About Italy – Italian Culture – The Renaissance and great Italian cuisine
Legal LawBefore the plane lands, we know this vacation is going to be something special… this is Italy, after all, the country that gave us espresso, Ferrari, Sophia Loren, Armani, biscotti and Franco Zeffirelli. These are the last moments of anticipation before the adventure begins… our long-awaited vacation in Italy.
But before we launch headlong into a wild romance with contemporary Italy, I want to take a moment to remind ourselves that Italy’s vibrant culture today has been born out of Italy’s long and illustrious history. The Italian character…adventure-loving, open-hearted, cheerful, fun-loving and sentimental all at once, has evolved from a people who, over the centuries, have ridden the roller coaster of world power and has played every role that the world stage has ever had. to offer… from conquerors to conquered. As beneficiaries of a distant rich uncle, we pause to pay our respects to a time long gone. Among Italy’s many distinctions, amid the ebb and flow of its fortunes, its political ups and downs, shines a moment in history like no other. It is this moment that we modern tourists can thank for the warmth and overflowing humanity of Italian culture and character that we will encounter on our travels.
The Renaissance
…was born in Italy, and for three hundred years, from the 13th to the 16th century, Italian artists, architects, writers, scientists, engineers, and thinkers were the vanguard that led the way out of once narrow confines of the medieval European mind. They changed the world with their ideas and their phenomenal creations. A parade of extraordinary masters like Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante and Michelangelo propelled not only Italy but also Western civilization into a new and unimaginable era of artistic, literary and scientific excellence.
Classical music
The Renaissance was a blessing for all the arts, including music. Innovation and explosive new ideas fueled the creativity of Europe’s composers and musicians, and of course many Italians populate the pantheon of classical music history… Monteverdi is credited with creating the first opera ever written and, despite modern advances (some would say regression,) of contemporary opera to the atonal range, the cornerstones of any opera company’s repertoire remain the works of Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini.
Antonio Vivaldi invented the concerto in its current form and amazed his audience with the previously undreamed-of speed and energy of his violin bow. Italian Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano. In the 17th century, the prolific instrument maker Stradivari made harps, guitars, violas, and cellos, incidentally, setting the benchmark for violin makers for over 250 years. Many of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century hailed from Italy… Enrico Caruso, Tito Gobbi, Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Giuseppe di Stefano, Mirella Freni, and Luciano Pavarotti, to name a few.
Italian cuisine
Italian food is one of the great pleasures of life anywhere in the Western world, but ask any traveler, Italian food eaten in Italy is a gastronomic high. Each region has its specialties, from the creamy Milanese risotto, the authentic Neapolitan pizza, to the famous Genoese pesto… basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and extra virgin olive oil ground into an exquisite aromatic paste to add to Pasta. You could also relax and forget about the diet while we are on vacation. There will be time for the treadmill… Local recipes from Italy and regional culinary delights await us.
It’s not just the ingredients available that are different, but ethnic Italian cooking styles vary based on geographic influences. In northwestern Italy, the Aosta Valley, Piedmont, and the western edge of Liguria border France. Consequently, French influence, such as the use of butter instead of olive oil, is common. However, if your trip includes a visit to northeastern Italy, the proximity of Austrian-Slavic influences to the Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions have led to Italian cuisine that is seasoned with caraway, vinegar, paprika and cumin. You’ll find that sausages, sauerkraut, and goulash are common on the menu here. In the grain-growing areas of northern Italy, coarse-grained arborio rice is preferred for irresistible risottos and creamy polenta dishes over pasta. In the hotter south, Mama’s Italian cuisine will feature abundant use of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
What to expect from your vacation in Italy
First time here? Italy has a huge variety to offer the tourist. This country embodies temptation in many ways, wherever you look. There is the excitement and energy of elegant Italy… the great city centers like Milan, Turin, Bologna and Rome. You’ll cruise through grand squares and historic buildings, stopping at cafes and local hangouts frequented by ultra-stylish, smart and fashion-conscious sophisticates; enjoy world-class theater and opera, elegant shopping and gourmet dining.
Float in wonder and amazement through Renaissance Italy… Rome, Florence, Venice and Ravenna… places where baroque churches and Palladian palaces, priceless art collections and historical treasures are so numerous that You can’t walk a block without finding another gallery or museum that you can’t miss.
When your mind and heart are completely overloaded with culture, there’s always the Italian countryside to soothe your senses. Rent a villa in a charming Tuscan mountain town like Siena, San Giminiano or Montepulciano. Relax, take your time to explore the beautiful vineyards and old medieval town centers of the region. Discover the variety of picturesque accommodation available in Perugia and Orvieto in Umbria. Or for a change of pace at one of the country and rustic Bed & Breakfasts that are also working farms, known as cottage, where you become more than a paying guest. They make you an honorary member of an Italian family for the duration of your stay.
Tires on tarmac… the powerful jolt of interrupted speed… the reverse thrust of the 747’s massive engines. We’ve just landed at the Malpensa in Milan.
Let the adventure of our vacation in Italy begin!