Author: LaLaItalia

A Room with a View: When Lucy Honeychurch and chaperone Charlotte Bartlett find themselves in Florence with rooms without views, fellow guests Mr Emerson and son George step in to remedy the situation. Meeting the Emersons could change Lucy’s life forever but, once back in England, how will her experiences in Tuscany affect her marriage plans?  (Florence, Tuscany)  James Ivory, Helena Bonham Carter

Casanova: Set in Venice in the 1700s, the movie tells the story of the legend, whose dalliances have inspired countless lovers through the centuries. When Giacomo Casanova discovers Francesa Bruni, he meets his perfect match, succumbing to the only woman ever to refuse his charms…until he can prove himself worthy.  (Venice, Vicenza)  Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons

Bread and Tulips: A housewife starts a new life with a new man in Venice. The scenes in Venice are very good.  (Venice)  Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Giuseppe Battiston

Ciao, Professore!: Want to try to understand the difference between the north and south of Italy? Well, in this film a teacher applies to be transferred to a nice northern Italian city, when a typo on his application changes his destination from a village in the wealthy north to the impoverished south. He is forced to teach kids in a village where schooling is given a very low priority. Despite it all, this is a very upbeat film.  (Sicily)  Paolo Villagio

Dangerous Beauty: Beautiful scenes of Venice in this historical movie about an infamous courtesan set in the 16th century. (Venice)  Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Jacqueline Bisett

Gladiator: When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.   (Rome, Tuscany)  Ridley Scott, Russel Crowe

Il Postino: The man selected to deliver letters to Pablo Neruda, exiled on an island off the coast of Italy, has his worldview changed by the poet, who returns to Chile, leaving the postman with dreams and aspirations he can’t figure out how to achieve.  (Amalfi Coast, Positano)  Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi

La Dolce Vita: A journalist and man-about-town Marcello struggles to find his place in the world, torn between the allure of Rome’s elite social scene and the stifling domesticity offered by his girlfriend, all the while searching for a way to become a serious writer.  (Rome)  Federico Fellini,  Marcelo Mastroiani, Anita Eckberg

Life is Beautiful: A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp.  (Arezzo, Tuscany)  Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Much Ado About Nothing: Set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside with magnificent scenery, this Shakespeare tale will get you in the mood for a trip to Tuscany. It’s one of the easier Shakespeare plays to understand and it’s in English.  (Tuscany)  Kenneth Brunagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington

Only You:  Woman believes that two soul-mates can be united if they find each other.  (Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Positano) Marisa Tomei

Roman Holliday:  Take a delightful romp around Rome with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in this 1953 movie set in Rome.  (Rome)  William Wyler, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn

Tea with Mussolini: Tea with Mussolini, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is a Merchant Ivory period movie set in Florence during the rise of fascism. The movie centers on a group of British and American women and a young boy living in Florence. (Florence)  Char, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith

The Italian Job: Thieves plan to pull off the heist of their lives by creating Los Angeles’ largest ever traffic jam.  (Venice)  Gary Gray, Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sutherland, Charlize Theron

The Scarlet and the Black: The true story of Vatican efforts, lead by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, to save Allied POWs and downed Allied airmen from Nazi imprisonment. Set in 1940’s Rome, the film also explores the SS effort, lead by SS-Lieutenant Colonel Kapplar, to stop him. (Vatican, Rome)  Gregory Peck, Christopher Plummer, John Gielgud

The Talented Mr. Ripley: While you might not warm up to Mr. Ripley himself, the beautiful Italian scenery is sometimes breathtaking. The movie is a thriller in English staring Matt Damon that takes place in several parts of Italy, including the Amalfi Coast.  (Amalfi Coast)  Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett

Under the Tuscan Sun: Cortona is a scenic hill town in Tuscany, Italy.  After Frances’s seemingly happy San Francisco marriage ends abruptly, she goes into a funk. Urged by her friends to move on, she joins a bus tour of Tuscany where, on the spur of the moment, she buys a crumbling villa.  (Tuscany) Diane Lane, Raoul Bova

