Archive for 'Food and Wine'

With the last few weeks of summer drifting away, you might be still be waiting for your annual getaway or just making the most of the long days while you dream of your next vacation. If you need inspiration for planning a trip to Italy, why not try making an Aperol Spritz to get the creative juices flowing?

The spritz originated in 1800s Venice, while it was part of the Austrian Empire, and is based on the Austrian Spritzer, a combination of equal parts of white wine and soda water. It was invented by the soldiers, merchants, diplomats and employees of the Habsburg Empire who were not used to the high alcohol content of Italian wines and asked for some water to be sprayed (“spritzen”, in German) in to make the wines lighter.

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Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, is an incredible holiday destination and is a rich and historic place, full of things to see and do. With endless restaurants, cafes, bars, stores, museums and other attractions to explore and enjoy, you will never be stuck for something to keep you occupied once you book a vacation rental in Milan.

It would be impossible to discuss all the wonderful pursuits in Milan but we have outlined a selection of some of our top picks of things to do in the city. Here are ten great things to do in Milan...

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If you have found a vacation rental in Milan and are wandering around the city, looking for somewhere to get a coffee, we suggest popping into Bar Luce, a Milanese cafè entirely designed by the beloved American film director Wes Anderson. Inspired by the classic bars of Milan in the 1950s and ’60s, it is a pastel dream that feels like stepping into one of Anderson's movies in real life. For fans of the director and for those who merely like cute cafès, it is an absolute must-see.

Cacio e Pepe is an ancient dish that has been a staple of the cuisine for a long time all over Italy though it is considered a Roman dish. If you have found a vacation rental in Rome, it is definitely one of the foods that you need to try while visiting the city.

Once, Cacio e Pepe was one of the mainstays of the diet of shepherds who had to spend months at a time herding outside. They could carry the necessary ingredients for the pasta dish, without worrying about it spoiling over time. It also meant that they were able to produce an easy and tasty meal that warmed their bodies with the spice of the pepper and provided the necessary carbohydrates and calories. As one can imagine, a dish like this survived and continues to be made centuries on.

Atrani may be just one of the many stunning towns located along the Amalfi Coast but it is certainly one of the absolute loveliest – and that's saying something! It is made up of a tangle of little roads, a cluster of buildings, steep and romantic flights of steps, pretty little gardens, all perched on a cliff face high above the glittering waters of the sea. The smallest town in the whole of the Southern Italy, it is a perfectly formed little gem that is a must-see. Take a look at our villas on the Amalfi Coast and set aside some time to wander around this truly beautiful place.