Morning Market Delight in Pistoia

03 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Market Day in Pistoia

Tags

Bagni di Lucca, florence, italy, Lucca, markets, Photography, Pistoia, travel, Tuscany

It was Wednesday and it was market day in Pistoia. We drove down from Bagni di Lucca and parked the car at Lucca train station and took the morning train to Pistoia.

It is just a 40 minute train ride from Lucca to Pistoia through lovely Tuscan country side and passing by dozens of local nurseries. The area of Pistoia is very well known for the cultivation of plants and flowers exported all over the world, with a long tradition of local nurseries being passed down generation after generation.

pistoia

The city of Pistoia, a distinctive medieval city, is located in northern Tuscany, halfway between Florence(Firenze) and Lucca and about 40 km away from each. What a gorgeous town. It is so easy to fall in love with Pistoia.

Miky from https://passion4food4fashion.com/ was waiting for us as our train arrived at the Pistoia train station. I first was introduced to Pistoia through Miky’s blog which I started following a few years ago. Miky is absolutely passionate about her home town and must be their greatest ambassador.

Miky walked with us through the town pointing out every building, statue and landmark with descriptions and information about them all. We stopped at Miky’s favourite bar/cafe for coffee and the best Italian dolce (pastry) I can remember ever enjoying.

We chatted and she filled us in on her involvements in Pistoia including telling us about her family restaurant Pollo d’Oro. Miky I will definitely come to the restaurant next time I am in Pistoia.

After coffee we continued our walk to the Piazza Della Sala where we found the colourful weekly markets. The Piazza Della Sala is a piazza with charm and character, a very traditional market that sells top quality Italian fruit and vegetables

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The piazza was crowded, and the eating places around the square were pretty busy. I always love the atmosphere and vibe of Italian markets and this one was no exception. Extending out towards the street was another market, selling all kinds of household items, clothing, shoes, jewellery, Bric-à-brac plus so much more.

After the markets are finished each week, and everything is packed away, the piazza transforms into a busy hive of activities with its pizzerias, restaurants and bars. This continues on in to the evenings. We did not stay long enough for the evening activities however it is a definite must for me next time I am in Italy.

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From here I took the train on to Ferrara and Debra caught the train back to Lucca.

Thank you Miky for sharing your beautiful town with us.

Marvelous Melbourne

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Marvelous Melbourne

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

australia, Edinburgh Tattoo, Etihad Stadium, Fed Square, florence, italy, Melbourne, Photography, Queen Victoria Markets, southbank, Tram, travel, Vic Markets

We have just enjoyed 3 wonderful days in Melbourne.

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As I sit here at my computer, I wonder, Where will I start? We saw and experienced so much in a very short time.

The main reason for our trip to Melbourne was to see the Edinburgh Tattoo. For as long as I can remember I have wished to see this spectacular event and had promised myself that someday I would travel to Edinburgh in Scotland to do just that. Well, I did not need to travel half way around the world as this amazing event came to Australia. This was its first time to Melbourne and only its 4th time outside of Scotland in 65 years of performances.

The event was fabulous. It was held at the Etihad Stadium which it in itself is fantastic. There was a life size replica of the Edinburgh Castle within the stadium and there were about 1200 performers from around the world.

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We had great seats with an uninterrupted view. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen, with amazing precision and uniforms and incredible atmosphere, and a grand finale firework display at the end of the performances.

Being the second largest Capital City in Australia, there is a lot to cover in just 3 days. On our first afternoon, we chose to get among the action of the city and headed to Fed Square, which is in the hub of the city. With Public Art Exhibitions as well as street artists and musicians we found plenty to see here.

Fed Square

From here we headed to Southbank which stretches along the Southside of the Yarra River. We wandered along the river front which is a must see while in Melbourne. Southbank is also home to Southgate Shopping Centre and the Melbourne Casino along with a host of bars and restaurants. We enjoyed cool refreshing Gelati while taking in the amazing views looking across the river back to the city. And of course, we enjoyed partaking in one of my favourite pastimes, People watching. You could spend hours…or days here!

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The next morning we took the free tram to the Queen Victoria Markets ‘Vic Market’ for breakfast. These markets which boast a wonderful array of fresh produce as well as clothing and souvenirs have been a landmark in Melbourne for the last century. We wandered around the fresh food markets and the outdoor fresh fruit and vegetable markets taking in the wonderful atmosphere that can truly be compared to many of the wonderful markets that I have visited in Italy.

