Podcasts about Ponte Vecchio

IN CROCIERA SU MARTE | TRE PAPERELLE IN VIAGGIOMamma papera aveva due figlie e con loro amava fare viaggi in posti lontani. Le due paperelle avevano pochi amici, ma andavano spesso in giro.Giocavano nell'aia facendo finta di essere un gruppo e persino il giorno del loro compleanno, la grossa torta se la mangiarono tutta da sole.La mamma per regalo decise di portarle in crociera su Marte. Organizzò il viaggio con una navicella spaziale per turisti, si procurò i biglietti per una festa marziana intergalattica, e partenza prima possibile — in men che non si dica, prima che potessero dire "qua qua".Mentre tutte e tre erano nel cortile pronte per il viaggio, videro uno strano oggetto che volava a bassa quota sopra la fattoria. Posandosi a terra, da uno sportello si affacciò una piccola figura quadrata che disse:"Scusi, è lei in possesso di tre biglietti per Marte e tre per la festa intergalattica?"Le paperelle si guardarono stupite. Non avevano mai visto una creatura quadrata — testa quadrata, occhi quadrati, persino il sorriso sembrava quadrato."Sì, siamo noi!" rispose mamma papera."Qua! Qua! Qua!" fecero le paperelle in coro, saltellando dall'emozione."Prego, salite a bordo," disse il marziano con un piccolo inchino squadrato. "Il viaggio per Marte sta per cominciare."E in un balzo salirono sulla navicella, tanto erano curiose ed entusiaste per quella nuova avventura. Lo strano mezzo di trasporto partì veloce come una folata di vento.Nello spazio era l'ora di punta. L'astronave si ritrovò in coda e il marziano-pilota suonò il clacson: "Blip, blip!"Si affacciò al finestrino e borbottò: "Sempre più difficile viaggiare! Ma guarda, c'è pure un pianetino giocherellone che si è messo a girare su se stesso, neanche fosse una giostra! Oh che bel divertimento — vai più in là, fammi passare e continua a giocare!"Causa ingorgo cosmico, l'astronave atterrò su Marte con un leggero ritardo sulla tabella di marcia."Che meraviglia!" esclamarono le paperelle nel vedere una nave tutta di vetro pronta per la crociera, dove furono invitate a salire a bordo.C'era un gran movimento di piccoli marziani quadrati."Buongiorno, signora papera, si accomodi!" dicevano facendo un inchino, mentre le paperelle — qua, qua, qua — chiacchieravano e saltellavano contente.In sottofondo, chitarre quadrate suonavano un Rock interplanetario.Le tre viaggiatrici, con la faccina appiccicata ai vetri, osservavano stupite il colore rosso del pianeta.La nave partì lentamente sulla sabbia, ma a un tratto i motori cominciarono a rombare e su, verso la cima di una montagna, e poi giù sulle rocce rosse — sembrava di stare su un ottovolante, su e giù, su e giù. Poi di nuovo si posava e lentamente attraversava vallate immense."Che strano spettacolo! Che strano mezzo di trasporto che viaggia sulle rocce e sulla sabbia!" commentavano le turiste.Passarono le ore tra meraviglie e scoperte. Il tempo volò.Arrivò la sera. Sulla nave marziana, mamma papera e le paperelle si presentarono tutte in ghingheri, con fiocchi e fiocchetti, alla festa di compleanno intergalattica.I camerieri danzavano, davano il braccio alle turiste e servivano al suono di una musica Rock. Piccoli marziani si avvicinarono alle paperelle e, facendo loro un sacco di complimenti, saltellando e ballando, giocarono con loro.La festa era iniziata."Qui è tutto quadrato — i bicchieri, le bottiglie!" parlottavano fra di loro le papere.I dolcetti erano salati, i salati erano dolci, la torta era... bah, bah, ma che mondo è questo qua!I palloncini con la scritta "Buon Compleanno" erano — provate a indovinare — quadrati.La serata era al termine e fuochi d'artificio brillarono nel cielo per festeggiare i turisti... ed erano quadrati anche quelli."Ma che bravi e gentili questi marziani!" disse mamma papera, e continuò: "Su Marte ci siamo arrivate, visto lo abbiamo visto, divertite ci siamo divertite. Ora pensiamo a ritornare sulla Terra."A un tratto, la voce del comandante della nave avvisò i passeggeri dell'imminente arrivo di una navicella spaziale per il ritorno.Le tre papere non aspettavano altro. Salutarono e, attraverso un ponte di collegamento, entrarono direttamente nella navicella. E giù, verso il loro pianeta.Osservando la partenza dei turisti dalle vetrate della nave, i marziani in abito da camerieri lanciarono nello spazio decine di palloncini colorati.Nell'universo, sotto un cielo stellato, i satelliti girovagavano intorno alla navicella spaziale. Venere risplendeva in lontananza e la Luna, sempre più vicina, sorrideva con la sua faccia piena.Arrivate sulla Terra, scesero sull'aia tutte e tre felici.Palloncini quadrati con la scritta "Buon Compleanno" volavano in aria.Che sorpresa! Questa è certamente opera dei marziani.E raccontando in giro della loro avventura galattica, le due paperelle si fecero tanti amici. Tutti volevano sapere del loro viaggio su Marte.Il nostro pianeta sarà tondo, sarà grande, sarà piccolo, sarà bello, e sarà sempre casa nostra.— Scritta da Lucia & Marco Ciappelli Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Gangland Wire, Gary Jenkins sits down with author Craig McGuire to discuss his gripping book, Empire City Under Siege, a deep dive into three decades of FBI manhunts, mob wars, and organized-crime investigations in New York City. Craig explains how the project grew out of his collaboration with retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson, whose career spanned the most violent and chaotic years of New York's Mafia history. From Nelson's early days as a radio dispatcher in 1969 to his transition into undercover and frontline investigative work, the book captures the gritty reality of law enforcement during the 1970s and 1980s. We explore how Nelson's career mirrored the evolution of organized crime and law-enforcement tactics, including the rise of undercover stings, inter-agency cooperation, and the increasing role of technology. Craig highlights the close working relationship between Nelson and NYPD detective Kenny McCabe, whose deep knowledge of Mafia families and quiet professionalism led to major breakthroughs against organized crime. He tells how these two investigators wathced and uncovered the Gambino Family Roy DeMeo crew under Paul Castellano and Nino Gaggi. Throughout the conversation, Craig shares vivid, often humorous slice-of-life stories from the book—tense undercover moments, dangerous confrontations, and the emotional toll of living a double life. These anecdotes reveal not only the danger of the job but also the camaraderie and resilience that sustained agents and detectives working in the shadows. The episode closes with a reminder that Empire City Under Siege is as much about honoring unsung law-enforcement professionals as it is about mob history. Craig encourages listeners to support true-crime storytelling that preserves these firsthand accounts before they're lost to time. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. 0:02 Welcome Back to Gangland Wire 2:14 The Journey to Anthony John Nelson 4:46 The Life and Work of Law Enforcement 15:00 Inside Anthony Nelson’s Early Career 26:49 The Dynamic Duo: Nelson and McCabe 30:16 Tales from the Underworld 35:55 The Tragedy of Everett Hatcher 39:12 The High-Stakes World of Undercover Work 40:56 Closing Thoughts and Inspirations transcript [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers. Good to be back here in studio of Gangland Wire. I say the same thing every time. I hope it doesn’t bore you too much, but I am back here in the Gangland Wire studio. And I have today an author who interviewed and wrote a book with an FBI agent named Anthony John Nelson, who was one of the premier FBI agents in New York City that was working the mob. And even more interesting about him to me was he formed a partnership with a local copper named Kenny McCabe, who you may know the name. I had read the name before several times as I started researching this and looking at the book, but he was a mob buster supreme and Agent Nelson really formed a dynamic duo. But first, let’s start talking to Craig, your book, Empire City Under Seize, Three Decades of New York FBI Field Office Manhunts, Murders and Mafia Wars. How did you get involved with Anthony John Nelson? [0:55] Hi, Gary. Thanks for having me on your show. Big fan. Appreciate the opportunity. Very interesting and winding path that led me to Anthony’s doorstep. I also previously wrote another book, Carmine and the 13th Avenue Boys, which was about an enforcer in the Colombo family during the Third Colombo War. And I was introduced to Carmine Imbriali through Thomas Dades. Tommy Dades, he’s a famous retired NYPD detective. So after the success of that book, Tommy introduced me to another member of law enforcement. I started to work on a project that sort of fell apart. And one of the sort of consultants, friends that I met with during that was Anthony Nelson. And then one day as that, due to my own fumbling, as that project was falling apart, I had a delightful breakfast with Anthony and his wonderful wife, Sydney, Cindy, one Sunday morning. And Anthony’s pulling out all these clips of all these investigations and all these Jerry Capiche gangland clips. And it was just fascinating. And so I started to realize that there’s something here because I’m also a true crime fan and I remember many of these cases. [2:08] So it took a while to get Anthony to agree to write a book. He’s not one for the spotlight. He’s really your sort of quintessential G-man, modern G-man. It’s also somewhat of a throwback. But he eventually was interested in doing a book if we didn’t just shine the spotlight on him. Gary, you should know the original, the working title of the book was In the Company of Courage. And that’s really the theme that Anthony wanted to bring forth. You’ll notice throughout the book, there are some vignettes and some biographical information about many of the members of law enforcement that I interviewed, but then we also covered and who are no longer with us. It was my privilege to write this book sharing Anthony’s amazing history, 30 years at the FBI and then several years at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. And just like one of the themes is just to really shed some light on the valuable work that members of law enforcement, including you, sir. Thank you for your service. And we think too often these days, members of law enforcement are maligned and there’s a negative light cast on them. It’s the most difficult job in the world. And we just want to make sure that we’re shining some light on that valuable work that the thousands of members of men and women in law enforcement do every day protecting us. [3:24] I appreciate that. I’ll tell you what, all the way from the rookie on the street making those domestic violence calls and party armed calls and armed robbery alarms calls that are, there’s nothing there the first five times you go. And then all of a sudden there’s a guy running out with a gun all the way up to the homicide detectives. And even the people that handle the budget, they all paid their dues out on the streets and organized crime investigators, of course, and narcotics. I really appreciate that. It’s a thankless job for the most part. Once in a while, you get a little thanks, but not much. As we used to say, it was fun. I can’t believe they pay us to do this. [4:01] Gary, it’s like you’re repeating some of the lines of Frank Pergola to Al King, just like that. And that’s key, that thankless piece. I remember interviewing Frank Pergola, just famous New York City detective, worked on Son of Sam. He also worked on solving 79 homicides related to the Gambinos and the DeMeo family. And he echoed those same sentiments. While you’re investigating a case, it’s the victims’ families and the victims, their nerves are so fraught. It’s such a stressful situation. And the members of law enforcement bear the brunt of a lot of that frustration. [4:41] And too often, there’s no thank you at the end. And it’s not that they want to thank you. It’s just that they want the sort of closure, not even the recognition, just some sort of realization that they did a great job. And it’s unfortunate that they don’t, that doesn’t happen as often as it should. I appreciate it. Let’s talk about Anthony Nelson. He sounds like a very interesting character. Talk a little bit about what you learned from him about his early career. And I want to tell you something, that recalcitrance, I believe that’s the word, $25 word if I’ve ever heard one. His refusal to really make himself a hero or the center of attention. That’s pretty common among cops and FBI agents. I’ve noticed we’ve got, I’ve got a good friend here in Kansas City, wrote a book about the mafia in Kansas City called Mopsers in Our Mist, but he refused to put himself into the book. He had a publishing company that wanted him to do it and was going to pay him to do it, but it had to have him as a hero. He said, we have to have a hero in this book. He says, I won’t do it. So that Mr. Nelson, Agent Nelson, that’s not that uncommon. So tell us a little more about some of his early cases. [5:49] Anthony Nelson, interestingly enough, his career trajectory and really his life tracks with the latter half of the last century. And a lot of the technological evolution, the rise of organized crime post-prohibition, these themes of urbanization, radicalization that came out from the starting in the middle of the century. But really heating up as a young Anthony Nelson joins the FBI in 1969, really mostly in administrative roles, radio dispatcher first, eventually he’s an electronics technician. So I’m sure, Gary, you can reflect on, and some of this will resonate with you, just how archaic some of the technology was. Oh my God, yeah. Yeah. Back then, we have some fantastic anecdotes and stories in the book, but just also like, for example, when you’re responding to a hostage crisis and you don’t have a cell phone, you don’t have minimal communications and talking about, you better make sure you have a pocket full of dimes and knocking on a neighbor’s door because time is of the essence and to establish contact. So just some of this great, really interesting material there. Eventually, Anthony was sworn in as an agent in 1976, and he entered the FBI Academy at Quantico, graduated in 77. [7:13] And interestingly enough, Anthony reflects like some of his fellow graduates, perhaps were not as keen on going to New York, one of the larger field offices, perhaps wanting to cut their teeth at a smaller office, but he obviously wanted to go home. So he was, and he jumped right into the fray, really assigned to hijacking. And he was an undercover operative in Red Hook during the 1970s, like the really gritty. And from the stories and from the various folks I interviewed, this really was gritty New York back then with the economy failing, crime on the rise. [7:48] Gary, you look, I heard an interesting stat last week where you had, there was almost a record setting that New York City had not reported a homicide for a record 12 consecutive days. And that had not happened in decades. So when Anthony joined the FBI, they were recording five homicides in New York City. And also during the 70s, you also had this, when you talk about radicalization, with 3,000 bombings nationwide, corruption was rampant. You had credit card fraud was just kicking off. You had widespread bread or auto theft and hijacking. Again, at the street level, Anthony was the front for a Gambino-affiliated warehouse where he had first right of refusal, where some of the hijackers would bring in the loads. And he was doing this on an undercover basis. So he jumped right in. They set him up in a warehouse and he was buying like a sting, what we called a sting operation. He was buying stolen property. They thought he was a fence. [8:50] Yeah, they started doing that in the 70s. They hadn’t really done, nobody had done that before in the 70s. ATF kind of started sting operates throughout the United States. We had one here, but they started doing that. And that was a new thing that these guys hadn’t seen before. So interesting. He was that big, blurly guy up front said, hey, yeah, bring that stuff on. Exactly. If you look on the cover, there are three images on the cover, and one of them is following one of the busts afterwards where they tracked down the hijacked goods. I believe it was in New Jersey. So you could get the sense of the volume. Now, think about it like this. So he’s in Red Hook in the mid-70s. This was actually where he was born. So when Anthony was born in 49, and if you think about Red Hook in the early 50s, this was just a decade removed from Al Capone as a leg-breaking bouncer along the saloons on the waterfront. And this was on the waterfront, Red Hook eventually moved to Park Slope. [9:49] And this was where Crazy Joe Gallo was prompted, started a mob war. And this was when any anthony is coming of age back then and most of his friends is gravitating so to these gangster types in the neighborhood these wise guys but this was a time pre-9-1-1 emergency response system so the only way to report or get help was to call the switchboard call the hospital directly call the fire department directly so you had the rise of the b cop where it wasn’t just the police they were integral part of the community and there’s this really provocative story Anthony tells the first time he saw a death up close and personal, an acquaintance of his had an overdose. And the beat cops really did a sincere effort to try to save him. And this really resonated with the young Anthony and he gravitated towards law enforcement. And then a little bit, a while later as a teenager, they’re having these promotional videos, these promotional sort of documentary style shows on television. And Anthony sees it, and he’s enamored by it, especially when they say this is the hardest job in America. So he’s challenged, and he’s a go-getter. So he writes a letter to J. Edgar Hoover, and Hoover writes him back. [11:03] So it’s a signed letter, and now Anthony laughs about it. He says it was probably a form letter with a rubber stamp, but it really had an amazing impact. And this is at the time when, you know, in the 50s, you really had J. Edgar really embrace the media. And he actually consulted on the other famous, the FBI television show, several movies, the rise of the G-Man archetype. So Anthony was fully on board. [11:28] Interesting. Of course, J. Edgar Hoover wanted to make sure the FBI looked good. Yes, exactly. Which he did. And they were good. They had a really high standards to get in. They had to be a lawyer or accountant or some extra educated kind of a deal. And so they always think, though, that they took these guys who had never been even a street policeman of any kind and they throw them right into the DPN many times. But that’s the way it was. They did have that higher level of recruit because of that. So, Anthony, was he a lawyer or accountant when he came in? Did he get in after they relaxed that? Oh, that’s spot on. I’m glad you brought that up. So now here’s a challenge. So Anthony needs that equalizer, correct? So if you’re a CPA, obviously a former member of the military, if you’re a successful detective or a local police force, one of these type of extra credentials. [12:20] Anthony’s specialty was technology. Now, when you think of technology… Not the ubiquitous nature of technology nowadays, where you have this massive processing power in your phone, and you don’t really have to be a technologist to be able to use the power of it. This is back in the 1960s. But he always had an affinity for technology. And he was able to, when he, one of the other requirements was as he had to hit the minimum age requirement, he had to work for a certain amount of time, he was able to get a job at the FBI. So he was an electronics technician before he became an agent. [12:59] And he had all of the, and back then this was, it was groundbreaking, the level of technology. And he has some funny story, odd, like man on the street stories about, I’m sure you remember Radio Shack when there was a Radio Shack on every other corner, ham radio enthusiasts. And it was cat and mouse. It was, they had the members of organized crime had the police scanners. And they were able to, if they had the right scanner, they had the right frequency. They were able to pick on the bugs planted really close to them. And he tells some really funny stories about one time there was a member of organized crime. They’re staking out, I believe it was the cotillion on 18th Avenue. And then I believe he’s sitting outside with Kenny McCabe. And then one of this member of organized crime, he’s waving a scanner inside and he’s taunting them saying, look, I know what you’re doing. And so it was that granularity of cat and mouse. [13:55] Rudimentary kind of stuff. Yeah. We had a guy that was wearing what we called a kelk kit. It was a wire and he was in this joint and they had the scanner and so but they had to scan her next door at this club And all of a sudden, a bunch of guys came running and there’s somebody in here wearing a wire. And my friend’s guy, the guy I worked with, Bobby, he’s going, oh, shit. And so he just fades into the background. And everybody except one guy had a suit on. Nobody had a suit on except this one guy. So they focused on this one guy that had a suit on and went after him and started trying to pat him down and everything. Bobby just slipped out the front door. So amazing. I mean, you know, Anthony has a bunch of those slice of life stories. I also interviewed a translator from the FBI to get a sort of a different perspective. [14:42] It’s different. Like the agents a little bit more, they’re tougher. They’re a tougher breed. They go through the training. Some of the administrative professionals, like the translators. So this one translator, it’s a pretty harrowing experience because remember the such the insular nature of the neighborhoods and how everyone is always [14:59] looking for someone out of place. So she actually got a real estate license and poses a realtor be able to rent apartments and then she spoke multiple dialects and then just to have to listen in and to decipher not only the code but also the dialects and put it together when you have agents on the line because remember you have an undercover agent if they get discovered more often than not the members of organized crime are going to think they’re members of another crew so you’re dead either they’re an informant if they think they’re an informant you’re dead if they think you’re an agent yeah just turn away from you say okay we don’t deal with this guy anymore if you think you’re informant or somebody another crew or something trying to worm their way in then yeah you’re dead exactly so interviewing maria for this you get that sense from someone who’s not in like not an agent to get true how truly harrowing and dangerous this type of activity was and how emboldened organized crime was until really the late 90s. And back then, it truly was death defying. [16:02] Oh, yeah, it was. They had so many things wired in the court system and in politically in the late 70s and early 80s and all these big cities. No big city was immune from that kind of thing. So they had all kinds of sources. They even had some clerks in the FBI and they definitely had all the court. The courthouses were just wired. And I don’t mean wired, but they had people in places and all those things. So it was death to find that you got into these working undercover. Ever. Hey, you want to laugh? I don’t want to give away all the stories, but there was a great story. I remember Anthony saying, they set up a surveillance post in an apartment and they brought in all the equipment while they were, then they got the court orders and the surveillance post actually got ripped off twice. So while they try, like after hours, someone’s going, yeah, ripping off all the FBI equipment. So you have this extra level of, so that gives you like, It really was Wild West then. Really? [17:00] So now he gets into organized crime pretty quick, into that squad and working organized crime pretty quick. I imagine they put him in undercover like that because of his accent, his ability to fit in the neighborhood. I would think he would have a little bit of trouble maybe running into somebody that remembered him from the old days. Did he have any problem with that? I spot on, Gary. I tell you, this was he. So he’s operating in Red Hook and actually throughout the next several years, he’s periodically flying down to Florida as a front for New York orchestrated drug deals. So he’s going down to Florida to negotiate multi-kilo drug deals on behalf of organized crime. But at the same time, he’s an agent. He eventually rose to be supervisory special agent. He’s managing multiple squads. So there did come an inflection point where it became too dangerous for him to continue to operate as an undercover while conducting other types of investigations. [18:02] Interestingly enough they opened up a resident agency office the ras are in the major field offices in the fbi they have these they’re called ras i’m sure you’re familiar these like mini offices with the office and they’ll focus on certain areas of crime more geographically based so they opened up the brooklyn queens ra and that really focuses heavily on organized crime but also hijacking because you had the, especially with the airport over there and a lot of the concentrations of, especially in South Brooklyn, going into Queens. So he worked there. Also the airport. Also the mass, you have this massive network of VA facilities. You have the forts. So you need these other RA offices. So you have a base of operations to be able to investigate. But Anthony has such a wide extent of case history, everything from airline attacks to art theft heists to kidnappings, manhunts, fugitives. There was Calvin Klein, the famous designer, when his daughter was kidnapped by the babysitter, it did do it. Anthony was investigating that. So it’s just, and while he has this heavy concentration in organized crime. I mentioned that. What’s this deal with? He investigated a robbery, a bank robbery that was a little bit like the dog day afternoon robbery, a standoff. What was that? [19:30] This was actually, it was the dog day afternoon robbery. They based a dog day afternoon on this. Exactly. What you had, and this was before Anthony was when he was still in his administrative role. So he had a communications position. So he was responsible for gathering all the intel and the communications and sharing it with the case, the special agents on site. So what you had was like, he’s with the play by play of this really provocative hostage. It was a bank robbery that quickly turned into a hostage crisis. And then, so throughout this whole, and the way it eventually resolved was the perpetrators insisted on a particular agent. I apologize. It slips my mind, but he’s a real famous agent. So he has to drive them to JFK airport where they’re supposed to have a flight ready to fly them out of the country. And what happens is they secrete a gun into the car and he winds up shooting the bank robbers to death. And there were so many different layers to this bank robbery. It eventually became the movie. And a funny story aside, the movie, while they’re filming the movie, Anthony’s at his friend’s house in downtown Brooklyn. It may have been Park Slope. And they’re calling for extras. His friends run in and say, hey, they’re filming a movie about this bank robbery that happened on Avenue U. You want to be an extra? And he said, nah, no thanks. The real thing was enough for me. [20:55] I’ll tell you what, it wasn’t for a New York City organized crime and New York City crime. Al Pacino wouldn’t have had a career. That’s the truth. [21:05] Now, let’s start. Let’s go back into organized crime. Now, we’ve talked about this detective, Kenny McCabe, who was really well known, was famous. And during the time they worked together and they were working with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Is that correct? Were both of them working for it? Was he at the FBI and Kenny was with the Brooklyn DA’s office? [21:26] When you think about thematically, in the company of courage, Kenny McCabe was really close. This was a career-long, lifelong, from when they met, relationship, professional relationship that became a deep friendship between two pretty similar members of law enforcement. [21:46] Kenny McCabe had a long career in the NYPD as organized crime investigator before he joined the Southern District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. So the way they first crossed paths was while Anthony was working a hijacking investigation. So he gets a tip from one of his CIs that there’s some hijacked stolen goods are in a vehicle parked in a certain location. So he goes to stake it out. Like they don’t want to seize the goods. They want to find out, they want to uncover who the hijackers are and investigate the conspiracy. So then while he’s there, he sees a sort of a familiar face staking it out as well. Then he goes to the, he goes to the NYA, a detective Nev Nevins later. And he asks about this guy. And so this detective introduces him to Kenny McCabe and right away strike up with his interesting chemistry. And they’re like, you know what? Let’s jointly investigate this. So they wind up foiling the hijacking. But what starts is like this amazing friendship. And I’ll tell you, the interesting thing about Kenny McCabe is almost universally, he’s held in the highest regard as perhaps law enforcement’s greatest weapon in dismantling organized crime in the latter half of the 20th century. For example, I interviewed George Terra, famous undercover detective who eventually went to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. [23:12] And he had a great way. I hope I don’t mangle. Kenny knew all the wise guys and they all knew Kenny. And when I say he knew all the wise guys, he knew their shoe sizes. He knew who they partnered with on bank jobs years ago. So he knew who their siblings were, who their cousins were, who they were married to, who their girlfriends were, what clubs they frequented. For example, during the fatical hearings, where they would do sentencing, often the defense attorneys would want the prosecutors to reveal who their CIs are for due process, for a sense of fairness. And they refused to do that, obviously, for safety reasons, and they want to compromise ongoing investigations. So in dozens, perhaps so many of these cases, they were bringing Kenny McCabe. He was known as the unofficial photographer of organized crime. [24:07] For example, I think it was 2003, he was the first one who revealed a new edict that new initiates into Cosa Nostra had to have both a mother and a father who were Italian. Oh, yeah. I remember that. Yeah. He was also, he revealed that when the Bonanno family renamed itself as Messino, he was the one who revealed that. And then when Messino went to prison for murder, his successor, Vinnie Bassiano, Vinnie gorgeous. When he was on trial, that trial was postponed because so many of law enforcement leaders had to attend Kenny McCabe’s funeral, unfortunately, when he passed. So this is such a fascinating thing. Now, why you don’t hear more about Kenny McCabe, and I interviewed his son, Kenny McCabe Jr. Duke, is like Kenny McCabe like really issued the media spotlight. He would not, he wasn’t interested in grabbing the microphone. So you have almost no media on Kenny McCabe. If you do a Google search for him, I believe the only thing I ever found was a picture in his uniform as an early career police officer. [25:19] So it’s really hard to even do a documentary style treatment without having any media because B-roll is just going to get you so far. So really what Duke has been doing over the last two decades or more is really consolidating all of these as much material as he can. And I think eventually when he does put out a book, this thing’s going to explode. It’s going to be like true Hollywood treatment. But now going back to the mid-70s, so these two guys hook up. You have the FBI agent and you have the police detective. [25:49] Craig, what you always hear is that the FBI is suspicious and doesn’t trust local authorities. And local policemen hate the FBI because they always grab all the glory and take everything, run with it. And they’re left out. And I didn’t have that experience myself. They’ve got the case. They’ve got the laws. We don’t locally, county and statewide, you don’t have the proper laws to investigate organized crime. Yes, sir. But the feds do. So that’s how it works. This really blows that myth up that the local police and the FBI never worked together and hated each other. [26:25] I’m so glad you brought that up because this was very important to Anthony. He has so many lifelong friends in the NYPD, and I’ve interviewed several of them. And just this sincerity comes across, the camaraderie. In any walk of life, in any profession, you’re always going to have rivalries and conflict, whether healthy conflict or negative conflict. [26:46] Even more, you’re going to find that in law enforcement because the stakes are so high. But it’s a disservice to… And what we want to do is sort of dispel the myth that there was no cooperation. Why there were very well-publicized conflicts between agencies prosecuting certain cases. This was the time where technology was really enabling collaboration. Remember, and you had a time, if you had to investigate a serial crime, you had to go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and you had to interview investigators. You had to comb through written records to piece this together. So it really was not conducive for collaboration. [27:22] So what you saw was the rise of, and then you had these investigative tools and these legal tools like RICO, while they were still trying to figure out and to build. So now you had the litigious tools where you could build conspiracies and prosecute them. So this sort of helped ferment this sort of collaborative interagency, which eventually led to these joint task force that were very successful. What I really love is this microcosm of Anthony Nelson and Kenny McCain. Now, Anthony Nelson was issued a Plymouth Grand Fury with the full police interceptor kit. If you’re familiar with that make and model, no automobile ever created screams cop-mobile like the Grand Fury. And so what you had was after hours, Anthony and Kenny would join up and they would go prowling the underworld with the Grand Fury on purpose. They wanted to be as conspicuous as possible. to the point where they would park in bus stops across the street from these social clubs. And when I say social clubs, they were… [28:29] Everywhere. There were dozens of them all over Brooklyn and Queens. And these are cafe, social clubs, bars, restaurants with heavy OC presence, blatantly conducting their business. So you have these two, Anthony’s always driving. Kenny’s always riding shotgun with his camera. I assume it was some sort of 35 millimeter hanging out the side, taking down names, license plates. Just a great story. You had Paul Castellano in front of Veterans and Friends on 86th Street when he had Dominic Montiglio start that social club so he could have more of a presence in Brooklyn on the street so that he actually crosses the street and he goes to Kenny and Anthony. And he’s saying, guys, you don’t have to sit out here. You could come down to Ponte Vecchio in Bay Ridge. I have a table there anytime you want to talk to me. So it’s that level of bravado. But pretty soon it changed. Once more of this intel started to build these real meaningful cases, Castellana put an edict, don’t talk to these two, don’t be photographed. What came out of that was an amazing partnership where they gathered so much intelligence and Anthony is very. [29:46] Quick to have me point out, give more credit to the investigators, to the agents, to the detectives. They gathered a lot of the intelligence to help with these investigations, but you had so many frontline folks that are doing a lot of the legwork, that are doing the investigations, making the arrests, that are crawling under the hoods. So it’s pretty inspiring. But then you also had some really good, and I don’t want to share all the stories [30:12] in the book. There’s a great story of Kenny and Anthony. They go into Rosal’s restaurant because they see this. [30:21] There may have been a warrant out on this member of law enforcement. So they had cause. So they go in and there’s actually some sort of family event going on. And they’re playing the theme song of The Godfather. As they go in and then they have to go into the back room to get this member of organized crime who’s hiding. So it’s these kind of really slice of life kind of stories that just jump out, jump out of the book. Really? I see, as I mentioned, they had some kind of a run-in with Roy DeMeo at the Gemini. You remember that story? Can you tell that one? Yeah, there’s, so Kenny and Anthony, throughout the hijacking investigations. [30:59] Were, they were among the first to really learn of this mysterious Roy. And his rise. And then also Nino. Remember Nino Gadgi was the Gambino Capo who took over Castellano’s crew, Brooklyn crew, when he was elevated. And then Roy DeMeo was really this larger than life maniac serial killer who formed the Gemini crew, which was a gang of murderers really on the Gemini Lounge in Flatlands, which is really close to Anthony’s house. And Kenny’s not too far. Didn’t they have a big stolen car operation also? Did they get into that at all? Yes. Stolen cars, chop shops. Remember, this is when you had the introduction of the tag job, where it was relatively easy to take the vehicle identification numbers off a junked auto and then just replace them with the stolen auto, and then you’re automatically making that legitimate. And then, so they’re doing this wholesale operation where they’re actually got to the point where they’re shipping hundreds, if not thousands of these tag jobs overseas. So it was at scale, a massive operation. Roy DeMay was a major earner. He was such an unbalanced, very savvy business for the underworld, business professional, but he was also a homicidal maniac. [32:22] Some say they could be upwards of a hundred to 200 crimes. Frank Pergola alone investigated and So 79 of these crimes associated with this crew. And it got to the point where, and he had a heavy sideline in drugs, which was punishable by death in the Gambino family, especially under Castellano. So then what you had was all these investigations and all this intelligence that, and then with this collaboration between the FBI and NYPD. Oh, wow. It is quite a crew. I’m just looking back over here at some of the other things in there in that crew in that. You had one instance where there was a sentencing hearing and of a drug dealer, I believe, a member of organized crime. And Kenny McCabe is offering testimony to make sure that the proper sentencing is given because a lot of times these guys are deceptive. [33:16] And he mentions DeMeo’s name. So DeMeo in a panic. So then maybe a couple of nights later, they’re parked in front of veterans and friends. And DeMeo comes racing across 86th Street. Now, 86th Street is like a four-lane thoroughfare. It’s almost like, oh, I grew up in the air a few blocks away. So he’s running through traffic. And then he’s weaving in and out. And he’s screaming at Kenny McCabe, what are you trying to kill me? Putting my name into a drug case? They’re going to kill me. And so it’s that kind of intimate exchanges that they have with, with these key members of organized crime of the era. [33:52] Wow. That’s, that’s crazy. I see that they worked to murder that DEA agent, Everett Hatcher, that was a low level mob associate that got involved in that. And then supposedly the mob put out the word, but you gotta, we gotta give this guy up. But you remember that story? Now, this is another instance where I remember this case. And I remember afterwards when they killed Gus Faraci. So what you had was, again, and this is very upsetting because you had DEA agent Everett Hatchard, who is a friend of Anthony’s. To the point where just prior to his assassination, they were attending a social event together with their children. And he would also, they would run into each other from time to time. They developed a really beyond like camaraderie, like real friendship. So then, so Hatcher has, there’s an undercover sting. So there’s Gus Faraci, who’s, I believe he was associated with the Lucchese’s, with Chile. [34:55] So he gets set up on the West Shore. And so he’s told to go to the West Shore Expressway. Now, if you’ve ever been on that end of Staten Island, that whips out heading towards the outer bridge. This really is the end of the earth. This is where you have those large industrial like water and oil tankers and there’s not really good lighting and all this. It’s just like a real gritty. So he loses his surveillance tail and they eventually, he’s gunned down while in his vehicle. So then Anthony gets the call to respond on site to investigate the murder. He doesn’t know exactly who it is until he opens up the door and he sees it’s his friend. And this is the first assassination of a DEA agent. It was just such a provocative case. And the aftermath of that was, again, like Gus Faraci, who was, he was a murderer. He was a drug dealer, but he did not know. He set him up. He thought he was a member of organized crime. [35:53] He was just another drug dealer. He did not realize he was a DEA agent. And then all hell broke loose. And you had just the all five families until they eventually produced Gus Faraci, set him up, and then he was gunned down in Brooklyn. [36:06] Case closed, huh? Exactly. Yeah. And as we were saying before, I don’t remember it was before I started recording or after that. When you’re working undercover, that’s the worst thing is they think that you’re an informant or a member of another crew and you’re liable to get killed. At one say, I had a sergeant one time. He said, if you get under suspicion when you’re like hanging out in some of these bars and stuff, just show them you’re the cops. Just get your badge out right away because everything just, all right, they just walk away then. It’s a immensely dangerous thing to maintain your cover. Yes, sir. Anthony was always good at that because tall gentleman has the right sort of Italian-American complexion. He’s passable at Italian. So with some of these folks, especially from Italy that come over, he could carry a conversation. He’s not fluent. [36:56] And he just walks in and talks in. It’s a different… George Terror was a fantastic undercover detective. And you talk to some of these undercovers, it’s like you have to be… There’s sort of this misperception that the organized crime members are like these thugs and flunkies. These are very intelligent, super suspicious, addled individuals that are able to pick up on signals really easy because they live on the edge. So you really can’t fake it, the slightest thing. And again, they’ll think that their first inclination is not that you’re a member of law enforcement. Their first inclination is that you’re a member of a rival crew that’s looking to kill me looks at looking to rip me off so i’m going to kill you first it’s just it’s just a wild and imagine that’s your day job oh man i know they could just and i’ve picked this up on people there’s just a look when you’re lying there’s just a look that just before you catch it quick but there’s a look of panic that then you get it back these guys can pick up that kind of stuff just so quickly any kind of a different body language they’re so good with that. [38:02] And he’s also, he has to be able to say just enough to establish his connection and credibility without saying too much that’s going to trip him up. And that’s like being able to walk that line. He tells, again, I hate giving away all these stories because I want readers to buy the book, but he has this fantastic story when he’s on an undercover buy and he’s, I don’t know if it’s Florida, if it’s Miami or it’s Fort Lauderdale and he has to go into a whole, like the drugs are in one location and he’s in that with the drug deals in one location and he’s in this location and, but he knows the money’s not going to come. [38:42] So he has to walk into this hotel room with all these cartel drug guys who are off balance, knowing that he’s got to figure out, how do I get out of this room without getting killed? And once I walk out, will the timing be right that I could drop to the floor right when the responding FBI agents, again, these are FBI agents from a different [39:08] field office that he perhaps doesn’t have intimate working. knowledge of. I got to trust that these guys got my back and they’re not distracted. So I can’t even imagine having to live with that stress. No, I can’t either. All right. I’ll tell you what, the book, guys, is Empire City Under Siege, the three decades of New York FBI field office man hunts, murders, and mafia wars by Craig McGuire with former retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson. I pulled as many stories as I could out of the book from him. You’re going to have to get the book to get to the rest of. And believe me, I’m looking at my notes here and the stuff they sent me. And there are a ton of great stories in there, guys. You want to get this book. [39:50] I also want to say there’s something special going on at Wild Blue Press. My publisher specializes in true crime. And it’s just, they’re so nurturing and supportive of writers. Just fantastic facilities and promotions. And they just help us get it right. That’s the most important thing, Anthony, accuracy. So if there’s anything wrong in the book, that’s totally on me. It’s really hard to put one of these together, especially decades removed. But then I’m just thankful for the support of nature of Wild Blue and Anthony and all the remarkable members of law enforcement like yourself, sir. Thank you for your service. And Anthony, and I’m just so inspired. I just have to say, they’re like a different breed. And you folks don’t realize how exciting. Because there are so many stories like Anthony would come up with and he would say, do you think readers would be interested in this story? And I fall out of my chair like, oh my God, this could be a whole chapter. So it was as a true crime fan myself of this material, it’s just, it was a wild ride and I enjoyed it. [40:56] Great. Thanks a lot for coming on the show, Craig. Thanks, Gary. You’re the best.

