Voted one of the world's best Travel Podcasts!

I am excited to post that How to Tour Italy was voted one of the best travel podcasts in the world. Check it out here. Download it here and decide for yourself.

Thank you Donald Strachan for your kind words. And thank you Telegraph UK for printing it.

I'm am most grateful and humble.

Cooking Vacations, Limoncello, and a great view

During the How to Tour Italy Project I have been lucky to enjoy the greatest of Italy.  The best part is everything I have done I've told you about during my show or on a video.  Some of my favorite moments have been the food and cooking segments.  In this segment I enjoy one of the greatest views in Positano at Cooking Vacations...from their deck!  I got to make and drink the best Limoncello I've ever had, and I finally figured out that those huge yellow things aren't lemons at all.

Their are so many great things about Positano, but the food is at the top of the list for me.  That puts the view in second and the view is amazing so you can only imagine how good the food is.   Be sure to take a cooking class at Cooking Vacations to dig in to the culture and cuisine of Positano.

Don't take my word for it.  Watch the videos (link to second video) and listen to the interview on the How to Tour Italy radio show.

Stuffed Zucchini Flowers...oh my!

A real Italian treat.  These delightful pockets of Heaven are made differently in each region, but I prefer those from Rome (Lazio).  They are stuffed with Mozzarella cheese and anchovies, then given and egg bath and rolled in flour.  Follow this up with a quick fry and a light dusting of salt and you have one of the best treats you can find in Italy.

Check out my video on how to make Fiori di Zucchi Fritti and you'll be enjoying them at home in no time.

Fagioli Uccelletto - A Tuscan Treat and easy to make

When you come to Tuscany be sure to eat lots of beans and focus on Fagioli Uccelletto.  This delicious dish has beans, tomatoes, and sage with a touch of garlic.  

Here is how to make it:

1.  Add oil to a frying pan, put whole cloves of garlic in the oil (be sure they have been crushed with your hand to break them open) and turn on the flame.  Add your Sage too...4-5 leaves whole.

2.  Cook until the garlic begins to sizzle and pop.  When it is sufficiently browned take it out of the oil.

3.  Drop your beans in now.  Use two cans (serves 4) of Cannellini beans.  I drain the oil out of one of the cans.

4.  Cook for 5-7 minutes.

5.  Add 1/2 of a can of tomato paste.  Let cook for a minute, then stir it with a wooden spoon.

6.  Purists stop here, but I like to add one can of whole peeled tomatoes for good measure.  It tastes good and delivers lots of sauce for dunking.  The key here is to pour the tomatoes from the can to a bowl and pop all of them open by hand, then add it to the pan.

7.  Let it cook on medium heat and reduce for about 20 minutes.  Stir it, and turn the heat down after 10 minutes to low.

8.  Enjoy with a loaf of Tuscan Bread.  

This dish is even better on day two so make plenty so you have leftovers.

La Piazzetta - The best Florentine Steak in Florence!

This is one of my favorite spots in Florence at Via di Ripoli 43/R.  It is not in the center and you'll have to take a bus or a cab to get here.  Don't worry, after dinner, they'll call you a cab to get you back to your hotel.  This place is filled with locals.  You will very likely be the only tourist there and that is fantastic.

1.  The Florentine Steak here is so good it hurts.  I don't care what you've heard, or read this is the best place to get the coveted Florentine steak.  They do it right every time and this is the best in town.

2.  The grilled and skewered meat is fantastic.  They skewer it, cook it on the grill perfectly, and hang it from a stand at your table so you can dig in like a true carnivore.

3.  Do you like seafood?  If so, then this place still rocks.  They have a wonderful, for lack of a better term, Paella loaded with seafood and big enough to feed the entire table.

4.  Still hungry?  The pizza here is outrageously good with so many options any pizza lover can find exactly what they're looking for.  They make Vera Pizza here.

5.  Room for more still?  The pasta is very nice.  Go with one of the meat pastas to take advantage of their incredible meat selection.

