Episodio 1/30

@ Cooknook
Iolanthe begins her tour of "Southern Italy" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations!
Italy - South
In this part of the trip, the pets will explore sights ranging from narrow village backstreets to the famous Arco san Felice in Puglia and the Isle of Capri. They will see iconic Italian vehicles such as the tiny Fiat 500 and the Vespa scooter. Along the way they come across Italian flora and fauna, and have ample opportunity to sample the best of Italian cuisine, not only pizza, pasta and delicious gelati but dishes made with freshly picked lemons and grapes! But let's hope they're not kept awake by too much espresso!
Cooknook
Exploring the winding, narrow streets in this Italian town you come across a charming little eatery tucked away in its own niche. Can you resist sitting down at one of the invitingly set tables to relax over pasta and Chianti?

Episodio 2/30

@ Pizza de resistance
"... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Chloe Rose?" remarked Iolanthe.
"I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Chloe Rose.
Iolanthe chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne."
Pizza de resistance
Who wouldn't want to have some of this delicious looking cheesy pizza? Throughout Italy, there are traditional regional variations in pizza recipes and production, from the classic pizza Napoletana to the Pizza al Padellino and Pizza Siciliana. The one pictured here is Pizza Tonda Romana, with a very thin, crispy crust. If you fancy a tasty snack on the street, then street sellers provide Pizza al Taglio—served by the slice! In Naples you can buy Pizza Fritta fried pizza in circle or half-moon shapes.

Episodio 3/30

@ Roof Invasion
"We'll be seeing a bit of everything here in Italy," remarked iddels. "You could say, from Giotto to gelato!"
"That pistachio gelato we had last night was superb!" marvelled Iolanthe. "You can certainly tell the difference between Italian ice cream and the mass produced stuff we have at home!"
Roof Invasion
These sun-baked roof tiles in shades of terracotta, apricot and pink have been complemented by wild flower seeds taking root and flowering in the cracks.

Episodio 4/30

@ Draped Grapes
“Let’s pose with one of us each side of this attraction and I’ll set the self-timer to take a shot,” said Iolanthe to Asparagus. “It’ll be a great souvenir of our time here!”
Draped Grapes
Italy is the world's largest wine producer. The most famous Italian wines are probably the Tuscan Chianti and the Piedmontese Barolo.

Episodio 5/30

@ Camogli, Genoa
“Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused Iolanthe, sipping a leisurely espresso.
"Well, I don't know," said FiFi. "It's not all about drinking coffee and gazing at the sea. You have run up and down stairs to operate the light and the foghorn, and there may be no running water or electricity apart from a generator."
Iolanthe considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then."
Camogli, Genoa
Camogli is a fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso in the Riviera di Levante, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy. The prestigious naval college "Cristoforo Colombo" was founded in Camogli in 1874, named after the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus.
In 1880, the former fishing village had, in a population of 12,000, 500 registered as ship captains. Camogli now relies mainly on tourism and is known for its colorful houses that line the beach. The house colors once helped the fishermen of Camogli find the way back to their port.

Episodio 6/30

@ Little Egret
"It must be so romantic working on a vineyard, Iolanthe," said Milk contentedly sipping grape juice after a hard day’s sightseeing. "Imagine picking the ripe grapes while the sun sets and seeing them turned into wine!"
"Hmm—now imagine being up at dawn in the cold of January and February pruning the woody stalks by hand and crushing them up for compost,” said Iolanthe. “Then more work throughout spring, leaf pruning later in the year, followed by grape pruning. It doesn’t stop.”
Milk waved her glass. “I’ll have staff to do all that,” she said.
Little Egret
The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Episodio 7/30

@ Cygnet Rings
"It must be so romantic working on a vineyard, Iolanthe," said Toto contentedly sipping grape juice after a hard day’s sightseeing. "Imagine picking the ripe grapes while the sun sets and seeing them turned into wine!"
"Hmm—now imagine being up at dawn in the cold of January and February pruning the woody stalks by hand and crushing them up for compost,” said Iolanthe. “Then more work throughout spring, leaf pruning later in the year, followed by grape pruning. It doesn’t stop.”
Toto waved his glass. “I’ll have staff to do all that,” he said.
Cygnet Rings
Are these fluffy cuties watching the ripples spread outwards in circles as they try out their swimming skills for the first time? At least mother's there keeping a watchful eye on them!