Giannina the Cat Giannina the cat lived in a house with a garden. The garden wall bordered a park where children gathered to play. The town was small but charming — from the windowsills of the houses, pots of geraniums and petunias tumbled down like colorful cascades. Her owner, Signora Mafalda, often took her around the town center. All the children knew her, and whenever they spotted her, they would run over and shower her with affection. Giannina was quite the little rascal. During the day she loved chasing lizards, hunting insects, butterflies, and anything that moved. To rest, she would stretch out in the sun on the warm stones, then cool off among the blades of grass. In the garden, among the pomegranate tree, the lemon tree, and the olive with its silvery leaves, she and Mafalda spent their afternoons playing together. But one day, Mafalda began to notice something strange. Giannina would leap to catch her prey, but she kept missing and ending up in the rose bushes. "Ow, ow, ow! I've pricked myself and my tail is tangled in the branches!" she meowed. She barely managed to dodge trees she used to climb with ease. She reached her food and water bowls with an uncertain gait. Worried, Mafalda took her to the Veterinarian. After listening to the little cat's strange adventures, the Doctor smiled and delivered his verdict with a wise air: "This little kitty can't see well. She needs glasses." No sooner said than done — in the blink of an eye, the veterinarian searched through a display case full of frames for pets and, finding the perfect one, exclaimed: "Here we are — a pair of glasses fit for an elegant lady!" As soon as they were placed on Giannina's sweet little snout, the cat looked around in wonder. She could see everything so clearly! She rubbed against the Veterinarian's legs and leaped into Mafalda's arms as if to thank her. The Doctor, touched by her sweetness, gave her a special gift: a golden chain with a small pearl at its center that glowed with its own light. Whispering, he told her: "If you close your eyes and touch this pearl with your little nose, you will gain magical powers that only you will have. They will help you help others." Giannina thought that perhaps this Veterinarian was also a Wizard, but she said nothing to Mafalda. It was a secret between her and the strange Doctor. On the way home, people turned to look at her, thinking: that cat seems mysterious — there's something glimmering around her. At home, Giannina's first wish was to climb onto a chair and gaze out the window. The flowers shone in their colors, and even the grass was a brilliant green, as if covered in dew. She smiled, happier than ever. Mafalda, sharing in her joy, decided to take her to the park. They arrived in no time. Squirrels scampered through the trees, birds sang as they flew from branch to branch. Small creatures popped out everywhere, and the children followed them with curiosity — they ran alongside the lizards, leaped with the butterflies dancing in the air, while red ladybugs landed on their skin like good luck charms. After chases, slides, and ring-around-the-rosy, the children sat down on the grass for their snack. From their colorful backpacks came tasty treats. That's when they arrived. "Vriiip! Vriiip! Vriiip!" At full speed, a platoon of ants zoomed in on rumbling mini-motorcycles. They wore shiny little helmets on their heads, round goggles over their eyes, and tiny boots on their feet. They braked sharply in front of the children, raising little clouds of dust. "Make way! We're here too!" shouted the lead ant, lifting her visor. "Can we collect the crumbs?" The children burst out laughing. "Yes, yes! Munch all the crumbs you want!" The ants parked their mini-motorcycles in a neat row, removed their helmets with theatrical gestures, and got to work carrying crumbs twice their size, singing a little marching song. In this joyful atmosphere, Giannina and Mafalda strolled along the pathways. And suddenly, as they passed, the trees bent their branches in a bow and their leaves rustled in greeting. The roses in the flower beds opened their petals and began to sing. The lizards beat their tails on the ground like drums: "Rattatatà! Rattatatà!" And the millipedes started tap dancing to the lively rhythm. "Oh my, what a wonderful commotion!" exclaimed Giannina, who was beginning to feel a mysterious aura around her. She couldn't help but think of the Wizard Veterinarian. What could these magical powers be? And what would happen if she touched the pearl with her little nose? She told Mafalda, who was carrying a book of fairy tales under her arm. They looked at each other and, understanding instantly, seized the moment. Giannina gathered the children in a circle. Some came quickly, others more shy joined in slowly. The ants too, their bellies full, put on their mini helmets again, did one last rumbling lap on their motorcycles, then climbed off and approached the group. It was the right moment. Giannina closed her eyes and touched the magic pearl with her little nose. A golden spark flashed in the air. She took the book from Mafalda's hands, opened it, and chose the tale that seemed to be waiting for her, glowing among the pages. In a gentle voice, she began to read. "Once upon a time, there was a little rabbit who lived in the woods. He kept tripping over tree roots and pebbles. At school, he made mistakes reading letters and numbers, so he didn't want to go anymore. When the teacher saw his drawings, she said: 'Well done!' His mom and dad said the same: 'Well done!' But to him, the colors seemed faded. The truth was, he couldn't see well, but instead of saying so, he would run away and hide in a burrow beneath a talking tree. And the tree, with the rustle of its leaves, whispered a secret: talk to your parents. So he did, and they helped him get glasses. And the world became beautiful again." Giannina closed the book. She understood: with the magic pearl, she could read the hearts of children, discovering emotions and secrets waiting to be brought to light. "You know," she said to her little listeners, "not long ago, I couldn't see well either. But I put on these glasses and poof! The world became clearer and more beautiful." A boy approached her, almost embarrassed, and whispered in her ear: "Maybe I need them too, like you." Giannina gently stroked him. "I helped you open your heart. Now talk to your parents, and everything will be fine." Just then, a little rabbit appeared suddenly from the bushes. He came up to Giannina, hugged her, and said: "You are magically magical!" And — you won't believe it — that little rabbit was wearing a lovely pair of colorful glasses. From that day on, Giannina took the children of the town by the paw, teaching them to believe in themselves and to have confidence. She became the mascot with the magic glasses, and everyone wanted to wear them just like her. But the true wonder was how she now saw the world from her window: brighter, more colorful, more alive. And every evening, before falling asleep, she would touch the pearl with her little nose and smile, knowing that the next day she would help someone else see the world with new eyes. It almost seemed like it had been a dream. But as we know, reality and fantasy often walk hand in hand. _— Written by Lucia & Marco Ciappelli_ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

La Gatta GianninaLa gatta Giannina viveva in una casa con il giardino. Il muro di cinta confinava da un lato con un parco dove i bambini si ritrovavano per giocare. Il paese era piccolo ma grazioso — dai davanzali delle case, vasi di gerani e di petunie scendevano come cascate colorate.La sua padrona, la Signora Mafalda, la portava spesso in giro per il centro abitato. Tutti i bambini la conoscevano e appena la vedevano le correvano incontro facendole feste a non finire.Giannina era una grande giocherellona. Durante la giornata si divertiva a rincorrere lucertole, cacciare insetti, farfalle e tutto ciò che si muoveva. Per riposarsi si sdraiava al sole sulle pietre calde e poi andava a rinfrescarsi tra i fili d'erba. Nel giardino, tra il melograno, il limone e l'ulivo dalle foglie argentate, lei e Mafalda passavano i pomeriggi a giocare insieme.Ma un giorno Mafalda iniziò a notare qualcosa di strano. Giannina saltava per cacciare, ma sbagliava la mira e finiva tra i cespugli di rose. "Ohi, ohi, ohi! Mi sono bucata e la mia coda è impigliata fra i rami!" miagolava. Scansava per miracolo gli alberi dove prima saliva con sicurezza. Raggiungeva le ciotole dell'acqua e del cibo con andatura incerta.Preoccupata, Mafalda la portò dal Veterinario.Dopo aver ascoltato le strane avventure della micina, il Dottore sorrise e con aria saggia diede la sua sentenza: "Questa gattina non ci vede bene. Ha bisogno degli occhiali."Detto fatto, in quattro e quattr'otto il veterinario cercò in una vetrina piena di montature per animali domestici e, trovata quella perfetta, esclamò: "Ecco qua un paio di occhiali da signora elegante!"Appena poggiati sul musetto simpatico di Giannina, la gatta si guardò intorno meravigliata. Vedeva tutto più chiaro! Si strofinò alle gambe del Veterinario e saltò fra le braccia di Mafalda come per ringraziarla.Il Dottore, colpito dalla sua dolcezza, le fece un regalo speciale: una catenella dorata con al centro una piccola perla che brillava di luce propria. Sussurrando, le disse: "Se chiudi gli occhi e sfiori questa perla con il nasino, entrerai in possesso di poteri magici che solo tu avrai. Serviranno per aiutare gli altri."Giannina pensò che forse quel Veterinario era anche un Mago, ma non disse niente a Mafalda. Era un segreto fra lei e lo strano Dottore.Sulla strada di ritorno, qualcuno si girava a guardarla pensando: quella gatta sembra misteriosa, c'è qualcosa che luccica intorno a lei.A casa, il primo desiderio di Giannina fu di salire su una sedia e mettersi a guardare dalla finestra. I fiori brillavano nei loro colori e perfino l'erba era di un verde lucente come coperta di rugiada. Sorrideva felice come non mai.Mafalda, partecipe della sua gioia, decise di portarla al parco.Arrivarono in un baleno. Gli scoiattoli sgambettavano sugli alberi, gli uccellini cantando volavano da un ramo all'altro. Piccoli animali sbucavano da ogni parte e i bambini li seguivano curiosi — correvano con le lucertole, saltavano con le farfalle che danzavano nell'aria, mentre le rosse coccinelle si posavano sulla loro pelle come portafortuna.Dopo rincorse, scivolate e girotondi, i bambini si sedettero sul prato per la merenda. Dagli zainetti colorati uscirono spuntini appetitosi.Fu allora che arrivarono."Vriiip! Vriiip! Vriiip!"A tutta birra, un plotone di formiche sfrecciava su micromoto rombanti. Portavano mini caschi lucidi in testa, occhialini tondi sugli occhi e stivaletti minuscoli alle zampette. Frenarono di colpo davanti ai bambini, sollevando nuvolette di polvere."Pista! Ci siamo anche noi!" gridò la formica capo, alzando la visiera del casco. "Possiamo raccogliere le briciole?"I bambini risero a crepapelle. "Sì, sì! Sgranocchiate quante briciole volete!"Le formiche parcheggiarono le micromoto in fila ordinata, si tolsero i caschi con gesti teatrali, e si misero al lavoro trasportando briciole grandi il doppio di loro, cantando una canzoncina di marcia.In questa atmosfera gioiosa, Giannina e Mafalda camminavano sui vialetti. E improvvisamente, al loro passaggio, gli alberi piegarono i rami come in un inchino e le foglie frusciarono in segno di saluto. Le rose nelle aiuole schiusero le loro corolle e iniziarono a cantare. Le lucertole batterono le code sul terreno come su un tamburo: "Rattatatà! Rattatatà!" E i millepiedi si misero a ballare il tip tap al ritmo allegro."Oh cielo, questa è una grande baraonda!" esclamò Giannina, che iniziava a sentire un'aura misteriosa intorno a sé.Non poté fare a meno di pensare al Veterinario Mago. Quali potevano essere i poteri magici di cui era in possesso? E cosa sarebbe successo toccando la perla con il nasino?Lo disse a Mafalda, che portava un libro di favole sotto il braccio. Si guardarono e, capendosi al volo, presero la palla al balzo.Giannina riunì i bambini in un girotondo. Alcuni arrivarono velocemente, altri più timidi si unirono con calma. Anche le formiche, con la pancia piena, indossarono di nuovo i mini caschi, fecero un ultimo giro rombante sulle micromoto, poi scesero e si avvicinarono al gruppo.Era il momento giusto.Giannina chiuse gli occhi e sfiorò la perla magica con il nasino. Una scintilla dorata brillò nell'aria. Prese il libro dalle mani di Mafalda, lo aprì, e scelse la favola che sembrava attenderla, luccicando tra le pagine.Con voce dolce, iniziò a leggere."C'era una volta un coniglietto che viveva nel bosco. Inciampava nelle radici sporgenti degli alberi e nei sassolini. A scuola sbagliava a leggere le lettere e i numeri, così non voleva più andarci. Quando la maestra vedeva i suoi disegni gli diceva: 'Bravo!' Lo stesso facevano la mamma e il babbo: 'Bravo!' Ma a lui i colori sembravano sbiaditi. La verità era che non ci vedeva bene, ma invece di dirlo, scappava via e si nascondeva in una tana sotto un albero parlante. E l'albero, con il fruscio delle foglie, gli sussurrò un segreto: parla con i tuoi genitori. Così fece, e loro lo aiutarono a mettersi gli occhiali. E il mondo tornò bellissimo."Giannina chiuse il libro. Aveva capito: con la perla magica poteva leggere nel cuore dei bambini, scoprendo emozioni e segreti da portare alla luce."Sapete," disse ai piccoli ascoltatori, "anch'io fino a poco tempo fa non ci vedevo bene. Ma ho messo questi occhiali e puff! Il mondo è diventato più chiaro e bellissimo."Un bambino le si avvicinò, quasi vergognandosi, e le sussurrò all'orecchio: "Forse anch'io ne ho bisogno, come te."Giannina lo accarezzò dolcemente. "Io ti ho aiutato ad aprire il tuo cuore. Ora parla con i tuoi genitori, e tutto sarà risolto."Fu allora che un coniglietto apparve all'improvviso tra i cespugli. Si avvicinò a Giannina, la abbracciò e le disse: "Tu sei magicamente magica!"E — non ci credereste — quel coniglietto portava un bel paio di occhialini colorati.Da quel giorno Giannina prese per mano i bambini del paese, insegnando loro a credere in se stessi e ad avere fiducia. Diventò la mascotte con gli occhiali magici, e tutti volevano indossarli come lei.Ma la vera meraviglia era come ora vedeva il mondo dalla finestra: più luminoso, più colorato, più vivo. E ogni sera, prima di addormentarsi, sfiorava la perla con il nasino e sorrideva, sapendo che il giorno dopo avrebbe aiutato qualcun altro a vedere il mondo con occhi nuovi.Sembrava quasi fosse stato un sogno. Ma si sa, realtà e fantasia si prendono spesso per mano.— Scritta da Lucia & Marco Ciappelli Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LEOPOLDO'S SECRET LIBRARYSome people are strange — they like to spend their evenings reading books.Others are even stranger — they believe in the magic found between pages, in fantastical adventures, in stories of impossible love, in ghosts that walk among the living, and they think that everything that doesn't exist — maybe does after all.In short, this story is for those who are a little strange, like you and me — you know, for those who.So… listen.If you take the road up the hill from the center of town, you'll find an old and noble villa, one that has been there for a very long time. It must be about 350 years now that it has stood there in silence, watching and breathing softly beneath the Tuscan sky.Enormous rooms filled with history, endless corridors, and windows as large as dreams — but now, instead of porcelain plates and figurines, it gives us stories on paper for those who wish to read them.Yes, now it's the town library — a bit out of the way, but so beautiful. Well, you can't have everything.Now, on a summer night, wrapped in a blanket of stars and the soft glow of delicate lanterns, the villa had filled with voices, music, smiles, and so many stories told and heard, spoken aloud or whispered, intertwining in the embrace of the celebration.A special evening already, no doubt, but pay attention, because something even more unusual was about to happen.Yes, because Elisa was there too. Eyes as wide as the sky, hair as dark as the night, and a book in her hand — as always.Despite everything happening around her, Elisa preferred to read.She was there, in the main corridor: between the garden and the inner courtyard, halfway between the certain and the perhaps, sitting in an armchair a little too big for her, lost in a mysterious and captivating story — in a world all her own.She turns a page, then another, adjusts her yellow glasses, and turns another page…When slowly, the echo of piano music reached her ears.She didn't pay much attention. Thinking it came from the courtyard, she turned another page — and then another.But before long she realized that the notes she heard were not coming from the villa's courtyard but from one of its corridors — carried by a gentle breeze, from faraway places outside of time.Without thinking too much, Elisa rose silently, tucked her book under her arm, and followed the music.She crossed ancient corridors and rooms with shelves full of volumes of every size and color imaginable — rainbows of thoughts and words lined up one by one that seemed to never end.As the music grew stronger, the light faded, the rooms she passed through began to appear forgotten, the stone stairs she climbed and descended worn by time, the side corridors were now dark passages lit only by torches on the walls, appearing and disappearing in the darkness like breaths.A staircase, a wooden door left ajar, another passage, another staircase, and still more rooms and shelves and books without end.Then, suddenly, a mist covered the floor like a gentle tide, and there, before her, a heavy curtain — half open.A little light showed through, and a few small wooden steps.She climbed them, those little stairs, and the music wrapped around her like an embrace.On the stage, candles floated in the air like fireflies on a timeless night. And there, at the center, seated before a tiny piano, was a mouse.But not just any mouse.Leopoldo wore a dark green tweed jacket, brown trousers pressed with care, and on his little snout, golden spectacles that gleamed with ancient and gentle wisdom.His fingers danced on the keys as if they were telling a secret."Welcome, Elisa," he said, without stopping his playing. "I've been waiting for you."Elisa blinked, enchanted. "How do you know my name?""Ah," Leopoldo smiled, letting the last note fade softly into the air, "those who love stories always recognize those who seek them."He stood, adjusted his jacket with an elegant gesture, and looked at her with eyes full of stars."Do you know where you are?""In the town library," Elisa answered, but her voice trembled a little, as if she knew the answer was something else."That one everyone knows," said Leopoldo, stepping down slowly from the stage. "Every town has one that everyone knows. But every town also has another — one that almost no one finds."He paused, his eyes gleaming."You have found the second."Leopoldo led her toward a large wooden door that Elisa could have sworn wasn't there a moment before. It opened slowly, without a sound, like a sigh held too long.And what she saw took her breath away.Endless shelves climbed upward, descended downward, stretched in every direction like spirals of galaxies made of paper and dreams. Candles floated everywhere, illuminating books that seemed to breathe, to pulse softly, like sleeping hearts."What is this place?" Elisa whispered."This," said Leopoldo, walking among the shelves, "is the library of books never written."Elisa followed, confused. "Books never written? But how can they exist?"Leopoldo stopped, turned, and looked at her with infinite gentleness."Every story ever dreamed exists, Elisa. Every adventure imagined before sleep. Every tale thought but never put to paper. They all live here, at the border between the world and the dream, waiting."They stopped before a shelf.Leopoldo pointed to a small book, bound in blue like a summer sky."Touch it," he said softly.Elisa reached out, hesitant, and brushed the cover.A gentle warmth passed through her fingers. And for an instant — just an instant — she heard a child's laughter, saw a dragon made of clouds, and a castle built of pillows and blankets."This," said Leopoldo, "was the dream of a six-year-old boy. A story he told his teddy bear every night. He never wrote it down. But it exists. You see? It exists."Elisa smiled, her heart light.They walked on, through corridors of silent stories, until Leopoldo stopped before another book.This one was different. Larger, bound in dark leather, with golden letters that seemed to tremble."And this one?" asked Elisa, quietly."This one," said Leopoldo, and his voice grew soft as a caress, "belonged to a grandmother."Elisa touched it.And she felt something different.Not laughter, this time. But a warm, distant voice, telling of a brave little girl who crossed an enchanted forest to bring light to a forgotten village."It was the story she wanted to leave her grandchildren," Leopoldo explained. "But time… time sometimes runs faster than dreams. She didn't have time to write it."Elisa felt her eyes sting."But it's here," she whispered."It's here," Leopoldo confirmed. "Forever."They continued walking, in silence, until they reached a shelf unlike the others.It was nearly empty. Only a few books, spaced apart, and so many open spaces, waiting.At the center, a book without a title.The cover was white, clean, like freshly fallen snow, like a page waiting for its first mark."May I?" asked Elisa.Leopoldo nodded.She touched it.Nothing. No warmth. No voice. Only silence. But a full silence, like a breath held."This book is empty," said Elisa, surprised."Not yet written," Leopoldo corrected. "Not even dreamed. Not yet. It waits for someone to find the courage to imagine it."He turned toward her, and his eyes shone like the candles floating around them."Perhaps it waits for you. Perhaps it waits for someone else. But it waits."Elisa stood still, looking at that white book.And she understood.She understood that every story she had ever imagined, every adventure invented before sleep, every dream she thought lost upon waking, existed somewhere.And she understood something else.That you don't have to be afraid to write.Because stories already exist — in the heart, in the mind, in dreams. Putting them on paper is not creating them from nothing. It is only opening a door and letting them out."I have to go, don't I?" said Elisa, softly.Leopoldo smiled. "Your world awaits you. But now you know this place exists. And you know that every story you dream will always have a place here, whether you write it or not."He paused."But if you do write it," he added with a sly smile, "it can live out there too. And that, my dear, is another kind of magic."Elisa found herself back in the villa's corridor, sitting in the armchair a little too big for her, the book still under her arm.The celebration went on, voices and music and laughter, as if no time had passed at all.But something had changed.She had changed.She opened the book she had been reading, looked at the pages, and smiled.Then she closed it.Because now she knew that the most beautiful stories are not only the ones we read.They are the ones we carry inside, the ones we dream with our eyes open, and the ones that one day, with a little courage, we dare to tell.— This story was written by Marco Ciappelli for "Storie Sotto Le Stelle"  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LA BIBLIOTECA SEGRETA DI LEOPOLDO Certa gente è strana,gli piace passare le serate a leggere libri. Altri sono ancora più strani —credono alla magia che si trova tra le pagine,alle avventure fantastiche,alle storie di amori impossibili,ai fantasmi che girano fra i vivie pensano che tutto ciò che non esiste —forse invece sì. In breve, questa storia è per quelli un po' stranicome me e te —insomma, per quelli che. Allora… ascolta bene. Se dal centro del paese prendi la via per il monte,trovi una villa vecchia e nobile,che è lì da tanto tempo.Saranno sì e no 350 anniche sta lì in silenzio,osservando e respirando pianosotto il cielo toscano. Stanze enormi piene di storia,corridoi senza finee finestre grandi come sogni,ma adesso, invece di piatti e statuine di porcellana,sforna storie su carta per chi le vuole leggere. Sì, ora è la biblioteca del paese —un po' fuori mano ma tanto bella.Beh, non si può avere tutto. Insomma, fatto sta che,in una notte d'estate,avvolta da un manto di stellee la luce soffusa di lanterne delicate,la villa si era riempita di voci, musica, sorrisie tante storie raccontate e ascoltate,a voce alta o sussurrate,che si intrecciavano nell'abbraccio della festa. Indubbiamente una serata già speciale,ma fate attenzioneperché qualcosa di ancora più insolito stava per avvenire. Sì, perché anche Elisa era lì.Occhi grandi come il cielo,capelli scuri come la nottee un libro in mano — come sempre. Nonostante tutto quello che le accadeva intorno,Elisa preferiva leggere. Era lì, nel corridoio principale:fra il giardino e la corte interna,a mezza strada fra il sicuro e il forse,seduta su una poltrona un po' troppo grande per lei,immersa in una storia misteriosa e avvincente —in un mondo tutto suo. Gira una pagina, poi un'altra,si accomoda gli occhiali giallie gira un'altra pagina… Quando lentamentel'eco di una musica di pianoforteraggiunse le sue orecchie. Non ci fece tanto attenzione.Credendo che provenisse dal cortilevoltò un'altra pagina — e poi un'altra. Ma in breve tempo si rese contoche le note che sentivanon venivano dal cortile della villama da uno dei suoi corridoi —portate da un vento leggero,da luoghi lontani e senza tempo. Senza pensarci troppo,Elisa si alzò silenziosamente,si mise il libro sotto il braccioe inseguì la musica. Attraversò antichi corridoie stanze con scaffali pieni di volumidi ogni dimensione e colori immaginabili —arcobaleni di pensieri e parole in fila per unoche sembravano non finire mai. Mentre la musica diventava più marcatala luce diminuiva,le stanze che attraversavacominciarono ad apparire dimenticate,le scale di pietra che saliva e scendevaconsumate dal tempo,i corridoi laterali erano ora passaggi scuriilluminati solamente da torce alle pareti,che apparivano e scomparivano nel buiocome respiri. Una scala,una porta di legno socchiusa,un altro passaggio,un'altra scalae ancora stanze e scaffali e libri a non finire. Poi, all'improvviso,una foschia coprì il pavimentocome una marea gentilee davanti a lei una grande tenda pesante —socchiusa. Si intravedeva un po' di lucee poche scalette di legno. Le salì, quelle piccole scale,e la musica la avvolse come un abbraccio. Sul palco, candele fluttuavano nell'ariacome lucciole in una notte senza tempo.E lì, al centro,seduto davanti a un pianoforte piccolo piccolo,c'era un topo. Ma non un topo qualunque. Leopoldo indossava una giacca di tweed verde scuro,pantaloni marroni stirati con cura,e sul musetto, occhiali doratiche brillavano di una saggezza antica e gentile. Le sue dita danzavano sui tasticome se stessero raccontando un segreto. «Benvenuta, Elisa» disse, senza smettere di suonare.«Ti stavo aspettando.» Elisa sbatté gli occhi, incantata.«Come sai il mio nome?» «Ah,» sorrise Leopoldo, lasciando che l'ultima notasi spegnesse dolcemente nell'aria,«chi ama le storie riconosce sempre chi le cerca.» Si alzò, si aggiustò la giacca con un gesto elegante,e la guardò con occhi pieni di stelle. «Sai dove sei?» «Nella biblioteca del paese,» rispose Elisa,ma la sua voce tremava un po',come se sapesse che la risposta era un'altra. «Quella la conoscono tutti,» disse Leopoldo,scendendo piano dal palco.«Ogni paese ne ha una che tutti conoscono.Ma ogni paese ne ha anche un'altra —una che quasi nessuno trova.» Fece una pausa, gli occhi che brillavano. «Tu hai trovato la seconda.» --- Leopoldo la guidò verso una grande porta di legnoche Elisa avrebbe giurato non esserci un attimo prima.Si aprì lentamente, senza rumore,come un sospiro trattenuto troppo a lungo. E quello che vide le tolse il fiato. Scaffali infiniti si arrampicavano verso l'alto,scendevano verso il basso,si estendevano in ogni direzionecome spirali di galassie fatte di carta e sogni.Candele galleggiavano ovunque,illuminando libri che sembravano respirare,pulsare piano,come cuori addormentati. «Che posto è questo?» sussurrò Elisa. «Questa,» disse Leopoldo camminando tra gli scaffali,«è la biblioteca dei libri mai scritti.» Elisa lo seguì, confusa.«Libri mai scritti? Ma come possono esistere?» Leopoldo si fermò, si voltò,e la guardò con dolcezza infinita. «Ogni storia sognata esiste, Elisa.Ogni avventura immaginata prima di dormire.Ogni racconto pensato ma mai messo su carta.Vivono tutti qui,al confine tra il mondo e il sogno,aspettando.» --- Si fermarono davanti a uno scaffale. Leopoldo indicò un libro piccolo,rilegato in blu come un cielo d'estate. «Toccalo,» disse piano. Elisa allungò la mano, esitante,e sfiorò la copertina. Un calore gentile le attraversò le dita.E per un istante — solo un istante —sentì una risata di bambino,vide un drago fatto di nuvole,e un castello costruito con cuscini e coperte. «Questo,» disse Leopoldo,«era il sogno di un bambino di sei anni.Una storia che raccontava ogni sera al suo orsacchiotto.Non l'ha mai scritta.Ma esiste. Vedi? Esiste.» Elisa sorrise, il cuore leggero. --- Camminarono ancora,tra corridoi di storie silenziose,finché Leopoldo si fermò davanti a un altro libro. Questo era diverso.Più grande, rilegato in pelle scura,con lettere dorate che sembravano tremare. «E questo?» chiese Elisa, piano. «Questo,» disse Leopoldo,e la sua voce si fece morbida come una carezza,«apparteneva a una nonna.» Elisa lo toccò. E sentì qualcosa di diverso. Non una risata, questa volta.Ma una voce calda, lontana,che raccontava di una bambina coraggiosache attraversava un bosco incantatoper portare la luce a un villaggio dimenticato. «Era la storia che voleva lasciare ai suoi nipoti,»spiegò Leopoldo.«Ma il tempo... il tempo a volte corre più veloce dei sogni.Non ha fatto in tempo a scriverla.» Elisa sentì gli occhi pizzicare. «Ma è qui,» sussurrò. «È qui,» confermò Leopoldo.«Per sempre.» --- Continuarono a camminare, in silenzio,finché arrivarono a uno scaffale diverso dagli altri. Era quasi vuoto.Solo pochi libri, distanziati,e tanti spazi aperti, in attesa. Al centro, un libro senza titolo. La copertina era bianca, pulita,come neve appena caduta,come una pagina che aspetta il primo segno. «Posso?» chiese Elisa. Leopoldo annuì. Lo toccò. Niente.Nessun calore. Nessuna voce.Solo silenzio.Ma un silenzio pieno,come un respiro trattenuto. «Questo libro è vuoto,» disse Elisa, sorpresa. «Non ancora scritto,» corresse Leopoldo.«Nemmeno sognato. Non ancora.Aspetta qualcuno che trovi il coraggiodi immaginarlo.» Si voltò verso di lei,e i suoi occhi brillaronocome le candele che fluttuavano intorno. «Forse aspetta te.Forse aspetta qualcun altro.Ma aspetta.» --- Elisa rimase ferma,a guardare quel libro bianco. E capì. Capì che ogni storia che aveva immaginato,ogni avventura inventata prima di dormire,ogni sogno che credeva perso al risveglio,esisteva da qualche parte. E capì qualcos'altro. Che non bisogna avere paura di scrivere. Perché le storie esistono già —nel cuore, nella mente, nei sogni.Metterle su cartanon è crearle dal nulla.È solo aprire una portae lasciarle uscire. --- «Devo andare, vero?» disse Elisa, piano. Leopoldo sorrise.«Il tuo mondo ti aspetta.Ma ora sai che questo posto esiste.E sai che ogni storia che sogneraiavrà sempre un posto qui,che tu la scriva o no.» Fece una pausa. «Ma se la scrivi,» aggiunse con un sorriso furbo,«potrà vivere anche là fuori.E quella, mia cara, è un'altra magia ancora.» --- Elisa si ritrovò nel corridoio della villa,seduta sulla poltrona un po' troppo grande per lei,il libro ancora sotto il braccio. La festa continuava,voci e musica e risate,come se il tempo non fosse mai passato. Ma qualcosa era cambiato. Lei era cambiata. Aprì il libro che stava leggendo,guardò le pagine,e sorrise. Poi lo chiuse. Perché adesso sapevache le storie più bellenon sono solo quelle che leggiamo. Sono quelle che portiamo dentro,quelle che sogniamo ad occhi aperti,e quelle che un giorno,con un po' di coraggio,osiamo raccontare. --- *— Scritta da Marco Ciappelli*   Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

