Luminata magazine

We are extremely proud to welcome to the Tallinn Design Festival as a centerpiece “Created in Italy – the attitude for the impossible” exhibition. Bringing together compelling designs product and concepts across Italy, it outlines the versatility of the country’s industrial design.

The island of Capri is one of the most legendary summer destinations, much of its charm deriving in addition to the wonderful nature also from the island’s 50s and 60s luxury aura, having been the favorite spot of the Hollywood and European influential jet setters. Much has changed in today’s world, but it would be a mistake to think that the blue paradise feeling in Capri has somehow faded away. For me it has been a place to go for twenty years and thus, very difficult to write about, as too many things have remained with me, making it hard to choose. However, here comes my ‘not to miss’ list for those wishing to explore this lovely island.

The smallest island in the bay of Naples, Procida, is actually just 40 minutes hydrofoil ride away from Naples. Perhaps it’s a touch less known than its neighboring islands of Capri and Ischia, but having been the Italy’s Capital of Culture 2022 has certainly put a new spotlight on it, much deservedly so.

Mantecare. Man-te-ca-re. Veeretan seda algselt hispaania keelest tuletatud sõna keelel. Itaalias tähistatakse sellega midagi väga olulist, peaaegu püha. See tähistab nimelt seda hetke, kui äsja al dente keedetud pasta ja armastusega valmistatud kaste pannis ühinevad ning pasta üleni kastmega kattub, selle kreemjasse headusse sulandudes.

Päev Napolist väljas Vesuuvi nõlvadel on täpselt see mis vaja, et hetkeks linnakärast eemale saada ja lasta mõttel puhata. Ilmselt ka hingel, vaadates kevadiselt rohetavat maad ja silmapiiril paistvat säravsinist Napoli lahte, kus joonistuvad välja Sorrento ja Capri piirjooned. Taamal kõrgub üle kõige Vesuuv. Vulkaan, mis siinsele piirkonnale on toonud nii hävingut kui õnnistust.  

There is something ethereal and regal about Venezia (Venice) that manages to captivate you completely. Maybe it’s the unique beauty of the city built on water that doesn’t seem to be real, maybe it’s her glorious past when, ruled by the dodges, she dominated the trade between the East and West, be it the melancholy of the realization that the splendid city is quietly sinking into the waters where it once came from.

Seekord räägime ItaliaMia lugude sarjas Robert Marrandiga, kes tegi teoks selle, millest paljud unistavad, kuid ühel või teisel põhjusel teostuseni ei jõua - avas Firenzes oma pagariäri. Väike ja hubane Wild Buns Bakery paikneb San Frediano linnaosas, kus kitsaid tänavaid ääristavad tillukesed poekesed, kohvikud ja sageli vaid kohalikele teada baarid ja trattoriad. Skandinaaviapärases pagariäris, kus saab nii kohapeal istet võtta kui ka endale meeldivat kaasa osta, tervitab tulijaid juba uksel soojade saiade, kaneeli- ja kardemonilõhn.

Firenze (Florence) and its Renaissance beauty has charmed travelers since its beginnings. It’s no different these days, all year round. The cathedrals and chapels full of masters’ art, museums, palaces, art galleries, fashion, the famous Tuscan cuisine with its wines, its elegant piazzas and streets. Visiting Firenze in winter time, just before the holiday crowds are starting to arrive, is to me, one of the best moments to enjoy this wonderful city to the fullest. Or then again, after the holidays, when the streets are emptier again and seem to belong to you.

We were very excited about the opportunity to interview a renowned American-Italian designer Anthony Luciano, having among his customers, for instance, Meryl Streep and Cameron Diaz. Living in his beloved New York and having fascinated with his vintage-inspired everyday luxury handbags collection in 2000 such American retailers as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Stanley Korshak, he is now fully focusing on direct relationships with his customers. Being a newyorker and world citizen, his love for design came from his grandmother and mother who with care and love showed a young Anthony their masterful handwork skills.

What if I ask you which country in Europe could be a perfect option for you to spend a couple of weeks? I bet Italy would be one of the most popular answers! Well, that was my first thought when finally, after a long season of no-travelling, I decided to join with the help of Luminata on a trip of 12-days of adventure, art, food and pleasure, over four well-known cities of Italy: Roma, Napoli, Firenze and Venezia.

In this article, I want to share my personal experience, but also my itinerary and some tips for anyone considering travelling to Italy.

