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May 2016

31 May

Italy, Milan, Back to the 20s with Style

Giacomo Arengario, named after  the famous restaurant "da Giacomo" , has opened since a couple of years in the historic Arengario building in Milan, with a spectacular view of Piazza del Duomo. The Arengario was built between 1936 and 1956 from a design by the architects Portaluppi, Muzio, Magistretti and Griffini, the facade is decorated with bas-reliefs by Arturo Martini. It’s an iconic building for the art and culture, home to the ‘Museo del Novecento’. The entrance is from the Museo. Do not to use the elevator, but just take the circular ramp up to the restaurant, an example of contemporary architecture that fits beautifully within the monumental architecture of the Arengario Palace and matches with a magnificent glass...
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31 May

Italy, Asolo,Delight for the Senses

Asolo is a small village up the hills in Veneto. It is called ‘The City of 100 Horizons’, because of the spectacular views . Contained within the ancient walls that branch off from the 12th century fortress, in every corner it preserves testimonies of its thousand-year old history. What did strike my senses is the elegance of the village and its inhabitants. No cars are allowed in the old town. We did walk up and down visiting the fortress, the old palaces and a typical food boutique.

All types of fresh ravioli and pasta, cakes and delicatessen were displayed in old counters. We took some special cheese and the ‘pinza’, a typical cake from Asolo.

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30 May

Italy, Asolo Prosecco & Grappa

Srosecco  is my favourite wine. Sparkling, chilly, with its unique aroma, it matches all kind of food and all seasons. It is good for an aperitif or to accompany a whole meal. Veneto is the territory, where Prosecco is grown, more specifically in a small area called Valdobbiadene. Asolo is not far from this area and produces the variety Prosecco di Asolo. A bit less sparkling, but always memorable. You may taste it everywhere; in the ‘enoteca’ or the ‘restaurants’, accompanied by home-made cicchetti (nibbles). And after lunch, we did indulge in these home-made grappa. Flavours ranges from ginger to liquorice, from blueberries to star aniseed. Simply delicious. [eltd_blockquote text="Grappa is a typical liquor from Veneto. It is made...
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26 May

Bali, Ubud Rijstafel

Ubud is known as the district of art and spirit. In Ubud there are plenty of stylish places to relax and taste the local food. These two did appeal my senses. Café Wayan. It is on the main street. Do not stop at the entrance but walk in and you will discover a lovely garden with little ponds where you can taste the Indonesian flavours sitting on bamboo matts. I suggest to choose the Rijstafel. It consists of many side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. The Rijsttafel’s origins is Dutch and dates back when The Netherlands were present in Indonesia. In this way, the Dutch could enjoy a wide array of...
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25 May

Venice Biennale, SFSN@Venice Design 2016

SoFarSoNear is invited to exhibit at the prestigious 'Venice Architecture Biennale 2016'. 'Venice Design 2016' is curated by the Global Art Affairs Foundations and will take place at Palazzo Michiel, on Canal Grande, from May 28th until November 27th. It is one of the first exhibitions to show current design developments during the Biennale. It brings together international set of designers of diverse cultural background, young, senior, established and emerging. The exhibition aims to demonstrate that design might have a bigger canvas than just creating beautiful functional objects. It is a chance for the spectators to see clever, unexpected solutions for the use of space and also to create a more conscious relation towards the daily surrounding and help to enlarge...
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7 May

Spain, Lanzarote The Force of Nature

Lanzarote is part of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. What makes Lanzarote so unique is its volcanic origin, that is part of its charme still today. Infact, the island was born about 15 million years ago through fiery eruptions and has solidified lava streams as well as extravagant rock formations. Lanzarote emerged after the break-up of the African and the American continental plates. The Timanfaya National Park eyewitnesses the greatest recorded eruptions between 1730 and 1736. We did visit the park and it was such a strong experience. Just imagine more than 100 volcanoes, covering an area of 50 km², that rise up and erupt for almost 100 years, the last eruptions being in 1824. You still smell the scent of cinder...
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