Pasta with Salmon

Pasta with salmon is a delicious pasta dish with salmon, sundried tomatoes, and capers. You can either use fresh or canned salmon, or smoked salmon, which is what I prefer. If you don’t have heavy cream, you can either use milk or cream cheese (for a tangy, creamier consistency). I also like to use short pasta, and sundried tomatoes that have been preserved in olive oil.

Serves 4-6 people
Ingredients

1/2 lb penne, rigatoni or farfalle pasta
1 T olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3-4 sundried tomatoes, chopped
5 oz tomato sauce (or to your liking)
1-2 T heavy cream or cream cheese
4 oz smoked salmon with dill, broken up into bite-size pieces
2 tsp capers
salt, to taste

  1. in a large pot, cook the pasta according to directions on box, drain, and set aside.
  2. in a large pan, sauté shallot in olive oil until a little translucent, then add the garlic, stirring.
  3. add sundried tomatoes and tomato sauce and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring so as not to burn.
  4. add cream or cream cheese and stir until completely mixed.
  5. add salmon and stir.
  6. add capers and salt to taste.
  7. throw in the pasta and stir until coated, being careful not to break up the salmon any more.
  8. sprinkle with parsley or chopped scallion on pasta with salmon before serving.

Subscribe to my blog so that you don’t miss anything!

Siena’s Palio: The 400-year-old Thrilling Horse Race

The Palio occurs just twice each summer, on July 2nd and August 16th, and the pure excitement of this festival that has survived almost intact from the Middle Ages is unequaled in Italy.

For the citizens of Siena, the Palio is all about neighborhood pride and rivalry, and it is the continuation of a centuries-old tradition associated with religion and honor. There are marching bands decked out in medieval garb that parade through the city, bearing the flags and colors of their contrada. The men carrying the huge flags then demonstrate considerable skill by waving them in formation and throwing them to great heights – and then catching them.

Share in the excitement by booking a reserved seat in the beautiful, shell-shaped Campo and choose just how close to the action you wish to be. You’ll have a great view of the historical parade  and the sbandieratori (flag throwers) who launch their colorful banners into the air. Then, at the stroke of 7:00pm, the ten chosen horses line up at the starting line and the race begins — three laps around the piazza; don’t blink or you might miss it because this thrilling, bareback race lasts only 90 seconds!

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Palio of Siena

Photo credit: Matt Oesterle @Flicker.com

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most spectacular examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture in the world. Sicily’s most popular attraction, this splendid archaeological park includes eight temples: the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Demeter, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of Hephaestos, the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Temple of Asclepius.

The park is divided in two parts: the eastern zone contains the most intact and stunning temple ruins, while on the western side, you will discover the large temple of Olympian Zeus and the Temple of the Dioscuri, dating from 450-400 BC.

After taking your time to admire these splendid temples, another beautiful, ancient site that should not be missed is the Garden of Kolymbetra. Built between sandstone cliffs leading down to a river valley, this luscious botanical garden will charm you with its vibrant, Mediterranean colors.

Another notable ruin in the valley is the Tomb of Theron, a massive monument of pyramidal shape that commemorates the Romans killed in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Photo credit Matthew Marschner @Flickr.com

Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens Tickets, Florence

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you

Take a tour of the Pitti Palace, and discover the extravagance of the Medici family, the de facto rulers of Renaissance Florence. As you explore the Palatine Gallery and the Royal Apartments, you’ll learn about the family’s power and see the impressive collection of art they amassed. Get an up-close look at works from Titian, Raphael and Rubens.

Visit the famous Boboli Gardens, an oasis in the heart of Florence, on a 1-hour guided tour of the Pitti Palace’s royal gardens. Built for Cosimo I de’ Medici in the 16th century, the gardens feature exquisite landscaping with a variety of plant life, fountains, and statues by master artists including Michelangelo, and sculptures dating from ancient Rome through the 17th century, making it a veritable open-air museum.

