The province of Italy where the martini is born. Country Italy. Provinces of Italy. Capital of Italy. How the versatility of taste is created

Each of us has our own images when it comes to Italy. For some, the country of Italy is historical and cultural monuments, such as the Forum and the Colosseum in Rome, the Palazzo Medici and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, St. Mark's Square in Venice and the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa. Others associate this country with the directorial works of Fellini, Bertolucci, Perelli, Antonioni and Francesco Rosi, the musical creativity of Morricone and Ortolani, and the incomparable acting works of Giulietta Masina, Monica Bellucci, Sophia Loren, Adriano Celentano. Someone, having heard about Italy, will immediately remember the famous Italian pizza, pasta, fritatta and minestrone. The country of Italy is one of the oldest in the world, although it appeared on the political map of the world only a little over a hundred years ago.

A little history

Italy had a great influence on the social and cultural development of not only European countries, but also of all humanity.

Archaeological artifacts have been found in this country, proving the fact that the territory was inhabited by ancient people. It can be argued that ancient Italy became the starting point in the development of human civilization. The Roman Empire managed not only to conquer large territories and create a powerful state, but also brought its cultural and economic traditions and knowledge to the conquered lands.

Under the onslaught of the Goths, the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, as a result of which many small appanage states were formed on the Apennine Peninsula.

Modern Italy emerged only in 1871 thanks to the efforts of his associates. It was in this year that Rome was declared the capital of the state, which included small kingdoms and duchies.

The twentieth century turned out to be quite difficult and tragic for the Italian Republic. Between 1922 and 1945, the country was under fascist rule led by Benito Mussolini and was involved in World War II. In 1946, the last one, Umberto, abdicated the throne, after which a rather long crisis followed. The decline of industry and agriculture, a streak of unsuccessful reforms - Italy experienced all this. Europe, like the rest of the world, watched in amazement at the transformation and the so-called Italian economic miracle. The development of the country was accompanied by many high-profile political scandals, trials of members of mafia groups, as well as terrorist actions of the “red brigades”.

Today, the country of Italy is one of the highly developed European countries that exports to most countries of the world. Films, cars, fashionable clothes and shoes, excellent wines created in this country are in demand all over the world. The hospitality and cordiality of the Italians, coupled with beautiful nature and a developed hotel business, contribute to the thriving tourism here. Italy annually receives many tourists from different parts of the world.

Geographical position

The state of Italy, located in the south of Europe, due to its outlines, is one of the most recognizable in the world on a geographical map. The mainland part of the Italian “boot” occupies the Apennine Peninsula and a small part of the Balkan Peninsula and points “toe” to the west, towards the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. In addition to these islands, the Italian Republic owns the islands of Capri, Ischia and Elba. It shares borders with countries such as Austria, Slovenia, France and Switzerland. The Vatican and San Marino are two miniature countries that are enclaves and are located on the territory of the state of Italy. The sea washes this country on three sides: from the south - the Mediterranean and Ionian, from the east - the Adriatic, from the west - the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian.

Relief

The largest part (almost ¾ of the entire territory of Italy) is occupied by hills and mountain ranges. The Apennine Mountains with the Corno peak stretch from south to north. The Alps mountain range is located in the northern region of the country. The highest mountain of this massif - Mont Blanc - has a height of 4807 meters. The country of Italy is one of the few in Europe where seismic activity of the earth's crust is recorded and active volcanoes such as Stromboli, Vesuvius and Etna are located.

The plains occupy only 1/5 of its total area, which is 300 thousand square meters. km. The largest in area is the Padana Plain, located between the Apennine mountain range and the Alps. There are also small plains on the sea coast.

Rivers and lakes

The rivers of Italy are concentrated mainly in its northern region. The largest of them - the Po - flows from the slopes of the Cottian Alps and ends its path in is the second largest, and it is connected to the Arno River through channels and a system of canals. Both of these rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, are unpredictable and notorious for their devastating floods.

Most Italian rivers are short mountain streams that form small river systems or flow directly into the sea. Only Northern Italy can “boast” of a developed river system, fed year-round by large amounts of precipitation and meltwater flowing from glaciers.

Most Italian lakes are located on the Adriatic coast, in the foothills and mountainous alpine regions. The largest lake, Garda, with an area of ​​almost 370 km 2, is located in the Alpine outskirts. Lakes such as Albano, Bracciano, Bolsena, Vico and Nemi, located in the central region of Italy, were formed due to the filling of extinct volcanic craters with water. Lakes Lesina, Varano, and Valli de Comacchio were formed as a result of the closure of the lagoon waters with sand barriers. Their depth is shallow, and the water is salty.

