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Since before the Romans, farmers in the overlooked southern regions of Italy have been making the traditional migration with...

Have I ever told you about the time I saw a volcano erupt? That day started out normal. I was scouting in the Aeolian Islands, an archipel..

We like to think of making Sicilian arancini as a delicious labor of love. Really they’re fried balls of risotto with a little secret inside

Hidden Gems in Sicily It’s easy to feel spoiled in Sicily. In the largest island of the Mediterranean you’re warmly welcomed with extensive

Foraging for wild food is an ancient and unique Italian tradition and trying out this experience together with locals is highly recommended

This authentic limoncello recipe comes directly from a local friend in Southern Italy. Limoncello is the perfect drink to prepare at the end

One of my favorite things about my job is discovering unique traditions in Italy that I’ve never heard of. One I find particularly interesti

Ever heard of an e spressino? Didn’t think so. Puglia has a coffee culture all its own and it’s worth learning about- then experiencing yourself. It’s no secret that coffee and Italy go together- like really, r eally well. From a foamy cappuccino in the morning to a double shot of espresso (c affe doppio) in the afternoon, caffeine seems to be pulsing through the veins of this expressive and lively society. What you might not realize is that caffeine flows in a variety of

by Frances Reid I’m willing to bet that any mention of Italy immediately conjures images of Tuscany’s rolling green hills, dotted with wineries. Am I right?  If you stop there though, you’re missing out on one of southern Italy’s best-kept secrets: Puglia Yes, it takes a bit more effort to get there (Puglia is tucked into Italy’s boot heel), but where’s the fun in taking the path others have traveled? No. You, my friend, need an authentic encounter with another of Italy’s da

Believe it or not, I discovered the restaurant I’m going to tell you about today on a 9-hour flight from Italy to New York. I was stuck in the middle seat, feeling chatty (since there was no way I was going to sleep) so the lucky co-passenger to my left named Luca got to hear me gush over how much I love Italy and all the places I’d been. When I got around to Matera, he perked up and said “Oh! You must go back and meet my brother! He has a restaurant in the historic center, i

Ahhh, the flavors of Puglia! My mouth literally waters just thinking about it. From plates of fresh grilled seafood to hand-rolled pasta and piles of hearty vegetables, food in Puglia is an experience. In fact, it’s an experience all Italians crave, too. When I ask my local friends where they go to eat really, really well, throughout Italy the answer is “Puglia!”. While there’s plenty of food in Puglia that you should try (really, options are endless!), there is one dish in

There are so many unique activities and experiences to be had in southern Italy! If you’re stuck on Tuscany, I don’t blame you… but I have t

You know those moments when you experience something just incredible and you know you’ll always remember it? Visiting the sea caves of Polignano a Mare in the “heel” of Italy’s boot was one of those moments for me. I can still feel the sense of world-expanding freedom as the speed of our private boat sends a rush of warm air over my wide-open arms from the very front of the bow. Salty droplets splash up and cool my sun-browned skin. The view approaching the cliff-clung city o

The history of Puglia is multilayered and complex. The region has been tossed about from one invader to the next, from about 270 BC until the unification of Italy in the late 1800s. Most articles you find on the topic are frankly boring to read and heavy with names of random invaders you’ve never heard of, making it difficult to grasp the overall concept of where Puglia’s been and how it relates to the culture you’ll experience there today. Below, I attempt to break things do

Where do Italians go for great food? Straight to Puglia, where the cucina povera tradition celebrates the profound flavors of fresh, local produce. What’s amazing about the food in Puglia is that it boasts great flavor with minimal ingredients- only about 3-5 per dish. On your way to a restaurant, you might pass fields of artichokes, fava beans, and of course, olives- all of which you’ll find featured on your plate in a variety of creative and tasty ways. However, Puglia is

In Italy, every holiday comes with a hundred variations of ways to celebrate, traditional foods to eat, and stories of how it all came about. Easter is no different, and in the southern region of Apulia, la scarcella is not to be forgotten! La scarcella is a simple cookie or cake formed into various shapes like an easter basket, bird, or bunny. The twist? They put a boiled egg on the cookie itself. Yeah, I know, hard to picture… Luckily, one of our Pugliese friends took som