To visit Italy in July is to enjoy the warm weather, the abundant sunshine, and gentle breezes along the coasts. It also provides fabulous opportunity to indulge in the seasonal cuisine which is bountiful from the summer harvests. Italian food in Orlando at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano is the only food in Central Florida that can hold a candle to actually being in Italy to savor the foods of summer.
While the thought of visiting Italy usually awakens the palate to envision hearty meals of ravioli, lasagna, and manicotti, Italians do not usually consume such rich and heavy fare during the summer months. While visiting in the summer months, you are more likely to find menus featuring fresh grilled fish topped with a citrusy granita or linguine alla vongole. Light summer foods keep the home cooked meals out of the hot kitchen and meal prep down to a minimum.
Throughout Italy, July is alive with festivals and celebrations of all kinds. For those who love traveling back in time, the Brisighella Medieval Festival occurs the first week of July in Northern Italy. This gives the brave of heart the opportunity to dine on medieval foods, enjoy the arts and crafts of time, and observe jousting matches held in full regalia. Should you grow tired of the festival, you can head to one of the world-renowned spas for a restful retreat.
In Tuscany, Siena’s Palio (horse race) provides wild entertainment as the city’s districts all compete for the win. Saddleless jockeys pommel around the city’s main piazza using it as a horse track. Spectators are protected by small wooden fences strategically placed around the piazza. It’s quite a thrilling sight to see all of the citizens representing and cheering on their individual districts. Of course, food and wine are in abundance at the celebrations leading up to and following the race.
Lemons are a huge ingredient in Italian cooking, and, usually in the middle of July, the Sagra del Limone (Lemon Festival) is held in Campania. The lemons grown in this part of Italy are the one and only used to produce limoncello. The festival features lemons in more ways than you can possibly imagine, each one more delectable than the next.
July is considered one of the peak tourist times throughout Italy, so if you are planning to visit in the future, make sure to confirm all reservations well in advance. To enjoy Italian food in Orlando during July, you don’t have to plan too far in advance. Call us at . Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, authentic Italian cuisine in the City Beautiful.