Administrative division

The whole country can be roughly divided into three main regions: north, south and center. Officially, as stated in the Constitution of the Italian Republic in Art. 116 of December 11, 1947, it is divided into 20 regions, each of which is divided into provinces. Five of the 20 regions are autonomous entities where ethnic and linguistic minorities live. In Sardinia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily, Valle d'Aosta and Trentino Alto Adige, other official languages ​​are used in addition to Italian.
The provinces of Italy are divided into communities (comunes), the total number of which is 8101. Communes, like provinces, vary quite noticeably in territory and the number of people inhabiting them. The largest community-commune is the city of Rome, located in the Lazio region, which is also the capital of the entire state. It is located almost in the center of the western region of the Apennine Peninsula, on the banks of the Tiber River, not far from its confluence with Rome in Italy - it is not only the capital, but also a political, historical, cultural, and tourist center of world significance.

Economic-geographical differences

Trentino-Alto Adige

Known for its stunning landscapes and ski resorts, this autonomous region borders Austria and Switzerland. In the south, this region neighbors the Veneto, in the west - with Switzerland and Lombardy, and in the north - with Austria, with the border running along the Alpine mountain range. This region consists of two provinces - Bolzano and Trento. This region is interesting because in each of its provinces the culture, traditions and even the main language are different. In Bolzano the official language is German, while most residents of Trento speak only Italian. The region's main income comes from tourism. Trentino-Alto Adige is famous for its ski resorts, such as Madonna di Campiglio.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

It is the easternmost region of Northern Italy, bordering Croatia, Austria and Slovenia. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is located on the Adriatic coast and has the status of an administrative region consisting of two historical provinces - Venezia Giulia and Friule, which due to various circumstances had to unite. Despite quite a long coexistence, each of the regions has retained its own characteristics and individuality. Today there are four provinces in this region: Gorizia, Pordenone, Udine and Trieste. It is here that the most famous white wine, Pinot Grigio, is produced.

Emilia-Romagna

It is considered one of the richest Italian regions. It is bordered in the south by the Apennine Mountains, in the east by the Adriatic Sea, and in the north by the Po River. The region is divided into two parts - northwestern Emilia and southeastern Romagna, which borders the Republic of San Marino. The region is famous not only for such popular tourist cities as Modena, Ravenna, Reggio, Rimini and Ferrarra. Factories of such famous automobile concerns as Dallara, Ducati, De Tomaso, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Morini and Malaguti are located in this area. And major international competitions are regularly held at local racing tracks.

The central regions of Italy include:

• Abruzzo;
• Lazio;
• Marche;
• Molise;
• Tuscany;
• Umbria.

Abruzzo

This Italian region is located in the center of the country, between the Adriatic coast and the Apennine mountain range. It borders areas such as Molise, Marche and Lazio. Abruzzo includes the provinces of Teramo, Chieti, Pescara and L'Aquila.

Abruzzo is distinguished by a high standard of living and economic stability, which was made possible thanks to the attention of the authorities both to the development of tourism and to the support of the agricultural sector. In this area, both fans of mountaineering and skiing, as well as fans of beach holidays will find relaxation to their liking.

Lazio

This central Italian region is also the capital. It is in Lazio that Rome is located, which is also the main city of this region. There are five provinces in this area: Viterbo, Latina, Rome, Rieti, Frosinone. This region contains a small group of volcanic islands in the center of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Marche

In the very center of Italy, on the Adriatic coast is the Marche region. It consists of six provinces: Ancona, Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro, Urbino and Fermo.

What attracts tourists to this Italian region is primarily the beaches, small and cozy in Sinigalia or spacious and wide in San Benedetto del Tronto. This region is also interesting for speleology lovers: many caves, such as Frasassi, are available for visits.

Molise

Located in southern Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountain range. Molise borders Campania to the south, Abruzzo to the north, Lazio to the west and Apuli to the east. There are only two provinces in this area: Isernia and Campobasso. Molise is one of the most industrially underdeveloped regions of Italy. The exception is the Termoli region, which is home to a small FIAT company and a bell factory in Agnon. There are no large cities in the Molise region, and small villages are located mainly in the foothills.

Tuscany

This region of central Italy is bordered by the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas to the west and bounded to the east by the Tosco-Emilian Apennines. Tuscany is bordered to the east by Umbria and Marche, to the north by Emilia-Romagna, and to the south by Lazio. Off the coast of Tuscany there are several islands that form the Tuscan archipelago: Gorgona, Giglio, Giannuti, Montecristo, Pianosa, Sapraia and Elba.

Tuscany consists of 10 provinces: Arezzo, Grosseto, Lucca, Livorno, Massa Carrara, Prato, Pisa, Pistoia, Siena and Florence, each of which has its own capital of the same name.

This Italian region, in addition to picturesque landscapes, has many cultural and historical monuments, the most famous of which are concentrated in such provinces as Florence, Siena, Livorno and Pisa. It was in Tuscany that such famous personalities as Leonardo da Vinci and Petrarch, Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo and many others were born and worked.