6.  The house wine is a bottle and not a carafe of wine, but don't worry...it's cheap and very good.

7.  The dolci is fantastic.  A huge list to choose from.  I love the first one on the dolci page.

8.  Still have room?  The Grappa list is impressive.

9.  Digestivo!  End with a nice Cynar a little espresso and roll into your cab.

10.  Price tag - Not bad at all.  Very affordable or can get a little pricey if you go with a large meat selection.  

VERY GOOD!  Excellent in fact!  Check out their website.  The menu is posted.  

I forgot one thing.  They have a great outdoor seating area that will make you smile and the night even more fun.

Good Eats in Florence II

These are in no particular order

1.  Birreria Centrale at Piazza Cimatori 1/R - This unbelievably good spot is just down the street from Dante's house and is in the medieval district of Florence.  It is small so get there early or late.  In the nicer months they double in capacity due to the fantastic outdoor seating.  Beware of the annoying flower and junk peddlers though.  For a great meal in Florence you really can't miss here.  The chairs inside are old church pews.  The crostini are fantastic, the pasta misti is a great primi piatti and allows you to try 4 different pastas and sauces.  It comes on a little hot plate.  The real treat here is the Florentine Steak...OMG.  It is at the top of the charts for me where Florentine Steak is concerned.  The staff is wonderful.

2.  Cart with no name near Birreria Centrale at Piazza Cimatori - A great little place to grab a bite.  It is lined up with locals during the lunch hour.  They serve all kinds of panini, but specialize in Florentine Tripe sandwiches.  The price is right too.  Refill your water, pop, grab a panini, and off you go.  Nowhere to sit though.  You have to stand or find a seat elsewhere.

3.  Golden View Open Bar at Via de Bardi 54 - 64/R - The view here is spectacular and caters to Americans.  They have live jazz every night, the staff speaks better English than I do, and the view...oh my, the view.  If you call ahead and make a reservation you can get a table at the window.  I recommend reservations here because it fills up quickly.  This is a trendy little spot with huge, luxurious bathrooms that is filled to the rim with American travelers.  The food was excellent, but in my opinion, has lost a few notches.  My antipasti was excellent, my pasta was ok, my second course wasn't good at all.  I've eaten here a few times to make sure I'm not catching them on a bad night.  I don't want to overanalyze it, but it should make your list, but no this isn't the best food.  The place itself is amazing.  It overlooks the Arno, Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi.  The wine list is huge and well put together.

4.  Gusto Leo at Via Proconsolo 8-10/R - This place is next door to the Rum e Pere cafe and caters to tourists.  I have to admit...it isn't too bad.  Come for the bruschetta, stay for the pizza, and move on.  My favorite bruschetta is the one with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Simple, but good.

5.  Naima at Via dell'anguillara 54/R - A GREAT stop for lots of reasons.  During the day it is quiet with great prices, great espresso, and cold bottled water.  Take a break from the heat and catch up on email with their free WiFi.  The staff here is great.  Some of the nicest in Florence.  Matteo is the best bartenders you'll find in Florence.  He's happy to whip up all number of frozen, tropical drinks and makes the best Mojito I've ever had.  The lunch here is good too.  Naima has one of the best happy hour buffet you'll find here in Florence.  At night it gets pretty busy with college students, and it is always fun to hang out here.

6.  Grana Market just up the street from Birreria Centrale - Go here, grab some wine, some olives, some salami, and a little cheese and sit at the well in the Piazza by Dante's house.  

Great eats - Florence

These are listed in no particular order. 

1.  Le Colonnine at Via de' Benci 6/R - a good spot for lunch very near Santa Croce.  This is a well-priced spot with good pizza and crostini.  Indoor and outdoor seating.

2.  Rubaconte at Via Ghibellina 178/R - Not too far from the Bargello this place has great A/C for a little retreat from the Italy heat and some good pizza and pasta.  Their Fagioli Uccelletto is very good.  They are used to serving large groups from walking tours so they move pretty quickly if you're pressed for time.  The Olio Piccante is very good here.

