Turin 2019: A Morning Walk to Villa della Regina

It was my friend Antonio, who comes from Turin, who told me about Villa della Regina (Villa of the Queen) on the outskirts of the city. I wondered if it was a bit far to walk, but a google search told me it was just 36 minutes by foot from my hotel. I set off […]

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Turin 2019: Dinner at Tre Gallini

Tre Gallini was recommended to me the first time I came to Turin by someone involved in the Slow Food Movement – which began in Turin – back in London. On my last visit I mistakenly booked into the restaurant’s more informal wine bar, Enoteca Tre Galli, which I liked a lot. But this visit […]

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Turin 2019: Arrival – Gelato & Aperitivo

I’ve clearly fallen a little in love with Turin as I’m back for a third visit in just over two years. It’s such a beautiful city and a veritable foodie’s paradise – home of chocolate, home of vermouth, glorious local wines like Barolo, and the home of the Slow Food Movement. It’s also home to […]

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Four Nights in Siena: Eat, Drink, Do

  Why go? I’ve been wanting to go to Siena for years and years and have just missed it a number of times for various reasons, even when quite close. A lot of people visit it as a day trip from places like Florence. I thought of doing that last year while spending five days […]

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Siena 2018: Antica Residenza Cicogna

I had such a lovely time in Siena last week and my stay was enhanced by the warm welcome I received at Antica Residenza Cicogna. I often book a hotel through British Airways, as I usually fly with them, and invariably get a good deal. But they didn’t have a hotel that appealed on their […]

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Siena 2018: Dinner at Ristorante Grotta Santa Caterina da Bagoga

It’s especially nice to have a good meal on the last evening of a holiday. Sometimes I go back to a place I’ve been to early on and liked a lot, but when you’re only staying somewhere for 4 nights that’s not so practical. And anyway, from my long list of possible places to eat, […]

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Siena 2018: Market Day & A Senese Lunch

As I’m only here in Siena for 4 days, I was pleased to discover that one of the days – Wednesday – is the weekly market day. Having walked around and looked over Piazza del Mercato behind the Campo so often, I assumed that’s where the market would be. Fortunately, Elisa was sitting in Reception […]

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Siena 2018: Dinner at La Taverna di San Giuseppe

My waking thoughts are so much governed by food that for me to feel a holiday has truly been good, I have to find at least one exceptional restaurant that satisfies my passion for a great meal and a great eating experience. Luckily Siena came up trumps tonight. It’s not that I’ve had bad meals; […]

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Siena 2018: A Morning Walk in the Botanical Gardens & Visiting the Duomo

After the rain and thunderstorms yesterday, it was lovely to wake to sun and the promise of a fine day. I’m quite an early bird so I was out and ready to explore before 9. Siena is busy with large groups of tourists during the day as it’s a popular destination for a day trip […]

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