Umbria

This is a unique Italy. There is no sea or sea coast. It borders only Marche, Lazio and Tuscany. Umbria has only two provinces: Terni and Perugia.

Most of the entire territory is made up of hills and mountains. The plain can only be found in the valleys of rivers such as Velino, Nera and Tiber. On the Velino River, near the city of Terni, there is the most famous man-made Marmore waterfall, built by the ancient Romans.

Large industry in the region is poorly developed, with the exception of the city of Terni, where metallurgical, chemical and mechanical engineering enterprises are located. Perugia has small food, textile and handicraft factories.

Southern regions of Italy

These regions of Italy are located in the southern region of the Apennine Peninsula and include such large islands as Sardinia and Sicily, which occupy about 40% of the country's area. These are the following regions:

• Apulia;
• Sardinia;
• Basilicata;
• Sicily;
• Campaign;
• Calabria.

Apulia

Bordered by the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Apulia is the easternmost Italian region. There are five provinces in this area: Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Tarento and Foggia. It is a traditionally agricultural region of Italy and ranks first in the production of olive oil and wine.

The territory of this area contains many traces and monuments of various civilizations, from Paleolithic times to the end of the Renaissance.

Basilicata

This southern Italian region is washed in the southeast by the Ionian Sea and in the southwest by the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the south, Basilicata borders on Calabria, and in the east and north on Puglia. The region is divided into two provinces: Potenza and Matera. Basilicata is a rather harsh region, and almost half of its territory is mountains, only 1/10 of the entire area is plains. The entire flat part is crossed by rivers, which swamped it. Today, most of the swamps have already been drained.

This southern region of Italy is not spoiled by the attention of vacationers, since the development of tourism has only begun in the last few years. The Pollino National Park and resorts with thermal waters in Rappola are already operating. Many interesting historical and cultural artifacts can be seen in the natural archaeological park of Murgia, as well as in the museums of Metaponto, Venoso and other cities in the region.

In addition, Basilicata has many ski resorts, with the main tourist center in La Sellata Perfaone.

Calabria

This area is located at the very “toe” of the Italian “boot”, mostly on the peninsula of the same name. Calabria borders on the north with Basilicata, on the west it is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and on the east and south by the Ionian Sea. This region is separated from the Strait of Messina. There are five provinces: Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro, Crotone, Cosenzo and Reggio Calabria.

The region has long been known as an agricultural region, and today it is actively developing as a tourist region. There is everything you need for this: beautiful nature and warm seas, as well as numerous historical monuments left after the Greeks, Romans and Normans.

Calabria, among other things, is also the most seismically active region of Italy. The largest number of earthquakes over the past three hundred years have occurred in this region.

Campaign

From the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the borders with the regions of Basilicata and Lazio stretches the southern Italian region - Campania. This entire area is divided into the following provinces: Avellino, Caserta, Benevento, Naples, Salerno. The most typical areas of activity for the region are agriculture, winemaking and fishing. Shipbuilding is actively developing in port cities. The tourism business is also represented in this area. The Campania region, in terms of the pace and level of its development, is in the top ten and is considered one of the most promising Italian regions.

Sicily

Sicily is located on the island of the same name, as well as on the adjacent Lipari, Pelagian, and Aegadian islands. The region's territory is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Catania, Messina, Caltanissetta, Ragusa, Palermo, Trapani, Syracuse, Enna. Sicily is separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina.

Today, only Sicily in the entire Italian Republic has its own parliament, located in Palermo, the capital of the island. There are many historical and cultural Greek and Byzantine monuments and attractions here. But the main object of tourist interest is the active volcano Etna, in addition, the beautiful beaches of Pozzallo and Isola Bella and magnificent landscapes and landscapes.

Sardinia

The island of Sardinia, the second largest, is located between Corsica and Sicily. Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy, very different both in its main language - Sardinian - and in the ethnic composition of the population. On the western side the island is washed by the Sardinian Sea, and on all other sides by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The autonomy has eight provinces: Medio Campidano, Cagliari, Nuoro, Carbonia Iglesias, Sassari, Ogliastri, Oristano and Olbia Tempio. The main port and capital of Sardinia is Cagliari. There is no industry on the island, which is conducive to nature conservation.

Capital of Italy

“The Eternal City” is what Rome is called. It was founded on April 21, 753 BC. e. in the very center of the Apennine Peninsula. It stands on seven hills: Aventine, Viminale, Quirinale, Palatine, Caelia, Esquiline and, of course, the most famous - Capitoline. It was Rome that was destined to become the center of one of the greatest civilizations of mankind.