The Boboli Gardens hold an important collection of Renaissance statues and fountains. Notable works include “Bathing Venus” and “Fountain of the Ocean” sculpted by Giambologna, a copy of “The Prisoners” by Michelangelo, and a number of pieces by Buontalenti.

Choose between private or group guided tours.

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Pitti Palace Tickets, Florence

 

Bargello Museum Tickets, Florence

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you

The fortress-like Bargello dates back to the mid 13th-century and served for many centuries as a prison and police station. It opened as a museum, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, in 1865, on Donatello’s 500th birthday.

On the ground floor, see 16th-century Tuscan works including four masterpieces by Michelangelo. Check out intricate terracotta pieces by Andrea and Giovanni Della Robbia on the second floor of the museum. Other highlights include the impressive collection of Gothic and Renaissance Italian sculptures that span from the 14–17th centuries, including works by Bandinelli, Cellini, and Donatello.

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Bargello Museum Tickets, Florence

Borghese Gallery Tickets, Rome

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you

Rome’s Borghese Gallery and Museum (Galleria Borghese) is a must-see for art lovers in Rome. Housed in a former villa of the eponymous family, it contains a large part of the family’s vast collection of antiquities, paintings, and sculptures. Its 22 rooms across two floors showcase many important pieces including paintings by Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Rubens. The city of Rome acquired the Villa Borghese in 1903, opening its collection and gardens to the public. The 1911 World Exposition was held in the park and some of the various countries’ pavilions still exist.

Reservations are required in order to visit the museum. Travelers can book skip-the-line tickets, a private or small-group tour, or opt for a Segway tour of the greater Borghese Villa. Art historians often lead small-group tours, which add context to the artwork you’re seeing.

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Borghese Gallery Tickets, Rome

Medici Chapels Tickets, Florence

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you

The rise of the Renaissance is closely interwoven with the story of the Medici family who since the beginning used art to legitimize their power. The Medici family ruled the city of Florence for three hundred years, from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Wherever you turn your gaze in Florence, you can see sculptures, palaces, coats of arms and details that speak about them.

The Medici chapels (Cappelle Medicee) are two architectural gems flanking the Basilica of San Lorenzo in the heart of central Florence. Brunelleschi designed the basilica for the Medici family in the 1400s, and it became the family church and mausoleum.

The New Sacristy is the more famous of the basilica’s two chapels. Designed by Michelangelo, it houses the funerary statues, Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk. The simple design features a somber color scheme of gray and white because the colorful wall paintings that Michelangelo had planned were never executed.

The tall domed Princes’ Chapel consists of multicolored marbles and semi-precious gems, known as pietre dure. Rare and costly stones like coral, jasper, onyx, amethyst and tiger’s eye adorn the interior; however, the Medici ran out of money before enough lapis lazuli could be purchased to cover the vast, octagonal dome and it was finally frescoed in 1824. The chapel’s richly carved tombs are filled with carved niches, statues and armorial plaques, but empty, as the deceased Medicis now lie in the crypt beneath.

CLICK TO ORDER TICKETS: Medici Chapels Tickets, Florence

Accademia Gallery Tickets, Florence

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you





Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia is home to one of the world’s most impressive works of art: Michelangelo’s “David.” At 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall, the famous statue of the biblical hero is an overwhelming sight and a masterpiece of Renaissance art. Other works on display include 15th- and 16th-century paintings by the likes of Botticelli and Lippi, unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, and a museum of musical instruments. The Accademia was once Europe’s oldest drawing school; today it is considered a must-see for visitors to Florence.

