• Phone: 02-43511054
• Fax: no fax
• Visit Website
• Email: info@colonial-cafe.com

• Hours: Open daily, 7:00AM-midnight.
• Nearest Landmark: Last Supper
• Dress Code: None

A mere 4-minute walk from the Last Supper, Colonial Cafe is one of the rare places where even the always-in-a-hurry Milanese sit down for breakfast in a comfy red leather armchair. A good selection of brioches, sandwiches, chocolate and exotic coffees from Jamaica, Ethiopia and San Salvador makes this an ideal stop after viewing Leonardo's masterpiece. We also love the vibe from 6:30 to 9:00pm during the Colonial Wine Hour where a free buffet of 32 hot and cold dishes is laid out to accompany your aperitivo.

• Phone: 0965-1816014
• Visit Website
• Email: info@gelateriacesare.it

• Hours: Open daily in high season.
• Nearest Landmark: Lungomare
• Dress Code: None

Built in 1918, ten years after the disastrous earthquake that hit Messina and Reggio Calabria, this dark green kiosk is considered one of the best places for artisanal gelato in Calabria. They offer a great selection of classic flavors such as fior di latte, lemon, strawberry, coffee and hazelnut, according to the Italian tradition. Gelateria Cesare is the ideal place to stop for high-quality gelato on Reggio's beautiful seaside promenade and you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the Stretto di Messina as you eat!

• Phone: 0974-831012; 347-5817699
• Visit Website
• Email: gelateria.dimatteo@tiscali.it

• Hours: Open daily in summer; closed from mid-October to Easter.
• Nearest Landmark: 9 kms. from Agropoli
• Dress Code: None

Located in the small town of Sant'Antuono di Torchiara, in the hinterland of the Cilento only a few miles from Agropoli, Di Matteo has been making wonderful artisan gelato for almost a century. The main flavor is fig since this little town is renowned for its figs - they even celebrate a fig festival each year in August - and the award-winning chocolate gelato studded with figs is unforgettable. Other flavors to try are the ricotta cheese with pears or pistachios, honey, melon, strawberry, and the uncommon laurel leaf gelato with almonds.

• Phone: 0577-741084
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ilfondaccio.com

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

Il Fondaccio is located right in the center of Castellina in Chianti, in a 13th century cantina originally used as stable and remodelled in 1989. A cart laden with antipasti such as local cold cuts and cheeses is on offer, along with pizza baked in a wood-burning oven. Tables set out in front on the pietra serena pavement are shaded by big market umbrellas and make a pleasant place to dine in summertime.

• Phone: 081-8370616
• Fax: 081-8370300
• Visit Website
• Email: info@geraniocapri.com

• Hours: Open daily from noon-3:00PM and 7:15-11:30PM; closed November-March.
• Nearest Landmark: Gardens of Augustus
• Dress Code: Casual

From the veranda of this restaurant guests have a marvellous view of the Faraglioni and the ornate gardens of Caesar Augustus. Built on the rocky cliff edge and brimming with fabulous Mediterranean flowers and shrubs, Il Geranio serves elegant cuisine inspired by Neapolitan traditions. Olive oil, garlic and chilli pepper are used to exalt the flavors of the fresh fish, seafood, meat and vegetables used in the restaurant's culinary creations. Reservations recommended at dinner.

• Phone: 091-5584012

• Hours: Open daily, 7:00AM-1:00AM.
• Nearest Landmark: Riva Promenade
• Dress Code: None

La Regina del Formaggio is Italian for the "queen of cheese" and it just opened in May 2014, becoming Split's newest foodie haven. Inspired by the Italian delicatessen concept, owner and founder Diana Jelesak lived in Sicily for over 10 years before returning to her home town of Split. The store is half deli, half tasting station for the finest cheeses, prosciutto (the kind the president of Croatia dines on), wines and olive oils. Located on the Riva in the center of town, this is a must-visit for lovers of gourmet delights.

• Phone: 0365-21421

• Hours: Open noon-2:00PM and 7:00-10:30PM; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Borgo Vecchio/ Municipio
• Dress Code: None

Situated in the upper town away from the lake, this osteria in an 18th century stone house has a pleasant courtyard and portico in which to dine in nice weather. They propose local recipes revisted in an creative vein - lake fish, local cheeses and handmade, fresh pasta are the mainstays of the menu, and the bread basket has to be seen to be believed! Service is attentive and the staff takes great pride in all that they do. The two tasting menus, reasonably priced at 15 and 35 euros, are a good way to sample Antico Brolo's specialties.

• Phone: 0578-717086
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acquacheta.eu

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Tuesday and mid-January to mid-March.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

This cheerful osteria serves fresh pasta and meat from local farms. Try the pici al ragu in a long-simmered meat sauce of either goose or wild boar, or the thick vegetable soup with spelt and porcini mushrooms. The huge slab of Florentine beefsteak cooked over an open fire is a carnivore's dream come true! Homemade desserts and a final bill that won't won't break the bank make Acquacheta a Montepulciano favorite so be sure to reserve far in advance.

• Phone: 0932-245612

• Hours: Open 8:00-11:30PM, Tuesday-Sunday, serves lunch most Sundays; closed Monday
• Nearest Landmark: Giardino Ibleo
• Dress Code: None

This cozy restaurant in the heart of Ragusa Ibla serves traditional Sicilian (and Slovakian!) fare. Generous portions can be found from the hefty antipasto platter, all the way to the homemade desserts like apple strudel. If you're feeling adventurous, be sure to select a pasta or entree that includes donkey meat, a local Sicilian specialty. Daily specials are listed on the blackboard outside the restaurant, including an abundant, 4-course, fixed-price meal. Dinner only.

• Phone: +39 090 326682

• Hours: Open for lunch (12:30 PM - 3:30 PM) and dinner (7:30 PM - 11:30 PM), closed on Mondays.
• Dress Code: None

Overlooking the Strait of Messina, this well-run restaurant offers elevated Sicilian dishes, and some of the freshest fish you can find! With a location directly on the water, the view cannot be beat.

• Phone: +39 0584 192 1548
• Email: info@ristorantefubis.it

• Hours: Open for dinner, only. Closed on Thursday.
• Dress Code: None

A hip restaurant near the port of Viareggio, the innovative menu features items from the land and the sea. Be certain to try an item from the seafood selection, or jump right into the tasting menu, which is a splurge but worth it!

• Hours: Open for lunch (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) and dinner (6:00 pm - 12:00 am), closed on Mondays.
• Dress Code: None

Located just outside of Brolo, La Quercia serves up traditional Sicilian cuisine, with hearty pastas and fresh fish. Set on a higher elevation, the terrace offers a lovely view of the sea.

