Leonardo arrived in Milano around his thirties in search of fame and fortune. The legend says that to be accepted at the court of Milano’s Duke, Ludovico il Moro, he brought a rare gift. It was a lira, a musical instrument that nobody knew how to play in Italy. Apparently, the gift impressed the court, because from that moment Leonardo lived and worked in Milano for almost 20 years.

So, there is no better occasion than the fifth centenary of his death to discover Leonardo da Vinci in the city that hosted him the longest. In order to do that, here it is a short itinerary not only to enjoy all the artistic, engineering and cultural production of Leonardo da Vinci but also to discover a Milano that you might not know.

Leonardo da Vinci’s statue

The itinerary can only start from the statue of Leonardo da Vinci in Piazza della Scala, exactly in front of the lyric theatre. The monument, offers a solemn and austere image of the scientist with four of his disciples. More than three centuries after Leonardo’s death, Milano still felt the need to celebrate the genius that gave so much to its city, calling a competition to make a monument to honor him. The competition was won by Pietro Magni, that finished the statue in 1872. The statue was made with white Carrara marble, while granite from Baveno was used for the basement. Located in the center of the city, this statue is the perfect symbol of the unbreakable bond between Leonardo and Milano.

The Last Supper

The second step brings us to one of the most famous and discussed masterpieces of Leonardo: “The Cenacle”, or “The Last Supper”. The enormous fresco is located in the refectory of the church Santa Maria delle Grazie. It was commissioned to Leonardo by Ludovico Sforza, that intended to place his burial in the Church.

The Last Supper was a traditional theme used to decorate convent refectories, used as a constant reminder to the friars that the life of the religious community is an extension of the life of Christ and the Apostles. However, Leonardo presented the subject in a completely innovative form and technique making radical and creative variations to the layout of the scene. Nonetheless, what has made the fresco so famous in the centuries, are the mysteries behind it, such as the “phantom hand” that holds a knife on the table or the suspicious resemblance between John and Mary Magdalene – of which also Dan Brown speaks.

Castello Sforzesco

From Santa Maria delle Grazie, let’s move to the Castello Sforzesco, defensive fortress and residence of the Lords of Milano. The castle’s “Sala delle Asse”, encloses another Leonardo’s fresco that represents vegetable plots with fruits and monochromes of roots and rocks. To celebrate the fifth centenary of his death, in the « Sala » visitors will be guided in reading the space through a scenic multimedia installation.

Inside the Castle there is also the Vinciana Collection of books dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. However, the largest and most astonishing collection of Leonardo’s sheets is the Codex Atlanticus. It is possible to see the Codex during temporary thematic exhibitions that take place every three months both at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and at the Sacristy of Bramante, within the Santa Maria delle Grazie complex.

Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

To discover the Leonardo engineer and inventor, you have to visit the Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. Housed in an Olivetan monastery of the sixteenth century, it is the largest Italian scientific and technological museum.

The Museum’s collection of Leonardo’s historical models was born to celebrate the fifth centenary of the birth of Leonardo. The models on display in the Leonardo Gallery were made on the basis of the Vincian manuscripts. The exhibition of the models is enriched by a series of drawings of the artist. Leonardo’s drawings show not only his projects for machines but also surveys on existing works, improvement proposals or studies on nature.

The Museum also hosts a laboratory where it is possible to use some interactive models to understand their functioning and experiment with the artistic techniques used in the Renaissance.

Conca dell’ Incoronata

What not everybody knows, is that the sophisticated system of canals (« Navigli ») of Milano, was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, Ludovico il Moro asked him to find a way to connect the city with the Lake of Como. Leonardo, designed a system of locks to overcome the problem of the land’s unevenness making the navigation possible. The sketches of the project are now kept at he Navigli Museum.

At the Conca dell’ Incoronata, built in 1496, you can still see an ancient bridge in the Adda log and the sluice, without water, with its wooden gates. These are called « Porte Vinciane » because they are identical to those designed by Leonardo da Vinci and today visible in the Atlantic Codex of the Ambrosian Library.

Leonardo’s horse

Last but not least, you cannot miss « Leonardo’s horse ». A large bronze statue of a horse, inspired by Leonardo’s drawings. The work was placed here in 1999 in front of the beautiful Milano’s Hippodrome.

The importance of this work is given by the fact that Leonardo intended to create the largest equestrian statue in the world, a demanding job with which he planned to combine the skill and artistic flair with the technical knowledge of the period.

The idea of carrying out this work to celebrate the enterprises of Francesco Sforza came to Galeazzo Maria Sforza, who thought of creating a life-size horse statue to be placed inside the Castello Sforzesco. After contacting various artists, the project failed to take off. The idea was subsequently carried out by his brother Ludovico, who entrusted the project to Leonardo. However, the hopes of completing the work vanished completely in 1499, with the fall of Ludovico il Moro. That year, Leonardo left Milan and the horse clay model was destroyed by the French soldiers who had chosen him as a target for their crossbows.

In 1977 Charles Dent, an amateur artist and art collector, decided Leonardo’s dream after five centuries. In 1999, the giant statue was finally ready and placed in the city where it was first thought of.

Until January 31st, Milano will also host several exhibitions dedicated to the renaissance genius. You can find the complete program here.

The post Leonardo Da Vinci and Milano: The unbreakable bond appeared first on Brussels Express.

There is just one “but” about this city; it can get very, very crowded, up to the point where you have to push through the crowds. Maybe that’s because we went in July, but apparently it doesn’t become much less in spring. So chose a wise time to go, to avoid huge crowds. We stayed for 2 days, which I found perfect, but if you want to visit all the museums you should probably plan in some more time. Before coming to Florence we stayed for 1 day in Bologna (Guide here below) and for one night in a beautiful Agritourismo in the Tuscan countryside, which I’ll talk more about further below. Enjoy!

Which areas to go and what to see:

Walk in Santo Spirito, San Niccolo, go for a drink in Santa Croce

See Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Il Duomo – Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Mueseo Leonardo da Vinci, Palazzo Pitti, Galleria dell’Academia di Firenze, Piazza della Signora, Museo di San Marco, Santa Maria Novella, Galeria delle Uffizi

Where to eat:

Il Pizzaiuolo

Delicious Pizza with all kinds of topics for a fair price.

The waiters are rather short in their answers and quick in actions, but the Pizza maker (pizzaiuolo) seemed like a very nice and fun guy. A simple place (reservation recommended) in a cool part of the city, where many other nice restaurants are located. The Pizza here is the one with the thicker dough: Napoli-style. We were three and shared three different Pizzas to try something different with every bite.

Price: 8-14E for a Pizza

Website: Il Pizzaiuolo

Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

Located on a street just to the right of Ponte Vecchio, this restaurant is visited by some tourists, but also by native Italians who are meat lovers. You can get pork, wild boar and of course the famous Florentinian steak here; not less than 1.25kg though, so start thinking how much of the aged meat you could eat. You pay per grams (100g/5E), so you’ll end up paying around 70E for a piece if you take the smallest amount possible. Their burratina con tartufo is not to be missed and neither is the traditional dessert: a sweet dessert wine and some Cantuccini, to be dipped into the wine and then into your mouth. Waiters are nice, maybe a bit hectic, but overall it was a nice experience. The interior is quite rustic, dark with a lot of dark brown wooden details and furniture, so if you wish to sunbathe while eating, better chose another place.

Price: 8-15E for starters, around 70E for 1.3kg of meat, which is enough for 3 people

Website: Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco

Leoni 4:

This place was recommended to me by an Italian, so I figured it must be worth to go. Delicious starters, we had burrata and bruschetta, good selections of wines (and very patient waitresses and waiters to advise you on them) and traditional main dishes, sometimes with a twist. I had Tortelli, filled with pear in a sauce from taleggio with green asparagus and it was very delicious, a great mix of flavours. The fried polpo (octopus) with pea puree was very tender and flavourful, too, unfortunately not fresh though but frozen before being prepared. There’s seating outside and inside and our waitress was incredibly nice, the others looked a bit as if in a bad mood, but can’t tell.

Price: Around 8-12E for a starter, 14-20E for a main dish, 12-25E for a bottle of wine

Website: 4 Leoni

Carraia:

Well, there’s not much to say, just that the ice cream here was amazing and price-wise very fair. Think I had a scoop of passion fruit and some red fruit flavor, both delicious melting down my hands while I was looking at Ponte Vecchio from far.

Website: La Carraia

Other recommended places

The following places were on my to-do list, recommended by Italians, but unfortunately in one and a half days it’s impossible to try 10 different restaurants. But I put them on here anyways.

Da Mario – Easy going and unique place

Lunch at Il Latini – Touristy but historical place in the heart of the city

Lunch or dinner at Buca Lapi – Make sure to try their Fiorentina steak

Lunch or dinner at Trattoria dell’Orto – Best value for money in town

Dinner at Il Cibreo – Trattoria – excellent, convenient and historical

Lunch or dinner at L’Brindellone – Family run restaurant with excellent Tuscan food

Pizza at Neromo

Where to shop

Aquaflor: Beautiful, romantic perfume, room scent and soap shop. Big couches and leather airmchairs, dark wooden drawers and petals everywhere. My favourite soaps here are verbena, rose and cinnamon.

Website: Aquaflor

Mercato Centrale:

The food market reopened in 2014. On the first floor, there’s a modern food hall, featuring several stands that offer everything from Pizza, to truffle dishes, to antipasti platters, to meat and fish. Have a Cappuccino and cannoli (crispy Italian pastry filled with ricotta cream) and sit down at one of the high tables in the middle of the buzzing place. In case you can’t get enough, there’s an “Eataly” shop just at the end of the hall where you can buy pasta, oil, wines and other Italian products to bring home.

Website: Mercato Centrale

Leave the city

In case you want to escape from the city, a nice Agritourismo on the countryside is the perfect thing to do. They can differ from each other to some extent, but in general Agritourismos are family run guest houses on the countryside, which very often offer homegrown and regional food and usually also a bed to sleep in. They can be more luxurious or simpler, but so far I’ve only had great experiences no matter which option I chose.

Casale Pergole:

Located in the heart of Tuscany, surrounded by olive groves and small mountains, this place offers a beautiful view. It has around six rooms I’d say, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared from ingredients growing in the owners’ own little garden. The breakfast was a lovely selection of homemade cakes, jams and homegrown fruit and for dinner we had a simple but honestly delicious 4-course menu. A spinach tart, fusilli with peppers, the best roastbeef I ever had and a semi-freddo dessert. The wine list gives you some variety to choose from, too and the prices are more than fair.

They are overly friendly making your stay a true pleasure. I should also mention that there is a decent pool with a beautiful view at the region.

Website: Casale Pergole

The post Pasta, Pizza, Ice Cream – The best things to do in Florence appeared first on Brussels Express.

After weeks and weeks of negotiations, both the 5 stars and the Lega recently formed an ‘anti-establishment government’ in Italy. The Lega, which is clearly a Euroskeptical and anti-migration political party, is determined to limit the entrance of refugees and migrants to Italy.

Last week’s example of the rescue ship Aquarius, which was refused to access the Italian coasts, definitely sent a signal to the whole Europe. And although this decision was criticised by many political stakeholders across the Old Continent, dozens of populists expressed their support to the Italian authorities.

Since Theo Francken has been part of the Belgian Federal government, he has been involved in several very controversial speeches and statements with regard to migration and refugees. Even some of the N-VA leaders and members of the Federal governments have expressed their concerns about his stances.

The recent interviews and statements Mr. Francken made in the Italian newspapers are therefore not really a surprise.

On 5 June, he firstly gave his support to the newly formed Italian government in the Italian version of Huffington Post. After he stated he was following Matteo Salvini, the Italian minister for Home affairs and leader of the Lega, “for months”, he added he wanted the Italian government to “strengthen the migration policy”. “It’s good if Italy starts refusing migrants on their coasts, and does not let them enter Sicily”, he said.

He went further last week in Il Giornale, by advocating for “refugee camps in North Africa”, with reference to the Italian decision on Aquarius. “We must start sending back the boats that cross the Mediterranean Sea”, he added, before pointing out human traffics and mafia networks with that regard.

Whether you agree or disagree with the pro-migration or anti-migration policies, such statements are quite concerning ahead of the upcoming European elections next year. Populism is rising across Europe, and the populist leaders now can collaborate on specific policies.

And even if the newly formed Spanish government finally decided to host the Aquarius last week, some of the European reactions clearly showed a support to anti-human behaviours. The French government, instead of welcoming the boat, indeed pointed out the Italian responsibility, while Charles Michel, the Belgian Prime Minister, had a controversial joke on it. “Belgium has no port in the Mediterranean Sea”, he said.

The post Theo Francken supports Italian border closure appeared first on Brussels Express.

The restaurant has long since enjoyed a good reputation but its Italian-born head chef, Igor Rosi, has taken this to another level altogether. Igor, still relatively young at 34, arrived here a couple of years ago and has, slowly but surely, made his mark on the cuisine.

He’s the first to accept that this is partly thanks to the man he calls “maestro”, the renowned Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini who tutored Igor and who is considered one of the most influential Italian chefs of his era. Some of the mentoring may have come out of the Gordon Ramsay-school of training but Igor’s turned out none the worse for that.

The underling objective of what Igor tries to do is to marry the best Belgian ingredients and products with Italian inventiveness and creativity. This can be seen in several dishes on both the recently changed a la carte and set menu, for example, the anti-pasta whose long name is perhaps best abbreviated to “giardiniera”. This comprises meat sourced from Hendrik Dierendonck, a top Belgian butcher whose meat is aged according to authentic methods.