Choose one of the following:

  • Skip the line: Accademia Gallery tour
  • Description:Visit the world famous museum, Accademia Gallery with an expert guide from Florence. Get the opportunity to immerse yourself in Michelangelo’s art and see his many masterpieces, including the statue of David.
  • Florence Sightseeing Tour with Accademia Gallery Visit
  • Description:See the top sights in the birthplace of the Renaissance with this 3-hour Florence tour, including a visit to the Accademia Gallery. Overlook the picturesque city from Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole. Learn about Brunelleschi's famous dome over the impo
  • Discover Florence: Uffizi and Accademia Gallery with skip the line
  • Description:See some of Florence's art treasures during this 6-hour walking tour that starts with a guided visit of the Accademia Gallery before a stroll around the city's central historic area. Then end with a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery in the afternoon. You'
  • Private Tour: Italian Breakfast and Accademia Gallery Guided Visit
  • Description:The Accademia Gallery is Florence’s most visited museum right after the Uffizi Gallery. It's the house of Michelangelo’s David and his Prisoners and many works from the 16th-18th century. It adjoins the Accademia di Belle Arti or academy of fine arts
  • Florence Private Full-Day Tour with Uffizi and Accademia Gallery
  • Description:Very comprehensive tour of 6 hours to visit, see and get to know all the most important about the city including the two of the most important museums in Florence, Italy and the whole world: Galleria degli Uffizi and Accademia Gallery.
  • Private Accademia Gallery Guided Visit
  • Description:Discover, led by a passionate local guide, the most important masterpieces by Michelangelo as the David, “I Prigioni, “San Matteo” and the “Palestrina Pietà”.
  • Accademia Gallery and Walking tour of Florence
  • Description:Enjoy a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery and marvel at the masterpieces by Michelangelo and others. After a lunch break (not included in the tour) you’ll head out on a guided walking tour of Florence to discover the history of the city.
  • Skip the Line: Florence's Accademia Gallery Priority Entrance Ticket
  • Description:Devote as much time as you wish to the exploration of one of the best museums in Florence. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, the "Accademia" is busy all year round so it’s worth planning your visit! Admire its biggest treasures lik
  • David and Accademia Gallery Small-Group Guided Tour
  • Description:The Accademia Gallery Tour is where Michelangelo’s original David  comes to life!  Discover one of the greatest works of art ever created with your expert  guide and skip the line priority access. See the works of Florentine  masters from the 13th-c
  • Accademia Gallery Ticket with instant delivery & mobile-guided Tour
  • Description:You can't leave Florence without visiting the Accademia Gallery and thanks to your skip-the-line ticket and our user-friendly APP Guide you will enjoy the original statue of the David and other masterpieces of Michelangelo. Michelangelo’s carved the Dav
  • Small Group Tour: Accademia Gallery with Skip-The-Line Tickets
  • Description:Discover one of the two iconic art-gallery museums in Florence with the knowledge of a professional tour guide and VIP skip the line tickets. You will admire works of Michelangelo and other masters of the Renaissance. Michelangelo's "David" statue is a b
  • Accademia Gallery Guided Tour with Ice Cream Tasting
  • Description:TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Accademia Gallery skip-the-line ticket, don't waste your time queuing for the whole day! • The home of Michelangelo's original sculpture David • A passionate and art-lover local guide • An Ice Cream Tasting at the famous La Streg
  • Combo Skip The Line - Accademia Gallery And Uffizi Gallery Tour
  • Description:Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery are the most Iconic and important art galleries in Florence. Uffizi tour highlights include masterpieces by Renaissance geniuses like Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. See famous artworks like Botticelli’s Primave
  • Combo Tour VIP - Uffizi, Accademia Gallery & Walktour
  • Description:We meet the travelers in our agency via at 10:30 am. The guide will take you in a slow stroll walking till the Uffizi Gallery. During this stroll, we will guide you to admire the Palazzo Medici, the Baptistery, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. You wil

Uffizi Gallery Tickets, Florence

***This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you

The Uffizi Gallery is the world’s oldest gallery and houses one of the world’s most significant collections of art, ranging from Greek and Roman sculptures to Renaissance and Baroque paintings. Set in the heart of Florence, it is the most visited museum in Italy and draws in more than a million annual visitors who wish to cast eyes upon its many masterpieces, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo.

Due to its immense popularity, the Uffizi Gallery is prone to long lines and extensive wait times; therefore, whether you prefer a guided tour or wish to visit at your own pace, it is best to book a skip-the-line entrance ticket in advance of your visit.