• Phone: 095-7991353
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ristoranteveneziano.it

• Hours: Open noon-3:00PM and 7:30-10:30PM; closed Sunday & Monday for dinner.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: Casual

Located near Mount Etna in one of Sicily's most renowned wine regions, the Veneziano pays homage to the surrounding territory through its seasonal food and wine. A meal here in autumn is an experience you will never forget: an antipasto of porcini mushrooms fixed all ways (carpaccio, grilled, etc.), continuing on to porcini soup and homemade pasta in a porcini mushroom sauce. Local chestnuts also feature on the fall menu and a bottle of Tasca d'Almerita's top-level Tascante or entry-level Ghiaia Nera wine is the perfect accompaniment to a perfect meal.

• Phone: +39 030 988 6222

• Hours: Open daily, 12:00 PM-3:30 PM, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
• Dress Code: None

Located about a 20 minutes from Peschiera Maraglio on Monte Isola, and down a flight of steps toward the lake, is a hidden gem of a restaurant. With stunning views of the lake and neighboring towns, this quaint restaurant serves up traditional Lombardian fare, highlighting the local ingredients and the lake's fish. Lunch or dinner can be accompanied by wine from the surrounding Franciacorta hills.

• Phone: 06-3226273
• Fax: 06-32652829
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily 12:45PM-3:00PM and 7:45PM-12:00AM.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza del Popolo
• Dress Code: Casual

This popular restaurant has two separate spaces. The simpler and more informal of the two is a street-level pizzeria, where at least a dozen kinds of homemade pastas and pizzas are offered. More upscale and somewhat calmer, is the upstairs restaurant and wine bar where, within an appropriately minimalist setting, a cutting-edge fusion of Italian and Pacific Rim cuisine is served; for example, spaghetti stir-fried in a Chinese wok. A cookware shop and library complete the scene. More recent additions to the 'Gusto empire are the Osteria and 'Gusto al 28: both face the same piazza and offer a cocktail bar, fish restaurant and cafeteria.

• Phone: 055-219208
• Fax: no fax
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ino-firenze.com

• Hours: Open daily from 11:00AM-5:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Uffizi
• Dress Code: None

'Ino (short for panino) is a wonderful new artisanal food shop on a quiet alley right behind the Uffizi. This chic, minimalist shop is a great stop for a sandwich at lunch time, especially if you've spent the morning looking at paintings in the Uffizi gallery. It's also a wine bar offering a small selection of wines by the bottle and the glass, and an alimentare, or food shop, where you can taste delicacies like lardo di Colonnata, very good olive oil and chocolates from Modica in Sicily and Paul deBondt in Pisa.

• Phone: 055-287198
• Visit Website
• Email: info@munaciello.com

• Hours: Open daily, 7:30PM-2:00AM.
• Nearest Landmark: Oltrarno
• Dress Code: Casual

This vast space on a side street right off Piazza Santo Spirito used to be part of a pilgrim's hospice. It has now been transformed into a little bit of Naples in the Oltrarno. Full of atmosphere, huge Neapolitan angels fly overhead and garlands of tomatoes are draped from the walls. Come here for a cocktail at their stylish bar and follow up with a genuine Naples-style pizza or calzone made in a wood-burning pizza oven; there are dozens of toppings to choose from. Not in the mood for pizza? Seafood pasta and fresh fish are on the menu, too, and the desserts are divine. Open for dinner only; every Wednesday night starting at 9pm there's live Neapolitan music.

• Hours: Always open during the day.
• Nearest Landmark: basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
• Dress Code: None

Via Cappuccio is a street where you can peek at the wonderful courtyards hidden behind the palace facades. Not to be missed is the courtyard of N.7: a magic cloister enclosed by two orders of columns with leafy Corinthian capitals. In the 15th century it was a convent, restored in 1915; ask the caretaker to let you inside.

• Phone: +33 (0)1 43 26 66 83
• Visit Website
• Email: infos10bar@orange.fr

• Hours: Open daily, 6:00PM-2:00AM.
• Nearest Landmark: Latin Quarter
• Dress Code: None

This a place you can stumble upon as you explore the back streets and alley ways of the Latin Quarter. The red facade will draw you into this cozy, postage stamp-sized bar filled with neighborhood locals and university students. The specialty is sangria, but beer and wine can be indulged in as you settle in at the bar and watch Paris unfold. Vintage yellowed posters cover the walls from floor to ceiling. It's located 2 blocks from the Odeon Metro stop.

• Phone: store 02-29002674 / office 02-653531
• Visit Website
• Email: shop@10corsocomo.com

• Hours: Open daily 10:30AM-7:30PM, Wednesday & Thursday stays open till 9:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Garibaldi train station
• Dress Code: None

The owner of 10 Corso Como is Carla Sozzani, former editor-in-chief of Italian Elle. Along with her artist partner Kris Ruhs, she has collected together under one roof all her favorite things, picked up on her globe-trotting forays around the world. Clothes and accessories for men and women, home design and beauty items are on the ground floor of this vast store, while books and music can be found upstairs. Afterwards, recover from your splurge in the attractive conservatory, which has a bar and restaurant.

• Phone: 02-29015130
• Visit Website
• Email: shop@10corsocomo.com

• Hours: Open daily from 11:00AM-7:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Garibaldi train station
• Dress Code: None

Bargain hunters will love the 10 Corso Como Outlet store, only a 5 minute walk from the flagship store. The same great merchandise personally selected by Carla Sozzani and Kris Ruhs can be found here but in last year's models and at discount prices. Worth a look before max out your credit card at the main store!

• Phone: 0185-1770799
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily in high season, 10:30AM-8:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

Part of the Slow Food circuit, this gelateria run by Luca and Daniela serves 100% organic ice cream and sorbet made with fresh fruit, cane sugar, organic milk and other organic ingredients. They also make ice cream cakes, popsicles, granite (perfect on a hot summer day) and ice cream sandwiches. Don't leave without trying their chocolate gelato - it is rich and thick like the most delicious chocolate mousse you've ever eaten!

• Phone: 055-284015
• Fax: 055-7320412
• Visit Website
• Email: trattoria13gobbi@casatrattoria.com

• Hours: Open daily, 12:30-3:00PM and 7:30PM-11:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Santa Maria Novella
• Dress Code: Casual

Located just behind the Excelsior Hotel, 13 Gobbi (13 hunchbacks; Italian superstition says they're good luck) has a charming inner courtyard in which to dine on Enrico Verrecchia's light and flavorful Tuscan cuisine. The stew-like peposo is a tender cut of beef, simmered for hours in wine and black peppercorns, while the eggplant parmesan is a favorite of vegetarians. Desserts are incredible, too; try the yummy homemade cheesecake! Reservations recommended; make them by e-mail, to the attention of Sig.ra Gabriella.

• Phone: +33 (01) 40 59 84 01
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open Monday-Saturday, noon-2:30PM and 7:00-10:30PM; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: nearest metro stop: Charles Michel or Dupleix
• Dress Code: None

In the 15eme arrondissement, with a veranda and a view of the Eiffel Tower, is this crepe restaurant that lives up to its name. They boast a stylish, contemporary decor and good service, and the menu features crepes, sandwiches made with Poilane bread, salads, and ice cream.