From Roman civilization came to us law and architecture, philosophy and principles of management, the Latin language, which formed the basis of a whole group of languages. According to legends, the very first village was built by Romulus on Palantine Hill. Romulus is one of two twin brothers, sons of the god Mars, who were saved and nursed by a she-wolf. Many books and scientific studies have been written about the history, rise and fall of Rome. The city received its modern status as the capital of Italy in 1861, but actually became it in December 1870.

The center of modern Rome is Piazza Venezia, located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. In the very center of this square there is a monument to the first king who stood at the head of a united Italy - Victor Emmanuel II. The Italians themselves call this monument a “wedding cake”, due to the huge number of different details and decorations.

The western part of the square is decorated with the Palace of Venice, built in 1455. Today it houses the National Museum of the Palazzo Venezia and the Cere Museum. Chera presents wax figures of famous political and historical figures, cultural and artistic figures. The National Museum of the Palace of Venice exhibits a collection of works by artists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as various household items and weapons.

Piazza Venezia gives rise to all the main Roman streets: Plebiscita, Fourth of November (leading to the Colosseum), Vittorio Emmanuel Avenue (leading to St. Peter's Basilica), Via del Corso. If you walk along Via del Corso and then along Via Condotti, you will come to Piazza di Spagna.

In order to describe all the monuments, squares, palaces and sights of Rome, a multi-volume encyclopedia is not enough. Remembering the folk wisdom that it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times, shouldn’t you look at Rome and all of Italy with your own eyes?

Today, the term “Martini” is perceived as a common noun: it seems that it is another type of alcohol, just like cider, cognac or beer. However, in reality, Martini is just one of many brands of vermouth - a flavored wine with herbs. The extraordinary popularity of the brand is entirely due to Alessandro Martini, the “godfather” of the drink.

It is interesting that Senor Alessandro is not at all the inventor of the Martini, as one might think, but a promoter, an advertising agent. The fact that the brand bears his name in itself speaks of this man’s enormous contribution to the development of the company.

Start

Judging by the surviving historical records, aromatic tinctures of medicinal herbs were known back in Ancient Greece. For one of these recipes to become the “No. 1 ladies’ alcohol” in the world, it took a happy confluence of several circumstances.

In 1847, four enterprising Italians (Clement Michel, Carlo Re, Carlo Agnelli and Eligio Baudino) organized the Distilleria Nazionate da Spirito di Vino company in Turin, specializing in the production of flavored wines. In Europe in general and in Italy in particular at that time, the fashion for sweet and not very strong herbal tinctures had just begun, so the company was successful.

In 1857, winemakers hired 23-year-old Florentine Alessandro Martini, and they were right - after 6 years, the young entrepreneur became manager, brought the company to market leadership in its segment, and at the same time gave the company a new name: Martini, Sola & Cia. No violent takeovers or foul play: the elderly founders slowly began to die or retire, management itself passed into the hands of the young entrepreneur and his reliable accountant Teofilio Sol.

By this time, a young winemaker and connoisseur of medicinal herbs, Luigi Rossi, had already joined the board - it was he who, constantly experimenting with additives and proportions, invented the classic Martini Rosso recipe, thanks to which the company was head and shoulders above its competitors for more than a hundred years firmly held first place in the market.

Luigi Rossi was, as they would say now, a self-made man, that is, he achieved everything in life on his own. The father of the young Italian lost his wealth and health in the Napoleonic wars, little Luigi realized from childhood that he could only count on himself. Having moved to Turin, Rossi took up herbology (“herbalism”). It soon became obvious that the young man did not just have an inclination or talent - he was a real genius. Martini and Sola worked hard to get Rossi on their team. Finally, in 1863, they succeeded - this is how the official history of Martini began.

They say that it takes three to succeed in business: a romantic, a businessman and an adventurer. The dreamer, of course, was Rossi, the accountant-businessman was Teofilio Sola, and the adventurer was the brilliant salesman Alessandro, who managed to establish international supplies of the still little-known drink and “promoted” it around the world.

Development

In 1864, the three partners built a new vermouth factory in the village of Pession, near Turin. The location was not chosen by chance: it was located in close proximity to a large city, the Alps, rich in necessary herbs, and the railway. The last circumstance was especially important, since many of the components included in the recipe were supplied from abroad: thyme, aloe, coriander, cinchona, cassia, cinnamon, cardamom - all these spices did not grow in Italy.

Already in 1865, Martini Rosso vermouth won the first gold medal in Dublin, and 13 years later the brand took the Grand Prix in Paris, not to mention many less significant victories.

In 1879, Sola died, his family sold their share in the business to the remaining two partners, and the company received a new name - Martini & Rossi. By the end of the 20th century, red vermouth “Martini” already had several dozen of the most prestigious awards in the world of alcohol and was firmly associated with gloss, luxury and a bohemian lifestyle. Some of the drink's gold medals still adorn the label today, along with several coats of arms of European royal courts.

