Italy Archives - Curious Provence

48 Hours in Prato, Italy

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt Leave a Comment

A Weekend Guide to Prato

I was kindly invited by SeeCity for 3 days to Prato last month. I was able to explore all the best this little-known city has to offer.

Prato is first known as the textile centre of Italy. King of fabric production, this town is surrounded by factories. However, this is only on the outskirts of town. Once you’re in the town centre, you’ll find a beautiful Duomo as well as large piazzas and delicious food.

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Traditional Foods of Florence

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt 2 Comments

What to Eat in Florence

Florence is responsible for turning me into a foodie. I arrived there, 18 and naive, only having eaten American-style pizza. I was converted (it was indeed religious!) after my first meal there.

I wandered into a tiny pizzeria, at an odd time of afternoon after flying overnight from Montreal. Feeling adventurous, I picked at random a pizza from the Italian-only menu and ate the entire thing. Of course, I stayed for a year, finding my own little routines of eating cornettos instead of croissants and fettunta instead of “bruschetta.” Florence will always hold a special place in my heart.

Regional Tuscan cooking is like any other Mediterranean country; it can change dramatically depending on which city or village you’re in. If you’re visiting Florence, you should try the gastronomy specific to this beautiful Renaissance city. The traditional foods of Florence are very much tied to Tuscan Cucina Povera. These are the most common dishes, and most traditional, you’ll find all around the city. See my article about the Markets of Florence for more information on where to find these delicacies.

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The Gastronomic Specialities of Prato, Italy

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt 2 Comments

What to Eat in Prato

I was invited by CCT SeeCity to Prato to discover their vibrant modern art scene in the form of the new Centro Pecci. Because I’m an incurable foodie, I had to taste as much local cuisine as I possibly could stuff into my mouth at one time. I sought out all the specialities of Prato. It is only then that I feel like I can get a sense of a city. In addition to tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and ribollita, there are products produced right here in Prato.

Prato, located in Tuscany, has a strong regional cuisine. Just twenty minutes from Florence, you’ll find Tuscan specialties as well as typical specialties from Prato. Here, I’ve provided a list of some of the most traditional products for you to try during your stay in Prato. Here are the gastronomic specialties of Prato!

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Crazy for Markets in Florence, Italy

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt 5 Comments

My Guide to Markets in Florence

If you don’t know already, I’m a major foodie. Feeding myself the best possible meal at all times is just about all I can think about. Therefore, when I go on vacation, relaxing tends to be difficult. I drag my (thankfully also market-loving man) all around our new destination in an attempt to uncover the best affordable gastronomy of that place.

I lived in Florence for a year when I was 19. Smitten, I was. How could you not be? Wandering the cobbled streets with paints and brushes in your bag as a young adult trying to find yourself is as free as you’re ever going to be. See some street portraits in Florence I took that year. When I was invited to Prato by CCT SeeCity last month I couldn’t help but make a quick 24 hour stop in Florence.

Now, shame on you if you can only find 24 hours for this Renaissance city. You’ll need at least 4 days to go to a few of its museums. You’ll see many of the real artworks you see on postcards, in textbooks and on posters all around the world. The David- that lovely man, is also worth it. Perhaps I’ll write a must-do in Florence guide. But for now, let’s talk markets in Florence.

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