So you're planning to visit Italy… 

Where do you begin? Italy is beautiful, diverse and vibrant country filled with life and an abundance of places to see and experiences to be had. When you are planning a trip, there is a lot that goes into to creating the perfect Italian experience. 

When to go, where to go, what to bring, how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, what to see… Don't let the details overwhelm you! With proper planning and the best advice, you can easily plan your most amazing trip yet! 

To help answer all of these questions, travel expert and Italian enthusiast, Rick Steves, is sharing his tips and tricks to planning the perfect vacation in Italy 101 with Rick Steves!

Here are our top two recommendations for planning your vacation:

1. Come to La Piazza Dario and get inspired by the delicious, authentic Italian cuisine of Chef Claudio. Chat with us and ask your questions!

2. Add the idyllic Abruzzo region of Italy, homeland of our talented head chef, to your Italian itinerary!

See you soon and happy planning!

(Image via Pexels)

Check out these posts from the past and discover Chef Claudio's home!

Welcome to all new readers and of course, welcome back to our wonderful patrons! We've had so many great posts from the past that you may not have seen or simply forgotten that we've decided to take a walk down memory lane and share them again!

Learn all about Chef Claudio's story and experience the sights and charms of his home in the Abruzzo region of Italy! Enjoy!

So Where in the World is Abruzzo?!

Learn more about one of La Piazza Dario's favourite regions of Italy in Abruzzo: the Wine Region.
 
Come try Chef Claudio's version of bruschetta!

In Spotlight: Abruzzo, you can take a virtual tour of this beautiful Italian region... 
Abruzzo in Colour features a small town in Abruzzo that tells the region's story through colourful murals!

Get to know the region with the guide we feature in We're All About Abruzzo!

Spotlight: Ateleta, L'Aquila, Italy. Get to know Chef Claudio's hometown!

Lastly, but certainly not the least, discover Chef Claudio's personal story and get inspired to take a culinary journey with La Piazza Dario!

(Top image via Pexels)

Learn more about one of La Piazza Dario's favourite regions of Italy!

From past posts you know that we're nuts about Abruzzo, the region in Italy that Head Chef Claudio Ranallo calls home. From the beautiful countryside and surrounding scenery to its rich heritage, Abruzzo is definitely a place in Italy that you want to visit some day. But did you know that Abruzzo also boasts one of Italy's wine regions?

Including Abruzzo, discover the regions of Italy that produce some of the most well known wine, the world over, in the below infographic, Regioni del Vino d'Italia.

And after you're done with the infographic, check out our wine list and discover which which labels you can find at La Piazza Dario and where they are from!

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

We just can't get enough of the Abruzzo region of Italy, Chef Claudio's home in the beautiful landscapes of Italy!

We've talked about Abruzzo before but there's always more to learn. The best way to discover Abruzzo is to visit! But we know it's not always so easy. If only we could snap our fingers and take you there!

What we can do at La Piazza Dario is invite you to discover the flavours of Abruzzo found in the fabulous creations of head chef, Claudio Ranallo!

In the meantime, enjoy this regional guide to Abruzzo from Italia! Magazine online. See you soon!

(Image via Pixabay)

The Italian appy you won't be able to get enough of!

Aside from proscuitto and melon, bruschetta is one of my all time favourite Italian antipasti. Always a crowd pleaser, bruschetta is made with grilled bread, topped with olive oil, garlic and a combination of tomatoes and other such toppings depending on the preference of the chef. For instance in Abruzzo, the region of Italy that La Piazza Dario's Head Chef calls home, bruschetta is often made with an Italian salami referred to as ventricina. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Come visit us and taste Chef Claudio Ranallo's version of bruschetta. We promise you won't be disappointed!

What's your favourite Italian appy? Share with us in the comments below.

(Image via Pixabay)

Take a tour of Chef Claudio's homeland!

We've talked quite a bit of the beauty of Abruzzo but talking can't justify it's lush landscape, spectacular views and medieval towns. Sit back and enjoy this small escape into the heart and soul of Italy, Abruzzo.


Come join us for an authentic taste of Abruzzo and Italy!

(Video via Escape Artists)

Beautiful architecture, mountains and mouthwatering cuisine. What's not to love about Abruzzo!

