Travel Blog Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Dominique Rizzo

Why Spain, why Catalonia?

0 Comments/in Blog, Spain, Travel Blog/by Dominique Rizzo

Catalonia, Costa Brava and Barcelona – A must to visit on your travel bucket list!

Why Spain, why Catalonia? It’s hard not to think of Spain without thinking about wine, world-class cuisine, tapas, Unesco world heritage sites and some of the most incredible architecture ever designed.

One of the questions that I am often asked is why I chose Spain and why Catalonia for one of my 2021 food tours?

Well if you love Spanish wine, are a discerning diner who values first-class gastronomy, luxury accommodations and architecture. And you relish in discovering the rich history of food, culture, and art of this region that rubs shoulders with the borders of France. Why wouldn’t you want to travel to Spain…

Nominated as the BEST country to visit in the world for the third year in the 2019 Travel and Tourism Competitive Report by the World Economic Forum. With more than 3,000 miles of coastline, and no fewer than 48 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most Michelin star restaurants, and some of the world’s best chefs, renowned artists, and acclaimed architects. Spain and the Catalonia region has to be a must on any avid travellers bucket list.

The capital and largest city is Barcelona. It is the second-most populated municipality in Spain. Tourists flock Barcelona year-round for the “buzz of Barcelona”, one of Spain’s most visited destinations. Barcelona has more than 70 top-notch museums and 24 Michelin-starred restaurants. Its medieval quarter boasts surprising modernist architecture and a vibrant urban culture. Not to mention perhaps one of the most famous ongoing constructions, the Sagrada Famiglia, and the must-see Boqueria Markets.

Boqueria Markets

Getting out of your hotel and heading out on foot is one of the best ways to explore Barcelona. Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló and Casa Mila designed by Gaudi are within minutes of each other. This colorful seaside city is full of attractions and things to do. Rivaling Barcelona in historic importance and one of the tour highlights is the medieval town of Girona.

Farther afield, in the idyllic countryside of verdant valleys and gently rolling hills, we discover quaint medieval towns, picturesque seaports, and quiet country villages where chirping birds and church bells are the loudest noises. Here you can visit the coves of Cadaqués on the Costa Brava and every stop along the way, the local gastronomy will tempt you. Stretching Northeast from the coves and beaches of Blanes to Catalonia’s border with France, the Costa Brava is Spain’s most beautiful coastline. This 1,240-mile coast of rugged cliffs and idyllic beaches is one of Europe’s favorite seaside playgrounds, and its pretty little whitewashed towns have lured artists that include Dali, Picasso, and Marc Chagall. The House of Dali, and the Museum which many people say is “the must-see” of a lifetime.

Art galleries and boutique shops line the cobbled streets of Cadaques

Bordered by the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, Catalonia is the traditional region of Spain that is fiercely proud of its unique culture. The 4 most important regions of Catalonia are Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Catalonia has beautiful sandy beaches like Costa Maresme, reaching into the Mediterranean Sea, unlike those other feet-breaking pebble beaches, that were until more recently were unknown to tourists who happily headed south of Barcelona to Sitges (although Sitges is still a favourite). Many locals of Barcelona preferred to head north towards The Costa Brava where many owned their weekender beach apartment – white tiles throughout, clean and cool in the summer months.

Costa Brava

What do you do after a day swimming at the beach but eat fresh seafood and this is where the famous fish markets at Arenys de Mar comes in to play. They say it is something else to watch the fishing boats come into port in the late afternoon, followed by flocks of seagulls hoping to feed on some fish. There is a fish auction at the port at night – perfect to take home the freshest of fish to cook for dinner.

The history of food in this area is what really is fascinating – from sauces introduced by the Phoenicians, olive oil brought in by the Greeks, and then the influence of the Romans, Carthaginians, and Jews bringing with them their own exotic flavours and spices.

Pescaíto frito – Fried fish

While paella is the traditional food of Spain, the Arabs instilled the love of almonds and gazpacho, while the Christians introduced Spanish Jamon (ham) previously banned by the Jews and Arabs alike. Garlic, garlic, garlic – it’s gastronomical flavor making even garlic soup a must-do.

When not at the beach or eating bocadilos – the amazing baguette with Spanish ham or drinking cava the champagne of the area or rich coffee, you can dine in some of Spain’s finest Michelin star restaurants taking your dining experiences to the next level.