Episodio 8/30

@ Black-Winged Stilt
Iolanthe and Moon shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Iolanthe. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Moon. “This is my best side.”
Black-Winged Stilt
Striking and unmistakable, with its elegant shape, boldly pied plumage, long pink legs, and its long, very fine bill. The black-winged stilt feeds by wading in water, picking with its bill from the water surface. In flight, its long pink legs stick out far beyond its tail!

Episodio 9/30

@ Scooter Italiana
“Where are we now, Iolanthe?” asked Teeka.
"If it's Tuesday this must be Tuscany!" joked Iolanthe. "Only kidding—let me check the map!"
Scooter Italiana
Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means 'wasp' in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co.

Episodio 10/30

@ River Rapids
“I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, Iolanthe,” mused Audra, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of her pen. “Is it two ts and one r?”
“Simples,” grinned Iolanthe. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.”
“Middle Earth!” cried Audra.
River Rapids
This river provides the ideal opportunity to relax on its banks as the sun sinks below the horizon!

Episodio 11/30

@ Frutta e Vino
"Italy—the perfect choice for our travels this summer, Iolanthe!" enthused Seth.
"Yup. Pizza, pasta, Prada. I can't wait to get to Milan!"
"Oh! I was thinking more of world famous paintings and architecture, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, the Colosseum of Ancient Rome, Venice's canals, Pompeii, the opera. Italy has given the world so much!" said Seth.
Iolanthe unwrapped a torta al cioccolato pastiglia for herself, popped it in her mouth and offered the packet to Seth. "Sure! You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy."
Frutta e Vino
This little shop will provide you with fresh local delicacies such as home grown lemons, regional olive oil and wine, and a range of other fruit and vegetables!

Episodio 12/30

@ Tree in Mist
"We'll be seeing a bit of everything here in Italy," remarked lilycat. "You could say, from Giotto to gelato!"
"That pistachio gelato we had last night was superb!" marvelled Iolanthe. "You can certainly tell the difference between Italian ice cream and the mass produced stuff we have at home!"
Tree in Mist
This fine, tall tree looms up out of the misty dawn at the start of another beautiful day!

Episodio 13/30

@ In Vino Veritas
“Oh hello, Iolanthe!” cried Smoothie. “Didn’t we bump into each other in Scotland back in the spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
In Vino Veritas
Italy is divided into 20 administrative regions (see left), all of which produce wine to some extent, and all of which contain various wine regions. The most significant, when both quality and quantity are taken into consideration, are Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto. Each region has its flagship wine styles.

Episodio 14/30

@ Buon Appetito!
“I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, Iolanthe,” mused Sebastian, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of his pen. “Is it two ts and one r?”
“Simples,” grinned Iolanthe. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.”
“Middle Earth!” cried Sebastian.
Buon Appetito!
Enjoy your meal! The Mediterranean diet is reputed to be very healthy, although possibly the high incidence of sunshine in these lands plays its role in the health of their inhabitants!

Episodio 15/30

@ Watery Perch
Half way through Iolanthe's tour of "Southern Italy", she finds a special prize!
Blossoms Array (Royal Velvet)
Whimsically understated, the soft velvety petals of this arrangement are alluring to pets far and wide.
Watery Perch
He's very well disguised! A bare rock in the sea to him is a good resting place as he is waterproofed with his feathers, however uncomfortable it may look to us!

Episodio 16/30

@ Yellow Corn Marigold
“Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Iolanthe. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Peridot.
“No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Iolanthe, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Iolanthe."
"It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Peridot indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'"
Iolanthe seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", she grumbled.
Peridot sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead."
Yellow Corn Marigold
This cheerful flower, coleostephus myconis, more commonly known as the corn marigold, occurs in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. It usually grows in grassy fields.

Episodio 17/30

@ Confection Selection
On disembarking from the tour bus, Abby surveyed the current stopping place. “Would you fancy living here, Iolanthe?”
"Well, it's certainly a bit different to where we live," said Iolanthe. "But I could get used to it, I daresay!"
Confection Selection
Get your choice of snack here, from an ice cold drink on a hot summer's day, or a delicious and unique Italian gelato—just the thing to cool you down!

