Category: BlogVille in Emilia-Romagna 2012

Finding Castles in the Sky and Amazing Views in San Marino

Posted on by Keane Li

Panoramic view of Guaita Castle from top of San Marino

What do Gondor-esque castles, Duff Beer and vintage Fiats have in common?

They can all be found in the Republic of San Marino!

Located within Italy along the border shared by the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche, the Republic of San Marino is an independent microstate that rises high into the sky. Constituted in part by the Apennine mountain range, its capital city, the City of San Marino, offers breathtaking views and quite the bit of exercise. Continue reading “Finding Castles in the Sky and Amazing Views in San Marino” →

36GB of Photos from Rome, Naples and Emilia-Romagna

Posted on by Keane Li

Rome - Piazza Venezia and Il Vittoriano during the rain

I’m slowly trudging through the 36GB of photos taken during my Italy trip last May. If you’re interested in seeing some unique perspectives on Rome, Naples and towns within Emilia-Romagna, check out my Flickr page (I’ll go back and add descriptions and tags after I’m done uploading everything).

Here are a few shots from Rome that I like in particular… Continue reading “36GB of Photos from Rome, Naples and Emilia-Romagna” →

Palio di Ferrara – The medieval festival in photos and video

Posted on by Keane Li

Palio di Ferrara - Column in Piazza Ariostea

It was like a weight holding us down, preventing us from moving. They called it the hottest place in Europe, I later learned after reading the papers. Ferrara, serving as the host city for an annual tradition dating back to 1279, brings a number of towns together for the Palio di Ferrara. In colored vestments and heavy armor, participants paraded down the main street. How could they survive in this heat when I can barely lift an arm for my Caffè Shakerato, I wondered, already perspiring. Thankfully, they managed, and we were presented with an amazing series of colorful visuals, flag dances and marching bands. Continue reading “Palio di Ferrara – The medieval festival in photos and video” →

A Close-Up Look at the Grand Hotel Rimini

Posted on by Keane Li

Grand Hotel Rimini - Bar menu and sunglasses

Last night I had a dream I was back in Italy. I opened my eyes and saw the Roman Colosseum in front of me, as if coming up from the Roma Metropolitana. I remember feeling instantly elated. My parents were there. It was winter. Little kids were ice skating (it was a dream) and little bits of white dust or snow were falling gently like they do in every other Ridley Scott film.

Not being able to sleep, I decided to revisit Italy. Not Rome this time, but Rimini. I wanted to go back to a particular sunny day when fellow BlogVille photographer Asgeir Pedersen, writer Gina Stark and I visited the Grand Hotel Rimini, the most historic and, perhaps, the most beautiful hotel in Rimini. Continue reading “A Close-Up Look at the Grand Hotel Rimini” →

La Notte Celeste in Bagno di Romagna – Oiled up and rubbed down in an Italian spa town

Posted on by Keane Li

Bagno di Romagna - La Notte Celeste

“Put your robe on the hanger,” the massaggiatrice said to me in Italian.

I was wearing board shorts and Calvin Klein briefs (in case you needed the image).

“Now take those off but sdfjl;aghnasmdfnsdfj.” I didn’t understand the last part, so I responded with my stock phrase of not being able to understand Italian sometimes.

“Okay. Your swimming clothes…” “Yes.”

“Are you wearing anything underneath?” “Underpants.”

“Okay. Take the shorts; leave the underwear.” “Understood.”

The important matter of how much clothes to take off demands further confirmation.

