5 Questions With… In Italy Tours

Calabria is the place I’ve been calling home for almost 2 years now.  It is a place that at times is overlooked but there are also many times when someone, much like Tania of In Italy Tours, find themselves completely smitten with the beauty and history and overall magic that is found in Southern Italy and decide to do what they can to share this little secret with those willing to hear it.

I am really happy to have Tania Pascuzzi of In Italy Tours take part in this installment of my 5 Questions With… series.  Her passion for the south of Italy has flourished into a business that offers unique culinary adventures in the south of Italy including Calabria. If you are a fan of Italian food, it’s pretty safe to say that in the south of Italy is where you’ll find some of the most delicious foods that Italy has to offer.

So let’s dig in and learn a little bit more about Tania of In Italy Tours.  As we say here in Italy, Buon Appetito!

You offer many different varieties of tours through your company.  What makes tours in Calabria unique and different from other parts of Italy?

I think every part of Italy is unique given the diverse history of each region.  Having said that, Italy as a whole can vary from one place to the other.  As far as Calabria is concerned, I have focused on giving my guests a chance to experience local life in a region that has remained unspoiled.

When I first arrived in Tropea I noticed that it had so much potential. Given the beauty of the town was a head start for me so I dedicated my time there in researching and creating things to do with the foreign traveller in mind with cooking being the highlight.   My tours basically focus on food and wine which varies from town to town and can be a fascinating experience for the new visitor to the region.

What do you say to potential tourists who want to visit Italy but aren’t sure about venturing any further south than Rome or the Amalfi Coast?

I think that what I have to offer is enough to entice anyone who wishes to venture into the region of Calabria.  I live there so it helps people to know that an English speaking person is there if they need it. Our guided tours and itineraries help in that our guests are in good hands and are able to see beautiful places that aren’t really found in guide books which gives for a more insightful holiday.  I’ve had many first time travellers even to Italy which has been great.   I think just knowing that I am an expat living in Calabria gives people that trust.  Although once here they can see how lovely and friendly it really is.

The whole of the southern part of Italy is a must for lovers of the country. It has the most beautiful beaches, great food and wine.  There is really so much to see with so much history and beauty.

I’m sure you meet many interesting people through your tours.  What has been the best experience for you so far?

I don’t have a ‘best’ but what I can tell you is that I have enjoyed each and every experience with my guests.  We have had such wonderful people here who have actually come back the following year to see us.  I think the most enjoyable experience for me is to see people having a great time.  There is such kindness and enthusiasm displayed from my cooks and with the people I work with. They extend themselves beyond what is required of them which really is nice to see.  Calabrese are very humble and generous people and are extremely proud of their region and generous in sharing it.

As a food and wine lover, what is your all-time favourite Italian recipe?

I have so many.  I do love seafood so living in Tropea is a great thing for me as it is here that seafood is eaten as opposed to the towns in the mountains.  I remember when I moved to Tropea it took me a while to taste the famous pasta con cipolla here.  It just didn’t sound appetizing to me but when I did eventually taste it, it has remained to be one of my favorites here in Tropea.  Of course you need to use the famous onions from Tropea.

I think more than recipes, I love the production of food here.  The fruits and vegetables which are  picked fresh from a contadino’s garden is what’s exciting for me and going to the port at a certain time of day  to meet the fisherman to see what was caught that day.  I also have a local butcher up in the hills who raises his own animals.  There’s nothing better than to eat pure food.

You recently completed the first annual Calabrian Table Tour with Cherrye Moore.  Was it everything you hoped for and will we see more editions of this tour in the future?

The Table Tour was such a success for both myself and Cherrye.  Last October was our first tour and it was such a wonderful time had by all that we have decided to make it available two times a year.

We had really good feedback from our guests who continually said that they were experiencing the Real Italy.  It’s a chance to experience the wonderful diverse cultures displayed in the different foods found in the mountains and the coastal area of the region.

It was insightful, fun and delicious and it felt like we were a small family travelling together.  We visited so many remote and beautiful towns and villages where the locals went out of their way to educate us on the unique culture and history of each place.  The people involved were so hospitable and gave that much more to us that those things played an important role in how wonderful the tour was.  Not to forget the wonderful meals that were prepared by our chefs and personal cooks and a chance to learn about how wonderful the wine is in Calabria.