The “rouge de Flandres”(sirloin steak) – a breed that was virtually extinct here but which, thanks to Dierendonck, has now been revived, blends perfectly with parmesan and other  Italian-sourced components that make up this mouth-watering dish. It’s but one example of the Belgium/Italy theme at this restaurant.

Fulvio, as senior consultant, still has the final word on the cooking both at BoCConi and the group’s other restaurants which are scattered around the world. But it is a sign of the confidence the Rome-based Fulvio has in his protégé that Igor has now been “left off the leash” and is now able to inject his own personality into all the cooking.

And, yes, he really does let his creative juices run freely.

As is colourfully pointed out by the knowledgeable maître d’hôtel, Pierre Nauwelaers, Igor has been “impregnated with the same spirit” as his mentor!

The main card, which changes seasonally (about every four months) comprises a choice of seven starters, including that great Italian classic and signature dish, Vitello tonnato (tartare de thun) and, with the new season newly arrived, a salad with locally-sourced asparagus. There’s a great choice of traditional pasta  and risotto plus a selection of four fish and four meat dishes, all absolutely delicious and including a “fish of the day”.The most popular with customers is the sea bass but the filet de boeuf and lamb chops are also good sellers too.

If you have still room for pudding, there’s some terrific deserts, including waffle (another great Belgian classic, of course) with cherry liquor, chocolate fondant with raspberry and fennel with sorbet.

While the clients tend to be more likely from the business community nearby,  visiting at lunchtime is also an opportunity to experience another aspect of Igor’s culinary creativity as this is when he likes to experiment with dishes before deciding if they’ll make their way to the evening service.

From Monday to Friday, the lunch menu changes every day but always comprises of a choice of either one, two or three dishes. Sunday lunchtime is also a great time to visit because this is when there is “live cooking” in the middle of the restaurant – a great chance to see how to best prepare things like oysters and raw fish. With the summer here, there’s even a lovely outside terrace to enjoy the cuisine.

The restaurant is part of the prestigious Amigo Hotel but has its own entrance and very much its own character too. It’s situated on one of the busiest streets in the city, between the Grand Place and Manneken Pis, and, in this ever-bustling thoroughfare, could be easily missed. But try not to miss it though because this place a “must visit” when eating out in Brussels.

Good to know:

• Ristorante BoCConi
• Rue de l’Amigo, Brussels
• 02 547 4715

The post The best of Belgium and the best of Italy appeared first on Brussels Express.

In particular in Brussels, with its rich variety of nationalities from European member states and its 19 Communes, the interest for these local elections seems to increase steadily. And it is to better serve these European voters that a new movement inspired by European principles is planning to present its candidates in several Communes, starting with the 19 ones that represent the local government of Brussels.

Mariapaola Cherchi, an Italian lawyer living and working for many years in Brussels, launched a political movement « Citoyen d’Europe » (Citizen of Europe) in 2014 on the occasion of the Regional elections in Belgium. She is now planning to propose this same movement also for the Communal elections of next October with candidates in several Communes of Brussels.

Mariapaola Cherchi sat down with Brussels Express.

When was the idea of « Citoyen d’Europe » launched?

« Citoyen d’Europe » was launched in 2014, when under the name of « Féderalistes européens et Mouvement du Citoyen européen pour la Justice » (European Federalists and European Citizens Movement for Justice) we launched the list FD-MDCEJ for the Regional Consultations for Brussels-Capital.  After this experience, we continue to insist on our pro-European initiative but this time at a local level for the coming Communal elections. In our movement, we defend, together with the European idea, the ideals of ethics and equity, and by this, we mean social justice. This is what the European citizen expects from politics and we try to respond to this request. 

Which are the aims of « Citoyen d’Europe »?

Our first aim is to create a link between the citizens and Europe, starting from the European territory. Citizens have to trust politics again and participate in the life of their Commune on a daily basis. Each Commune has to represent a bit of Europe with its cultural diversities which are its real wealth. Integrating citizens in the territory where they live is a necessary and urgent aim. Nobody should feel left out. The Commune should be felt as our home and each one of us should participate in its management for the common good.

Why this name?

The name « Citoyen d’Europe » reflects our ideal: strengthen the European identity among all those who live in the European territory, starting from Brussels, capital of Europe. The citizen of each Commune in the European territory, irrespective of his/her origin, must also see himself/herself as a European citizen.  Our initiative is really a hymn to Europe!