3.  Bar Rum e Pere at Via Proconsolo 2/R - directly next door to the Bargello.  Make this your cafe.  It is very well priced for being so close to a great museum.  It is really a little local joint tucked in to the center of Florence.  You pay less the Euro 1,00 for a good espresso.  The beer is cold, the wine isn't bad either.  Stick to the bar here.  The food is below average since it isn't make on premise, but bought and stacked into the cooler.  They have a bathroom if you're in a jam; buy an espresso at least though.  

4.  Grom at Via di Campanile and the corner of Via Oche a very short walk from the Duomo - This is the third best gelato in Florence and I included it in my Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini walking tour (download it from iTunes and print it off for walking directions too).  I like the granita here and the pistacchio.

5.  Trattoria Alfredo at Via dei Leoni 14/R - A very short walk to the Uffizi, Piazza Signoria, the Bargello, and my favorite gelato in Florence Alfredo isn't too bad at all.  The crostini are good, the chef's pasta of the day is always a good bet, and the service is good.  They have good fruit salad here as well.  

Lemon Ice aka Granita in Positano

The best things in life aren't usually free, but they don't have to be expensive.  A favorite treat of mine throughout Italy is the granita.  I love lemon granita.  There isn't a better place to get lemon granita than the Amalfi Coast.  In Positano, every day, I would go to the little lemon granita cart just up the walkway and stairs from the beach, near the cab stand, the cool art store, and the bus stop that takes you to the top of Positano.  You can't miss it.  It is set up on your right as you walk up the hill.  Directly across from it is an art store that has the coolest picture of the beach from the 80's I've ever seen ( it's of a girl with an amazing tan line :) ).  The lemon Ice is only Euro 1,50 and tastes so good once it hits your lips that you'll keep coming back for more.  So much so that you may even spoil your dinner.  Don't be concerned that the portion is too small...it isn't.  In fact it is just right.  Enjoy it and go back as often as you can.

Positano Dining

One of the wonders of the Amalfi Coast is the food, sometimes above its amazing beauty.  There is a lot more to enjoy than limoncello in one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy.  

1.  La Tagliata - Simply one of the best restaurants in the whole of Italy.  This is a family run place that delivers 100% of the time.  There is no menu, they use the vegetables from their garden, Mom cooks, Dad grills, the Sons cook and serve too.  Start to finish amazing.  For only Euro 35,00 per person you get 8 different antipasti delivered to your table, then a huge family sized plate of the pastas of the day.  After that they'll bring over a platter of grilled meats that would make any carnivore cry.  The limoncello is home-made, the dolci is too.  I had a cake made with Ricotta cheese and pear that brought me to my knees.  I can say that if God came to Italy to eat he would go to Positano and dine at La Tagliata.  I interview the family during the How to Tour Italy show.  One more thing...they have a pick-up and drop-off service.  Just have your hotel call or email them (link is their name) and they'll come get you and drop you off for free.

2.  Da Vincenzo - This great little spot is open for lunch and dinner and is about half-way up the hill in Positano.  You can walk or take the bus...it's easy.  Watch my video on getting around in Positano.  This place has been in the family since Nonna had it as a grocery store.  He started cooking for friends and one thing led to another.  Now his grandson, also named Vincenzo, is the namesake for this great place and his Mom and Dad are the owners.  When we did the interview for the How to Tour Italy Project with Vincenzo we got a tour through the kitchen as the chefs prepared the menu and dishes for the day.  They chopped fresh tuna, made fresh pasta, and Mom and Dad cleaned and peeled beans.  The espresso was delicious which came as a perfect ending to a molten-lava, homemade chocolate cake that made me look forward to the hike down the mountain to shag a few pounds.  A must stop in Positano.

3.  Grottino Azzure - One of my favorite little local spots in Positano.  It is near the top near Via Chiesa Nuova next door the Bar International.  Every local knows where it is.  You can take the bus up to it too.  (watch my video).  I had a fantastic bruschetta and a nice arrabiatta sauce.  When it took a little too long they brought over a little pizza.  It was cheap and it was great.  This is a real local spot so be ready for the local fare, the local pace, and a great bill.

