Archive for 'Northeast Italy'

One of the things that most commonly attracts tourists to Italy and that people most look forward to when planning their vacations is the food. Pizza, pasta, wine and coffee are probably top of your list of things to try but one shouldn't overlook Italian desserts. There are some iconic treats, in particular, that are a must and taste quite unlike their incarnations abroad.

Tiramisu is a good example of this. It is one of the most famous and beloved of all Italian desserts and the versions that you find in their homeland are far superior to those found elsewhere.

As a result of the popularity and fame of the dessert, many want to stake their claim to it across Italy. Its origins, therefore, have become uncertain. Most accounts, however, attribute the dish to a restaurant called Le Beccherie in Treviso.

Continuing with our stunning historic properties...

4. Villa Di Montelopio

Villa Di Montelopio dates from the 16th century and still retains the atmosphere, though part has been totally restored in recent years. You still find the cotto floors and the beamed ceilings but with all modern comforts now a bonus. The castellated towers, stone exterior walls, ivy clinging to the facade, high ceilings, intricate details of the decor, intense sense of character and artworks all make for an incredibly romantic and picturesque experience that one won't quickly forget. The outdoor spaces are also charming: you are welcomed into the property by the delightful stone courtyard out front, perfect for dining, pretty terraces, a groomed little garden and a paved pool area, installed among the olive groves. It is available from just €542 per night and sleeps up to nine in five bedrooms.

In our final installment in this series, we bring you two more of the most interesting, unique and bizarre architectural feats in Italy, a land well-known for its artistic prestige and innovations. While these buildings may be no less beautiful or important than others throughout the country, they may be less recognisable. If you're an architecture lover or if you merely like checking out strange attractions on your holidays, be sure to read the whole list!

If you're interested at all in contemporary architecture or design or you're just fond of seeing the most unique and unusual things that a city has to offer while on holidays, then Milan has the perfect thing for you. The Bosco Verticale, or Vertical Forest, is a highly unique building in Milan which was opened in 2014. It is composed of a pair of high-rise buildings which are made up of 27 storeys with cantilevered balconies planted with 900 trees and more than 2,000 shrubs and bushes.

In our previous article, we discussed the legend of Krampus, the scary anti-Santa that originated in Germany and mentioned that there are festivals dedicated to him each year during the festive season all over Europe. Such celebrations take place in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic and involve drunken men dressed as devils, who take over the streets for a Krampuslauf, chasing people around. However, there are also many in Italy specifically.

Krampus's frightening presence was suppressed for many years as the Catholic Church forbade the raucous celebrations and fascists in World War II Europe found Krampus thought him a deplorable creation of the Social Democrats. Nowadays, however, he is appearing in popular culture more and more often – there was even a feature-length movie about the legend released in theatres in 2015 – and Krampus festivals are also increasingly popular. In fact, it has come to the stage where these events are even being labelled as commercialised and selling out!

Around December 5th, several municipalities and towns in the Tarvisio area, namely such as Tarvisio, Fusine, Coccau, Malborghetto, Camporosso, Rutte, Cave del Predil and Pontebba all have Krampus celebrations. At dusk, a rite takes place that is an allegory of the eternal fight between good and evil. The Krampus figures wear monstrous masks with big red, white or naturally coloured horns, long red tongues and fangs and holding their walking stick and bundles of sticks and wearing big bells and chains to announce their arrival. They appear on the streets, accompanying St. Nicholas, passing through the main road of the town carrying torches and bundles of canes, and dragging a cart housing the Saint.

The figures make guttural sounds and move with aggressive attitudes and chase children, and sometimes the adults, to whip them, make them kneel down and recite prayers. In Pontebba, the Krampus are called Spitz Parkli but the rite is essentially the same as in other towns. In some towns, at the end, a bonfire is lit and the Krampus dance around it. Back in ancient times, the pagan festival did not have the figure of St. Nicholas. It was not until medieval times that he was introduced as a positive moderator.

Silly, raucous and vibrant, the festival is a fun event that takes place in the run up to Christmas. If you are curious about Krampus, just find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and indulge a creepier festive tradition this or next Christmas.

Italy is known as a world-class leader in art and design. Many movements and styles were born or mastered in Italy over the century. The Renaissance, in particular, forever changed art and architecture in the western world. However, for all of the architectural gems that exist in Italy, there are also some rather bizarre buildings. These might, equally, be beautiful but are definitely odd.

One of the strangest architectural ventures in Italy is the Rocchetta Mattei, a magnificent castle located in the northern part of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennines, in the province of Bologna. It is an exceptionally eccentric building that speaks to its former owner, a similarly strange character. The earl Cesare Mattei, who had the castle built in the 19th century, was the inventor of "electrohomeopathy," a medical practice said to cure cancer. His methods have been largely debunked but he showed his eccentricity in his personal life and tastes as well, as can be seen throughout the castle.