Episodio 18/30

@ Breathe In!
“Let's practise some of these Italian phrases in our brochure, Iolanthe. I'll ask you what your name is! Come si chiama, Lei?” asked Marty Mole.
“No, my name isn't 'Lei'," replied Iolanthe, somewhat irritated. "Why are you asking that? Anyway—Mi chiamo Iolanthe."
"It doesn't mean, 'What's your name, Lei?'" responded Marty Mole indignantly. "The whole thing means 'What is your name?'"
Iolanthe seized the phrasebook. "Doesn't make sense, going round asking pets if they're called 'Lei'", she grumbled.
Marty Mole sighed heavily. "Let's try another one instead."
Breathe In!
The Fiat 500 is ideally suited to the narrow winding streets. It is very economical to drive and holds four occupants. This is an early model, air-cooled with a rear engine. The Fiat 500 is a very popular vehicle not only in Italy but in the rest of Europe and the UK.

Episodio 19/30

@ Italian Tricolour
“I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, Iolanthe,” mused Mittens, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of her pen. “Is it two ts and one r?”
“Simples,” grinned Iolanthe. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.”
“Middle Earth!” cried Mittens.
Italian Tricolour
The Italian flag is popularly known in Italy as Il Tricolore. The first use of a green/white/red tricolour design for a flag in what is now Italy was in 1796 when it represented a republic in the north. The red and white came from the flag of Milan, and the green from the colour of the region’s military uniform. Within a year, that republic had merged with another—and the tricolor design would be abandoned and re-adopted over the years—but the three colours of green, white and red would remain.

Episodio 20/30

@ Rose Dawn
"The tour guide said we'll be visiting Il Duomo. I asked her what that was and she said it meant 'the cathedral' in Italian. But there are lots of cathedrals in Italy!" remarked Iolanthe.
"When they say Il Duomo they most often mean the one in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It says in our brochure it was first built in the 13th century, with the dome added in the 15th century. It has a pink, white and green exterior in a gothic style with a large dome on top. Sounds beautiful!" remarked Pinky Tuscadero.
Iolanthe mused for a minute. "I guess it's like when we were touring England last spring, everypet in London would talk about 'The Monument'—to the Great Fire of London of 1666—as if there were only one monument in the whole of London, instead of thousands!"
Rose Dawn
There's some magic minutes just before dawn when birds stir in their nests and start tentatively chirping their own unique call. Other feathered songsters gradually join in until it becomes a veritable chorus. Imagine being on this stretch of Italian coastline while the sky slowly turns from grey to pinky purple, heralding the new day!

Episodio 21/30

@ Mine's an espresso
"I've bought so many souvenirs already my backpack's almost full!" said PufFy.
"Me too!" said Iolanthe. "It's great on this tour, isn't it?"
Mine's an espresso
Each of Italy’s 20 regions boasts its own unique coffee culture. Espresso may be ubiquitous, but there are many regional twists to the caffè. In the northern Le Marche, enjoy a caffè anisette for an anise-flavored espresso; in southern Sicily, try caffè d’un parrinu, an Arabic-inspired coffee flavored with cloves, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Episodio 22/30

@ Arco san Felice, Puglia
"Italian pets talk with their paws an awful lot, don't they, Arty?" remarked Iolanthe.
"You know, I was talking to the tour guide about that, Iolanthe. She said the gestures originate from the Romans who used chironomia, which incorporates hand movements into everyday language. They aren’t random gestures, each one has a meaning; so as a foreign pet, you never really known what they mean!"
Arco san Felice, Puglia
A naturally formed limestone arch, this is equally impressive from the sea, where you can sometimes get through, and from the coast road by one of the watchtowers.

Episodio 23/30

@ Bella Italia
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Schnupfen. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Iolanthe thought about this. "Good scheme!" she said.
Bella Italia
Italy has been the source of many inventions and discoveries and has long been a global centre of art, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology--also fashion (including Gucci, Armani, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana). It has a large automotive industry, e.g. Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Italy is the world's largest wine producer. It is a leading producer of olive oil and exports large amounts of fruit and vegetables. It is known for its quality regional cheeses.
The country extends over 300,000 km2 (116,350 sq miles). The official language is Italian but there are several other official co-languages in various regions, e.g. German in the South Tyrol.

Episodio 24/30

@ Italian Quintet
"Here's another bit of trivia for you, moo moo!" called out Iolanthe. "The Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como has featured in which two well-known films?"
"I don't know, Iolanthe. Which films were they?"
"The James Bond film Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones," responded Iolanthe.
Italian Quintet
Guitars, drums and romantic Italian vocals against the colourful backdrop of Il Tricolore—what better and more colourful night out could you want?

