Over the coming summer, many people travel south to Tessin, often into Italy. There, they can be enchanted by Italian cuisine. In this article, we’ll show you which restaurant offers what

Nothing beats an old family recipe, and our southern neighbors have plenty of those. Anyone who has ever vacationed in Italy may have wondered what the different restaurants are all about. There’s the osteria, the trattoria, the ristorante, the enoteca, and the taverna.

But what do these names mean? And what kind of food is served in each restaurant? We’ll show you the small but subtle differences that exist from concept to concept.

The Restaurant

The classic restaurant. Usually a bit more upscale, but not always. Here you’ll often find an extensive menu and a diverse wine selection. Service is usually provided at the table.

Here, a meal is often structured over several courses. It’s not mandatory, but traditionally, you’ll have an antipasto (starter), followed by a primo piatto (first main course), and a secondo piatto (second main course).

The Trattoria

The trattoria could be described as the heart of everyday cuisine. Usually a simple, small, family-run restaurant, where taste takes precedence over glamour. Regional specialties and dishes are served, the atmosphere is very informal, and you often feel like you’re staying with friends. The menus are usually small and seasonal, and you can often find reasonably priced food.

The ambiance is rather rustic and cozy, with checkered tablecloths. Many trattorias have been family-owned for generations. Here, you’ll find tourists and locals, construction workers sitting next to bankers—all enjoying the good food.

The Osteria

Osterias also focus on select, local cuisine. Often family-run, they serve a cozy atmosphere. The osteria was originally a tavern that primarily served wine, and at most a few simple dishes to keep you hydrated. Today, it has evolved, but has remained true to its original, uncomplicated spirit. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a rather rustic feel. The decor is simple, lacking in luxury, but with maximum charm and authenticity. The menu features homemade, local specialties, usually with a daily special. Portions can sometimes be smaller than in a trattoria, because the focus isn’t solely on the food.

In summary, the boundaries are often blurred these days. Many modern osterias now offer a full menu, and trattorias can almost feel like restaurants. The difference lies more in philosophy than in fixed rules.

The Enoteca

It is a combination of an upscale wine shop, a delicatessen, and a restaurant.

Foto by Sun-Sentinel

Posted in the Sun-Sentinel Newspaper, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

You can read the write-up by clicking here, or on the picture!

Matera in the Basilica region of southern Italy is famous for its livable caves. That includes also the 18 rooms and suites of the popular Hotel Sextantio – situated in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy, just north of Matera, a very impressive, different way and style to stay in a hotel, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 

Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village. It is located in the mountains of Abruzzo at 1250 meters above sea level, inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. The village is a classic example of an Italian medieval hill town, with perimeter walls encircling houses and squares. During the last century, the “modernization” of rural Italy compromised the architectural heritage of many of its countryside villages and towns.

But Santo Stefano, like many more remote Mediterranean mountain villages, was deserted when its impoverished inhabitants left in search of work. Paradoxically, the abandonment saved the town from architectural abuse.

The project to conserve and revive Santo Stefano as an “albergo diffuso” involved a detailed plan to preserve the integrity of the village and its surrounding landscape. Working alongside local organizations such as the town mayor and the national park, we proposed special laws to prohibit any new construction. Our aim was to bring the village back to life and to welcome tourists, but without sacrificing Santo Stefano’s identity.

To retain Santo Stefano’s local character all modern technology is hidden. They searched out original architectural materials, and the furniture and textiles are authentic items from the Abruzzo mountains.

They have preserved traces of bygone countryside life in the fabric of the buildings – symbols of hardship that evoke the spirit of ancient rural life.

The interior design of the rooms is inspired by pictures that Paul Scheuermeier, a Swiss linguist, took in Abruzzo in the 20s of the twentieth century. 

To preserve the unity of the interior aesthetic-affective and avoid the over-use of contemporary elements, they used native objects, often stored in museums, and ancient and traditional local materials.

Watch a virtual tour of the hotel here

Address: Hotel Sextantio – Via Principe Umberto, 67020 Santo Stefano di Sessanio AQ, Italy

Telefon: +39 0862 899112 

eMail: santostefano@sextantio.it

Hotel Sextantio Website

and it was amazing! I loved the vibrant, exciting lifestyle of this city. The shops are absolutely amazing with all the top names in fashion, my favorite place was sitting by the plaza next to the Cathedrale; what an amazing structure! I could have sat there all day people watching, they come from all over the world to visit this place.

We sat near the Cathedrale on the terrace of this restaurant and had the best pizza I ever ate, and I have eaten quite a few, and also made quite a few! this one was perfect¨, the crust was light on the inside and crusty on the outside, the toppings were fresh Pomodoro, a great quality mozzarella, and fresh basil.

I was a bit worried about driving into the city after hearing some of the comments from friends that visited before, but to my surprise, it was easier than driving around Zürich in Switzerland where you really have to watch out for pedestrians (they are the kings when it comes to the right of way¨) plus the trams and buses coming from all directions, god forbid you are sitting on a tram track when one of them decides to come your way!

The best Pizza we eat at this restaurant in front of the Cathedrale

Milan, however, was great the main streets are wide and drivers were not as crazy as it was described to me! Parking was great we followed the sign that brought us to a parking garage right in the center of town, not far from the main plaza.

I already put a date on my calendar to return to Milan soon to explore the parts I haven’t seen yet.

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