4.  Bar International - A great stop for a great espresso, a little snack, some chips, cheap beer, wine and water.  This is a local cafe and one worth the tiny bit of effort to get to in Positano.  It is near Via Chieso Nuova directly across the street from a bus stop.  Any local can tell which stop to hop off at for a little Bar International espresso.

5.  Valle dei Mulini - On the mid to lower side of the hill in Positano near some great clothes shops this little gem has a great garden that you sit in to enjoy lunch or dinner.  I have to admit that the server was a bit of a pain, but the food made up for it.  The pizza was great, but the real claim to fame here was my antipasti.  It was simply grilled vegetables in oil with a touch of salt, but the bufala Mozzarella was grilled and drizzled with a little honey...OMG!  Amazing and worth the price of admission for sure.

6.  If you want or need some additional tips on where to go or what to eat email me at ajc@howtotouritaly and I can dig around for more insider tips from my friends that live in Positano to help you make your trip fantastic.

Ranking in the top 5 on iTunes!

I am very excited and happy to report that I am ranking in the top 5 on iTunes in the Places and Travel category right behind that other guy Rick Steves.  I am also happy to report that I'm ranked #30 in the Society and Culture category.  I'm using David as my picture to capitalize on the symbolism.  The little guy taking on the big guy and winning, staring down my competition.  You know...all those things.

Thank you to everyone who subscribed to my podcasts to help me rank so well.

Here is a link to subscribe to the How to Tour Italy podcasts.

Lot's more great stuff to come over the next few months during the How to Tour Italy Project.

Have a great day and remember to Feed your Soul everyday.

Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini Walking tour in Florence

In Situ: Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini Walking Tour of Florence

The Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini Walking Tour of Florence features the best of the best for gelato, chocolate, and Panini in Bella Firenze. 

If you aren’t’ coming to Italy anytime soon I suggest heading over to your favorite ice cream shop at home and listening as you enjoy a little ice cream.   If you are coming to Florence get ready for one of the best and tastiest walking tours of your life.

I recommend this tour for two people to share the goodness along the way.  We’ll be hitting 3 gelaterias, 3 chocolaterias, and 2 panini places.  I won’t tell you what to order, but I’ll let you know my favorites.

I’ll stress getting one small cup or cone of gelato and sharing.  At the first 2 chocolaterias get a piece or two and sharing.  Both Panini places get one panino and share, and finally at the last chocolateria, well, no holds barred…dive in, go nuts, order a bunch, take it back to your hotel, it is amazing.

1.     Starting at the Duomo our first stop is going to be the gelateria Grom.  Start the tour looking at the duomo on the campanile side with your back right up against the posts on Via Campanile.  The Campanile will be right in front of you and the baptistery just to your left.

2.     Turn around and walk one block up Via Campanile to the T intersection of Via Campanile and Via Dell’Oche.  Grom will be on your left at the corner.  It has a blue sign and there will likely be a line of locals and tourists waiting to order that goes around the corner.  Try any flavor you like.  At Grom I prefer their granita, but that is only in season during the summer.  If you are there any other time try their pistachio…it is heavenly.

3.     Take note of something.  Artisan gelato is places in little bins and isn’t overflowing into the glass case with fruit jammed into it.  The artisans are masters at creating gelato and keep it at exactly the right temperature to be enjoyed.  Like most food in Italy it is about the taste, not the appearance.  In the US food is marketed like the monster bowls of pasta you get at many Italian restaurants.  In Italy food is tasted and enjoyed.

4.     Now with you back to Grom and standing on Via Dell’Oche you are going to go right to Via dei Calzaiuoli.  At Via Calzaiuoli you’ll go left.

5.     Pass all those other people that didn’t take the time to listen to the How to Tour Italy Gelato, Chocolate, and Panini walking tour eating their sub-par gelato.  There are lots of gelateria on Via dei Calzaiuoli that will be filled with people.  Notice the overflowing tubs of mountainous gelato.  Smile, nod your head, snap a picture, and walk right by.