Seekord räägime meie ItaliaMia lugude sarjas Itaaliast toidublogija, kokanduseksperdi ja paljude retseptide autori Silja Luidega, kelle populaarne toidublogi Jagatud rõõm on kokandushuvilisi inspireerinud juba üle kümne aasta. Sügisel täitub samuti kümme aastat ajast, mil Silja hakkas iganädalaselt kirjutama toidulugusid Eesti Päevalehe nädalalõpulehte LP.  Kuidas tema enda teekond hea toidu ja selle valmistamiseni alguse sai, mida ta arvab Itaalia köögist ning millised paigad Siljale eelkõige muljet on avaldanud, seda saab lugeda järgnevast loost. Ja ei jää tulemata ka üks maitsev Itaalia-hõnguline suveretsept!

Jätkame meie ItaliaMia lugude sarja, rääkides Itaaliast Eesti Disainerite Liidu juhi ja Disainiöö peakorraldaja, Ilona Gurjanovaga. Ilonat on Itaaliasse viinud rohked Eesti disaini rahvusvahelise tutvustamise ja turundusega seotud projektid ning Euroopa tasemel üritused, millest loos lähemalt räägime. Kuuleme ka, miks talle meeldivad Veneetsia ja Perugia ning mida põnevat on Ilona Itaalias kogenud, Fiati peadisaineriga kohtumisest Torino lennujaama asemel Milano Malpensasse jõudmiseni.

Rione Sanità on üks kõige vastuolulisemaid ja värvikamaid Napoli piirkondi. Vast kõige rohkem võib seda võrrelda Hispaania kvartaliga, mis küll väljaspool Napolit Sanitàst  oluliselt tuntum on. Monarhide ajastul olid mõlemad piirkonnad au sees, küll kaaskonna majutamiseks, küll teena Palazzo Reale kuningapaleest Capodimonte residentsi. Siis aga ajad ja võimud muutusid, Sanità puhul näiteks rajati teine tee kahe palee vahel, mis enam piirkonda ei läbinud, ja need vajusid vaesusse ning unarusse. Sanità sai endale kurikuulsuse Camorra maffiapiirkonnana, kelle arveteklaarimises hukkusid sageli süütud tänaval jalutajad või kuidagi teisel viisil tule alla jääjad. Aastaid, isegi aastakümneid, nägi Sanità vaid inimeste lahkumist. Kes vähegi endale lubada sai, jättis piirkonna maha ja alustas oma elu uuesti kuskil rahulikumas paigas.

Jätkame meie ItaliaMia lugude sarja, rääkides Itaaliast DanceAct Tantsustuudio looja ning andeka treeneri ja tantsija, Georg Kodusaarega. Miks ta ei tahaks Itaaliasse kolida, kust võib saada ootamatult head espressot ning mida arvab Itaalia meestemoest ise alati stiilne Georg, saab lugeda allolevast loost. 

Räägime Itaaliast armastatud moedisaineri ja stilisti Oksana Tanditiga. Moelooja, kelle käekirja võib kirjeldada kui modernset klassikat, milles alati killuke luksust ja mõni pilkupüüdev detail, tunneb end Itaalias kui kodus. On see itaallaste kirglik temperament, nende stiilitunnetus, valmidus sinu aitamiseks kasvõi pool suguseltsi omakorda appi kutsuda või hoopis midagi muud, mis Oksanat Itaalia juures võlub, sellest kuulemegi.

With Christmas and New Year being just a step away, let’s take a look at what Naples and its surrounding areas offer for this special time of year. Whether it’s hiking, shopping, buying local produce, cookery or simply having the most wonderful cup of Neapolitan coffee, there’s something for every taste.

Now more than before the concept of personal happiness and well-being is gaining importance. Many of those things that we used to value, even a year or two ago, have lost their importance in the wave of coronavirus pandemic that hit the world. The consequences it had for our everyday lives are not yet even fully comprehensible, but one thing is certain – the mental health and well-being of people is something that we would need to be concentrating on more.

Ancient city of Naples in Southern Italy is typically known as the birthplace of pizza and home to the delicious mozzarella cheese. Those who have been there as tourists might add to it the beauty of volcano Vesuvius, historical buildings dating back thousands of years and the sunny Southern Italian landscape. The city is serving also as a port to surrounding Amalfi coast and the islands of Ischia, Procida and legendary blue Capri.

However, the fact that Naples can be used also as a destination for vintage shopping is a closely guarded secret by locals. The best market for vintage is called Resina and it’s being located 10 km outside of Naples in the Portici area. 30 minutes by car and you’re in the middle of vintage shopper’s heaven. Rows and rows of little outlets offering you everything from carnival costumes for style parties to leather garments, as well as suits, dresses, shoes and bags. Layers of fashion history are looking to be discovered: from 50s to nowadays, some rare findings also from 30s. There are also other markets in Naples where one could find some items of value - like in piazza Garibaldi -, but Resina overshadows them to great extent.

The game of sunlight,
caressing touch of water,
wandering at nights
beneath the starry skies.