1900: Set in Italy, the film follows the lives and interactions of two boys/men, one born a bastard of peasant stock the other born to a land owner. The drama spans from 1900 to about 1945, and focuses mainly on the rise of Fascism and the peasants’ eventual reaction by supporting Communism, and how these events shape the destinies of the two main characters.  (Italy)  Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert Deniro, Gerard Depardieu

Memorable are the splendid photographs in Tuscany, which exquisitely capture the light, colors, and textures of Italy’s most romantic and inspiring region. For three decades Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo have been drawn to Tuscany and its surrounding areas endeavoring to photograph the special light, the sculpted countryside, the heralded cities and hilltowns, and the celebrated art and architecture. Their photographic themes include timeless views of ocher landscapes where farmers arrange their haystacks like artists; castles overlooking acres of irises and vineyards; shadowy cypress trees defining the land; explosions of color in springtime; incandescent views of Florence, Siena, and Pisa; faces on sculptures; faded frescoes in silent cloisters and other details of art and architecture; humorous vignettes of the daily round; and sparkling Mediterranean seascapes. This photographic album of Tuscany is truly unlike any other. In her fascinating text, Marie-Ange Guillaume provides a verbal portrait of the scores of artists and writers, as well as infamous people, who lived or worked in Tuscany, including Michelangelo, Leonardo, Stendhal, Savonarola, the Brownings, Henry James, Modigliani, Fellini, and James Ivory. The anecdotal text, liberally flavored with quotes from the letters and diaries of these well known individuals, provides insights about Tuscany today and in centuries past.

Tuscany, with its sweeping hillsides planted with vineyards and olive trees, Mediterranean villas, and distinctive regional cuisine, is one of the most popular regions to visit in Italy. It can be difficult to choose which of the villages to visit to get the most out of the region.

Bentley highlights 37 villages and towns; both for their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history and culture. Page after page of Alex Ramsay’s magnificent color photos evoke the beauty of the land and capture the charms of the architecture, the landscape, and the people. Specially compiled listings of hotels, restaurants, and festivals complete the tribute to Tuscany and its villages.

This is a beautifully put together book.  The photography is outstanding.  You will long to visit Tuscany after reading this book.  It makes a beautiful coffee table addition.  You will find it hard to resist looking at it again and again. Here are just three of the recommended towns.

Artimino

Artimino is a small fortified hamlet in the Provence of Prato surrounded by olive trees and cypresses. The first evidence of the Village of Artimino dates to 998 with the  documented presence of the Pieve di San Leonardo, one of the best examples of Romanesque Lombardo architecture in Tuscany. The Etruscans were the first inhabitants of this site. Artimino affords splendid views of the neighboring countryside, whose vineyards produce excellent wines.

Bagni de Lucca

Bagni de Lucca, “land of princes and poets”, is the largest mountain commune in Italy with a great number of hamlets.  It is known for it’s historic spas.  It is situated in the valleys of the Rivers Serchio and Lima, surrounded by green hills covered with century-old forests of chestnut trees. Scattered in the area are many elegant mansions of the 19th century, surrounded by rich gardens populated with rare plant species, which poets and musicians used as a romantic retreat and source of inspiration.

San Gimignano

The “city of the beautiful towers” rises up from Tuscany’s Elsa Valley like a medieval dreamscape. Once an Etruscan settlement, founded in the 6th century, it became a town in the 10th century, and in its heyday boasted 72 towers.  The towers were symbols of the power and wealth of the city’s medieval families.  Today it is noted for its intact gates and palaces, as well as the 13 remaining towers built in 1150.  The town is surrounded by lush, productive land and the setting is altogether enchanting.

