Barbara Conelli's Blog, page 17

Italian Regions From North To South: Chique Secrets Of Lombardia (LOM)

Yay, it’s time to talk about my beloved Lombardy and its many charming gems and peculiarities.

Lombardia is the fourth biggest region of Italy and it has the largest population of all regions. It has eleven beautiful provinces:

Bergamo

Bergamo

Brescia

Brescia

Como

Como

Cremona

Cremona

Lecco

Lecco

Lodi

Lodi

Mantova

Mantova

Pavia

Pavia

Sondrio

Sondrio

Varese

Varese

Milano – The capital of the region and my home away from home

Milano

The name “Lombardia” comes from the Lombards, or the Langobards, a Germanic tribe that...

Italian Regions From North To South: Chique Secrets Of Piemonte (PIE)

After exploring the northern region of Valle d’Aosta, let’s discover its bigger neighbor, beautiful Piemonte.

Piemonte (Piedmont), abbreviated PIE, is a peculiar name. It literally means “at the foot of the mountains”, which is absolutely true. Piemonte is surounded by hills and mountains, and in ancient times it was known as “pedemontium”.

The Alps and Appenines occupy 43% of the area and offer perfect skiing conditions. The skiing resort of Sestriere is a very famous, exclusive tourist destin...

A Chique Rhyme A Day Keeps The Writer’s Blues Away: I’m A Woman, I Am Strong

I’m a woman, I am strong

And no one can prove me wrong.

I’m a woman, I sometimes lose

I don’t always the right path choose.

Every day I learn and grow

I don’t set my sights too low.

I am smart to pick my battles

When someone just my cage rattles.

To others I may sound too smart

But I always do follow my heart.

I love my soul and I’m proud to say

I have never given it away.

I know that sometimes I get hurt

I know to deal with angry spurt.

I’m a woman, I’m enough

I don’t care when things get tough.

I never wan...

Chique Secrets Of Italy: Villa Melzi In Beautiful Bellagio

Villa Melzi in Bellagio is one of my favorite places on the shore of Lake Como. Its park is splendid and there’s always something to admire, regardless of the season.

Built between 1808 and 1810, it was owned first by Duke di Lodi Francesco Melzi d’Eril, and later inherited by Count Lodovico Gallarati-Scotti.

The English park that surrounds the villa begins at the lake and then rises up to the very top of the hill, overlooking the lake. The park has many peculiarities, such as an artificial cav...

Chique Secrets Of Milan, Italy: A Little Oasis Of Gastronomy With A Big Heart

As I have said on many occasions, Italy is a country of good food and Milan has a special talent for inventing new, chique places to taste the best the country has to offer. One of my favorite places to have lunch in Milan, and to buy the best Italian cheese, is Gastronomia Menescaldi in Via Lucca della Robbia 10.

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Gastronomia Menescaldi was founded by Riccardo and Dolores Menescaldi in November 1994, and today it's run by the couple and their son...

A Chique Rhyme A Day Keeps The Writer's Blues Away: Safe Is Not The Game I Play

You say I can't and you mean well

But "I can't" are the words I just don't say.

You whisper it's hard and I might get pained

Though without pain no joy is gained.

You care and you want me safe

But safe is no longer all the rave.

Safe means stuck and that's no fun

I'd rather laugh and jump and run.

Maybe I'll make it, maybe I won't

But aren't hopes here to be hoped?

Life is such a wondrous game

And its rules are never tame.

Life is wild and full and bright

Choosing to live it is my great right.

I...

Chique Secrets Of Milan, Italy: A Night With Verdi's Ghost

As you know from my book Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita, Giuseppe Verdi spent a large portion of his life in his beloved Milan, the city that adored him and made him famous. When in Milan, Verdi always stayed at Grand Hotel et de Milan in Via Manzoni 29. He wrote many of his masterpieces in Suite number 105, where he also breathed his last on 27th January 1901.

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The hotel was severely damaged during the Second World War and it had to be thoroughly...

Chique Secrets Of Milan, Italy: Passion And Scheming At La Scala

La Scala, the most famous opera house in the world, had a very turbulent history, and its origin is connected to a particularly spicy legend.

Archduke Ferdinando, the ruler of Milan at that time and the son of Empress Maria Theresia, was very jealous of his beautiful wife Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este. In order to teach one of her suitors, Sannazzari, a lesson, he lured him to the Milanese theater called Regio Ducal Teatro.

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Ferdinando didn't know that S...

Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: I Giardini Di Porta Venezia And The Star Theater

Unlike many big cities, Milan has a great advantage – parks and green spaces. In the city center, it's very easy to find a quiet place, a bench to sit on and have a snack, or just relax for a few minutes and watch passersby.

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I Giardini di Porta Venezia is a big park, or better said a public garden, at Porta Venezia. It's busier than Parco Sempione thanks to many stalls that sell ice cream, chocolate and other delicacies, and also thanks to many...

Happy Easter From Italy: Sharing Joy And Gratitude With My Beloved Readers

 

 

Filed under: Barb's Ramblings, Italy, Milan, Writer's Life Tagged: Barbara Conelli, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita, Easter in Italy, Italy Photographs, italy travel guide for women, italy travel tips, Live your dolce vita, Milan Italy, Milan Photographs, milan travel guide for women, milan travel tips, postaday, Spring in Italy, travel essays, Travel to Italy, travel video Italy, writer's life