6.     OrsanMichelle will come up on your right.  As you walk by you’ll see a little door with a ticket window.  This is where you can buy same day tickets for the Uffizi and Academia I told you about last week.  The ticket window is right between Saint John the Baptist and Doubting Thomas.

7.     Look to your left.  You’ll see Via dei Cimatori.  3 doors down on the left side of Cimatori is one of Florence’s best Panini shops named I Fratellini.  You walk up, order your Panini and wine, and eat in the street.  There are no seats and you can place your wine on the little racks they provide against the wall in front of the shop.  Try anything here.  It’s all delicious.

8.     Head back towards Orsanmichelle and go left back onto Via Calzaiuoli and walk into Piazza Signoria.  Stop, take it in, even if you’ve seen it a hundred times the view from here is fantastic.  You will talk diagonally toward David and the corner of Palazzo Vecchio.  Check out my videos on the Loggio, and my other In Situ walking tours for lots of great information on all the great things you see in Piazza Signoria.

9.     At the corner where Palazzo Vacchio, The Loggia, and The Uffizi are you are going to go left onto Via di Ninna.  That puts the side of Palazzo Vecchio on your immediate left.

10. As you walk you’ll see a café and tabaccheria with a white sign on your left and a little non-descript Loggia on your left.  On the corner, on the loggia side you see a little fountain that is a face with a man sticking out his tongue with the water dripping from his tongue.  Walk straight between the café and Fountain now your are on Via dei Neri.  It twists and turns a bit, but the next Gelateria and chocolate shop are on Via dei Neri.  Stay the course and before you know it at Via dei Neri 22 on your left is my favorite Gelateria in Florence Gelaterian dei Neri.  Here I love the Fiori dei Latte and Chocolate Messicana (hot peppers, pistachio, and chocolate).  They have around 6 cups sizes to choose from.  Remember go small so you can enjoy the entire tour.  Share.

11. Directly across the street from Gelateria Neri is a little chocolatieria.  Pop in and buy a little something nice.  Lots to choose from here.  Go small…save room.

12. When you walk out of the chocolateria with Gelateria Neri in front of you you’ll go left back the way you came.  At the corner where you see the crazy little fountain you can cross the street and sit on the funky little bench in the small piazza.  This is actually the exit for the Uffizi.  You can sit and enjoy the goods from Neri and the chocolate shop.

13. OK.  With the bench you sat on to enjoy the best gelato in Florence you’ll go left and walk up Via dei Leone.  The loggia and crazy fountain will be on your right, then you’ll cross over Via dei Neri and the little café will be on your right.  Walk a couple blocks.  In the distance you’ll see a building on your right with some cool white statues above the doors.  Cross over to the right side of the street if you haven’t already.  You will soon see a bunch of Vespas parked, and the Bargello.  Walk right past the Bargello which will be on your right.  By the way the street name changed from Leone to Proconsolo.  Welcome to Italy.  That is why it’s tough to drive here.

14. Just after the Bargello you’ll pass café Rum and Pere (pear) and right next door Gusto Leo the restaurant.  Keep walking and just up the street from there is a little magazine/newspaper stand La Nazione.  That corner, the corner with the stand La Nazione is Via Borgo Degli Albizi.  Go right.

15. Walk up Via Borgo Degli Albizi until you come to a small piazza.  You’ll see the Lion’s Fountain Irish Pub on your left.  Just after that will be small archway.  Turn left into the archway and ½ way down on your right you’ll see in big red letters the word Vino.  That is the Panini shop named Antico Noe.  You’ve come the next Panini stop.  They offer 25 types of Panini, fresh made as you order.  I love number 14.   You can sit on the small tables out front in the shade from the archway.  This is a good stop to catch your breath. 

16. After you eat your Panini from Noe with Noe at your back go left back to the piazza.  Go left and just on your right about 20 feet is Vestri.  My second favorite gelateria in Florence.  Here I love the melon and white peach gelato.  They also make handmade chocolates.  Try the orange dipped in chocolate.  Crazy good. 