• Phone: 06-69925530
• Fax: 06-69487621
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed on Tuesday and from 7th August- 4th September.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza Colonna/Montecitorio
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

The restaurant of the Hotel Nazionale is only a few steps from Montecitorio so expect to find a lot of politicians among your fellow diners who come here to enjoy the classic Italian cuisine.

• Phone: 020-322222
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily from 7:00AM to 11PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Old Town
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

For the ultimate Dubrovnik experience pay a visit to Restaurant & Lounge 360 Degrees by Jeffrey Vella. Set within the great walls of Dubrovnik itself, overlooking the port with stunning views and stylish atmosphere, the creatively presented food, stylish lounge bar, extraordinary wine cellar, top service and first class ambiance will leave you and your honorable guests simply amazed. Enjoy before or after dinner drinks in the newly renovated lounge bar offering wide variety of cocktails and friendly service. Whether a romantic dinner with your significant other, a family get together or just a night out with your friends in the lounge bar, Restaurant & Lounge 360 Degrees by Jeffrey Vella offers something for everyone.

• Phone: 055-2741583

• Hours: Open 10:00AM-10PM; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Pitti Palace
• Dress Code: None

The owner of this little place is from Genoa, and the specialty of the house is the delicious chickpea crepe called 'farinata' in Genoa, 'cecina' along the Tuscan coast and 'socca' in Provence. It is served plain or, in season, studded with artichokes and it is addictive! They also have a small menu of vegan and organic food featuring Italian-influenced dishes from India, the Middle East and Italy itself, as well as a non-vegetarian option of organic cold cuts such as prosciutto (even the wine and beer is organic!). Reasonably priced with very personal, sincere customer service. Cash only.

• Phone: 081-1920466
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily, 12:30-4:00PM and 7:30-12:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: harbor of Mergellina
• Dress Code: None

50 Kalo' translates to "good dough" in Neapolitan dialect and the gourmet pizzeria opened by third-generation pizzaiolo Ciro Salvo in the prosperous Mergellina district attracts nightly crowds for its light, flavorful pizzas that are considered to be the best in Italy. Divided among two dining rooms and a patio, the restaurant offers classics like marinara and margherita, but also seasonal pizzas such as zucchini pesto with prosciutto, or one topped with squash blossoms and Nero Casertano salami. The White Calzone, a crescent filled with cured pork, ricotta and smoked provolone, is a year-round fixture that should not be missed!

• Phone: 041-5285686; 340-4773693
• Visit Website
• Email: info@947club.com

• Hours: Open 7:30-midnight, till 2:00AM from Thursday through Saturday; closed Tuesday.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza San Marco
• Dress Code: None

The 947 Club is one of city's top clubs. The best DJs from all over the world arrive here in order to mix some great sounds for Venice's fashionable set. But music is not the only reason the place is always packed: the quality of the food and drinks is high. Dine in the elaborately-decorated Gold Room or the White Room, and afterwards move up to the Attic Lounge & Red Bar to chill out with a drink If you don't want to wait in line to get in, become a member of the club on their website and you'll be treated like a true VIP!

• Phone: 0571-668229; 366-3040218
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ristoranteacasatua.it

• Hours: Open noon-midnight; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

Giovanni Boccaccio is Certaldo's most famous son, and right next door to the poet's house-museum is this charming little spot with an air of times past and very reasonable prices. "Poche ma buone" (few but good) is their motto: the menu offers just a few traditional dishes that your Tuscan grandma might have made. Stop in for lunch or an afternoon snack of coccoli fritters with prosciutto and soft stracchino cheese, washed down with a glass of local wine. There are outdoor tables on the village's main street for fine-weather dining.

• Phone: 010-588543 

• Fax: 010-588543 

• Visit Website
• Email: aduepassidalmare@libero.it

• Hours: Open for dinner from 7:00PM-midnight (kitchen closes at 11:00PM); closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Foce
• Dress Code: None

"A Due Passi dal Mare" translates as "two steps from the sea," words that perfectly describe its location. Both the young chef and the equally young sommelier trained at La Bitta nella Pergola, the gourmet restaurant formerly in this spot. They've kept the nautical decor and the seasonal, seafood-based cuisine of La Bitta but have lowered the prices a bit. The menu features well-prepared dishes such as roasted branzino (sea bass) that is thickly sliced and served skin-up with diced potatoes, tiny black olives and fresh dill. Great selection of Ligurian wines; open for dinner only.

• Phone: 0522-433600

• Hours: Open Monday-Saturday, 12:30PM-2:30PM and 8:00PM-10:30PM; closed on Sunday.
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

An elegant but welcoming place where you can enjoy the creative dishes of a female chef who lightens up and reinterprets the sometimes heavy local cuisine. It fills up fast with local gourmets so reservations are recommended in the evenings.

• Phone: 0187-921037; 338-2220088
• Visit Website
• Email: apiedema@libero.it; info@apiedema.com

• Hours: Open daily from mid-March to early November and during the Christmas holidays.
• Nearest Landmark: train station
• Dress Code: None

This charming wine bar represents the true spirt of the Cinque Terre; it's a no-frills place where nature speaks for itself. Built on an open air terrace cut right into the rocky cliffs, just before the entrance to the Via dell'Amore and only a few steps from the train station, it is a stunning place for a drink as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea. An antipasto of bruschetta al pomodoro, bresaola, anchovies, caprese salad or smoked fish carpaccio gives you something to munch on with the wine. They make sandwiches, too, and more substantial hot dishes are served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• Phone: 800-424500; 199-104245
• Visit Website

• Hours: Daily until 8:00PM; check website for exact schedule..
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

These three tiny electric buses - the "letter buses" marked C1, C2 and C3 - provide a scenic tour of the historic center for only 1,10 euro. Their small size make them perfect for the twists and turns of Florence's narrow medieval streets, and they move along at eye level and at a fairly slow pace which is great for window shopping. The different routes pass many of the city's major monuments: Piazza della Repubblica, the Duomo, the Bargello, Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, the San Lorenzo market, the Pitti Palace and the riverside roads bordering the Arno.

• Phone: 06-46951
• Fax: 06-46952087
• Visit Website
• Email: info@atac.roma.it

• Hours: Bus runs every day; check ATAC's website for schedule.
• Nearest Landmark: Vatican/Borghese
• Dress Code: None

The number 116 bus isn't the quickest way across town, but riding this tiny electric bus provides a great tour of the city for only 1 euro. It starts in the parking garage next to the Vatican and wriggles its way through many of Rome's great public spaces and boulevards - the Via Giulia, Piazza Farnese, Campo dei Fiori, the Via Veneto - before finally turning around in a cul-de-sac in front of the Galleria Borghese. Hop off and walk through the surrounding park, or just stay onboard and do the whole thing in reverse (your ticket is valid for 75 minutes).

• Phone: 0921-676723
• Visit Website
• Email: info@aruafera.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Tuesday and in October.
• Nearest Landmark: Historic Center
• Dress Code: Casual

The brick-valuted room of this restaurant is the setting for tasty dishes featuring mushrooms from the forests of Madonie mountains or their speciality, fusilli maialino nero, funghi porcini e finocchetto selvatico (fusilli pasta with a sauce made from pork, porcini mushrooms and wild fennel). There's a gracious courtyard where you can dine in nice weather.