Luigi Rossi died in 1892, but left four heirs: Teofilio, Ernesto, Cesare and Enrico, who did not abandon their father’s business: the brand continued to “take over the world”, Martini&Rossi branches opened in Buenos Aires, Geneva, Barcelona, ​​Montechiaro d'Asti . By 1903, Martini vermouth was already exported to more than 70 countries, and in 1905 Senor Alessandro himself died.

In 1911, an international exhibition was held in Turin, organized by Teofilio Rossi with the aim of establishing the brand’s position in the market and attracting new “admirers” to it. The idea was a success - Martini became the star of the event, and in just six months the exhibition was visited by more than 7.5 million people, who subsequently spread the news of the amazing taste of the new vermouth around the world.

In 1922, the brand name was shortened to Martini, only in the USA they continued to use the previous version with two surnames, since simply the word “Martini” is associated in America with a cocktail, and only then with a brand of vermouth. The company has many victories to its credit: the wonderful drink managed to conquer even the Japanese Emperor Yoshihito, Pope Pius XI, and King Vittorio Emanuel III.

The Second World War brought huge losses, but Martini surprisingly quickly recovered from its losses and continued its triumphant ascent in the new, post-war world. For more than a hundred years, no one could even shake the pedestal under this colossus. In 1992, the company became part of the international concern Bacardi and continued to operate under the name Bacardi-Martini Ltd.

Years of appearance of Martini species

After the first and “classic” Martini Rosso (1865), the company’s range expanded. Here are just a few main types:

• 1900 – Extra Dry – Reduced sugar Martini, ideal base for cocktails.
• 1910 – Bianco. Due to notes of vanilla and other additives, it is a little more tender and softer than the original Rosso.
• 1980 – Rosato vermouth, based on a blend of red and white wine.
• 1998 – D’Oro. The gold in the brand name does not hint at the elitism of the drink, but at sunshine and summer warmth - the brand was developed specifically for Northern European countries that lack sunny days. The taste has citrus notes.
• 1998 – Fiero, released for Benelux citizens.
• 2009 – Rose, vermouth based on autochthonous Italian grape varieties from the provinces of Veneto and Piedmont.
• 2013 – Spirito, a “male” variation of the drink with a strength of 33 degrees.

In addition, sparkling wines Asti and Prosecco are released under the Martini brand.

1. The popularity of the new vermouth is evidenced by the fact that cocktail glasses are now called exclusively “Martini glasses.”

2. In 1977, the Porsche Corporation released a limited series of Martini Edition cars: these were snow-white cars with rich finishes and luxurious equipment.

3. Martini contains 35 herbs, many of which are medicinal, so this drink not only makes you dizzy and creates a festive atmosphere, but also increases vitality, relieves stomach pain, and improves digestion.

4. The royal coats of arms did not appear on the label by chance - the Italian monarch Umberto I gave the highest permission to use his family symbol, thereby confirming the popularity of the new vermouth among the “cream” of society.

5. The most expensive Martini cocktail is called “Martini on the Rock” and costs 10 thousand dollars: the high price is explained by the fact that the drink contains a real diamond.

6. The logo was developed in 1929 and has not changed much since then. One version says that the red circle means a cocktail glass (viewed from above), and the black rectangle means a Martini bottle tilted over it.

7. Carlo Agnelli, one of the founders of the very first predecessor company of Martini & Rossi, is the grandfather of Giovanni Agnelli, the founder of the Fiat corporation.

Hello everyone!

I have a responsible task. I decided to be in the shoes of a “ladies man.” Briefly speaking. My beloved wife condescended and looked with her friend at my blog “on promoting drunkenness.” And the ladies made an authoritative point-by-point summary:

1. “Everything about moonshine needs to be deleted.”
2. “About cognac and other strong alcohol - let it be, since the men need it.”
3. “But about martini, the topic is not covered at all...”

In general, I am correcting myself - read: which martinis are the best and which are the worst. And also - how and what to do with “these” martinis so as not to disgrace yourself in polite society.

You understand that this is a joke, but the information on the topic is quite up to date.

As I said in, this brand now belongs to the company Bacardi-Martini, registered in Bermuda and producing many other popular alcoholic drinks. Including the famous Bacardi rum.

Italian vermouth brands from Piedmont

• The very first martini that the world saw back in 1863 was called Rosso (Rosso). His recipe remains unchanged to this day.

It has a rich amber color, as in addition to wine and herbs, it contains caramelized sugar. Strength – 16 degrees. It is customary to drink it in its pure form, but with the addition of ice, orange or lemon juice.

• The lightest martini is straw yellow. Bianco (Bianco). It has the same strength as Rosso, but the taste is much softer. Thanks to the addition of vanilla, this is the type that women really love.

The recipe was created in 1910. Bianco is usually drunk with soda, tonic, and lime lemonade. A slice of fresh onion in the glass gives the drink a very original taste. And gourmets take frozen strawberries or cherries instead of ice.

