L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano PAGE  22 DOT ANDERSON Slow about deciding where to go in Italy? Don't worry; you're just in time to drop in on the third national Slow Food Day in Italy, which will be celebrated on May 26, 2013. The now international Slow Food movement got its start in Italy's Piedmont Region, so logically this could be your obvious destination choice. However, more than 300 Italian branches of Slow Food, known as convivia, will host free events in piazzas all around Italy. These will include markets, tasting events and educational workshops. The informational events will be raising awareness on topics including food waste and the energy, water and other resources that are affected. Visit slowfood.it for more information on this year's special events. If you want to branch out from Piedmont, just go south into the Liguria Region, a thin arc of coastal area that curves along the Ligurian sea at the northwest top of Italy. Although the Piedmont Region is where the now famous Slow Food movement originated, Liguria has some stellar food highlights of its own. Known as the Italian Riviera dei Fiori [The Riviera of Flowers], Liguria is famous for its scenic coastline that winds for almost 200 miles. Since the 18th century visitors have sought out the natural beauty of its beaches, charming small towns studded with outdoor markets and amazing food. With France to the west and the Italian regions of EmiliaRomagna and Tuscany to the east, and the stunning Alps to the north, this is one of the country's smallest regions, yet one of its most interesting. has a protected PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status similar to that of the various Italian wine region appellations. After the basil is ground with a mortar and pestle it is mixed with pine nuts, garlic, Sardinian pecorino, Parmesan, sea salt and local olive oil. This slightly sweet oil is used in many different recipes from fried fish to sweets. Interestingly, the olive oil from La Spezia, while still grown in the Liguria Region, has a distinctly different flavor. It's worth noting, too, that a biennial event Aromatica in Liguria celebrates basil, herbs THURS DAY,   MAY  16,   2013 pretty spectacular wines, In contrast to most of the wines produced in Piedmont and Tuscany, which are robust reds, Liguria excels in the production of delicate white wines such as Vermentino, Sciacchetrà and Pigato. These wines are the perfect pairings for Liguria's predominately coastal cuisine that makes seafood a traditional and popular part of local home and restaurant fare. With pan fried and grilled fish, freshly made pastas, wood-fired oven foccaccia, baked vegetable pies and desserts, which often include local lemons, it is little A solid marble mortar with a smooth marble pestle. It is used to make traditional pesto Anyone who is into food should note that first and foremost Liguria is the home of pesto sauce. Yes, that healthy green mixture that most of us consume as a cooked sauce is traditionally prepared raw in Liguria using Genovese basil, a version of the herb that has unique aromatic properties and and aromas from the area. Flowers are also raised and are available daily in the local markets so you are constantly reminded of the special sea breezes and the herbal and floral aromas that greet you. As well as olives (you have to try fried olives) and the local olive oils, Liguria also has some wonder that Liguria has a lot to serve up on May 26, 2013 for Slow Food Day. Even earlier on May 12, the region celebrates Sagra del Pesce, a religious celebration dedicated to fishermen, who drive so much of the region's economy. On May 18, the town of Monterosso pays homage to the lemon with its Sagra del Limone. During this event you'll be treated to an array of lemon products, baked goods and more. You can also visit a lemon grove and of course, reflect on why you love lemoncello. If you make the larger city of Genoa, which is the Ligurian capital, your travel base, then you can branch out to see the region's other provinces of Imperia, Savona and La Spezia. Besides enjoying extraordinary food, including street food and market stalls, visitors can also explore UNESCO heritage sites including Portovenere, the Cinque Terre, and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Iinetto. Part of Genoa's historic center also comes under the UNESCO designation. The area's most popular tourist beacons in the summer are the resort towns of San Remo, Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Keep in mind that Genoa and Portofino are where you will find the larger hotels and resorts, whereas Cinque Terre is more B&B or small hotels. You can also source vacation apartment and home rentals throughout the area. Any one of the places you choose to stay in the Liguria is sure to offer a special ambiance and going in May will put you there ahead of the crowds that will be vying for a place in the sun. For additional trip ideas visit lifeinitaly.com, winecountry.it, trips2italy.com and liguriapocket.com. Alitalia features a number of round trip flights between LAX and Genoa's Cristoforo Colombo Airport in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. Enjoy and remember to take it slow. Not for the faint-hearted: Italian places with high emotional content SILVIA PE "Beautiful" is one of the adjectives that perfectly match Italy, but it is also one of the words that is often used incorrectly. Generally speaking, when talking about beautiful places, one must keep an open mind: there is no such thing as ultimate true beauty of a place that makes it amazing, but its power to leave you breathless; in other words the emotions it can cause in you. Anyone who knows even just a little bit about Italy, usually knows at the least the Colosseum in Rome, the Uffizi in Florence, the canals and bridges of Venice, and the Duomo of Milan. These Florence in the suitcase. ©slowhand_74 (http://statigr.am/slowhand_74) beauty, because 1) you cannot compare the many facets of Italy's beauty and 2) it is not the are the main sights highlighted by travel guides, but they should just be a starting point when dis- covering Italy. Italy has a lot of secret corners, often less famous or more difficult to reach, simply because they are off the beaten tracks. However, they are worth visiting and not just because they are so beautiful, but because they are places with that high emotional content, able to really move something within you and make you exclaim "Wow!". Little Venice - Bologna Walking down the numerous typical porticoes in Bologna gives you the impression that they are all similar or even identical to each other. Only one of them is different, it "holds a city within a city": Via Piella's portico possesses a little wooden window in its wall. Take a look through it and enjoy the surprising view of… Little Venice! Florence in a suitcase Have you ever fallen in love with a city and wished you could bring a piece of it back home with you? In Florence, this is possible. Obviously, metaphorically speaking! Go to the Rose Garden on the San Miniato hill, and at the end of it you will be able to admire Florence through Little Venice - Bologna a frame shaped like a suitcase. The bronze sculpture by Folon is even called "Partir". The Lake with the bell tower Being a famous destination for winter and ski holidays, the Val Venosta valley hosts one of the weirdest and most emotional spots of Italy that should be seen at least once in life. After having been flooded in the 1950s, all there is left of the old town of Curon Venosta is what has become the historic symbol of Val Venosta: the bell tower in the lake. Cala Goloritzè Cala Goloritzè is not one of the several beaches along Sardinian's 1840 km long coastline. A walking track of about 1 hour and 30 minutes will separate you from this chromatic spectacle of a wild and unspoiled cove - you will have to earn the experience of this emotion! The Sassi - Matera The Sassi are a perfect example of ancient settlements: the cave-like city, consists of stone Continued on page 23

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