• Phone: 02-6551972
• Fax: 02-29003374
• Visit Website

• Hours: Call for an appointment; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: Quadrilatero d'Oro
• Dress Code: None

Caraceni was founded in Rome in 1913 by the father of Italian tailoring, Domenico Caraceni, and cognoscenti consider A. Caraceni to be the best of the Milan branches. These exquisite suits are what is known as "bench bespoke," meaning they are made one at a time, by hand, to a pattern specifically drawn for each individual customer. Only the best fabrics are used at this traditional atelier where an appointment is needed to be measured for a custom-made suit.

• Phone: 081-7690020
• Fax: 081-5750686
• Visit Website
• Email: info@afenestella.it

• Hours: Open noon-4:00PM and 7:00PM-midnight; closed Tuesday.
• Nearest Landmark: Posillipo
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

This elegant restaurant, situated on Marechiaro at the end of Posillipo, was named for the 'fenesta' (window) at which the beautiful Carolina used to appear. It has a splendid view of the Gulf of Naples and a panoramic terrace for fine weather dining. Enrico Anastasio, who is the founder's grandson, manages the place together with his sons Vittorio and Davide; it has been a member of the "Unione dei Ristoranti del Buon Ricordo" since 1992.

• Phone: 011-4390618
• Fax: 011-4390618

• Hours: Open for dinner only; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: Duomo
• Dress Code: None

Trendy spot serving modern Mediterranean cuisine in a restored Renaissance mansion. Downstairs is a jazz club, upstairs are three eye stopping penthouses for rent. Restaurant open for dinner only.

• Phone: 030-610182
• Fax: 030-6811009
• Visit Website

• Hours: Call for appointment to visit.
• Nearest Landmark: 14.4 kms. from Brescia on SS. 510
• Dress Code: None

This is a wonderful Benedictine abbey complex located near Brescia. Inside the monastery there is an antique book restoration laboratory and, following ancient recipes, a few monks still produce herbal liqueurs.

• Phone: 0577-835659

• Hours: Open daily till 6:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: 7 miles S. of Montalcino
• Dress Code: None

If you feel like stepping back in time, visit the (only) seven Augustinian monks living in this 12th century abbey. The monks maintain the tradition of Gregorian Chant, so don't miss the sung Mass, held Monday-Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Organ concerts are also held here in July and August. The abbey is located seven miles south of Montalcino: follow the signs for Castelnuovo dell'Abate.

• Phone: 0185-772703
• Fax: 0185-775883
• Visit Website
• Email: fai.sanfruttuoso@fondoambiente.it

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00AM-6:00PM, June-September; in October & in March-April daily except Monday 10:00AM-16; in May daily except Monday 10:00-6:00PM; closed month of November.
• Nearest Landmark: Monte di Portofino
• Dress Code: None

Between Camogli and Portofino, a deep inlet along the indented coastline of the promontory of Portofino is home to the famous abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte in the intact fishing village of the same name. Often a den of pirates and later the property of the Doria Princes, it is now administered by FAI. There are two equally scenic ways to reach the abbey at San Fruttuoso: by land or by sea: boats embark on the 30-minute trip at regular intervals from Camogli, Portofino, S.Margherita and Rapallo.

• Phone: 06-9459309 / 340-9619736 (cell phone)
• Fax: 06-9456734

• Hours: Open daily from 8:30AM-noon and 3:30-5:30PM. Guided visits Saturday and Sunday at 3:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Castelli Romani, 21 kms. from Rome
• Dress Code: None

The monastery of San Nilo lies at the cultural core of Grottaferrata. Founded in 1004, Byzantine-Greco liturgical practices are still carried out here today. There's an antique scriptorium where manuscripts were created while, in the middle of the last century, a printing press was installed for the production of liturgical books for the Eastern Church. The abbey is enclosed behind a 15th century wall punctuated by four soaring towers; Leonardo da Vinci's celebrated Codex Atlantico was restored here.

• Phone: 331-9960890
• Visit Website
• Email: turismo@museosetagarlate.it

• Hours: Open Saturday from 2:00-5:30PM, Sunday from 9:30AM-12:30PM & 2:30-6:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: 7 kms. S. of Lecco
• Dress Code: None

The Abegg Silk Museum is housed in a 17th century silk mill on Lake Garlate, a few miles south of Lake Como, in a beautiful site surrounded by mulberry trees. Opened in 1953 by the Abeggs, Swiss manufacturers who wanted to hand down the instruments and techniques created for silk industry throughout the centuries, the museum has a rich collection. Visitors can follow the main production steps: worm breeding, cocoon unwinding and silk twisting; there is also a weaving room. The museum is open from Tuesday-Sunday, but individuals can visit only on the weekends.

• Phone: 0575-733589
• Fax: 0575-744724
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open 10:00AM-1:00PM and 3:00-7:00PM
• Nearest Landmark: Historic Center
• Dress Code: None

Aboca is an internationally-known firm that cultivates 70 percent of its own product on 1,700 acres of organic herb farms in the Valtiberina right outside Sansepolcro. In the rooms of the stately Reniassance Palazzo Bourbon del Monte are displayed Aboca's interesting collection of books and historical artifacts related to the practice of herbal medicine. These include hand painted majolica pharmacy jars, glass beakers, scales, amulets and other curious items such as animal skeletons and even a mummified crocodile from the Indies that measures more than two meters long!

• Phone: 0541-53577
• Fax: 0541-55461
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acerorosso.it

• Hours: Open for dinner only except on Sundays and holidays; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Ponte di Tiberio
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Near Rimini's Ponte di Tiberio in the Borgo San Giuliano neighborhood, this restaurant is well known for its rotating thematic and/or seasonal menus featuring dishes like grilled sea scallops with fried onions or medallions of fois gras with a salad of fennel, candied oranges and liquorice sauce. Its named for the two red maples in the courtyard. Open only for dinner except for Sundays and holidays.

• Phone: 059-333015; 338-6575552
• Fax: 059-333015
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acetaiadigiorgio.it

• Hours: By advice reservation only; call or email to arrange a visit.
• Nearest Landmark: Via Emilia Ovest
• Dress Code: None

The tiny Acetaia di Giorgio is located under the roof of the old house (1870) of the 14 brothers and sisters in the Barbieri family, just at few kilometers from the center of Modena. It's still the home of Giorgio, a retired professional basketball player, his hospitable wife, Giovanna, and their daughter Carlotta; they will show you all the steps in the fascinating fermentation process of making genuine aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena. The tour starts up in the attic, with a series of increasingly-smaller wooden barrels where the vinegar is aged for at least 12 years. It concludes with a tasting of different varieties of this rich, syrupy liquid.

