIGHT="156" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/imgsmallphoto/firenze-river-view_small.jpg"> On your tour of Italy you may have reserved a day or two to see Florence. The names are probably already echoing in your mind: Piazza delle Signorie, Palazzo Pitti, Giardini di Bobboli, Galleria degli Ufizzi, Il Duomo, Davide, Dante... <br><br> But even if you've been running around Italy trying to see and do everything, I advise you to take it slow once in <a href="http://www.sitebits.com/italy/florence/">Florence</a>. Relax and enjoy the city at the heart of Tuscany... Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/slow_lane_in_florence.html Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="Bergamo" class="rightill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/bergamo_teaser.jpg"> Expect the unexpected. This is our mantra when we travel abroad. Lost luggage, misplaced reservations, poor directions, delays at the airport-all are possible, but so are unanticipated pleasures. <br><br> It was just an overnight trip, a convenient stop en route to Malpensa Airport in Milano. We had booked one night in the Hotel Excelsior San Marco in Bergamo, but this quick stop turned out to be one of the highlights of our vacation. P.A.Moed http://www.sitebits.com/2006/bergamo-city-of-surpirses.html Thu, 11 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT <img ALT="Siena Via" class="leftill" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2006/siena-via.jpg"> Take a walk around Siena and you will be amazed at every grocery store's insistence on displaying prosciutto (jambon), wheels of cheese, and many other buon di dio (as the senese say), meaning "everything good there is". Naturally, you'll get all euphoric and hungry. <br><br> The next logical stop for you will be a restaurant. Unless you're accompanied by someone who knows the town a little, however, I'd be very careful about where to go. Of course, since you're in Siena, surrounded by Medieval Tuscan ambiance, everything will taste good, and nothing particularly bad will happen to you if you choose to eat any-old-where, but wouldn't you rather avoid the possibility of ending up unsatisfied, torpid, and irritated with a uselessly inflated check to boot? Wouldn't you rather have a good experience, leaving the restaurant well-fed and invigorated? (I hope this is a hypothetical question for you.) Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2006/where-not-to-eat-in-siena.html Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EDT <div class="oldimagediv"> <img alt="Siena: Plaza" src="http://www.sitebits.com/images/2005/siena-plaza.jpg"> </div> Whoever likes good wine and good food should go to Siena, a little town in the heart of Tuscany. It has something magical that you don't fully realize until you've left the town. Everybody who has been there once will return sooner or later because of the medieval spell that follows you as you roam through the narrow streets lined by red brick walls, giving you a sense of safety and carefree-ness that you might have lost. Alban http://www.sitebits.com/2005/siena.html Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST