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