Italy’s tumultuous history can be traced through its food. In an epic scooter trip from the Ionian Sea to the far north, distiguished food writer Matthew Fort explores the local gastronomy and culinary culture of a country where regional differences are vibrantly alive.

Replete with authentic Siclian recipes culled directly from the out of the way island stoves and cafe kitchens that cook them, Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons presents a travelogue for seasoned travelers, and lovers of all things Italian. At the age of twenty-six Matthew Fort first visited the island of Sicily. He and his brother arrived in 1973 expecting sun, sea and good food, but they were totally unprepared for the lifelong effect of this most extraordinary place. Thirty years later and a bit wiser—but no less hungry—Matthew finally returns. Travelling around the island on his scooter, Monica, he samples exquisite antipasti in rundown villages and delicate pastries in towns tumbling down vertical hillsides, and goes fishing for anchovies underneath a sky scattered with stars. Once again this enigmatic island casts its spell as Matthew rediscovers its beauty, the intensity of its flavors, and finds himself digging into the darkness of Sicily's past as well as some mysteries of his own.

How regional Italian cuisine became the main ingredient in the nation's political and cultural development.

The standard mode of transportation for decades in Europe, motor scooter was a cult "fun" vehicle in the USA until the past two years. With oil prices soaring and the 20-to-40 set looking for alternative means of commuter (and weekend cruising) travel, motor scooter have exploded across the United States. In 2001, less than 30,000 scooters cruised U.S. roadways. In 2005, over 100,000 are road-bound, and the number is growing by double digits each year. Beginning at $1,000 and ranging up over $5,000, dozens of models of scooters are available, as are thousands of accessories. And scooter clubs meet from San Diego to Bangor, Maine. Every year, the largest gathering of motor scooters takes place in Indianapolis, speed capital of the world. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motor Scootersis the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of motor scooting.

Naples was conventionally the southernmost stop of the Grand Tour beyond which, it was assumed, lay violent disorder: earthquakes, malaria, bandits, inhospitable inns, few roads and appalling food. On the other hand, Southern Italy lay at the heart of Magna Graecia, whose legends were hard-wired into the cultural imaginations of the educated. This book studies the British travellers who visited Italy's Southern territories. Spanning the late eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, the author considers what these travellers discovered, not in the form of a survey, but as a series of unfolding impressions disclosing multiple Southern Italies. Of the numerous travellers analysed within this volume, the central figures are Henry Swinburne, Craufurd Tait Ramage and Norman Douglas, whose Old Calabria (1915) remains in print. Their appeal is that they take the region seriously: Southern Italy wasn't simply a testing ground for their superior sensibilities, it was a vibrant curiosity, unknown but within reach. Was the South simply behind on the road to European integration; or was it beyond a fault line, representing a viable alternative to Northern neuroses? The travelogues analysed in this book address a wide variety of themes which continue to shape discussions about European identity today.

This compact, pocket-sized Italian Lakes travel guidebook is ideal for travellers on shorter trips, who want to make sure they experience the destination’s highlights. The book includes highly practical, ready-made walks and tours that allow you to organise your short break in the Italian Lakes without losing time planning. This Italian Lakes pocket guidebook covers: The Borromean Islands, Stresa and Angera Castle, Monte Mottarone, Santa Caterina, Villa Taranto and Lake Mergozzo, Lake Maggiore Express, Lake Orta, Varese and Lake Lugano, Villa Carlotta and Bellagio, Como Town and Brunate Cable-car, Ramo di Como and Villa del Balbianello, Bergamo, Lake Iseo, The Franciacorta Wine Trail, Sirmione, Lake Garda Cruise, Gardone Riviera, A Taste of Trentino and Milan. Inside this Italian Lakes travel book, you will find: 18 ready-made walks and tours – easy-to-follow walking and driving tour itineraries featuring the best places to visit, as well as what to do and where to eat along the way Itinerary details – each walk or tour starts with pointers on the time taken, distance covered and how to connect with other itineraries in the book Things not to miss in Italian Lakes – Ferry trips, castles, escaping the crowds, food and wine, island hopping, shopping, villas and gardens Curated recommendations of places – main attractions, off-the-beaten-track adventures, child-friendly family activities, chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots Historical and cultural insights – thematic articles highlight Italian Lakes’s unique life and culture Unique hotel, restaurant and nightlife listings – curated details of where to stay, eat and go out, whatever your interest, for a range of budgets Practical information – how to get there, how to get around and an A–Z of essential details Meticulous mapping – practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered sights relating to major points of interest and places to eat or drink in the main itinerary text Fully updated post-COVID-19

Successfully navigate the rich world of travel narratives and identify fiction and nonfiction read-alikes with this detailed and expertly constructed guide. Just as savvy travelers make use of guidebooks to help navigate the hundreds of countries around the globe, smart librarians need a guidebook that makes sense of the world of travel narratives. Going Places: A Reader's Guide to Travel Narratives meets that demand, helping librarians assist patrons in finding the nonfiction books that most interest them. It will also serve to help users better understand the genre and their own reading interests. The book examines the subgenres of the travel narrative genre in its seven chapters, categorizing and describing approximately 600 titles according to genres and broad reading interests, and identifying hundreds of other fiction and nonfiction titles as read-alikes and related reads by shared key topics. The author has also identified award-winning titles and spotlighted further resources on travel lit, making this work an ideal guide for readers' advisors as well a book general readers will enjoy browsing.