  • Skip the Line: Florence Accademia and Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour
  • Description:Explore Florence’s two must-visit art museums – the Accademia and Uffizi galleries – on this Florence combo tour! Start with a morning skip-the-line access and guided tour of the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) to see Michelangelo’s
  • Semi Private Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line
  • Description:Skip the line at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery to witness its key masterpieces on this 1.5-hour small-group tour. Avoid the long entrance lines and, with an art-expert guide, admire paintings by masters including Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Michelange
  • Skip the Line: Uffizi Gallery Visit with Audio-Guided Tour
  • Description:This is the perfect tour for all those customers who wish to visit the Uffizi Gallery in total freedom and at their own pace, guided by an audio commentary of expert art historians recorded in their own language. Please note that your entrance ticket to
  • Private Tour: Uffizi Gallery and Italian Happy Hour Aperitif
  • Description:This Private tour will show you the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most popular tourist attractions of Florence. Thanks to this tour you will be guided by a local and professional guide and you will admire paintings by masters including Botticelli, Leonardo
  • Guided Walking Tour of Florence with Uffizi Gallery
  • Description:Enjoy an excellent and complete introductory guided tour of the city of Florence and the Uffizi Gallery museum. Admire one of the most famous Museum in the world and marvel at its masterpiece like the Venus by Botticelli. Fall in love with Florence and it
  • Early Access: Guided Uffizi Gallery Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
  • Description:Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the most famous museum in Florence! Let the guide tell you stories, anecdotes and everything you need to know about the most important masterpieces of artists like Botticelli, Caravaggio, Da Vinci and many others ..! Since
  • Skip the line: Uffizi Gallery tour
  • Description:Discover some of the great masterpieces of Western art at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence with a knowledgeable guide and skip the long line.
  • Florence Sightseeing Tour with Uffizi Gallery Skip-the-Line Ticket
  • Description:Spend an entire afternoon enjoying both the scenic outskirts and the most famous artworks of Florence with this 3-hour city tour, including a skip-the-line ticket to the Uffizi Gallery. Visit the heart of the cradle of Renaissance through its most beauti
  • Small-Group and Skip-the-Line Uffizi Gallery Renaissance Tour
  • Description:Art lovers, history buffs and travelers hungry for knowledge can enjoy this Uffizi Gallery Tour. Step inside a beautiful historical museum that used to serve as the offices of Florentine magistrates in the sixteenth century. The Uffizi Gallery is filled w
  • Skip the Line: Uffizi Gallery Ticket Including Special Exhibits
  • Description:Skip-the-line ticket, guarantee to skip the long lines and inclusive of temporary exhibitions fees. Reserve your tickets for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and visit it without queueing up. Do not waste your precious vacation time. Buy now tickets online
  • Skip-the-Line Uffizi Gallery Private Tour with Local Guide
  • Description:Beat the lines at one the world's most famous art museums, Florence's Uffizi Gallery, with this 2-hours and a half guided tour led by a local expert. Make the most of this vast gallery and see the highlights that matter most to you with this intimate priv
  • Skip the Line: Florence Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour
  • Description:See the best of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery on a 1.5-hour walking tour, led by an art-expert guide. Avoid the long main entrance lines with a skip-the-line ticket and experience the world-famous gallery’s Renaissance highlights and architecture. Marvel
  • Private Tour: Highlights of Florence Including the Uffizi Gallery
  • Description:During this amazing tour you will discover the secrets and beauty of Tuscany thanks to the visit of our most important city of art, Florence. We'll start with the walking tour of Florence, without doubt the city where the Italian genius has flourished
  • Afternoon Small-Group Uffizi Gallery Tour
  • Description:This visit to the Uffizi Gallery will be a tour of Italian art history. You will be carefully guided through the museum, and we will reveal the secrets of the most important Italian painters through their best-known works.
  • Individual Afternoon Uffizi Gallery Tour only for you
  • Description:This visit to the Uffizi Gallery will be a tour of Italian art history. You will be carefully guided through the museum, and we will reveal the secrets of the most important Italian painters through their best-known works.
  • Florence - Semi Private Tour Uffizi Gallery
  • Description:A 2 hours semi private up to 8 people walking tour to see the highlights of Florence with a local. Starting from the Uffizi Gallery with skip the line tickets, your tour will proceed to Palazzo Vecchio. Your guide is private just for your party.
  • Day trip to Florence: Uffizi Gallery and David entrance included
  • Description:Enjoy a beautiful day exploring one of the most famous museum of Florence and the best known statue made by Michelangelo, the David. Visit the Uffizi Gallery Museums and discover the masteripiece of arts made by Botticelli and other famous artist. You wil
Page 1 of 2

