Saint Valentine is the patron of the city of Terni, Umbria. He was born here at the end of the second century and is buried on a hill outside the city walls where today you will find the Basilica of St. Valentine.

The name Valentine comes from the latin 'valere' which means 'feel good' and the Saint was famous among his contemporaries its healing powers through faith.

For the origin of Valentine's Day you have to go back to the ancient Romans and Greeks.

They used to celebrate rites in honor of their gods Fauno e Luperco on the 15th of February to auspicate prosperity and fertility during the year to come.

The town of Terni still celebrates its patron with a calendar of events called 'Eventi Valentiniani' which include music, art, exhibitions and more.

This recipe is very easy and quick. So quick that it is also known as 'midnight spaghetti' as friends often decide to make it in the early hours having turned in late after a evening out. It is also quite popular with singles when there is nothing else left in the Italian fridge!

Ingredients

spaghetti, olive oil, gloves of garlic, dried red chilli, parsley

The Holiday Apartment and Hotel Domus de Janas Sul Mare is located by the splendid beach of Torre di Bari right in the centre of the Eastern coast of Sardinia and the province of Ogliastra.

It offers three star superior room or apartment accommodation for anyone seeking a tranquil break in an unspoilt corner of the island. Domus de Janas is a especially suitable for family holidays in Sardinia.

Indeed, the Domus de Janas defines itself as an eco-friendly hotel promoting sustainable tourism and has received the following recognitions: Certificate “Ecolabel 2007“, Eco World Hotel 2008, Legambiente Turismi Sardegna 2009 and Skal Eco Tourism Award 2010.

Do read more about the fine work the management team have done and future initiatives here.

Details include tap water coming from natural springs in the hills, 100% green power energy, and  room interiors  furnished with lots of natural wood and typical Sardinian wall hangings.

The first thing you notice about the territory of Ogliastra in eastern Sardinia is the name. It may derive from the olive trees that which feature across the territory, or perhaps after the monolithic red porphyry rock of Pedra Longa pictured (Agugliastra) located along the Baunei coastline in front of the small port of Arbatax.

What is for sure is that Ogliastra is commonly referred to as 'the amphitheater'. The  territory is effectively hemmed in by three mountainous massifs positioned in such a way as to present an impressive 180° backdrop to the coastline of Tyrrhenian Sea below.

Specifically, the territory passes from the high basin of the Flumendosa river and Supramonte Mountains, the Gennargentu Massif and the southern Monte Arbu and Monte Ferru di Jerzu.

On this page we list the special offers and festive packages featuring in Delicious Italy.

They also include proposals leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as classic vacation breaks which extend beyond New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2013 to the Epiphany and into the rest of January.

All the offers have been forwarded to us by a selection of restaurants, family hotels, luxury accommodation, country relais, bed and breakfasts and tour operators we are in contact with.

All can be booked directly.

A BAROLO AND BARBARESCO CHRISTMAS

These 2 special gifts have been put together by local operator Tasting Tours based in Asti. They offer the possibility of a visit to the beautiful zone of Langhe in Piemonte to enjoy the food and wines.

The Gifts are valid until March 31st 2013

Gift Proposal 1
• 2 nights in local boutique hotel (double occupancy) with breakfast included
• 1-day tour with professional tour guide to discover the sought-after Barolo and Barbaresco
• 1 bottle of wine
• € 295,00 per person (price based on min. 2 people)

Gift Proposal 2
• 1-day tour with professional tour guide to discover the sought-after Barolo and Barbaresco
• 1 bottle of wine € 130,00 per person (price based on min. 2 people)

Contact Tasting Tours to know all the details and check availability

So what is a classic Christmas Eve menu in Naples? Well, its all about fish, not surprisingly. A typical menu is made of pasta with anchovies or clams, followed by fried or roasted 'capitone' (eel), roasted fish, boiled lobster and insalata di rinforzo (such as a cauliflower salad).

For dessert, the typical cakes or sweets are the mustacciuoli or mostaccioli and fresh fruit. The meal of the 'Vigilia' is accompanied by Lacrima Christi white wine and ended with Lacrima Christi passito.

Well that's the day before, what about the day after?

Restaurant Rossopeperoncino 'hosteria sicula' is positioned at the foot of a small alleyway besides Il Duomo or Cathedral of Taormina.

Diners enter first a splendid courtyard full of green vegetation and the fragrance of flowers. The internal part of the restaurant is equally warm and welcoming.

The cuisine is based on the flavours and dishes once prepared in the kitchens of local grandmothers.

They are simple and traditional Sicilian recipes which have been revisited by the Rossopeperoncino chefs.

Creative dishes of homemade pasta combined with the fresh vegetables in season, both first and second courses are an explosion of flavours, fragrance and Mediterranean colours.

If you happen to be in Palermo do not miss out on the chance of immersing yourself in the color, smells and sounds of the local food markets. It's all about street food and for non Sicilians, even Italians, they are places where a truly unique fusion of culinary influences over many centuries can be experienced.

To enjoy best the Palermo street food, leave your diet regime at home and allow yourself to be carried where your taste buds take you.

Firstly, try sfincione which is  focaccia bread fried with onions. Then there is 'stigghiola'  which requires a bit of braveness as it is a quite strong flavor dish. It's a sausage cooked with barbecue and made with liver of lamb, provola cheese, onions, boiled eggs, entrails of lamb, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper. People who had it confirm that's delicious!

The 17th century Castello di Semivicoli offers fabulous historical country residence accommodation near Guardiagrele in the province of Chieti in Abruzzo.

It was bought by wine maker Gianni Masciarelli in 2004 who transformed into a wonderful place for anyone seeking a refined rural experience in central Italy to enjoy wine tasting and a vacation with exclusive relaxation and calm.

Guests stay in eleven rooms which include 2 junior suites and a superior suite named 'Il Granaio'.

The latter has an ensuite sitting room and small kitchen, as well as a jacuzzi and a wonderful 360° panoramic view of the area. All rooms are equipped with minibar, wireless internet connection, heating and air conditioning.

Venice is much much, more than the tedious annual carnival and references to Casanova. It is a city with a seafaring history, a place where battles won and where commerce was king. An offshore haven  where chancers, survivors and honorable rogues mixed with nobility and kings. Or perhaps they were one in the same?!

One such man could have been Corto Maltese, a fabulous character created by Hugo Pratt (1927-1995), one of the greatest comic book writers in Italy and the world.