THE SEASONS IN A BREATHAutumn appeared at the window and looked around— it was November."The leaves are yellow and red.The swallows fly away in flocks over the rooftops.The crisp air smells of roasted chestnuts and burning wood.I like it this way,"Autumn exclaimed.Winter opened the door and looked around— it was January."The snow and the freezing wind.In the woods, mistletoe on branches beneath a blanket of ice.The marmot sleeps in her covered den, dreaming of the stars.How lovely it is to be warm and cozy!"Winter exclaimed.Spring stepped out onto the terrace and looked around— it was April."The flowers bloom and the birds chirp, returning to their nests.With the mild temperature, joyful life vibrates in the air.How wonderful!"Spring exclaimed.Summer went into the garden and looked around— it was July.A cat rests in the shade of a pine tree.The air smells of cut grass and ripe fruit.The butterflies dance carefree to the song of the cicadas.The sun makes me smile!"Summer exclaimed.The months pass and the year spins at great speed,but they will always bring something beautiful. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LE STAGIONI IN UN SOFFIOL'Autunno si affacciò alla finestra e si guardò intorno— era Novembre."Le foglie sono gialle e rosse.Le rondini volano via in gruppi sopra i tetti.L'aria fresca profuma di caldarroste e di legna bruciata.A me piace così.”Esclamò l'Autunno.L'Inverno aprì la porta e si guardò intorno— era Gennaio."La neve e il vento gelido.Nel bosco, il vischio sui rami sotto un mantello di ghiaccio.La marmotta dorme nella sua tana coperta, sognando le stelle.Ma che bello se al calduccio sto.”Esclamò l'Inverno.La Primavera uscì sul terrazzo e si guardò intorno— era Aprile."I fiori sbocciano e gli uccelli cinguettano tornando ai loro nidi.Con la temperatura mite la vita gioiosa vibra nell'aria.Che meraviglia.”Esclamò la Primavera.L'Estate andò in giardino e si guardò intorno— era Luglio.Un gatto riposa all'ombra di un pino.L'aria profuma di erba tagliata e di frutta matura.Le farfalle danzano spensierate al canto delle cicale.Il sole sorridere mi fa.”Esclamò l'Estate.Passano i mesi e gira l'anno a gran velocità,ma sempre qualcosa di bello porteranno. Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Halloween over Florence: THE MARKET OF GHOSTSSeverino lived in the bell tower on the hill — the one next to the ancient Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.Every evening, at sunset, he would lock the gate at the base of the entrance stairway and before climbing back up, he would pause to watch Florence color itself amber.And so he did today as well. The tourists had left. Time stopped and silence became sacred again.Through the rusted bars the city stood there motionless — perhaps since forever; with its red roofs, marble facades and the Arno flowing between its stones like a glittering silver ribbon.Domes and towers trembling with light, almost suspended in the air, as if everything and everyone were holding their breath waiting for twilight — and for the night that would cover it with shadows, stars and dreams.One more glance, then he turned on his transistor radio that he had found a few years ago and the notes of Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' filled the autumn evening.Silence may be sacred for the monks, but for Severino music was more so. Seven, his raven, didn't need to be called and at the first notes launched himself from the cypresses of the cemetery above, circled in front of the imposing facade of the Basilica and suddenly glided down along the stairway, to land gently on his left shoulder."Hey Seven, had a good day?""Yes. Could have been worse — Let's settle for that."At which, Severino smiled, turned up the radio's volume and began climbing resolutely toward le Porte del Cielo, while Jazz music echoed among the ancient stones.Nine years ago, on this same day in the month of October, the Olivetan monks residing in the Abbey found a child on the steps of the Basilica.He was there, wrapped in fog, silent as the night, eyes curious as the wind, without name and without past. They called him Severino — I don't know why — and he grew up among prayers and silences. He played in ancient rooms and discovered his world, surrounded by books, tombs, art and mysteries never revealed. At night a raven and a black cat accompanied him, illuminated by the moon, in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, wandering among imposing crypts and motionless statues that whispered memories and mysteries.But on Halloween nights the whispers transform into screams and endless laments. Secrets manifest themselves, legends become reality, and dreams disguised as nightmares knock on doors lit by candles. And that full moon night was precisely this night: October 31st — and remember, whether you believe in spirits or not, nothing changes: the ghosts will come.And Severino was up there, right there waiting for them to arrive. Leaning out the highest window of the bell tower, calm, looking at Florence from above. While Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight' played on his radio, he watched — tapping time with one foot and waited.At the second of the twelve strokes of the midnight bells, something began to happen. On the Arno formed a dense fog that pulsed with spectral green. It began to rise and slide slow but inexorable over the bridges like fingers of cold hands of impatient ghosts. It slid over the Ponte Vecchio and rolled through the streets of Oltrarno until reaching San Niccolò, where it climbed up the hill swallowing everything it found in its path.When it reached the gate of San Miniato, it slipped through the bars and climbed up the stairs until it covered, like a high luminous tide, the entire square in front of the church. It climbed up the marble facade and wrapped also the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, covering the entire hill in a cloak of mystery. Then slowly, as if by enchantment, the fog began to dissolve rising toward the sky and when the last cloud melted into the night air, the square was no longer empty.Small jack-o'-lanterns with flickering lights floated in the air smiling with teeth of fire. Black candles sprouted from nowhere, illuminating spectral stalls full of everything and nothing. Bats that seemed made of paper but were alive fluttered among the lights with wings of black velvet, while autumn leaves danced without wind, sparkling with gold and copper. Pumpkins of every shape filled the stands, some carved with funny faces, others covered with silver spiderwebs that shone like threads of moon. Witch hats swirled in the air like flying umbrellas rotating slow on themselves. Roasted chestnuts perfumed the air with cinnamon and mystery, while small dancing skeletons tinkled like ice bells.And finally in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, the Portal opened. Like every Halloween, for centuries, spirits from all over the world congregated in Florence for their annual meeting. A spectral river of ghosts poured into the square, each heading toward their own stall, and each with their impossible merchandise to sell or trade. The spirits had arrived and Severino observed them from above. A carnival of other worlds, made of sounds, colors and unimaginable stories.The deserted square had transformed into the Market of Ghosts. Stalls kept materializing from nowhere, carved and glowing pumpkins told each other stories of Halloweens past, present and future laughing malicious among the perfumes of lost memories, past centuries, tomorrow's candles and fallen stardust. The sky above the Tuscan hills and above Florence was full of ghosts arriving from everywhere to search for the unfindable. But no human eye could see this spectacle. No one except Severino, who descended from the tower enchanted by that spectacle and immersed himself in the crowd pulsating with otherworldly life. Seven circled above him observing with attentive eyes and cawing a bit nervous. Some ghosts looked at him with curiosity and recognized him. Someone greeted him and many others whispered his name in forgotten languages."There he is," murmured a witch from Prague."The child of time," sighed a Norman knight."He's returned, I told you so." laughed a Caribbean pirate.But Severino paid them no attention because there were ghosts selling: dreams of sleeping dragons, laughter of northern gnomes, tears of mermaids in love, the last breath of dinosaurs, shadows of unicorns. And even fears from past Halloweens — two for the price of one, but only for tonight. The ghost of a pirate who died during a boarding gone not so well shouted: "Storm bottles! Lightning in jars!" A witch from Salem whispered: "Love potions that last three lifetimes…" A medieval knight showed swords that cut fear, A Chinese spirit waved kites that fly into the past.The spectral crowd grew and thickened, laughed and bargained, while Severino walked amazed and fascinated among the impossible stalls of the Halloween Market. Seven cawed restless from above and Eleven, the black cat with orange eyes, jumped from one tent to another not losing sight of a single movement of Severino and the hundreds of souls circling around him.A ghost monk from an era that never existed saw him and smiled at him from behind a stall full of ancient radios adorned with mysterious symbols. Severino approached, fascinated."How wonderful! Do they all work?""Oh yes, certainly" replied the monk. "These transmit on the waves of past, present, and future time. But you don't need to buy one."The other ghosts stopped. They ceased selling, buying and bartering. They looked at Severino with respect and listened to what the collector of frequencies told him."The transistor radio you already have is more special than you think. But to discover its true secrets, you'll have to search in the ancient crypts where everything began."And suddenly the first lights of dawn began to illuminate the sky behind San Miniato with pink. In rush and hurry the ghosts said goodbye flying away in the wind. "Until next Halloween!" They told each other crossing in the sky. The stalls vanished. Lanterns and candles went out. The Market of Ghosts dissolved like a dream.Severino found himself alone in the empty square, Seven on his shoulder and Eleven sitting on the low wallLooking at Florence illuminating itself in the day of All Saints. He observed his old radio with new eyes and from the ancient crypts of San Miniato, something seemed to call him. He turned it on, turned up the volume and descended the stairway in time to Chet Baker's version of 'Autumn Leaves'.It was time to throw open the gate of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.___________________We will continue this story.... For now a Happy Halloween to all of you, may you always believe in magic!Story written by Marco Ciappelli for "Stories Under The Stars" Halloween 2025___________________Listen to Severino's Playlist for the songs that accompany this story and subscribe to discover new music with every adventure.

Halloween over Florence: THE MARKET OF GHOSTSSeverino lived in the bell tower on the hill — the one next to the ancient Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.Every evening, at sunset, he would lock the gate at the base of the entrance stairway and before climbing back up, he would pause to watch Florence color itself amber.And so he did today as well. The tourists had left. Time stopped and silence became sacred again.Through the rusted bars the city stood there motionless — perhaps since forever; with its red roofs, marble facades and the Arno flowing between its stones like a glittering silver ribbon.Domes and towers trembling with light, almost suspended in the air, as if everything and everyone were holding their breath waiting for twilight — and for the night that would cover it with shadows, stars and dreams.One more glance, then he turned on his transistor radio that he had found a few years ago and the notes of Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' filled the autumn evening.Silence may be sacred for the monks, but for Severino music was more so. Seven, his raven, didn't need to be called and at the first notes launched himself from the cypresses of the cemetery above, circled in front of the imposing facade of the Basilica and suddenly glided down along the stairway, to land gently on his left shoulder."Hey Seven, had a good day?""Yes. Could have been worse — Let's settle for that."At which, Severino smiled, turned up the radio's volume and began climbing resolutely toward le Porte del Cielo, while Jazz music echoed among the ancient stones.Nine years ago, on this same day in the month of October, the Olivetan monks residing in the Abbey found a child on the steps of the Basilica.He was there, wrapped in fog, silent as the night, eyes curious as the wind, without name and without past. They called him Severino — I don't know why — and he grew up among prayers and silences. He played in ancient rooms and discovered his world, surrounded by books, tombs, art and mysteries never revealed. At night a raven and a black cat accompanied him, illuminated by the moon, in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, wandering among imposing crypts and motionless statues that whispered memories and mysteries.But on Halloween nights the whispers transform into screams and endless laments. Secrets manifest themselves, legends become reality, and dreams disguised as nightmares knock on doors lit by candles. And that full moon night was precisely this night: October 31st — and remember, whether you believe in spirits or not, nothing changes: the ghosts will come.And Severino was up there, right there waiting for them to arrive. Leaning out the highest window of the bell tower, calm, looking at Florence from above. While Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight' played on his radio, he watched — tapping time with one foot and waited.At the second of the twelve strokes of the midnight bells, something began to happen. On the Arno formed a dense fog that pulsed with spectral green. It began to rise and slide slow but inexorable over the bridges like fingers of cold hands of impatient ghosts. It slid over the Ponte Vecchio and rolled through the streets of Oltrarno until reaching San Niccolò, where it climbed up the hill swallowing everything it found in its path.When it reached the gate of San Miniato, it slipped through the bars and climbed up the stairs until it covered, like a high luminous tide, the entire square in front of the church. It climbed up the marble facade and wrapped also the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, covering the entire hill in a cloak of mystery. Then slowly, as if by enchantment, the fog began to dissolve rising toward the sky and when the last cloud melted into the night air, the square was no longer empty.Small jack-o'-lanterns with flickering lights floated in the air smiling with teeth of fire. Black candles sprouted from nowhere, illuminating spectral stalls full of everything and nothing. Bats that seemed made of paper but were alive fluttered among the lights with wings of black velvet, while autumn leaves danced without wind, sparkling with gold and copper. Pumpkins of every shape filled the stands, some carved with funny faces, others covered with silver spiderwebs that shone like threads of moon. Witch hats swirled in the air like flying umbrellas rotating slow on themselves. Roasted chestnuts perfumed the air with cinnamon and mystery, while small dancing skeletons tinkled like ice bells.And finally in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, the Portal opened. Like every Halloween, for centuries, spirits from all over the world congregated in Florence for their annual meeting. A spectral river of ghosts poured into the square, each heading toward their own stall, and each with their impossible merchandise to sell or trade. The spirits had arrived and Severino observed them from above. A carnival of other worlds, made of sounds, colors and unimaginable stories.The deserted square had transformed into the Market of Ghosts. Stalls kept materializing from nowhere, carved and glowing pumpkins told each other stories of Halloweens past, present and future laughing malicious among the perfumes of lost memories, past centuries, tomorrow's candles and fallen stardust. The sky above the Tuscan hills and above Florence was full of ghosts arriving from everywhere to search for the unfindable. But no human eye could see this spectacle. No one except Severino, who descended from the tower enchanted by that spectacle and immersed himself in the crowd pulsating with otherworldly life. Seven circled above him observing with attentive eyes and cawing a bit nervous. Some ghosts looked at him with curiosity and recognized him. Someone greeted him and many others whispered his name in forgotten languages."There he is," murmured a witch from Prague."The child of time," sighed a Norman knight."He's returned, I told you so." laughed a Caribbean pirate.But Severino paid them no attention because there were ghosts selling: dreams of sleeping dragons, laughter of northern gnomes, tears of mermaids in love, the last breath of dinosaurs, shadows of unicorns. And even fears from past Halloweens — two for the price of one, but only for tonight. The ghost of a pirate who died during a boarding gone not so well shouted: "Storm bottles! Lightning in jars!" A witch from Salem whispered: "Love potions that last three lifetimes…" A medieval knight showed swords that cut fear, A Chinese spirit waved kites that fly into the past.The spectral crowd grew and thickened, laughed and bargained, while Severino walked amazed and fascinated among the impossible stalls of the Halloween Market. Seven cawed restless from above and Eleven, the black cat with orange eyes, jumped from one tent to another not losing sight of a single movement of Severino and the hundreds of souls circling around him.A ghost monk from an era that never existed saw him and smiled at him from behind a stall full of ancient radios adorned with mysterious symbols. Severino approached, fascinated."How wonderful! Do they all work?""Oh yes, certainly" replied the monk. "These transmit on the waves of past, present, and future time. But you don't need to buy one."The other ghosts stopped. They ceased selling, buying and bartering. They looked at Severino with respect and listened to what the collector of frequencies told him."The transistor radio you already have is more special than you think. But to discover its true secrets, you'll have to search in the ancient crypts where everything began."And suddenly the first lights of dawn began to illuminate the sky behind San Miniato with pink. In rush and hurry the ghosts said goodbye flying away in the wind. "Until next Halloween!" They told each other crossing in the sky. The stalls vanished. Lanterns and candles went out. The Market of Ghosts dissolved like a dream.Severino found himself alone in the empty square, Seven on his shoulder and Eleven sitting on the low wallLooking at Florence illuminating itself in the day of All Saints. He observed his old radio with new eyes and from the ancient crypts of San Miniato, something seemed to call him. He turned it on, turned up the volume and descended the stairway in time to Chet Baker's version of 'Autumn Leaves'.It was time to throw open the gate of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.___________________We will continue this story.... For now a Happy Halloween to all of you, may you always believe in magic!Story written by Marco Ciappelli for "Stories Under The Stars" Halloween 2025___________________Listen to Severino's Playlist for the songs that accompany this story and subscribe to discover new music with every adventure.

Halloween sopra Firenze: IL MERCATO DEI FANTASMISeverino viveva nel campanile sulla collina — quello accanto all'antica Basilica di San Miniato al Monte.Ogni sera, al tramonto, chiudeva a chiave il cancello alla base della scalinata d'ingresso e prima di risalire su, si soffermava ad osservare Firenze colorarsi d'ambra.E così fece anche oggi. I turisti se ne erano andati. Il tempo si fermò e il silenzio tornò sacro.Attraverso le sbarre arrugginite la città stava là immobile — forse da sempre; con i suoi tetti rossi, le facciate di marmo e l'Arno che scorreva fra le sue pietre come uno scintillante nastro argentato. Cupole e torri tremolanti di luce, quasi sospese nell'aria, come se tutto e tutti stessero trattenendo il respiro in attesa del crepuscolo — e della notte che l'avrebbe coperta di ombre, stelle e sogni.Ancora uno sguardo, poi accese la sua radio a transistor che aveva trovato qualche anno fa e le note di 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' di Duke Ellington riempirono la serata autunnale.Il silenzio sarà sacro per i monaci, ma per Severino la musica lo era di più.Seven, il suo corvo, non si fece chiamare ed alle prime note si lanciò dai cipressi del cimitero sovrastante, volteggiò davanti alla facciata imponente della Basilica e d'improvviso planò in basso lungo la scalinata, per posarsi gentilmente sulla sua spalla sinistra. “Ciao Seven, passata una buona giornata?”“Sì. Poteva andare peggio — Accontentiamoci.” Al che, Severino sorrise, alzò il volume della radio e iniziò a risalire deciso verso le Porte del Cielo, mentre la musica Jazz echeggiava tra le pietre millenarie.Nove anni fa, in questo stesso giorno del mese d'Ottobre, i monaci Olivetani residenti nell'Abbazia trovarono un bambino sui gradini della Basilica.Stava lì, avvolto nella nebbia, silenzioso come la notte, occhi curiosi come il vento — senza nome e senza passato. Lo chiamarono Severino — non so il perché — e crebbe tra preghiere e silenzi. Giocava in stanze antiche e scopriva il suo mondo, circondato da libri, tombe, arte e misteri mai svelati.Di notte un corvo ed un gatto nero lo accompagnavano, illuminati dalla luna,  nel Cimitero Delle Porte Sante, vagando fra cripte imponenti e statue immobili che sussurravano memorie e misteri.Ma nelle notti di Halloween i sussurri si trasformano in grida e lamenti senza fine. Segreti si manifestano, leggende diventano realtà, e sogni mascherati da incubi bussano a porte illuminate da candele. E quella notte di luna piena era proprio questa notte: il 31 d'Ottobre — e ricordati, che tu creda agli spiriti o no, niente cambia: i fantasmi arriveranno.E Severino era lassù, proprio ad aspettare che arrivassero. Affacciato alla finestra più alta del campanile, tranquillo, guardando Firenze dall'alto. Mentre 'Round Midnight' di Thelonious Monk suonava nella sua radio, lui guardava — batteva il tempo con un piede ed aspettava.Al secondo dei dodici rintocchi delle campane di mezzanotte, qualcosa cominciò a succedere. Sull'Arno si formò una nebbia densa che pulsava di verde spettrale. Iniziò a salire e scivolare lenta ma inesorabile sui ponti come dita di mani fredde di fantasmi impazienti.  Scivolava sul Ponte Vecchio e rotolava per le vie d'Oltrarno fino a raggiungere San Niccolò, dove si arrampicava sulla collina inghiottendo tutto ciò che trovava sulla sua strada.Quando raggiunse il cancello di San Miniato, scivolò fra le sbarre e salì lungo le scale fino a coprire, come un'alta marea luminosa, tutto il piazzale antistante la chiesa. Si arrampicò sulla sua facciata di marmo e avvolse anche il cimitero delle Porte Sante, coprendo tutta la collina in un mantello di mistero. Poi lentamente, come per incanto, la nebbia iniziò a dissolversi salendo verso il cielo e quando l'ultima nuvola si sciolse nell'aria notturna, il piazzale non era più vuoto.Piccole jack-o'-lanterns con luci tremolanti galleggiavano nell'aria sorridendo con denti di fuoco. Candele nere spuntavano dal nulla, illuminando bancarelle spettrali colme di tutto e niente. Pipistrelli che sembravano di carta ma che erano vivi volteggiavano tra le luci con ali di velluto nero, mentre foglie d'autunno danzavano senza vento, scintillando d'oro e rame. Zucche di ogni forma riempivano i banchi, alcune intagliate con facce buffe, altre coperte di ragnatele argentate che brillavano come fili di luna. Cappelli da strega volteggiavano nell'aria come ombrelli volanti ruotando lenti su se stessi. Castagne arrostite profumavano l'aria di cannella e mistero, mentre piccoli scheletri danzanti tintinnavano come campanelli di ghiaccio.E finalmente nel cimitero delle Porte Sante, il Portale si aprì. Come ogni Halloween, da secoli, spiriti da tutto il mondo si congregavano a Firenze per il loro incontro annuale. Un fiume spettrale di fantasmi si riversò nel piazzale, ognuno dirigendosi verso la propria bancarella, ed ognuno con le sue mercanzie impossibili da vendere o scambiare.Gli spiriti erano arrivati e Severino li osservava dall'alto. Un carnevale di altri mondi, fatto di suoni, colori e storie inimmaginabili.Il piazzale deserto si era trasformato nel Mercato dei Fantasmi. Bancarelle continuavano a materializzarsi dal nulla, zucche intagliate e lucenti si raccontavano storie di Halloween passati, presenti e futuri ridendo maligne fra i profumi di memorie perdute, secoli passati, candele di domani e polvere di stelle cadute.Il cielo sopra le colline toscane e sopra Firenze era pieno di fantasmi che arrivavano da ogni dove per cercare l'introvabile. Ma nessun occhio umano poteva vedere questo spettacolo. Nessuno eccetto Severino, che scese dalla torre incantato da quello spettacolo e si immerse nella folla pulsante di vita ultraterrena. Seven gli volteggiava sopra osservando con occhi attenti e gracchiando un po' nervoso. Alcuni fantasmi lo guardavano con curiosità e lo riconoscevano. Qualcuno lo salutava e molti altri sussurravano il suo nome in lingue dimenticate."Eccolo," mormorava una strega di Praga. "Il bambino del tempo," sospirava un cavaliere normanno. "È tornato, ve lo dicevo io.” rideva un pirata dei Caraibi.Ma Severino non ci faceva attenzione perché c'erano fantasmi che vendevano: sogni di draghi addormentati, risate di gnomi del nord, lacrime di sirene innamorate, l'ultimo respiro dei dinosauri, ombre di unicorni. E perfino paure di Halloween passati — due al prezzo di uno, ma solo per stanotte. Il fantasma di un pirata morto durante un abbordaggio andato poco bene gridava:"Bottiglie di tempesta! Fulmini in barattolo!"Una strega di Salem sussurrava: “Pozioni d'amore che durano tre vite…”Un cavaliere medievale mostrava spade che tagliano la paura,Uno spirito cinese sventolava aquiloni che volano nel passato.La folla spettrale cresceva e si addensava, rideva e contrattava, mentre Severino camminava stupito e affascinato tra i banchi impossibili del Mercato di Halloween.Seven gracchiava inquieto dall'alto e Eleven, il gatto nero dagli occhi arancioni, saltava da una tenda all'altra non perdendo di vista un singolo movimento di Severino e delle centinaia d'anime che gli giravano intorno.Un monaco fantasma di un'epoca mai esistita lo vide e gli sorrise da dietro una bancarella piena di radio antiche ornate di simboli misteriosi. Severino si avvicinò, affascinato. "Che meraviglia! Funzionano tutte?""Oh sì, certamente" rispose il monaco, ”Queste trasmettono sulle onde del tempo passato, presente, e futuro. Ma tu non hai bisogno di comprarne una."Gli altri fantasmi si fermarono. Smisero di vendere, comprare e barattare. Guardarono Severino con rispetto e ascoltavano quello che gli diceva il collezionista di frequenze."La radio a transistor che hai già è più speciale di quanto credi. Ma per scoprire i suoi veri segreti, dovrai cercare nelle cripte antiche dove tutto ebbe inizio."E all'improvviso le prime luci dell'alba iniziarono a illuminare di rosa il cielo dietro San Miniato. In fretta e furia i fantasmi si salutarono volando via nel vento."Fino al prossimo Halloween!” Si dicevano incrociandosi in cielo.Le bancarelle svanirono. Lanterne e candele si spensero. Il Mercato dei Fantasmi si dissolse come un sogno.Severino si ritrovò solo nel piazzale vuoto, Seven sulla sua spalla e Eleven seduto sul muretto a guardare Firenze che si illuminava nel giorno di OgniSanti. Osservò la sua vecchia radio con occhi nuovi e dalle cripte antiche di San Miniato, qualcosa sembrava chiamarlo. L'accese, alzò il volume e scese la scalinata a tempo di 'Autumn Leaves' nella versione di Chet Baker.Era giunta l'ora di spalancare il cancello della Basilica di San Miniato al Monte.Continueremo questa storia. Per adesso un Buon Halloween a tutti voi, che possiate sempre credere nella magia! Storia scritta da Marco Ciappelli per "Storie Sotto Le Stelle" Halloween 2025Ascolta Severino's Playlist per le canzoni che accompagnano questa storia e iscriviti per scoprire nuove musiche ad ogni avventura.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Capturing Firenze: A Photo Adventure and Unexpected Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-10-20-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole splendeva dolcemente sul Ponte Vecchio a Firenze, dipingendo un quadro perfetto di colori autunnali.En: The sun shone gently on the Ponte Vecchio in Firenze, painting a perfect picture of autumn colors.It: Le foglie dorate danzavano nel vento e il profumo della stagione riempiva l'aria.En: The golden leaves danced in the wind, and the scent of the season filled the air.It: Alessandro camminava con la sua macchina fotografica, cercando l'immagine perfetta per la sua prossima mostra.En: Alessandro walked with his camera, searching for the perfect image for his next exhibition.It: Ogni scatto sembrava mancare di qualcosa, e il rumore del mercato lo distraeva.En: Every shot seemed to lack something, and the noise of the market distracted him.It: Mentre vagava tra le bancarelle affollate, la sua attenzione fu catturata da Giulia, una ragazza dai capelli castani e un sorriso luminoso, che esponeva i suoi gioielli artigianali.En: As he wandered among the crowded stalls, his attention was caught by Giulia, a girl with brown hair and a bright smile, displaying her handmade jewelry.It: Le sue creazioni brillavano alla luce del sole, attirando gli sguardi dei passanti.En: Her creations sparkled in the sunlight, attracting the glances of passersby.It: "Vuoi fotografare qualcosa di speciale?"En: "Do you want to photograph something special?"It: chiese Giulia, notando l'interesse di Alessandro.En: asked Giulia, noticing Alessandro's interest.It: "Sì," rispose lui, "ma è difficile catturare la magia di tutto questo tra la folla."En: "Yes," he replied, "but it's hard to capture the magic of all this among the crowd."It: Giulia sorrise comprensiva.En: Giulia smiled understandingly.It: "Forse posso aiutarti.En: "Maybe I can help you.It: Vuoi provare a fotografare i miei gioielli?En: Do you want to try photographing my jewelry?It: Forse insieme possiamo fare qualcosa di unico."En: Maybe together we can create something unique."It: Fu così che iniziò una collaborazione inaspettata tra loro.En: And so began an unexpected collaboration between them.It: Alessandro scattò foto dei gioielli di Giulia, mentre lei parlava con i clienti, raccontando la storia di ogni pezzo.En: Alessandro took photos of Giulia's jewelry while she talked with customers, telling the story of each piece.It: Le persone erano curiose, e la bancarella di Giulia iniziò ad attirare più visitatori.En: People were curious, and Giulia's stall started to attract more visitors.It: Quando il sole iniziò a calare, Alessandro trovò l'angolazione giusta.En: When the sun began to set, Alessandro found the right angle.It: Il Ponte Vecchio, illuminato dai toni caldi del tramonto, faceva da sfondo perfetto.En: The Ponte Vecchio, lit by the warm tones of sunset, provided the perfect backdrop.It: I gioielli di Giulia brillavano sotto la luce morente del giorno, mentre la vivacità del mercato formava un quadro vivace e autentico.En: Giulia's jewelry glowed under the dying light of the day, while the vibrancy of the market formed a lively and authentic scene.It: Clic!En: Click!It: Il momento perfetto era stato catturato.En: The perfect moment was captured.It: Quella sera, Alessandro e Giulia celebrarono.En: That evening, Alessandro and Giulia celebrated.It: Alessandro aveva finalmente lo scatto che cercava e Giulia aveva visto crescere il suo piccolo commercio.En: Alessandro finally had the shot he was looking for, and Giulia had seen her small business grow.It: I due parlarono a lungo, scoprendo di condividere la stessa passione per l'arte e l'artigianato.En: The two talked for a long time, discovering they shared the same passion for art and craftsmanship.It: Alla fine della giornata, Alessandro capì l'importanza di lavorare insieme.En: By the end of the day, Alessandro understood the importance of working together.It: La fiducia in sé stesso era aumentata, non solo grazie alla bellissima foto, ma anche grazie al legame creato con una nuova amica.En: His confidence had grown, not only because of the beautiful photo but also because of the bond he created with a new friend.It: Giulia, da parte sua, aveva dimostrato a sé stessa di essere una brava venditrice e aveva guadagnato un alleato prezioso nella sua impresa.En: Giulia, on her part, proved to herself to be a good salesperson and gained a valuable ally in her venture.It: In quell'angolo di Firenze, sotto le luci sfavillanti del ponte, una nuova amicizia era nata.En: In that corner of Firenze, under the sparkling lights of the bridge, a new friendship was born.It: E con essa, una fiducia rinnovata per affrontare il domani.En: And with it, a renewed confidence to face tomorrow. Vocabulary Words:the sun: il solethe picture: il quadrothe leaf: la fogliathe wind: il ventothe scent: il profumothe market: il mercatothe stall: la bancarellathe jewelry: i gioiellithe creation: la creazionethe passerby: il passantespecial: specialethe smile: il sorrisoto capture: catturarethe magic: la magiathe crowd: la follato sparkle: brillarethe collaboration: la collaborazionethe customer: il clientethe sunset: il tramontothe angle: l'angolazionethe background: lo sfondothe vibrancy: la vivacitàthe scene: la scenathe moment: il momentoto celebrate: celebrarethe passion: la passionethe craftsmanship: l'artigianatothe bond: il legamethe ally: l'alleatothe venture: l'impresa

