Irresistibly Creative Italian Idiomatic Expressions
January 21st, 2015We love the rich stories these comic and creative idiomatic expressions tell. We can only hope that the English language can evolve to emulate these charming and picturesque expressions. They begged our little cartoons. Ha le braccine corte. — He has little short arms. His arms are so short he can’t reach his wallet. He is cheap! ... Read More
Tartufo: The King of Gelato
November 19th, 2014A tartufo ice cream treat is a ‘must-try’ for chocolate or gelato lovers travelling in Italy. Legend has it that this decadent sweet was invented for a visiting King by an artisan gelato maker in Pizzo, a small town in Southern Italy. Whatever the origin, it’s a winner! ... Read More
Joy and Canocchie in Venice
July 22nd, 2014Thank you to Dale R. who stayed at the Venice Marino apartment. Dale gave us permission to share this with all of our Italy Perfect Blog followers. On our final evening in Venice my wife and I meandered from San Marco to the Rialto bridge, working up quite a seafood appetite. We stopped at nearly ... Read More
Florence Mercato Centrale: A Tour of Tastes
June 30th, 2014The newly renovated Mercato Centrale [Central Market] is the epicurean center of new and old Florence, a veritable tour of tastes. The ground floor has always offered a wide array of fruit, vegetable, meat and other specialized local vendors. The 140 year-old Mercato Centrale recently celebrated the opening of its new HUB gourmet food hall ... Read More
Italian Easter Traditions
April 3rd, 2014Traditional Dove-shaped Easter cake. There is nothing like Rome during Easter. From Palm Sunday through Easter Monday, the Eternal City is a symphony of pilgrims, tourists, Christian tradition, flowers and dove-shaped Easter cakes. On Holy Thursday night, the streets of Rome are filled with jovial energy while Roman faithful and visiting pilgrims pray in seven ... Read More
La Bella Figura — Italian Style Decoded
March 3rd, 2014Fare una bella figura (make a good impression) – an unspoken Italian cultural objective that entrances expatriates and tourists alike. In the 1920s, astute F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the idea of la bella figura: “When a girl feels that she’s perfectly groomed and dressed she can forget that part of her. That’s charm.” The Italians ... Read More