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To visit in 2022: Chioggia, Courmayeur and Naples – Italian Cuisine

To visit in 2022: Chioggia, Courmayeur and Naples


These are the places to visit according to the New York Times, which we also confirm for the goodness of the food: here is the top 5 of the most typical dishes

Chioggia, Courmayeur and Naples. These are the Italian places included in the list of 52 places on the planet to visit in the year 2022 just started according to the New York Times. The fil rouge of the top parade drawn up by the authoritative American newspaper is that of sustainable tourism, that is, those places where “visitors can make a difference (…), travel destinations for a changed world”, reads one of the reasons. The difference also makes the food, which has always been among the top attractions for foreign tourists who come to our country.

Chioggia, the taste of the lagoon

“Built on an agglomeration of islands in the Venetian lagoon, with centuries-old buildings rising from the canals in all their decadent splendor, Chioggia is called the“ little Venice ”. The locals disagree: if anything, they say, it is nearby Venice that should be described as Chioggia's greatest double, and it's true, Chioggia has more ancient origins ". The culinary tradition also boasts a long history linked mostly to fishing, confirmed by the importance of the Chioggia Fish Market, and by some typical local dishes. (Ranking position: 1)

– Sarde in saor, fried sardines with white Chioggia onions cooked in white wine vinegar;

– Bigoli in sauce, long pasta with a salted anchovy sauce;

– Peoci in cassopipa, mussels cooked with onion and garlic;

– Suca risi, pumpkin soup with rice grains;

– Polenta and schie, small fried shrimps typical of the Venetian lagoon.

Courmayeur, the flavor of the mountain

"This charming town at the foot of Mont Blanc, in a historically French-speaking region of Italy, has long tried to find a balance between tourism and conservation. Decades before mass tourism became alarming, Courmayeur had begun to limit access to its two high valleys, Val Veny and Val Ferret, in the summer, reducing the number of entrances even to local taverns, known for their polenta concia. – creamy polenta with local fontina ". Not just polenta, because the territory is the secret of Aosta Valley products. Pure air, pristine water from glaciers and mountain earth give the strong flavor to meats, meats, cheeses and high altitude wines, such as Vallée d’Aoste Blanc de Morgex and de La Salle. (Ranking position: 13)

– Chnéfflene, buttons of batter cooked in boiling water and dressed with fondue, cream and speck;

– Chnolle, corn flour dumplings, to be eaten in a hot pork broth;

– Seupetta à la valpelleunèntse, the Valpelline soup with black bread, cabbage and fontina cheese;

Tartiflette, Savoy recipe with reblochon cheese, potatoes, onions and bacon;

– Bouilli à la saumure, a boiled salted meat.

Naples, the taste of the sea

"You see Naples and then die, they say, which means this Mediterranean beauty should be on everyone's wish list. But unfortunately the city faces a precarious future. Without any intervention, due to the high population density, according to a recent report, Naples would suffer 55 days of extreme heat per year by 2049 and 93 days by 2081. The good news is that some locals are rolling up their sleeves. A group of residents in the popular neighborhood of San Giovanni a Teduccio has created a community of "fair energy" to provide clean and free electricity to families living below the poverty line, with a system of 166 solar panels ". Apart from the beautiful initiatives in support of a better and sustainable city, in Naples people also "die" for food. In addition to the great classics, from pizza to sfogliatella to babà, here are some perhaps lesser-known traditional dishes, mostly pasta-based first courses (al dente). (Ranking position: 34)

– Rice sartù, flan with meat sauce and peas;

– La Genovese, ziti with white meat and onion ragù;

– Spaghetti alla Nerano, with fried zucchini and basil;

– Casatiello, savory bread pie with lard and… much more;

– Pasta and potatoes, with mixed pasta and lots of provola, very dry. Divine.

Discover Italy: the villages to visit at least once – Italian Cuisine


Castiglione di Sicilia – Sicily
Otranto – Puglia
Conca dei Marini – Campania
Arquà Petrarca – Veneto
Venzone – Friuli Venezia Giulia
Bobbio – Emilia Romagna

The meeting between the English words stay and vacation gives life to a new word, staycation, which tells the Italians' summer very well this year: yes on holidays, we all need it, but without moving too much, taking advantage of as much as possible our natural, landscape and historical heritage. Because Italy, there is no need to remember it, has a lot to give us.