17. Sit on the little bench in front of Vestri.  After you enjoy the chocolate and gelato you’ll get up and go right.  You’ll pass a little flower stand in the piazza immediately on your left.  Stay straight and cross the street onto Via Pietrapiana.

18. As you look down up Via Pietrapiana you’ll see a pharmacy / farmacia.  Walk to the right of it.  After the pharmacy the street changes to Via dei Martiri del Popolo.  Stay on Martiri del Popolo until the streets ends at a T intersection.  There will be a little park on your right.  You’ll take a right at the park and T intersection onto Borgo Allegri.

19. Go up one block and on your left across the street you’ll see a store named Pepe Rosa.  It is pink.  You go left at this corner onto via dell Agnolo.  We are almost at the last stop.  Go up on block to Via Macci and take a right.

20. Look up the street about ½ down the block on your left.  You will see La Bottega del Cioccolato owned by the chef and dolci master Andrea Bianchini.  Slide the door open and let the wonderful aroma seep into your nose.  He’ll greet you warmly and describe his wonderful creations to you.  Pick one or two or three, he’ll wrap them up, and head to your hotel or favorite spot in Florence and enjoy.

21. Oh to get back to the city center from the Santa Croce area where you are now simply go left out of La Bottega del Cioccolato to Via Ghibellina which is the very next street.  Go right and keep walking until you get to the Bargello on Via del Proconsolo in the city center.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.  Best to walk it off a bit after you’ve enjoyed all the tastiest treats in Florence.  The best part of this tour is you can do it again and again or do a segment per day until you get through it.  I say dive in and do the whole thing in one walk.  Lots of great photo opps along the way and this tour will help you get your bearings in Florence too.

Don’t forget to look me up if you're here.  Shoot me an email at ajc@howtotouritaly.com, and remember…Feed your soul.

The ultimate Italian Experience is at the Market

If you love to travel, if you love to dive in to a culture,  and you love Italy there is no better place to get the real deal experience than the market.  They have everything you could ever want from chairs to tomatoes.    

The real experience is diving in even if you don't speak Italian.  Buy your lunch.  Grab a shirt.  Eat a white peach.  Smell why Italian food is so great...it's because of the fresh daily market.

In Rome go to Campo dei Fiori.  In Florence go to Mercato Sant'Ambrogio (locals).  There is another one in Florence called Mercato San Lorenzo, but it's filled with tourists and worse prices.  That noted the San Lorenzo market has lots of leather vendors so you can barter one against the other to get a great jacket or belt.  Feel free to haggle.  Don't ever pay sticker for anything at the market.  

A word to the wise.  If you are at a market and want to buy some fruit or vegetables you will hear the vendor yell out "one euro" to get your attention.  If you see something you like or want don't point at it right away because they'll often say that what you picked isn't one Euro, but Euro 1,50 or 2,00.  So point at something you don't really want at first, then go for what you want.  

Be sure to visit the market with your camera ready.  Sample the goods before you buy.  And don't buy the first things you see.  Peruse the market, then buy.

Those aren't lemons, but they're great to eat!

Those aren’t lemons, but they are amazing!  The delicious Bread Lemon.

Those huge football sized lemons you see on the Amalfi Coast dressing up windows aren’t actually lemons.  They are fantastic to eat though.  The locals call them Limone di Pane which means bread lemon.

They smell like grapefruit, but are about the same weight as a regular sized lemon.  The fruit inside is protected by a an enormous pith that gives the fruit its size and its name.

The locals cut it in half and then slice it into smaller, bite sized slices about the size of a lemon you get for a cocktail at a bar.  Then they sprinkle a little sugar on it for an after dinner treat that is fantastic.  The only thing they don’t eat is the skin…it’s too bitter.

Check out the How to Tour Italy Podcast with Cooking Vacations or the Video with Cooking vacations to learn more.

Real Deal Limoncello

Real Deal Limoncello! 

