Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
The Italian lakes are famous for their villas and probably none is more recognised than Lake Como's Villa del Balbianello. The villa has held its own in scenes from the Bond movie Casino Royale as well as in Star Wars, where a young Anakin Skywalker romanced Padme. I was even more impressed on my visit here because the story behind the house and its rooms are in themselves remarkable.
Built in 1787 on what used to be a monastery by the Cardinal Durini, the villa had passed from the...
On a rainy day in the Dolomites, I savoured one of the best veal cheek dishes I've ever had. Wholesome, satisfying, comfort food at its best. The cheeks were tender and tasty and the gravy, rich but subtle, complimenting the meat. So while we didn't see the iconic Passo Giau views, it was certainly worth the drive to the Berghotel Passo Giau for lunch in its restaurant.
The Hotel Passo Giau is the only facility of its kind in this landmark location. It has been lovingly run by the...
Cinque Terre has to be one of the most memorable parts of the world. The pastel buildings of the five fishing villages hugging the steep hills, encroaching into the pristine blue sea as seen in the photo of Manarola at dusk has to be one of the more iconic travel photos ever taken. This is great place for walkers and amateur photographers with the villages linked by a series of hiking paths and amazing scenery at every bend. The five fishing villages (hence Cinque Terre which means five...
We swung by Lake Garda for dinner at Ristorante Beati, a pretty romantic restaurant with nice views, while en route back to Verona from the Alto Adige. The restaurant has a nice setting, overlooking Lake Garda and serves a seafood favored menu. We chose the restaurant due in part to positive reviews but also because it wasn't all the way in town so access to the A22 expressway to Verona was quicker.
The restaurant was much swankier than we anticipated but the staff were very...
Alto Adige or Sudterrol (to the local Tyrolleans) is a piece of Austria in northern Italy complete with alpine landscapes and crisp white wines such as the Gewürztraminer. This was the second last stop in our April wine tour of Italy. Our trip had taken us from the well known Tuscan wines to the heel of Italy on Mt. Etna and refined Amarones around Verona, but this is an area with its own lingo and culture.
We drove to St. Paul's winery in the Alto Adige from Verona, around...