Rome to Positano - Pasta Recipes

 

The COLOSSEUM

ROME , ITALY

GUIDE

ROME :  FOOD & DRINK - TOURS - HOTELS - EVERYTHING

Roma

Rome, Italy — a city that has captured hearts and minds for years. Like most big cities, you can spend a pretty penny in Rome if you aren’t careful. Luckily though, there are also numerous free things to do in Rome just waiting to be explored.

The Eternal City is a fascinating contrast of history and modern society living together in harmony. It seems that everywhere you turn there is a historical site surrounded by the modern city that has grown up around it.

The ROMAN FORUM

TOUR ANCIENT ROME

Home to incredible churches, fabulous museums, beautiful piazzas, and unmatched historical sites, Rome is an ancient city with loads of things to do.

The COLOSSEUM

Rome’s tenacity is best illustrated in its ancient monuments, remarkably intact nearly 2000 years on. Debuting in 80 AD, the behemoth 50,000 seat Colosseum famously hosted frenzied spectators who would watch gladiators facing off against each other or wild animals. No photograph can prepare you for the thrill of seeing it for the first time. More than any other monument, this iconic amphitheater symbolizes the power and drama of ancient Rome, and still today it’s an electrifying sight. The amphitheater dominates as the top tourist attraction in the city; Book Tickets in Advance to bypass the lines. 

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The PATHEON

ROME

Built by Romans in 126 A.D. in Rome, Italy, the Pantheon is the oldest, continuously used structure in history. The dome was and is a marvel of engineering and the design of the dome plus columns inspired domed landmarks worldwide.

"EAT LIKE a ROMAN"

5 MUST EAT DISHES

# 1  - BUCATINI  AMATRICIANA

Recipe

# 2  - SPAGHETTI CARBONARA

Recipe

It is hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the origins of carbonara. The most popular rumour says that the dish came about during World War II when American GIs were craving bacon and eggs, and a clever chef found a way to mix them into pasta. Egg yolk is the key to a good carbonara because the dish is never made with the addition of cream in Italy. Some newer Rome restaurants riff on the dish, offering seafood or vegetarian versions, but there is nothing like the umami explosion of the classic egg, bacon and cheese.

# 3 -  CODA di VACCINARA

Roman Oxtail Stew

# 4  -  PASTA CACIO PEPE

Recipe

There are few dishes simpler or more satisfying than cacio e pepe–pasta with cheese and black pepper. The cheese in question is cacio–the word for Pecorino Romano in the local dialect. The finely grated pecorino is emulsified in starchy pasta cooking water to create a smooth sauce that is essentially pure cheesy goodness. Freshly ground black pepper helps to cut through the fattiness and adds a kick to the dish that Romans love. With so few ingredients, the key to cacio e pepe is a speedy chef who can ensure that the sauce comes out creamy instead of clumpy.

Where to EAT It :  Flavio al Velavevodetto

# 5  - CARCIOFI GUIDEA

ROMAN FRIED ARTICHOKS

From The JEWISH GHETTO of ROME

Perhaps it is true that anything will taste good fried, but there is a special place in Roman hearts for carciofi alla guidea. Looking like bronzed flowers, these deep-fried artichokes are a speciality in the city’s old Jewish quarter. The meaty globe artichokes attain their creamy-on-the-inside and crispy-on-the-outside perfection by being fried not once but twice. No need to separate the leaves or look out for thistles; these artichokes are eaten whole.

# 6  - TRIPPA alla ROMANA

Roman Stewed Tripe

Offal is a cornerstone of Roman cuisine, dating back to when Europe’s largest slaughterhouse operated just outside the historic centre beside the Tiber river. Workers were partly paid in these poorer cuts, and a distinctive cuisine emerged. The most beloved of all is trippa or tripe–the honey-combed upper stomach of a grazing cow. In Rome, the tripe is slowly simmered in tomato sauce and topped with cheese, resulting in a pleasant flavour so long as you can get past the slightly off-putting texture.

Where to get it: Checchino dal 1887

# 7  -  ROMAN PIZZA

Not to be confused with chewy Neapolitan-style pizza, Pizza alla Romana is cracker-thin and should always finish with a good crunch to the crust. The round pizza can be served with plain marinara sauce or piled high with toppings like olives, artichokes, egg and prosciutto alla capricciosa. The budget-friendly meal is most popular with young Romans, who hardly let a week go by without a night out with friends over pizza.