This recipe comes courtesy of Cooking Vacations and Lauren who was given this recipe from her friend Antoni0.

Limoncello is an authentic elixir that is suitable as an aperitif, a digestivo, or as an evening drink with friends.  The ingredients for Limonello are simple and few, and making a batch does not require much work.

If you are trying this recipe and aren’t living in Positano than I suggest, as a first step, washing the lemons you buy from the store in vegetable and fruit wash thoroughly.  You want to remove all of the waxy coating on it so that it looks good on the shelf at the store.  That is the major difference between food in Italy and the U.S.  In Italy food is judged by how it tastes, not how it looks.  You’ll rarely, if ever, find any produce with wax or a shining agent on it.

5 organic lemons (thoroughly washed)

2 cups of everclear

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of water

Take a large glass jar with a sealable lid.  Wash the lemons and pat them dry.  Remove the zest with a potato peeler.  Take only the skin leaving the pith (the white stuff between the skin and the fruit of the lemon).

Fill the jar with the everclear and drop in the skin of the 5 lemons you have peeled.  Seal the jar and store in a cool, dry place.  Every day pick up the jar and swirl it around.  After 6 days (it can go as long as 14, but no longer) you combine it as follows:

Bring the water to a boil and add the sugar.  Melt it to a simple sugar.  Let it cool to room temperature.  Pour into the glass jar with the lemons and everclear.  Swirl around.  Then strain into a bottle. 

Store it in the freezer and enjoy ice cold.

Thank you Lauren and Cooking Vacations.  

Check out the video on www.howtotouritaly.com on how we made Limoncello from the Cooking Vacations balcony overlooking Positano…amazing.

You’ll also learn a thing or two about those huge “lemons” you see in the Amalfi Coast.

In Rome? Love Wine? Go to Vino Roma!

If you love Wine, like wine, want to learn more about wine, have fun with wine, or try something super cool in Rome go to Vino Roma for a wonderful time.  You'll enjoy wines with Hande from throughout Italy and learn a lot about wine in a fun way.  You have to check it out. 

Listen to my upcoming radio segment with Hande at Vino Roma this Thursday.  

www.vinoroma.com

Great stuff.  I'm a white wine guy and finally know why :)

If you're only in Rome for a day this should make the list.  Vino Roma offers cruise packages too...very cool.

They are right over Ponte Cavour next to some great cafes.

How the How to Tour Italy Project will work

How the How to Tour Italy Project will work

The best, most hidden, tastiest, most fun, most interesting, and most beautiful of Italy will be delivered during the How to Tour Italy Project.

Let’s say I’m in Rome doing an episode on the Pantheon.  I’ll do the Radio show live from in front of, in, and around the Pantheon talking about all the things that make the Pantheon great like the fact that all of the columns came from a mine in Egypt.  Each of the columns were cut to fit in Egypt and sent by barge to Rome and placed where they are today.  It takes over 6 people holding hands to circle each column.  I may also talk about how the great Renaissance artist Raphael is buried there and that his unfinished painting Transfiguration was shown at his memorial, and that...you get the idea.

As I’m doing the radio show I’ll  record a video so you can hear and see all the great stuff about the Pantheon.  As I’m doing the radio show and recording the video I’ll be doing a Twittcast for all the Twitterers (is that a word) out there.  How will I do the Twittcast while doing the radio show and shooting the video you wonder?  It’s top secret or I may have someone in Italy helping me.

Once the episode is done I’ll post it on www.howtotouritaly.com and add some pictures since they’re worth a thousand words plus drop a post on the How to Tour Italy Blog about the Pantheon, update my Facebook Fan Page and status, and finally turn the radio show and video into a podcast and add it to iTunes...all on the Pantheon.

You’ll be able to follow along with each post on www.howtotouritaly.com in order as it’s all happening, or select the region of Italy you want to learn more about and go from there.  You can also select by artist, masterpiece, or topic.  Keep in mind you can tell me where to go and what to do on Twitter, via email, on Facebook, or on my blog.