We hope to have the tour available 3 times a year , maybe more and in the future we may include different food and wine tours in other areas of Calabria.  There is so much more to discover and knowing that we both live in the region allows us to research deeper into the heart of each place included in our itineraries.

***

Grazie mille, Tania!!

You can learn more about In Italy Tours and get more information on any of the tours they offer by visiting their website ~ In Italy Tours

Check out my other “5 Questions With…”:
5 Questions With… RomePhotoBlog
5 Questions With… Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
5 Questions With… Cherrye of My Bella Vita
5 Questions With… Diana Spechler
5 Questions With… Megan of TorreBarolo
5 Questions With… Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo Visitor Guide in Calabria

Festa del Cioccolato (Cosenza) ~ October 28 – 30, 2011

This weekend, Cosenza will be a little sweeter thanks to the 9^th edition of the “Festa del Ciccolato taking place from October 28^th to October 30^th.  This year, Lungo Crati situated in the historic centre of Cosenza will transform into a chocolate lover’s dream as some of the regions most talented and creative chocolatiers showcase their delicious treats.

Thousands of people of all ages will make their way to this event to see all the tasty chocolate displays and sample some of the delicious chocolate treats that are available for the tasting.

5th Edition of the Motoraduno in Carpanzano, CS

The roaring echo of motorcycles zipping through the narrow streets of Carpanzano is not out of the ordinary, especially in the spring and summer months.  However, today the sounds of motorcycles were more predominant as Carpanzano hosted its 5^th edition of the Motoraduno organized by the Pro Loco of Carpanzano.

I first experienced the Motoraduno last summer and have to say it was definitely a sight to see the small streets of this village flooded with cyclist from Carpanzano and neighboring villages.  This is an event definitely catered to the motorcycle enthusiast.  This year, they added “uno spettacolo” or performance which to be perfectly honest could have been omitted.  The performance was without a doubt geared to the male audience and for me personally was a bit tacky.  I personally feel the money would have been put to better use towards one of the other events taking place during the month of August.

All in all, the event was a success.  The evening ended with food, award presentation and a piano bar which continued on into the early hours of the morning.

Does your town or village host a similar event?  What activities/competitions take place during this event?

Lost and Found

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to participate in something very beautiful.  I was part of a series of events that led to reuniting a family lost after part of the family immigrated to America in the early 1900s.  It is moments like this that make me so proud to have this blog.

I am well aware of how fortunate I am to know my roots here in Italy as I know many have lost theirs after generations in America.  This particular story spanned over the course of about a year and I couldn’t be happier with how it unfolded.

Last summer I received an email from a man in the United States.  He was seeking information about the massheld every year in September in Toronto for the Madonna Della Grazie (the patron saint of Carpanzano).  He was interested in meeting other Carpanzanesi in the hopes that he could meet others with origins in Carpanzano and just maybe find distant relatives or perhaps information on relatives that may still be living in Carpanzano.  He went to this mass and met many people from Carpanzano that immigrated to Toronto.  Of them, he met my Zio and Zia.  A friendship grew and they remained in contact.

Now, let’s fast forward to this summer.   My Zio and Zia are in Carpanzano for the summer so my zio did some digging to see if he could find any information for his new friend.  During one of his many walks through the paese, he stopped to talk to a man who he used to go to school with when he was a child still living in Carpanzano.  This man had the same last name as my Zio’s friend in the United States.   It’s not uncommon to have different families with no relations that have the same last name, but my Zio decided to ask him about his family anyway.  It’s a good thing he did, because it turns out that this man’s grandfather and the grandfather of my Zio’s friend were brothers.  It was certainly more than anyone could have hoped for.  It turns out that this man was looking for information on the part of his family that immigrated to the United States in the early 1920s.  Up until now, he had no luck.