Chianti Wine Basics (pronounced key-ON-tee ) Everyone loves Chianti, right? But what exactly IS Chianti, and why do so many people love to order it with dinner? To begin, Chianti Classico is inside Tuscany, a region that raises the grapes that one day grow up to be part of Chianti Classico wine (Italy and France often name wines after their region). Typically, the wine is made from a large amount (90% or more) of Sangiovese, a red grape that grows very well in the Chianti Classico region, and blended with small amounts of the white and/or red grapes that also grow locally—as nondescript as Canaiolo Nero to as famous as Cabernet Sauvignon. (It is also possible for a Chianti wine to be made from 100% Sangiovese.) For years the symbol of Italian wine was the straw-covered Chianti flask. Ever since Laborel Melini came up with the bright idea of shipping wine in these flasks, Chianti has been the symbol of Tuscany, and for Italian wine throughout the world. Unfortunately, those same straw flasks, which are remembered for decorating tacky Italian restaurants with red and white checkered tablecloths, came to symbolize Italy as a producer of cheap wine—an identity that has been tough to shake until fairly recently. In the last 20—30 years, Italian wine producers have worked very hard to dispel this myth, and the effort started first and most aggressively in the Chianti district—the soul of Italian wine. Their quality wine revolution has been a great success, as the greatest wines of Italy rank among the best in the world. Indeed, some excellent wines from the Chianti region, and similar “Super Tuscans” are considered world-class. To be sure we’re on the same page, let’s go over the basics of Chianti. First, Chianti is the name of a region in the heart of Tuscany, and the red wines produced there must contain at least 80-100% Sangiovese grapes to be labeled as Chianti. There are seven distinct subzones of Chianti; the most important you need to know about are Classico and Rufina—although the other five can produce good wines, these two districts are the most popular. Historically, Chianti Classico is where it all started, and today the general consensus is that the best wine of the region is made there. Almost all producers of Chianti Classico belong to a consortium that acts as a watchdog and ensures that high quality is preserved in the wine. Wines made by these high standards are identified by a black rooster on the neck of each bottle. (Why a rooster? That’s a whole ‘nuther story…) If you are interested in the rules and details of Chianti winemaking as set forth by the consortium, click here: Chianti Classico Wine Consortium Code. For everyday drinking, your best bet is a bottle labeled simply “Chianti” that costs in the $6-10 range from a reliable producer such as Piccini, Fonterutoli, Badia Coltibuono, Castello D’ Ama, Carpineto, Fontodi, Ruffino, and Falchini. Simple Chianti is high in acidity and has a fruit flavor similar to cherries, making it a great match with everyday foods like pasta with marinara or other red sauce, chicken cutlets, salami sandwiches (a Tuscan staple), pizza, and any of many other foods. When purchasing simple Chianti, get it as young as possible—usually the vintage will be only two or three years old. When you want a Chianti with a bit more “oomph”, such as for a nice veal cutlet, grilled chicken, pasta primavera, grilled eggplant, or similar dish, go with a Chianti Classico or Chianti Rufina in the $12-25 range. Often you can get a Riserva in this price range; this means the wine has been aged in oak for at least three years (usually longer). The oak adds a nice complexity to the wine and vanilla touches to the nose and Chianti Wine Basics (pronounced key-ON-tee ) Everyone loves Chianti, right? But what exactly IS Chianti, and why do so many people love to order it with dinner? To begin, Chianti Classico is inside Tuscany, a region that raises the grapes that one day grow up to be part of Chianti Classico wine (Italy and France often name wines after their region). Typically, the wine is made from a large amount (90% or more) of Sangiovese, a red grape that grows very well in the Chianti Classico region, and blended with small amounts of the white and/or red grapes that also grow locally—as nondescript as Canaiolo Nero to as famous as Cabernet Sauvignon. (It is also possible for a Chianti wine to be made from 100% Sangiovese.) For years the symbol of Italian wine was the straw-covered Chianti flask. Ever since Laborel Melini came up with the bright idea of shipping wine in these flasks, Chianti has been the symbol of Tuscany, and for Italian wine throughout the world. Unfortunately, those same straw flasks, which are remembered for decorating tacky Italian restaurants with red and white checkered tablecloths, came to symbolize Italy as a producer of cheap wine—an identity that has been tough to shake until fairly recently. In