Where do you think of presenting your candidates? In which Communes?

Our candidates will be chosen among those who believe in the principles that we defend: Europe, Ethics, Equity. On the basis of these criteria, we will present electoral lists in the 19 Communes of Brussels. The candidates will have to represent the multiculturalism of this city, a quality we believe in.

Why include the idea of citizenship in a European area?

Because considering ourselves European citizens is the basis of the European project.

The main points of your programme?

« Live together » respecting diversity, wide understanding of one another: this is undoubtedly one of the most relevant points of our programme. 

Reaching this objective implies actions on several levels, such as: adapting the urban structure of our territory bearing in mind that the citizen has to be put at the centre of attention to contribute to his/her well-being. The environment: cleaning up the territory, respecting nature, preserving biodiversity in the territory also through awareness campaigns aimed at citizens so as to encourage them to contribute to its protection. We also want to encourage intergenerational relationships thus facilitating the exchanges between young people and not so young ones so that the former could benefit from the life experience of the older people and the latter should not be left out. We want to create, in each Commune, a body in charge of « mediating » as an alternative solution to litigations among the inhabitants.

Will you accept as candidates also people who are not EU citizens? 

In the present system, Belgian citizens and citizens from the EU member states only can be candidates. Therefore, even if we want to include all citizens living in Belgium irrespective of their national origin we are forced to respect this rule which undoubtedly curtails the choice of candidates.

What kind of reaction did you have from the Communes where you have already presented your project?

I can only refer to the positive experience we had in 2014 (on the occasion of Regional elections that is) which encouraged us to continue with our project. Citizens welcomed us with enthusiasm. People really welcome a political engagement linked to the values of ethics and social equity which we support. People in the more precarious social classes showed a higher interest in our project while the more prosperous classes are the least sensitive to our proposals. Therefore, one of our objectives is to create an interaction between different social classes present on the territory of each Commune to create a system of social solidarity at the grass root level or, to use a terminology now fashionable, to create a sort of « circular » solidarity without falling into a kind of « top-down » paternalistic charitable action or creating a dependency culture.

It is certainly easier to create relationships among the citizens of the same Commune than among citizens from the north and the south of a country and this should be done with the aim to empower the frailer people. All this can be managed at a territorial level. The complete « formula » to reach this objective does not exist yet but should be adapted according to the different realities of each Commune.

Do you have a motto?

This is our motto: « Europe should begin in Brussels, capital of Europe, so that all its citizens can feel European without distinction of geographical or ethnic origin »

Do you ask for gender parity among your candidates?

Gender parity is now a must in the creation of electoral lists and therefore we can respect this principle which we clearly support. However, we have to say that women are somewhat afraid to engage politically and this is a problem that we do not think it will represent an obstacle for us.

How was your initiative seen at a European level?

As soon as we launched the project of our Movement through social media (Facebook) we noticed a great interest especially for our motto: « Movement of the 3 E: Europe, Ethics, Equity ». This confirms that these three values are shared by the great majority of European citizens. We shall see if in the future we will have a support in a wider Europe. For the time being, we will start from Brussels!

Are you the only « local » party talking about Europe in Brussels or are there others?

I believe that we are the only political party that in this electoral campaign at a Communal level wants to support the idea of a Europe of citizens in spite of the fading consensus for the European Union nowadays. All traditional parties, apart from the extremist ones on the left or on the right, one way or another mention Europe but not in the terms that we support, as far as we know. It is not difficult to « say » that we like Europe, but when one has to talk in more concrete terms it becomes more difficult. With our programme, on the contrary, we are engaged to make it happen. We are certainly the only ones who speak clearly of a « Europe for European citizens ».

Are you linked to the European Federalist movement?

Certainly, right from our beginning in 2014. The birth of our Movement started from the example of the French party PFE (Parti Fédéraliste Européen) and personally, I have frequent contacts with the European Federalist Movement (UEF).  The weak point of European federalist parties, however, is that they often advocate big projects, such as for example changing the European Treaties, and this does not mean much to the citizens often confronted with the day to day difficulties of their lives. The concrete measures inspired by the European Union (such as the European programmes) that we propose, on the contrary, « speak » to the people like us, that we call « the silent majority ».

What do you think of the pro-European initiatives of French President Emmanuel Macron?

