Corsica - 4,000 Years of History & Holiday Destination Extraordinaire

Perfectly placed between France’s Côte d’Azur, the Tuscan coastline and just 12 kilometres north of Sardegna, is the French Island of Corsica (Corse in French). Known as  the birthplace of one of history’s famous leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte (in Ajaccio, the capital), Corsica has been inhabited for four thousand years and has seen Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Goths and Saracens rule over it. The island was sold to France 243 years ago by the Genovesi and locals speak French and Corsican. 

The volcanic island with its rugged beauty (the highest peak, Monte Cintu is 3.000 metres), sparse population, 1,000 kilometres of pristine coastline, walking trails, national parks and sports ranging from horse riding and sailing to snorkelling and bird-watching is a tourist hub. Visitors flock to Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio in the south of the island, travelling from Italy, and Calvi in the north-west where they arrive by ferry from major French ports such as Marseille. 

In the sixteenth century each farmer was obliged to plant a chestnut, olive, fig and mulberry tree each year.  Now there are many chestnut woods and chestnut bread is still a staple food. Corsica’s natural vegetation provides essential oils from citronella, cypress, cedar, eucalyptus, juniper, pine, laurel, lavender, verbena, thyme, sage, rosemary and myrtle. It also produces cheese, wine, olive oil, sausages, citrus fruits and honey, typical of most Mediterranean lands. 



There is a wide range of accommodation from camping and cabins to 5 star luxury Relais and Chateau resorts such as the Grand Hotel de Cala Rosa in Porto Vecchio.

                                       

        

Arancini – Typical of Sicilia



Arancini are fried rice balls filled with meat ragu and peas. They can also be filled with vegetables such as mushrooms, eggplants or cheese. Their Italian name comes from the word for orange (arancia) which they resemble in colour and texture. They are found everywhere in the south of Italy.

Ingredients :                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

50 gr butter                                                                        

50 gr grated pecorino                                                     

400 gr rice                                                                          

3 Eggs                                                        

1 tsp Saffron                                                                      

3 sp olive oil
100 gr Caciocavallo or Parmigiano Cheese            

1 sml onion                                                                    

150 gr Ground Beef                                                          

100 gr Peas                             

100 gr Tomato paste                                                        

bread crumbs                        

flour                                                                                     

salt & pepper  

Method:  

     

Boil the rice in salted water and drain.                                                                                  Add the saffron, 3 eggs, butter and the grated pecorino to the rice and let it cool.
Cook the peas for 10 minutes with a spoon of oil and two of water and simmer the onion with 2 spoons of oil, then add the ground beef and sauté till cooked, add salt and pepper.                                                                                                                                        At this point add the tomato paste and cook 20 minutes at moderate heat, then add the peas and let the sauce thicken.
Form little balls the size of a  small mandarin with the rice,  make a hole in the centre and place a spoon of sauce, and two or three small cubes of Caciocavallo, then close it up with a little rice. Roll the arancini in flour, then  beaten egg, then breadcrumbs. Fry in hot oil till golden.                                                                               Serve warm.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Central Italy – A Peep at Pisa



Pisa is famous throughout the world for the Leaning Tower (la Torre Pendente) which is found in  Piazza dei Miracoli or in English, The Field of Miracles, with the Cathedral, the Baptistery (il Battistero) and the burial ground. The Tower is certainly the biggest draw-card in Pisa, but the city is rich in history and Tuscan tradition.                                                                                                                                           The original town was built some 700 years B.C. on the banks of the Arno River, approximately ten miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea,  displaying Ligurian and Etruscan beginnings. By 180 BC it had become a Roman colony, Pisae.    Up to 800 AD Pisa was repeatedly sacked by various enemies including the Vikings, Byzantines, and Saracens. Through trade agreements, land deals, and the occasional successful rebellion, the Pisans were able to maintain control of the territory and develop lucrative trading activities with Spain to the west and the prosperous merchants of northern Africa to the south. In 1075 the elder statesmen of Pisa developed a code of laws known as the Conseutudini di Mare. These merchant rulers created a legal environment that enabled the mercantile empire of Pisa to prosper. 