• Phone: 5946983
• Fax: 59.467568
• Visit Website
• Email: nfo@acetaiamalpighi.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Tues.
• Nearest Landmark: 7 Kms. From Modena (zona San Donnino)
• Dress Code: Casual

One of the city's most renowned makers of traditional aceto balsamico has now opened a restaurant in the countryside a few miles from Modena. As you can imagine, this precious liquid figures in many of the recipes served at this charming place. After your meal you can arrange to tour the acetaia which is right nearby in via A. Pica 310 (by appointment, weekdays only; call 059- 367763 or cell ph. 335-357489).

• Phone: 0836-801282
• Fax: 0836-801282

• Dress Code: Casual

With a panoramic terrace overlooking the port, this restaurant serves local pugliese dishes and seafood.

• Phone: 055-284170
• Fax: 055-2302696
• Visit Website
• Email: stefanoin@inwind.it

• Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner, 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7:30PM-1:00AM. Dinner only on Mondays.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza della Signoria
• Dress Code: Casual

An extremely popular restaurant due to its inexpensive but high quality menu. American study abroad students are frequent diners here but Select Italy clients have raved about the food, too. The favorites are "Assaggi di Primi" a sampler of five different pastas (a meal in itself) and the balsamic steak. The Acqua al 2 formula has proved so successful, that they've opened branches in San Diego, Ca. and Washington D.C. too. In Florence, it stays open till 1 a.m. so you can eat and drink into the wee hours. Serves dinner only; reservations recommended.

• Phone: 06-6864272
• Fax: 06-68199418
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acquamadre.it

• Hours: Women: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 11:00 AM-9:00 PM; Men Tuesday from 2:00-9:00 PM; Couples Thursday and Saturday from 11:00 AM-9:00 PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Ghetto/Piazza Mattei
• Dress Code: None

This hamman (Turkish bath) in the center of Rome was created from a medieval brick storehouse. There are separate hours for men, woman and couples who want to enjoy the cleansing benefits of this ancient ritual in a tranquil and beautiful setting. There's a Tepidarium (warm bath), a Calidarium (steam bath) and massages with Moroccan olive soap to open your pores to relax and cleanse you.

• Phone: 030-916044
• Visit Website
• Email: aquaria@termedisirmione.com

• Hours: Open in high season from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00AM-10:00PM, on Monday from 1:00PM-10:00PM; call for low season opening hours.
• Nearest Landmark: right outside the historic center, in the Colombare zone
• Dress Code: None

The renowned therapeutic properties of the thermal waters of the Boiola spring on Lake Garda's Sirmione promontory have been known since ancient Roman times. These hot, sulphurous waters have now been pumped into a series of outdoor and indoor swimming pools to create Acquaria at the Virgilio Spa Complex. The outdoor pool offers breathtaking views of Lake Garda, as well as separate hot tubs for various types of hydro-massage. Inside is an area for mud treatments and a cardio-vascular tub. A bar serves drinks, sandwiches and salads and, on summer evenings in July and August, a concert series is offered.

• Phone: 075-9652432
• Visit Website
• Email: ristorante.acquario@inwind.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Wednesday and from November-March, also on Tuesday.
• Nearest Landmark: Lake Trasimeno
• Dress Code: Casual

On the main drag of this lakeside town is this pretty place where Umbrian ingredients are combined in creative ways. Try the stracci con luccio e tartufi (hnadmade patsa with a sauce of truffles and pike) and the perch with lake shrimp. For dessert there's a unusual sweet made with carp eggs.

• Phone: 010-23451
• Fax: 010-256160
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily 9:00AM-7:30 PM, Thursday till 10:00PM and Saturday till 8:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Porto Antico
• Dress Code: None

Genoa's Aquarium Europe's largest in Europe and an ideal change of pace, especially if you're traveling with kids. Built in the shape of a huge ship and "docked" in the Porto Antico, it contains more than 6,000 marine animals representing 600 different species. Major attractions are the Medusa Tank, filled with delicate jellyfish; the Seal Tank, reproducing the bottom of the Sardinian reefs where Italy's only surviving seal populations live; and the Open Mediterranean Tank, an immense tank stocked with gray sharks and other open-water fish.

• Phone: 051-19931300
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acquarius.org

• Hours: Open 12:30-3:00PM and 7:30-midnight; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: Casual

Health food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bologna "La Grassa" but you can find it at this vegetarian and vegan restaurant that serves only organically-grown food purchased from small, local producers. Everything Chef Enzo Zaffoni makes tastes delicious and it's good for you too!

• Phone: 041-3195125
• Fax: 041-3195125
• Visit Website
• Email: info@acquastanca.it

• Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch, dinner served on Fridays; closed all day Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: surrounding islands
• Dress Code: None

Right off Calle dell'Olio, this small and stylish restaurant on Murano is housed in a former bakery. Chef Caterina Nason focuses on simple preparations of seafood, including a buttery and perfectly briny spaghetti alle vongole; crispy orata (sea bream), baked in the oven with potatoes; and tagliolini with squid. Her house-made desserts shouldn't be missed so save room for daily selections like lemon meringue cake, tiramisu, and the creamy coffee coviglia. The wine list is culled mainly from the nearby regions of Veneto, Friuli and Trentino Alto Adige. Open only for lunch, with the exception of Friday when dinner is also served.

• Phone: 02-654030
• Fax: 02-29002843
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ad56milano.it

• Hours: Open 10:00AM-7:15PM and 2:00-7:00PM; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: Quadrilatero d'Oro, Pinacoteca di Brera, Museo di Storia Naturale
• Dress Code: None

AD56 is the place where Lapo Elkann, the style-obsessed Fiat heir, orders his custom-made shirts. These hand-sewn, button-down shirts are sturdy and beautifully made; they define what is best about Milanese style. The shop sells ties and accessories, too, as well as a few items for women.

• Phone: 081-8371380
• Fax: 081-8382684
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner; closed from November to March.
• Nearest Landmark: Blue Grotto
• Dress Code: Casual

This is a family-owned restaurant in Anacapri with a shady vine covered terrace overlooking the sea and the Blue Grotto. There is direct access to the sea down two ramps of stairs, and the sea is where all the products served here come from: only the freshest fish and seafood are served in a incomparable setting of great beauty.

• Phone: 0471-775001
• Fax: 0471-775555
• Visit Website
• Email: info@adler-dolomiti.com

• Hours: Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

Reserve a table at one of the two restaurants at this 5-star spa hotel, the Balance and the Main. They offer a blend of light Mediterranean fare prepared using fresh, seasonal produce with the traditional dishes of South Tyrol, resulting in a healthy and delicious gourmet cuisine that promotes wellbeing of body and soul. The Adler's 4- or 5-course

• Phone: 021-398560
• Visit Website
• Email: restaurantadriatic@yahoo.com

• Hours: Open daily from 12:00PM-midnight.
• Nearest Landmark: ACI Marina Split
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Located on a cliff overlooking the islands of Solta, Brac and Ciovo, Restaurant Adriatic has been one of the stars of Split's dining scene for the past two decades. Serving a selection of traditional Dalmatian dishes and the best of French cuisine, this is the place where locals come to celebrate special occasions. Try their "nedovrseni strudel" for an unparalleled dessert experience.