Un Mistero A Firenze In Toscana c'è tanta magia: colline decorate con olivi, vigneti e cipressi, campanili che suonano ovunque, giardini nascosti, e ovviamente città incantate, piene di storia e bellezza, dove artisti famosi hanno creato opere d'arte meravigliose.In questo racconto ci troviamo nella città di Firenze, dove la magia abbonda e in ogni angolo si nascondono leggende.Un fiume chiamato Arno l'attraversa; e fra i tanti ponti ce n'è uno che giustamente è un po' più famoso degli altri: il Ponte Vecchio. In quelle case sospese adesso non ci abita più nessuno. Ogni giorno è pieno di turisti che lo fotografano e lo vengono a visitare da tutto il mondo, ma tanti e tanti anni fa su questo ponte c'erano macellai, pescivendoli e conciatori come se fosse un mercato, una piazza sospesa sull'Arno e la vita quotidiana era ben diversa dai giorni d'oggi.Ai tempi di questa storia le botteghe erano tutte gioiellerie di proprietà di mastri orafi, che lì ci vivevano, lavoravano e vendevano gioielli d'oro e preziosi di altissima qualità. Era uno dei cuori della città dove i fiorentini del tempo si ritrovavano e si fermavano a chiacchierare mentre andavano e venivano da una parte all'altra del fiume. Anche i ragazzini ci passavano le giornate divertendosi a giocare correndo da un lato all'altro indisturbati.A questo punto dovete sapere che da qualche giorno avvenivano piccoli furti nelle botteghe degli artigiani. Oro e preziosi sparivano come se rubati dal vento, in silenzio e di sorpresa, senza lasciare traccia. Chi sa chi lo sa? Chi poteva essere il colpevole?Gli orafi si riunirono, dopo la chiusura dei negozi, proprio sul ponte."Ma che cosa sta succedendo?" disse uno."Boh, a saperlo…" disse un altro."E mica si può andare avanti così, a passare da bischeri!"Bernardo, uno degli orafi, disse: "Va bene che sono un po' sbadato, ma di sicuro non sono cieco da non vedere se mi manca dell'oro dalla bottega."E via a farsi domande e interrogarsi fra di loro per cercare di trovare una spiegazione per questi furti, scoprire il ladro e magari ritrovare il maltolto.Insomma, era ormai da settimane che dalle botteghe sparivano pagliuzze della lavorazione dell'oro e vari oggetti preziosi — e tutto questo succedeva sotto gli occhi di tutti ma nessuno aveva visto niente.A chi dare la colpa se non a quei monelli dispettosi che si divertivano a giocare a pallone sul ponte! Fra partitelle, risate, corse, giochi vari e nascondino, chissà se qualcuno di loro non si era messo a rubare qua e là.Passarono altri giorni e altro oro era svanito nel nulla. Gli orafi, stanchi di questa storia, uscirono sul ponte e gridarono a gran voce tutti insieme: "Ora ci siamo proprio divertiti ed è ora di farla finita! Catturiamo il ladro!"Anche il fornaio Giulio uscì sull'uscio della sua bottega, a sinistra, in fondo al ponte, e benché non avesse capito di preciso cosa stava succedendo, mostrò a tutti le mani piene di farina gridando: "Io non c'entro, lo giuro! Le mani in pasta le ho solo perché sono sempre a preparare le focacce da cuocere in forno."E così dicendo si unì agli altri gridando: "Prendiamo il ladro con le mani nel sacco prima che quel sacco diventi quello della farina!"In quel fermento, Lapo, un ragazzino assai furbo e curioso, figlio dell'orafo Bernardo che era amico di tutti e giocava insieme agli altri ragazzini sul ponte, dopo aver riflettuto pensò: "C'è qualcosa che non mi torna: noi ragazzi non rubiamo, di chi può essere la colpa?"Così Lapo decise di indagare per conto suo. Perché come gli diceva sempre suo nonno: "conta più una cosa fatta che cento da fare" e poi aggiungeva che "se fai da te fai per tre."Allora, senza tanti discorsi, la sera seguente si organizzò, procurandosi una lente d'ingrandimento, un quaderno con matita per prendere note e una lanterna che lo avrebbe accompagnato nel buio. Quest'ultima la teneva stretta con una mano un po' tremolante, ma non c'era da esitare — la situazione non si sarebbe risolta da sola.All'imbrunire, si avviò dal Ponte Vecchio, dove abitava con suo babbo sopra la bottega, verso la colonna di Piazza Santa Trinita.Lì sopra c'era, e c'è ancora, la Statua della Giustizia che troneggiava così alta da toccare il cielo. Il percorso non era lungo, ma quella sera ci mise più del normale, perché osservava tutto con attenzione e curiosità. Guardava a destra, a sinistra, nei chiassi, oltre il parapetto del Lungarno e se vedeva un sasso spostava anche quello: "non si sa mai dove si possono trovare degli indizi" pensava.Aveva sentito dire che la colonna e la statua della Giustizia fossero magiche e piene di segreti. Ma la cosa più stupefacente era che dalla sua sommità, dove appunto si trovava la statua, si potesse vedere quello che succedeva in ogni punto della città — come si sa la giustizia vede e sa tutto.Arrivato in Piazza Santa Trinita, fece un gran sospiro, mosse un ultimo passo e ai piedi della colonna — che sorpresa… incontrò una lumaca."Una lumaca?" direte voi. "Eh, proprio una lumaca con tanto di casa sulle spalle, con le luci alle finestre e un caminetto acceso" Davvero, ve lo dico io… Credeteci… Insomma era lì, che si muoveva, lenta sì, ma determinata. Quando sentì il passo leggero del visitatore inatteso, si insospettì e ritirando le antenne come fossero freni, si fermò di botto e disse:"Altolà! Chi va là? Ma te chi sei e dove vai? Non starai mica cercando guai, a girellare solo soletto a quest'ora del crepuscolo?""No, ma che guai… anzi, tutt'altro Signora Lumaca" rispose Lapo, "io dovrei andare in cima alla colonna per vedere cosa sta succedendo sul Ponte Vecchio. Ci sono delle cose che non tornano tanto bene e sto indagando. Come può vedere ho pure la lente d'ingrandimento e il cappello!" Disse Lapo mostrando gli oggetti per evitare fraintendimenti. "Ora, visto che mi sembra del posto, mica mi saprebbe gentilmente dire, come posso fare a salire lassù?"La lumaca che abitava ai piedi della colonna ed era a tutti gli effetti la sua guardiana, sbuffò ma poi sorrise e mostrò a Lapo una piccola porticina alla base della colonna, nascosta dall'edera."Carissimo Lapo," disse aggiustandosi gli occhiali "mi sembri un ragazzo coraggioso, un vero amico e anche un bravo investigatore, ma solo dalla cima della colonna potrai conoscere la verità."Detto ciò, la lumaca sfregò i suoi tentacoli e cominciarono a brillare di una luce magica che avvolse Lapo facendolo diventare dell'altezza della porta che si aprì con un gran cigolio; talmente acuto da far scappare tutti gli uccelli che nella notte bazzicavano intorno.Lapo ora piccino, piccino ringraziò la lumaca e senza paura entrò all'interno della colonna. Nell'oscurità, rimase impressionato da uno stretto e alto pozzo che saliva invece di scendere. Sulle pareti luccicanti c'era una spirale di minuscoli scalini che iniziò a salire con passi determinati con la lanterna accesa ben stretta in mano. Arrivò in cima.Nella notte il cielo stellato illuminava la Statua della Giustizia che troneggiava su Firenze. Aveva una bilancia con due piatti in equilibrio in una mano e una spada dorata nell'altra.Come abbiamo detto in precedenza, per incantesimo, da lì si poteva vedere tutta la città — bastava guardare nella direzione giusta e pensare alla parte di Firenze che volevi vedere: una magia incredibile per una visione da togliere il fiato.Adesso era il momento di concentrarsi sul Ponte Vecchio e cercare di risolvere il mistero dei furti, ma nel muoversi intorno alla statua, per andare dalla parte che guardava il fiume, fece una scoperta incredibile. Non poteva credere ai propri occhi — tanto è vero che tirò fuori la lente d'ingrandimento per essere sicuro. Tutti e due i piatti della bilancia erano pieni di pagliuzze d'oro e monili preziosi."Mamma mia! E questa roba come c'è arrivata quassù?" Esclamò Lapo con gli occhi spalancati. "Questo è indubbiamente il bottino dei furti alle gioiellerie!"Prima, confuso e stupefatto non sapeva che pensare, ma poi, osservando meglio le pagliuzze si rese conto che erano tutte intrecciate con braccialetti e collanine: questi erano due nidi e un'idea gli balenò subito nella mente."Le gazze ladre!" Esclamò Lapo. Quegli uccelli furbetti amano tutto ciò che brilla, certamente sono state loro a rapinare le botteghe e a portare quassù la refurtiva.E nel bel mezzo di questo pensiero, all'improvviso comparvero in volo. Atterrarono sulla colonna agitate e furiose "KRAA KRAA KRAA! Oh, ragazzino ma cosa stai facendo a casa nostra? Non ti provare nemmeno a toccare queste meraviglie luccicanti; sono il nostro nido, le abbiamo trovate noi e sono nostre."Lapo non si fece spaventare e con calma rispose: "Ma che dite? A voi piacciono cose luccicanti che brillano e le prendete, ma non vuol certo dire che sono vostre."Le gazze gracchiavano tutte insieme sembravano impazzite e non conoscevano ragione. "Ma cosa dice questo?" Disse una. "Già, uno viene a casa nostra e pretende di comandare?" Aggiunse un'altra. "Sì, bellina la battuta. Non sono nostre? Ma che sei un comico? Cambia lavoro, guarda, perché non ci fai mica ridere." Disse un'altra.E tutte a ridere.Al che Lapo non si fece intimidire. Si frugò in tasca e trovò quello che cercava. Propose uno scambio. "E se si facesse un affare. A dire il vero io ci rimetto parecchio, ma mi state talmente simpatiche che vi darei volentieri queste belle biglie luccicanti in cambio dell'oro e i monili."Vedendo quei piccoli tesori brillanti e colorati, che non avevano mai visto prima, le gazze si calmarono. Si guardarono con uno sguardo furbo e senza esitazione… "Affare fatto!"Gli presero le biglie di mano in un battibaleno e volarono via gridando: "Evviva, siamo ricchissime! Da ora in poi faremo collezione di queste palline."Sospirando di sollievo e di soddisfazione, Lapo recuperò la refurtiva e scese a rotta di collo dalla colonna. La lumaca lo stava aspettando applaudendo. Con un altro incantesimo lo fece uscire dalla porticina e apparire proprio sul ponte vecchio dove diversi Fiorentini erano a prendere il fresco e chiacchierare — inclusi gli orefici."Babbo, babbo ho scoperto il mistero e trovato il colpevole: le gazze ladre! Sono state loro! I miei amici non hanno fatto niente di male." "Calma figliolo, ti ascolto". Rispose Bernardo.Lapo con tutto il fiato che aveva in gola non perse un attimo e raccontò tutto quello che aveva scoperto e visto: il cappello da investigatore, la lente d'ingrandimento, la lumaca magica che conosceva i segreti della colonna, la porticina, la statua in cima, la vista di Firenze, le gazze ladre e il trucco delle biglie colorate. Finalmente il mistero degli strani furti era chiarito, tutta la refurtiva recuperata fu restituita agli orafi del Ponte Vecchio per merito dell'intraprendente e coraggioso Lapo.A quel punto tutti quelli che erano sul Ponte Vecchio applaudirono gridando: "hurra, hurra, hurra, al piccolo investigatore."Mentre il ponte antico, forse incantato, risplendeva di luci dorate.Il fornaio Giulio mentre infornava focacce, canticchiava allegramente e con voce squillante annunciava: "oggi focacce a volontà gratis per tutti, dobbiamo festeggiare!"Le gazze ladre ritornarono a volare su tetti di Firenze e continuarono a trovare piccoli oggetti e persino pezzi di sogni luccicanti; e gracchiando dicevano: "Sarà pure che abbiamo perso un nido, ma di sicuro abbiamo trovato una storia da raccontare."E forse, chissà, una nuova storia ci sarà!— Scritta da Lucia & Marco Ciappelli | Ispirata da una leggenda fiorentina  Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Vanessa, comme chaque dimanche, vous nous emmenez en city break, cette fois-ci on part à Florence en Italie Pour emprunter un tunnel suspendu et secret : le Corridor de Vasari. Il a été entièrement restauré. Ce tunnel permettait aux Médicis de traverser la ville incognito en toute sécurité, du palais Pitti au Palazzo Vecchio. Vous pouvez désormais vous y promener sur 700 mètres de long au-dessus de l'Arno, le fleuve. Une manière originale de découvrir le centre historique. Cette visite s'effectue au sein des Galeries des Offices. Ce musée qui fait rêver le monde entier avec ses Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo. Il faut aussi aller au palais familial dans lequel il a vécu : la Casa Buonarroti. Des croquis, des dessins et des modèles en cire, en terre cuite, en bois et en plâtre pour des sculptures qui n'ont jamais été réalisées... Voici tout ce qu'il y a d'intéressant dans ce musée qui lui est dédié. Vous avez d'autres recommandations insolites à ne pas rater ? Le musée Galilée : l'un des plus importants musées d'histoire et de sciences au monde. Il y a même le télescope avec lequel il a découvert les montagnes lunaires et les satellites de Jupiter en 1609. Quant à mon 2ème lieu coup de cœur, pas besoin de télescope : c'est une librairie-cinéma dans un ancien palais : le Palazzo dello Strozzino, qui abritait un cinéma historique. Aujourd'hui, c'est un lieu de vie culturelle, le Cinema Palazzo : on vient regarder un film assis confortablement dans un siège en velours au balcon. Feuilleter et acheter des livres dans l'espace librairie au rez-de-chaussée ou faire une pause gourmande dans son café. Vous avez des bonnes petites adresses restaurants/hôtels ? Pour un apéritif au coucher du soleil face au Ponte Vecchio : le bar Picteau, juste au-dessus de l'Arno. Extraordinaire. La bonne petite osteria : la Tartuferia Mangiafoco. Si vous avez une passion pour la truffe, c'est pour vous. Quant à l'hôtel, le Gallery Hotel Art, une boutique-hôtel en mode galerie contemporaine à deux pas du Ponte Vecchio. Fiche pratique Les galeries des offices et le Corridor Vasari : Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 : www.uffizigalleriestickets.com. Billets à réserver en avance. La Casa Buonarroti située dans le palazzo à l'angle de la Via Ghibellina et de la Via Buonarroti Le musée Galilée : https://www.florence.fr/musee-galilee Le Cinema Palazzo / Giunti Odeon Piazza degli strozzi : www.giuntiodeon.com Le bar Picteau : https://www.lungarnocollection.com/fr/picteau-cocktail-bar/ Mangiafoco Osteria Tartufera : https://www.mangiafoco.com/ Gallery Hotel Art Viccolo dell'Oro 50123 Firenze + 39 055 27 263 : www.lungarnocollection.com La grenobloise Une garniture qui accompagne traditionnellement l'aile de raie. Ses origines sont assez inattendues : née à Grenoble il y a plusieurs siècles, cette sauce était destinée à masquer le goût un peu fort des poissons qui mettaient beaucoup de temps à arriver dans cette ville éloignée de la mer : pas de transport rapide réfrigéré à l'époque. La sauce est assez facile à réaliser : beurre noisette (le laisser se colorer mais pas le brûler) / des citrons pelés à vif et dont on prélève les segments / des croûtons de pain grillés ou poêlés / des capres / du poivre. Avec une aile de raie pochée dans un bouillon ou cuite lentement au four pour ne pas la dessécher. On peut aussi la servir avec d'autres poissons blancs : dos de cabillaud, bar, colin… Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

A Mystery in FlorenceIn Tuscany there is so much magic: hills decorated with olive trees, vineyards and cypresses, bell towers ringing everywhere, hidden gardens, and of course enchanted cities, full of history and beauty, where famous artists have created marvellous works of art.In this tale we find ourselves in the city of Florence, where magic abounds and legends hide in every corner.A river called the Arno runs through it; and amongst the many bridges there is one that quite rightly is a bit more famous than the others: the Ponte Vecchio. In those suspended houses no one lives anymore. Every day it is full of tourists who photograph it and come to visit from all over the world, but many, many years ago on this bridge there were butchers, fishmongers and tanners as if it were a market, a square suspended over the Arno and daily life was very different from today.At the time of this story the shops were all jewellery stores owned by master goldsmiths, who lived there, worked and sold gold jewellery and precious items of the highest quality. It was one of the hearts of the city where the Florentines of the time would meet and stop to chat whilst they came and went from one side of the river to the other. Even the children spent their days having fun playing and running from one side to the other undisturbed.At this point you must know that for some days small thefts had been occurring in the artisans' shops. Gold and precious items disappeared as if stolen by the wind, silently and by surprise, without leaving a trace. Who knows who knows? Who could be the culprit?The goldsmiths gathered together, after closing their shops, right there on the bridge."But what on earth is happening?" said one."Well, if only we knew..." said another."And we can't go on like this, looking like fools!"Bernardo, one of the goldsmiths, said: "Granted I'm a bit absent-minded, but I'm certainly not blind enough not to see if gold is missing from my shop."And off they went asking questions and interrogating each other to try to find an explanation for these thefts, discover the thief and perhaps recover what was stolen.In short, it had been weeks now that gold filings from the working of gold and various precious objects had been disappearing from the shops — and all this was happening under everyone's eyes but no one had seen anything.Who to blame if not those mischievous rascals who enjoyed playing football on the bridge! Between little matches, laughter, running, various games and hide-and-seek, who knows if one of them hadn't started stealing here and there.More days passed and more gold had vanished into thin air. The goldsmiths, tired of this business, came out onto the bridge and shouted loudly all together: "Now we've really had enough and it's time to put an end to it! Let's catch the thief!"Even Giulio the baker came out to the doorway of his shop, on the left, at the end of the bridge, and although he hadn't understood precisely what was happening, he showed everyone his flour-covered hands shouting: "I've got nothing to do with it, I swear! My hands are covered in dough only because I'm always preparing focaccia to bake in the oven."And saying this he joined the others shouting: "Let's catch the thief red-handed before that sack becomes one of flour!"In that commotion, Lapo, a very clever and curious boy, son of the goldsmith Bernardo who was friends with everyone and played together with the other children on the bridge, after reflecting thought: "There's something that doesn't add up: we children don't steal, whose fault can it be?"So Lapo decided to investigate on his own. Because as his grandfather always told him: "one thing done is worth more than a hundred to do" and then he would add that "if you do it yourself you do for three."So, without much ado, the following evening he organised himself, getting hold of a magnifying glass, a notebook with pencil to take notes and a lantern that would accompany him in the dark. The latter he held tight with a slightly trembling hand, but there was no hesitation — the situation wouldn't resolve itself.At dusk, he set off from the Ponte Vecchio, where he lived with his father above the shop, towards the column in Piazza Santa Trinità.Up there was, and still is, the Statue of Justice that towered so high as to touch the sky. The journey wasn't long, but that evening it took him longer than usual, because he observed everything with attention and curiosity. He looked right, left, in the narrow streets, beyond the parapet of the Lungarno and if he saw a stone he moved that too: "you never know where you might find clues" he thought.He had heard it said that the column and the statue of Justice were magical and full of secrets. But the most amazing thing was that from its summit, where indeed the statue stood, one could see what was happening at every point in the city — as we know justice sees and knows everything.Having arrived in Piazza Santa Trinita, he gave a great sigh, took one last step and at the foot of the column — what a surprise... he met a snail."A snail?" you will say. "Eh, exactly a snail complete with house on its shoulders, with lights on at the windows and a fireplace lit" Really, I tell you... Believe it... In short it was there, moving, slowly yes, but determined. When it heard the light step of the unexpected visitor, it became suspicious and withdrawing its antennae as if they were brakes, it stopped dead and said:"Halt! Who goes there? But who are you and where are you going? You're not looking for trouble, are you, wandering about all alone at this twilight hour?""No, what trouble... quite the opposite Mrs Snail" replied Lapo, "I should go to the top of the column to see what's happening on the Ponte Vecchio. There are things that don't quite add up and I'm investigating. As you can see I even have the magnifying glass and hat!" Said Lapo showing the objects to avoid misunderstandings. "Now, since you seem to be from around here, you wouldn't happen to know how I can get up there?"The snail who lived at the foot of the column and was to all intents and purposes its guardian, huffed but then smiled and showed Lapo a small door at the foot of the column, hidden by ivy."Dearest Lapo," she said adjusting her spectacles "you seem like a brave boy, a true friend and also a good investigator, but only from the top of the column will you be able to know the truth."Having said this, the snail rubbed her tentacles and they began to shine with a magical light that enveloped Lapo making him become the height of the door which opened with a great creak; so sharp as to make all the birds that were hanging about in the night fly away.Lapo, now very small, thanked the snail and without fear entered inside the column. In the darkness, he was impressed by a narrow and high well that went up instead of down. On the gleaming walls there was a spiral of tiny steps that he began to climb with determination with the lit lantern held tight in his hand. He reached the top.In the night the starry sky illuminated the Statue of Justice that towered over Florence. It had a scale with two balanced plates in one hand and a golden sword in the other.As we said previously, by enchantment, from there one could see the whole city — one just had to look in the right direction and think of the part of Florence you wanted to see: an incredible magic for a breathtaking view.Now was the moment to concentrate on the Ponte Vecchio and try to solve the mystery of the thefts, but whilst moving around the statue, to go to the side that looked towards the river, he made an incredible discovery. He couldn't believe his own eyes — so much so that he took out the magnifying glass to be sure. Both plates of the scale were full of gold filings and precious trinkets."Good heavens! And how did this stuff get up here?" Exclaimed Lapo with wide eyes. "This is undoubtedly the loot from the thefts at the jewellery shops!"At first, confused and amazed he didn't know what to think, but then, observing the filings more carefully he realised they were all woven together with bracelets and necklaces: these were two nests and an idea immediately flashed into his mind."The thieving magpies!" Exclaimed Lapo. Those crafty birds love everything that glitters, it must certainly have been them who robbed the shops and brought the stolen goods up here.And in the middle of this thought, suddenly they appeared in flight. They landed on the column agitated and furious "KRAA KRAA KRAA! Oh, little boy but what are you doing at our home? Don't you even dare touch these glittering marvels; they are our nest, we found them and they are ours."Lapo didn't let himself be frightened and calmly replied: "But what are you saying? You like glittering things that shine and you take them, but that certainly doesn't mean they are yours."The magpies were all chattering together they seemed to have gone mad and knew no reason. "But what is this one saying?" Said one. "Right, someone comes to our home and expects to give orders?" Added another. "Yes, nice joke. They're not ours? But are you a comedian? Change job, look, because you don't make us laugh." Said another.And all of them laughing.At which Lapo didn't let himself be intimidated. He rummaged in his pocket and found what he was looking for. He proposed an exchange. "What if we made a deal. To tell the truth I lose out quite a bit, but I like you so much that I would gladly give you these beautiful shiny marbles in exchange for the gold and trinkets."Seeing those small brilliant and colourful treasures, which they had never seen before, the magpies calmed down. They looked at each other with a crafty look and without hesitation... "Deal!"They took the marbles from his hand in a flash and flew away shouting: "Hooray, we're rich! From now on we'll collect these little balls."Sighing with relief and satisfaction, Lapo recovered the stolen goods and rushed down from the column. The snail was waiting for him applauding. With another spell she made him come out of the little door and appear right on the Ponte Vecchio where several Florentines were taking the evening air and chatting — including the goldsmiths."Papa, papa I've discovered the mystery and found the culprit, it was the thieving magpies! My friends didn't do anything wrong." "Calm down son, I'm listening". Replied Bernardo.Lapo with all the breath he had in his throat didn't waste a moment and told everything he had discovered and seen: the investigator's hat, the magnifying glass, the magical snail who knew the secrets of the column, the little door, the statue at the top, the view of Florence, the thieving magpies and the trick with the coloured marbles. Finally the mystery of the strange thefts was clarified, all the recovered stolen goods were returned to the goldsmiths of the Ponte Vecchio thanks to the enterprising and brave Lapo.At that point everyone who was on the Ponte Vecchio applauded shouting: "hooray, hooray, hooray, for the little investigator."Whilst the ancient bridge, perhaps enchanted, gleamed with golden lights.Giulio the baker whilst putting focaccia in the oven, sang merrily and with a ringing voice announced: "today focaccia for everyone free of charge, we must celebrate!"The thieving magpies returned to flying; they continued to find small objects and even pieces of glittering dreams; and chattering they said: "It may well be that we've lost a nest, but we've certainly found a story to tell."And perhaps, who knows, there will be a new story!— Written by Lucia & Marco Ciappelli [Inspired by a Florentine legend] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Mystery in FlorenceIn Tuscany there is so much magic: hills decorated with olive trees, vineyards and cypresses, bell towers ringing everywhere, hidden gardens, and of course enchanted cities, full of history and beauty, where famous artists have created marvellous works of art.In this tale we find ourselves in the city of Florence, where magic abounds and legends hide in every corner.A river called the Arno runs through it; and amongst the many bridges there is one that quite rightly is a bit more famous than the others: the Ponte Vecchio. In those suspended houses no one lives anymore. Every day it is full of tourists who photograph it and come to visit from all over the world, but many, many years ago on this bridge there were butchers, fishmongers and tanners as if it were a market, a square suspended over the Arno and daily life was very different from today.At the time of this story the shops were all jewellery stores owned by master goldsmiths, who lived there, worked and sold gold jewellery and precious items of the highest quality. It was one of the hearts of the city where the Florentines of the time would meet and stop to chat whilst they came and went from one side of the river to the other. Even the children spent their days having fun playing and running from one side to the other undisturbed.At this point you must know that for some days small thefts had been occurring in the artisans' shops. Gold and precious items disappeared as if stolen by the wind, silently and by surprise, without leaving a trace. Who knows who knows? Who could be the culprit?The goldsmiths gathered together, after closing their shops, right there on the bridge."But what on earth is happening?" said one."Well, if only we knew..." said another."And we can't go on like this, looking like fools!"Bernardo, one of the goldsmiths, said: "Granted I'm a bit absent-minded, but I'm certainly not blind enough not to see if gold is missing from my shop."And off they went asking questions and interrogating each other to try to find an explanation for these thefts, discover the thief and perhaps recover what was stolen.In short, it had been weeks now that gold filings from the working of gold and various precious objects had been disappearing from the shops — and all this was happening under everyone's eyes but no one had seen anything.Who to blame if not those mischievous rascals who enjoyed playing football on the bridge! Between little matches, laughter, running, various games and hide-and-seek, who knows if one of them hadn't started stealing here and there.More days passed and more gold had vanished into thin air. The goldsmiths, tired of this business, came out onto the bridge and shouted loudly all together: "Now we've really had enough and it's time to put an end to it! Let's catch the thief!"Even Giulio the baker came out to the doorway of his shop, on the left, at the end of the bridge, and although he hadn't understood precisely what was happening, he showed everyone his flour-covered hands shouting: "I've got nothing to do with it, I swear! My hands are covered in dough only because I'm always preparing focaccia to bake in the oven."And saying this he joined the others shouting: "Let's catch the thief red-handed before that sack becomes one of flour!"In that commotion, Lapo, a very clever and curious boy, son of the goldsmith Bernardo who was friends with everyone and played together with the other children on the bridge, after reflecting thought: "There's something that doesn't add up: we children don't steal, whose fault can it be?"So Lapo decided to investigate on his own. Because as his grandfather always told him: "one thing done is worth more than a hundred to do" and then he would add that "if you do it yourself you do for three."So, without much ado, the following evening he organised himself, getting hold of a magnifying glass, a notebook with pencil to take notes and a lantern that would accompany him in the dark. The latter he held tight with a slightly trembling hand, but there was no hesitation — the situation wouldn't resolve itself.At dusk, he set off from the Ponte Vecchio, where he lived with his father above the shop, towards the column in Piazza Santa Trinità.Up there was, and still is, the Statue of Justice that towered so high as to touch the sky. The journey wasn't long, but that evening it took him longer than usual, because he observed everything with attention and curiosity. He looked right, left, in the narrow streets, beyond the parapet of the Lungarno and if he saw a stone he moved that too: "you never know where you might find clues" he thought.He had heard it said that the column and the statue of Justice were magical and full of secrets. But the most amazing thing was that from its summit, where indeed the statue stood, one could see what was happening at every point in the city — as we know justice sees and knows everything.Having arrived in Piazza Santa Trinita, he gave a great sigh, took one last step and at the foot of the column — what a surprise... he met a snail."A snail?" you will say. "Eh, exactly a snail complete with house on its shoulders, with lights on at the windows and a fireplace lit" Really, I tell you... Believe it... In short it was there, moving, slowly yes, but determined. When it heard the light step of the unexpected visitor, it became suspicious and withdrawing its antennae as if they were brakes, it stopped dead and said:"Halt! Who goes there? But who are you and where are you going? You're not looking for trouble, are you, wandering about all alone at this twilight hour?""No, what trouble... quite the opposite Mrs Snail" replied Lapo, "I should go to the top of the column to see what's happening on the Ponte Vecchio. There are things that don't quite add up and I'm investigating. As you can see I even have the magnifying glass and hat!" Said Lapo showing the objects to avoid misunderstandings. "Now, since you seem to be from around here, you wouldn't happen to know how I can get up there?"The snail who lived at the foot of the column and was to all intents and purposes its guardian, huffed but then smiled and showed Lapo a small door at the foot of the column, hidden by ivy."Dearest Lapo," she said adjusting her spectacles "you seem like a brave boy, a true friend and also a good investigator, but only from the top of the column will you be able to know the truth."Having said this, the snail rubbed her tentacles and they began to shine with a magical light that enveloped Lapo making him become the height of the door which opened with a great creak; so sharp as to make all the birds that were hanging about in the night fly away.Lapo, now very small, thanked the snail and without fear entered inside the column. In the darkness, he was impressed by a narrow and high well that went up instead of down. On the gleaming walls there was a spiral of tiny steps that he began to climb with determination with the lit lantern held tight in his hand. He reached the top.In the night the starry sky illuminated the Statue of Justice that towered over Florence. It had a scale with two balanced plates in one hand and a golden sword in the other.As we said previously, by enchantment, from there one could see the whole city — one just had to look in the right direction and think of the part of Florence you wanted to see: an incredible magic for a breathtaking view.Now was the moment to concentrate on the Ponte Vecchio and try to solve the mystery of the thefts, but whilst moving around the statue, to go to the side that looked towards the river, he made an incredible discovery. He couldn't believe his own eyes — so much so that he took out the magnifying glass to be sure. Both plates of the scale were full of gold filings and precious trinkets."Good heavens! And how did this stuff get up here?" Exclaimed Lapo with wide eyes. "This is undoubtedly the loot from the thefts at the jewellery shops!"At first, confused and amazed he didn't know what to think, but then, observing the filings more carefully he realised they were all woven together with bracelets and necklaces: these were two nests and an idea immediately flashed into his mind."The thieving magpies!" Exclaimed Lapo. Those crafty birds love everything that glitters, it must certainly have been them who robbed the shops and brought the stolen goods up here.And in the middle of this thought, suddenly they appeared in flight. They landed on the column agitated and furious "KRAA KRAA KRAA! Oh, little boy but what are you doing at our home? Don't you even dare touch these glittering marvels; they are our nest, we found them and they are ours."Lapo didn't let himself be frightened and calmly replied: "But what are you saying? You like glittering things that shine and you take them, but that certainly doesn't mean they are yours."The magpies were all chattering together they seemed to have gone mad and knew no reason. "But what is this one saying?" Said one. "Right, someone comes to our home and expects to give orders?" Added another. "Yes, nice joke. They're not ours? But are you a comedian? Change job, look, because you don't make us laugh." Said another.And all of them laughing.At which Lapo didn't let himself be intimidated. He rummaged in his pocket and found what he was looking for. He proposed an exchange. "What if we made a deal. To tell the truth I lose out quite a bit, but I like you so much that I would gladly give you these beautiful shiny marbles in exchange for the gold and trinkets."Seeing those small brilliant and colourful treasures, which they had never seen before, the magpies calmed down. They looked at each other with a crafty look and without hesitation... "Deal!"They took the marbles from his hand in a flash and flew away shouting: "Hooray, we're rich! From now on we'll collect these little balls."Sighing with relief and satisfaction, Lapo recovered the stolen goods and rushed down from the column. The snail was waiting for him applauding. With another spell she made him come out of the little door and appear right on the Ponte Vecchio where several Florentines were taking the evening air and chatting — including the goldsmiths."Papa, papa I've discovered the mystery and found the culprit, it was the thieving magpies! My friends didn't do anything wrong." "Calm down son, I'm listening". Replied Bernardo.Lapo with all the breath he had in his throat didn't waste a moment and told everything he had discovered and seen: the investigator's hat, the magnifying glass, the magical snail who knew the secrets of the column, the little door, the statue at the top, the view of Florence, the thieving magpies and the trick with the coloured marbles. Finally the mystery of the strange thefts was clarified, all the recovered stolen goods were returned to the goldsmiths of the Ponte Vecchio thanks to the enterprising and brave Lapo.At that point everyone who was on the Ponte Vecchio applauded shouting: "hooray, hooray, hooray, for the little investigator."Whilst the ancient bridge, perhaps enchanted, gleamed with golden lights.Giulio the baker whilst putting focaccia in the oven, sang merrily and with a ringing voice announced: "today focaccia for everyone free of charge, we must celebrate!"The thieving magpies returned to flying; they continued to find small objects and even pieces of glittering dreams; and chattering they said: "It may well be that we've lost a nest, but we've certainly found a story to tell."And perhaps, who knows, there will be a new story!— Written by Lucia & Marco Ciappelli [Inspired by a Florentine legend] Each story is currently written and narrated in both Italian and English.The translation from Italian (the original language) to English and the reading of the stories are performed using Generative Artificial Intelligence — which perhaps has a touch of magic... We hope it has done a good job!If you like it, make sure to tell your friends, family, and teachers, and subscribe to this podcast to stay updated. You'll be able to read or listen to new stories as soon as they become available. Visit us On The Official Website https://www.storiesottolestelle.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leonardo da Vinci? More like Leonardo da Fist Me.We've all heard of the man behind the Mona Lisa. But did you know he was also one of Florence's sodomitical sweethearts?In this episode, we pull back the vajazzled curtain on Leonardo da Vinci to reveal a homo neither tormented nor repressed, suffering dramatically for his art, but a messy, charismatic, and brilliant dilettante obsessed with the world.More than anything, Leonardo cared about curiosity. He was fascinated more by the world than his paychecks, which got him into trouble more often than his penchant for very handsome twinks – ahem, sorry, apprentices.*Join Bash and Renaissance historian Catherine Fletcher as they answer all the big questions:Was Leonardo gay? Does it matter? Did it affect his fantastically innovative artwork? Did he think outside the box? And whose box did he eat?We'll also give you a taste of what it was like to be horny, humping Leo in 1470s Florence, dashing across the Ponte Vecchio from paint job to blow job in an Italian minute (aka seventeen hours).We'll cover:Leonardo's arrest at age 24 for...sodomyHow the city responded to its "epidemic" of...sodomyLeonardo's lifelong entanglement with his apprentice/lover/twink-goblin, SalaiThe saga of Michelangelo vs. Leonardo, who were briefly Florence's duelling divas of the dayWhy Leonardo's refusal to care — about his sexuality or finishing any of his damn paintings — is actually the gayest and most important thing about himIf you've ever wanted a crash course in the gayest corners of the Italian Renaissance — or just an excuse to say “I heard you're into the Florentine vice” out loud — this is the episode for you.