In 1099 the Pisans joined the Vatican in the 1st Crusades. This was a period of thriving economic growth and expansion through colonization. During the 12th century Pisa developed several colonies; among them were Antioch, Tripoli, and Tunis. In 1111 the city elders forged an agreement with Byzantium enabling transit for trade in the Holy Land.                                                                                                          The Field of Miracles or Campo dei Miracoli began to take shape in 1118. The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa had not yet been constructed, but in this year the cathedral (Duomo in Italian) was consecrated by Pope Gelasius II. 
It was not until 35 years later, in 1153, that work would begin on the Pisan Baptistery. In 1172, the widow of a wealthy Pisan merchant made a substantial donation of 'sixty coins' to the church with instructions to build the marvellous campanile (bell tower). You will note the wonderful Arabesque style architecture in the buildings.                    

Between 1228 and 1254 there were more skirmishes between Pisa and Florence. The Pisans were able to maintain the upper hand until the armies of Florence finally overcame them in an attack in 1254. Pisa remained sovereign by giving up land to Florence and forging restrictive trade agreements.

In 1284 the Battle of Meloria, fought against Genoa, proved to be one of the most devastating losses in Pisa’s history. A large number of ships were lost along with more than 11,000 men that were killed in battle or imprisoned in Genoa. Less than ten years later, in 1293, the Guelph forces invaded a weakened Pisa and took control of the harbour. The Guelphs forced harsh terms on Pisa that included the loss of Pisan territories on the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica.      The first commission to investigate the tilt of the leaning tower was formed in 1298 to tour and inspect the tower, even though the tower had not been completed. At the time the tower did not lean as much as it does today;  The tower was officially completed in 1370 measuring 1.6 degrees from vertical.  

During the 1400s and 1500s Florence continued to attack Pisa until the Pisans were forced to surrender in 1509 giving power of government to the Council of Ten, controlled by Niccolo`Macchiavelli.

Galileo Galilei, born in Vincenzo in 1564, moved to Pisa to teach mathematics at the University of Pisa in 1589. In the period between 1589 and 1591 Galileo conducted experiments on gravitational forces by dropping objects from the leaning tower. During the Inquisition (1633) Galileo was persecuted for heresy because of his support for the Copernican theory of the solar system written in The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632).  

Throughout the 18th and 19th century the tower's tilt continued to worsen and several commissions were convened to resolve the problem of the city's most important building. 

Today Pisa has a thriving tourist economy with a population of 100,000 people and a governing authority as a provincial capital of Tuscany. 

After visiting the famous Field, a walk towards the river and commercial centre is full of discoveries. Before reaching Borgo Stretto a coffee at the famous Caffè dell’ Ussero, Palazzo Agostini, host to many famous characters since 1775, is mandatory . Personalities such as Giosuè Carducci, Indro Montanelli, Antonio Tabucchi, John Ruskin, Charles Dickens, Gabriele D’Annunzio, and Emile Zola all passed its portal. Afterwards, if you can't live without good hand-made chocolates, try de Bond, Lungarno Pacinotti 5.There are many wonderful shops displaying a variety of goods from food stuffs to gold and leather goods (most crafted locally in Toscana). Views along the Arno are a delight, with all the colours for which Italy is famous reflected along the river. 

If you’re not sure where to go and what to look for, you can also book a walking tour with one of the licensed Tourist Guides such as Martina Manfredi who is also an Art Historian (see below for contact details).

Martina Manfredi, Tourist Guide and Art Historian. Small groups of up to 8 people.  Available: Monday - Thursday at 10.00 am: Saturday & Sunday 10.00 am & 2.30 pm Cost: from € 20 (depending if lunch part of the tour): children under 6 – free.          Tel: +39 3288982927: Email: artemarty@libero.it