• Phone: +385-610644

• Hours: Open daily, 9:00AM - 1:00AM
• Nearest Landmark: Saint Domnius Cathedral
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Visit the Adriatic Sushi & Oyster bar if you are craving some fresh Ston oysters or sushi. The family who run this place ensures that all their fish and shellfish are caught daily. You can have oysters as they are, or in a tempura sauce, and follow it up with the excellent sushi and sashimi. All the food goes wonderfully with a chilled Croatian white wine. The service is friendly and professional and the setting is absolutely divine, with views of the cathedral from its outdoor tables. Choose between tempura, sushi or even something more local such as cheese and prosciutto. Positioned in the old town's "get" (ghetto), this newly opened restaurant is chic and romantic with excellent service, serving only the freshest fish and seafood.

• Phone: 06-4466115
• Fax: 06-4465842
• Visit Website
• Email: ristorante@agataeromeo.it

• Hours: Monday to Friday 12:30PM-2:30PM and 7:30PM-11:30PM; closed Saturday and Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: Santa Maria Maggiore
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

This striking duplex restaurant is named for the two owners, Romeo in the dining room and his wife, Agata, at the stove. The food shows a sophisticated use of traditional Roman ingredients: pasta garnished with broccoli and cauliflower and served in skate broth, or medallions of tuna coated with sesame seeds and served in a sweet and sour sauce. For dessert, consider Agata's homemade millefoglie, a puff pastry stuffed with almonds and sweetened cream. Well-stocked wine cellar.

• Phone: 392-1179746; 095-7633933
• Visit Website
• Email: ciro@levignebiondi.it

• Hours: Open Saturday, 9:30AM-12:30PM & 3:00-5:00PM, on Thurs., Fri., Mon. & Tues. afternoons only till 6:30PM; closed Wed. & Sun.
• Nearest Landmark: 11 km N. of Catania
• Dress Code: None

The Biondi family cellar in Trecastagni dates back to the 17th century. Here, Ciro and Stephanie, his British wife, make 12,000 bottles of volcanic Etna wine each year using sustainable methods. In this the wildly beautiful place on the eastern flank of the volcano they produce white Chianta and red Cisterna Fuori DOC wines, as well as their signature Outis wine; wine tastings and cellar visits can be arranged by email.

• Phone: 040-565411
• Fax: 040-565555
• Visit Website
• Email: info@agliamici.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Monday, Sunday evening and, from June-September, also Sunday at lunch.
• Nearest Landmark: 6 kms. from Udine
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Refined cooking and excellent service are the hallmarks of this one-star Michelin restaurant right outside Udine. It is the best place in town to try creative specialties like goose fois gras marinated in Verduzzo wine or a soup of spring herbs with red mullet. Reservations recommended.

• Phone: 095-7233010
• Fax: 095-2349029
• Visit Website
• Email: info@agorahostel.com

• Hours: Open daily from 12:00PM-3:30AM.
• Nearest Landmark: fish market
• Dress Code: None

The bar of the Agor

• Phone: 091-309636
• Fax: 091-7306860
• Visit Website
• Email: francesca@agricantus.org

• Hours: Open daily, 8:00PM-1:30AM.
• Dress Code: None

Agricantus is one of the liveliest places in Palermo. It attracts people of all ages and you never know what might be happening here on the night of your visit - maybe classical music, jazz, pop or even theater. A good place to spend a night out on the town in a city not known for its nightlife.

• Phone: 011-9452651
• Fax: 011-9452651
• Visit Website
• Email: info@agrigelateria.eu

• Hours: Open daily, 10:30AM-midnight from May 1 to mid-September, fall and spring open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays only; closed months of November-December-January.
• Nearest Landmark: 18 miles from Turin
• Dress Code: None

If Old MacDonald had a farm, he'd love this place - a real "gelato farm" only 18 miles from Turin! The milk from which the ice cream is made is provided daily by the farm's contented cows, while the blueberries, strawberries and apricots in the fruit-flavored gelato are grown right here. Nocciola gelato uses only hazelnuts from the nearby Langhe, while pistachio nuts from Bronte in Sicily are flown in for the pistachio flavor. Worth a detour!

• Phone: 045-6000830; 334-8014333
• Fax: 045-6000830
• Email: agostinoumbertofedrigo@alice.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; closed Monday-Thursday.
• Nearest Landmark: halfway between Verona & Lake Garda
• Dress Code: None

Ca dell'Ara is a friendly, family-run agriturismo (farmhouse with restaurant service) in the heart of Valpolicella, situated in the vineyards right outside the village of Negrar. The owner produces Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto wine in the cellar underneath the dining room and you can still see grapes drying on traditional wooden racks in the backyard. Dishes include homemade focaccia with salumi, gnocchi di malga (mountain-style gnocchi), fresh pasta with duck sauce, grilled pork sausages and home-baked cakes studded with Amarone raisins. Average price is about 15 euro per person, including wine, and reservations are highly recommended.

• Phone: 0322-905280
• Fax: 0322-060127
• Email: posta@spirolazzigiulio.com

• Hours: Open Thursday-Sunday only; closed the month of February.
• Nearest Landmark: Lake Orta
• Dress Code: None

The restaurant of the Agriturismo Il Cucchiaio di Legno ("wooden spoon") at Legro above Lake Orta provides a really special gastronomic experience at an incredibly low price. The handwritten menu offers delights like seafood risotto, salami and cheeses from the local valleys and home-grown produce from their farm. The desserts are homemade, too, and the wines are all from Piedmont. In summer, there's outdoor dining on the veranda or in gazebos scattered around the garden. Open Thursday through Sunday only; reservations recommended.

• Phone: 075-8064280
• Fax: 075-8064280
• Visit Website
• Email: info@malverina.it

• Hours: Open for dinner by advance reservation only.
• Nearest Landmark: 5 kms. from Assisi
• Dress Code: None

Agriturismo Malvarina, a few kilometers from Assisi, is a great place to enjoy wholesome Italian food and wine in front of a roaring fire for only 30 euros per head. Claudio and his mother, Maria, are your genial hosts and most of the produce they serve comes direct from the farm. Finish your meal a glass or two of "centerbe" - a liqueur made from "one hundred herbs." Reservations required; the restaurant is open for dinner by advance reservation only.

• Phone: +39-380-7283887
• Visit Website
• Email: gisellu.g@libero.it

• Hours: Open daily; call for an appointment to visit.
• Nearest Landmark: 15 minutes by car from the Golfo di Orosei
• Dress Code: None

Situated between a lake and mountains, among the uncontaminated natural wonders of Dorgali province, is this agriturismo of 124 acres where guests can experience the typical flora and fauna of the region. Those visiting the agritursimo have the opportunity to see how fresh pecorino cheese and ricotta is made, and eat local products such as cured meats, cheeses, bread, and honey accompanied by their homemade wine.

