10 Favorite Reads on Italy this week: Oct 31, 2014

Favorite Reads on Italy (FRI) is a weekly roundup featuring interesting articles, fascinating experiences, and handy resources that I’ve come across that week.

Postcard from Italy: Morning at the market

This week’s roundup features spooky places in Italy to visit, tips for a morning at a market, fairy-tale towns in Italy, delicious apple cake recipe, and more.

Culture and Travel

The Portinari Altarpiece by Freya’s Florence – It took me a while to appreciate art and always enjoy an in-depth description of artwork as details you otherwise wouldn’t have noticed are pointed out.

Spooky places in Italy by Martha Bakerjian (About.com) – It’s Halloween and if you are looking for some creepy, ghoulish experience, here are some places not to miss.

5 Charming Italian Towns You’ve Never Heard Of by Erica Firpo via Yahoo Travel – Here are 5 more reasons to get out of the cities! Italy is dotted with fairy-tale towns that are waiting to be discovered.

Nero’s buried golden palace to open to the public – in hard hats by Reuters – As if there aren’t must-see attractions to see in Rome, here is another one that you should add to your list.

Villa of Poppea – Confirmation of Villa overlooking the sea by Napoli Unplugged – On the subject of Nero, this Villa is attributed to Poppea Sabina, the second wide of Emperor Nero. Oplontis has been on my bucket list for a while and we’ll have to find a way to schedule it in when we head to the Amalfi Coast.

Food and Drinks

Grape harvest in Chianti: visiting Castello di Gabbiano by Tuscanycious – Despite the challenges of a wet summer, this year vintage is likely to produce an elegant Chianti Classico

Torta di Mele (Apple Cake) by Domenica Cooks – With cooler temperatures, it’s the perfect time to start baking again and apple cakes are one of my favorite tea time treats. Here’s another recipe from Domenica that will keep you warm this winter.

Bomba di Riso by Ciao Lunigiana – A hearty dish that I’m planning to make for the next family lunch as it can be prepared ahead of time.

Life in Italy

The great escape by Living in the Langhe – It’s sure a hard life living in the Langhe. This area is amazingly breathtaking and I can imagine the riot of colors here in fall.

Marketplace rules by Eleonora Baldwin – I love my neighborhood market and although it’s much smaller compared to others in Rome, it still offers a nice variety of fresh and seasonal produce, and that’s what we love. Here are more tips to make the most of your visit to markets in Italy.