As if you needed any more reason to take a trip to this sun-drenched southern region, here are five excuses to pack your bags and book that plane! Photos by Puglia Holiday Rentals 1 Puglia is one of the largest wine regions in Italy but it is only in recent years that it has actually produced its […]
Two decades ago Rachael Martin arrived in Italy, exploring the country by rail and dreaming of rooms with a view. Twenty years, one Italian husband and two kids later, she still has the memories of those first voyages of discovery… Photos by Rachael Martin It’s that same scene every time I leave Milan early in […]
Rachael Martin shares the story behind this religious site, which is nestled in the hills of Tuscany’s beautiful Casentino National Park In Canto 11 of Paradiso, the third and final book of his Divine Comedy, Dante speaks of that “harsh rock between Tiber and Arno where he received from Christ the last seal, which his […]
The ciambella rustica is a simple country cake made throughout Italy. It tends to be quite dry and so is often accompanied by a glass of white wine Makes one 26-cm cake Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 45 minutes Ingredients: • 400g self-raising flour • 180g caster sugar • 160g unsalted butter at room temperature • 3 […]
Mario Matassa shares this recipe for classic stuffed pasta – these tortelli are stuffed with the traditional combination of spinach and ricotta, but you can experiment with other fillings too… Serves 4 Preparation time 30 minutes, plus resting Cooking time 10 minutes Ingredients: For the pasta • 200g plain flour • 2 free-range eggs, beaten For the […]
In Mario Matassa’s ‘brasato al Barolo‘ the meat is slow-cooked, which makes for mouth-wateringly tender meat, flavoured with this quality wine Serves 4-6 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 3 hours, 10 minutes Ingredients: • 1 onion, peeled, finely diced • 2 celery stalks, finely diced • 1 carrot, peeled, finely diced • olive oil • 1 […]
Crostini are a smaller version of bruschette – here, Mario Matassa explains how to make tomato & aubergine and bean versions of the dish Serves 6 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 10-15 minutes For the tomato & aubergine crostini Ingredients: • 1 small aubergine • 6 ripe plum tomatoes • 9 thick slices of day-old rustic bread […]
Sformatino is Italy’s simple and stress-free answer to the soufflé, and Mario Matassa’s mushroom version is a delicious crowd-pleaser Serves 6 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 35 minutes Ingredients: • 250g mixed wild mushrooms, wiped with a damp cloth, sliced • 4 free-range eggs • 250g fresh ricotta • 50g Parmesan, grated • 1 tbsp finely […]
Mario Matassa heads out into the countryside to stay on an agriturismo, and discovers why these farm-stays can provide the perfect holidays for foodie travellers… Photos by Mario Matassa There are more than 18,000 agriturismi in Italy, half of which have sprung up recently – particularly in Tuscany and Alto Adige. The idea of coupling […]
Part of Campania’s attraction lies in its great diversity, from glitzy island getaways to quaint hill towns and bustling cities, there’s something for every property hunter. Fleur Kinson takes a closer look at the region… Photos by Getty Images Introduction Campania is one of Italy’s most populous regions, with almost six million inhabitants. It is […]