The solutions are therefore just around the corner: between kilometers of coasts, mountains, countryside, cities of art, today we choose to virtually visit the small villages, perched, sometimes forgotten, little gems out of time, perfect for a trip or a slightly longer vacation.

The villages of Italy

They are more than 300, characterized by a natural and architectural heritage certified by the Fine Arts: less than 6000 people, treasures of art, history and gastronomic traditions. Loved by TV, you all know the Il Borgo dei Borghi program that every note draws up this ranking, promoted by associations (the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and Authentic Villages of Italy, just to name two of the most famous) that with great passion help in the preservation of these goods, a festival is also dedicated to the villages National festival of the most beautiful villages in Italy, to Fico Eataly World in the period of November. The theme park dedicated to agri-food and gastronomy of Bologna devote three days to discover some of the most beautiful places in Italy, less known but absolutely worth visiting.

Villages to visit by train

Thanks to an agreement between Trenitalia and the most beautiful villages in Italy, you can visit the villages by train: the goal is to enhance this great heritage and make difficult to reach places accessible. For the moment these are 25:

Here is the list of places to reach with regional Trenitalia which has activated more than 580 connections per day:

  • Valle d'AostaBard;
  • Piedmont: Mombaldone – Orta San Giulio – Vogogna;
  • Liguria: Moneglia – Finalborgo – Laigueglia – Borgio Verezzi – Campo Ligure – Vernazza;
  • Trentino A.A.: Chiusa – Egna – Vipiteno;
  • VenetoMontagnana;
  • Friuli Venezia GiuliaVenzone;
  • Emilia RomagnaBrisighella;
  • TuscanyBuonconvento;
  • MarcheGrottammare;
  • Umbria: Castiglione Del Lago – Spello – Passignano Sul Trasimeno;
  • AbruzzoTagliacozzo;
  • Campania: Vietri Sul Mare;
  • Calabria: Chianalea;
  • SicilyCefalu.

The most beautiful villages in Italy: the 2020 ranking

So from Valle d'Aosta to Abruzzo, from Sicily to Trentino, here in our gallery the villages that could become the destination of our post Covid-19 staycation: a proximity holiday, to rediscover our wonderful territory, scenographic, folkloric, spectacular and tasty. Because let's not forget that every village hides – not too much – the wonderful Italian gastronomic culture.

What to visit in Burgos, Spain – Italian Cuisine


From the evocative city cathedral to the prestigious Human Evolution museum. Going through art, design, traditional sausages and starred restaurants

It almost always happens this way: when we leave for the Spain you tend to pack a sweater or sweatshirt in less than you should. It will be because just imagining the yellow and red flag the mind flies unchecked to the Andalusian summers, seasoned with toast made from sangria, on the beach, at all hours. The disconnect between reality and meteorological expectation, however, becomes evident – and a little penalizing – when a detour is organized in that Burgos, principal city of the autonomous community of Castile and León, in the north of the country, counted among the principal ones gastronomic capitals of the Iberian Peninsula. Here the altitude, to be clear, is 856 meters above sea level and winter temperatures can even drop to minus 10.

Moral: not being caught off guard by some insidious breeze cooler than expected can help you enjoy Burgos in all its charm, made of impressive medieval buildings, of interesting museums dedicated to the most disparate subjects and, yes, also of a gastronomic offer really not bad. So we try to find accommodation close to the city center, to be able to fully immerse ourselves in the local atmosphere and reach all the main points of interest in a few minutes on foot:AC Hotel by Marriott Burgos, an elegant structure with a high rate of design and art, can do for us.

The Cathedral of Burgos (Getty).

Exploring the medieval city

After a hearty breakfast buffet, and after some inevitable ritual photos of the fascinating interior architecture of the hotel (see is believing), we set off towards theArch of Santa María, evocative Renaissance-style door with the appearance of a small castle, adorned with representations of Count Diego Rodríguez Porcelos, Emperor Charles I and the national hero of the Spanish Middle Ages, El Cid: crossing it we will start towards the main historical attraction of the city, the cathedral of Burgos, an imposing building in Gothic style inserted in 1984 among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Resisting the temptation of a souvenir selfie could be difficult. And then let us take it peacefully, before letting ourselves be amazed by the heights, the precious works of art and the rich baggage of stories and legends which is kept inside the cathedral. Choosing a guided tour, even in Italian, can really help you understand the complexity and charm of this sacred building, which for beauty and elegance almost seems to wink at the most famous churches in and around Paris.