ROMAN PASTA RECIPES

MANGIA ITALIANO

CARBONARA - AMATRICIANA

CACIOE e PEPE

And MORE

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"ROME to The AMALFI COAST"

ROME to POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE

DOOR to DOOR

"I LOVE POSITANO"

T-SHIRT

Going to POSITANO ?

The AMALFI COAST ?

"YOU NEED THIS TRAVEL GUIDE"

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

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My VENICE

 

"MY VENICE"

by BEST SELLING ITALIAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

VENICE, ITALY

CLICK HERE !  To READ

Daniel & Cousing Joe

A BACARO in VENICE

2003

BEST SELLING AUTHOR

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

FIND a ROOM in VENICE

And HOTELS WORLDWIDE

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VENICE

READ "My VENICE"

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE / COOKBOOK

ITALY

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Exploring Procida

 

Procida

Procida is one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. The island is between Cape Miseno and the island of Ischia. With its tiny satellite island of Vivara, it is a comune of the Metropolitan City of Naples, in the region of Campania.

If you're a veteran of the Amalfi Coast and the nearby Islands and you've never been to Procida, you just may want to give it a shot someday? 

Procida, a tiny spot of land in the Bay of Naples, might be best known as the island between  Ischia and Capri. But in late January, it was named Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022, beating nine other candidates—a mix of cities and small towns—and becoming the first island to ever be granted the title.

Under two square miles in total, the island has mostly flown under the tourist radar (except in July and August, when many Neapolitans come here for their summer vacations), overshadowed by its better-known siblings. This is all despite its big-screen moments—Procida has served as the set of The Talented Mr. Ripley and Il Postino—and the fact that it features the same pastel houses, cafes-lined marinas, and narrow streets as its bigger counterparts, but also historic sites, wild nature, and near-empty beaches.

PROCIDA

The PORT

HOW to GET THERE

Procida lies 14 miles off the coast of Naples. There are daily ferries and hydrofoils leaving from two of the city’s piers, Molo Beverello and Porta di Massa, as well as from Pozzuoli, just north of Naples. Depending on the ride—the faster hydrofoil or the slower ferry—you’ll get to the island in 40 minutes to 1 hour. You can also travel from Ischia—that’s a 15- to 25-minute journey.

WHAT to SEE

Arriving at Marina Grande, Procida’s main tourist port, you’ll see a cluster of traditional houses along the waterfront, each one painted in vivid shades of pink, yellow, orange, red, and blue—traditionally a way for fishermen to identify them from their boats.

Via Roma, Procida’s main street, is right around the corner from the port, and a good spot for lunch—especially at La Medusa, which has been around since 1954. Before you move on, stop for an espresso at Bar Roma and make sure to order lingua di suocera (‘mother-in-law’s tongue’), Procida’s traditional puff pastry filled with lemon custard. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà, an 18th-century church with an iconic baroque belfry, and the lemon-yellow church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, built in 1679, are also nearby and worth a visit.

From here, it’s a 15-minute walk uphill (then downhill) to Marina Corricella, Procida’s oldest fishing village. Only reachable on foot or by boat, the area is one of the best places to stay for a taste of slow island living, and is full of restaurants—Caracale, La Lampara, Il Pescatore, to name a few—gelato shops like Chiaro di Luna, and bars.

At the opposite end of the island, Marina Chiaiolella is another fishing village with great eateries (try Da Mariano and Lido Vivara), craft boutiques, and old-school bakeries—not to mention access to one of the island’s most popular beaches, spiaggia della Chiaiolella, known for its sunsets.

Terra Murata, the fortified medieval stronghold at the highest and northernmost tip of the island, is another highlight. A tumble of skinny lanes and crumbling houses, this is Procida’s most historical center, home to Abbazia San Michele Arcangelo, which honors Procida’s patron saint, and Palazzo D’Avalos, a 16th-century palace that was the former residence of the island’s governing family. In 1830 the building was converted into a prison that eventually closed in 1988. Two viewpoints here offer the island’s most panoramic vistas: Corricella in all its candy-colored glory to the west; and the Gulf of Naples, with Capri in the distance, to the east.

