Italy is full of beautiful escapes and charming towns. One such place is Vernazza, the gem of Italy's Cinque Terre.

This little hillside town features colourful pink, yellow and green buildings and one main street that connects the train station to the coast down below. Surrounding these charming buildings are terraced hillsides that flourish with grape vines and olive trees. Even more incredible is that this town does not have cars except for once a week when the mobile market rolls in.

Home to approximately six hundred residents, you'll find amazing characters in the locals. This is Italian small town authenticity you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world! Except perhaps of course, in the La Piazza Dario kitchens. You will mostly definitely discover authentic Italian flavours!

Enjoy a peek of life at the enchanting Vernazza and join us for dinner to satisfy your Italian cravings!




(Image via Pixabay)

Planning your trip to Italy? You might want to add Monterosso al Mare to your list of places to see!

Today's travel bite and feature spotlight is on Monterosso al Mare, a jewel of the Italian Riviera. It is one of five villages in the Cinque Terre and is part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As a seaside town, the seafood is plentiful and is a feature in many of its delicious Italian dishes! The anchovies are a well known speciality and boast a Protected Designation of Origin Status from the European Union!

Here is a short video highlighting the delicious Italian cuisine, village charm and hospitality this hillside town has in store of all of its visitors and residents!

Until you go there however, join us for a delicious authentic taste of Italy right here in Vancouver!




(Image: Cinque Terre -Liguria, ISF Florence, via Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

Today's spotlight features the charms and flavours of Montepulciano!

Italy is filled with wonders beyond its incredible cuisine. Today we're taking a mini tour of the gorgeous little Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano!

This gem of Italy is one of many charming places to visit. It is a medieval and Renaissance town located in the province of Siena in Southern Tuscany that is renowned for culinary delights as well as its Vino Nobile. In fact, connoisseurs consider its Vino Nobile among Italy's best! Although labelled as a medieval and Renaissance town, recent findings are uncovering roots that date it back to the 4th and 3r centuries BC!

Enjoy this video and discover the history, flavours and wonders of Montepulciano! Then come visit us for a taste of some exquisite Italian wines! ;)



(Image: Montepulciano, Toscana, Italy; by Alex Pears, via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Italy is a jewel in Europe's crown. 

The flavours, the culture and la dolce vita there has intrigued generations of tourists over and over. We're so thrilled that we can bring a little taste of Italy to you here in Vancouver, our adopted home. We'll treat you to the truly authentic tastes and aromas of Italia with Chef Claudio's culinary magic and pour you a glass of perfectly paired vino.

We strive to give you nothing but the best and most authentic Italian culinary experience in the city. Of course, there's absolutely nothing like actually being in Italy. Since we can't fly you there (believe us, we'd love to go), here's a visual tour of the Best of Sicily from Rick Steves!




(Image via Pixabay)

Yet another Tuscan gem that sparkles with the architecture, history & culture of Italy!

Never heard of it? Well we are sure you've heard of a famous composer that called Lucca home: Giacomo Puccini.

But there's more to this beautiful town than the operatic wonders of Puccini. Watch this charming video snap shot of Lucca from Rick Steves and we're sure you'll be inspired to wander it's winding streets.

Join us this weekend for a delicious, authentic Italian meal as you dream of the Italian life in Lucca...

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)

Italy is famed for its succulent meals, its Shakespearean settings, its musical operas and its singing friars?!

Today's musical spotlight is on this young friar, Friar Alessandro. Opera lovers, you're going to like the sounds of this gentle fellow...

At the tender age of nine, he knew music would be a lifelong passion:

"I started to study music when I was nine. I listened to a recording of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, and I was amazed. And from that time I decided inside of me to be an organist and composer. I was just nine but this was really my dream!"

Singing wasn't always his musical direction of choice but at the age of 19, he began to focus on developing his voice, practising scales, vocalizing and breathing exercises. It was not long after he began his spiritual journey to join the Order of Friars Minor in Assisi.

Learn more about his story through his interview with Italia! and enjoy the sound of his operatic notes...

With all the gorgeous cities in Italy, only one can be the birthplace of pizza: Naples.

Now, don't scoff at pizza and think: "junk food!" Nonsense. Truly authentic, Italian pizza is nothing like those deep dish creations or stuff crust carbohydrate plates with every topping under the sun piled on! The real Italian pizza is a simple dish with simple but incredible ingredients. You can find this pizza in Naples.

The pizza of Naples and the Italians is not about filling up till you can't eat anymore. It's about fresh ingredients and savoury, succulent flavours! We'll let Rick Steves explain the charms of Naples and the pizza...

Visit an Italian gem of Tuscany: Florence, 43°47' N 11°15' E...

Famed for its beautiful Renaissance architecture, Florence is the birth place of the 14th century movement that changed history. It's the time in history that brought Europe out of the Middle Ages and into a new era of design and aesthetics.

Architecture and art history aside, Florence, like the many Italian cities, towns and villages, has much to offer the tourist in us all! From beautiful sights to fabulous shopping to the delicious places to enjoy an authentic Italian meal, Florence should definitely be on your bucket list!