So began my first spa experience, a full-body oil massage in the Hotel delle Terme Santa Agnese in Bagno di Romagna, a popular spa town in Emilia-Romagna. The scent of steam and sulfur is apparent upon entering the city as thermal water flows naturally here. Bagno di Romagna consists of one main street and a large central piazza. Each of its many shops are charming and friendly, and the town features high-end, even Michelin-starred restaurants. The BlogVille team was lucky enough to dine at such a restaurant with the distinguished leaders of the Emilia-Romagna tourism board. Continue reading “La Notte Celeste in Bagno di Romagna – Oiled up and rubbed down in an Italian spa town” →

Five reasons to visit Emilia-Romagna

Posted on by Keane Li

While I wait for the restoration of Internet connectivity at my place after returning from Italy, I’m forced to leave all my awesome videos (like this one of the view from the clock tower in Brisighella or this other one of a horse-drawn carriage ride in a nature reserve in Savio) of Emilia-Romagna on my computer, lest I jam up the connection for everyone else in this cafe with large uploads.

I don’t want to be that guy.

Anyway, I’ve been reminiscing about all the great moments I had in Emilia-Romagna as a part of BlogVille. There are so many reasons to visit this beautiful region in Italy; here are my top five.

1. Food

A huge majority of Italy’s most delicious exports originate from Emilia-Romagna. There’s Modena’s balsamic vinegar, the great cheeses of Parma, prosciutto, lasagne, ravioli, tagliatelle al rag๠(oddio!), Sangiovese wine and the amazing piadina. Along the coast, fresh seafood is in abundance, often served as a mixed platter of fried goodness. In short, it’s impossible not to get a little grasso here.

That’s Italian for “fat.”

Tagliatelle al rag๠at Trattoria Renzi Continue reading “Five reasons to visit Emilia-Romagna” →

A carriage ride through the Parco Delta del Po in Savio

Posted on by Keane Li

Horse-drawn carriage through the natural reserve of Foce Bevano in Savio

Everyone loves a nice horse-drawn carriage ride, so it should be of no surprise that the BlogVille crew had such a great time at Foce Bevano, a natural reserve in the Parco Regionale del Delta del Po in Savio, Emilia-Romagna. The Centro Visite Cubo Magico Bevanella sits at the heart of the reserve, providing a multimedia, educational introduction to the wildlife residing here. From colorful birds to foxes, the protected area hides a variety of interesting creatures. The plant life and ecological offerings are equally as expansive. Services include bike and boat rentals, as well as the aforementioned horse-drawn carriage tour, providing a multitude of fun and affordable methods for exploring the grounds.

It’s a great attraction for those looking for nature and tranquility. My only advice is to cover up if you’re sensitive to mosquitoes (even still, they bit me through my shirt!) and to be sure to catch the beautiful sunset. The strong wind that Dante described in his literature still exists today, creating a sweeping effect of grass against the light.

If you like what you see, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Continue reading “A carriage ride through the Parco Delta del Po in Savio” →

Artisti in Piazza – Closing down the medieval village of Pennabilli for an annual street artist festival

Posted on by Keane Li

It’s not often that I can say I sat in a conference room with the mayor of a medieval Italian town to talk about my blog. (Yes, this blog.) A few days ago, the BlogVille crew met the fine folks running Pennabilli, a hilltop town in Emilia-Romagna. They welcomed us to their wonderful home prior to the start of perhaps their largest celebration.

The name of the city derives from two formal rivals, those living in the castles at Penna and those at Billi. In the 16th century, they joined together to form the city now known as Pennabilli. Today, the city houses notable art installations by poet and intellectual Tonino Guerra, as well as attractions like meditation gardens and Tibetan bells donated from the Dalai Lama. More relevant to this post, Pennabilli hosts an annual three-day festival known as Artisti in Piazza – Festival Internazionale dell’Arte in Strada (“Artists in the Piazza – The International Festival of Street Art”), drawing innovative entertainers from around the world to their cobblestone streets.

If you should ever find yourself in Emilia-Romagna during the time of this festival, do yourself a favor and join in on the fun. It’s full of good people, great shows and really delicious food. Even without Artisti in Piazza, Pennabilli is a beautiful place to visit, as evidenced by the videos and photos below.

If you like what you see, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Continue reading “Artisti in Piazza – Closing down the medieval village of Pennabilli for an annual street artist festival” →