Archive for 'Local Customs'

One of the best parts of adjusting to the Italian lifestyle on a nice, lazy, relaxing holiday in Italy, is adopting the dining practices of this famous foodie destination. From multiple courses with most meals, to dining over the course of hours and chatting late into the evening with pals, to wine with lunch – there are many elements that are not uncommon (though not necessarily daily for everyone all the time) practices and make for an ideal basis for a vacation full of rest and relaxation. Another of our favourite foodie traditions from Italy that we think everyone should adopt where possible? Going for an aperitivo before your meal, sitting out in a sunny piazza, catching up with your companions and people-watching, and enjoying a spritz and some snacks. Certainly, if you’ve been dashing about to see and do as much as you can on holiday in Florence or on vacation in Rome or in any other Italian destination, it’s the ideal way to unwind, rest your feet, and begin rehydrating before your big evening meal.

The question, then, is what spritz you should go for because, while the Aperol Spritz is the most famous option, there are other ways to go. Here are our favourite Italian tipples for a perfect aperitivo moment on vacation in Italy...

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Have you been dreaming of a trip to Italy for years and have finally decided to bite bullet and plan the holiday that you have always wanted? Have you dreamed of tasting the famously delicious food, sipping wine in the beautiful vineyards, exploring the pretty little towns and majestic cities, seeing world class works of art with your own eyes, wandering palaces and villas and gardens, visiting stunning churches, taking in incredible views, hanging out on perfect beaches, skiing in the Alps, enjoying the bountiful wonders of the amazing landscapes that make up the countryside, and much more besides? There is just so much to see and do and look forward to! Just browse our amazing vacation rentals in Italy and luxury villas in Tuscany and get planning it all today.

However, if you are planning your first trip to Italy, then you might be unsure of what to expect when you get there. You might have some questions. So, we decided to answer some important ones to help you get started.     Read More

In the last post, we noted that while great coffee is readily available all over Italy, Trieste is the coffee capital and, for coffee lovers, a must-see destination. To try the great variety of incredible types of coffee available and learn all about the rich history of the city, you simply need to find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and spend some time in her coffee shops. These establishments include the Caffè San Marco, where James Joyce penned The Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man or Caffè Tommaseo, the city's oldest surviving establishment which was opened in 1830 or the beautiful Caffè degli Specchi. However, if you are planning on visiting Trieste and ordering coffee, you'll need to take note of some very special terms and phrases. The city has its own coffee language that even Italian speakers and Italians from other parts of the country sometimes struggle with. So, if you're planning on ordering coffee in Trieste, keep these phrases at hand:     Read More

While coffee, and especially great coffee, is something that one can find readily all over Italy, some places are particularly famous for their brews or serve up slightly better cups of the black stuff than others. Among these destinations, Trieste is undoubtedly one of the best of the best and unmissable for those who want to vacation in Italy. If you're a coffee lover, find a holiday rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and get stuck into all of the rich history and delicious beverages that they have to offer in the city...

Coffee may be a daily, permanent fixture of most of our lives but until the 18th century, it was not something that Europeans were familiar with. It was originally an African and Middle Eastern drink and likely originated in either Ethiopia or Yemen and was invented around the 15th century. In the 16th century, it spread to Turkey and Iran and then to the Mediterranean in 17th century and the first coffee house opened in Venice around 1629. By the 18th century, there were plenty of coffee houses in Italy and in Trieste, in particular as Emperor Charles VI had made the city a free port, allowing them to receive beans from coffee plantations all around the world and to supply coffee houses throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire.     Read More