Does Florence have an off-season? What's it like on the south side of the city? Where can you find good food without having to spend €20 on a plate of pasta? Where can I look for leather goods that are high-quality? In this episode we answer those questions and more! After visiting Florence back in February we intended to record this episode in the winter, but alas we did not, so here it is now! It's going to be summer soon and the height of tourism, so stay tuned for next week's episode: Florence Condensed! We'll tell you the essentials for visiting Florence from transportation and food to museums and the David. The restaurants, bars, and cafes we mentioned in this episode are: On the south side of the Arno:Trattoria Sabatino - Via Pisana, 2R, 50143 Firenze FIFuor di Porta - Via Pisana, 29/r, 50143 Firenze FICircolo Rondinella del Torrino - Lungarno Soderini, 2, 50124 Firenze FILa Cité - Borgo S. Frediano, 20/R, 50124 Firenze FIPiazza Santo Spirito (this is a piazza with many bars/cafes) - 50125 Firenze FIOn the north side of the Arno:Trattoria Le Mossacce - Via del Proconsolo, 55r, 50122 Firenze FICaffè Gilli - Via Roma, 1r, 50123 Firenze FIIl Mercato Centrale - Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento, 50123 Firenze FIVino Divino - (Neri is the name of the lovely owner) Via Taddea, 6, 50123 Firenze FI Da' Vinattieri - Via Santa Margherita, 4/6r, 50122 Firenze FIThe leather school we mention is called Scuola del Cuoio - Via di S. Giuseppe, 5/R, 50122 Firenze FIThe roads Darcy mentioned with artisan and antique shops are Via Lambertesca, on the north side of the Arno, and Via Santo Spirito/Borgo San Frediano, on the south side of the Arno. As you walk over the Ponte Vecchio to the south you will end up on Via de' Guicciardini which is the road infant of the Pitti Palace, there are several great shops there as well and closer to the tourist attractions. If you'd like to support the podcast, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced "coffee"), linked ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. You can also support us by using our Booking.com link when booking your trip to Italy or anywhere! If you have any questions, you can find us on our ⁠website⁠⁠ or on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠!Thank you so much for listening!

Beppe, a native Italian, started his journey in active travel over two decades ago and, with the help of his wife Heather, co-founded Tourissimo, one of the top adventure travel companies in Italy. With years of expertise designing cycling and adventure tours across all 20 regions of Italy, Beppe and Heather have the inside scoop on the most authentic and unforgettable experiences Italy has to offer.So grab your espresso (or a glass of vino Italiano), and let's explore Italy region by region!Northern Italy: Adventure, Culture, and Alpine BeautyLombardy (Lombardia)Running along the Swiss border, Lombardy is Italy's largest and wealthiest region—a land of striking contrasts and cultural riches. Home to nearly 10 million people, Lombardy contains 12 of Italy's largest cities: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Monza, Sondrio, and Varese. The region blends modern sophistication with old-world charm, from the fashion capital and bustling metropolis of Milan to the serene, postcard-perfect landscapes of Lake Como.Lombardy is dotted with some of Italy's most beloved lakes, including Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, and many more. Picturesque villages like Bellagio offer sun-drenched escapes along Lake Como's shores, while the medieval towns of Bergamo and Mantova enchant visitors with cobblestone streets, sweeping views, and centuries of history.Culinary lovers will be spoiled for choice with Lombardy's 60 Michelin-starred restaurants—3 with three stars, 6 with two stars, and 51 with one star. Be sure to savor the region's iconic Risotto alla Milanese, a creamy saffron-infused dish that's a local staple. Wine enthusiasts won't want to miss a glass of Franciacorta, Italy's sparkling answer to Champagne.November is a wonderful time to visit, with cooler temperatures and fewer tourists. It's also the perfect season to explore Lombardy's slice of the Alps, where charming mountain towns await nestled among the peaks. For an unforgettable adventure, consider attending the 2025 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo!Tourissimo Tip– If you are flying into Milan, select the correct airport because Milan has two airports! For info, check out the following Tourissimo blog: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/avoid-this-common-travel-mistake-know-milans-two-airportsVenetoVeneto, the birthplace of Prosecco, Polenta, and the iconic Spritz, is a region rich in charm, culture, and culinary delights. Stretching from the Italian Riviera to the Venetian Pre-Alps and the stunning Dolomites, Veneto is home to both natural beauty and historic towns. Its capital, the enchanting floating city of Venice, is world-famous for its canals, gondolas, labyrinthine streets, and undeniable romance.Each of Venice's islands offers something special: admire the colorful houses of Burano, renowned for its lace-making traditions; visit Murano, celebrated for its centuries-old glassblowing artistry; and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of Torcello. Exploring these islands by vaporetto (water bus) offers a quieter, more authentic glimpse into Venetian life. Tourissimo Tip–For a few more suggestions, check out Tourissimo's blog on the Venetian Lagoon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/our-favorite-destinations-in-the-venetian-lagoonBeyond Venice, Veneto boasts a treasure trove of picturesque towns. Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Asolo each offer their own distinct history and beauty. Visit Castelfranco Veneto for a charming escape or head to Bardolino to enjoy a boat ride on Italy's largest lake, Lago di Garda. Stroll the waterfront in Castelletto sul Garda or circle the freshwater moat of Cittadella, a red-brick medieval town full of character.In the countryside, the hills of Prosecco promise stunning vineyard views, while the medieval town of Montagnana offers a taste of the past. Nature lovers can visit the volcanic Euganean Hills in Este, and cheese lovers shouldn't miss the small town of Asiago, home to one of Italy's most famous cheeses.Veneto's culinary scene shines with 34 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 29 with one star. Indulge in local specialties like Bigoli in Salsa, a hearty Venetian pasta with anchovy sauce, and toast with a glass of Prosecco, Grappa, or the regional favorite, the Select Spritz. And don't forget—Venetians love to celebrate, so let loose and join the party!Tourissimo Tips–Another fun suggestion is Veneto Marostica, the City of Chess, where they do a living chess match with hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes every two years: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/marostica-the-city-of-chessPiedmont (Piemonte)Nestled at the foot of the Alps and bordered on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea, Piedmont is one of Italy's most underrated gems. With a diverse landscape that offers adventure and beauty year-round, this region is perfect for both winter skiing and summer hiking and biking, thanks to its stunning Alpine scenery.But Piedmont isn't just about breathtaking views—it's steeped in rich history and cultural significance. As the first capital of Italy, it boasts grand palaces, remarkable art, and sacred relics like the famed Shroud of Turin. The capital city of Turin is a vibrant hub, home to Europe's largest outdoor food market and the monthly Gran Balon flea market, a haven for vintage and antique lovers.Venture beyond the city and you'll discover a region bursting with charm and flavor. Tour the Langhe Hills, a paradise for vineyard visits, and sample Bagna Cauda, a warm anchovy and garlic dip beloved by locals. Wander the lakeside town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, or stroll the cobbled streets of Neive, where views of rolling hills and storybook cottages create an unforgettable setting. In Asti, you can witness the September medieval horse races and visit the majestic Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Gottardo. For a true fairy-tale escape, head to Macugnaga in the valley of Monte Rosa, a perfect base for both skiing and hiking. And just outside of Turin lies the hidden gem of Lake Orta, a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.Piedmont's culinary scene is just as spectacular. With 35 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 30 with one star—the region is a paradise for food lovers. Dine in Alba during white truffle season (September to January), and savor iconic regional dishes like Agnolotti del Plin and Coniglio Arrosto. Wine enthusiasts will be in heaven here—Piedmont is the land of Barolo, the "king of wines," and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most prestigious reds.Tourissimo Tips:Piedmont is home to the Slow Food movement: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/why-piedmont-is-renowned-for-its-slow-foodTourissimo Tip–Check out this blog for a guide to a day of eating in Turin: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/a-day-of-eating-in-turinTourissimo Tip–One of the Best Meals of Your Life will be at the Piazza Duomo in Alba!Emilia-RomagnaLocated in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, Emilia-Romagna is a vibrant and diverse region known for its perfect blend of “slow food” and “fast cars.” This area is considered both the culinary and automotive capital of Italy, offering rich traditions, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.Food lovers will be in heaven here. Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of iconic Italian delicacies such as Mortadella, Tortellini in Brodo, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Lambrusco, and egg-based fresh pastas like lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle. A visit to Parma lets you savor authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano and world-class Prosciutto, as well as enjoy the elegant Teatro Regio opera house.The region also has a need for speed—it's home to legendary automotive brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. For car enthusiasts, the Ferrari Museum in Modena is a must-see. Emilia-Romagna even has a dedicated cycling tourism office, and in summer 2023, it played host to several stages of the Tour de France, which began in nearby Florence.Beyond the food and cars, Emilia-Romagna offers a range of enchanting destinations. The capital city of Bologna is known for its Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and the scenic Santuario Madonna di San Luca. In Ravenna, marvel at the dazzling, colorful mosaics and the historic San Vitale Basilica. Along the coast, vibrant seaside resorts like Cervia, Cesenatico, and Rimini create a lively, carnival-like party atmosphere from late May through September. For a more peaceful experience, explore the medieval gem of Brisighella, a lesser-known treasure full of charm.When it comes to fine dining, Emilia-Romagna doesn't disappoint. The region boasts 24 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, three two-star, and twenty one-star establishments. Visitors are often struck by the warmth and generosity of the locals—some of the most hospitable people in Italy—who express their love through exceptional food and outstanding service.Tourissimo Tips:Did you know that there is a whole other country within Emilia Romagna? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/san-marino-the-other-small-country-within-italyTourissimo Tip–Pietra di Bismantova was an inspiration for Dante: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/pietra-di-bismantova-the-inspiration-for-dantes-purgatoryTourissimo Tip–You can cross the Rubicon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/crossing-the-rubiconTrentino-South TyrolNestled along Italy's northern border with Switzerland, Trentino–South Tyrol is a stunning mountainous region that blends Italian and Austrian influences, making it a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With its striking Alpine scenery, exceptional cuisine, and rich cultural duality, this region offers the best of both worlds.The South Tyrol capital, Bolzano, is renowned for having the highest quality of life in Italy, combining the clean, efficient infrastructure often associated with Germany with the flavorful food and spirited lifestyle of Italian culture.Outdoor adventurers will be captivated by the Dolomites, with their dramatic limestone peaks—ideal for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking vistas. Don't miss the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest Alpine meadow, which is especially stunning in spring and summer. Explore shimmering Lake Garda and uncover the region's medieval past through spectacular castles like Schloss Tirol, Castel Roncolo, and Castel d'Appiano.Tourissimo Tip–An off-the-beaten-path outdoor paradise can be found in the Alps of Trentino. Check out the Val di Sole. This is one of the areas that Beppe and Heather regularly go to on their personal vacations in Italy: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-wild-dolomitesThe culinary offerings here reflect the region's unique blend of cultures. Traditional dishes range from Bratwurst and Goulash to Italian-style pastas with hearty meats like deer. Foodies should try Speck, a savory smoked ham, perfectly paired with a glass of Gewürztraminer, a fragrant white wine native to the area. The region also produces excellent white wines and lighter reds that pair beautifully with its alpine cuisine.When it comes to fine dining, Trentino–South Tyrol excels with 33 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three three-star, five two-star, and twenty-five one-star establishments, making it one of Italy's most impressive gourmet regions.LiguriaLocated along Italy's rugged northwestern coastline, Liguria—also known as the Italian Riviera—boasts dramatic cliffs, colorful seaside villages, and incredible culinary traditions. The region is best known for the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, as well as the glamorous resort towns of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.Tourissimo Tip– If you visit the Cinque Terre, don't forget to look up, and hike up away from the crowds to see the heroic vineyards: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-heroic-winemaking-of-the-cinque-terreBecause of the narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs, many travelers prefer to explore the region via the local train or by public or private boat. If you're planning to hike the famous trails, be aware that entrance permits are now required due to landslides and overtourism.In the regional capital of Genoa, dive into maritime history, visit the iconic San Lorenzo Cathedral, and wander the city's old port area. Just outside Genoa, discover the secluded San Fruttuoso Abbey, accessible only by boat or footpath. In Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre towns, visit the Doria Castle and the beautiful Santa Margherita Church.Liguria is also a celebrity hotspot, and its cuisine is just as impressive as its scenery. Known as the birthplace of pesto, the region is famous for Pesto alla Genovese, made with a special local basil. Be sure to try the region's olive oil, garlic, cheeses, and exceptional seafood, especially the anchovies. Other regional specialties include Focaccia di Recco, a cheese-filled flatbread, and lighter olive oils that perfectly complement Ligurian dishes.For fine dining, Liguria is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, all with one star, offering refined cuisine rooted in the region's coastal and agricultural traditions.Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Friuli)Tucked between Veneto, Austria, and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a lesser-known gem that offers a unique blend of Alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and coastal charm. The region features part of the Dolomites, ideal for hiking, skiing, and capturing breathtaking scenery.The capital, Trieste, is a refined port city with a fascinating blend of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic influences. Don't miss the Miramare Castle, perched over the sea with stunning views. In Cividale del Friuli, stroll through cobbled streets and sample Frico, a savory, crispy dish made of cheese and potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of Schioppettino, a bold red wine native to the region.For outdoor adventures and relaxation, spend a beach day at Lignano Sabbiadoro, camp in Sistiana, bike the trails around Grado, or explore the ancient Roman ruins in Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit the enormous Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave), stroll through Unity of Italy Square, and tour the Revoltella Museum for modern art.Friuli-Venezia Giulia is also home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including two two-star establishments and five one-star venues, reflecting the region's quiet but impressive culinary scene.Tourissimo Tip– A hotel that Heather and Beppe love in Cormons is La Subida. It's a unique, high-end, and rustic property nestled in nature that boasts a 1-Michelin star restaurant: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/hotels-we-love-la-subidaAosta ValleyNestled in the northwestern tip of Italy, where it borders Switzerland and France, the Aosta Valley is Italy's smallest and highest region—a true mountain paradise. This alpine jewel is renowned for its dramatic snowcapped peaks, storybook castles, and a unique blend of French and Italian culture, as both languages are spoken here.The region is home to Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), Europe's highest peak, which straddles the borders of Italy, France, and Switzerland. While the summit lies on the French side, visitors on the Italian side can experience the Skyway Monte Bianco, a breathtaking cable car ride offering panoramic views of the Alps.Key landmarks include the striking Matterhorn, the impressive Fénis and Savoy Castles, and the Bard Fortress, one of the largest and most remarkable fortifications in the Alps. After a day in the mountains, relax in one of the region's thermal spas, and indulge in Fonduta, a rich, velvety cheese fondue perfect for chilly alpine evenings.Wine lovers should sample the region's distinctive red mountain wines, especially Enfer d'Arvier, known for its bold flavor and high-altitude character.Tourissimo Tip–A fun tradition is the Friendship Cup, a communal cup of coffee: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-friendship-cup-of-valle-daostaCentral Italy: History, Art, and Rolling HillsTuscany (Toscana)Tuscany, the heart of the Renaissance, is a captivating region of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and timeless art and architecture. Located just below Italy's northern regions, it's a haven for art lovers, history buffs, and food and wine enthusiasts alike. From Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino, the region offers a wide variety of world-class wines.The regional capital, Florence, is one of Italy's most walkable and safe major cities, making it ideal for solo travelers. Admire its architectural wonders while sipping on Chianti Classico and indulging in a local favorite—Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Must-see landmarks in Florence include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David. For iconic views, head to Piazzale Michelangelo.Beyond Florence, explore the historic cities of Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, each offering its own charm. Don't miss the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Siena Cathedral, and spend time in the picturesque public squares like Piazza del Campo, Piazza della Signoria, and Piazza del Duomo.For off-the-beaten-path adventures, discover medieval hilltop villages such as Sorano, or head to the Maremma coast for scenic beaches and bold wines. Tuscany also shines in its culinary excellence, boasting 41 Michelin-starred restaurants—including 1 three-star, 5 two-star, and 35 one-star establishments.Tourissimo Tip–3 places in Tuscany you didn't know existed: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/three-places-in-tuscany-you-did-not-know-existedUmbriaUmbria, often called the "Green Heart of Italy," is the country's only completely landlocked region, nestled between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche. Though it lacks large cities, Umbria more than makes up for it with breathtaking natural beauty, medieval towns, and a rich culinary tradition.One of Umbria's most impressive sights is the Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore Falls)—the second tallest waterfall in Europe. Nature lovers and photographers alike will be amazed by its dramatic 165-meter drop. The region is also home to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy's most revered saints, and a major pilgrimage destination.Food lovers will delight in Umbria's hearty, earthy cuisine, featuring lentils, mushroom-based dishes, cured meats, and the prized black truffle (Tartufo Nero di Norcia). Pair these specialties with a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco, a robust red wine unique to the region.Umbria's culinary excellence is further reflected in its four Michelin-starred restaurants: Casa Vissani, Vespasia, Ada, and Elementi. Each holds one Michelin star, offering refined takes on the region's rustic flavors.Tourissimo Tip–Norcia is definitely one of Italy's culinary gems: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/norcia-one-of-italys-culinary-gemsMarcheLocated in central Italy on the Adriatic side, Marche is a beautiful region with a population of 1 million people, known for its charming towns, rich history, and welcoming, hardworking culture. The region offers stunning destinations like Urbino and Ancona, along with pristine beaches such as Spiaggia della Due Sorelle, Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo, Mezzavalle, and the Riviera del Conero, not to mention many picturesque nature reserves.Must-see landmarks include Castello di Gradara, Palazzo Ducale di Urbino, the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, Cattedrale di San Ciriaco, Tempio del Valadier, and the breathtaking underground Frasassi Caves. Marche's favorite cities and nearby towns also include Gubbio, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Cascia.For those drawn to religious history, highlights include the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis, the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis, Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, as well as the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. History lovers should visit Rocca Paolina, Piazza IV Novembre, Fontana Maggiore, Piazza del Comune, and Grotta di Monte Cucco, while museums like Narni Sotterranea, the National Gallery, and Nobile Collegio del Cambio offer rich cultural experiences.This region is famous for its culinary tradition, especially its mastery of seafood, and is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants — including Uliassi in Senigallia, proudly holding three Michelin stars, along with one two-star and five one-star establishments. No visit would be complete without tasting Olive all'Ascolana, fried stuffed olives that perfectly capture Marche's local flavor. All of this, combined with the region's natural beauty and warm, fun, and friendly locals, makes Marche a truly unforgettable destination in the heart of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Ascoli Piceno, the town where the Ascoli olive is from, is beautiful, especially at night when it appears to glow: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/ascoli-piceno-the-italian-town-that-glows-at-nightLazioLazio, one of Italy's central regions, though often considered a southern region by Italians, is a place rich with history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. At its heart is the capital city of Rome, a destination overflowing with opportunities for exploration. Essential sites include the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and countless other remarkable attractions. No visit to Rome is complete without savoring its famous dishes, including Cacio e Pepe — a creamy cheese and pepper pasta — along with local favorites like Spaghetti alla Gricia, Pasta all'Amatriciana, and Pasta Carbonara, best enjoyed with a glass of crisp Frascati wine while taking in views of the Colosseum. Lazio as a whole has 107 two-star Michelin restaurants and 105 one-star restaurants. If you find yourself in the Trastevere neighborhood, there are many wonderful popular restaurants, including La Scaletta and Le Mani in Pasta.Another must-see is Vatican City, home to the Vatican and its world-renowned religious and artistic treasures. In December 2025, Rome will host the Jubilee, or Holy Year — a significant Catholic Church event focused on forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal, held only once every 25 years and drawing pilgrims from across the globe.Beyond Rome, Lazio offers a beautiful coastline and peaceful countryside, perfect for travelers seeking quieter escapes. Among its hidden gems is Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman city that once served as the bustling port of Rome, located at the mouth of the Tiber River. With its blend of legendary landmarks, culinary traditions, religious significance, and off-the-beaten-path treasures, Lazio is a captivating region waiting to be explored.Tourissimo Tip–There's a wonderful project underway to create a cycle path around the perimeter of Rome: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-in-rome-grab-a-bike-and-bike-the-grabAbruzzoAbruzzo, known as Italy's green region, lies in the central-eastern part of the country and boasts a stunning combination of mountains, coastline, and unspoiled nature. Along the beautiful Trabocchi Coast, visitors can admire the historic trabocchi — ingenious wooden fishing structures built by fishermen centuries ago to safely fish the Adriatic waters, many of which have now been converted into charming seaside restaurants where you can dine on fresh seafood while suspended above the waves with sunsets as your backdrop. When it comes to dining, Abruzzo currently boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants; there are three 1-star restaurants and one 3-star restaurant. Food lovers shouldn't miss Arrosticini, the region's famous grilled lamb skewers, or a glass of bold Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine. Outdoor enthusiasts have countless opportunities for adventure, from swimming at the Stiffe Caves and strolling the Ponte del Mare to relaxing on the beaches of Riserva Naturale Guidata Punta Aderci and hiking to the iconic Rocca Calascio. Lakeside escapes await at Lago di Scanno and Lago di Barrea, while the towering Gran Sasso d'Italia and the expansive Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, and Lazio e Molise offer breathtaking scenery and pristine trails. The region is home to many national parks — Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise National Park, Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park, and Maiella National Park — perfect for hiking, biking, trail running, and spotting the highest peaks of the Apennine Mountain Range. Cyclists can enjoy the Bike to Coast cycle path, a 131 km (81.4 mile) route running along the Adriatic coast from Pescara to Vasto. History and architecture lovers will appreciate sites like Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Centro Storico di Sulmona, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and the Medieval Village of Pacentro. For a uniquely tranquil experience, visit the enchanting Gardens of Ninfa. Abruzzo is also a fabulous winter skiing destination and keeps traditions alive with events like Transumanza, the seasonal migration of livestock, primarily sheep, between the high-altitude pastures of the region. With its mountain majesty, historic villages, flavorful cuisine, and coastal charm, Abruzzo offers something unforgettable for every traveler.Tourissimo Tips:More info on the trabocchi coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/abruzzos-trabocchi-coastAbruzzo Bike to Coast is a beautiful bike path along the coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-along-abruzzos-coastMoliseOne of Italy's most untouched and lesser-known regions, Molise is famously nicknamed “the region that doesn't exist,” though it's rich in history, traditions, and natural beauty. This quiet region offers a mix of beaches and mountains, including part of the National Park of Abruzzo within the Apennines mountain range, filled with abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and winter ski opportunities. Tourissimo Tip–The Region That Doesn't Exist: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-italian-region-that-doesnt-existThe capital city, Campobasso, is home to notable sites like Monforte Castle and several Romanesque churches, while the charming coastal town of Termoli draws visitors for its beaches, trabucchi (historic fishing huts now serving fresh seafood), and local specialties like brodetto, a traditional seafood stew. Along the Molise coast in Termoli, dining at a trabucchi offers fresh catches with a side of Adriatic views. History buffs should visit the Samnite ruins in the Pietrabbondante archaeological area, the well-preserved Saepinum Archaeological Area, and landmarks like Lago di Castel San Vincenzo, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Purification, Monforte Castle, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Sorrow. A must-see is the Marinelli Bell Foundry, founded in 1339. It's the oldest continuously operating bell foundry in the world, Italy's oldest family business, and the official provider of bells to the Vatican. Food lovers can sample Cavatelli, a local pasta specialty, paired with Tintilia, a rare red wine unique to Molise. The region is also home to seven one-star Michelin restaurants and several local food tours that showcase its rustic culinary traditions. While Molise's quiet charm and untouched landscapes make it a special destination, visitors should note that English is not widely spoken, making it a truly authentic Italian experience for those eager to explore one of the country's hidden gems.Southern Italy: Sun, Sea, and Ancient WondersCampania The birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, the Mediterranean Diet, and Mozzarella di Bufala, Campania is one of Italy's most vibrant and culturally rich regions. Home to the bustling regional capital Naples (Napoli), it boasts some of the country's most iconic destinations, including Pompeii, the stunning Amalfi Coast, and the tranquil Cilento Coast.Along the sparkling, deep-blue waters of the Golfo di Napoli, you'll find must-visit coastal towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, as well as the famous islands of Ischia, Capri, and the colorful Procida. Visitors can hike the breathtaking Path of the Gods, explore the hauntingly preserved ruins of Archaeological Pompeii, forever shadowed by the gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius, and savor the region's culinary gems like ultra-fresh seafood and crisp Falanghina wine.History and culture lovers shouldn't miss Sansevero Chapel Museum, San Carlo Theatre, the Catacombs of San Gennaro, and the lush Villa Cimbrone Gardens. Campania also impresses with its historic castles, including the Royal Palace of Caserta, Ovo Castle, and Castello Aragonese d'Ischia. Wine enthusiasts should head to the province of Avellino, known for producing some of the best wines in southern Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Wine is also grown inland on the Amalfi Coast, and there are some vines that are 250 years old (pre-phylloxera): https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/old-vines-on-the-amalfi-coastNature lovers will be drawn to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and cultural heritage, featuring ancient ruins like Paestum and Velia, the majestic Padula Charterhouse, and idyllic coastal villages.Campania is also a paradise for food lovers, home to 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, eight two-star, and forty-two one-star establishments. From world-famous landmarks to hidden treasures, Campania offers an irresistible blend of history, nature, food, and coastal charm.CalabriaWith its rugged coastlines, dramatic landscapes, and hidden treasures, Calabria is a must-visit region in southern Italy. Known for its bold flavors and rich culinary traditions, visitors should sample 'Nduja, a spicy, spreadable sausage paste, and the region's famous Calabrian chiles. The local cuisine embraces cucina povera, a tradition of simple, hearty dishes featuring handmade pasta made with just flour and water. Calabria offers a growing fine dining scene with six one-star Michelin restaurants. For nature lovers, Calabria is home to three stunning national parks — Sila, Aspromonte, and Pollino — ideal for hiking, wildlife spotting, and immersing in untouched landscapes. Along the coast, Capo Vaticano stands out as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, offering breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters. History buffs and castle enthusiasts can explore impressive fortresses like Castello Ruffo di Scilla, Castello Murat, Castello di Le Castella, and Castello Aragonese. Don't miss charming towns and villages such as Tropea, famous for its clifftop views and beaches, as well as Scilla, Pentedattilo, and Le Castella. With its authentic culture, stunning coastlines, flavorful cuisine, and rich history, Calabria remains one of Italy's most captivating yet underrated regions.Tourissimo Tip–Way off the beaten path, lies a  unique museum in Mammola, Calabria https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/visit-to-musaba-the-sistine-chapel-of-calabriaPugliaKnown as the Maldives of Italy, Puglia is a sun-drenched region celebrated for its whitewashed hill towns, ancient olive groves, and miles of stunning coastline. With a dry Mediterranean climate and scenery that often feels more Greek than Italian, Puglia is famed for its beaches in Salento, crystal-clear waters, and charming seaside towns. One of its most iconic sights is the fairytale-like trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is also a food lover's paradise, offering specialties like Orecchiette pasta with turnip greens, the classic Fave e Cicoria (fava bean purée with wild chicory), and fresh seafood paired with crisp vegetables. Wine lovers can savor Primitivo, a bold local red. For fine dining, the region boasts nine one-star Michelin restaurants, blending rustic flavors with refined culinary creativity.Puglia is dotted with unique cities and towns worth exploring, including Locorotondo, Otranto, Lecce, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Bari, Alberobello, and Polignano a Mare. Nature and history enthusiasts will enjoy visiting extraordinary sites like the Grotte di Castellana, the dramatic Cave of Poetry, the ancient Basilica San Nicola, and the scenic Gargano Peninsula. With its thousand-year-old olive trees, Puglia is the largest olive oil producer in the world, known for its strong, spicy oils. The locals here are famously warm and welcoming, going out of their way to make visitors feel at home.Puglia's blend of natural beauty, rich tradition, and heartfelt hospitality makes it one of Italy's most captivating and underrated destinations.Tourissimo Tip–Here are some of the gems of Puglia: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/some-of-the-gems-of-pugliaBasilicataBasilicata, a remote yet captivating region with a population of just 500,000, offers a wealth of unique experiences despite its secluded location. Among its most intriguing destinations are the ghost town of Craco and the ancient cave city of Matera, both steeped in history and cinematic charm. Other towns worth visiting include Maratea and Palombaroa, each offering its own cultural and scenic appeal.Tourissimo Tip–Matera is magical! https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/destination-highlight-matera-the-city-of-stonesThe region is rich in historical and religious landmarks, such as the Crypt of Original Sin with its remarkable frescoes, and the medieval Melfi Castle. Don't miss the towering Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea, a striking monument that overlooks the Tyrrhenian coast.For a taste of local flavor, try Peperoni Cruschi—crispy, sun-dried peppers that are a beloved regional delicacy. Basilicata is also known for its exceptional wines, especially the bold, full-bodied reds of Aglianico del Vulture DOC, made primarily from the Aglianico grape. White wine lovers will appreciate the region's Greco di Tufo and Fiano varietals as well. Basilicata also has a total of 14 one-star Michelin restaurants. Adventurers can experience an adrenaline rush on The Angel's Flight, a giant zip line that offers stunning views and a thrilling ride through the Lucanian landscape.SicilySicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a world of its own, offering a diverse landscape of coastlines, mountains, and magical towns such as Cefalù, Palermo, Taormina, Catania, Noto, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Palermo serves as the cultural and diplomatic capital of the region, while Catania stands as its business hub.A volcanic island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily boasts a rich collection of cultural and natural treasures. Highlights include the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples, the active volcano Mount Etna, the stunning Duomo di Cefalù, and the picturesque islands of Stromboli, Bella, and Ortigia. The region is also home to the renowned Baroque Triangle in the Val di Noto region of southeastern Sicily, where the eight towns of Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, and Scicli have been recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding examples of late Baroque architecture.Sicily's culinary scene is just as impressive. Indulge in traditional Sicilian cannoli, filled with sheep's milk ricotta cheese and always stuffed fresh to order. Take a street food tour to savor local favorites like arancini, and don't miss sipping on a glass of Nero d'Avola, one of Sicily's most famous wines. The region is also internationally celebrated for its top-tier agriculture and winemaking.For a taste of authentic Italian charm beyond the tourist trail, explore the towns featured in I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia—Italy's list of its most beautiful hidden gems. Tourissimo Tip–This is a great tip for all 20 regions of Italy. Find out more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-italyFood lovers will be delighted to know that Sicily is also home to 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three two-star establishments and twenty with one star.Tourissimo Tip–If you visit Corleone, you should definitely learn about the legacy of the Mafia. We in North America tend to have a romanticized view of the mafia, but for the locals, the history is more brutal. See some photos and learn more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/letizia-battaglia-groundbreaking-photojournalist-who-fearlessly-documented-the-mafia-in-her-native-sicilySardiniaSardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is a rugged, rural paradise known for its natural beauty, deep-rooted traditions, and ancient history. The island is home to features like the Apennine Coast, the Adriatic Coast, and the Apennine Mountains. Most of Sardinia's population lives in the capital region of Cagliari, but much of the island remains untouched, offering visitors a glimpse into authentic Italian island life.One of Sardinia's most fascinating distinctions is that the Barbagia region is recognized as a Blue Zone—an area with an unusually high number of centenarians. This longevity is attributed to the region's healthy diet, active lifestyle, and strong sense of community. For outdoor enthusiasts, inland Sardinia offers some of the best biking and hiking experiences in all of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–What is a Blue Zone? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/blue-zoneThe island's coastlines are just as enticing. Costa Smeralda is often described as paradise on earth, with stunning beaches like Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé, and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Don't miss the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena), a protected area with crystal-clear waters and pristine landscapes.Charming towns such as Alghero, Bosa, and Cagliari add to the island's appeal. Many of Sardinia's towns are nestled in the mountains located in the island's center, offering a peaceful and scenic escape.Cultural and historical attractions abound. Must-see sites include the Nora Archaeological Park, Bastione di Saint Remy, Parco Archeologico Naturalistico di Santa Cristina, and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari. For an unforgettable natural wonder, venture into the Frecce delle grotte srl and Neptune's Grotto, stunning sea caves accessible by boat or stairs carved into cliffs.Sardinia is also home to a unique ancient civilization. Scattered across the island are over 7,000 nuraghe—megalithic stone structures built during the Nuragic Age (c. 1900–730 BC). These mysterious, tower-like buildings are the island's most iconic symbol, and some scholars believe there were once over 10,000 nuraghe structures in total.Religious architecture also impresses, with highlights like the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Cecilia, the Church of the Holy Trinity of Saccargia, and the Basilica di San Simplicio showcasing Sardinia's spiritual and artistic heritage.Sardinian cuisine reflects its mountainous geography. Surprisingly, for an island, the diet leans more toward land-based ingredients than seafood. Signature dishes include Porceddu (roast pig), Fregola (a traditional Sardinian pasta), and the adventurous Casu marzu—a sheep's milk cheese intentionally infested with live maggots and considered a local delicacy. Sardinia also holds 16 one-star Michelin restaurants.To accompany these flavors, try a glass of Cannonau red wine, known for its high polyphenol content and potential health benefits, or the refreshing Vermentino white wine, perfect for warm Mediterranean days.Tourissimo Tip–Magic Trick or Pasta Making? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/magic-trick-or-pasta-making From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio!From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio! 

