Archive for 'Southern Italy'

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 It was originally made and consumed during the pagan celebrations of the return of the Spring time.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.

Crotone is a very young province in a very young country. While Italy was established in the nineteenth century, Crotone province was only founded in 1992 when part of the territory which had been included in the province of Catanzaro was separated as a new province. Catanzaro borders to the south-west, Cosenza to the north-west and to the east is the Ionian Sea. The capital of Crotone is the city of Crotone which is perched over the sea with stunning views, a rich heritage and a dramatically beautiful skyline dotted by castles. With such beautiful surrounds, a huge range of things to see and do and a slow pace of life, it's the place to go for a relaxing, fun holiday by the sea. Find a vacation rental in Calabria and visit Crotone for yourself!

The story of Pompeii is somewhat familiar to most. It was one of two flourishing Roman towns (the other being Herculaneum) at the foot of the volcano, Vesuvius, when it erupted in 79AD. The towns were covered in ash and lava and buried under the earth until they were properly excavated from the 18th century onwards. From that moment onwards, Pompeii, in particular, became the object of international fascination as it saw the preservation of life thousands of years ago. Not only was the architecture, art and lifestyle of the time frozen but an instant in time remained paused for later generations to view and learn from. Unique and captivating, the two sites continue to draw millions each year.