Leith Steel

For many years oriental cuisine has been popular in Europe. Japanese restaurants are the new fashion among the young; sushi has nearly replaced the dates for pizza we had “unlike the young” a few decades bef […]

Although the Santa Maria Novella Church is an excellent example of the gothic style, and boasts the oldest facade in Florence, it regretfully isn’t usually considered one of the principal attractions of the c […]

La Certosa is an impressive castle complex perched on the peak of Monte Acuto (now called Monte Santo) just outside of Galluzzo, a small town on the outskirts of Florence. A working monastery, the walled complex […]

Weather prediction has always been a problem. But many believe that popular wisdom or lore is every bit as accurate as other sources, for example:
“Rosso di sera bel tempo si spera….”
Or “Red sky at night, […]

The immense line in front of the Accademia rarely ebbs, even under the terrible summer sun or during oppressive humidity. All are quivering in anticipation waiting to see Michelangelo’s David, symbol of youthful […]

“The most beautiful Roman vestige is undoubtedly the Pantheon. This temple has suffered so little, it appears to us, as it must have appeared to ancient Romans during those times. ” Stendhal, Roman Walks.

One […]

Naples has pizza, Rome has Carbonara. Yes, you can now find Carbonara everywhere in Italy, but it was invented in Rome and it is at its best here. The now-classic combination only came to be in the years following […]

Cacio e Pepe is a Roman original which has traveled the length of the boot thanks to its ingenuous use of pantry staples. Nothing could be simpler than hot tonarelli pasta (a long noodle similar to spaghetti) […]

Rome is like an artichoke, tear back one layer, and reveal another. Over the course of the millennia, Romans mastered the art of the artichoke. Carciofi alla Romana are available in grocery stores and delis across […]

This “little” Farnese palace, perhaps would better be named Villa Chigi, in honor of the powerful and wealthy Sienese banker and art lover, Agostino Chigi, who commissioned the building and decoration of the imp […]

Molte delle città di collina toscane sono state divise in “contrade” o quartieri che gareggiano l’uno contro l’altro nei giochi cittadini annuali – nessuno più conosciuto del “Palio”, famoso in tutto il mondo. […]

Many of the Tuscan hill towns were divided into “contrade” or neighborhoods which competed against each other in annual town games – none better known than the Siena’s world famous Palio.
Siena is divided […]

Perhaps the most memorable part of the Siena’s incredible Duomo isn’t in the Duomo at all, but the grand façade just outside of it.

During the Middle Ages, Siena in constant competition with its arch riva […]

Forse la parte più indimenticabile dell’incredibile Duomo di Siena non è affatto nel Duomo ma è la grande facciata all’esterno.
Durante il Medioevo Siena era in costante antagonismo con la rivale Firenze nel vo […]

Unlike most of Italy, Siena was (and is) renowned for its sweets, counting most famously, panforte and panpepato. The typical Sienese recipe repertoire also contains two particular cookies worth seeking out. […]

Siena era (ed è) famosa per i suoi dolci tra cui i noti panforte e panpepato. Il repertorio delle ricette tipiche senesi contiene inoltre due biscotti particolari che vale la pena di cercare.
I “Ricciarelli” sono […]

“Pici” are the typical pasta from Siena, a thick round noodle with a spaghetti shape but easily triple in diameter. They are most often served “al’aglione” with garlic sauce (either “white” or “red” with ga […]

“Pici” è la pasta tipica di Siena, una pasta spessa e rotonda a forma di spaghetti ma tre volte più grande per diametro. Essi sono spesso serviti “al’aglione” con salsa di aglio (o “bianco” o “rosso” con aglio […]