Beppe, a native Italian, started his journey in active travel over two decades ago and, with the help of his wife Heather, co-founded Tourissimo, one of the top adventure travel companies in Italy. With years of expertise designing cycling and adventure tours across all 20 regions of Italy, Beppe and Heather have the inside scoop on the most authentic and unforgettable experiences Italy has to offer.So grab your espresso (or a glass of vino Italiano), and let's explore Italy region by region!Northern Italy: Adventure, Culture, and Alpine BeautyLombardy (Lombardia)Running along the Swiss border, Lombardy is Italy's largest and wealthiest region—a land of striking contrasts and cultural riches. Home to nearly 10 million people, Lombardy contains 12 of Italy's largest cities: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Monza, Sondrio, and Varese. The region blends modern sophistication with old-world charm, from the fashion capital and bustling metropolis of Milan to the serene, postcard-perfect landscapes of Lake Como.Lombardy is dotted with some of Italy's most beloved lakes, including Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, and many more. Picturesque villages like Bellagio offer sun-drenched escapes along Lake Como's shores, while the medieval towns of Bergamo and Mantova enchant visitors with cobblestone streets, sweeping views, and centuries of history.Culinary lovers will be spoiled for choice with Lombardy's 60 Michelin-starred restaurants—3 with three stars, 6 with two stars, and 51 with one star. Be sure to savor the region's iconic Risotto alla Milanese, a creamy saffron-infused dish that's a local staple. Wine enthusiasts won't want to miss a glass of Franciacorta, Italy's sparkling answer to Champagne.November is a wonderful time to visit, with cooler temperatures and fewer tourists. It's also the perfect season to explore Lombardy's slice of the Alps, where charming mountain towns await nestled among the peaks. For an unforgettable adventure, consider attending the 2025 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo!Tourissimo Tip– If you are flying into Milan, select the correct airport because Milan has two airports! For info, check out the following Tourissimo blog: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/avoid-this-common-travel-mistake-know-milans-two-airportsVenetoVeneto, the birthplace of Prosecco, Polenta, and the iconic Spritz, is a region rich in charm, culture, and culinary delights. Stretching from the Italian Riviera to the Venetian Pre-Alps and the stunning Dolomites, Veneto is home to both natural beauty and historic towns. Its capital, the enchanting floating city of Venice, is world-famous for its canals, gondolas, labyrinthine streets, and undeniable romance.Each of Venice's islands offers something special: admire the colorful houses of Burano, renowned for its lace-making traditions; visit Murano, celebrated for its centuries-old glassblowing artistry; and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of Torcello. Exploring these islands by vaporetto (water bus) offers a quieter, more authentic glimpse into Venetian life. Tourissimo Tip–For a few more suggestions, check out Tourissimo's blog on the Venetian Lagoon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/our-favorite-destinations-in-the-venetian-lagoonBeyond Venice, Veneto boasts a treasure trove of picturesque towns. Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Asolo each offer their own distinct history and beauty. Visit Castelfranco Veneto for a charming escape or head to Bardolino to enjoy a boat ride on Italy's largest lake, Lago di Garda. Stroll the waterfront in Castelletto sul Garda or circle the freshwater moat of Cittadella, a red-brick medieval town full of character.In the countryside, the hills of Prosecco promise stunning vineyard views, while the medieval town of Montagnana offers a taste of the past. Nature lovers can visit the volcanic Euganean Hills in Este, and cheese lovers shouldn't miss the small town of Asiago, home to one of Italy's most famous cheeses.Veneto's culinary scene shines with 34 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 29 with one star. Indulge in local specialties like Bigoli in Salsa, a hearty Venetian pasta with anchovy sauce, and toast with a glass of Prosecco, Grappa, or the regional favorite, the Select Spritz. And don't forget—Venetians love to celebrate, so let loose and join the party!Tourissimo Tips–Another fun suggestion is Veneto Marostica, the City of Chess, where they do a living chess match with hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes every two years: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/marostica-the-city-of-chessPiedmont (Piemonte)Nestled at the foot of the Alps and bordered on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea, Piedmont is one of Italy's most underrated gems. With a diverse landscape that offers adventure and beauty year-round, this region is perfect for both winter skiing and summer hiking and biking, thanks to its stunning Alpine scenery.But Piedmont isn't just about breathtaking views—it's steeped in rich history and cultural significance. As the first capital of Italy, it boasts grand palaces, remarkable art, and sacred relics like the famed Shroud of Turin. The capital city of Turin is a vibrant hub, home to Europe's largest outdoor food market and the monthly Gran Balon flea market, a haven for vintage and antique lovers.Venture beyond the city and you'll discover a region bursting with charm and flavor. Tour the Langhe Hills, a paradise for vineyard visits, and sample Bagna Cauda, a warm anchovy and garlic dip beloved by locals. Wander the lakeside town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, or stroll the cobbled streets of Neive, where views of rolling hills and storybook cottages create an unforgettable setting. In Asti, you can witness the September medieval horse races and visit the majestic Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Gottardo. For a true fairy-tale escape, head to Macugnaga in the valley of Monte Rosa, a perfect base for both skiing and hiking. And just outside of Turin lies the hidden gem of Lake Orta, a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.Piedmont's culinary scene is just as spectacular. With 35 Michelin-starred restaurants—2 with three stars, 3 with two stars, and 30 with one star—the region is a paradise for food lovers. Dine in Alba during white truffle season (September to January), and savor iconic regional dishes like Agnolotti del Plin and Coniglio Arrosto. Wine enthusiasts will be in heaven here—Piedmont is the land of Barolo, the "king of wines," and Barbaresco, two of Italy's most prestigious reds.Tourissimo Tips:Piedmont is home to the Slow Food movement: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/why-piedmont-is-renowned-for-its-slow-foodTourissimo Tip–Check out this blog for a guide to a day of eating in Turin: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/a-day-of-eating-in-turinTourissimo Tip–One of the Best Meals of Your Life will be at the Piazza Duomo in Alba!Emilia-RomagnaLocated in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, Emilia-Romagna is a vibrant and diverse region known for its perfect blend of “slow food” and “fast cars.” This area is considered both the culinary and automotive capital of Italy, offering rich traditions, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.Food lovers will be in heaven here. Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of iconic Italian delicacies such as Mortadella, Tortellini in Brodo, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional Balsamic Vinegar, Lambrusco, and egg-based fresh pastas like lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle. A visit to Parma lets you savor authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano and world-class Prosciutto, as well as enjoy the elegant Teatro Regio opera house.The region also has a need for speed—it's home to legendary automotive brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. For car enthusiasts, the Ferrari Museum in Modena is a must-see. Emilia-Romagna even has a dedicated cycling tourism office, and in summer 2023, it played host to several stages of the Tour de France, which began in nearby Florence.Beyond the food and cars, Emilia-Romagna offers a range of enchanting destinations. The capital city of Bologna is known for its Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and the scenic Santuario Madonna di San Luca. In Ravenna, marvel at the dazzling, colorful mosaics and the historic San Vitale Basilica. Along the coast, vibrant seaside resorts like Cervia, Cesenatico, and Rimini create a lively, carnival-like party atmosphere from late May through September. For a more peaceful experience, explore the medieval gem of Brisighella, a lesser-known treasure full of charm.When it comes to fine dining, Emilia-Romagna doesn't disappoint. The region boasts 24 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, three two-star, and twenty one-star establishments. Visitors are often struck by the warmth and generosity of the locals—some of the most hospitable people in Italy—who express their love through exceptional food and outstanding service.Tourissimo Tips:Did you know that there is a whole other country within Emilia Romagna? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/san-marino-the-other-small-country-within-italyTourissimo Tip–Pietra di Bismantova was an inspiration for Dante: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/pietra-di-bismantova-the-inspiration-for-dantes-purgatoryTourissimo Tip–You can cross the Rubicon: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/crossing-the-rubiconTrentino-South TyrolNestled along Italy's northern border with Switzerland, Trentino–South Tyrol is a stunning mountainous region that blends Italian and Austrian influences, making it a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With its striking Alpine scenery, exceptional cuisine, and rich cultural duality, this region offers the best of both worlds.The South Tyrol capital, Bolzano, is renowned for having the highest quality of life in Italy, combining the clean, efficient infrastructure often associated with Germany with the flavorful food and spirited lifestyle of Italian culture.Outdoor adventurers will be captivated by the Dolomites, with their dramatic limestone peaks—ideal for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking vistas. Don't miss the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest Alpine meadow, which is especially stunning in spring and summer. Explore shimmering Lake Garda and uncover the region's medieval past through spectacular castles like Schloss Tirol, Castel Roncolo, and Castel d'Appiano.Tourissimo Tip–An off-the-beaten-path outdoor paradise can be found in the Alps of Trentino. Check out the Val di Sole. This is one of the areas that Beppe and Heather regularly go to on their personal vacations in Italy: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-wild-dolomitesThe culinary offerings here reflect the region's unique blend of cultures. Traditional dishes range from Bratwurst and Goulash to Italian-style pastas with hearty meats like deer. Foodies should try Speck, a savory smoked ham, perfectly paired with a glass of Gewürztraminer, a fragrant white wine native to the area. The region also produces excellent white wines and lighter reds that pair beautifully with its alpine cuisine.When it comes to fine dining, Trentino–South Tyrol excels with 33 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three three-star, five two-star, and twenty-five one-star establishments, making it one of Italy's most impressive gourmet regions.LiguriaLocated along Italy's rugged northwestern coastline, Liguria—also known as the Italian Riviera—boasts dramatic cliffs, colorful seaside villages, and incredible culinary traditions. The region is best known for the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, as well as the glamorous resort towns of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.Tourissimo Tip– If you visit the Cinque Terre, don't forget to look up, and hike up away from the crowds to see the heroic vineyards: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-heroic-winemaking-of-the-cinque-terreBecause of the narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs, many travelers prefer to explore the region via the local train or by public or private boat. If you're planning to hike the famous trails, be aware that entrance permits are now required due to landslides and overtourism.In the regional capital of Genoa, dive into maritime history, visit the iconic San Lorenzo Cathedral, and wander the city's old port area. Just outside Genoa, discover the secluded San Fruttuoso Abbey, accessible only by boat or footpath. In Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre towns, visit the Doria Castle and the beautiful Santa Margherita Church.Liguria is also a celebrity hotspot, and its cuisine is just as impressive as its scenery. Known as the birthplace of pesto, the region is famous for Pesto alla Genovese, made with a special local basil. Be sure to try the region's olive oil, garlic, cheeses, and exceptional seafood, especially the anchovies. Other regional specialties include Focaccia di Recco, a cheese-filled flatbread, and lighter olive oils that perfectly complement Ligurian dishes.For fine dining, Liguria is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, all with one star, offering refined cuisine rooted in the region's coastal and agricultural traditions.Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Friuli)Tucked between Veneto, Austria, and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a lesser-known gem that offers a unique blend of Alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and coastal charm. The region features part of the Dolomites, ideal for hiking, skiing, and capturing breathtaking scenery.The capital, Trieste, is a refined port city with a fascinating blend of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic influences. Don't miss the Miramare Castle, perched over the sea with stunning views. In Cividale del Friuli, stroll through cobbled streets and sample Frico, a savory, crispy dish made of cheese and potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of Schioppettino, a bold red wine native to the region.For outdoor adventures and relaxation, spend a beach day at Lignano Sabbiadoro, camp in Sistiana, bike the trails around Grado, or explore the ancient Roman ruins in Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit the enormous Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave), stroll through Unity of Italy Square, and tour the Revoltella Museum for modern art.Friuli-Venezia Giulia is also home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including two two-star establishments and five one-star venues, reflecting the region's quiet but impressive culinary scene.Tourissimo Tip– A hotel that Heather and Beppe love in Cormons is La Subida. It's a unique, high-end, and rustic property nestled in nature that boasts a 1-Michelin star restaurant: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/hotels-we-love-la-subidaAosta ValleyNestled in the northwestern tip of Italy, where it borders Switzerland and France, the Aosta Valley is Italy's smallest and highest region—a true mountain paradise. This alpine jewel is renowned for its dramatic snowcapped peaks, storybook castles, and a unique blend of French and Italian culture, as both languages are spoken here.The region is home to Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), Europe's highest peak, which straddles the borders of Italy, France, and Switzerland. While the summit lies on the French side, visitors on the Italian side can experience the Skyway Monte Bianco, a breathtaking cable car ride offering panoramic views of the Alps.Key landmarks include the striking Matterhorn, the impressive Fénis and Savoy Castles, and the Bard Fortress, one of the largest and most remarkable fortifications in the Alps. After a day in the mountains, relax in one of the region's thermal spas, and indulge in Fonduta, a rich, velvety cheese fondue perfect for chilly alpine evenings.Wine lovers should sample the region's distinctive red mountain wines, especially Enfer d'Arvier, known for its bold flavor and high-altitude character.Tourissimo Tip–A fun tradition is the Friendship Cup, a communal cup of coffee: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-friendship-cup-of-valle-daostaCentral Italy: History, Art, and Rolling HillsTuscany (Toscana)Tuscany, the heart of the Renaissance, is a captivating region of rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, vineyards, and timeless art and architecture. Located just below Italy's northern regions, it's a haven for art lovers, history buffs, and food and wine enthusiasts alike. From Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino, the region offers a wide variety of world-class wines.The regional capital, Florence, is one of Italy's most walkable and safe major cities, making it ideal for solo travelers. Admire its architectural wonders while sipping on Chianti Classico and indulging in a local favorite—Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Must-see landmarks in Florence include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David. For iconic views, head to Piazzale Michelangelo.Beyond Florence, explore the historic cities of Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, each offering its own charm. Don't miss the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Siena Cathedral, and spend time in the picturesque public squares like Piazza del Campo, Piazza della Signoria, and Piazza del Duomo.For off-the-beaten-path adventures, discover medieval hilltop villages such as Sorano, or head to the Maremma coast for scenic beaches and bold wines. Tuscany also shines in its culinary excellence, boasting 41 Michelin-starred restaurants—including 1 three-star, 5 two-star, and 35 one-star establishments.Tourissimo Tip–3 places in Tuscany you didn't know existed: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/three-places-in-tuscany-you-did-not-know-existedUmbriaUmbria, often called the "Green Heart of Italy," is the country's only completely landlocked region, nestled between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche. Though it lacks large cities, Umbria more than makes up for it with breathtaking natural beauty, medieval towns, and a rich culinary tradition.One of Umbria's most impressive sights is the Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore Falls)—the second tallest waterfall in Europe. Nature lovers and photographers alike will be amazed by its dramatic 165-meter drop. The region is also home to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, one of Italy's most revered saints, and a major pilgrimage destination.Food lovers will delight in Umbria's hearty, earthy cuisine, featuring lentils, mushroom-based dishes, cured meats, and the prized black truffle (Tartufo Nero di Norcia). Pair these specialties with a glass of Sagrantino di Montefalco, a robust red wine unique to the region.Umbria's culinary excellence is further reflected in its four Michelin-starred restaurants: Casa Vissani, Vespasia, Ada, and Elementi. Each holds one Michelin star, offering refined takes on the region's rustic flavors.Tourissimo Tip–Norcia is definitely one of Italy's culinary gems: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/norcia-one-of-italys-culinary-gemsMarcheLocated in central Italy on the Adriatic side, Marche is a beautiful region with a population of 1 million people, known for its charming towns, rich history, and welcoming, hardworking culture. The region offers stunning destinations like Urbino and Ancona, along with pristine beaches such as Spiaggia della Due Sorelle, Parco Naturale Monte San Bartolo, Mezzavalle, and the Riviera del Conero, not to mention many picturesque nature reserves.Must-see landmarks include Castello di Gradara, Palazzo Ducale di Urbino, the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, Cattedrale di San Ciriaco, Tempio del Valadier, and the breathtaking underground Frasassi Caves. Marche's favorite cities and nearby towns also include Gubbio, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, and Cascia.For those drawn to religious history, highlights include the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis, the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis, Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, as well as the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. History lovers should visit Rocca Paolina, Piazza IV Novembre, Fontana Maggiore, Piazza del Comune, and Grotta di Monte Cucco, while museums like Narni Sotterranea, the National Gallery, and Nobile Collegio del Cambio offer rich cultural experiences.This region is famous for its culinary tradition, especially its mastery of seafood, and is home to seven Michelin-starred restaurants — including Uliassi in Senigallia, proudly holding three Michelin stars, along with one two-star and five one-star establishments. No visit would be complete without tasting Olive all'Ascolana, fried stuffed olives that perfectly capture Marche's local flavor. All of this, combined with the region's natural beauty and warm, fun, and friendly locals, makes Marche a truly unforgettable destination in the heart of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Ascoli Piceno, the town where the Ascoli olive is from, is beautiful, especially at night when it appears to glow: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/ascoli-piceno-the-italian-town-that-glows-at-nightLazioLazio, one of Italy's central regions, though often considered a southern region by Italians, is a place rich with history, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. At its heart is the capital city of Rome, a destination overflowing with opportunities for exploration. Essential sites include the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and countless other remarkable attractions. No visit to Rome is complete without savoring its famous dishes, including Cacio e Pepe — a creamy cheese and pepper pasta — along with local favorites like Spaghetti alla Gricia, Pasta all'Amatriciana, and Pasta Carbonara, best enjoyed with a glass of crisp Frascati wine while taking in views of the Colosseum. Lazio as a whole has 107 two-star Michelin restaurants and 105 one-star restaurants. If you find yourself in the Trastevere neighborhood, there are many wonderful popular restaurants, including La Scaletta and Le Mani in Pasta.Another must-see is Vatican City, home to the Vatican and its world-renowned religious and artistic treasures. In December 2025, Rome will host the Jubilee, or Holy Year — a significant Catholic Church event focused on forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal, held only once every 25 years and drawing pilgrims from across the globe.Beyond Rome, Lazio offers a beautiful coastline and peaceful countryside, perfect for travelers seeking quieter escapes. Among its hidden gems is Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman city that once served as the bustling port of Rome, located at the mouth of the Tiber River. With its blend of legendary landmarks, culinary traditions, religious significance, and off-the-beaten-path treasures, Lazio is a captivating region waiting to be explored.Tourissimo Tip–There's a wonderful project underway to create a cycle path around the perimeter of Rome: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-in-rome-grab-a-bike-and-bike-the-grabAbruzzoAbruzzo, known as Italy's green region, lies in the central-eastern part of the country and boasts a stunning combination of mountains, coastline, and unspoiled nature. Along the beautiful Trabocchi Coast, visitors can admire the historic trabocchi — ingenious wooden fishing structures built by fishermen centuries ago to safely fish the Adriatic waters, many of which have now been converted into charming seaside restaurants where you can dine on fresh seafood while suspended above the waves with sunsets as your backdrop. When it comes to dining, Abruzzo currently boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants; there are three 1-star restaurants and one 3-star restaurant. Food lovers shouldn't miss Arrosticini, the region's famous grilled lamb skewers, or a glass of bold Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine. Outdoor enthusiasts have countless opportunities for adventure, from swimming at the Stiffe Caves and strolling the Ponte del Mare to relaxing on the beaches of Riserva Naturale Guidata Punta Aderci and hiking to the iconic Rocca Calascio. Lakeside escapes await at Lago di Scanno and Lago di Barrea, while the towering Gran Sasso d'Italia and the expansive Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, and Lazio e Molise offer breathtaking scenery and pristine trails. The region is home to many national parks — Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise National Park, Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park, and Maiella National Park — perfect for hiking, biking, trail running, and spotting the highest peaks of the Apennine Mountain Range. Cyclists can enjoy the Bike to Coast cycle path, a 131 km (81.4 mile) route running along the Adriatic coast from Pescara to Vasto. History and architecture lovers will appreciate sites like Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio, Centro Storico di Sulmona, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, and the Medieval Village of Pacentro. For a uniquely tranquil experience, visit the enchanting Gardens of Ninfa. Abruzzo is also a fabulous winter skiing destination and keeps traditions alive with events like Transumanza, the seasonal migration of livestock, primarily sheep, between the high-altitude pastures of the region. With its mountain majesty, historic villages, flavorful cuisine, and coastal charm, Abruzzo offers something unforgettable for every traveler.Tourissimo Tips:More info on the trabocchi coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/abruzzos-trabocchi-coastAbruzzo Bike to Coast is a beautiful bike path along the coast: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/cycling-along-abruzzos-coastMoliseOne of Italy's most untouched and lesser-known regions, Molise is famously nicknamed “the region that doesn't exist,” though it's rich in history, traditions, and natural beauty. This quiet region offers a mix of beaches and mountains, including part of the National Park of Abruzzo within the Apennines mountain range, filled with abundant wildlife, hiking trails, and winter ski opportunities. Tourissimo Tip–The Region That Doesn't Exist: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-italian-region-that-doesnt-existThe capital city, Campobasso, is home to notable sites like Monforte Castle and several Romanesque churches, while the charming coastal town of Termoli draws visitors for its beaches, trabucchi (historic fishing huts now serving fresh seafood), and local specialties like brodetto, a traditional seafood stew. Along the Molise coast in Termoli, dining at a trabucchi offers fresh catches with a side of Adriatic views. History buffs should visit the Samnite ruins in the Pietrabbondante archaeological area, the well-preserved Saepinum Archaeological Area, and landmarks like Lago di Castel San Vincenzo, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Purification, Monforte Castle, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Sorrow. A must-see is the Marinelli Bell Foundry, founded in 1339. It's the oldest continuously operating bell foundry in the world, Italy's oldest family business, and the official provider of bells to the Vatican. Food lovers can sample Cavatelli, a local pasta specialty, paired with Tintilia, a rare red wine unique to Molise. The region is also home to seven one-star Michelin restaurants and several local food tours that showcase its rustic culinary traditions. While Molise's quiet charm and untouched landscapes make it a special destination, visitors should note that English is not widely spoken, making it a truly authentic Italian experience for those eager to explore one of the country's hidden gems.Southern Italy: Sun, Sea, and Ancient WondersCampania The birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, the Mediterranean Diet, and Mozzarella di Bufala, Campania is one of Italy's most vibrant and culturally rich regions. Home to the bustling regional capital Naples (Napoli), it boasts some of the country's most iconic destinations, including Pompeii, the stunning Amalfi Coast, and the tranquil Cilento Coast.Along the sparkling, deep-blue waters of the Golfo di Napoli, you'll find must-visit coastal towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, as well as the famous islands of Ischia, Capri, and the colorful Procida. Visitors can hike the breathtaking Path of the Gods, explore the hauntingly preserved ruins of Archaeological Pompeii, forever shadowed by the gray cone of Mt. Vesuvius, and savor the region's culinary gems like ultra-fresh seafood and crisp Falanghina wine.History and culture lovers shouldn't miss Sansevero Chapel Museum, San Carlo Theatre, the Catacombs of San Gennaro, and the lush Villa Cimbrone Gardens. Campania also impresses with its historic castles, including the Royal Palace of Caserta, Ovo Castle, and Castello Aragonese d'Ischia. Wine enthusiasts should head to the province of Avellino, known for producing some of the best wines in southern Italy.Tourissimo Tip–Wine is also grown inland on the Amalfi Coast, and there are some vines that are 250 years old (pre-phylloxera): https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/old-vines-on-the-amalfi-coastNature lovers will be drawn to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and cultural heritage, featuring ancient ruins like Paestum and Velia, the majestic Padula Charterhouse, and idyllic coastal villages.Campania is also a paradise for food lovers, home to 51 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one three-star, eight two-star, and forty-two one-star establishments. From world-famous landmarks to hidden treasures, Campania offers an irresistible blend of history, nature, food, and coastal charm.CalabriaWith its rugged coastlines, dramatic landscapes, and hidden treasures, Calabria is a must-visit region in southern Italy. Known for its bold flavors and rich culinary traditions, visitors should sample 'Nduja, a spicy, spreadable sausage paste, and the region's famous Calabrian chiles. The local cuisine embraces cucina povera, a tradition of simple, hearty dishes featuring handmade pasta made with just flour and water. Calabria offers a growing fine dining scene with six one-star Michelin restaurants. For nature lovers, Calabria is home to three stunning national parks — Sila, Aspromonte, and Pollino — ideal for hiking, wildlife spotting, and immersing in untouched landscapes. Along the coast, Capo Vaticano stands out as one of the world's most beautiful beaches, offering breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters. History buffs and castle enthusiasts can explore impressive fortresses like Castello Ruffo di Scilla, Castello Murat, Castello di Le Castella, and Castello Aragonese. Don't miss charming towns and villages such as Tropea, famous for its clifftop views and beaches, as well as Scilla, Pentedattilo, and Le Castella. With its authentic culture, stunning coastlines, flavorful cuisine, and rich history, Calabria remains one of Italy's most captivating yet underrated regions.Tourissimo Tip–Way off the beaten path, lies a  unique museum in Mammola, Calabria https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/visit-to-musaba-the-sistine-chapel-of-calabriaPugliaKnown as the Maldives of Italy, Puglia is a sun-drenched region celebrated for its whitewashed hill towns, ancient olive groves, and miles of stunning coastline. With a dry Mediterranean climate and scenery that often feels more Greek than Italian, Puglia is famed for its beaches in Salento, crystal-clear waters, and charming seaside towns. One of its most iconic sights is the fairytale-like trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is also a food lover's paradise, offering specialties like Orecchiette pasta with turnip greens, the classic Fave e Cicoria (fava bean purée with wild chicory), and fresh seafood paired with crisp vegetables. Wine lovers can savor Primitivo, a bold local red. For fine dining, the region boasts nine one-star Michelin restaurants, blending rustic flavors with refined culinary creativity.Puglia is dotted with unique cities and towns worth exploring, including Locorotondo, Otranto, Lecce, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Bari, Alberobello, and Polignano a Mare. Nature and history enthusiasts will enjoy visiting extraordinary sites like the Grotte di Castellana, the dramatic Cave of Poetry, the ancient Basilica San Nicola, and the scenic Gargano Peninsula. With its thousand-year-old olive trees, Puglia is the largest olive oil producer in the world, known for its strong, spicy oils. The locals here are famously warm and welcoming, going out of their way to make visitors feel at home.Puglia's blend of natural beauty, rich tradition, and heartfelt hospitality makes it one of Italy's most captivating and underrated destinations.Tourissimo Tip–Here are some of the gems of Puglia: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/some-of-the-gems-of-pugliaBasilicataBasilicata, a remote yet captivating region with a population of just 500,000, offers a wealth of unique experiences despite its secluded location. Among its most intriguing destinations are the ghost town of Craco and the ancient cave city of Matera, both steeped in history and cinematic charm. Other towns worth visiting include Maratea and Palombaroa, each offering its own cultural and scenic appeal.Tourissimo Tip–Matera is magical! https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/destination-highlight-matera-the-city-of-stonesThe region is rich in historical and religious landmarks, such as the Crypt of Original Sin with its remarkable frescoes, and the medieval Melfi Castle. Don't miss the towering Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Maratea, a striking monument that overlooks the Tyrrhenian coast.For a taste of local flavor, try Peperoni Cruschi—crispy, sun-dried peppers that are a beloved regional delicacy. Basilicata is also known for its exceptional wines, especially the bold, full-bodied reds of Aglianico del Vulture DOC, made primarily from the Aglianico grape. White wine lovers will appreciate the region's Greco di Tufo and Fiano varietals as well. Basilicata also has a total of 14 one-star Michelin restaurants. Adventurers can experience an adrenaline rush on The Angel's Flight, a giant zip line that offers stunning views and a thrilling ride through the Lucanian landscape.SicilySicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a world of its own, offering a diverse landscape of coastlines, mountains, and magical towns such as Cefalù, Palermo, Taormina, Catania, Noto, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Palermo serves as the cultural and diplomatic capital of the region, while Catania stands as its business hub.A volcanic island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily boasts a rich collection of cultural and natural treasures. Highlights include the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples, the active volcano Mount Etna, the stunning Duomo di Cefalù, and the picturesque islands of Stromboli, Bella, and Ortigia. The region is also home to the renowned Baroque Triangle in the Val di Noto region of southeastern Sicily, where the eight towns of Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, and Scicli have been recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding examples of late Baroque architecture.Sicily's culinary scene is just as impressive. Indulge in traditional Sicilian cannoli, filled with sheep's milk ricotta cheese and always stuffed fresh to order. Take a street food tour to savor local favorites like arancini, and don't miss sipping on a glass of Nero d'Avola, one of Sicily's most famous wines. The region is also internationally celebrated for its top-tier agriculture and winemaking.For a taste of authentic Italian charm beyond the tourist trail, explore the towns featured in I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia—Italy's list of its most beautiful hidden gems. Tourissimo Tip–This is a great tip for all 20 regions of Italy. Find out more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/the-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-italyFood lovers will be delighted to know that Sicily is also home to 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three two-star establishments and twenty with one star.Tourissimo Tip–If you visit Corleone, you should definitely learn about the legacy of the Mafia. We in North America tend to have a romanticized view of the mafia, but for the locals, the history is more brutal. See some photos and learn more here: https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/letizia-battaglia-groundbreaking-photojournalist-who-fearlessly-documented-the-mafia-in-her-native-sicilySardiniaSardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is a rugged, rural paradise known for its natural beauty, deep-rooted traditions, and ancient history. The island is home to features like the Apennine Coast, the Adriatic Coast, and the Apennine Mountains. Most of Sardinia's population lives in the capital region of Cagliari, but much of the island remains untouched, offering visitors a glimpse into authentic Italian island life.One of Sardinia's most fascinating distinctions is that the Barbagia region is recognized as a Blue Zone—an area with an unusually high number of centenarians. This longevity is attributed to the region's healthy diet, active lifestyle, and strong sense of community. For outdoor enthusiasts, inland Sardinia offers some of the best biking and hiking experiences in all of Italy.Tourissimo Tip–What is a Blue Zone? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/blue-zoneThe island's coastlines are just as enticing. Costa Smeralda is often described as paradise on earth, with stunning beaches like Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Cala Goloritzé, and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Don't miss the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena), a protected area with crystal-clear waters and pristine landscapes.Charming towns such as Alghero, Bosa, and Cagliari add to the island's appeal. Many of Sardinia's towns are nestled in the mountains located in the island's center, offering a peaceful and scenic escape.Cultural and historical attractions abound. Must-see sites include the Nora Archaeological Park, Bastione di Saint Remy, Parco Archeologico Naturalistico di Santa Cristina, and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari. For an unforgettable natural wonder, venture into the Frecce delle grotte srl and Neptune's Grotto, stunning sea caves accessible by boat or stairs carved into cliffs.Sardinia is also home to a unique ancient civilization. Scattered across the island are over 7,000 nuraghe—megalithic stone structures built during the Nuragic Age (c. 1900–730 BC). These mysterious, tower-like buildings are the island's most iconic symbol, and some scholars believe there were once over 10,000 nuraghe structures in total.Religious architecture also impresses, with highlights like the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Cecilia, the Church of the Holy Trinity of Saccargia, and the Basilica di San Simplicio showcasing Sardinia's spiritual and artistic heritage.Sardinian cuisine reflects its mountainous geography. Surprisingly, for an island, the diet leans more toward land-based ingredients than seafood. Signature dishes include Porceddu (roast pig), Fregola (a traditional Sardinian pasta), and the adventurous Casu marzu—a sheep's milk cheese intentionally infested with live maggots and considered a local delicacy. Sardinia also holds 16 one-star Michelin restaurants.To accompany these flavors, try a glass of Cannonau red wine, known for its high polyphenol content and potential health benefits, or the refreshing Vermentino white wine, perfect for warm Mediterranean days.Tourissimo Tip–Magic Trick or Pasta Making? https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/magic-trick-or-pasta-making From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio!From the Alps to the Mediterranean, each Italian region is a world of its own. Want to see it all? Check out Tourissimo's amazing trip planning and Italian information at tourissimo.travel! Buon viaggio! 