• Rosato is the only vermouth that is made using a mixture of white and red wine. The recipe was created in 1980. The drink has a delicate pink color and a spicy aroma - thanks to the infusion of cinnamon sticks and cloves. Strength – 15 degrees.
• D'Oro (Doro) or a golden martini created by order of Swiss millionaires. It uses a very light wine from a specific grape variety (company secret), which is infused with oranges, vanilla, nutmeg and coriander. Alpine honey gives the drink its sweetness, and its strength is only 9%, so it is drunk undiluted. This is the most expensive type of real Italian martini.
• Fiero is a martini brand for the Benelux countries, created in 1998. The base is white wine infused with blood oranges. Has a very strong aroma. Strength – 15%. Today in Europe it is one of the three most popular alcoholic drinks.
  
• Extra Dry) - the most sour of martinis - only 2.8% sugar (18 degrees strength). Color – bright yellow. It is also called raspberry (due to the taste and aroma of this berry) martini. Lemon juice is also added to the composition. This brand is used as the basis for most cocktails.
  
• Martini Bitter) is the only brand made from grape alcohol rather than wine. It contains more than 30 ingredients, including flower petals. The recipe is kept a big secret in one of the Swiss banks. The color is rich ruby, the consistency is viscous, the taste is bitter. The drink is strong - 25 degrees, it is usually diluted with tonic, cherry and grape juice.
• Spirito (Spirito)- the strongest martini in the company - it reaches as much as 33 degrees. Invented in 2013 under the idea of ​​a “martini for men.” Apparently that’s why the first country where they started selling it was Russia. And in Europe it was decided not to sell it to women, but the court said that this was an infringement of the rights of European women and now Spirito is sold to everyone over 21 years old (you must show your passport).

Sparkling martinis

• Rose is a sparkling martini made from white and pink grape varieties grown only in certain provinces. The bouquet was created in 2009 and has already become a multiple winner at exhibitions. Strength 16 degrees. They drink it mostly undiluted and eat it with dark chocolate.





That's all for today. There are no other brands of the original Italian Martini. There is a mention of some Martini Simone on the Internet (they even describe its taste!), but in fact it is the name of the artist Martini (his last name) Simone. He painted churches at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, and had never even heard of any martini drink - it didn’t exist then.

And you and I already know everything, or almost everything, about vermouth martini. All that remains is to find out what the different brands taste like. I’ll invite my wife and girlfriend to the bar for the weekend and we’ll do a tasting. I'll write back later.

Best regards, Pavel Dorofeev.

Treviso (Italian: Treviso)- a city in the Italian region of Veneto, the administrative center of the province of the same name. Located north of Venice at the confluence of the Sile and Botteniga rivers, which turns into the Cagnan river. The population as of November 30, 2010 is 82,911 people, the ethnonym is Trevisians (Italian trevigiani), area 55.5 sq. km.

Treviso is called the city of art and water. Indeed, the rivers Sile and Cagnane, crossing the historical center, canals and medieval mill wheels make the city look like the capital of the Veneto region standing on the water. That is why Treviso is sometimes called Little Venice. The unique architectural appearance of the city, many carefully preserved frescoes and works of medieval masters attract travelers and art lovers here.

The city was one of the centers of early Christianity in northern Italy; already in the 4th century it had its own bishop. The patron saints of the city are St. Liberal (San Liberale, celebrated on April 27) and the holy martyrs Theonist (Teonisto), Tabra and Tabrato, who died defending the ideas of Christianity in the 4th century.

Milestones in the history of the city

The etymology of the word "Treviso" - "Tarvisium" - has two interpretations: the first is associated with the Celtic word for "bull" - "tarvos", used in the name of the city with the Latin ending "isium"; the second - with the name of a tribe of Illyrian origin that lived in the city.

It is believed that the first settlement on these lands existed even before the arrival of the Romans and was located where the Church of St. Andrew currently stands. During Roman rule, Treviso became an important center of trade, located on a strategic route for the empire.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city managed to avoid destruction by the barbarians. Tarvisium becomes one of the centers of Gothic and Lombard statehood. The Gothic ruler Totila, according to legend, was born here.

The city flourished during the reign of the Da Camino family (beginning of the 14th century), when Treviso acquired the status of an independent duchy. At this time, the city fortifications were updated, and new territories were annexed to the duchy. The city hosts numerous knightly celebrations. Treviso attracts the interest of travelers and poets who praise its beauty.

Having survived several decades of struggle with the Verona Scaligers and the period of rule of the Paduan Carraresi, in 1389 Treviso, to the joy of its inhabitants, became part of the Venetian Republic and subsequently shared the historical fate of the Serenissima (the Serene Serene - that is what the Venetian Republic was called during its heyday).

