Today sees the publication of my first Guide on Nileguide the one-stop destination for planning customised travel experiences.

This guide is especially for the first time visitor to Milan, entitled: 

Milan: "A first time visit to the Italian city of design, fashion and finance".

For the full guide, you can either download and print, create a pdf guide or access the guide with your iPhone with NileGuide’s free “Guide To Go” application. Check it out here

Latest update to the "Italian News in English" section in our Italian Travel Directory here at Casa Dolcetto: "Italian Insights".

There are now 25 links to websites and blogs featuring Italian news in English, there must be many more. If you know of a website or blog featuring Italian news in English or publish a website or blog featuring Italian news in English, please leave a comment and we'll be happy to add it to the list below:

agenzia giornalistica italia
ansa
capri magazine
cnn
corriere della sera
euronews
firenze magazine
global post
hello milano
italian news in english
italian online newspapers
italian sports news
italica - san marino
la repubblica
libero news
new york times
only in italy
positano news
sikania - sicily
the florence newspaper
the florentine
the guardian
the times
toscana e chianti news
valley life - tuscany

Culture, Italian Style for December...

Casa Dolcetto is pleased to recommend CLASSICTIC for classical music tickets in Italy.

They provide the best possible information about events, venues and artists. Their editors employ first-hand information from their extensive network of music institutions, promoters and halls in order to give you all the details you need to find a great classical event. To further help you get there they offer the easiest and most convenient ticket purchase process for everyone; from beginners to the more experienced classical music lovers.

CLASSICTIC specialises in the sale of tickets for classical concerts, operas and events through the Internet. All sales are primary sales and no secondary or re-sale tickets are offered through their portal.
 
At the moment, the following cities are covered, Como, Florence, Rome and Venice. So, come on, its time to dress up and get some culture.  Click here for more information...

It is always nice to make new friends via the blogosphere so it was good to meet up with Natascha Di Mario of Agriturismo Verdita earlier this month via Twitter and yesterday in person with Nicolas at Cantina Maranzana for a wine tasting, cantina tour and lunch!

Casa Dolcetto is very happy to recommend this lovely Agriturismo which is immersed in beautiful countryside overlooking rolling hills. The lavender farm at Agriturismo Verdita is an ideal spot if you are visiting the region of Piedmont in northern Italy. If you are looking for relation, serenity and peace of mind then this is the place for you. Stroll around their green pathways, discover the spectacular vistas or stop to smell the wild flowers.

Staying on a farm in Italy will bring you into contact with the country beyond the normal tourist sites and away from urban landscapes. A true agriturismo is a working farm that offers accommodation to tourists and in order for a farm to qualify as an agriturismo, a certain percentage of the farm's income must be derived from agriculture. At Agriturismo Verdita there are four self-catering apartments (2 one bedroom apartments and 2 studios) which have all been designed to provide an informal, relaxing home base for your holiday. All the apartments are equipped with TV, independent heating, fully furnished kitchens and bathrooms.

Perfectly situated between the Italian Alps and the Mediterranean, the Agriturismo is only about an hours drive from the Italian Riviera, an hour and a half from Genoa and Torino and two hours from Milan, Monte Carlo, and the French Riviera. Agriturismo Verdita is also close to local cities such as the Romanesque city of Acqui Terme, famous for its thermal waters and spas, Asti, well known for the oldest Palio - or horse race - in Italy, Alba, the city of the White Truffle, Mombaldone, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and Canelli, where the underground Cathedrals of Wine, a UNESCO Heritage site, are located.

You will be able to experience and enjoy rural life in Piedmont with its slower rhythm and have the opportunity to sample local products and witness the wonderful natural cycle of agricultural life.

As Natascha says: "Agriturism is low-impact, green turism".

For more Casa Dolcetto Piedmont links just click here

The Genoa Pesto World Championship:

Later this month, from the 27th to the 29th November more preliminary competitions will be staged at Imperia Oneglia for the Genoa Pesto World Championship!

Next April, 100 competitors from all over the world will prepare Genovese Pesto, exclusively with a pestle and mortar, using only traditional authentic and genuine ingredients. The competition is open to everyone: professionals and amateur cooks.

The Association PalatiFini is a cultural and gastronomic association, whose name means ‘Refined Palates’. It was founded 10 years ago by a group of friends keen on good life and good food. The Association is deeply routed in Genova and Liguria where they organise events based on the concept of ‘bien vivre’…

The First Genoa Mortar Made Pesto Championship represented an original event strongly related to their traditions but at the same time being extremely innovative. An event able to tell the qualities and excellences of their region.

So some on, get your pestle and mortar out and start practising!

For more information click here and many thanks to our friend Natascha at Agriturismo Verdita for spotting this!