To celebrate our ever growing love for Abruzzo, we've culminated all of our previous posts on the region of Italy that Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo, calls home. Use this post as a convenient, one stop shop to learn more about this gorgeous region of Italy! Read on to discover what makes this particular part of the Italian coast so magnifico.

Past Abruzzo Posts:

• Spotlight: Ateleta, L'Aquila, Italy
• Abruzzo in Pictures 
• Monday Italiano: Maccheroni alla chitarra
• Where in the World is Abruzzo?

Want to discover more about Italy, Italian food and the Italian way of life? Simply click on the Italy tab at the top of the page!

(Image via Pixabay)

You know it's in Italy but discover exactly where the home of Chef Claudio Ranallo is!

By now, if you hadn't before, you've probably learned quite a bit about the beautiful region of Italy known as Abruzzo from the La Piazza Dario blog. From the region of L'Aquila, to the beautiful scenery that can be found within the entire Abruzzo territory, right down to Abruzzo's most well known dish, Maccheroni alla chitarra, or "guitar" pasta, we've covered some of the most fantastico aspects of this Italian region. However, you may still be wondering, "Where the heck is it?"

Hugging the coastline of the Adriatic Sea and beside the region of Italy that is home to Rome, Abruzzo can be found almost smack dab in the middle of Italy.

Have you ever been to Abruzzo? We'd love to hear about your trip in the comments below!

(Images via Pixabay)

Don't be overwhelmed by our extensive wine list!

Our wine list has you covered no matter what you crave. Pick a part of the world that is renowned for its wine and I guarantee we will have something that tickles your fancy: BC, USA, Chile, France, Spain, Australia... and of course, from all over Italy.

But with so many options, where do you begin? Learn how to read and understand an Italian wine list with the help of Wine Folly. Learn where the wines come from, how they are named, where the regions are in Italy, types of Italian grapes and so much more!

With one quick read, you'll become an Italian wine expert and have nothing to be confused about when you come and visit us for an authentic Italian experience ;)

Browse our wine list!

The home of Chef Claudio Ranallo has an incredibly colourful past, literally! 

In the town Azzinano, the recent historical and sociological past of the idyllic region of Abruzzo is colourfully depicted in large, open-air murals by local talent, Annunziata Scipio. We especially love this mural, depicting the simple pleasures of dining and enjoying good wines with friends and family.

Come and visit us and live the Abruzzo way. We have plenty of delicious wines for you to choose from on our extensive wine list. Ci vediamo a La Piazza Dario!

(Image via Life in Abruzzo. See more of the Azzinano Murals.)

Discover Abruzzo's most well-known dish, starring pasta alla chitarra - or guitar pasta!

Come to La Piazza Dario and taste the authentic cuisine of Chef Claudio Ranallo's home, Abruzzo, Italy. Maccheroni alla chitarra, or guitar pasta, as it is more commonly referred to here, is one of the most well-known dishes in Abruzzo.

Why is it called guitar pasta, you ask? The chitarra, which means guitar, is a stringed device which many refer to as an instrument. The pasta dough, after being rolled out flat, is then placed over the strings and a rolling pin is used to push the dough through the strings, creating sectioned pieces of pasta!

Although maccheroni alla chitarra is not on the La Piazza Dario menu, Chef Claudio has been known to make it by special request! So, don't be shy. Visit us down on Slocan Street, ask for the pasta alla chitarra and get a taste of authentic Italian food with this traditional pasta. You'll swear you've hopped on a plane to Abruzzo!

(Image via Pixabay)

Immerse yourself in the beautiful images of Chef Claudio's roots and the Italian region of Abruzzo!

What makes up a country, a region? We would say it's the land, the people, the buildings, the art, and of course, the food! As much as we'd all love to pack our bags and fly to Abruzzo, it's not always the most feasible option. So how can you experience the essence of Abruzzo, Italy? Chef Claudio Ranallo brings the authentic flavours of his homeland to Vancouver everyday at La Piazza Dario! Come and explore the wines and the delicious Italian creations without paying for an airfare!

For now, enjoy these beautiful photographs of Abruzzo...

(Slideshow via Flickr & Life In Abruzzo)