During our last trip to Ravenna, where we had participated in a symposium on the history of Jews in Italy, among other very interesting topics, we took the opportunity to take a pleasurable walk through the historic center of Ravenna.
What is really great about the pedestrian-friendly historic center is that you can walk around without any problem, and these days, with its holiday decorations, it is even more beautiful.
Ravenna is full of art and culture, as it had been the capital of three magnificent empires: of the Western Roman Empire; of Theodoric, King of the Goths; and of the Byzantine Empire in Europe. This glorious past is evidenced by the many basilicas and baptistries in Ravenna, where the rich heritage of mosaics dating from the fifth and sixth centuries, is still kept alive. Ravenna has eight monuments that are included as UNESCO World Heritage sites; and if that isn’t enough, Dante’s relics are also preserved here. As you can well imagine one day in Ravenna is simply not enough.
But, during our brief visit, discouraged by fog and starting to feel hungry, we stopped at the Antica Bottega di Felice, another real treat for the eyes and one for the palate.
It is an upscale cheese shop with an adjacent small restaurant; the food is all made 'in casa', from many types of pasta to sauces; but the unusual thing that really impressed us, is their large selection of different types of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. We tasted, for the first time in our lives, a super-aged Parmigiano from 1997, a very rare thing, considering that it is produced only from the milk of the famous Red Cows.
We stopped to talk to the owner Roberto and his wife Giordana, who together with daughters Rebecca and Georgia, manage this beautiful place. It was an edifying discussion with a gastronomic focus; what impressed us most was their knowledge and passion about food. We'll be back for sure, and next time we will try another sliver of Parmigiano Reggiano accompanied with a splendid red wine of the Emilia Romagna region.