I can only think positively of President Macron’s attitude towards Europe, especially since, thanks to Macron, Europe has avoided the catastrophe that Mme Le Pen represented for the European Union. I feel however that Macron is a little too much linked to economic principles and does not emphasize enough the need for a « social Europe » which is what European citizens demand most. And this gap is unfortunately used by populist parties to undermine the European project. Economics, yes, but aimed at responding to « social » needs for a Europe more and more just and ethical which could become an example for the whole world. This should be the leitmotif of each action of those who call themselves « pro-Europeans ». In any case, this has been and will always be the motto of « Citoyen d’Europe, the 3E movement: Europe, Ethics, Equity ».

The post 2018 Communal elections: An Italian expat launched a political movement appeared first on Brussels Express.

The first thing you should have a look at is the Duomo, at the heart of the city centre. The Cathedral, together with the Campanile de Giotto and the Battistero di San Giovanni will give you a very first idea of the beauty of Florence. The Cathedral, which was built in the 14^th century, is indeed one of the biggest Christian edifices across Europe. Should you aim to take an acceptable picture, good luck! Although religious buildings are basically in a middle of a massive square, the Duomo takes almost all the space of the square in Florence. You can access the building for a small amount of money (EUR 3), but you probably will queue for decades…. Welcome to Florence. If you’re not patient, it could be hard to visit museums and buildings.

Once you have seen that impressive square, you might head to the Porcellino fountain, in order to caress the boar. If you do that, that means you will go back to Florence once. You then must see the second major attraction of the capital of Tuscany: the Vecchio bridge. You do not exactly know how the buildings can hold on the bridge, but it seems to work. Should you wait for the sunset to come, you’ll have the chance to take great pictures.

When it comes to visits, you should consider the Palazzo Vecchio. The City hall, at the heart of the historical centre, is absolutely a must see! And in case you aim to have a break, you can consider sitting down at one the terraces in front to drink a Spritz (be careful, they are not that cheap). The Galleria dell’Accademia will also surely be of interest to you if you’re a fan or arts. David, the famous Michelangelo’s work, is indeed there.

Although Florence offers you dozens and dozens of museums, palaces, churches, and other interesting sites to visit, it’s also worth only having a long walk in the city centre. The atmosphere is very touristic, but the streets are really charming.

Would you like to taste a pizza, pasta, gnocchi or other Italian dishes? Staying in Italy a couple of days means choosing which delicious dish you fancy… and it’s not obvious. If you pop down at the central market, you can go upstairs all the day and evening long. A sort of massive space is full of small restaurants and bars. All the Italian flavours will be at your disposal, and you can have a look at dozens of options before choosing what you really would like to eat.

When it comes to accomodation, you can have many opportunities in the city centre, with hotels or flats. But in case you like relaxing atmospheres, you could consider renting a room in a villa a bit outside of Florence. The hills indeed offer you a great view on the city and the Duomo. The prices are acceptable, and buses will allow you to reach the city centre in a bit less than 15 minutes. And that could be a chance to visit the Tuscan campaign, which is super nice.

Still not convinced yet? It is now up to you to plan your next escapade.

The post A taste of Tuscany appeared first on Brussels Express.

Alessandro is one of five associates who opened the restaurant 16 months ago. After a sluggish start (partly hindered by the fallout of the March 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels), the business has now really taken off.

It’s located at the very heart of Brussels’ European Quarter and, as such, has become a firm favourite with eurocrats at the nearby European commission and other EU-related bodies.

Top officials, such as Russia’s ambassador to Belgium, are known to frequent this place so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sat on a table adjacent to a VIP!

But Costa d’Amalfi is also a good place to enjoy a very pleasant meal, weekday or weekend (it’s one of the few restaurants in the area open on Sunday) with the family and friends.

The Amalfi region, hugging a particularly delightful part of the Italian coast) is known for its seafood and the newly introduced menu here features more seafood dishes. The region is also home to several gastronomic places to eat but Costa d’Amalfi would not be out of place in such esteemed company.

This is reflected on the new menu being introduced this month which, for example, features a starter of carpaccio of seabass, with fennel cream and truffle oil.

Among the brand new mains courses is an octopus stew with capers and olives, plus garlic risotto, tagliatelle with rosemary, bar filet cooked in the oven, grilled squid and veal piccata with lemon and apple liquor.

Another to look out for is alla colatura di alici,known as “garum” to the Roman and which is served with anchovy juice, along with rare beef maki, a very tender meat dish served with crispy vegetables.

Alessandro has, however, been keen to retain a few old favourities on the new-look card, such as vitello tonnato (starter) and ravioli with sage and black truffle (mains).

As you might expect at an Italian, the classic tiramisu also features among the deserts (served, imaginatively, in a small plant pot).

Like the food, the wine list tries to showcase some of the best of the Amalfi region (it is updated each month).

