Hi Everbody

Continuing with this food drink and place theme this post covers my visits to Venice and the Veneto region, and the most  southerly part of Italy, the wonderful, Sicily.

As every region has such great specialities I just can’t cover them all but in these lovely places we have had such great times, drinks and food. And of course that special Italian hospitality and warmth of the people themselves.

 First lets stop off in the VENETO  and VENICE.

Miramare Castle near Trieste. Watercolour 15 inches by 10. The coast in the distance is actually Slovenia!

On the coast towards Trieste stands the lovely Miramare Castle. Commissioned by an Austrian Archduke it is resplendent with beutiful gardens and flowers. It is a truly delightful place to visit and then if you can, travel to Trieste and eat in one of the many restaurants or cafes there by the waterfront. There you can taste the local San Danielle Proscuito with some local Veneto wine. Trieste was the main port of the once Austro Hungarian Empire and didn’t become part of Italy until after the end of First World War in 1918.

VENICE

And so to Venice itself. Oh. what wonderful place, where every corner you turn is a great vista and the back streets and canals are a painters’ paradise.

It has been hard to choose which of my many Venice watercolours to include but the choice of food and drink was easier as one special Restaurant really stood out for me in Venice.

Just off the Riva Degli Schiavoni,  in a small side street called Calle del Pestrin, is the excellent Restaurant  “Corte Sconta” . Great fresh sea food and a very nice place to eat. The Vongole was superb, well worth the walk along the Riva with the spectacular view above and below. More local Veneto wine too, or Prosecco!

Riva deli Schiavoni. Watercolour 14 inches by 10

If you plan to stay on The Riva degli Schiavoni then try the “Locanda Vivaldi” with its traditional Venetian rooms and a great location.

Arriving at the Locanda Vivaldi Hotel by Water Taxi. 15 inches by 10.

This watercolour was painted from a photo taken as we arrived by water taxi to stay there!

In Venice the trip down the Grand Canal is amazing with fine views and if you can visit the Fish Market then do! From there walk back slowly down the side streets until reach the Academia Bridge. All just amazing!

Santa Maria della Salute from the Academia Bridge. Watercolour 12 inches by 9

The Fish Market on the Grand Canal. Watercolour 14 inches by 10

The Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge. Watercolour 10 inches by 15

And so to finish this section on Venice here is St Mark’s Square from a Vaporetto, but don’t forget to buy your ticket before you board!

Down South to SICILY

Italy is a Country of so many regions, customs ,food and wine, and the wonderful scenery.

On the Mediterranean’s largest island all of these can be found in abundance.

We have enjoyed Sicily a lot and Taormina is a great place to stay and admire the views and the food and wine. I was first introduced to Pasta Norma there  which was and is great! But also the fresh Ocrobus grilled is superb and this I really did enjoy in Taormina. If you can try the wine  “La Segreta Nero d’Avola” from the Planeta Winery, very nice indeed and available in the UK

From Taormina the sight of Mount Etna steaming , or even erupting is amazing. Try to take trip up to the top if you can and feel the hot earth beneath your feet!

Sunset ,Mount Etna gently smoking from Taormina. Watercolour 14 inches by 8

Here are two more paintings of Sicily too.

The coast at Naxos near Taormina. Watercolour Sketch 9 by 7 inches

Fishing boats at Cefalu on the Northern Coast of Sicily. watercolour 15 by 7 inches

There is so much more to say about Italy but I will leave Rome,Puglia and the Amalfi coast till another time

Happy travelling

Brian

Some of these and many watercolours are for sale  or just to see on my site at 

http://www.Artfinder.com/brianswatercolours