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Actually, during my 3 days in Melbourne I often had the feeling of being in Italy. I called it, “To be in Italy, when I really was not in Italy”. There is such an Italian culture with numerous Italian restaurants and cafés.

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Melbourne is the café capital of Australia with unique individual cafés and restaurants in every part of the city.

There is so much to see and do in this vibrant, exciting modern city.

Prepare your Senses – San Lorenzo Markets, Florence.

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by Lyn Douglas in San Lorenzo Markets, Tuscany

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Central Market, central markets, florence, food market, food markets, Italy Tuscany, markets, Mercato centrale, Photography, San Lorenzo Markets, travel

If you enjoy markets you will enjoy these markets. They are a great experience and are found in the centre of Florence.

The San Lorenzo markets are actually comprised of two separate markets. One is better known as the Central Market (mercato centrale), which is a two-level, indoor food market. The other is the outdoor market full of stalls selling leather, clothing and souvenirs. These outside markets are incredibly popular and always crowded, day and night.

The food markets, which are a must see in Florence, are amazing. They are the ultimate food experience and very good if you wish to buy Italian delicacies. These markets are very complete. You can find just about everything there including fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, wine, olives, dried fruits and nuts and much more.

The stall holders are friendly, helpful and allow you to sample their goodies. There is a sit down eatery where the food is excellent and surprisingly cheap. The menu changes daily so just ask what they have, they are happy to oblige and talk you through it.

This fresh food market on the ground floor is a favourite place of mine in Florence. The smells and sounds and infinite choice of things to nibble on are a must for foodies.

This food market is a fascinating place to stroll around & gaze at the most fabulous array of Italian foods. Everything looks so appetising & delicious, displayed in a really lovely way and is a photographer’s playground.

Upstairs is a massive surprise that anyone visiting Florence must not miss…..the dining! Wow! We were surprised by the excellent quality & the stylish surroundings of the place. The prices are very reasonable considering the extremely high quality of the foods & drinks on offer.

Settle in for a gastronomical experience and enjoy a meal of almost anything Italian.

If you are in Florence, even if it’s just for a day, visiting these markets is a must!

My reasons for travelling to Italy – Series – Gelato

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Gelato - a sweet dream from Italy, My reasons for travelling to Italy

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

Barga, florence, Gelateria, gelato, italy, Nocciola, Photography, Porto Venere, Stresa, travel

One of my favourite things about visiting Italy is the Gelato. Gelato is Italy’s version of ice cream. When at home in Australia I do not eat ice cream at all however when I am in Italy I manage to have a Gelato a day. Mind you I could easily eat more than one a day. I wonder why I enjoy it so much in Italy and yet have no desire for ice cream at home. I believe it is because I was brought up on home-made ice cream which my mother made weekly which was very similar to the Gelato recipe.

Gelato can be made with milk, cream, sugars and flavourings such as fresh fruit and nut purees. It is generally lower in calories, fat and sugar than ice cream. Gelato is a type of soft ice cream containing a relatively small amount of air. By statute, gelato in Italy must have at least 3.5% butterfat, with no upper limit established.

Gelato is churned differently than ice cream and contains less air. Despite its lower fat content, gelato has a creamy consistency, is thick, dense and elastic. But what truly distinguishes gelato is its taste.

Gelato shops in Italy are called – Gelateria (singular). Gelaterie (plural) are as abundant as pubs back here in Australia. One can find one on almost every street corner, well, not quite but they can be found in almost every village and city in Italy. They are often the busiest part of town with the shop packed with people looking over the tubs full of Gelato on display and making their choice. If you are undecided as to which flavour to choose, don’t worry cause you can get 2 or 3 scoops of different flavours on each cone or cup. You’ll be able to identify many of the flavors by the pictures some shops include on the flavour cards, but others may be a complete mystery. Every Gelateria that I have been to, and believe me, that is many, offer for you to taste a sample of the gelato. So, if you are undecided, ask for a sample. They are always very willing to let you try.

Outside the gelateria is usually packed with people who congregate to enjoy their Gelato and for the locals it is a popular meeting place. The daily passegiatta most often will have the locals strolling around their village enjoying a gelato.

