| When travelers think of historic Italian
| |
| | complimentary hotel bicycles, we were
|
| cities, they often think of Florence,
| |
| | able to bike to the Balloon Festival.
|
| Rome, and Venice. But for those who know
| |
| | The region of Emilia Romagna is known
|
| the real Italy, there are other
| |
| | world-wide for its food, and our dinner
|
| incalculable riches. One such treasure
| |
| | at the Big Night Ristorante (+39 0532 242
|
| is the town of Ferrara, protected by
| |
| | 367), a restaurant that shares an
|
| UNESCO on the World Cultural Heritage
| |
| | entrance and collaborative relationship
|
| list as a priceless example of a living,
| |
| | with the hotel, was no exception. We ate
|
| breathing work of Renaissance art.
| |
| | a crostata salata di ricotta, which is a
|
| A vast portion of the town survives from
| |
| | ricotta pie topped with grilled
|
| the middle ages and in the off-season,
| |
| | radicchio. This was followed by
|
| before the arrival of eager tourists, a
| |
| | pasticcio di macaroni alla ferrarese con
|
| quiet morning walk in the pedestrian
| |
| | tartufo, a wonderful macceroni pasta with
|
| center along the cobble-stoned streets
| |
| | truffles covered by paper thin and crispy
|
| and brick and stone palazzos will bring
| |
| | pasta dough. Our second course was
|
| you back hundreds of years to a less
| |
| | filetto di manzo in crosta con punte
|
| complicated existence. Now picture a
| |
| | asparagi, crema di Roquefort profumato al
|
| crisp cool day in September and try to
| |
| | tartufo nero, which is a beef fillet in
|
| imagine the sky above that beautiful city
| |
| | pastry with white asparagus tips, a hint
|
| filled with the dancing colors of hot air
| |
| | of Roquefort and black truffles.
|
| balloons. First one, then five, twenty,
| |
| | All dishes melted in our mouths and were
|
| then thirty.
| |
| | some of the finest I have tasted. The
|
| Alex and I braved an actual take-off, but
| |
| | entire dinner was topped off with a
|
| even from the ground, the festival is
| |
| | chocolate masterpiece, dolcetto di
|
| filled with sights and sounds that most
| |
| | cioccolato fondente con crema alla
|
| of us are not used to experiencing in
| |
| | vaniglia, gelato di pistachio e curry
|
| every day life. Imagine a flaccid piece
| |
| | indiano. If you can picture this, it was
|
| of colored parachute-like material,
| |
| | a warm chocolate cupcake with a liquid
|
| slowly inflating to a balloon the size of
| |
| | center, with vanilla cream, homemade
|
| a three story building and then float off
| |
| | pistachio ice cream and Indian curry. It
|
| into the sky amid the sound and sight of
| |
| | would be the one food I would request
|
| the flaming forced air entering it.
| |
| | should I have the misfortune to find
|
| Let's face it, your adrenaline is going
| |
| | myself on death-row some day. The chef,
|
| even if you are not one the lucky ones to
| |
| | Fabio Zanella, is sure to have been
|
| take a celestial journey. It's not
| |
| | scooped up an aggressive hotelier
|
| necessary to wait until next year.
| |
| | somewhere else in the world, were it not
|
| Ferrara has many other sites, none of
| |
| | for the fact that he was born and bred in
|
| which should be missed. But should you
| |
| | Ferrara and reluctant to leave.
|
| decide to combine your trip with the
| |
| | Ferrara has many other sites, none of
|
| experience of the magnificent
| |
| | which should be missed. They include La
|
| "mongolfiere," the hot air balloons will
| |
| | Pinacoteca Nazionale (The National
|
| be waiting for you next September.
| |
| | Picture Gallery), a home for a panorama
|
| Our favorite hotel is Hotel Ferrara
| |
| | of paintings from the mediaeval era to
|
| (+39) 0532-20.50.48, in the historical
| |
| | the 18th century and many other beautiful
|
| center in the main piazza overlooking the
| |
| | museums. The most heart-rendering,
|
| Castello Estense an imposing 14th century
| |
| | however, and one not to be missed by
|
| castle and the symbol of power and
| |
| | those exploring their Jewish heritage is
|
| refinement of the historical presence of
| |
| | that of the Jewish Ghetto, beautifully
|
| Ferrara. There could be no better base
| |
| | preserved with its three synagogues.
|
| for a visit of the town. Using the
| |
| |
|
