Archive for 'Southern Italy'

The Basilica di San Nicola (or Church of St Nicholas) in Bari, is so beautiful that, once you have found a luxury villa in Puglia you might have been drawn there magnetically anyway. However, the name actually suggests another reason for you to visit this extraordinary building, especially at this time of year. That reason is that the church is dedicated to, and the final resting place of, St. Nicholas of Myra: i.e. Santa Claus. If you're holidaying in Puglia over the Christmas period, it is an absolute must to drop by and pay your respects to the man that has brought such joy to millions of children around the world – maybe don't tell the kids who is buried there, though!

This article began as a recipe. However, research made it apparent that this is a dish that only the most talented of bakers should attempt, lest the be completely bested and frustrated by the undertaking at hand. It is, of course, possible to make sfogliatelle at home but your best bet to enjoy this delicious pastry is just to find a vacation rental in Naples and pop into a bakery in the morning where you'll find the Neapolitan delight fresh, perfect and probably still warm from the oven! Sounds much more enjoyable than potentially fruitless slaving away in the kitchen, right?

Pastiera is a cake which comes from the city of Naples in Campania. It was originally made and consumed during the pagan celebrations of the return of the Spring time. The modern pastiera, however, was probably invented in a Neapolitan convent. An unnamed nun wanted to make a cake with the aroma of the flowers of the orange trees which grew in the convent’s gardens and added this ingredient into the ancient recipe. Her recipe brought together wheat, ricotta, eggs (symbol of new life and resurrection), some water which had the fragrance of the flowers, candied citron and aromatic Asian spices. The dish took off and the nuns began to make the cakes for rich families in the area.

Eventually, it entered wider production and became available from bakers and shops and now can be purchased all over the city. Find a holiday rental in Naples and you can try it while wandering the historic treats. However, if you can't wait until then, try it out first using this recipe.

One of the aspects of Italian cultural heritage which is most appreciated and celebrated is her architecture, which is varied and reflects the lengthy history and different periods of building in Italy. The small town of Alberobello in Puglia is particularly famous for its architecture, featuring limestone houses, called “trulli” with distinctive pyramidal, cone-shaped or domed roofs made of corbelled slabs of stone.

These unique buildings are seen as so important and intrinsic to the history and cultural heritage of the town that they have been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Castel dell' Ovo is a castle which stands on the tiny island of Megaride in Naples. The picturesque castle is steeped in myth and legend with stories about sirens and great Roman poets such as Virgil dotting its history. It also has far-reaching origins going back to this early period. With such a rich heritage, such a stunning location and such an immediately striking appearance, the Castel dell'Ovo is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in Naples, wandering its grounds, hearing its stories and admiring its architecture and the views its ramparts offer.