In 1797, after the fall of the Venetian Republic, the city passed into the hands of the Austrians. Its liberation by Italian riflemen took place on July 15, 1866, after which Treviso became part of the Italian region of Veneto.

During the First World War, the city was at the center of the Battle of Vittorio Veneto; after aerial bombardment, part of Treviso was destroyed. But the city suffered even more during the last world conflict from the American bombing on April 7, 1944.

Attractions

Gate of Saint Thomas

Treviso is a walled city. It became such in the 1500s, during the period of strengthening and expansion of the Venetian Republic. Currently, you can see restored fortifications, city walls, the length of which is 4 km, and rounded towers with semi-secret loopholes. The three historical gates of the city deserve special attention - St. Thomas (Porta San Tomaso), Forty Saints (Porta Santi Quaranta) and Altinia (Porta Altinia).

Signor's Square

The main historical events in the life of the city are associated with its central Signori Square (Piazza dei Signori), with the Prefectural Palace (Palazzo della Prefettura, 1874 - 1877) and the adjacent City Tower (Torre Civica). On the Piazza della Signori there is one of the most significant architectural monuments of the city - the Trecento Palace (Palazzo dei Trecento, early 14th century), built in the Romanesque style. During the bombing in April 1944, the palace received significant damage, but thanks to the efforts of Ferdinando Forlati, it was restored and restored. Both in the past and in the present, city council meetings are held there. The Podesta Palace (Palazzo dei Podesta), built in the Lombardy style of the Renaissance (its construction began in 1491) and modified in the last century, also deserves attention.

Piazza della Signori faces the central street of the city - Calmaggiore, the name of which comes from the Latin phrase “Callis maior” (“big, main street” - translated from Latin, used in the Venetian dialect, approx. author). The street is decorated with magnificent arches and leads the traveler from Signor Square to the central city cathedral. At the bottom of the buildings along Calmaggiore there are rows of shops called the Roman Gallery. At the end of it is the Lodge of the Knights (Loggia dei Cavalieri), built during the reign of Podesta Andrea da Perugia (1276), richly decorated with frescoes. It was recently restored.

City Cathedral

The city cathedral, dedicated to St. Peter, was built in the 11th - 12th centuries. The Romanesque crypt located there dates back to approximately 1030. Among the numerous works preserved inside the cathedral, it is worth noting Titian’s “Annunciation” (Tiziano), a work created by the great artist in the third decade of the 16th century. In addition to the cathedral itself, the complex of buildings includes a baptistery, a bishop's residence and a priest's house.

Church of St. Nicholas

The church building was built by the Dominicans in the 14th century with the money of Pope Benedict XI. The size of the church exceeds all religious buildings in the city. The temple is distinguished by its strict Gothic style and excellent acoustics. The central hall is painted with frescoes by the artist Tomaso da Modena depicting the famous representatives of the order of that time. A very interesting fresco in which you can see a monk in glasses peering curiously at the pages of a book. In all likelihood, this is the first depiction of glasses in the history of art. Currently, the church is attached to the former Dominican monastery, which houses the seminary.

Monk, fresco by Tomaso da Modena

The austere architecture of this building - brick walls illuminated by rays of light pouring from the upper windows - creates an atmosphere of peace of mind and deep spirituality, combining the ideals of simplicity and majesty, which the Franciscans always strived for. Among the attractions of the interior of the temple, it is necessary to note the tomb of Francesca Petrarca, the daughter of the poet, buried in Treviso in 1384, located in its right wing. On the left side of the church there are magnificent frescoes by Tomaso da Modena and some of his students.

House of Carraresi

The Carraresi House (Casa dei Carraresi) was founded in the 14th century. and for a long time it was used as an inn where travelers could rest. On the façade you can see the coat of arms of the noble Carraresi family. The building was built in the Romanesque style; medieval frescoes have been preserved in its interior decoration. Currently, the Carraresi House hosts international exhibitions, conferences and seminars.

Buranelli

Buranelli is considered one of the most characteristic historical corners of the city. It is said that the fishermen of the island of the same name in the Venetian lagoon (meaning the island of Burano) moved to this part of Treviso. During the reign of the Habsburgs, Buranelli became a “fish warehouse”: in 1856, the Austrians decided to unite the individual islands and allocate special places for organizing fish markets.

The fish and vegetable market is located here and now. Residents love to walk or bike to this attractive, shady spot where they can admire not only the calm, fast-flowing waters and the trout swimming in them, but also the splendor of fresh fish and fragrant herbs for sale.

Dante's Bridge

"The place where the waters of Sile and Kanyana meet" ( Dante, "The Divine Comedy"): It is here, at the confluence of the clear waters of the Sile River and the slightly muddy Cagnan River, that another historical landmark of the city of Treviso is located. The bridge, which in 1865 was named after the great poet, has another name - “Bridge of the Impossible”: during the construction of this seemingly simple architectural structure, considerable difficulties arose. On the banks of the Sile and Cagnana, in this place there were workshops in which boats were made that were used in trade with Venice.