Earlier this week, my Zio and I went to this man’s house and we called my Zio’s friend in the United States.  It was such a moving experience.   We all sat around the phone, the man pacing as my Zio dialed his friend’s number.   The man’s daughter had tears in her eyes when her father spoke to his newly found cousin for the first time.  A connection was finally made.  I held back my tears and couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to be there.  I can only imagine how emotional it must have been for this family and I am so pleased that they have connected and can now grow and learn more about what happened on both sides of the ocean.

I wish them all the best and hope they can arrange a trip to meet in person in the near future!

The Great Escape

It doesn’t seem to matter where you are in the world when you live and work in a city, big or small, it’s not very hard to get sucked into the daily grind and hustle. I work long days and by the end of the week I’m usually tired and completely over the “city life”. Sometimes I just want to get away from it all: the traffic, the noise, the daily routine. I’m really fortunate to live near my relatives who live in a small quiet village not too far from Cosenza. Even though there are times I just don’t have the energy to go, I find it really refreshing when I fight that tired feeling and just go. The school year is winding down and exam preparations are in full effect. There is no time to waste or procrastinate as the days seem to be flying past me at speeds that not even the autostrada has seen. I get home from work completely and utterly spent. This means it’s the optimum time to get away for a couple days and recharge. A couple weekends ago I did just that. There is nothing like fresh air, beautiful scenery, friendly smiles, good home cooking and a night out with friends. It really is the best medicine to combat work fatigue and stress. It really is a treat for me to be able to escape the city and spend some time away from the chaos. It’s the perfect reminder that no matter where we are in the world, we must take time for ourselves so we can appreciate all the beauty around us and the blessings life has given us.

It’s so easy to forget that, so thank you Carpanzano for continuing to remind me how fortunate I am.

5 Questions With…Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Visitor Guide in Calabria

Anyone who reads my blog will be able to tell almost instantly how much I love Calabria.  It is a beautiful place with so much culture and history that is often overlooked by tourists visiting Italy.  So, as you can imagine I was so excited when Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo agreed to participate in my “5 Questions With…” series.  Without any further hestitation, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you all to Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo as she tells us about one of Calabria’s travel gems.

Tell us a little about why you chose to create La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Complete Visitor Guide.

I created the website because when I tried to visit Pizzo in 2008 I found it very difficult to get any information.  In fact, it was so difficult that I gave up and went to Spain that year instead!  But the following year I returned to the task, and finally got to Pizzo in April 2010.  I had done two years of internet research gathering every scrap of information I could find about Pizzo, but I still went on a wing and a prayer with many questions unanswered.  My feeling was that if I – who spoke Italian and had lived in Pizzo – found it so difficult to get there, what must it be like for the first time English speaking visitor?  I started bringing all the information I had together in one place.  I didn’t plan to create a guide, but like Pollyanna, it just grew and grew, until I realised that I was in fact writing a guide to Pizzo.

I put everything I had wanted to know about Pizzo into the Guide to create a one stop information service.  It is very important to me that it is an independent, impartial guide, and for that reason I don’t have advertising, charge for inclusion or get any commission from the services in the guide.  My aim is to provide information and services that I would recommend to a friend visiting Pizzo.  For that reason, I call it ‘your friend in Pizzo’, and if you are planning a visit you can do so with confidence knowing that you have all the information you need.  My aim is to make it easy for English speaking people to visit Pizzo, and enjoy their stay.

Why should someone visiting Calabria include Pizzo in their travel plans?

I am totally biased, but for me Pizzo is a very special place.  I’ve lived in Reggio and spent a 2 week holiday in Tropea, and Pizzo is a place that just makes my heart sing in a way that I don’t experience anywhere else.  Locals say that I’m in love with Pizzo, and it’s true, but it’s not just me, I find that other people who live here feel the same way.  You should come to Pizzo for the warmth of the people; to experience the real Calabria unspoilt by overcommercialised tourism; to come on one of my unique Guided Walks; and to eat the best ice cream in Calabria.  But most of all, to see if it captures your heart.

Describe some of the services you offer and what potential clients can expect from those services.

