Salon-de-Provence, following Nostradamus’ prophecies

Michel de Notre-Dame, as we all know as Nostradamus, was an apothecary by profession, and published in the year 1555 a book called Les Prophéties (The Prophecies). In his collection of 942 poetic quatrains, he predicted various future events that experts, and many amateurs, find a way of interpreting into related events occurring in the present day. Some historical evidence suggests that Nostradamus may have served Catherine de Medici indirectly through … Continue reading Salon-de-Provence, following Nostradamus’ prophecies

RED RIDING HOODApril 1, 2023Leave a comment

History, Travel

Sanremo with stitches

This is going to be a short post. Sanremo is a city on the west coast of Italy, in the province of Liguria. It is the capital of the Riviera dei Fiori or Riviera of Flowers. Its casino also makes it a sort of Italian version of Monte Carlo. This large building in Art Nouveau style, was built in 1905, when Italy started to be … Continue reading Sanremo with stitches

RED RIDING HOODMarch 31, 2023Leave a comment

cathedrals, food and drink, fortress, History, Travel

Genoa, Italy

Vivid green pesto, great wine and fabulous walks … Genoa is a city of indulgence. Driving in the city, noticing it’s fabulous big secession buildings it reminded me of the importance of Italy: banks, trades, imports of goods and businesses… Genoa was a medieval rival to Venice. It’s not been primped for tourists like Venice, though. Genoa was a shipbuilding centre and is a working city. … Continue reading Genoa, Italy

RED RIDING HOODMarch 30, 2023March 30, 20232 Comments

Travel

Rapallo, Italia

Rapallo was never on my list. I never thought there could actually be something about this city. It lies on the Ligurian Sea coast, just between Cinque Terre and Genoa. As a girl from Croatia, I know it from the history books as the Treaty of Rapallo was signed there, in Villa Pagana, formerly known as Villa Spinola. A treaty between the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed Yugoslavia in … Continue reading Rapallo, Italia

RED RIDING HOODMarch 24, 2023March 22, 2023Leave a comment

cathedrals, fortress, Home page, Travel

San Marino

Tintine was slowly climbing up the hills of San Marino. Not much pressure should have been put on this car as she had enough of the shocks in the last year or two. The hills around us were rising and soon we found ourselves surrounded by an amazing view. It was San Marino surrounded by Italian regions. As you can see – San Marino is … Continue reading San Marino

RED RIDING HOODMarch 22, 2023Leave a comment

food and drink, History, Home page, Travel

Tutti i Trulli di Alberobello, Italia

My Life in Sicily finished after a year spent on this island. It was time to turn on my Tintine (a beautiful red car), hop on a ferry and say goodbye. I was nostalgic as a was driving through Reggio Calabria. But soon I was in Puglia – the region with the best Italian cheeses. My first stop was not much known but soon to … Continue reading Tutti i Trulli di Alberobello, Italia

RED RIDING HOODMarch 21, 2023March 21, 2023Leave a comment

cathedrals, food and drink, fortress, History, kings and queens, Life in Sicilyt, Travel

Ragusa (Ibla)

Once upon a time, there was a little Ivana in Cuba trying to explain a poor restaurant holder that the pizza ragusa he is having on the menu is not some Italian name for some Italian city, but the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Stupid girl. Ragusa is a city on the southern side of the island of Sicily It is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, … Continue reading Ragusa (Ibla)

RED RIDING HOODMarch 14, 2023Leave a comment

cathedrals, food and drink, Life in Sicilyt, Travel

Avola

An Ionian seaside town, Avola is a mix of old and new. The town focuses heavily on the sea, with its history as a tuna fishing port. Today, the remains of the Vecchia Tonnara at the wharf are a stone backdrop to the sandy beaches. Avola dates back to a pre-Greek people called the Sicani. The Greek colony here was established in the 8th century … Continue reading Avola

RED RIDING HOODDecember 4, 2022Leave a comment

Castle, cathedrals, food and drink, fortress, Home page, kings and queens, Life in Sicilyt, monastery, Travel

Aeolian Islands

If something is worth visiting in life, it is the Aeolian islands. Becasue it makes you think about winter in the south. It makes you think about simplicity of life. And it makes you realise how not to treat the tourists: just some bags of potatoes that need to be shipped from one island to another one. The islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily, said … Continue reading Aeolian Islands

RED RIDING HOODOctober 15, 2022Leave a comment

Castle, cathedrals, food and drink, fortress, Home page, kings and queens, Life in Sicilyt, Travel

Messina

I didn’t expect much from this harbour city, to be honest. I knew they have a great beer – Messina cristali di sale: a great Sicilian beer brewed since 1923 and one of the most loved Italian beers. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy. Located near the northeast corner of Sicily, at the Strait of … Continue reading Messina

RED RIDING HOODOctober 15, 2022Leave a comment