Italy Beyond the Obvious

How to find great restaurants in Italy with Gambero Rosso online (tutorial videos!)

 

Update (August 2011): Gambero Rosso overhauled their site, and changed not only the design but also temporarily removed the restaurant list. So even if you can navigate the website in Italian, you'll get a "coming soon" when you get to the restaurant section. It's not a very useful tool right now.

My secret to finding excellent dining experiences in Italy lies in the cross-checking, because there's lots of information out there. But one of the sources I always check, and usually first, is the Gambero Rosso guide. I used to buy the printed guide every year as soon as it was released until .... drumroll.... the Gambero Rosso reviews and ratings became available online. 

 

This means that anyone with internet access can, in theory, search for Gambero Rosso rated restaurants across Italy. I say "in theory" because currently the restaurant search function on the website is only in Italian. So I made a tutorial on how to use the site for anyone who doesn't understand Italian. I'd wanted to try out the screencasting software Camtasia for a while so this was a good excuse. Scroll down to see the video(s), or first....

 

A little background on Gambero Rosso

• Gambero Rosso is an organization that reviews and rates restaurants, so these are not user-based reviews.

• GR rates restaurants, trattorias, and wine bars on a 100-point scale. Places score up to 70 points for the food, up to 20 points for the wine, and up to 10 points for the service. Sometimes GR gives a couple bonus points, too.

• GR reviews come out every year, so you know that what you're reading is relatively recent.

• In my (anecdotal, unscientific) experience, the GR guide is the place Italians turn to when they want to know where to eat.

• GR reviews restaurants in every big city and small hamlet and countryside across Italy. More than likely, no matter where in Italy you're going, they've covered something nearby.

• GR reviews many different types of eateries in all price ranges. Whether you're looking for a pizzeria for 10 Euros per person or a fancy restaurant for 200 Euros per person, they've been there.

 

Examples of when you'd use the GR restaurant online restaurant search:

• ... you've been reading guide book recommendations and online user reviews and you're overwhelmed with choice. You just want a good, mid-priced wine bar in Rome, open on Sundays. 

• ... you'll be renting a villa in the hills of Umbria and want to know where you should eat in the nearby countryside.

• .... you'll be in Venice, and having broken your budget on your hotel, you need recommendations for places to eat that are good but relatively inexpensive.

 

Part I of the tutorial is about 90 seconds and shows you how to access the Gambero Rosso website, how to create a login, and where to find the restaurant search function.

 

How to find great restaurants in Italy with Gambero Rosso online - Part I

 

 

Parts II and III of the tutorial are in one video; part II is 6 minutes and goes over every field of the restaurant search function, and shows you how to sort results. Part III is in the same video (the transition is very abrupt, my apologies in advance), is about 2 minutes long, and goes over all the information you see for each restaurant as well as an overview of the Comments tab.

 

How to find great restaurants in Italy with Gambero Rosso online: Parts II and III

 

Do you use Gambero Rosso to find restaurants in Italy? Do you use it the same way I do, or have other tips? And if you watched the video, was it helpful?

 

 

Photo from istockphoto.com

 

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5 Spectacular Castles near Parma

 

Foodies flock to Parma for cheese, ham, and more, while cyclists love the area because it's relatively flat compared to much of the rest of Italy. But there's another great reason to visit the area: incredible castles, and lots of them! Here are five of my favorites. 

 

Torrechiara

Almost 600 years old, this magnificent castle is about 10 miles from Parma and open all year to visitors. I think this castle sells itself with the photo above, but for opening hours, ticket prices, guided tours and more, here's everything you need to know about Torrechiara.

 

 

 

Bardi Castle

Described as the ultimate example of military architecture in the region, the Bardi fortress was built over 800 years ago, though some form of fortress has stood on the rock for over a thousand years. You'll see rooms decorated for Renaissance aristocrats as well as dungeons, lookout towers, soldiers' quarters and even a torture chamber. Lots of information about visiting Bardi here. The photo below is a view from a window of the castle, and here's a gorgeous photo of the castle itself. 

 

  

 

 

 

Rocca San Vitale / Fontanellato

This castle is conveniently located in the center of a small town and has a real moat surrounding it. Don't miss the inside for incredible frescoes and the spy tower where visitors can still watch the activity in the town's main square thanks to a series of lenses and prisms. Everything you need to know about visiting the Rocca San Vitale in Fontanellato. 

 

 

 

Roccabianca

You'll need a guided visit to see Roccabianca, but it's worth organizing. This 500-year old castle has impressive paintings and frescoes inside, and visitors can also see where cured meats were hung, where balsamic vinegar was matured, and even visit the distillery museum.  Lots of information on Roccabianca here.

 

 

 

Rivalta

An entirely satisfying castle visit, Rivalta is gorgeous from the outside and surrounded by a huge park. Inside, visitors can see a luxurious residence with a hall of honor, a billiard room, bedrooms and kitchen in addition to the usual dungeons included on castle tours. And if you're going to be in the area for New Year's Eve, the dinner and entertainment at Rivalta is a lot of fun. Lots of information on Rivalta here.

 

 

 

Keep in mind that castles can get chilly, so are a great activity for a hot summer day, but in cooler weather bring a sweater. Always check opening days and times, and whether a guided tour is required to visit the inside. And if the whole family is going, here are suggestions on visiting castles with kids.

 

 

Photo credits: Bardi by Ciccio Pizzettaro, Torrechiara from Wikimedia Commons, Fontanellato by [Icecool], Roccabianca from the Castelli Del Ducato di Parma, Rivalta from Nelparmense

 

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