A plaque, on a busy side street in the historical district, marks the spot where the Margherita pizza was born. The now popular pizza was the brainchild of chef Raffaele Esposito, who had a restaurant/pizzeria on the site, in 1889. We decided to walk along Via Chiaia, in order to browse its many shops and…
Author: rchabala
I am 56 years old. I live in New York City and for the last 11 years, have been traveling to Italy at least twice every year. I love everything Italian. From the art and museums to the people, to the incredible food, my heart skips a beat when I think of Italy, and the many places and things that I've been lucky enough to experience. Now, I want to share my excitement and passion with the world. I will take you to both major Italian cities, and small mountain villages. I will talk about things to do in these places, and places to explore which are off of the beaten path. I will also talk about the restaurants that I've dined in, and the places that I lay my head down in, while staying in each of these locations.
Naples – Day 2 – Part 1 – Piazza del Plebiscito
Our second day in Naples started with a quick trip to the supermarket, and then, after putting our groceries away, we set out to do some more exploring. The Distaccamento Quartier Generale della Marina Militare di Napoli was at the end of our street, at Via Santa Lucia, #2. A plaque, on the corner of…
Naples – Day 1 – Part 3 – Monuments, Dinner, and Fireworks
This section of the waterfront is lined with high-end hotels, such as the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia and the Excelsior. The Fontana del Gigante can be found along Via Partenope, directly on the waterfront. The fountain is the work of Pietro Bernini and Michelangelo Naccherino. It dates from the early 1600s, but it was only…
Naples – Day 1 – Part 2 – Via Santa Lucia
The entrance to our apartment was on Via Santa Lucia, and so, we began our explorations there. There was no doubt that Naples was a city that lives for its football! There were team banners and posters everywhere! Across the street, you will find the Palazzo Regione Campania, which was designed by Arturo Tricomi in…
Naples – Day 1 – Part 1 – Settling in
After a four hour high-speed train ride, we arrived at our next destination, Naples, or Napoli, as the Italians call it. I had been there once before, and back then, I was a bit turned off by the city. I heard that many changes had taken place there, and that it was much safer now. …
A Return to Milan – Day 3 – City Life and A Concert
As we walked, we stumbled upon the Giardino Comunitario Lea Garofalo, at Viale Montello, #3. This is a community garden dedicated to Lea Garofalo, a young woman who, while acting as a witness of justice, was tortured and killed by the organized, criminal syndicate known as the ‘Ndrangheta, in 2009. City Life is a relatively…
A Return to Milan – Day 2 – Part 3 – A Park, A Church, and City Streets
The Parco Sempione was built on land that once was considered a private park, and part of the Castello Sforzesco. It was built between 1888 and 1894, and was designed by the architect, Emilio Alemagna. The Ponte delle Sirenette was designed by the architect Francesco Tettamanzi, and dates from 1840. The bridge was originally commissioned…
A Return to Milan – Day 2 – Part 2 – An Arch and A Tower
The Arco della Pace dates from 1807, and was designed by the architect, Luigi Cagnola. It stands at the site known as the Porta Sempione, named after the ancient gatehouse that once stood there. At the time, this was the spot where the Strada del Sempione entered the city. The Strada del Sempione connected Milan…
A Return to Milan – Day 1 – Part 4 and Day 2 – Part 1 – Chinese Food and A Street Market
Since we were both beginning to feel the effects of jet lag, and lack of sleep, we decided on a quick street-food dinner, Chinese-style, and ordered a few items from the take-out window of Mumbao. We then headed back to the apartment, and went to bed. La Chiesetta is at Via Paolo Lomazzo, #12. It…
A Return to Milan – Day 1 – Part 3 – The Piazza delle Culture and Its Surroundings
As we continued to explore, we came upon two elementary schools. The building pictured above is the Scuola Monviso I.C. Via Linneo, and is at Via Monviso, #4A. The one pictured below is around the corner from the first one, and is the Scuola dell’Infanzia Comunale Mantegna, at Via Andrea Mantegna, #8. The Piazza delle…
A Return To Milan – Day 1 – Part 2 – The Santuario di Santa Maria di Lourdes
The Ospedale dei Bambini “Vittore Buzzi” is located at Via Castelvetro, #32. The hospital opened in 1886. At that time, there were only 12 to 14 beds available to its pediatric patients. In 1967, the hospital expanded, thanks to a generous donation by Vittore Buzzi, and from then on, the institution was dedicated to him….
A Return to Milan – Day 1 – Part 1 – A Three-Year Wait Is Over!
After what seemed like forever, but was actually a period of three years, we booked another flight, and returned to Italy. During that three-year period, we struggled with living in a changed New York City, for the city was not the same after the COVID pandemic. It was time to get away! We were going…