I have been to many local football matches in Italy and usually after the game we all head back to the local bar. We Aussies have a drink, for me, a glass of wine; however the players usually have a gelato. When we were in Porto Venere, each afternoon we would watch the local teenage boys playing football on the beach and after the game, where did they head to, yes, the Gelataria. We also observed the same custom in Stresa where the local football team all met for Gelati after the game. Just so refreshing to see and of course so refreshing to enjoy.

Here are just a few of the flavours you will find at most Gelaterie in Italy.

Panna (cream)

Cioccolato: chocolate.

Limone: fresh, tangy lemon flavour

Pistacchio: another favourite

Zuppa Inglese: like custard.

Bacio: a mixture of hazlenut and chocolate

Frutti di bosco (fruits of the forest): a mixture of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries

Caffè: for lovers of espresso and cappuccino

Pesca: fruity peach flavour

Crema: Italian crema is a pale yellow colour and more like custard than cream.

Fragola: strawberry

Cocco: White, creamy and very coconutty

Stracciatella: chocolate chip

Banana

Melone: Melon

Nocciola: Hazlenut – my favourite!

Nocciola, is a classic gelato flavour in Italy, one you will find in any gelateria.

Whatever else you’re doing, treating yourself to an ice cream is an important part of your visit to Italy.

Fortunately we do have Gelato shops here in Australia. One that I really enjoy is La Macelleria Gelateria in New Farm which is run by 2 guys from Bologna, Mateo and Mateo

Gelato – A sweet dream from Italy

My reasons for travelling to Italy – the Series – Markets

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Markets

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Bagni di Lucca, cheese, crafts, florence, food, fruits, Intra Verbania, italy, Lago Maggiore, local markets, Lucca, markets, Photography, Roma, San Lorenzo, Stresa, travel, venice, Verbania

I am often asked by friends,

“What is your infatuation with Italy?”

“Why do you go to Italy so often?”

So I thought I would tell you some of the reasons I enjoy Italy and why I return often

There are actually many reasons I do return regularly so I thought I would just tell you about a few at a time, rather than write a very long blog story.

So, here goes

One of my favourite outings is the local markets

The markets in Italy, which range from flea markets to antique and food markets, all tell an interesting and unique story. I have been to many markets all over Italy, including very small markets in little local villages to the large markets in the cities, including Campo dei Fiori in Roma, San Lorenzo in Firenze, the fish markets in Venezia, and one of my favourite markets is in Verbania on Lago Maggiore. The atmosphere is always exciting and fun. I always find something to buy and when I stay in the area I purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and often cheeses, pastries and meats from these local markets.

Going market shopping is one of the nicest things to do during your free time. But if you think you need to spend a lot of money in Italy to get real good buys, you’re wrong, as there are lots of places where to find beautiful objects and clothes for relatively cheap.

From books to clothes, from house bric a brac to jewellery and toys, you can really get lucky at the flea market and buy a treasure in charming little stalls at one of the many street markets.

Wherever you go in Italy, you’ll always find a town or a village with an open street market.

Generally speaking, towns will have one day a week when the market comes to town and usually in the mornings. They start quite early and pack up to leave just after lunch. However, the San Lorenzo markets in Firenze are open 7 days a week.

If you’re not a foodie when you arrive in Italy, you just might be one by the time you leave. At these markets you don’t need to have a big travel budget to get into traditional Italian Food. Just have a sense of adventure, and seek out the market days where you are staying or visiting. Each and every market offers its own uniqueness selling the local produce which is in season.

While most tourists only happen upon markets by accident other people treat these markets as attractions all by themselves. They’re colourful and lively, and in my opinion a great day out.

Depending on the size of the market, you could buy just about everything you’d ever want from a hastily set-up table or from the back of a van that only pulls up once a week.

Generally in the smaller villages , the markets are usually small and specialize mostly in fresh fruit, veges and foodstuffs. However sometimes there are vendors offering clothing and or household items for sale. Just a word of advice, Don’t touch the merchandise! You don’t get to touch what you’re buying until you have paid for it. This may seem strange, because, you’re thinking, how do I know if the fruit etc is to my liking? But in Italian markets, unless you have been given permission to serve yourself by the vendor, you’ll tell them what you want and how much of it you want and they’ll get it for you. This rule usually only applies to foods, eg fruits and vegetables.

If you are looking for a fun and interesting outing with the locals, check out their local street markets.

