Quite often, during my guided tours in Mantua, I describe the Italian Renaissance as a real "Game of Thrones": powerful families, ruling different lands, quite often fighting each other. The Houses Stark, Targaryen, Lannister, Baratheon, Tyrell and so on, are not so different from the Gonzaga, Este, Sforza, Medici, Borgia and many of the other Renaissance dynasties.
The months without an R in their name (from May to August) are the best to enjoy a good gelato: when the days get longer and the climate turns hotter, the "Gelato Season" is officially on. First of all, let’s make things clear: although the word "Gelato" is quite often used as the Italian translation for "Ice Cream", the two are not the same thing.
On the hills of the northern province of Mantua, at a stone's throw from Lake Garda, there is a little village named Cavriana (literally "Goat-ville"). And, as in Italy every place has its own traditional recipe, also this little village has its own special cake, named after the local patron Saint: the "Torta di San Biagio" (Cake of Saint Blaise). [...]
Every tourist visiting Italy loves to experiment the Italian lifestyle at its fullest. And a not-to-be missed experience is, for sure, the “Aperitivo”: an enjoyable couple of hours (usually around 7pm) when the Italians relax over drinks and little snacks before their dinner. [...]
The two most famous Italian Christmas desserts are 'Panettone' (from Milan) and 'Pandoro' (from Verona). But, of course, every single Italian city, town – and even village! – has its own traditional festive specialities. [...]
