Barbara Conelli's Blog, page 20
March 9, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: L'Orso Marcello – The Most Beloved Milanese Bear
Via Benedetto Marcello and its Saturday morning market is a wonderful opportunity to take a stroll and discover new stories about Milan. That's why I love this city so much. On every corner there's something new to explore, something new to see and to admire.
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There used to be a cute public garden at the end of Via Benedetto Marcello. Although small, children loved it and when their parents went to the Saturday market, they always wanted to go too. Why...
March 7, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Le Marionette Colla – The Most Beautiful Marionette Theater In The World
Did you have a toy puppet theater when you were a kid? I had two. A very old one that already my grandma used to play with, and a new, bigger one, I received from my parents for Christmas. I was a born writer and I remember writing plays for my theater and then performing them with my marionettes in front of my family audience. I still have the theater, although I don't play with it anymore. It still has that beautiful smell of wood and velvet, and it brings back the fondest of memories.
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March 6, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Fish And Chips Alla Milanese
I love London. I love its vibe. It's one of my favorite cities in the world. And especially in winter, Milan reminds me so much of it. Although smaller and maybe less cosmopolitan, it's rainy, chilly, foggy, yet cozy, welcoming and Chique.
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Walking along the Darsena almost feels like walking along the Thames. Especially when you approach Porta Ticinese and the smell of fresh fish and chips transports you to London in the blink of an eye.
I know, it sounds ...
March 5, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Fioraio Bianchi Caffé
One of the things I love about Milan is the fact that every café and restaurant has a story. Far from the uniformity of large chains, they have character, heart and soul. And Fioraio Bianchi Caffé is no exception: its history is moving, charming and very peculiar.
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Mr. Raimondo Bianchi opened his flower store in Via Montebello number seven already fifty years ago. He loved his little store full of beautiful flowers. However, as time went by, the rent b...
February 27, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Au Nome De La Rose – No Rose Is More Beautiful Than You
My Milanese friend Bianca loves roses and her home is always full of them: Roses of all colors that spread their divine perfume all around the house. Bianca says that a rose is like a woman – strong yet fragile, mysterious yet loving, vain yet sincere.
There's a place in Milan where Bianca gets all her roses, and where I get mine because I share her love of them: Au Nome De La Rose.
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Au Nome De La Rose is the name of flower stores that sell only roses ...
February 24, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: California Bakery – A Weekend Picnik In The Heart Of The City
There are three California Bakery coffee shops in Milan: In Largo Augusto, in Viale Premuda and in Sant'Eustorgio. As the name suggests, it offers typical English and American pastries. Cheesecakes, muffins, bagels, donuts, pancakes and so much more. California Bakery is an interesting fusion of the English-American tradition and the Italian ingredients and craft, making it a wonderful place for a cup of coffee and a sweet snack during the day.
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I...
February 23, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Il Libraccio – Paradise For Book Lovers With A Romantic Soul
I don't know about you, but I love bookstores. Especially secondhand bookstores. I enjoy the energy of old books and their stories. Who owned them? Were they a gift? For whom? What was the occasion? And why did they end up in a secondhand bookstore, leaving their rightful place in somebody's bookcase?
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Italians love books and they love used books. Il Libraccio is a chain of secondhand bookstores all around Italy, and it seems to have a special place in...
February 22, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: The Tiniest, Most Romantic Garden In The World
Milan is full of surprises and you really need to walk around the city with your eyes open if you don't want to miss any of its hidden secrets.
Many of my favorite places in Milan are very inconspicuous and easy to overlook. Which is great for a writer because I can safely hide there, write or just muse away.
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On the corner of Via Merlo, there's the tiniest garden in Milan, and maybe in the world. Surrounded by a high wall with a heavy gate, it...
February 21, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan: Termemilano, A Spa Experience Under The Stars
If you've been following me for a while, you probably know I love spas. Massages, baths, wraps, all kinds of treatments. Exploring new spas worldwide is one of my travel passions. And in my upcoming book, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, I'm going to share with you the secrets of the most magical, luxurious spas in Milan.
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But today, I would like to take you to Termemilano, a new spa center in Milan. Not during the day when everybody goes there, but at...
February 20, 2012
Chique Secrets of Milan, Italy: Il Palazzo delle Stelline
Today, Il Palazzo delle Stelline ("The Palace of Little Stars") is a beautiful hotel located right in the center of Milan, just a few steps from "Cenacolo" (Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper).
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Very few people know that this charming hotel with a beautiful, lush patio garden, used to be an orphanage for girls in 1960s. They stayed here until the age of 18. The orphanage didn't have much money for the girls to explore the outside world but found an...
