Doug snapped another quick video earlier in the week when he took a small tour group to see the Coliseum and grab some lunch. Imagine having something delicious while sitting next to one of the wonders of the ancient world?
It really is one of the neatest things about Italy–the seamless melding of the ancient with the modern world.
Recorded “A Good Woman” (featuring Scarlett Johansson, Helen Hunt, Tom Wilkinson) to watch the other day because the caption mentioned the Italian coastline as a backdrop.
A cute but not very involved or in-depth take on the Oscar Wilde play wherein Amalfi, Ravello, etc serve as the occasional backdrop for a story about the well-to-do idling away their time in Italy and having first world problems while the rest of the world was suffering. The story never really takes off and it’s hard to get attached to any of the characters. Some nice views of the beauty that is the Amalfi coast, but they’re pretty infrequent–most of the film could have been shot on a soundstage in Hollywood and it wouldn’t have made much difference. If you enjoy cinema in Italy, there are no doubt stronger choices,
Doug stopped while taking a small private group through Florence to snap this quick video of the piazza in front of the Dominican beauty that is Santa Maria Novella. One of the best parts of seeing Italy’s wonders in person: how the old is preserved but blended seamlessly with the new. There are no aluminum siding building, no tacky billboards, just people going about their daily business next to the 600 year old facade and keeping the modern and the classic in harmony without missing a beat.
All of them! But try them all to see for yourself, just in case.
When you’re in Italy, allow me to reassure you: there are myriad and plenty MUCH BETTER THINGS TO DRINK than Bud(weiser).
It’s like walking around a Ferrari dealership worrying about what the model name should be for a Vespa.
Good living: found within.
As co-chair of the Wine Media Guild I go to Felidia Restaurant often because we hold our monthly lunches and tastings there. This time however I was invited by the Wine Director of the restaurant, Giuseppe Rosati, for a tasting and lunch featuring the wines of the Carpili winery in Montalcino in Tuscany. The speaker was Giacomo Bartolommei a member of the family that owns the winery and the sales manager.
Giacomo told us a little of the history of the winery that was established in 1965 and their philosophy of making wine. The Carpili estate is located in the southwest part of the municipality of Montalcino. Because of this location and the clones that they first planted in1965, the vines show great resistance to heat and disease. They only use grapes from their own vineyards and the only treatments used are copper or sulphur based. The natural yeasts, found…
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Doug’s leading a private tour in Rome this week and he shot me some videos he took on the fly. Fall is a *lovely* time to be in Italy, and Piazza Navona was bustling today! It really is my favorite spot in Roma. Look forward to going again!
Sassi Italy Tours 