Village of Corrocella

On the opposite coast from Marina Grande, in the southern part of the island, there here is a place that no guide on “what to see in Procida” will ever forget.

The seaside village of Corricella is simply suggestive and lively at the same time. It is the classic fishermen village animated by bars, restaurants and small craft shops where you can buy the most typical souvenirs, which anyone who comes to Procida cannot avoid to love and photograph.

Here you can stroll among the fishermen’s nets, admiring the very old colourful houses and deeply breathing the sea in the air.

The BEACHES

Among Procida’s most scenic beaches are Pozzo Vecchio, whose black sands were made famous in Il Postino; spiaggia Chiaia, to the east, which overlooks Ischia and features clear, shallow waters and a backdrop of rocky cliffs (plus the excellent seafood restaurant La Conchiglia); and Ciraccio, the longest and most secluded. Further down, the spiaggia della Chiaiolella is another gem, though slightly more frequented, especially in the late afternoon, when its stabilimenti (beach clubs with rows of sunbeds and umbrellas) start rolling out aperitivo.

Chiaiolella Beach

Procida

Procida Lemons

WHAT to EAT

Spaghetti alla Pescatora Povera - Recipe

This “poor” version of seafood spaghetti contains just anchovies, cherry tomatoes, and a dusting of Pecorino Cheese.

Luveri al sale

The waters of Procida abound with Pagello fish, which locals call luvero. The most popular way to cook this sea bream is in a salt crust (al sale) with some herbs.

Coniglio alla Procidana

In addition to the sea, locals have also sourced food from the island’s terroir. Procida, like Ischia, has a signature rabbit dish, usually prepared with cherry tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, olive oil, and white wine.

Calamari Ripieni

Recipes vary, but the Procidani usually slip anchovies into their filling for stuffed squid.

Pizza di Procida

As Procida is just a 40-minute ferry ride from Naples, it should come as no surprise that the island's pizzaioli emulate the wood-fired style of the world's pizza capital.

Tortano con i carciofi

Especially popular around Easter, this savory bread is stuffed with artichokes and, at times, sausage.

Spaghetti ai ricci di mare

Creamy and briny, sea urchin has a particular taste, one that fuses nicely with spaghetti when sautéed with olive oil, garlic, parsley, and a hint of lemon.

Lingue di Procida

Procida is famous for its lemons, which are larger and sweeter than other varieties. The Procidani prepare them in dozens of sweet and savory recipes, and a signature dolce is the Lingue di Procida, or tongues of Procida, lemon-flavored, cream-filled pastries.

L’insalata di limone

Speaking of lemons, the lemon salad with mint, garlic, crushed red chili pepper, garlic and olive oil makes for an airy, refreshing start to any meal.

A Typical Procida Lunch

Fried Anchovies & a Glass of Local Wine

Recipes

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WHERE to STAY

The San Michele in Corricella, has 12 tastefully decorated rooms done in earthy tones and minimalist design. A similar aesthetic is found in its slightly bigger sister property La Suite, a stylish accommodation near Ciraccio that comes with a pool, a garden, and striking views.

In Chiaiolella, the three-star Hotel Ristorante Crescenzo is a popular choice not just for its simple, brightly colored rooms but its pizzeria, one of the most famous in Procida. La Vigna in a beautifully restored farmstead within a vineyard that overlooks the Bay of Naples, delivers charm and tranquility.

CALACAL

ROOMS & FARM EXPERIENCE

PROCIDA

CALACALA FARM EXPERIENCE

FIND a ROOM on PROCIDA

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MOVIES SHOT on PROCIDA

IL POSITANO

Starring : Massimo TRoisi

And Maria Grazia Cucinotto

Shot in the Village of Corocella

On The Isle of Procida

Also

The TALENTED Mr. RIPLEY

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Strarring :  Matt Damon

Gwyneth Palthrow & Jude Law

READ MORE

MOVIES SHOT on PROCIDA

NAPLES & The AMALFI COAST

POSITANO THE AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE / COOKBOOK

SORRENTO CAPRI NAPLES

ISCHIA PROCIDA RAVELLO

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