Michelin dining in Spain

Sometimes the reasons why I chose Catalonia are endless.

Dominique’s Spanish tours for 2021 include a focused tour to Barcelona, Catalonia and Costa Brava, and likewise, the same gastronomic and luxury tour is now available to Rioja and Basque Country including the South of France. Claimed as one of the best-kept secrets of Spain and celebrated as one of the best regions for the excellence of food and wine. These tours have been personally designed by Dominique to give you the best of the best and are limited to a maximum of 19 travellers only.

Cooking Classes With a Difference in Sicily

0 Comments/in Blog, Travel Blog/by Dominique Rizzo

New Food Tours with Dominique Rizzo

0 Comments/in Blog, Travel Blog/by Dominique Rizzo

The Big Story – Sicily

0 Comments/in Blog, Travel Blog/by Dominique Rizzo

The Courier Mail’s the Big Escape story is one of the best articles about Sicily… Book now into Sicily 2020.

The Sicilian Carretto

0 Comments/in Blog, Travel Blog/by Dominique Rizzo

A beautiful cultural symbol you will find repeated throughout the region when you travel to Sicily is the Carretto. These carts, with their beautiful bright colours, are seen across Sicily. So how did Sicilians come to have the Carretto as such a rich part of their culture? Find out a little bit about the origins, the craftsmanship and the subtle differences of the Carretto.

Origins

The original idea of carts was introduced to the island by the ancient Greeks. However, the history of the now highly-recognised traditional Sicilian cart is relatively new. It dates back to the early 19th century and the need for transportation on the poorly-developed roads. It was thanks to the decree of 1830 that major routes, called “royal trazzere”, were opened. This is where the first appearance of the original type of wagon, the “stràscinu”, appears in history. This was a four-wheeled wagon whose front wheels are smaller than the rear, as in a type of carriage or cart.

The Sicilian carts reached the height of their popularity in the 11920s when many thousands were on the island. The carts were mainly drawn by horses in the city and on flat plains. Donkeys or mules were more often used in rough terrain for hauling heavy loads. The carts commonly used for pulling light loads, such as produce, wood, wine, and people, were called “Carretto del Lavoro” (cart for work). They were also used for ceremonies and festive occasions such as weddings and parades, where they were called “Carretto de Gara”. The Carretto was almost like the taxi or truck of today.

Craftsmanship

The cart has two wheels and is primarily hand-made out of wood built by woodcarvers, metal workers, and painters. The woodcarvers carved the many panels that were often historic reliefs. The metal workers worked the iron in a “ferro battuto” style, which included highly-decorated metal undercarriages with iron metal components. The painters had great skill depicting brightly painted scenes from Sicilian history and folklore, as well as intricate geometrical designs. These scenes also served the purpose of conveying historical information and important historic events in Sicily. Originally meant to keep in memory the turning points of local history for those who couldn’t read.

The colours of Palermo’s flag, yellow and red, feature prominently on the carts, along with details in bright blues and greens. Many of the carts showcase, in intricate details, religious scenes. They may depict the story of Jesus or that of his mother, and patron saints in Sicily, such as St. John the Baptist, Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo, or Sant’Agata, the patron saint of Catania. Some have been found to have scenes or visions of the saints, Charlemagne, operatic scenes, and the histories of Napoleon, Columbus, Cortez, and even Mussolini.

Provincial differences

The Sicilian Carretto is still made in several provinces in Sicily, each with its own style. Carretti made in the province of Palermo have more of a square box design. Those made in Catania are made with more elaborate “keys.” Then, there are the carts made in Agrigento which have their own distinctive style. The craft of making the carts is handed down from generation to generation through the training of apprentices. The animals pulling the carts are often elaborately adorned as well, with a decorated plume covering their head and a headband decorated with plaques of leather and gilt nails and bells. They also wear another elaborately decorated piece in the middle of their back.

Today the Sicilian Carretto can be found available for tourists to enjoy in some museums, while smaller Carretti can be bought as souvenirs. They are often depicted in artworks, postcards and pieces of the old Carretto can now be found on the walls of hotels and homes.

See it for yourself

Just one of the fascinating aspects of Sicilian life. Learn more about this beautiful region by visiting it yourself. Join Australian Chef Dominique Rizzo on a gastronomic and cultural food, wine and cooking tour of Sicily. Click here for more information about touring this amazing region.