Montecarlo – Come take a look with me

28 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Montecarlo, Tuscany

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Bagni di Lucca, Buonamico, ceramics, florence, italy, Lucca, Montecarlo, Photography, Province of Lucca, Puccini arte, travel, tuscan hills, Tuscany, vineyards, Winery

Almost every day in Italy for me is a wow day. Montecarlo was no exception, it was definitely a WOW day. That is, Montecarlo in Tuscany.

So once again, in our little Fiat 500 we headed off early one morning to Montecarlo. It is only about 45 minute drive so it was an easy drive on a glorious day. We stopped along the way at Buonamico Winery for coffee where they made us real Italian “wake you up in an instant” espresso, on the house. Not sure why they did not charge us, but they sure made us welcome.

Looking from Buonamico to Montecarlo

Montecarlo is a commune in the Province of Lucca in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Florence and about 12 kilometres (7 mi) east of Lucca.

Montecarlo is a hilltop village perched above the surrounding olive groves and vineyards, with thick stone walls and a fortress dating back to 1333

The town was originally founded in 1333 by the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. It is a sleepy little town with a very small population. Montecarlo is mainly known for its wine, and there is plenty of it! The town is surrounded by vineyards that produce excellent quality wines.

Although we had our own car and drove to Montecarlo it is also very easy to reach the town by bus. There are several buses that leave for Montecarlo from Florence and Lucca each day at regular intervals. There are also quite a lot of buses which reach the town from other smaller towns in the province like Altopascio, Pescia, Porcari and Caponnari. Buses are usually very comfortable and regular and the tickets are easily available even in peak tourist seasons.

As we arrived to this picture perfect little town with its cobblestone streets we were struck by the beauty of it.

We wandered around inside the walls of this sleepy little village popping in to little shops and chatting with the proprietors. We spent time in this gorgeous little ceramic shop, Puccini Arte and chatted with the artist. I could not resist buying one of his lovely little tiles for my kitchen.

We stopped by a little enotecca where we sampled some of the local produce and of course could not leave without buying some of the cheeses and cold meats.

We happened upon a wine shop where they were having a very lively wine tasting so we joined in.

Lunch was at one of the very nice little restaurants in the town.

After several hours in this truly delightful and peaceful town we headed off back to Lucca and then later “home”

ps one of the nicest things about Montecarlo, is there are not many tourists.

Greve in Chianti

21 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Greve in Chianti, Tuscany

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Bagni di Lucca, chianti, Chianti area, chianti hills, florence, greve, Greve in Chianti, italy, Photography, Piazza Matteotti, Ponte a Serraglio, Siena, Toscana, travel, tuscan hills, vineyards, wine, wineries

It is just under a 2 hour drive from the little village, Ponte a Seragglio where we were staying in Bagni di Lucca to Greve in Chianti. So we set off early one morning in our little Fiat 500 for the trip up to the Chianti area in the Tuscan Hills. It actually took us twice as long to arrive to this gorgeous little town as we stopped a couple of times along the way also my navigation system failed.

However, the stops were so worth it. The drive up to Greve in Chianti was wonderful with breathtaking views of the Tuscan Hills. We stopped many times to admire the vineyards on the hills and take photos of the magnificent panoramas that the Chianti offers.

This Chianti area is one of the most beautiful areas in Tuscany. Many of my photos remind me of postcards and calendars that I have seen of Tuscany.

Greve in Chianti is often considered to be the entrance gate into the Chianti region since it is the first major town you reach as you head south of Florence toward Siena. It is located along the SR222 provincial road, locally known as the Chiantigiana Road, and is about 30 km south of Florence and 40 km north of Siena.

Piazza Matteotti is the main piazza in Greve and even if it isn’t “square”, it is still the focal point of the town. This main piazza was a perfect location for us to wander around. You can enjoy a coffee, gelato, a glass of wine, or for us it was a delicious lunch.

We arrived about lunch time so after a leisurely walk around the piazza and stopping to look at several menus we chose our restaurant for lunch. I must say, it was not easy. There are several bars (coffee shops), wine shops, restaurants and pizzerias in the main square and in the small streets around the main square. The menus all appeared to be meals of local Tuscan cuisine.

Wandering around this unique piazza was so easy and delightful as there is a portico or covered walk way framing the shops which sell the local produce, the artisan shops and the restaurants. Although the weather on this particular day was perfect I can imagine this portico would be wonderful on a hot summers day or in fact would probably give some relief on cold days.

