January 2004 Archives

Dating back to 500 B.C., the bronzes of Riace were discovered off the east coast of Calabria in August 1972 at a depth of only 8 meters and 300 meters from the shoreline. The complete restoration of the two bronzes lasted five years and finally on August 3, 1981 (after a first exhibition in Florence and a second in Rome), the two statues are now exhibited in the National Museum of Reggio Calabria.

In 1855, Guy de Maupassant wrote in "La Vie Errante": if somebody might pass one day only in Sicily and asked: "What should I visit?" I would answer without hesitate: Taormina.

The Villa Romana del Casale is the largest collection of late Roman mosaics in the world.

The Rallo family has been producing exceptional Marsala since 1983.

Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is the home of specialities such as Cioccolato Modicano and Mpanatigghi, unusual cakes of shortcrust pastry filled with fillet of beef cooked in the oven, minced and mixed with melted chocolate, chopped almonds, eggs and cloves.

The great collection of the Capitoline Museum is housed in two buildings, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. They face each other at the top of the Capitoline Hill, the highest of the hills of Rome.

This 37,000 square foot villa which dates from the third or fourth century has beautiful mosaic pavements covering most of the building’s galleries, peristyles, courtyards and thermal baths. The tilework, including the mosaics of the Labors of Hercules in the banquet hall and the mosaics illustrating the Roman circus in the baths, are of the Roman African school and date from the fourth century.

The temple is located 32 km east of Trapani beyond the town walls of Segesta. It is isolated on a low rise, and stands as one of the best preserved of all the Greek temples.

Vastedda is a stretched curd cheese made according to artisan methods with sheep’s milk produced in the Belice Valley.

The Azienda Agricola Spadafora is situated in the hilly area of contrada Virzì, within the Monreale district, between Palermo and Alcamo. The estate extends over 180 hectares, 100 of which are vineyards. Great attention is also placed on olive-tree and prickly pear growing, the latter covering about 3 hectares.

The streets off the piazza in front of the Basilica San Domenico will lead you into Vucciria, one of Palermo's best street markets with an oriental bazaar ambience.

Portofino (Port of Dolphins as it was called by Pliny) is an ancient fishing village, built around a natural port along the Riviera di Levante of Liguria. The harbor is surrounded by a fine group of typical Ligurian houses restored with original polychrome decoration. It is here that you'll find Villa Delfino our newest vacation home available for the 2004 season.

Rapallo Golf Club is one of the oldest courses in Italy, located in the hills of the Italian Riviera.

Pietro Uslengo is the head of L’Ordine dei Cavalieri della Confraternita del Pesto. This organization is dedicated to protecting the well-known Ligurian gastronomic tradition.

This is the place for true focaccia col formaggio di Recco in a casual atmosphere near the sea.

Since 1780 this Genovese sweetshop has been known for its chocolates.

Delicate sculptures to simple boxes are carved from alabaster by the renown artisans of Volterra.

Silks by Valentino, Dior, Givenchy, Celine, and Leonard.

Pintauro has produced "little sheets" for nearly 200 years.

In the center of Bolzano's Gries district you'll find the Muri-Gries Monastery, an impressing building complex with a Romanesque cloister and a mighty bell tower as well as old historical wine cellars.