• Phone: 070-791332; mobile 347-5348234
• Fax: 070-791332

• Hours: Dinner only, advance reservations necessary; closed Wednesday.
• Nearest Landmark: 47 kms. SE of Cagliari
• Dress Code: None

This small, rustic restaurant in the countryside not far from the resort of Villasimius is well-known for their "porcheddu," or traditional spit roast suckling pig. Dinner is an abundant set price menu with four courses and wine included. A wonderful spot for meat, in an area full of fish and seafood locales. Dinner is served nightly at 8:00pm in high season, but get there early to watch your dinner being roasted in the fire pit - that's part of the fun! Reservations essential.

• Phone: 0783-95339
• Fax: 0783-95339
• Visit Website

• Hours: Call for an appointment to visit.
• Nearest Landmark: 7 kms. from the nuraghe di Barumini
• Dress Code: None

Turri is famous throughout the island for its saffron fields and you can purchase it at Su Massaiu, along with organic produce including dry land cultivated melons, dried lentils, almonds, vegetables and jams grown right on the farm. A saffron festival is held in Turri the 2nd Sunday in November.

• Phone: 059-926806
• Fax: 059-926620
• Email: gaidello@tin.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Sunday evening and Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: halfway between Bologna and Modena
• Dress Code: Casual

There's no menu at this agriturismo halfway between Bologna and Modena that serves abundant farmhouse meals in an old brick farm building; seven courses follow one after the other and everything is homemade right on the premises. Reservations required.

• Phone: 0932-1846762
• Visit Website
• Email: agrodolceragusa@gmail.com

• Hours: Open 4:00PM-midnight, Fri., Sat. & Sun. stays open till 2:00AM; closed Tuesday.
• Nearest Landmark: Ragusa Superiore
• Dress Code: None

This sophisticated teahouse in Ragusa Superiore is the perfect place to stop for refreshment in the afternoon or evening. A careful selection of 45 teas, along with wine and beer, is offered while appetizers and desserts, made with ingredients from local producers, round out the menu.

• Phone: 091-6519804
• Fax: 091-6526212

• Hours: Open for lunch only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, Thursday-Saturday open also for dinner; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: flea market
• Dress Code: None

Located in the heart of Palermo's antiques-shop district, this is one of the last restaurants in town to follow the traditional Sicilian housewives' habit of daily market visits. Every day the owners choose the best products available in the nearby Mercato del Capo (the local open air market) and that's what appears on the day's menu. For dessert, don't miss the tangy sorbetti agli agrumi (citrus sorbets). Open only for lunch except from Thursday-Saturday.

• Phone: 081-8370320
• Visit Website
• Email: rist.faraglioni@libero.it

• Hours: Open daily noon-3:00PM and 7:30-11:30PM.
• Nearest Landmark: main street of Capri
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Ai Faraglioni is a pretty place with sidewalk tables in little huts covered by grass-cloth awnings and wisteria, however, the food doesn't always live up to the quaint setting. It's the usual island fare - linguine with lobster, seafood crepes, fisherman's risotto, grilled or baked fish - plus an assortment of meat dishes such as pappardelle (wide noddles) with rabbit sauce. Recent reports say the place is a Capri fashion victim: too well-located and too available to undiscerning tourism. Reservations required

• Phone: 041-5286396
• Fax: 041-5210075
• Visit Website
• Email: info@aigondolieri.it

• Hours: Open 12:00PM-3:00PM and 7:00PM-10:00PM; closed Tuesday and in July & August, serves dinner only.
• Nearest Landmark: Accademia
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Sick of fish? Then this is the place to come: meat dishes and food from the mainland are menu mainstays here. Despite the tourist-trap name, it's a favorite with Venetians. Feast on filetto di maiale con castraure (pork fillet with baby artichokes), duck breast with apple and sweet onion, or more traditional dishes from the Veneto hills such as horse meat, wild game, gnocchi and polenta. The wine list is above average in quality and variety.

• Phone: 06-68802783
• Visit Website

• Nearest Landmark: Piazza Navona
• Dress Code: None

The Tre Fontane (three fountains) Abbey is located in a small valley on the ancient Laurentina way, and has been producing chocolate for over 100 years. The most ancient name of this area is Acque Salvie (where the factory is located) - the name has been linked to the lush and healthy water springs, still to be found today. 
Maybe this pure spring water is what makes the abbey's chocolate so special; it is made following an ancient recipe brought here by a Dutch Trappist monk. Other products from Italian monasteries can also be purchased in this charming, wood paneled shop right off the Piazza Navona that dates back to 1894.

• Phone: 041-5206978
• Fax: 041-5206978

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Sunday and in June.
• Nearest Landmark: Campo Santa Margherita
• Dress Code: Casual

Barbara and Davide manage this friendly neighborhood osteria near Campo San Barnaba with great attention to tradition. The all-seafood menu is not large, but it changes daily according to what looks good that day in the market. Finish your meal with a glass of the sweet dessert wine, fragolino, accompanied by Venetian cookies. No credit cards.

• Phone: 019-680540

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Sunday evening and all day Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: 3 kms. inland from the beach resort of Finale Ligure
• Dress Code: None

This tiny osteria is tucked away in a side street just off one of the large piazzas of this charming medieval village. Antipasti consist of a selection of traditional farinata, torta pasqualina and torta verde baked in a wood-fired oven - delicious and filling; enough for a light meal. You can follow up with one of their excellent pasta dishes or a soup, and/or a typical Ligurian second course such as rabbit or seppie (squid). The service is friendly and helpful. Recommended!

• Phone: 06-7096309
• Fax: 06-7096309
• Visit Website
• Email: info@ai3scalini.com

• Hours: Open 11:00AM-4:00PM and 6:30PM-12:30AM; closed on Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Colosseum
• Dress Code: Casual

A high-quality restaurant near the touristy Colosseum is a pleasant surprise. Ai Tre Scalini serves creative Mediterranean cuisine; their pasta dishes include small saffron gnocchi with squid and artichokes, and an unusual but delicious radicchio and cheese-stuffed zagnolotti (small ravioli) in lobster sauce. For your second course, try the savory loin of lamb with bacon in a wild berry sauce. Outdoor tables are available during nice weather.

• Phone: 091-585606 Cell. 333 2244677
• Visit Website
• Email: info@aivecchietti.it

• Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
• Nearest Landmark: at Via Paternostro; near Politeama Square
• Dress Code: Casual

A rustic but elegant restaurant in the center of Palermo where you can dine on the creative seafood dishes prepared by chefs Maurizio and Laura. Good wine cellar of predominantly Sicilian wines. Reserve a table outside in Piazza Oliva.

• Phone: 055-8547115 / 055-630498
• Fax: 055-630611
• Visit Website
• Email: info@aiadeicanti.it

• Hours: Open for dinner only and for Sunday lunch; closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Dress Code: Casual

A trattoria installed inside the walls of the historic castle of Lamole, which dates from the year 1200. Hallmark of this friendly place is the popular Tuscan music that accompanies your meal; it's performed by Riccardo Marasco and his son, Iacopo, both well-known local personalities and musicians. Rounding out this trio is Chef Stefano Lisci who proposes an array of traditional dishes using the freshest ingredients of both the Chianti and Lucchese regions. There's a terrace overlooking the wooded heart of Chianti. Dinner only except for Sunday lunch.