The Abbey of Monte Cassino, Frosinone

The Abbey of Monte Cassino, located on top of a very large hill in the town of Cassino in the province of Frosinone, was founded by St. Benedict in 528 AD and is home to his sacred relics, along with those of his sister, St. Scholastica. It is considered to be the birthplace of monasticism in Western Europe.

The abbey has been destroyed and rebuilt many times due to barbarian invasions and natural disasters, and was the site of a very important battle during WWII between Allied forces and German soldiers due to its strategic location. After being destroyed by the Allies during WWII, it was rebuilt and reconsecrated in 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Today it is a monastery and museum, and includes a large cemetery of Polish soldiers killed during WWII while trying to liberate Italy.

Monte Cassino Cemetary for Polish soldiers who died defending the abbey during WWII

Monte Cassino Cemetary for Polish soldiers who died defending the abbey during WWII

Monks living in the monastery live by two basic principles:  pray and work. All members of the monastery community have an important job to do. Their duties include receiving visitors, organizing events, maintaining the libraries and archives, binding books, growing herbs for their on-site pharmacy, and tending to its vineyard.

Monte Cassino Vineyard

Vineyard

Was the destruction of the Abbey during WWII due to an error in translation?

According to an account by Colonel David Hunt found in the book With Alex at War, the autobiography of Sir Rupert Clarke, the bombardment of the Abbey by the Allies was due to a misinterpretation of an intercepted radio message by a British junior officer. The officer mistook the word “abbot” for a similar word in German meaning “bombardment”. By the time Colonel Hunt realized this error, it was too late and the American forces bombed the mountain top, something that both sides had promised the pope they would never do, killing hundreds of refugees that were taking shelter there. Miraculously, the abbot and monks were saved.

Montecassino - WWII

Monte Cassino after being destroyed during WWII

Monte Cassino Abbey Today

The monks that live in the abbey live each day according to St. Benedict’s Rule, regulations and guidelines written by him in the 6th century, which describes every aspect of monastic life and encourages love, prayer, work, respect, chastity, moderation, and community. The monks are known as cenobites, living in a religious community, rather than in isolation, under a leader, the abbot.

The cathedral that stands here today is actually the 4th church to be built on this site. What little was left of the cathedral before it was destroyed during WWII can be found incorporated in the structure and in its museums.

Monte Cassino Courtyard with statue of St. Benedict receiving Holy Communion

Courtyard with statue of St. Benedict receiving Holy Communion

Monte Cassino Doorway of Peace (PAX)

Doorway of Peace (PAX)

Monte Cassino cloisters

Cloisters

One of the many chapels in the Abbey of Monte Cassino

One of the many chapels in the Abbey of Monte Cassino

View of Cassino from Monte Cassino

View of Cassino from Monte Cassino

Fresco of St. Benedict

Fresco of St. Benedict

Latin Text found in the Abbey of Monte Cassino

Latin Text

Latin Text found in the Abbey of Monte Cassino

Latin Text

If you plan to visit during the warmer months, please be advised that, as with all churches, basilicas, etc., you will not be allowed in wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts.

To purchase tickets online, go to Abbazia di Montecassino.

Join my mailing list so that you can have new posts delivered right to your inbox!

Top photo credit: William Piccolino