La Morcilla de Burgos (Getty).

Discovering typical cuisine

We count on an abundant hour to visit everything properly, and then let's take a little break in the green city of Paseo del Espolón, charming tree-lined avenue set between the bridges of San Pablo and Santa María, on the banks of the river Arlanzón. After a moment of relaxation, it's time to fully dive into the local gastronomic wonders: we decide to do it at the restaurant tables Casa Ojeda, a real authority in local cuisine.

Let's browse the menu and focus on the great traditional dishes. Starting from Morcilla de Burgos, the typical sausage of the city, prepared with rice and pork blood: a piquant specialty, served for the occasion with a side of baked peppers. We then continue with the main course, the icon of the restaurant, the Cordero Lechal, a tasty roast lamb prepared directly in a wood-fired oven. And we conclude everything with the sweet of the house, the Tarta de Hojaldre, aka a pastry filled with abundant cream.

The Museum of Human Evolution (Getty).

Between history, science and archeology

After a well-deserved coffee we return to the street, cross the Arlanzón river and head towards the Museum of Human Evolution, absolutely among the most important and internationally recognized museums of the entire autonomous community of Castile and León. Here we can leave for an itinerary to discover the famous ones archaeological finds of the surrounding area, the Sierra de Atapuerca. Original fossils with an inestimable scientific value, such as the remains of Homo antecessor or the skull number 5, for friends more simply Miguelón, belonging to a specimen of Homo heidelbergensis.

Let's go back to the center of Burgos and head to Plaza Mayor. This pretty square with colorful buildings will surely require some souvenir photos and, who knows, maybe even a quick shopping session. But the hands run fast, and so – to break our afternoon sweetly – let's sit down by Juarreño, right on the edge of the square. In this pastry shop we will be able not only to sit and enjoy a good coffee, but also to find a really unique confection of sweets: these are the Bifaces de Altapuerca, a collection of chocolates filled with the characteristic shape of stone that recalls that of the sculpted tools used in the Paleolithic. The best way to gently end our afternoon immersion between history and science.

The time to go back to the hotel and get ready for the evening is almost here, but contemporary art lovers may want to give themselves a quick stop before Centro de Arte Caja de Burgos, museum inaugurated in 2003 that collects a collection of over 600 works by contemporary Spanish and international artists. One last pleasant stop to discover another side of the city's varied cultural offer.

Wagyu Beef Tail Stew with Bed Whey and Sweet Potato Mash – Cobo Vintage, Burgos.

A starry dinner

A shower – more or less – fast at our AC Hotel by Marriott Burgos, and then off to a tasteful evening. A reserved table in the restaurant awaits us Cobo Vintage, where it will be possible to live a very pleasant experience among Nordic style furnishings and small pampering for the palate. In the kitchen we find Miguel Cobo, that after having participated in the Bocuse D’Or 2013, and after arriving among the finalists of the first Spanish edition of the culinary talent show Top Chef, has earned its Michelin star with this sign with a modern, friendly and playful spirit.

So let us be won over by the paper proposals, and we opt for a tasting menu which tries to be as respectful as possible for our portfolio (with prices ranging from 55 to 70 euros, wines not included). Let's start with a typical ham croquette, and continue with a Ajo Blanco, a cold Andalusian soup with almonds and garlic, completed by the chef with a shrimp carpaccio and a fresh tomato tartare. And then we range from creamy rice with chicken de corral, a free-range poultry from the area, allo wagyu beef tail stew with bed serum and mashed sweet potatoes, to arrive at a voluptuous spoon dessert made with lemon cream and white chocolate mousse. A toast with the excellent red wines of Ribera del Duero, or alternatively with a good glass of Rioja, will allow us to conclude our 24 hours in Burgos to perfection. At the top the glasses, then, and cheers.

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