Chaque semaine dans Destination RTL, Bernard Sabbah vous accompagne avec ses meilleurs conseils et vous inspire pour vos futurs voyages. Dans cet épisode, partez à la découverte de Florence, la « cité du Lys » et le berceau de la Renaissance. Laissez-vous séduire par cette ville-musée en flânant sur la Piazza del Duomo, en admirant un coucher de soleil depuis l'esplanade Michel-Ange et en traversant l'emblématique Ponte Vecchio.

The Ponte Vecchio is one of my fave places to visit when I'm in Firenze. Today I'll talk about the history, who built it, what was there before gold shops and WHY it was never destroyed during WW2 like the other bridges in Florence. Enjoy this episode! I sure did love making it! :) Not on my email list yet? go here: https://www.trulyitaly.tours//email-newsletter

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/architecture

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/art

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Famous today for the shops lining its sloped street, the Ponte Vecchio is the last premodern bridge spanning the Arno River at Florence and one of the few remaining examples of the once more prevalent urbanized bridge type. Drawing from early Florentine chronicles and previously unpublished archival documents, The Ponte Vecchio: Architecture, Politics, and Civic Identity in Late Medieval Florence (Brepols, 2024) by Dr. Theresa Flanigan traces the history of the Ponte Vecchio, focusing on the current bridge's construction after the flood of 1333. Much of the Ponte Vecchio's original fourteenth-century appearance is now obscured beneath later accretions, often mistakenly interpreted as original to its medieval character. To the contrary, as argued in this book and illustrated by new reconstruction drawings, the mid-trecento Ponte Vecchio's vaulted substructure was technically advanced, its urban superstructure was designed in accordance with contemporary Florentine urban planning strategies, and its "beautiful and honorable" appearance was maintained by government regulations. The documents also reveal new information about the commission and rental of its famous shops. Relying on these sources, this study offers a more complete history of the Ponte Vecchio, adding significantly to what is currently known about the bridge's patronage and construction, as well as the aims of civic architecture and urban planning in late medieval Florence. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Esistono monumenti e luoghi del mondo che, non appena li sentiamo pronunciare, iniziano a farci viaggiare con l'immaginazione: pensiamo a piazza San Marco a Venezia o al monte Fuji, alle cascate del Niagara o a Mont Saint-Michel, alle piramidi egizie o a Gerusalemme, a Stonehenge o a Ponte Vecchio a Firenze. Ma cosa succede quando questi luoghi accendono gli occhi degli artisti e prendono vita nei loro quadri? Questo ci racconta in questo podcast, Emanuela Pulvirenti, architetto e celebre divulgatrice di storia dell'arte. Il risultato è un sorprendente itinerario tra le meraviglie del mondo antico e moderno, viste dalla prospettiva unica dei pittori: un viaggio nello spazio e nel tempo. Un'immersione inedita nella storia dell'arte per scoprire retroscena, storie e curiosità su alcuni dei luoghi più belli del mondo che, grazie allo sguardo degli artisti, si dischiudono davanti a noi come se li osservassimo per la prima volta. Emanuela Pulvirenti ha scritto per Rizzoli “Cartoline d'Artista. Viaggio tra le meraviglie del mondo nei dipinti più belli della storia dell'arte”. E' storica dell'arte, architetto e dottore di ricerca in Fisica Tecnica Ambientale con specializzazione in illuminotecnica. Nel 2001 ha fondato lo Studio Triskeles Associato, per il quale ha curato l'illuminazione di musei, chiese e aree archeologiche in tutta Italia.  A cura di Francesco De Leo. Montaggio di Silvio Farina. https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Eventi e luoghi ------------ Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/293C5TZniMOgqHdBLSTaRc ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427. Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/ - Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare) - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo - Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria - Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's travel to Florence— I'll provide a little bit of historical background to the birthplace of the Renaissance and then we'll dive into the treasures of this Tuscan capital. In this episode, I'll talk about my summer experience in Italy starting with visiting Pisa and then going to Firenze aka Florence. Florence is an art history/architectural nerd's dream. From the beautiful Piazzas (Piazza del Duomo, Piazza del Santa Croce), mega cathedrals with unimaginable scale and so much art. From the Uffizi to the Piazza della Signoria, Florence is truly an open air museum. Shop along the gold and jewelry shops of the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge overlooking the Arno. Just be on the look out for pickpockets. Treat yourself to quality Florentine leather goods at the Scuolo del Cuoio or Galleria Michaelangelo. And most imporantly, eat gelato. My favorite spots in Florence: La Galleria Michelangelo Scuolo Del Cuoio La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Della Passera Trattoria Casa Toscana WHERE TO FIND ME: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@busygallivantingpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BusyGallivantingPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/busygallivanting/support

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Lost Time: Uncovering Florence's Hidden Family Treasure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/lost-time-uncovering-florences-hidden-family-treasure Story Transcript:It: Giovanni e Alessandra si trovavano sul Ponte Vecchio, a Firenze.En: Giovanni and Alessandra were on the Ponte Vecchio, in Florence.It: Era una giornata speciale.En: It was a special day.It: La città era in festa e le strade erano piene di gente.En: The city was celebrating, and the streets were full of people.It: Il profumo delle caldarroste riempiva l'aria.En: The scent of roasted chestnuts filled the air.It: Giovanni e Alessandra cercavano un tesoro di famiglia.En: Giovanni and Alessandra were searching for a family treasure.It: Un antico orologio che apparteneva al bisnonno di Giovanni.En: An ancient watch that belonged to Giovanni's great-grandfather.It: Era un orologio d'oro, con un piccolo rubino rosso.En: It was a gold watch with a small red ruby.It: Alessandra aveva una mappa.En: Alessandra had a map.It: Giovanni invece teneva un vecchio libro con indizi.En: Giovanni, on the other hand, was holding an old book with clues.It: I due stavano cercando insieme da mesi.En: They had been searching together for months.It: Quel giorno, la folla rendeva tutto difficile.En: That day, the crowd made everything difficult.It: Era complicato muoversi e parlare.En: It was hard to move and talk.It: "Ecco il negozio di gioielli," disse Giovanni.En: "There's the jewelry store," said Giovanni.It: Era uno dei negozi più antichi di Firenze, pieno di luci e vetrine luccicanti.En: It was one of the oldest shops in Florence, full of lights and shiny windows.It: Entrarono.En: They went inside.It: "Cerchiamo un orologio molto vecchio," disse Alessandra al gioielliere.En: "We're looking for a very old watch," Alessandra said to the jeweler.It: Lui scosse la testa.En: He shook his head.It: Non aveva visto niente del genere.En: He hadn't seen anything like it.It: Gli occhi di Giovanni si riempirono di delusione.En: Giovanni's eyes filled with disappointment.It: Non sapeva dove cercare adesso.En: He didn't know where to search next.It: Ma Alessandra non era pronta a rinunciare.En: But Alessandra wasn't ready to give up.It: Aveva visto qualcosa nella mappa, un piccolo dettaglio che aveva trascurato.En: She had noticed something on the map, a small detail she had overlooked.It: Andarono verso il fiume.En: They headed towards the river.It: Pioveva leggermente.En: It was lightly raining.It: Alessandra si fermò improvvisamente.En: Alessandra stopped suddenly.It: "Guarda, Giovanni!"En: "Look, Giovanni!"It: gridò, indicando un piccolo vicolo.En: she shouted, pointing at a narrow alley.It: Seguivano quel vicolo stretto, quasi oscuro.En: They followed the narrow, almost dark alley.It: Arrivarono a una piccola porta di legno.En: They came to a small wooden door.It: Sopra la porta c'era un'insegna.En: Above the door was a sign.It: "Vecchi tesori," leggeva Giovanni ad alta voce.En: "Old Treasures," Giovanni read aloud.It: Entrarono.En: They went inside.It: Un vecchio uomo dietro al banco alzò lo sguardo.En: An old man behind the counter looked up.It: Aveva occhi gentili.En: He had kind eyes.It: "Cosa cercate, bambini?"En: "What are you looking for, children?"It: chiese con una voce stanca ma gentile.En: he asked with a tired but gentle voice.It: "Un orologio.En: "A watch.It: Un orologio d'oro con un rubino rosso," disse Alessandra.En: A gold watch with a red ruby," said Alessandra.It: Il vecchio sorrise e andò in un retrobottega.En: The old man smiled and went into a back room.It: Tornò con un piccolo cofanetto di velluto rosso.En: He returned with a small velvet box.It: Lo aprì lentamente.En: He opened it slowly.It: All'interno c'era l'orologio.En: Inside was the watch.It: "Lo avete trovato!"En: "You found it!"It: esclamò Giovanni.En: exclaimed Giovanni.It: La gioia nei suoi occhi era immensa.En: The joy in his eyes was immense.It: Alessandra abbracciò forte Giovanni.En: Alessandra hugged Giovanni tightly.It: Il vecchio raccontò che l'orologio era stato portato anni fa da un uomo misterioso.En: The old man explained that the watch had been brought in years ago by a mysterious man.It: Nessuno era mai venuto a cercarlo fino ad allora.En: No one had ever come to claim it until now.It: Giovanni e Alessandra ringraziarono il vecchio.En: Giovanni and Alessandra thanked the old man.It: Tornarono sul Ponte Vecchio, il sorriso non si muoveva dai loro volti.En: They returned to the Ponte Vecchio, the smile never leaving their faces.It: La folla era ancora lì, ma adesso tutto sembrava più chiaro, più luminoso.En: The crowd was still there, but now everything seemed clearer, brighter.It: Avevano risolto il mistero.En: They had solved the mystery.It: L'antico orologio di famiglia era tornato.En: The ancient family watch was back.It: La festa in città continuava, ma per Giovanni e Alessandra, quel giorno, era una celebrazione ancora più speciale.En: The city's celebration continued, but for Giovanni and Alessandra, that day was even more special.It: Fine.En: The end. Vocabulary Words:celebrating: in festastreets: stradesearching: cercavanoancient: anticotreasure: tesoromap: mappaclues: indizicrowd: follajewelry store: negozio di gioiellishook: scossedisappointment: delusioneoverlooked: trascuratoraining: piovevanarrow: strettoalley: vicolowooden: legnodark: oscurosign: insegnakind: gentilitired: stancasmiled: sorrisevelvet: vellutohugged: abbracciòmystery: misteroreturned: tornaronocelebration: festabelonged: appartenevaimmense: immensaclaim: cercarloalive: vivi

The June 2024 Top500 supercomputer list was released at ISC 2024, and there is a lot to unpack. The latest Top 500 Supercomputers list highlights significant trends in the supercomputing landscape, as NVIDIA takes 7 spots with Grace-based systems, including 3 of the top 20. Although the balance between Intel and AMD remains static, there is a shift towards co-packaged CPUs and accelerators just as Intel announces they will sunset Ponte Vecchio, their entry in this space, and skip the next generation. Interestingly, HPE was a big winner here, leading in new systems and enabling 8 of the 10 Grace and MI300A entrants. And we see Arm well-represented here, with 8 new servers on the list. Time Stamps: 0:00 - Welcome to the Rundown 3:03 - Zscaler Reportedly Breached by Profit-Minded Criminals 5:06 - Adam Selipsky Steps Down from AWS 7:45 - F5 BIG-IP Suffers a Big Breach 9:53 - VMware Makes Workstation Pro and Fusion Free for Personal Use 12:41 - GPT-4o Launched by OpenAI 15:05 - NetApp Announces New All-Flash Storage and StorageGRID for the AI Era 18:18 - Top500 Supercomputing 31:55 - The Weeks Ahead 33:40 - Thanks for Watching Hosts: Stephen Foskett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sfoskett/ Mitch Ashley, Techstrong Group: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellashley/ Follow Gestalt IT Website: https://www.GestaltIT.com/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GestaltIT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Gestalt-IT Tags: #Rundown, #Top500Supercomputing, #AWS, @Zscaler, @AWSCloud, @VMware, @OpenAI, @NetApp, #StorageGRID, #SC2024, @Intel, @IntelBusiness, @TechstrongTV, @GestaltIT, @TechFieldDay, @SFoskett, @TheFuturumGroup,

Fluent Fiction - Italian: The Gelato Maker's Ice Cream Trail: A Sweet Adventure in Florence Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-gelato-makers-ice-cream-trail-a-sweet-adventure-in-florence Story Transcript:It: Un giorno, a Firenze, il cuore pulsante dell'arte e dell'amore italiano, Giuseppe, un giovane curioso e sognatore, sarebbe diventato il protagonista di un'avventura incredibilmente dolce.En: One day, in Florence, the pulsating heart of Italian art and love, Giuseppe, a young curious and dreamer, would become the protagonist of an incredibly sweet adventure.It: Aveva iniziato la sua giornata come ogni altra, bevendo la sua tazza di cappuccino e mangiando un cornetto presso la sua panetteria preferita, "Il Pane di Michelangelo", vicino al Ponte Vecchio.En: He started his day like any other, having his cup of cappuccino and eating a croissant at his favorite bakery, "Il Pane di Michelangelo," near the Ponte Vecchio.It: Tuttavia, quel giorno, un morso del gelato alla crema di pistacchio che si mischiò con il gusto della sua colazione lo portò ad intraprendere un cammino inaspettato.En: However, that day, a bite of pistachio ice cream that mixed with the taste of his breakfast led him on an unexpected path.It: La pista luminosa e fredda, simile a una scia di cioccolato scuro e nocciole, attraversava la strada affollata di gente e negozi colorati che portavano verso il Duomo.En: The bright and cold trail, resembling a dark chocolate and hazelnut swirl, crossed the crowded street of people and colorful shops leading towards the Duomo.It: La scoperta di quella pista ghiacciata attirò Giuseppe e decise di seguirla, come se fosse stato catturato da un richiamo irresistibile.En: The discovery of that icy trail attracted Giuseppe, and he decided to follow it, as if he had been caught by an irresistible call.It: Attraversò gli angoli più affascinanti della città, brulicante di artisti di strada, musicisti e coppie di innamorati.En: He traversed the most fascinating corners of the city, teeming with street artists, musicians, and couples in love.It: Si ritrovò in vicoli stretti e piazze piene di vita, e senza rendersene conto, si perse.En: He found himself in narrow alleys and lively squares, and unknowingly, he got lost.It: Giuseppe guardò attorno a sé.En: Giuseppe looked around.It: Le bulgare torri e le vivaci vie di Firenze sembravano tutte uguali a lui.En: The bulging towers and vibrant streets of Florence all seemed the same to him.It: Tuttavia, stava ancora seguendo quella pista di gelato che non aveva mai smesso di attirarlo.En: Nevertheless, he was still following that ice cream trail that never ceased to lure him.It: Finito in Piazza della Signoria, si ritrovò di fronte a una gelateria pittoresca chiamata "Dolce Amore", affollata di persone in fila.En: Ending up in Piazza della Signoria, he found himself in front of a picturesque gelateria called "Sweet Love," crowded with people in line.It: Labbrido ma pieno di speranza, entrò nella gelateria, seguendo il tracciato dell'ultimo gelato che aveva sgranocchiato.En: Nervous but hopeful, he entered the gelateria, following the trace of the last ice cream he had nibbled.It: Vi trovò un gelatiere anziano e sorridente, con occhiali con lenti spesse come fondi di bottiglia e un grembiule macchiato di colori.En: There he found an elderly, smiling gelato maker, with thick-lensed glasses like bottom of a bottle and an apron stained with colors.It: "Sei tu che hai seguito la mia pista?En: "Is it you who followed my trail?"It: " domandò il gelatiere con un sorriso caloroso.En: asked the gelato maker with a warm smile.It: Giuseppe assentì, stupito.En: Giuseppe nodded, astonished.It: L'anziano gelatiere gli raccontò che uno dei suoi gelati alla nocciola era caduto e aveva lasciato la pista che Giuseppe aveva seguito.En: The elderly gelato maker told him that one of his hazelnut ice creams had fallen and left the trail that Giuseppe had followed.It: Era suo abitudine regalare un cono gigante a chiunque avesse seguito la pista fino alla fine.En: It was his habit to gift a giant cone to anyone who followed the trail to the end.It: Con un sorriso, offrì a Giuseppe un gigantesco cono di gelato, con ciuffi di panna e ricoperto di scaglie di cioccolato.En: With a smile, he offered Giuseppe a gigantic cone of gelato, with dollops of whipped cream and covered in chocolate shavings.It: Riuscì a ritrovare la strada di casa, grazie all'aiuto di alcuni passanti, con il suo premio in mano.En: He managed to find his way home, with the help of some passersby, with his prize in hand.It: Giuseppe rientrò a casa, stanco ma felice.En: Giuseppe returned home, tired but happy.It: Non poté non sorridere al pensiero che la sua avventura era iniziata con un morso di gelato e una scorza di curiosità.En: He couldn't help but smile at the thought that his adventure had begun with a bite of ice cream and a spark of curiosity.It: E alla fine, Giuseppe non dimenticò mai quella giornata a Firenze quando perse la direzione seguendo una pista di gelato.En: And in the end, Giuseppe never forgot that day in Florence when he lost his way following an ice cream trail.It: Ricordò sempre con affetto "Dolce Amore" e il gelatiere sorridente, e ogni volta che mangiava un gelato, si ritrovava di nuovo avventuroso e pieno di vita come era stato quel giorno a Firenze.En: He always remembered with affection "Sweet Love" and the smiling gelato maker, and every time he ate ice cream, he found himself adventurous and full of life again, just as he had been that day in Florence.It: Quel gelato aveva segnato l'inizio di una dolce avventura, di sicuro la più dolce che Giuseppe avesse mai avuto.En: That ice cream marked the beginning of a sweet adventure, surely the sweetest Giuseppe had ever experienced.It: E così, Giuseppe imparò che talvolta, perdersi potrebbe portare a scoperte dolci e inaspettate.En: And so, Giuseppe learned that sometimes, getting lost could lead to sweet and unexpected discoveries.It: E Firenze, con il suo fascino senza tempo e le sue sorprese gelate, aveva regalato a Giuseppe un ricordo che avrebbe conservato per sempre nel suo cuore.En: And Florence, with its timeless charm and frozen surprises, had given Giuseppe a memory he would always cherish in his heart. Vocabulary Words:name: nomeday: giornoFlorence: FirenzeItalian: italianoart: artelove: amoreyoung: giovanecurious: curiosodreamer: sognatoreadventure: avventuracup: tazzabreakfast: colazioneice cream: gelatotrail: pistacrowded: affollatostreet: stradacolorful: coloratolost: persosmile: sorrisolens: lentibottle: bottigliaapron: grembiulefallen: cadutohabit: abitudinegiant: gigantecone: conogift: regalomemory: ricordotimeless: senza tempo

In this rather different series of podcast Episodes (Series 11), I want to share with you a short novel I have written, set in Florence, Italy and inspired by its history and people and a recent working visit there. This series of podcasts is in effect, therefore, an audio book in a change from my usual host/guest interview format. There will be other podcasts coming shortly in the more regular format, don't worry! This episode therefore introduces you to my novel, 'Forever in Florence', which is formed in two parts; with the stories being presented as alternate chapters, set in two different time periods. The odd numbered chapters; in this episode Chapters 1, 3, and 5; are set in the modern day and introduce you to its lead character, Isabella, who applies for a job in Florence's Academia Galleria so that she can be closer to her muse and idol Michelangelo and his works. We follow Isabella's life and her loves, including her love of her home city, its food, its people, the beauty of Tuscany and her friendships, particularly with her best friend, Mia. In later episodes, you will also hear about her lifelong love for one particular songwriter, artist and poet who Isabella adores. Chapter 1 (Extract) "Isabella shivered with excitement as she felt her phone ping in her pocket. Maybe it was them? She daren't look. She'd go for a coffee to calm her nerves, but it was a little late in the day for that, so it would have to be a glass of her favourite Chianti. But not now. Florence was still buzzing with the throngs of people who flooded its narrow, stone flagged streets and wide piazzas at this time of year. Didn't they know that she needed calm to get her thoughts in order so that she could think straight? Her whole body was throbbing with energy, vibration and warmth. It was not just the afternoon sun. This is the moment which could change her life, for the better or worse." In parallel with Isabella's life, the second story line involves Francesca. This story is set in the High Renaissance and follows the life of Michelangelo as he struggles with his art, his stone craft, his relationships with the church and the city and with its controlling family, the Medici. While based on some experiences described in the literature about Michelangelo's life, this is a story of fiction and is not meant to be wholly historically accurate, so please accept it as that; a story. Chapter 2 (Extract) "Francesca hurried as best she could across the Ponte Vecchio, trying to lift her long skirts above the mud and filth on the ground. The pungent smell of raw meat and decaying fish filled the air and she held her breath for as long as she could, before freeing her lungs with a half-cry, half-sigh of exasperation as she turned towards his secret hideaway. Tears filled her beautiful blue eyes as she struggled to see in the evening twilight. Her hands clasped the few provisions she could carry under her top garment as she struggled to move away from some drunks who moved towards her menacingly." If you would like to receive a free copy of the draft of the story so far, perhaps to read as you listen to the audio version, please email me at johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk For more information on this podcast series, 'John Scott Lawton's English, you know', or to make any comments or to ask any questions relating to English Language learning, please contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a sound bite comment on Spotify. Please visit my LinkedIn profile at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-scott-lawton/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to view Recommendations regarding my English Language teaching and Executive Coaching Services (towards the bottom of my profile page). #teaching #learning #learningenglish #TEFL #TESOL #IELTS #listeningskills #listening #teacher #stories #fiction #audiobooks #storytelling #Michelangelo #Italy #Florence #shortstory #shortnovel #novella --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-lawton/message

The region is home to historic cities such as Florence, Siena, and Pisa, each boasting stunning architecture, art masterpieces, and a vibrant atmosphere. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, houses renowned museums like the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia, where Michelangelo's David stands as a symbol of artistic brilliance.Tuscany's culinary scene is a feast for the senses, featuring world-class wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, along with traditional dishes like ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, and the famous bistecca alla fiorentina.SienaSiena, Italy, is a charming medieval city renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is famous for its well-preserved medieval streets and the iconic Piazza del Campo, one of Europe's most fabulous medieval squares.The city's medieval center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing Gothic and Romanesque architecture that transports visitors back in time. Siena's most iconic landmark is the Duomo di Siena (Siena Cathedral), a magnificent example of Italian Gothic architecture adorned with intricate sculptures and beautiful frescoes.Siena is also renowned for the Palio, a historic horse race that takes place twice a year in the Piazza del Campo. The Palio is a centuries-old tradition that captivates locals and visitors alike, adding a touch of excitement to the city's cultural tapestry.Beyond its historical treasures, Siena offers a culinary experience that captures the essence of Tuscan cuisine. Visitors can savor local delicacies, including Pici pasta, ribollita soup, and the region's exceptional wines.With its timeless beauty and cultural richness, Siena stands as a testament to Italy's enduring charm and is a must-visit destination for those seeking a glimpse into the country's medieval past.San GimignanoSan Gimignano is a picturesque medieval town nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. Known as the "Town of Fine Towers," its skyline is dominated by 14 well-preserved medieval towers, offering a unique and enchanting atmosphere. The town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its medieval architecture, charming cobblestone streets, and rich history.Visitors to San Gimignano can explore the Piazza della Cisterna, a central square surrounded by medieval buildings and inviting cafes. The town is also home to remarkable landmarks, such as the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, featuring stunning frescoes and art.Aside from its architectural wonders, San Gimignano is celebrated for its local produce, including the famous Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine. The surrounding vineyards and olive groves contribute to the region's gastronomic delights, making it a haven for food and wine enthusiasts.With its well-preserved medieval charm, breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside, and delectable local offerings, San Gimignano is a must-visit destination for those seeking an authentic Italian experience.Pisa Pisa, a charming city in Tuscany, Italy, is renowned worldwide for its iconic Leaning Tower. Nestled on the banks of the Arno River, Pisa is not just a one-tower wonder; it boasts a rich history, stunning architecture, and a vibrant cultural scene.The Leaning Tower of Pisa, part of the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), is a masterpiece of medieval engineering. Its unintentional tilt has captivated visitors for centuries, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks on the planet.Beyond the tower, Pisa is a treasure trove of historical gems. The Pisa Cathedral, also located in the Square of Miracles, is a breathtaking example of Romanesque architecture adorned with intricate sculptures and artwork. The Baptistery, adjacent to the cathedral, is another architectural marvel that adds to the city's allure.Wandering through Pisa's narrow streets, you'll encounter charming cafes, lively markets, and centuries-old buildings. The city's university, founded in 1343, adds a youthful energy, making Pisa a dynamic blend of tradition and modernity.Pisa's cultural scene is vibrant, with museums showcasing art, history, and science. The Palazzo Blu, for instance, hosts rotating exhibitions, providing a glimpse into Italy's rich cultural heritage.Whether you're drawn to the Leaning Tower's quirkiness or the city's historical charm, Pisa offers a delightful escape into the heart of Italian culture and history.Whether exploring charming medieval villages, enjoying the serenity of the countryside, or indulging in the region's culinary delights, Tuscany offers a truly enchanting experience for every traveler. It's a destination that seamlessly combines history, art, and nature, making it a must-visit for those seeking a taste of authentic Italian beauty and culture.A Renaissance of Wonders: Exploring Florence, ItalyNestled in the heart of Tuscany, Florence is a city that breathes history, art, and culture at every cobblestone turn. Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence boasts a rich tapestry of architectural marvels, world-class art, and delectable cuisine. If you're planning a visit to this enchanting city, here's a Travel Brat-approved guide to help you make the most of your time.The Duomo and Brunelleschi's DomeNo visit to Florence is complete without marveling at the iconic Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral or Il Duomo. Admire the intricate facade and climb to the top for breathtaking panoramic city views. Be sure to appreciate the genius of Filippo Brunelleschi's Dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering. Don't forget to visit the baptistry and bell tower too!Uffizi GalleryHome to an unparalleled Renaissance art collection, the Uffizi Gallery is a treasure trove for art enthusiasts. Works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Raphael adorn the walls. Some favorite works include Birth of Venus or Primavera Botticelli, Doni Tondo by Michelangelo, Annunciation, Adoration of the Maji, The Baptism of Christ, Davinci, Madonna del Cardellino, Saint John the Baptist in the Dessert Rafel, and Madona and Child by Filippo Lippi. Book your tickets in advance to skip the lines and allow ample time to explore this artistic haven. Galleria dell'AccademiaThe Galleria dell'Accademia is where you'll find one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world – Michelangelo's David. Witness the sculptor's mastery up close and explore other works by Michelangelo and other renowned artists. Here, you will also find four other unfinished works by Michelangelo.Ponte VecchioStroll across the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge spans the Arno River. Lined with charming shops, Ponte Vecchio is the perfect spot to shop for jewelry, art, and souvenirs. The bridge offers splendid views of the cityscape, especially during sunset.Palazzo VecchioPalazzo Vecchio is a medieval fortress turned town hall located in the heart of Florence's historic center. Admire the impressive frescoes, sculptures, and the opulent Salone dei Cinquecento, which showcases the city's political and artistic legacy. Boboli GardensEscape the hustle and bustle of the city with a visit to the Boboli Gardens, a stunning example of Italian Renaissance garden design. Wander through the landscaped greenery, fountains, and sculptures, enjoying a peaceful respite.Piazza della SignoriaThis historic square is an open-air museum, surrounded by iconic sculptures like the Fountain of Neptune and a copy of Michelangelo's David. Sit at one of the cafes, soak in the atmosphere, and witness the pulse of Florentine life.Florentine CuisineIndulge your taste buds in Florence's culinary delights. Savor local specialties such as ribollita (a hearty Tuscan soup), bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak), and gelato from one of the city's renowned gelaterias. For a relaxed and delicious meal, try Bis Trot Tre Tavoli authentic casual, and for an upscale meal, try II Guscio.Santa Croce BasilicaVisit the final resting place of some of Italy's most illustrious figures, including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. The Basilica di Santa Croce is not only a place of worship but also a testament to Florence's cultural and intellectual heritage.Sunset at Piazzale MichelangeloWrap up your Florence adventure with a visit to Piazzale Michelangelo, a panoramic terrace offering unparalleled city views. As the sun sets over Florence, you will be treated to a magical sight that perfectly encapsulates the timeless beauty of this remarkable city.Medici Chapels The Medici Chapels, located in Florence, Italy, are a stunning testament to the wealth and cultural influence of the Medici family during the Renaissance. Commissioned by the powerful banking family, the chapels are part of the Basilica di San Lorenzo complex and serve as a final resting place for several members of the Medici clan. The New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, is a Renaissance art and architecture masterpiece. Its grandeur is characterized by intricately carved statues and elegant tombs, including those of Lorenzo the Magnificent and Giuliano de' Medici. The Chapel of the Princes, another notable section of the complex, was intended to be a grand mausoleum for the Medici rulers.Perfume Making If you need a break from sightseeing, you can make your very own perfume right in Florence at the Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone Firenze.Where to stayStay like a local in the heart of Florence at the Horto Convento.Florence, with its artistic legacy and timeless charm, is a destination that transcends the boundaries of time. Whether you're an art aficionado, a history buff, or simply seeking the pleasures of Italian culture and cuisine, Florence is sure to leave an indelible mark on your heart. Immerse yourself in the Renaissance spirit, and let Florence cast its enchanting spell on you.