Who better to tell you about the charms of this Tuscan beauty than the locals?! Check out the Florence City Guide featured on Design*Sponge! In the meantime, come to La Piazza Dario for an authentic taste of Italy in the foodie city of Vancouver!

(Image via Pixabay)

Shakespeare may have been English, but even he couldn't resist setting a great piece of literature in Verona, Italy!

Verona: it's a household name thanks to jolly ol' Shakespeare and yet it's not often on the list of must-see places for the thousands of visitors Italy welcomes on a regular basis. Some even say it is one of Italy's most underrated cities!

Well, today we are showing some love to the city known for being the home of the mythic feuding Capulet and Montague families and doomed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Enjoy this video hosted by travel guru, Rick Steves, as he introduces the charms of yet another beautiful Italian destination...

What is Piaggio? Why it's the name of the family who created the quintessential Italian mode of personal transportation: the Vespa.

Yes, this little beauty is quite possibly the most well known scooter in the world and a perfect blend of Italian ingenuity, style and charm! 

Founded in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggo, the company Piaggo began as a ship fittings, plane and sea plane part manufacturer! It was was his son, Enrico, who decided to foray into the world of personal transport. Since the very first Vespa of the 40's, the company has gone on to ship more than 18 million Vespas, produce in 13 countries around the world and market to 114 countries!

Not bad for a little scooter! Want a true Italian experience? Hop onto a Vespa and visit us in Vancouver for a tasty creation by our head chef! For now, we leave you with a great video of Vespa history...

Whether you are planning a trip or just curious, here are some fun travel facts about Italy!

Every city has its quirks and customs and Italy's popular tourist destinations are no exception! Whether you are in Rome, Milan, Florence or Venice, you'll discover that each city has unique customs and ways of life that can be useful to know before you arrive! Let's explore...

Florence:

• Address numbers are defined by colours: red and 'r' are used for shops and black is residential. That's why you may not find 28r and 30 next to each other!
• What's an automatic sign of being a tourist? Ordering a cappuccino after midday apparently!
• If you are tempted to buy a knock off designer purse from street hawkers, don't! That purse can end up costing you a 1000 euro fine!

Rome:

• When dining out, service is always included, but it might be good to ad %10 anyways.
• On the flip side, check your change. Romans hardly tip their drivers.
• Never mind the metro system. Try walking or taking taxis instead.

Milan:

• It's the Italian city of fashion! Although there's no dress code in restaurants, your outfit matters.
• If you are looking to grab a cab in Milan, hailing one just anywhere won't do. Catch them at a stand or give them a call, but remember that you are charged from the time your call is made.
• Aperitivi (or a the Italian happy hour around 6-10pm) is an essential Milanese custom.

Venice:

• Gondolas are for sightseeing and they aren't cheap, costing you around 80 euros. Taxis are not cheap either and can cost you the same as a gondola!
• There are public toilets but they'll cost you around €1,50. Still they can be convenient while exploring the city of canals.
• If you are there in November or December, it's Acqua Alta ('high water') season. Bring those gumboots!

(Information via Luxe City Guides; Image via Pexels)

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)

Discover yet another hidden gem of Italy: the coastal town of Positano!

Located on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is a quaint village whose colourful buildings climb from the water's edge up the hills of Campania, Italy. It is a beautiful, peaceful Italian gem that has seen its fair share of ups and downs: from a thriving port of the medieval Amalfi Republic to a poor fishing village during the early 20th century to a now promising tourist destination known for it's Italian charm and limoncello!

Positano can also be a great family vacation spot! Courtney Adamo of Babyccino Kids recently shared her vacation experiences (she and her husband relax there every year with their four kids!) and love of Positano with Joanna Goddard of A Cup of Jo. Learn more about and enjoy photos of this beautiful setting from a eyes of a tourist and true lover of Positano and Italy...

Family Vacation Idea: Positano

(Image via Pixabay)

It's Friday and what perfect time to watch a beautiful program about Italian life than today?!

What does it really mean to be a gondolier in Venice? How do Sicilians define themselves and separate from the island's mafia labels? How does a young Roman teenager find joy in high speeds races amidst the grand history of her home? Did you know that world's most dangerous horse race occurs in Sienna?

There is so much to learn about Italy and its people. If you find yourself even remotely intrigued and in the mood for some Italian culture, we've got a perfect plan for a relaxing night off:

1. Come visit La Piazza Dario for an authentic Italian meal. Chef Claudio guarantees your enjoyment of his delectable dishes (you'll probably end up wishing you ordered more to take home!).
2. Get into your comfy clothes (pajamas maybe?) and put on the Discovery Atlas, Italy Revealed (click to watch) and immerse yourself into the stories of Italian people from all over the country!

Now how's that for a plan?!

(Image via Pexels)

Discover Italy, one destination at a time!

There are so many places to see in Italy, from the small lesser known beautiful places like Ateleta to the tourist popular Venice! Today, we're looking at Venice and the incredible inner workings of the floating city of romance and literature! 


Venice Backstage. How does Venice work? from Insula spa on Vimeo.

 Got a taste for Italy now? Come visit us and we can share the authentic flavours of Italy with you!