Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘olive oil’

The food tours of Northern Italy will include pasta, but there are so many more flavors and aromas to enjoy. To truly be considered food from Northern Italy it must come from one of 8 northern provinces. These are Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont to the west and Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto to the east.

When most people think of Italy and food, tomato sauces, olive oil and pasta fill their minds. This is still true with food from the north, but it is more balanced that in the south were in some places that is all there is. In the north there are more influences that include the use of butter and lard, rice, corn and many different cheeses that have developed into the creamy sauces that many people are very fond of.

In The Lombardy region they are well known for the use of rice in their dishes instead of pasta. One dish is made of rice, vegetables and bacon is called Minestrone alla Milanese. Another creamy dish that uses rice, meat stock, Saffron and of course cheese is Risotto alla Milanese.

From the Veneto region there Fegato alla Veneziana that is made of calf liver fried up with onions or Risi e Bisi which is rice and peas. Wild game along with a wide variety of sea food can also be seen in the market and on the menus of this region.

The Trentino-Alto Adige region is at the extreme north and is heavily influences by Germany. There is a type of dumpling here that consists of flour, bread and a meat broth called gnocchi that is widely popular amongst the locals. Another popular item is a type of salami that is cured with a taste similar to bacon called Speck.

These are just a few items you can experience on food tours of Northern Italy. The variety of items is nearly endless, but they all have one commonality, they are delicious to savor and enjoy.

There is a detailed chapter on food tours in our free download book of recommended day trips.

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Many Americans take Italy travel tours to Tuscany, but where do you begin to absorb all that this region has to offer?  Tuscany means different things to different people.

Some people associate Tuscany with olives and the many products made with this ancient fruit.  Chief among them is olive oil and there are hundreds of farms, both large and small, that press the nectar from the olive to produce a staple of cuisine; olive oil.

Recognizing the allure of watching ages-old artisan techniques, some groves now open their operations to visitors.

Tuscany also means wine and the famous “wine road” of Chianti is another popular activity for travelers.  Your tour guide will take your intimate group to the many vineyards around Greve, including Casaloste and Villa S. Andrea.  You’ll learn how 21st century technology meets practices hundreds of years old to produce world-class wine.

Fine art is how some people define Tuscany.  There is no greater collection of Renaissance art in the world than what can be found in Florence.  Michelangelo’s “David”, considered by many to be the greatest statue in the world is a must-see, however there are lesser known works hidden throughout this city and your knowledgeable guide will help you discover it.

Perhaps the simple geographical and historical beauty of Tuscany is what you desire most.  In that case, your guide will have many options for you.  Would you like to explore one of the most scenic places in the world?  Then Cinque Terre is for you.  Consisting of five towns, Cinque Terre is navigable by boat, train, car and foot, depending upon your activity goal.

Whatever you seek in Tuscany, your guide will be ready with information, organization and a wealth of English-speaking help to make your Italy travel tours a memorable experience.  Check with Federica Merli at TuscanyWithMe.it to help you design the perfect tour of Northern Italy.