Benvenuto Expo Milano 2015: What To See at This Year’s Universal Exhibition

Screengrab courtesy of Expo Milano

Celebrity guests headed to Italy this summer or fall should consider a detour to Milan where Andrea Bocelli will open Expo Milano 2015 on April 30. Running through October 31, the international fair will showcase technology from over 140 countries, and welcome over 20 million visitors. The historical city, which is home to majestic Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, previously hosted the Expo in 1906, when the show—which opened in conjunction with the opening of the Simplon Tunnel—was dedicated to transportation.

Participating countries will put forward their best cultural and technological ideas on this year’s timely theme, Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, encouraging visitors to consider how we can continue to produce food safely and sufficiently. Exhibits include a 12-acre wheat field built near the city’s new Porta Nuova business district, and a “sustainable hub,” sponsored by Celebrity’s official coffee, Lavazza. With food being the central theme, Expo 2015 will also pay tribute to the best of each exhibiting country’s gastronomic traditions, including Italian specialties from Mario Batali’s American delicatessen chain Eataly, and frozen treats courtesy of the Gelato Festival.

Truffle Season with Celebrity Cruises

Every year, excited bidders gather at the International White Truffle Auction in Alba, Italy, for a chance to win one of the world’s priciest and most delectable edible funghi. The auction, which benefits scholarships and charitable organisations and institutions at national and international level, began in 1999 and has since grown into a phenomenon. Last year alone, one bidder from Hong Kong offered $120,000 for a two-pound white truffle—or Tuber Magnatum.

The auction is among the final events of the International Alba White Truffle Fair, which runs from October 11 to November 16. In addition to the truffle market, the festival also features a “mediaeval fair,” celebrity talks (by the likes of director Werner Herzog), a vintage car show, and of course, many talks and lecture sessions on the celebrated white truffle.

White truffles are particularly prized and expensive because they are incredibly rare. These prized gastronomic “prizes” make their one-time annual appearance in October and November, and must be foraged by dogs in the wild. (Black truffles, on the other hand, can be cultivated in a variety of climates and countries.) Even in a year when white truffles are more comparably plentiful, will still set buyers back roughly 220 euros ($280 U.S. dollars) per 100 grams.

The Three Rich Sides of Tuscany to Explore

Tuscany is always a favorite destination for travelers to Europe who are lured by the promise of fabulous food, delicious wines, beautiful countrysides and stunning Renaissance art. Indeed, it’s no wonder that this corner of the earth has inspired artists for centuries. With feasts promised for all the senses, here’s our top tips for what to see, do and taste while you spend your days Under the Tuscan Sun.

The Tuscan Seaside

Tuscany, has some of the most beautiful seaside towns across Italy, but one of our favorites is Forte Del Marni. Long stretches of beach framed by dazzling blue seas and a stunning mountain backdrop make this the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy a delicious scoop of gelato.

When we’re looking for a little more activity, however, we like to head to the nearby town of Pietrasanta. Since the 15th century, Pietrasanta has inspired writers and artists, including the great master, Michelangelo, who patronized this very spot to source superior marble for his statues. While you’re here, we encourage you to stop by Locanda di Bruno for a delicious Italian meal and some of the best homemade focaccia we’ve ever tasted.

The Tuscan Mountains

If you love to be out in the fresh air, experiencing the great outdoors, then you’ll love the mountainous regions of Tuscany. Mount Amiata, a dormant volcano, is a great place for long hikes and horseback riding, Alternatively, you might want to take some time to enjoy the mountains of Pistoia, a stunning area that is one of our favorite picturesque picnic stops during the summer.

If you’ve worked up an appetite from hiking through the hills, be sure to enjoy the “Tuscan Chocolate Valley,” a collection of chocolatiers located between the Pisa, Pistoia and Prato areas of Italy. Also in the region is Slitti, an award-winning coffee and chocolate shop in Pistoia—locals are crazy about their candied orange peel dipped in rich, dark chocolate. (So are we.)

The Tuscan Countryside

Picture a Tuscan countryside, and your mind will no doubt wander to the lush vineyards of Chianti. If this is the case for you, we recommend heading to Radda, which is interesting for its rustic churches, castles and rolling hills of green and gold, alone. But the piece de la resistance of this medieval town is undoubtedly Castello di Monterinaldi, a truly Tuscan vineyard.

If, like us, you couldn’t resist picking up a bottle (or a case) of the delicious Chianti you sampled, you might like to pair it with the region’s remarkable cheeses. If this is the case, make your way over to Pienza, in Val d’Orcia, where you’ll get to enjoy the mouth-watering local cheeses amidst a stunning, forested wilderness.

Where in Tuscany do you want to visit?