Derinkuyu – The city that escaped the sun

Derinkuyu – The city that escaped the sun

In Turkey, beneath the valleys of Cappadocia, lies a secret carved into the rock. It is believed that its earliest levels were excavated by the Phrygians in the 8th century BC, and that during the Byzantine era (5th–10th centuries AD) the city reached the monumental form we know today. Beneath those valleys, an entire city descends…

Scents of Istanbul: Spices, Tea and Timeless Sweets

Scents of Istanbul: Spices, Tea and Timeless Sweets

Spices, tea and sweets. In the heart of Istanbul, where streets weave together like an immense tapestry, the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı, “covered market”) was born more than five centuries ago. Between 1455 and 1461, Sultan Mehmed II, having just conquered Constantinople, envisioned a space where trade could flourish like the gardens of his palace. The…

Aromas of Istanbul: Spices, Tea and Eternal Sweets

Aromas of Istanbul: Spices, Tea and Eternal Sweets

Spices, tea, and sweets. In the heart of Istanbul, where the streets intertwine like an immense tapestry, the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı, "covered market") was born more than five centuries ago. Between 1455 and 1461, Sultan Mehmed II, having recently conquered Constantinople, wanted to create a space where trade would flourish like the gardens of his palace…

Caffè Florian: An Intimate Chronicle in Piazza San Marco

Caffè Florian: An Intimate Chronicle in Piazza San Marco

Origins of Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco In the winter of 1720, Caffe Florian lit its lamps for the first time and released its aromas into Venezia. At that moment, the Serenissima still breathed the vanity of its past glories. Floriano Francesconi, a merchant of the Venetian trade, opened a café under the solemn…

Caffè Florian: an intimate chronicle in St. Mark's Square

Caffè Florian: an intimate chronicle in St. Mark's Square

The Origins of Caffè Florian in St. Mark's Square In the winter of 1720, Caffè Florian first lit its lights and spread its aromas across Venice. When the Serenissima was still breathing the vanity of its past glories, a man named Floriano Francesconi, a member of the Venetian trade, opened his shop beneath the solemn arches of…

Isle-of-Skye-story

Memories of Skye: The Celtic Echo in the Mist

After my experience in Santiago de Compostela and my growing curiosity about Celtic heritage, I embarked on a journey north. First Scotland, then Ireland... and finally, a small island I'd heard about long ago: the Isle of Skye. I arrived accompanied by a friend, but also on a personal quest...