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Gelato cone
Now Playing on Travel with Rick Steves
Program 718a: Pastas You Should Know; In Sardinia; Gelato
Release Date: 08-23-2025
Description
Italian food expert Fred Plotkin describes some of the unusual varieties of pasta that you can find in Italy — and the reason behind their different shapes. Historian Jeff Biggers explores the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where sites dating back to the Bronze Age are found across the island. And tour guides from Tuscany and Sicily bring us the scoop on how to find the best gelato in Italy.
Guests
- Italophile Fred Plotkin, co-author of "Rick Steves' Italy for Food Lovers" (Avalon Travel)
- Historian Jeff Biggers, author of "In Sardinia" (Melville House)
- Alfio di Mauro, tour guide from Catania, Sicily
- Anna Piperato, tour guide based in Siena, Italy
Additional Info
- Rick collaborated with Fred Plotkin on the book "Italy for Food Lovers."
- Fred hosts weekly arts interviews, Fridays at 2pm Eastern time, on the Idagio platform. They are also archived under "Fred Plotkin on Fridays" on YouTube.
- Jeff Biggers writes about the people and attractions of the island of Sardinia in his book "In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy."
- Canto a Tenore is a vocal music tradition from the shepherds of Sardinia.
- Art historian Anna Piperato leads tours of Italy from her home base of Siena, in Tuscany.
- Anna explains how she ended up living in Italy.
- Alfio Di Mauro describes growing up on Sicily.
- Alfio was a featured guest on Rick's Monday Night Travel forum in 2022.
Program Extras
More with Fred Plotkin - Fred Plotkin tells Rick about the humble "cucina povola" of Italy, and how he used to prepare a rustic meal of hometown favorites for tenor Luciano Pavarotti after he performed in New York. (runs 1:47)
More with Jeff Biggers - Jeff Biggers describes the cultural influence of Sardinia's shepherds in the area around Nuoro, including their distinctive Canto a Tenore choral music. He also recommends staying at a rural agriturismo, and attending the big Festival of Saint Efesio each May. And he tells Rick if Sardinia is named for the fish, or if it's the other way around. (runs 6:59)