Here are some of the topics I’ll be covering to give you an idea of what to expect:

Professor Langdon’s adventure from Angels & Demons in order as I share each sight he encounters with a twist, Caravaggio’s paintings at San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, Why espresso is so much better in Naples, The beautiful sunflowers of Tuscany, Grappa from its home town, the coolest bridge in Italy (it’s not what you may think), Paduan Hens, white asparagus of Bassano, black bread, beer, and speck in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italian fondue in Aosta, the riches of the Loggia in Florence, Find Italy’s best food region (I have my opinions, but I’ll let the food do the talking), do a radio show from the Roman Amphitheater in Fiesole using the natural acoustics, and much more.

I already have some excellent guests lined up.  I’ll be doing a wine tasting with Vino Roma in Rome, walking tours with Eden walks, showcasing one of the best B&B’s in Florence, and...well, you get the idea.

The best, most hidden, tastiest, most fun, most interesting, and most beautiful of Italy will be delivered during the How to Tour Italy Project.

Siena, Siena, and more Siena next week on the show

Next week's radio show will cover all things Siena.  We'll start with the best sights.  Discuss the history of the founding of Siena and how the city is tied to Rome.  Then, we'll cover, what is in my opinion, the best lunch spot in Tuscany.  If God came to Siena he would eat here.  The Palio and where to see it.  How to really enjoy the Palio like a local.  Where to study Italian and get the most out of the classroom.  It'll be a great show.  Please tune-in on Thursday from 11:00 - 12:00 in the afternoon on Talkzone.com.  If you miss it grab it as a podcast on iTunes.

Grappa, Eating Smart, and more Grappa

We had a great show on the How to Tour Italy Radio Show yesterday.  A full-blown Italian Liquor tasting from Campari to Grappa.  I have to admit I was a little saucy when it was over.  I also had two great guests:  Joan Peterson of the Eat Smart Guides and Chef Travis Rodriguez of Timpano Steakhouse.  Chef Travis brought into the studio two handmade Carpaccios that were delicious.  Joan let us in on how to to Eat Smart while traveling the world including Sicily, her guided foody tours, and her important role as Director of the Travel Publishers Association.

Next week we'll be talking to Cartolina Tours, diving into the wonders that are hidden at Santa Croce in Florence, and finally...Florentine Steaks.

Please listen live or download a recorded episode at www.talkzone.com > travel > how to tour italy.

Thursday, February 19th's Radio Show

February 19th's show will has a great line-up.  We have two great guests:  Kathy McCabe of the Dream of Italy website, blog, and newsletter.  We also have Mindy Kaplan of Lou Malnati's Pizza restaurants.

I'll also be talking about dining well during your visit to Bell'Italia.  I know, how do you not eat well in Italy?  You'd be surprised.  With a couple of tips you can turn a good meal into a great meal.

Please listen to the show next Thursday.  You can listen live from 11:00 AM - 12:00 by going to Talkzone.com > Travel > How to Tour Italy > Listen Live.  If you miss it you can download the show from iTunes...just follow this link.

Unabellavista is taking it to the airwaves!

Unabellavista is proud to announce that Anthony Capozzoli of Unabellavista will be hosting his own radio show titled, How to Tour Italy. The show airs live on Thursdays from 11:00 - 12:00 in the afternoon starting January 22nd on http://www.talkzone.com/. You can listen live by visiting http://www.talkzone.com/ and clicking on LISTEN on the How to tour Italy page. If you miss it you can listen to the broadcast from talkzone.com anyway...every episode will be recorded. All you have to do is click on the episodes and listen. If you prefer you can download episodes from the Unabellavista podcast page on iTunes and the other podcast sites where you find Unabellavista.

We already have some great guests booked like Paul Bennett of Context Travel, Caron McConnon the Vice-President of Business Development for Venere.com, and the wonderful author A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome Angela Nickerson.

The show will focus on all the things that make Italy great like art, history, food, wine, tours, culture, and of course travel.

Please listen, call in, and tell your friends and family that love italy.