When we started out this podcast, back in February 2021, our main mission was to tell you everything about the lesser known parts of our beloved region, those places you won't find on the cover of your travel guide. While we still try to stick to our original vision, we also love to help out any tourist to get the most of his time in Tuscany. Look for example at one of the most famous landmarks of this land, a bridge that is very quirky and exceedingly popular. I'm sure that the millions of tourists that wander on its cramped road are completely unaware of its incredible history and the many curiosities on this very special place. While it is true that tis bridge is very old, it took many centuries before it was able to withstand the wrath of the notoriously mercurial Arno river. Back in the day it was a much more lively place but also very messy and not particularly reputable. It took a powerful man to turn it into the boutique collection that we see nowadays and make it one of Europe's most sought after shopping place. This place is full of curious things, anecdotes and details that most tourists will never figure out. That is why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Florence to tell you everything there is to know about the amazing Ponte Vecchio, a bridge that is both very famous and exceedingly quirky.If you listen to the full episode, I will tell you about its troubled history and how, since the time of the Romans, bridges here usually didn't last more than a few years before being swept away by one of the notoriously devastating floods of the Arno. It took a pupil of the famous artist Giotto to figure out the right structure that would allow the bridge to survive even the most destructive of floods and cement its place in Florentine history. The bridge was popular but a bit crass, with noisy shops and very strong smells, something that Grand Duke Ferdinand I found utterly disgusting. It was his decree that evicted the traditional shops and allowed only goldsmiths and jewellers to set up shop there. Now the relationship between Ponte Vecchio and gold is so strong to have become almost symbiotic. While this has kept the venerable bridge alive, it also has some drawbacks. In September 2022 when an upscale bag maker opened a shop on the bridge, it caused a veritable feud that will end up in court soon. Florentines are dead serious when it comes to defending their traditional shopping streets, even if it's turning downtown into an open air museumIn the final chapters I will tell you many curiosities about this famous bridge, from the crazy reason why it's not exactly straight to the curious sun dial that is hidden there to the reason why you will find many small locks under a bronze bust to much much more. If you're in Florence with your significant other, I'll tell you the best place for a memorable snapshot and the best way to experience the bridge from a brand new perspective. Last but not least, I will tell you about an incredibly exclusive restaurant that is not open all the time and allows you to dine quite literally on top of the bridge. This unique experience is all about extreme luxury and comes with an eye-watering price tag: more than 6.000 Euros per couple. For this outrageous price, you will get a menu that is so refined to be filled with real gold. While the scenery is great, you definitely don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy this incredible bridge. It is a bit a monument to consumerism but it's also the heart and soul of this amazing city. Next time you're there, make sure you pay it a visit. It's been around for almost a millennia and is still going strong. Long may it live.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://associazionepontevecchio.it/storia-del-ponte-vecchio/https://www.firenzetoday.it/social/ponte-vecchio-storia-orafi.htmlhttps://turistipercaso.it/diari-di-viaggio/e-alla-fine-ne-restera-solo-uno-ponte-vecchio.htmlhttps://www.055firenze.it/art/220107/Firenze-prorogato-fino-al-2026-il-Regolamento-Unesco-per-la-tutela-del-centro-storicohttps://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/vivitoscana/15_gennaio_25/ponte-vecchio-cena-mozzafiato-terrazzino-dell-orafo-ae46890c-a4b8-11e4-8530-6130dfbb15a2.shtmlBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Inova - SeamonsterAlmightyZero - AetherialTavs - ControlIncompetech - Leopard Print ElevatorMountswift - AmethystPipe Choir - Almost Time (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/inova-seamonsterhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/almightyzero-aetherialhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/tavs-controlhttps://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077https://soundcloud.com/argofox/mountswift-amethysthttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-almost-time-instrumental-creative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Laughter at the Ponte Vecchio: A Messy Meal Becomes an Enduring Memory Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/laughter-at-the-ponte-vecchio-a-messy-meal-becomes-an-enduring-memory Story Transcript:It: A Firenze, cuore pulsante dell'arte italiana, in un giorno soleggiato, si trovavano Francesco, Sofia e Marco ad ammirare i capolavori nascosti nei vicoli antichi. Questa città, ricca di storia e cultura, era particolarmente vivace quel giorno. Le vie erano piene di artisti di strada, suonatori di flauto, cantastorie e turisti con le macchine fotografiche appese al collo.En: In Florence, the beating heart of Italian art, on a sunny day, Francesco, Sofia, and Marco were admiring the masterpieces hidden in the ancient alleys. This city, rich in history and culture, was particularly vibrant that day. The streets were filled with street artists, flute players, storytellers, and tourists with cameras hanging around their necks.It: Francesco, un ragazzo dai capelli ricci e gli occhi castani, aveva la passione per l'arte e la buona cucina. A lui si aggiungeva Sofia, la sua adorabile amica d'infanzia, con i suoi folti capelli riccioli e occhi verdi luminosi come giade, e Marco, l'amico universitario di Francesco, un ragazzo alto e robusto con un viso gentile.En: Francesco, a boy with curly hair and brown eyes, had a passion for art and good food. He was joined by Sofia, his adorable childhood friend, with her thick curly hair and bright green eyes like jade, and Marco, Francesco's university friend, a tall and sturdy boy with a gentle face.It: I tre amici avevano deciso di fare una pausa dalle loro vite frenetiche a Milano e di trascorrere un fine settimana a Firenze. Mentre si aggiravano per la città, Francesco raccontava storie affascinanti sull'arte e la cultura fiorentina, Marco osservava con ammirazione i monumenti, e Sofia catturava l'essenza della città con la sua macchina fotografica.En: The three friends had decided to take a break from their hectic lives in Milan and spend a weekend in Florence. As they wandered through the city, Francesco told fascinating stories about Florentine art and culture, Marco admired the monuments with admiration, and Sofia captured the essence of the city with her camera.It: Durante la giornata, i tre amici raggiunsero l'iconico ponte Vecchio. Decisero di fermarsi per pranzare in un piccolo ristorante chiamato "Trattoria Ponte Vecchio", noto per i suoi piatti di pasta deliziosi.En: During the day, the three friends reached the iconic Ponte Vecchio. They decided to stop for lunch at a small restaurant called "Trattoria Ponte Vecchio," known for its delicious pasta dishes.It: Seduti al tavolo, ordinarono spaghetti al pomodoro, un piatto semplice ma rappresentativo della cucina italiana. Quando il cameriere si avvicinò con i piatti fumanti di spaghetti, i loro volti si illuminarono.En: Sitting at the table, they ordered spaghetti with tomato sauce, a simple but representative Italian dish. When the waiter approached with the steaming plates of spaghetti, their faces lit up.It: Iniziarono a mangiare, cercando di dimostrare la loro raffinatezza nel gesto stesso. Ma ben presto, la loro tentata eleganza si trasformò in un buffo spettacolo. Sofia stava cercando di arrotolare gli spaghetti intorno alla forchetta, ma le sue mani scivolavano, facendo saltare gli spaghetti sul tavolo. Marco, d'altra parte, cercava di mangiare gli spaghetti con le mani, creando ancor più disordine. Francesco, per non essere da meno, cercava di aspirare gli spaghetti con la bocca, ma finì per soffocare e dovette bere un sorso d'acqua.En: They began to eat, trying to demonstrate their sophistication in the act itself. But soon, their attempted elegance turned into a comical spectacle. Sofia was trying to roll the spaghetti around her fork, but her hands slipped, causing the spaghetti to jump on the table. Marco, on the other hand, was trying to eat the spaghetti with his hands, creating even more mess. Francesco, not to be outdone, tried to slurp the spaghetti into his mouth, but ended up choking and had to take a sip of water.It: Il cameriere osservava con un sorriso indulgente mentre i clienti circostanti notavano il loro pasticcio e ridevano allegramente. I tre amici notarono l'attenzione degli altri clienti e, non appena capirono la loro gaff, presero a ridere anch'essi.En: The waiter watched with an indulgent smile as the surrounding customers noticed their mess and laughed cheerfully. The three friends noticed the attention of the other customers and, once they realized their blunder, they started laughing too.It: Anche se il tentativo di mangiare con grazia era miseramente fallito, non gli importava. Questo incidente, longe dall'essere un imbarazzo, si trasformò in un momento fondamentale del loro viaggio a Firenze.En: Although their attempt to eat gracefully had miserably failed, they didn't care. This incident, far from being embarrassing, turned into a memorable moment of their trip to Florence.It: La loro risata si addolcì l'aria. Le persone intorno a loro si unirono alla loro gioia. Quel giorno, nel cuore di Firenze, vicino all'iconico Ponte Vecchio, i tre amici crearono un ricordo eterno.En: Their laughter lightened the air. The people around them joined in their joy. That day, in the heart of Florence, near the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the three friends created an eternal memory.It: In quella esperienza, capirono che la perfezione non è sempre necessaria; a volte, il fallire può portare ad un ricordo molto più prezioso.En: In that experience, they understood that perfection is not always necessary; sometimes, failure can lead to a much more precious memory.It: E così, il viaggio a Firenze si concluse. Tornarono a casa con i loro bagagli pieni di ricordi e storie da raccontare. E ogni volta che mangiarono spaghetti, si ricordavano di quel giorno a Firenze; e quella risata che aveva risonato nel cuore della città d'arte.En: And so, their trip to Florence came to an end. They returned home with their suitcases full of memories and stories to tell. And every time they ate spaghetti, they remembered that day in Florence; and the laughter that had resonated in the heart of the art city. Vocabulary Words:Florence: FirenzeItalian: italianaArt: arteSunny: soleggiatoFrancesco: FrancescoSofia: SofiaMarco: MarcoAdmiring: ammirandoMasterpieces: capolavoriHidden: nascostiAncient alleys: vicoli antichiCity: cittàRich: riccaHistory: storiaCulture: culturaVibrant: vivaceStreet artists: artisti di stradaFlute players: suonatori di flautoStorytellers: cantastorieTourists: turistiCameras: macchine fotograficheCurly hair: capelli ricciBrown eyes: occhi castaniPassion: passioneGood food: buona cucinaChildhood friend: amica d'infanziaThick: foltiBright green eyes: occhi verdi luminosiJade: giadeUniversity friend: amico universitario

New York Tawk, host, Elyse DeLucci (@ElyseDeLucci) welcomes you into her Upper East Side living room talking: Going into my 40's, some exciting news on the horizon, how I celebrated my 40th: My Bahamas trip plus some hotel tawk, including Baha Mar: the good, bad (and why I can't vacation in casinos), Ponte Vecchio in Brooklyn, Lavo in Manhattan - life is good - for now.  Book Tawk: School of Life books Blue Zone cookbook AND MORE!  Food Tawk: My favorite minestrone soup recipe.  LOVE TO LOVE YA! SUBSCRIBE TO MY YT CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrl_... Follow Elyse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elysedelucci/?hl=en Come see me Live!: https://linktr.ee/elysedelucci

Written & Starring Stephen WinchellGuest Starring Adam Goron as "Quinn"Audio Production & Recording by Adam GoronDirected by Lara UnnerstallMusic by Takuya Yoshida & Stephen WinchellREFERENCES: 1. Their first stop: London. There the two visited Big Ben, the Tower of London and watched the Changing of the Guards. Their trip took them to France where they boated on the (Sen) Seine and took in the beautiful Notre Dame. Next, Florence, where they visited the (paan-tay veh-kee-oh) Ponte Vecchio.  (Cheers S4E18 The Peterson Principle) Then, off to the alps for some skiing. (Cheers S3E24 Bells of St Clete's)2. After returning to Italy, Frasier was ready to pop the question. And he knew the perfect place, a restaurant called Luigi's. There he would ask for Diane's hand. And when she said yes, he would whisk her away to a country estate in Florence owned by a colleague, Dr. Marino. A priest would be waiting for the happy couple, ready to wed them right then and there. (Cheers S3E25 Rescue Me)3. The very next day at the Marino estate, Frasier stood at the altar with his wife-to-be. But here was the moment, the moment where Diane came face to face with the feelings she had been running from. When the priest asked if she would marry Frasier, she looked around and asked if he was talking to her (Cheers S4E1 Birth, Death, Love and Rice)4. His sad story spread through the University of Bologna, where students and faculty laughed and gossiped about his misfortune. From there it spread throughout Italy. It became so infamous that in a game of Soccer when a player kicked, missed a ball, and fell down, the Italians called that “a Frasier.” If he was knocked out cold they called it “a Frasier Crane”. (Cheers S4E1 Birth, Death, Love and Rice)5. To make matters worse, all of this happened right before his 15th High School Reunion, (Frasier S6E2 Frasier's Curse)6. Upon his return to Cheers he met a fresh faced young bartender named Woody Boyd. Frasier was in no mood for polite introductions and cornered Malone, threatening him with a gun.  (Cheers S4E1 Birth, Death, Love and Rice)7. Over the next few months, Frasier drowned his sorrows with liquor and beer (Cheers S4E2 Woody Goes Belly Up)8. He met an interesting woman, another psychiatrist. Her name was Lilith Sternin. (S4E17 Second Time Around)9. He met a friend of Sams, a fun-loving woman named Candi Pearson. They spent a whirlwind 16 hours together and on a lark, got engaged.  (S4E17 Second Time Around)10. That's why he was invited to appear on ‘Psychology This Week,' a local TV show where a panel of psychiatric professionals debated certain aspects of the psychological condition. Frasier was set to appear against a colleague, ​​Dr. Foster. (Cheers S5E4 Abnormal Psychology)11. While still a  child, her father told her to close her eyes, and then he was gone for two years. (Cheers S6E21 Our Hourly Bread) When he returned he had a whole new family including a young son, her half-brother Blaine. (Frasier S9E16 Wheels of Fortune)12. Lillith was a decorated medical professional (S4E17 Second Time Around), on the psychiatric staff at Boston General hospital (Cheers S5E4 Abnormal Psychology), and an aspiring author (Cheers S8E18 Severe Crane Damage). She was a dedicated researcher, a proud Jewish woman, and, due to a strange genetic quirk, she had two different sized feet. (Cheers S8E23 The Ghost and Mrs. Lebec)13. What was supposed to be a goodbye became a deep kiss (Cheers S5E4 Abnormal Psychology), a lovely dinner, a drink at Cheers, and a night of passion at Dr. Sternin's condo. (Cheers S8E21 Bar Wars 3)14. That year, Marty Crane received some devastating news about his wife. Hester, the fiery know-it-all was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. (Frasier S10E8 Rooms with a View)

Season 7 – Gap Year: Mediterranean Europe Episode 10 If you're planning a trip to Italy, chances are, you are seriously considering some time in Florence. And for good reason. The city center consists of an incredible Duomo di Firenze, the David statue by Michelangelo, Piazza Della Signoria and Italy's most visited museum, The Uffizi Gallery. Not into the museum vibes? Enjoy your relaxing near the Ponte Vecchio bridge, eat some Florentine steak, shop for an Italian leather souvenir or grab some grub at Mercato Centrale Firenze. We did all those things and more – including a Chianti wine tour in the hills of Tuscany. We made our way in a 4x4 truck to three wineries: Villa le Corti, Localita Rignana and Poggio Torselli. Watch our video of the trip, to see what it's like: https://youtu.be/iSKN0ulp6Cg. Click here to see our AirBnB near the Duomo (not sponsored): https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/11696290?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=dae54820-8526-4fb7-ba0d-9fc49d5c229c Send us your feedback and thoughts via email at travelfomopodcast@gmail.com. Have your own travel story? Attach a voice memo to your email, and you could hear your own voice in a future podcast episode. --- Travel FOMO is hosted by a husband and wife duo, Jamin and Hilarie Houghton. Learn more about them at www.travelfomopodcast.com. You can subscribe to Travel FOMO in two different ways: (1) See their adventures on YouTube and (2) follow audibly from wherever you listen to podcasts. Why? Because they're traveling to 18 different countries during their gap year, and you won't want to miss it. Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/travelfomopodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/travelfomopodcast TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@travelfomopodcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/@travelfomopodcast

In this episode of Passion for Italy, Joe and Lori visit beautiful Firenze.Follow along as we leave Roma and travel via train from Roma Termini Station to Santa Maria Novella station in Firenze.We walk the streets and visit  Accademia and see the statue of David. Joe walks to the top of the Duomo.In the show we discuss: Palazzo Vecchio  and Piazza della Signoria. Crossing the Ponte Vecchio to  see Pitti Palace and  Boboli Gardens.We visit Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, and San Lorenzo.Mercato Centrale, Mercato Nuovo. We loved the food, wine and gelato of this beautiful city.Try the Gelato at Perche No, Grom, My Sugar and so many more locations.Trattoria Za Za is fantastic.This was our slow down time after Rome and before Positano and Capri.

When you visit Rome make a quick trip Florence: By train you'll be in the heart of Florence in 1 1/2 hours! My one day itinerary for a gastronomic and cultural Flavor of Florence takes you to Florence's best food market, an iconic Florentine trattoria for lunch, and a whirlwind walking tour of the city to see Florence's best sites, shopping streets and antique stores. And if you'd like to stay just a bit longer than a day check out my recommendation for a quaint "room-with-a-view" hotel and a terrace overlooking the Ponte Vecchio. If you want to dig deeper into Florence check out the links in my blog post, and visit the brand new go-to Florence travel website FlorenceWise AND listen to my chat with FlorenceWise owner Elyssa.

Family-owned restaurants come with a unique set of challenges.. Rino and Teresa Aprea of Rino's in Boca and Ponte Vecchio in Brooklyn, are also former cast members of The Real Housewives of New Jersey's season six, and open up about the importance of a solid support system when running a family business. They join podcast host Jaclyn Beck for an open conversation about keeping perspective, leading by example and empowering others to thrive. Visit Rino's of Boca and Ponte Vecchio in BrooklynFollow along @tereseaapreaConnect with Jaclyn Beck on LinkedIn, follow along on Instagram @jaclynbeckconsulting and check out Jaclyn Beck Consulting for strategic advisory and/or executive coaching inquiries.

What you'll learn in this episode:   How Wayne used his trip around the world to learn the art and science of metalsmithing Why it's important for emerging metalsmiths to understand they are part of a global mosaic of creatives How Wayne made jewelry for the Grateful Dead and Blues Traveler Why Wayne is selective about the jewelry shows he attends Why teachers benefit from living as an artisan before teaching   About Wayne Werner Jeweler, goldsmith, and educator Wayne Werner is a third-generation metalsmith from Maryland. He has been jewelry maker for over 30 years with clients worldwide.   Wayne Werner has traveled around the world to learn with metal workers from Italy and Egypt to Java and Bali. Specializing in cold forging precious metals, Werner has incorporated the traditional techniques of gold and platinum smithing with his artistic vision of paying homage to the fertility cults of the ancient world.      Werner's work explores the relationship to metals liquid opus and the opus of mankind, both being a product of the earth cooling down. Through his work Werner attempts to remind people of the miracle of life and the cosmic happening that we all are.      Primarily making a living retailing his work, Werner has participated in over 250 high-end craft shows nationally. He has received many awards for his work including the World Gold Council's Gold Distinction award and the MJSA Vision award for Mokume Gane. Werner is a former instructor at the Fuji Studio in Florence, Italy, and was adjunct faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore for 17 years. He has also taught over 100 workshops in universities and craft schools around the country. In 2006 he was asked to demonstrate his craft at The Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, NC, an event marking his 40th birthday. He is founder and host of THE ALCHEMIST PICNIC, a metalsmithing retreat at Touchstone Center for Craft, now in its 6th year. Werner is also an accomplished musician who has appeared on both television and movies as himself. His clients are some of the most interesting people on earth.   Photos Available on TheJewelryJourney.com Additional Resources: Website Instagram Facebook Transcript Known for his psychedelic designs that reference ancient myths, fertility cults and the splendor of the sun, it's no wonder that metalsmith Wayne Werner has connected with clients like the Grateful Dead. A self-taught jeweler who learned traditional techniques by visiting metalsmiths around the world, Wayne has found success by selling his pieces at craft shows. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about his tips for building a long-lasting career in the jewelry industry; how he chooses the shows he attends; and why metalsmiths are all part of a global creative community. Read the episode transcript here.   Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the first part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you subscribe so you can hear part two as soon as it's released later this week.    Today my guest is Wayne Werner. Wayne is a very unusual and accomplished goldsmith. He is self-taught. As well as a goldsmith, he's an educator, an artist and a world traveler. He has traveled from Italy to Egypt, Java and Bali to learn different metalworking techniques and to be the best possible metalsmith. We'll hear all about his journey today. Wayne, welcome to the program.   Wayne: Thank you, Sharon. I'm flattered to be here.    Sharon: Thank you so much for being here. Tell us about your jewelry journey. You came from a family of goldsmiths, you said.   Wayne: Yes. I hope the journey has not already happened. I think it's still happening as we speak. But, yeah, I came from a family of makers, I would say. My one grandfather worked on the World Trade Center in New York and the George Washington Bridge among other things. He was an ironworker. My grandfather on my dad's side worked for the government. He worked for Aberdeen Proving Ground. He did metalwork. He made hand grenades and guns that shot around corners and weird things like that.    My mom was a decorator, but it was my uncle Russ Springer who really blew my mind and affected me when I was a child. Russ Springer, a German immigrant on the east side of Baltimore, was a watchmaker, clockmaker and repairman. He made jewelry, but he also did movie projections. He was a projectionist. He did things like help put movies on airplanes back in the 60s. When I went to see uncle Russ, he was working at the Essex Movie Theater on the east side of Baltimore. My mother took me there. She would leave me at the movie theater because he was working in the projection room, and she would go shopping. I was there to watch 101 Dalmatians, but Russ had a work bench in there, and while he was running the projectors in this small projection room, he was working on watches and clocks and carvings. Imagine being six years old, walking into a tiny room with flickering lights and big wheels turning, movies turning, and there's an old man with a skinny moustache and a German physique hunched over a workbench over little mechanical things that look just like that movie projector. I didn't want to watch the movie; I wanted to be in this little room with flickering lights and my uncle Russ. For me, that was the most fascinating. It was something out of a carnival, but all on a microscopic level. It really affected me.    The highlight of my six-year-old life was to go to Russ' house. He had a hundred clocks, and they would all chime or go off or do something. If I could just be at his house to hear all these clocks chime and go off at noon. It was Pink Floyd time. It was bing, bong, boom. It was so exciting, the anticipation and all that. So, Russ Springer was the one to hand me some wax as a child and light a fire of fascination with small things.    One thing led to the other. I started sculpting with Sculpey and things like that. When I was a young kid, I'd go to Bethany Beach and pretend to be a sculptor. I'd hang out under the boardwalk and do sculptures out of clay. Lo and behold, a man came up and talked to me and gave me a commission—I think it was for six dollars—and these little things fuel your fire. So, I was sculpting and doing wax carvings.    When I hit my teenage years, I was really getting into wax carving. The Grateful Dead came to town and my friends took me to a Grateful Dead concert. There were all these crafts in the parking lot and really cool counterculture stuff, so I started doing little wax carvings at 17, 18 years old and selling them in the parking lot of Grateful Dead concerts. I ended up selling work to the Psychedelic Shop in San Francisco and the Psychedelic Solution in New York City. These pieces were $12 to $20 each, but it fueled the fire for the next step.    That next step was to discover the American Craft Council. That was a really enlightening thing for me. I had a teacher at community college who was upset that I wasn't an art major, and he said, “Go down to the Baltimore American Craft Council's show. I want you to see the business of art, of jewelers and silversmiths, glassblowers, leatherworkers, all those kinds of people.” So, the American Craft Council in Baltimore was the first place I experienced contemporary craft.   Sharon: Did that make you want to go around the world?   Wayne: It's funny you should say that, but it did. I found myself, God forbid, growing up and needing to make money and do something, and I felt like I was getting good at metalwork. I was in California. I went to the Revere Academy for a few classes. I wanted to be in San Francisco around the Psychedelic Shop, but I was getting involved with shows. I met some successful craftspeople, and I realized it was something to commit to. Between the ages of about 22 and 29, I began doing ACC shows. I wanted to do crafts at Lincoln Center, which was interesting, but I put the brakes on it. I thought to myself, “I see how this could become you.” Becoming a craftsperson was a commitment. I would do it, but it was a commitment. Before I committed to being in a bunch of galleries and doing a bunch of shows, I wanted to pause and take a trip around the world. At the time, I had just done a commission for the band Blues Traveler. They commissioned me to do platinum rings for the band. I had worked for other rock bands before.   To get back to your question, if it made me want to travel around the world, absolutely. My 30th birthday gift to myself was to take a trip around the world, and I did that. I planned it for close to a year. This was 1995. I wrote letters to some galleries, artists and schools saying I had an intent to travel and visit these places. I literally paused my creative endeavors of trying to have a studio and trying to be a contemporary American craftsman. I paused and said, “Wait, let me take a trip around the world first, because I don't think I will be able to do it later.” This was pre-millennium and everything else, pre-9/11. I knew in my stomach that in the future, I felt like the world wouldn't be as easily traveled. Does that make sense?   Sharon: Yes.   Wayne: How did I decide to do that? I just wanted to do it. I wanted to say I did it. I wanted to visit metalsmithing places and villages, everything from King Tut. I wanted to see King Tut. I wanted to walk the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. I wanted to go see the metalsmiths in Java and Bali and get into their world, walk in and out of the door, at least for a day.   Sharon: Did you know they were metalsmiths? Did you know they had something you wanted to learn, something specific? Or did you just want to see what they did?   Wayne: A little bit of everything. One of the first things I did was go to Goldsmiths' Hall in London and see the show there. I had some friends there, made some friends, interviewed people like Wendy Ramshaw and Gerda Flöckinger. I was meeting people and I would interview them. I ended up in Pforzheim, Germany and Italy, but where it really got interesting was when I went to Egypt. I was in Cairo hanging around with metalsmiths in the market, who had all the time in the world but not the technology.    One of my destinations I had to see was Java, to see the kris-makers of Java. They used to make knives out of meteorite and iron. They're kind of supernatural and super fascinating. A kris blade is something that every Indonesian man possesses. It was the same thing with the Balinese doing granulation work. I had it loosely mapped out in my head. I had written my letters. I'd gotten some letters back saying, “You're welcome to come here,” or “You're welcome to come use the bench for the week.” It was really cool that I found this global family, not just the American craftsman family, but this global family. They're still there. They're out there for all of us.    Sharon: When you came back, did you find the travels influenced what you made or how you made it?   Wayne: Yeah, it really did. First of all, I realized there was some kind of metallic cultural heritage in different regions around the world. We talk about how in Toledo, Spain, they do inlaid work. I already mentioned the kris blades, Balinese granulation. That influenced me, knowing that being a metalsmith was being part of a cultural heritage. Being from Baltimore, the American Craft Council show was so important at the time. I realized I was a hammer person. I ended up using a hammer and forging when I did sculpting, and that led to Douglas Legenhausen, who I worked for. He worked for Ron Hayes Pearson. So, I found myself in that little tribe of makers.    The other thing I was developing at the time was not just making craft, but I was trying to bring in ancient techniques or ancient religious ideas. A lot of the travels I did revolved around going to temples like the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Turkey and the Temple of Isis in south Egypt. Those were fertility temples, and a lot of my work was a quest to document how amazing it was to be alive and how mother nature and all these things were such a force. That was the story I was telling. It got influenced by these ancient temples and religious things. The facts that mattered to ancient culture were written in metal or stone. It all started churning up, fermenting, but it all started with my fascination with psychedelic art and the art of Rick Griffin. He was a poster artist, and he did a lot of work that revolved around these fertility cults and temples. So, did it influence my work? How couldn't it influence my work?    You also have to accept the fact that there are some things that are much larger than any one maker. I realized I was in this mosaic of creative people; they just happened to be metalsmiths. They could have been musicians or poets or whatever, but they were metalsmiths. It was a crazy, life-changing adventure. It was survival. There were a lot of things that went wrong. There were a lot of things that happened that I never would have guessed. I didn't think I would have ended up in a workshop in Cairo, Egypt, looking over the shoulder of someone who was doing filigree work the way their father and father and father probably five or six generations before him had done.    It was amazing to me to realize that if the workshop had a dirt floor, the people in that workshop were very in tune with their creative process and the material. When you got into a room with a concrete floor and all these fancy machines, I think it really separated them from the earth and the earth, air, fire and water scenario. I found that the primitive metalsmiths were more tuned into their material. It's when I started to really pay attention to the material and what it could do, what it would do, and especially what I could and couldn't do with the material. Did that answer your question?   Sharon: Yeah, you did. I'm wondering if what you're saying is what resonated with the rock musicians you also talk to. Maybe you're making a different ring, but it's a different story or a different piece of jewelry, I guess.   Wayne: We'll back up to Psychedelic Solution. I was in New York. Jacaeber Kastor was his name, and he had a gallery where you could buy rock-and-roll collectable things, not only collectable posters, but original artwork from different artists like Rick Griffin and H. R. Giger. I guess they're psychedelic artists, outsider artists, pop or visionary artists, whatever you want to call them. I also sold to the Psychedelic Solution in San Francisco. That was more of a head shop, but they had some collectable posters. Through both of them, I met a lot of interesting people. I was just a lucky kid who had a relationship with his creativity, which happened to be metal, and things would happen.    Bill Graham and some of the Grateful Dead would have me do pieces. I met Jerry Garcia's guitar maker, and then Jerry Garcia said, “I'd like to have some little pins with my logo on them. I'm going to give these away.” It was interesting to be near those people. Blues Traveler, I made some platinum rings from them. Prior to that, they were silver rings. I found myself growing comfortable around certain bands. I remember riding on the road with one of these musicians and I said, “Man, you've got the coolest job ever,” and he said, “No, you've got the coolest job ever. You're playing with fire. You're sitting at home. You're listening to records, staying in your studio. You don't have to deal with what I have to deal with.” It's kind of cool to have a rock musician say, “No, you have the coolest job, not me.”    They were into the same stuff. When I told somebody where I traveled, I said, “Yeah, I saw the pyramids a couple of times and I went to see my cousin, King Tut.” He said, “Wow, man, that's great. Make me something. Bring these designs forward. Reinterpret them.” Again, I'm just a regular guy who got fascinated with metalsmithing and history and world religions and things like that. Whenever I sat down to write a story, it was in metal. It was all part of the fascination. I was a guy on the hustle, Sharon, like you wouldn't believe. I was not, in any uncertain terms, going to get a regular job and have a regular life. I thought there was a way to have a surreal job and a surreal life as long as you were willing to work at it. To me, the artists, whether they were musicians or whatever, they were professionally themselves. They were outsiders. They may have been socially inept, but they figured out a way to be professionally themselves. That was the goal. “The harder you work, the more luck you will have,” as someone said to me. I said, “All right. I'm going to go work hard at this surreal thing I have going on.”   Sharon: Is that when you decided to go into jewelry making, because he said it was a neat job? Did you realize, “This my thing. This is the way I am creative the way I work hard and grow”?   Wayne: I think any creative person has a time in their life when they have to make a decision. Do you bet it all on your creativity, and then you have the business aspect of this creativity? Because business, no matter what you do as an artist, is super important. They call it the music business; they call it the art business, because of half of it is art and half of it is business. For me, I got to a point where I realized I was getting some chops. Honestly, I was told by JoAnne Brown, who ran the American Craft Council's shows, “Wayne, you're one of the youngest goldsmiths to do these shows as a goldsmith. Not as a silversmith, as a goldsmith. You're really betting it all here.” I just had to laugh. I said, “I'm totally unemployable. I've tried it and I can't work for people. I have to figure this out.” All I wanted to do was find my niches and find other facets of a creative career to go into.   It's funny; I don't know if I made the decision or the decision made me. I swear to God, if this didn't find me, I would have had a very different path in life. Probably it wouldn't have worked out so good, but I love it. I love the craft. I love the makers I work with. I love everything about it. Alan Revere said something I thought was asinine at the time. He said, “Wayne, you're becoming a metalsmith. You could become a lawyer and people would come see you when they're in trouble. You could be a doctor and people would come see you when they're sick, but you know what? You're going to be a metalsmith and a jeweler. People are going to come see you when they're in love. Whether it's a wedding band or a gift or whatever, they're going to come see you when they're in love. You're going to be part of their love, their relationship.” I looked at him like he had two heads, of all the things to say.   After years of doing this, every time I make a wedding band, I thank the customer. I say, “You know what? Thank you.” The ultimate compliment I can get is for someone to say, “Make my wedding ring.” This week I'm restoring a wedding band that's close to a hundred years old. It was someone's grandma's, and that's pretty cool. I have to admit I'm so lucky to have that energy be part of me profiting from a passion I have.   Sharon: We will have photos posted on the website. Please had to the JewelryJourney.com to check them out.

From Gold at the Ponte Vecchio to Sandwiches at All'Antico Vinaio to Art at the Uffizi Gallery, Firenze has just about everything a traveler can ask for, but none of these things were my favorite finds!Find out my favorite Historical Finds from Mr. DGMH's latest visit to Florence, Italy!Plus, I started talking about Monks and Saints for some reason... again. Key Topics:  Palazzo Pitti, Old Pharmacies, Dominican Monks, and Renaissance Art & History Thanks for listening!Cheers!Support the show here...Patreon Link - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=34398347&fan_landing=trueBe sure to follow DGMH on Instagram @drinkswithgreatminds_podcast and Join the DGMH Facebook group @ "Drinks with Great Men in History"Music:Hall of the Mountain King by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3845-hall-of-the-mountain-kingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artwork by @Tali Rose... Check it out!Support the show

El Ponte Vecchio es uno de los puentes más emblemáticos de Florencia. Hoy día, viviendas y comercios siguen formando parte de la estructura medieval, que alberga un sinfín de leyendas y secretos.