Apart from the free online guide, the services I personally provide are a Welcome to Pizzo package – where I spend the morning with you on your first day to help you settle in and get to know the area – and the Secret Pizzo Guided Walks.  These are very exciting walks (which leave from the Piazza in the evening and San Francesco in the morning) to explore the Old Town of Pizzo.  I would meet lost tourists wandering around the warren of streets and alleys in the Old Town, not understanding what they saw and not getting the most from their stay.  So I decided to share my knowledge and understanding with English speaking visitors, and take them on guided walks to see the parts of Pizzo tourists don’t usually see.

How did you first discover Pizzo?

I first came to Pizzo by accident in 1976, and ended up living there for four years until 1980.  In the 1970s very few foreigners made it down as far as Calabria, but my sister had been on an inter-rail trip with her friends and she’d met a boy in Reggio, so she decided to stay there and work as an au pair.  I came out to join her, and we both worked in Reggio for nine months.  We were on our way back to England, travelling up the coast staying in Youth Hostels, when we wandered into Pizzo one idle October afternoon.  It seems incredible to believe now, but at that time the ancient historic Spanish castle of Pizzo (built in the 1400s) was a Youth Hostel.  We used to sleep in the old prisoner’s cells and run up and down the narrow stone stairways, and eat ice cream on the battlements where Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon and defeated King of Naples, was executed by firing squad!

There was some Pizzo magic at work, and within hours of arriving we had both been offered jobs and an apartment to live in, so we decided to stay.  I ended up staying for four years, and we were the first foreign girls to work in the Piazza as waitresses.  Eventually I left, not knowing it would be thirty years before I returned!  When I finally came back after thirty years, I found that everyone remembered me, and it felt like I’d never been away.  Now I feel like I’ve come home.

What is your favourite thing about Pizzo?

That’s easy… it’s the ice cream!  Pizzo is famous for it’s ice cream.  Closely followed by the cakes from the Toscano Pasticceria made by 70 year old Sicilian trained pastry chef Salvatore, who came to Pizzo as a young man.  Then it’s the views, the blue sea and sky in every direction, the sunshine and the beaches, the lights around the bay at night and the amazing sunsets every evening.  I buy an ice cream or a cake, and sit by the sea and watch the sunset every evening.  It’s only seven minutes from closing my front door until I’m swimming in the sea.  Market day, with all the stalls and excitement.  Cheese, especially country made fresh warm ricotta and homemade pecorino sold door to door and bought at my own front door.  The people, who never cease to amaze and delight me… the list is endless.

***

Thank You, Anna!! I think you have done a wonderful thing by providing such detailed information to tourists (and future tourists) of Pizzo.
You can find out all there is to know about Pizzo at Anna’s guide ~ LA DOLCE VITA di Pizzo The Complete Visitor Guide

Check out my other “5 Questions With…”:
5 Questions With… RomePhotoBlog
5 Questions With… Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
5 Questions With… Cherrye of My Bella Vita
5 Questions With… Diana Spechler
5 Questions With… Megan of TorreBarolo

Festa di San Leone (February 19-20, 2011) ~ Saracena, CS

On Saturday, February 19th, my roommate and I headed to her village called Saracena.  It is located high up in the mountains near Castrovillari.  We were visiting her town to celebrate the Festa di San Leone, the patron saint of Saracena.

As we pulled into her town the streets were almost completely taken over by huge piles of tree branches.  They would later become bonfires to light the way for the people participating in the fiaccolata (torchlight walk) through the town as well as welcome them to typical foods and homemade wines.  In the early evening, the church was packed tight for the mass and distribution of blessed bread.  Once the mass was over, the people poured out into the already full streets and piazzas outside of the church.  Many people had their torches lit, ready to begin the long walk through the very steep streets of Saracena.  We passed many of the piles of tree branches which had now become big bonfires lighting up the streets and providing a bit of warmth as the night set in.

The procession is not a quiet one like the ones I’m accustomed to.  Everyone is dancing, cheering, and playing music.  It is a very happy and celebratory occasion.  Throughout the walk we stopped to admire the many displays of fireworks that were organized along the route.  We decided to take a shortcut towards the end of  the procession so that we could be at the church for the final part of this journey.  We made our way to the front of the church and stood beside the altar.