The restaurant has been tastefully redesigned and seats about 56 people over different levels.With better weather on the horizon, look out also for the rather pleasant terrace at the rear.

The cooking, overseen by head chef Giacinto Magliano (ably assisted by compatriot Antonio Paolella), aims to infuse a touch of creativity to local produce while at the same time showcasing some dishes which you may not find at other similar restaurants.

Located in a building that had been empty for some time, it has taken no little effort and determination to grow the business.But, thankfully, there is at least one place where you can sample the wonderful delights of typically regional Italian cuisine – and you don’t have to travel to Amalfi region to do so!

Yes, Brussels may lack Amalfi’s sun and sea but this place offers a real alternative and a taste of that region’s great cuisine.

Good to know:

• Costa d’Amalfi
• Rue Stevin 192, Brussels
• 02 330 7099
• www.costadamalfi.be

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Alaa Musa runs two successful restaurants in Israel, one in Haifa and one in Akko, both making use of traditional Israeli ingredients and cooking techniques while giving them with some modern twists. Israeli cuisine is becoming something more and more popular around the world, Alaa says. I can sign this statement, as a proud owner of three Ottolenghi cookbooks and having visited a bunch of Israeli restaurant, the Palomar in London among others.

Israeli food is, similar to Italian food, more of a culture and something that is being celebrated. The food, the wine, the atmosphere, everything is a feast of laughter and happy people enjoying the pleasures of great tastes.

If a well-known Israeli cook is coming to town, what place could be better suited to host such a unique experience, organised by the Israeli embassy, than Racines?! The restaurant that sources all products themselves, makes use of seasonal and regional vegetables only and pays big attention not to violate the textures and tastes the different ingredients offer. Similar to the approach of Alaa, Racines tries to follow the ideas of the Slow Food Movement.

The food menu that you’ll experience is absolutely epic. One dish is created by Ugo, one by Alaa and the final one by both. Five courses are what you get, not more and not less and believe me that’s more than enough. We started off with a Baba Ghanoush with nuts and chives and a garlic clove that looked like a little leopard, I guess Alaa grilled it, but I have no clue. I must say it was one of the best Baba Ghanoush I ate so far.

Ugo’s contribution to the first course was a Mackerel in 3 different ways: scottato (burnt), sweet and sour and tonnato. Different textures, different tastes – a firework for the tastebuds.

Course number two was ceviche from sea bass, shanklish cheese, olives, pistachios and red pepper along with a taboule with sea bream, mint and tahini by Alaa and an artichoke a la Giudia with sumach and scarmorza, a Capri croquette with oregano yoghurt and a bomba (fried piece of heaven) filled with ricotta with tomato and curcuma.

This was followed by spider crab Tortelli (filled pasta) in a fish bisque and chives: The pasta absolutely tender and freshly made at the spot, the filling full of taste and the bisque giving the dish the final touch and this taste that makes you feel as if you sit right at the Italian coast.

An incredible fish soup that made me once more realise that it is all about the quality of the products, promptly followed the Tortelli by Ugo. The shrimp was crisp, the clams unbelievably tender and melted in my mouth like butter, the calamari on point and all joined by a delicious broth of tomatoes and preserved lemons.

The absolute highlight was the dish created by the both chefs though. Sea bass with a perfect crispy skin, so tender you could eat it with a spoon, no need for biting, just let it sit in your mouth and wait for it to slowly disappear, bedded on a risotto from Freekeh (an Israeli grain that was handpicked 2 weeks before it landed on my plate), spinach, green beans, carrots, tahina and lemon. Hello sexy, this was a dish I won’t forget so quickly.

What’s for dessert is a secret, go there and you’ll find out!! Service is great, the chefs absolute sweethearts and the experience unique and one you shouldn’t miss. I’d go a second time if I hadn’t plans already.

Good to know:

• The 5 course menu costs 62€ and is only available on 26 April for lunch and dinner
• Website

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Taking a glimpse inside from the street makes you think the place is nothing special. A quite simple interior, which wasn’t particularly in my taste, but wasn’t bothering me either: an old Vespa, which I liked a lot, simple dark brown wooden tables, black leather chairs and green plastic chairs, colourful walls and just next to the entrance some wine bottles that are for sale and some other Italian produce. What you’ll note though is that the place is packed every day and that it is very hard to resist the aromatic smell of meat and melted cheese that escapes the entrance door of L’Atelier d’Alessandro.

Your attention is very soon diverted though from the interior and you’re greeted by a cheerful chef, who has a warm and friendly smile on his face just before he quickly returns to the kitchen to prepare the many dishes people are waiting for.

