Making Tracks, Part 3: to Lake Como

Train

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 I start off in Lecco, at the southern tip of Lake […]

Arancini

arancini

Enjoy Mario Matassa’s easy recipe for arancini – delicious balls of risotto – they are a great way to use up leftovers… Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 30 minutes Ingredients: • 2 free-range eggs, beaten • 50g fine breadcrumbs • 350g cooked risotto • 125g fresh mozzarella, chopped into small cubes • a few […]

Polenta fritters

Polenta fritters

A great way to use up leftover polenta, frittelle di polenta works as either an accompaniment or a main dish – Mario Matassa shows us how it’s done… Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 30 minutes Ingredients: • 2 large floury potatoes • 200g leftover polenta • 75g Taleggio cheese, chopped • 30g Parmesan, grated • […]

Italian meatballs

Polpette, Italian meatballs

Polpette – made from meat, fish or vegetables – can either be prepared from leftovers or made with fresh ingredients. Mario Matassa shares this classic dish… Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 350g leftover boiled or roast meat (chicken, turkey or beef) • 2 slices of day-old bread • a few tablespoons […]

Frittata

Frittata

This Italian omelette recipe from Mario Matassa uses asparagus, potatoes and cheese, but the beauty of the dish is that you can include pretty much any ingredients you fancy… Serves 2 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 10 minutes Ingredients: • 2 free-range eggs • a handful of cooked asparagus stalks, roughly chopped • a few cooked roast […]

Vero Italiano: leftovers

Italian food

Mario Matassa turns to the subject of leftovers. Economical, quick to cook, and packed with flavour, Italian leftover recipes are the perfect way to make the most of what you have Photos by Mario Matassa For Italians, using up leftover food is a virtue, and one that has been transformed into an artform. The Tuscans […]

Abruzzo regional property guide

Colledimezzo, Italy

Discover this enticing region with Fleur Kinson, as she explores the property potential of the Abruzzo’s diverse areas… Photos by Getty Images Introduction The central Italian region of Abruzzo is one of Italy’s least populated, and around a third of its land area is given over to nature reserves and national parks. To the west, […]

Homes in Abruzzo

Lago di Barrea, Abruzzo

Abruzzo is spacious and unspoilt, and has some of Italy’s best-value property – it’s little surprise that the market is hotting up right now By Fleur Kinson. Photos by Getty   Halfway down the eastern side of the Italian leg, Abruzzo confidently unfurls between the high Apennines and the blue Adriatic. This is a region […]

Italia! photos of the month: November 2018

Florence, Italy

It’s time for November’s gallery of spectacular photos of Italy… the perfect pics to inspire your next Italian adventure This month’s winner:  “Rose at the Duomo, Florence.” by Nick Board, Reading More of our favourites this month… “We have finally moved from Australia to live in Lucca, and after five months have accumulated many photos […]

Castello travel guide

Graffiti near San Francesco della Vigna, Venice

Adrian Mourby shares some of the best sights, accommodation and places to eat & drink in one of Venice’s least-visited districts Photos by Kate Tadman-Mourby What to see and do Querini Stampalia After the Querini family died out in 1868 their palazzo – and all its art works – was turned into a museum featuring […]