• Phone: 095-315444
• Visit Website
• Email: info@cortilealessi.it

• Hours: Open 8:00PM-1:00AM; closed Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center near Via Crociferi
• Dress Code: None

Catanians of all ages flock here on weekend evenings, drawn by the excellent pizzas, the draft beer and the relaxed atmosphere. Grab a table in the outdoor courtyard, with its banana trees and overhanging silk tapestries. There's also a stylish lounge bar where cocktails and wine by the glass is served. Open for dinner only.

• Phone: 0432-955019

• Hours: Closed Thursday.
• Nearest Landmark: on the road to Rodeano
• Dress Code: None

San Daniele is synonymous with prosciutto and the whole hams with the trotter still attached are a familar sight around town. So are the prosciutterie where you can taste the fine hams produced in the almost 30 factories here. Al Baccaro serves prosciutto from the Coradazzi factory in a large glass-walled room with a view of the mountains. Depending on the season, the ham is accompanied by fresh pineapple, kiwi, figs or melon, and they also serve excellent burrata cheese from Puglia and grilled vegetables. In nice weather you can eat outside.

• Phone: 040-301771

• Hours: Open noon-2:30PM and 7:00PM-midnight; closed Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center, on the corner of Via Cadorna
• Dress Code: Casual

Cozy little restaurant where you can taste the traditional seafood dishes of Trieste like risotto ai frutti di mare, laden with tiny shrimp and squid from the Gulf of Trieste, and the house frittura mista, a heaping plate of delicately fried fish and seafood. Excellent wine list and cordial service. Reservations recommended.

• Phone: 051-235267
• Fax: 051-6561878
• Visit Website
• Email: info@albalanzone.com

• Hours: Open 9:00AM-1:00PM and 3:30-7:30PM; closed Thursday afternoon and all day Sunday.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza Cavour
• Dress Code: None

Since 1870 this famous stationary store in the heart of Bologna has sold fine pens, papers, desk sets, briefcases and leather goods to a discerning clientele. A good place to get personal or business cards printed in a variety of type faces; they also print and design wedding invitations.

• Phone: 0376-60007
• Fax: 0376-689589

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Monday and Tuesday at lunch (from January-March closed also Tuesday evening).
• Nearest Landmark: 16 kms. from Mantua, at Ponte Sul Mincio
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

At this restaurant right outside Mantua, tables are set out on the banks of the river Mincio, and you dine in a decidedly romantic atmosphere. Products typical of the region - frogs, fresh water fish, rice and farmyard animals like rabbit or chicken - are the basis of the cuisine. Some dishes hark back to the culinary tradition of the princely court in Mantua or to Jewish tradition. Finish your meal with any one of a number of exquisite desserts, like a focaccia of almonds and hazelnuts accompanied by fruit marinated in balsamic vinegar and Moscato sherbet.

• Phone: 011-4369325
• Visit Website

• Hours: Open Thursday-Saturday from 8:30 AM-7:30 PM, on Sunday from 8:30 AM-1:00PM and 3:00-7:30 PM; closed Wednesday.
• Nearest Landmark: Duomo
• Dress Code: None

This historic cafe in the center of Turin opened its doors in 1763 and all the charm of the 18th century is retained in its decor of dark wood, mirrors and period lighting. Order a bicchierino (literally, "little glass"), an addictive mixture of chocolate, coffee and whipped cream served in a not-so-little glass. These same ingredients are used in the torta bicerin, a sinfully rich cake.

• Phone: 0437-926755
• Fax: 0437-926411
• Visit Website
• Email: alborgosnc@libero.it

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Monday evening and Tuesday.
• Nearest Landmark: near the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi
• Dress Code: Casual

Al Borgo's cuisine reflects the landscape of the Dolomite's Val Belluna where herbs, mushrooms and traditional local vegetables such as potatoes, corn and beans are grown. This is the land of the prized red Lamon bean but meat eaters will enjoy the mountain game (deer, chamois and roe deer), cooked to perfection by the kitchen staff led by Renato De Salvador and Flora Battiston. This is home cooking at its best and the setting, a stupendous villa with 18th century wrought-iron balconies, is unforgettable.

• Phone: 040-303001
• Fax: 040-823863

• Hours: Open for lunch and dinner; closed Sunday, Monday and from 25 June-10 July.
• Nearest Landmark: Molo Pescheria
• Dress Code: Casual

This trattoria near the Molo Pescheria (fisherman's quay) serves some of the best fish and seafood in town. The self-service antipasto bar is a great way to sample a selection of Triestine specialties. The sidewalk tables facing the port are perfect for summer dining.

• Phone: 06-6879533
• Fax: 06-6879533
• Visit Website
• Email: info@albric.it

• Hours: Open 7:30PM-midnight, Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Monday.
• Nearest Landmark: Piazza Navona
• Dress Code: Casual Elegant

Al Bric is a wine bar serving food, installed in three artfully minimalist dining rooms in a 16th century building not far from Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori. Many of the dishes include dollops of goat cheese, herbed cheese or French Brie, flavors that enhance the taste of every wine. The beef filet Strogonoff with Barolo sauce and Parmesan shavings is delicious. Serves dinner only; the lively happy hour from 7:30-8:30pm is a nice time to stop in for a drink.

• Phone: 0532-471225
• Visit Website
• Email: fred.brindisi@libero.it

• Dress Code: Casual

For a glass of wine or a light lunch in a historic setting, go to Al Brindisi right next to the Duomo. The owner, Federico Pellegrini, offers tasting menus in honor of such luminaries as Benvenuto Cellini, Ludovico Ariosto, Tiziano Vecellio and Torquato Tasso, all of whom were guests of this osteria. It bills itself as "the world's oldest inn" and dates back to 1435; the original name was Osteria del Chiuchilino (from "ciuc," meaning drunk!).

• Phone: 02-863015
• Fax: 02-72008462
• Visit Website
• Email: info@alcantinone.it

• Hours: Open daily from noon-3:00PM and 7:00-11:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: Duomo
• Dress Code: Casual

One of the oldest restaurants in Milan, Il Cantinone is located in a 17th century palace near the Duomo and La Scala. The traditional, regional cuisine is superb and there's an atmospheric wine cellar too, where you can taste an array of fine Italian wines, with a special emphasis on those from the vineyards around Asti in Piedmont.

• Phone: 095-320555
• Fax: 095-320555

• Hours: Open daily from 6:00AM-10:00PM, on weekends open till 11:00PM.
• Nearest Landmark: historic center
• Dress Code: None

An old-style pasticceria dating from the 1920's, this cafe is highly recommended. Located on the central Via Etnea, it's the perfect place to come during early evening passeggiata. Try the cannoli or a selection of mini-tarts filled with fresh fruit. They serve gelato, too, in traditional Sicilian flavors like gelso (mulberry) and cedro (citron). Check out the collection of drawings and lithographs by Renato Guttoso in the back room.