Kimberly's Italy - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

19. Piccolo Pezzo - A great pasta recipe! Oct 04, 2021

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And for our third Piccolo Pezzo (Short Episode) we want to share with your a pasta recipe, because who doesn't love a new recipe? This is one of our easy and quick to make weekday recipes that make a boring Tuesday all that much better. Life is better with pasta, si?

18. Venice Part 1: Visiting Venice without tourists can be done! Sep 28, 2021

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Enchanting, alluring, magnificent Venice should be visited by everyone at least once in their life. It is unlike any other city in the world, but to really see all her beauty, you need to go off season. My first suggestion is to turn off your phone and just get lost! The maze of canals and footpaths will always lead you to a trattoria, where after a lingering and delicious Venetian lunch, you may or may not ask for directions back to the Grand Canal.

16. Piccolo Pezzo Sep 22, 2021

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We have a 10 minute interview with Luisa from Bergamo, Italy. She teaches Italian via Skype so you can watch her pronunciations on those very long words and see her hand gestures at the same time. They say Italian is 20% words and 80% hand gestures!

15. Lucca The Walled Tuscan City - Part 2 Sep 14, 2021

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Our friend Conrado continues this second episode on his years in Lucca, and shares his favorite (meat laden) dishes, and where to find them. You will also hear about the month long music festival each July with an incredibly diverse range of musicians, performing outside in the Piazza de Napoleone no less.

14. Piccolo Pezzo Introduction Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

We present Piccolo Pezzo, which are 5 to 10 minute “mini episodes”. We will upload these every other Tuesday, to fill in while you await our normal length episodes on the alternate Tuesday. Piccolo Pezzo (Small Pieces) will be random suggestions, travel tips, fun facts or just some Italian quirks that we want to share with you.

13. Lucca The Walled Tuscan City - Part 1 Sep 01, 2021

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We interview our friend and former Lucca resident, Conrad Hunter. Lucca's medieval and Renaissance walls used to keep out invaders, now they keep out the sights and sounds of more modern day life. Walking through the car-free Lucca center is one of it's most cherished attributes. After a tasty Tuscan lunch you can walk or bike the entire perimeter of the city atop it's walls, and after dinner, walk the streets of this safe and quiet gem, and feel like a local.

12. Day trip to San Gimingnano Aug 17, 2021

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For a perfect day trip from Firenze, we take you on back roads to the medieval village of San Gimignano. Besides the fourteen stone towers that frame the skyline of this teeny-car free village, there also happens to be perhaps the best gelateria in all of Italy! We also share where to find the 12th century castle that played a huge part in saving the heritage of Italy's Renaissance artwork.

11. Florence Tuscany, Food and Wine Highlights, Hints and Must Do's!! Aug 04, 2021

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Remember to follow us on Social Media! Grazie Mille!

In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso delve into the culinary landscape of Firenze, sharing insights on local cuisine, dining etiquette, and must-visit neighborhoods. They also explore the rich history and traditions that shape Florence’s unique food culture.

Key Points:

Florentine Food Culture:

Sampling Italian food is like sightseeing for your palate.
Italian dining courses: antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno, and dolce.
There are rules to the road in Italy when it comes to food, wine, and coffee.

Dining Etiquette:

Bread is for scooping up sauce (fare la scarpetta), not for butter or olive oil.
Wine should be enjoyed with your pasta (primo).
Espresso is the appropriate after-dinner coffee, not cappuccino or latte.

Episode Highlight: Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a must-try Florentine steak.
The steak comes from Chianina cattle.
It is aged for a minimum of four weeks.
A kilo (2.2 pounds) is the minimum size, costing around $140-$150.

Central Market (Mercato Centrale)

The market offers a variety of meats, fish, produce, and local staples.
The upstairs food court is open late for dining.
Due to tourism, sitting outside the market with food is now prohibited.
Tripe (cow stomach) is a traditional Florentine dish available at the market.

Wine Culture

Sangiovese is the primary Tuscan grape, meaning “the blood of Giove.”
Wines include Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Chianti.
Florentines traditionally pair Chianti with Bistecca Fiorentina.
Vinsanto, an after-dinner wine (digestivo), is enjoyed to prolong conversations.

Neighborhoods

Oltrano: Located on the other side of the Arno River, home to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens.
Santo Spirito: Features a piazza and church designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with local restaurants.
Fiesole: A suburb on a hill offering panoramic views of Florence, with Etruscan ruins.

Join Kimberly and Tommaso next time as they explore day trips around Tuscany, sharing more of their travel adventures.

10. Fall in Love with Florence, Tuscany : Art and History Await Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

Remember to follow us on Social Media! Grazie Mille!

Kimberly and Tommaso kick off a two-part series about Florence (Firenze) Tuscany, sharing historical insights and personal experiences. They highlight iconic art and architecture and also discuss the city’s cultural pride.

Key Points:

Firenze is best explored off-season to avoid crowds.
The Renaissance took shape in Italy in the 14th century.
Cosimo Medici transformed Firenze into an economic hub, encouraging the flourishing of art and science.

The Renaissance and Art:

Donatello’s bronze David changed the trajectory of Renaissance art.
Michelangelo’s David was presented at Palazzo Vecchio in 1504.
The Florentines take great pride in their city’s cultural significance and history.

First Impressions of Firenze:

The Duomo is usually visible above the city’s uniformly-heighted buildings.
The graphic ornateness of the Duomo is made up of white marble, green stone, and red limestone.
The three colors of the Duomo mirror the colors of the Italian flag.

Architectural Significance of the Duomo:

The Duomo is the most significant architectural achievement of the Renaissance.
Filippo Brunelleschi was a central figure in its construction, who brought perspective into drawing and building.
Brunelleschi never left any drawings of the dome, but Leonardo da Vinci studied the dome and made drawings of how it was built.

Exploring Firenze:

The original Gates of Paradise doors are in the Museo.
Michelangelo’s House, Casa Buonarroti, is now a museum displaying his works.
Piazza Santa Croce is a rectangular piazza with restaurants and the Santa Croce church.

Santa Croce Church:

Santa Croce contains the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.
Gino Bartali, a 20th-century Florentine cyclist, aided Jews during World War II.

A Perfect Day in Firenze:

Our friends Lolita and Frank’s perfect day includes visiting Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo.
Zeki, an art store since 1348, offers materials used by Renaissance painters.
Osteria delle Nono and Trattoria Antico Fattore are favorite dining spots.

9. Costa Smeralda Sardenga Jul 07, 2021

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The Emerald Coast in Sardinia is nature at it's best. Blue-green waters with white sandy beaches, a dramatic rocky coastline, an archipelago of 7 islands and rocks that date back millions of years! It also happens to be one of Europe's most expensive playgrounds, but that's more in terms of the very large yachts and villas owned by those that want to take advantage of this beautiful area. We share how to enjoy all of it within your budget.

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