Let me tell, you: the food was exceptional! I didn’t have much of a choice but to take the Tagliatelle cooked in a Parmesan wheel – yes indeed, a whole wheel…the size of a car wheel – with white truffle oil, Rucola and Parma ham. There are many other dishes that sounded and looked amazing, but I had to try this specialty of the chef. I certainly didn’t get disappointed. The portion might not look huge but it is huge and very heavy, but the good heavy. The heaviness after lunch where you feel like taking a nap rather than sitting at your desk, but the one where you think back and you’re happy you did it. I don’t know what about you, but I don’t want to look back and think “I could’ve eaten that”.

The pasta is well cooked: al dente, not too soft nor too firm. It is so rich and creamy and paradise for all cheese lovers. The hint of truffle oil gives it that special kick, the Rucola and the Parma ham round up the taste and everything taken together makes the dish a true experience. I sat at the bar and saw all the magic happen in front of me. Not only the pasta, but also all other dishes; the meat, fish, Italian burgers. It was very impressive how Alessandro multitasked and somehow managed to still make everything look so perfect on the plates, which themselves were very pretty already.

You can order a la carte or choose the lunch option, which is accompanied with a salad or vegetables that you can pick yourself from the counter where they’re arranged.

I am surely coming back, this is a place no one should miss.

Good to Know:

• Be aware that the place open for lunch during the week and for dinner only on Saturdays.
• Prices: 19,90E for the famous Parmesan pasta, around 25E for a 300g piece of good quality meat, pasta dishes start from 14,90E
• 54, rue Stevin, 1000 Brussels
• Number: 0489 45 88 99

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The restaurant Osteria Romana was opened five years ago by owner and chef Filippo, and it is the go-to spot for Italians working in the area, but also for other people, who are friends of good Italian cocina. It seems that the place was a well-hidden treasure, until today, when the little brother of the place Le Cave opened. Decoration wise very similar to the restaurant, it looks like an antique shop or an old library with old maps hanging on the walls, golden coloured metal details around the beautiful bar and other little pieces that Filipo very carefully picked.

We started at Le Cave for a ‘small’ Aperitivo. Together with a glass of Prosecco (and later a Dry Martini), Filipo suggested for us to try the Mozzarella di Bufala covered in raspberry dust, warm, melted St Marcelin cheese with Figue ‘caviar’ on top, Caponata and also a small dish called “Eggs & Eggs”: a normal chicken egg cooked at low temperature served with fish roe and two other types of eggs. All very delicious, Italian food with a little twist that does not “over-“ twist the dishes.

After an hour or two we headed to Osteria Romana that soon will be connected to Le Cave by a secret tunnel. We didn’t wait for too long until our food (and time) travel continued. A piece of cheese from Piemont, served on a mouse trap and grilled Artichokes served on a vine branch as well as three meaty olives bathed in rosemary smoke, were a very nice and aromatic start to the dinner.

Three exceptional tastes that gave my taste buds a pleasant kick. We continued with a portion of Carbonara pasta each, served perfectly al dente with some incredibly tasteful pieces of lard. You can actually order the pasta by weight, ranging from 12-50 Euro for 50-250g, quite cool, also because it is served in a very vintage silver pan.

Very saturated at that stage already, the next course was just waiting for us: Wagyu Carpaccio with salad and a citrusy dressing along with a bunch of Sicilian cherry tomatoes served as a side dish. The Wagyu beef itself had a soft, buttery and aromatic taste, but the dressing was unfortunately too sour and killed the delicate taste of the beef. The tomatoes were very sweet, something you rarely find in Brussels, but it was “just” tomatoes, so we became a bit disappointed after Filipo had spent so many words on them.

The dessert was simple and nice: a few half-dried grapes, very soft and sweet.

If I had to choose, I would go for the smaller place, Le Cave, it’s more intimate, relaxed and also cheaper. While Osteria Romana without doubt is on the upper scale in terms of prices in Brussels (although a menu for 65 Euro is quite ok, but it’s the prices for single dishes that seem to be quite high), Le Cave is more suitable for a young professional’s budget. Both the waiters and the two owners are incredibly nice and attentive (although I found that little brush with which the waiters are cleaning the tables from breadcrumbs looked a bit funny). Osteria Romana is definitely a place for people with a sense for aesthetics, who are willing to spend a bit more on their Friday evening’s dinner.

Good to Know:

• Le Cave, 13, Avenue Legrand 13 – 1000 – Brussels
• Prices: Le Cave: around 30E per person for drinks and dinner with small shared dishes;
• Osteria Romana: around 80-90E for a dinner with drinks
• Website

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