Program 653a: Ærø Island Denmark; Emilia-Romagna; Italian View of Sicily

Find out what makes the small Danish island of Ærø a perfectly charming and cozy getaway.

Or why the large island of Sicily is such a favorite with visitors from Italy and abroad.

And Italophile Fred Plotkin reveals which region of Italy he considers the pinnacle of its culinary and cultural achievements.

It's all on the next Travel with Rick Steves.

• Danish-born tour guide Nina Seffusatti
• Italian food and culture expert Fred Plotkin
• Italian tour guides Susanna Perrucchini from Rome and Alfredo Vitale from Naples

• Wikipedia describes Denmark's Ærø Island and the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
• Nina Seffusatti offers private tours in the Provence and Occitanie regions of southern France.
• Rick collaborated with Fred Plotkin on the book "Italy for Food Lovers." It's based on Fred's now out-of-print classic "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler."
• Fred posts episodes from his live Idagio Friday arts interviews on YouTube.
• The historic porticoes of Bologna have been awarded UNESCO world heritage status.
• The Rick Steves online guides to the island of Sicily, and the city of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region in the north of Italy.
• Alfredo Cafasso Vitale offers tours in Naples and the Campania region of southern Italy.

• "My wife and I stayed four nights on Ærø. Don't be like the day-trippers who just come in and out. The island deserves more than just an afternoon. We particularly liked the Nightwatchman of Ærøskøbing, who gave a great guided tour." (Steven in Cudahy, Wisconsin)
• Caller lived in Bologna for a year. "I always advise people to spend some time there. It's not shockingly beautiful like Florence or Venice, but the beauty is in the details and the food. Bologna has a lot of hidden gems, like the Basilica of San Domenica with its small Michelangelo sculptures, and its parks and canals. It is a fun, vibrant (and delicious) city!" (Kate in Austin, Texas)
• "I made a food pilgrimage to Emilia-Romagna, thanks to Fred's book, Italy for the Gourmet Traveler, and I'm so glad I did! I visited an acetaia in Modena to see how real balsamic vinegar is created. I dined at one of Fred's recommended restaurants in Modena, and I marveled at the Mercado delle Erbe in Bologna. My family is from Piemonte in the northwest region of Italy. Visiting Emilia-Romagna gave me a whole other introduction to Italian food and an appreciation for the differences in the cuisine of each region." (Martina in Atlanta, Georgia)
• Caller just returned from two months in Italy "with the last three weeks in Sicily. Was totally awed by Sicily: the beauty, the history, the ruins, the people, and the best food I had in Italy! It was my first time in Sicily, but won't be my last. I fell in love with it!" (Jeanne in Damariscotta, Maine)
• "Taormina looks like a beautiful place to visit, but I have read so much about how overly crowded it is with tourists, even in the off-season. What is the best time to visit Taormina? Also, what time of year is Sicily the most green? We watched some videos on Sicily and we loved the lush look of the countryside, but I'm guessing that doesn't last long each spring." (Courtenay in Portland, Oregon)

• Cincinnati Pops, Erich Kunzel, cond., "Quando m'en vo' (from 'La Boheme') (Puccini)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
• Cincinnati Pops, Erich Kunzel, cond., "Theme from 'The Dove'," Sailing (various artists) / Telarc
• Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, cond., "Symphony No. 4, op. 29, 'The Inextinguishable' II: poco allegretto (Carl Neilsen)," The Nordic Experience, disc 2 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Gunnar Madsen, Preben Schiodt, "Danmarkvalsen," Drommen der blev til virkelighed / (self-released - Denmark)
• Eliane Elias, "September," Kissed By Nature / Bluebird-BMG
• * Dave Brubeck, "Wonderful Copenhagen," I Like Jazz: The Essence of Dave Brubeck / Sony
• I Musici, "String Concerto in G Minor, RV 319 - Andanta molto (Vivaldi)," Vivaldi for Valentines (collection) / Philips
• Empire Brass, "Sonate XIII, from Canzone e Sonate (Gabrielli)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
• I Solisti Dell'Orchestra Filarmonica Della Scala, featuring Giulio Franzetti, Riccardo Muti, conductor, "'1-Allegro' from 'The Four Seasons: Autumn' (Vivaldi)," Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / EMI Classics
• Nino Rota, "La Dolce Vita (Finale)," La Dolce Vita (soundtrack) / Creazioni Artistiche Musicali (Italy)
• Instrumental intro to Tino Rossi's 1934 recording, "Vieni, Vieni," Paris by Night (collection) / EMI
• * Michelle Sell, "Eclipse," Secret Harbor / Sugo Music
• Banda Ionica, "Come L'Aria," Off the Beaten Track / Music Rough Guides
• Salvatore Macheda, "A'mbasciata," Il Canto di Malavita (collection) / Play It Again Sam
• I Giullari di Piazza, "Fischiettando (trad. Sicilian tarantella)," Earth Sun & Moon / Lyrichord
• SON_SAS_0147_01301_Patermo_A_APM
• Sarabanda, "Ballo Della Cordella," Sarabanda / Ethnoworld

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• At 12:06, Rick asks Nina if honesty survives "in the 2020s" at the Ærø Island honor-system payment boxes.
• In the reset at 27:26, Rick notes that the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy has "recently become very popular."
• At 46:26, Alfredo explains how tolerance of organized crime has waned in Sicily in recent years.
• Rick notes that there are few tourist crowds in Sicily, and that it is about half the price of the rest of Italy, starting at 51:53. He adds that Palermo has developed a nightlife lately as it has cleaned up the city and added pedestrian zones. Susanna and Alfredo add that Palermo and Siracusa have undergone a small renaissance in recent years.
• At 57:16, Alfredo recommends visiting in early spring, or in late September-October, to avoid the hottest weather in Sicily. Rick and the guides agree to avoid Sicily in July and August.