the last 20—30 years, Italian wine producers have worked very hard to dispel this myth, and the effort started first and most aggressively in the Chianti district—the soul of Italian wine. Their quality wine revolution has been a great success, as the greatest wines of Italy rank among the best in the world. Indeed, some excellent wines from the Chianti region, and similar “Super Tuscans” are considered world-class. To be sure we’re on the same page, let’s go over the basics of Chianti. First, Chianti is the name of a region in the heart of Tuscany, and the red wines produced there must contain at least 80-100% Sangiovese grapes to be labeled as Chianti. There are seven distinct subzones of Chianti; the most important you need to know about are Classico and Rufina—although the other five can produce good wines, these two districts are the most popular. Historically, Chianti Classico is where it all started, and today the general consensus is that the best wine of the region is made there. Almost all producers of Chianti Classico belong to a consortium that acts as a watchdog and ensures that high quality is preserved in the wine. Wines made by these high standards are identified by a black rooster on the neck of each bottle. (Why a rooster? That’s a whole ‘nuther story…) If you are interested in the rules and details of Chianti winemaking as set forth by the consortium, click here: Chianti Classico Wine Consortium Code. For everyday drinking, your best bet is a bottle labeled simply “Chianti” that costs in the $6-10 range from a reliable producer such as Piccini, Fonterutoli, Badia Coltibuono, Castello D’ Ama, Carpineto, Fontodi, Ruffino, and Falchini. Simple Chianti is high in acidity and has a fruit flavor similar to cherries, making it a great match with everyday foods like pasta with marinara or other red sauce, chicken cutlets, salami sandwiches (a Tuscan staple), pizza, and any of many other foods. When purchasing simple Chianti, get it as young as possible—usually the vintage will be only two or three years old. When you want a Chianti with a bit more “oomph”, such as for a nice veal cutlet, grilled chicken, pasta primavera, grilled eggplant, or similar dish, go with a Chianti Classico or Chianti Rufina in the $12-25 range. Often you can get a Riserva in this price range; this means the wine has been aged in oak for at least three years (usually longer). The oak adds a nice complexity to the wine and vanilla touches to the nose and palate. When you have a more serious game dish (venison, pheasant, lamb), or serving aged cheeses, you can go for the gusto and get a serious Chianti Classico Riserva from $20 to a ridiculous price such as Castello D Ama “Bellavista”—a wine which can cost in excess of $1000 per case! When faced with a tough decision, settle on your price range and first look for producers you know . If you’re not familiar with too many, the list mentioned above is a reliable starting point. Following are a few pointers … stick with: 1. Chianti Classico; 2. Riserva bottlings; 3. “Single Vineyard” bottlings; 4. Strong vintages, such as 1988, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004. From a snob’s point of view, there is a lot more to Chianti than what we’ve covered here. However, Italian wine, thankfully, is a non-snob’s dream. No matter what you choose, you get a wine built for food, and you don’t really have to think about which direction the vineyard is facing nor the soil components. Just pull the cork, pour the wine, and get drinking! Did you know ? The black rooster that appears on many Chianti Classico labels, signifies the peace between Florence and Siena—two Tuscan cities that had for centuries been arch rivals. When you have a more serious game dish (venison, pheasant, lamb), or serving aged cheeses, you can go for the gusto and get a serious Chianti Classico Riserva from $20 to a ridiculous price such as Castello D Ama “Bellavista”—a wine which can cost in excess of $1000 per case! When faced with a tough decision, settle on your price range and first look for producers you know . If you’re not familiar with too many, the list mentioned above is a reliable starting point. Following are a few pointers … stick with: 1. Chianti Classico; 2. Riserva bottlings; 3. “Single Vineyard” bottlings; 4. Strong vintages, such as 1988, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004. From a snob’s point of view, there is a lot more to Chianti than what we’ve covered here. However, Italian wine, thankfully, is a non-snob’s dream. No matter what you choose, you get a wine built for food, and you don’t really have to think about which direction the vineyard is facing nor the soil components. Just pull the cork, pour the wine, and get drinking! Did you know ? The black rooster that appears on many Chianti Classico labels, signifies the peace between Florence and Siena—two Tuscan cities that had for centuries been arch rivals