Episodio 25/30

@ Is it Italian?
"The tour guide said we'll be visiting Il Duomo. I asked her what that was and she said it meant 'the cathedral' in Italian. But there are lots of cathedrals in Italy!" remarked Iolanthe.
"When they say Il Duomo they most often mean the one in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It says in our brochure it was first built in the 13th century, with the dome added in the 15th century. It has a pink, white and green exterior in a gothic style with a large dome on top. Sounds beautiful!" remarked Anwyn.
Iolanthe mused for a minute. "I guess it's like when we were touring England last spring, everypet in London would talk about 'The Monument'—to the Great Fire of London of 1666—as if there were only one monument in the whole of London, instead of thousands!"
Is it Italian?
Spaghetti bolognese (sometimes called spaghetti alla bolognese, or colloquially 'spag bol', spaghetti with meat sauce, or just spaghetti) is a pasta dish that is popular outside Italy, but not part of traditional Bolognese or even Italian cuisine in general. The dish is generally perceived as inauthentic when encountered by Italians abroad.
It consists of spaghetti served with a sauce made from tomatoes, minced beef, garlic, wine and herbs. In this sense the sauce is actually more similar to Neapolitan ragù from the south of Italy than the northern Bolognese version of ragù. It is often served with grated Parmesan on top, but local cheeses, such as grated Cheddar are also often used. It may be served with a larger proportion of sauce to pasta than is common in genuine Italian spaghetti dishes.

Episodio 26/30

@ Amalfi Sunset
"It would be great to live on a houseboat in Italy!" said Icicle enthusiastically. "You can sail round most of the country, and when you get tired, just moor the boat and hop in a bunk!"
Iolanthe considered this carefully. "I don’t think houseboats are designed to go on the sea, Icicle. You’d have to get a proper yacht, or something.”
Amalfi Sunset
The spectacular sunsets along the exquisite coastline are known and adored worldwide, and you simply cannot go home without experiencing one.

Episodio 27/30

@ Mediterranean Splendour
"We'll be spending at least three days in Venice, as there's so much to see, Iolanthe!" remarked Finley. "It says in our brochure it's one of the most recognisable destinations in the world thanks to its unique construction of canals and bridges. It says the main city of Venice is made up of 118 islands connected only by 400 bridges and 170 canals. It’s renowned for its gondolas, flat bottomed Venetian rowing boats that are the equivalent to taxis. Becoming a gondolier is no easy feat as you need a professional licence that’s only granted after 400 hours of training."
"It doesn't sound as bad as London black cab drivers having to take The Knowledge before being granted a licence. That can take three or four years!" remarked Iolanthe.
Mediterranean Splendour
What more beautiful sight can be imagined than the Amalfi coast on a hot summer's day, with the deep blue sea stretching forever and the crystal clear waters of the coastline to explore?

Episodio 28/30

@ Capri Sun
“Let's hope Foxy doesn't get as seasick as he did on the Irish Sea, Iolanthe!” said Midnight Majesty, studying the future itinerary.
"Can you get seasick on a lake?" asked Iolanthe.
"Oh yes, indeedy," said Midnight Majesty.
Capri Sun
Capri—an island lin the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, Italy. It has been a resort since Roman times and was named by those people as "Goat Island".
Some of the main features of the island include the Marina Piccola (the little harbour), the Belvedere of Tragara (a high panoramic promenade lined with villas), the limestone crags called sea stacks that project above the sea (the faraglioni), the town of Anacapri, the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas, and the vistas of various towns surrounding the Island of Capri including Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Nerano, and Naples.

Episodio 29/30

@ Bar Ridente, Sant'Angelo
“Where are we now, Iolanthe?” asked Nutsy Mouse.
"If it's Tuesday this must be Tuscany!" joked Iolanthe. "Only kidding—let me check the map!"
Bar Ridente, Sant'Angelo
Bar Ridente is a large snack-bar/café located in the village of Sant'Angelo's main square. It has an indoor bar area where you can have a quick drink, or alternatively, a large outdoor seated area where you can sit down to have a snack, light meal or just a drink. There's also a kiosk where you can buy cold drinks and ice creams . Just look at those locally grown lemons!

Episodio 30/30

@ Pizza Oven
As Iolanthe's tour of "Southern Italy" comes to an end, she rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day.
Purple Clouds
Have you ever seen a purple cloud? No? Well now you've not seen just one, but a whole bunch.
Pizza Oven
It's not only pizza that tastes fantastic when cooked in a wood fired oven! But to sample the genuine flavour of Italian pizza, the authentic oven is a must!
Iolanthe has completed their tour of "Southern Italy"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour part of Italy!