The church began to fill up with people again, singing various songs in honor of San Leone, Bishop of Catania.  Then, one by one, various groups of musicians proceeded to the altar and stopped in front of the Statue of San Leone perched high above the altar and began to play.  This went on for at least a half hour with a total of 6 or 7 different musical groups.

After the procession we ate dinner and then walked the town again, this time visiting all the different bonfires we had passed during the procession.  At every bonfire was music, singing, food and wine that went on until the early morning hours.  It is tradition that on this day you open your house to everyone and share food and drink together.

I have never experienced anything quite like this festival before.  It was full of positive energy and celebration, which I guess is why so many people come from all over to participate in this festival.  It is an experience I will never forget.

La Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari ~ Cosenza, Calabria

In past years on the Saint Day of San Nicola, I have blogged about the history of San Nicola and the Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari in Bari.

While living in Cosenza, I discovered another Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari.  It is located in the city center of Cosenza at Piazza E. Cenisio.  This church has a more modern look than its neighbour, Il Duomo, located across the river in the old center of Cosenza.  The Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari is an interesting building that has undergone many changes and restructure.  In fact, it was even relocated to make way for the growing city.

The history of the Chiesa di San Nicola da Bari dates back to the early 1600s and although the city of Cosenza has many churches, this particular church houses some interesting works of art, including oil paintings from the mid-1700s that depict scenes of the life of San Nicola.

The Parish of San Nicola was founded in the early 1600s for the Rivocati district of Cosenza.  Like many buildings in this city, it suffered incredible damage during the earthquake of 1783 and again in 1943 during WWII.

In 1961, the church was demolished to make room for the growing city center.  The “new” church was relocated and rebuilt in a more modern style by Roman architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo.  It is now surrounded by various building, stores and the hustle and bustle of the city center of Cosenza but still stands out, tall and proud.

Since today is the Saint Day for San Nicola, I want to send a special auguri to my father.

Buon onomastico papà!!! Ti voglio bene e mi manchi tanto!!

New Beginnings, New Journeys, New Life

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney

A little over five months ago I landed at the Lamezia Terme airport and stepped off a plane not knowing what my future would be.  I arrived in Italy with a hope and a dream and the uncertainty of what lied ahead.  I wanted to live and work in the place that always brought me comfort.  At times the idea seemed impossible, crazy, and immature but I felt in every fibre of my being that I had to pursue it.  I was blessed with the support of my family and friends and with their help I continued on the path I was creating for my future.

Now, five months later, the crazy absurd dream of moving to Italy (the south of Italy at that) has transformed into something exciting and new.  There were times I wanted to give up and go back to the comfort of my life before Italy but I’m so glad that I didn’t.  I am realizing a dream I’ve had for many years and although it’s not always a smooth ride, it is something that is becoming more real and more manageable every day.  I was fortunate.  Everything just came together:  I found a job in the city of Cosenza near my family’s town; I found an apartment with a roommate who has become a great friend to me here and I am starting to come into my own and see what life in Italy is and can be for me.

I have been neglecting my blog these past few months, not because I had nothing to write about but because I was so overwhelmed with all that was happening around me.  Things are finally starting to settle and I’m finally finding my groove again.   I can’t wait to share all the wonderful new experiences I have in Italy with you.  I’m sure it will have its ups and downs just like everywhere in the world but I am a stronger person now and with the experiences and difficulties I have had to face in my past I know that I can definitely be a contender in whatever life wants to throw in my path.

I want to send a special thank you to everyone who has followed my journey, who has sent me positive energy and encouraging comments/emails/messages.  You have all helped me get to this point and I really couldn’t have done it without you.

Stay tuned for my adventures in the bel paese!!

In Pictures: Carpanzano (parte tre/part 3)

Last year I posted some pictures of my father’s town in Calabria that I took during my summer trip there in the Summer of 2008.  You can check them out here and here.

Here are some new pictures that were taken while my mom was here visiting this past summer.

On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles. (Carpanzano, CS)

The beautifully colourful houses along the street.  (Carpanzano, CS)

Along the streets old  houses remind us of days long ago.  (Carpanzano, CS)