We stopped in to many of these shops. Sometimes we just looked and in other shops we purchased. Here are a few of these lovely shops.

We left Greve in Chianti later in the afternoon and headed over to Siena.

The easiest way to move around the entire region is by car, and one of the most scenic roads to take is the Via Chiantigiana from Florence all the way to Siena.

If you don’t have a car, Greve is luckily one of the easiest towns in Chianti to reach from Florence. You just need to catch bus 365 from the SMN train station.

Spectacular views over Florence – Fiesole

10 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Fiesole, Florence

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Fienze, Fiesole, Fiesolean Hills, florence

Fiesole is a great change from the big city of Florence. It is peaceful, quiet, and beautiful. It’s nice to head up there for a cup of coffee or stay for lunch. Wander the streets and enjoy the view of Florence in the distance.

During one of my stays in Florence I travelled up to Fiesole on the hop on hop off bus but you can also travel up on the local public transport. It was easy on the hop on hop off bus as they return regularly throughout the day so after a couple of hours of being up in Fiesole I then took another one of the buses back to Florence. The views were spectacular on the way up and on the way back.

The ATAF Florence city bus to Fiesole is Number 7 which runs about every half an hour until almost midnight so that it is possible to remain in Fiesole for dinner. The bus line starts at Via La Pira (on the side very close to Piazza San Marco) in Florence.

If you are staying in Florence for a few days a day trip to Fiesole is a must for any one

Aside from the sights of interest within and near Fiesole itself, on a sunny day the view from the Fiesolean hills out over Florence is spectacularly beautiful.

It is definitely worth at least half a day. There’s a list of things to see on the Fiesole website http://www.fiesole.com/ but part of the reason for going up there is the pleasant atmosphere. When Florence is really hot, Fiesole often has a cool breeze blowing.

For the best views of Florence you need to walk up the hill through the steep pedestrian street which is on the left of the main square when you get to Fiesole. After about 100 meters you will arrive at the lookout overlooking Florence.

Fiesole is a great place to spend a few hours or a day. There are also some great places to eat in the area, lovely gardens and the views are stunning.

From Fiesole Website

Enchanting Medieval Town – San Gimignano

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by Lyn Douglas in Enchanting Medieval Town, San Gimignano, Tuscany

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Firenze, florence, Piazza Della Cisterna, Poggibonsi, San Gimignano, Toscana, towers, Tuscany

San Gimignano is a magnificent old medieval town up on the hill in the province of Siena, Tuscany in north central Italy.

The authentic romanesque architecture of the whole place is very well-preserved, especially the centre. In the very heart of the town is the triangular-shaped square called Piazza della Cisterna which is the main piazza.

The main Piazza

The Piazza is a lively square, full of people and has a wonderful atmosphere. It is a good place to explore some of the delights of the town, or simply relax in a local cafe or bar and watch the world go by.

From the Piazza, it is only a short walk to many of the vantage points that San Gimignano offers of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. These views are simply stunning. No visit to Tuscany is complete without a visit to this medieval town.

We explored its narrow alleys and discovered so many interesting little shops and houses. Walking around San Gimingnano is like walking back in time. We felt like we were back in medieval times. It is a quiet little town without the crush of tourists and students.

You can travel to San Gimignano by car, train or bus from Milan in the north, Rome in the south or Florence. Travelling by train you come in to Florence. By air you can fly into Pisa airport or Florence airport and then connect to San Gimignano by train or bus

When we travelled to San Gimignano while staying in Florence we took the bus from the sita bus terminus next to the main train station in Florence. The station was a brisk walk from the monastery and only took about 15 mins. There are regular buses from Florence and Siena. We took the bus to Poggibonsi where we had time for a coffee and dolce before taking the bus up to San Gimignano.

San Gimignano is very much worth the trip if you are staying in Florence. The city’s many towers make it one of the prettiest in the Tuscan area and the countryside views are breathtaking. There are numerous shops and enoteca wine stores with good selections of wine and spirits. The city is not easily accessible for people with wheelchairs or walking problems as it sits on a hill and is a bit steep in areas

There are so many eateries to choose from that you’re bound to find something you like. Many have traditional Tuscan menus

Thursday is market day and the Piazza is then full of vendors selling primarily clothing and fabric with limited food.

If you are in the area, San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, is a must visit. Like many of the mediaeval towns and cities in Tuscany the centre is essentially vehicle free and parking is a challenge.