Ponte Dante ("Ponte dell" Impossibile") - "Bridge of the Impossible"

The main city exhibition is located in the Church of St. Catherine, built in the 14th century, and in the adjacent monastery of the Servants of Mary. The rich archaeological section presents historical values ​​found in the territory of Treviso, dating back to the 2nd century. BC. until the Middle Ages. In the monastery you can see a cycle of frescoes from 1300 - 1400. artist Tomaso da Modena, dedicated to the life of St. Ursula (Sant’Orsola), as well as other remarkable works created in the period before the 19th century. Among them are works by Bellini, Lotto, Titian and Tiepolo. In addition, in the City Gallery of Modern Art you can see some of the 20th century masterpieces created in Treviso. These are works by Gino Rossi and Arturo Martini.

Arturo Martini born in Treviso in 1889; he turned the laws of sculpture upside down with his revolutionary approach to creativity, using materials of a wide variety of nature when creating his works: from wood to stone, from clay to bronze.

Province of Treviso

One of the provinces of the Veneto region, area - 2,476.68 sq. km., population - 883,840 people (as of 12/31/2009), the territory coincides with the ancient Marca Trevigiana (a concept that appeared in the Middle Ages and designates Treviso with its adjacent city ​​territories).

The province of Treviso borders on the following provinces: in the north - with the province of Belluno, in the south - with the provinces of Venice and Padua, in the east - with the province of Pordenone (region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia), in the west - with the province of Vicenza.

Which cities to visit:

Asolo Conegliano Oderzo Possagno Vittorio Veneto Castelfranco Veneto Cittadella

Martini is vermouth or fortified wine with the addition of an infusion of aromatic herbs. This is a very healthy drink. It is very difficult to find out reliably what the first Martini was made from, since the history of the creation of the drink is attributed to a wide variety of people. A beautiful legend says that Hippocrates was involved in the creation of the first vermouth, who made a wine tincture of wild star anise flowers with artemisia. He used this drink exclusively for medicinal purposes. We also owe Martini as vermouth to the bartender of the 19th century or the town of Martinez. Today Martini is a very popular brand; its name is associated with the manufacturers Martini & Rossi, whose plant is located in Turin. At first, vermouth was made exclusively from white wine. But currently, wine materials for it are produced from pink, red, and white grapes. The aroma is imparted by a whole collection of a wide variety of herbs, fruits, and spices.

Spicy-herbal base of the drink

The basis of any vermouth, which includes Martini, is Alpine wormwood. Its share of the remaining components can be 50%. In addition to wormwood, when making a certain type of Martini, the manufacturer uses several dozen of a wide variety of herbs and spices, and sometimes this amount reaches a hundred. Depending on the type of Martini, it contains the following additives: yarrow from 18 to 20%, mint from 9 to 11%, cinnamon about 10, cardamom 7%, black elderberry 5%, nutmeg 3%. There will be several dozen other ingredients in smaller quantities. These are juniper, coriander, immortelle, ginger, St. John's wort, ash, chamomile, angelica, lemon balm, oregano. Herbs enrich the drink with special aromatic and flavor notes, making it brighter and more fragrant, as well as imparting a pleasant tartness. But no winemaker will reveal his secret about at what stage, in what sequence, the herbs are added to Martini. Since it is the ability to combine plants that allows you to obtain the unique tastes of this drink.

How is the versatility of taste created?

The bitterness in Martini can be not only due to wormwood, but it is imparted by the following ingredients: oakberry, horehound, cinchona bark, tansy. Lemon wormwood, lemon balm, and catnip are responsible for the citrus taste. Immortelle, juniper berries, rosemary, and St. John's wort will add some hint of resinity. Elderflower flowers, lemon zest, and coriander will add a nutmeg scent to the drink. To combine all the aromas into one harmonious composition, chamomile, clove, and iris infusions are used in production. And to consolidate this composition, cardamom, vanilla, and calamus extracts are used.

All components are dried, crushed to a powder, and infused on a water-alcohol base in special rotating vats. This stage continues for twenty days. When all the substances are completely dissolved in each other, creating the required wine bouquet, the drink is purified and filtered. Then sugar is added to improve the taste and alcohol so that the resins dissolve better. Next, the drink is cooled to -5 degrees and filtered again. Over the course of a week, the temperature is gradually raised to room temperature.

What is the difference between different types of Martinis?

The branded Martini began to be produced in 1863. The drink received worldwide love thanks to the unique combination of wine, herbs, and spices. Traditional vermouth is produced on the basis of white wine, which does not have a pronounced aroma and taste, and its strength is 11-13%. However, today vermouths are also produced from pink and red grapes, and the strength is increased to 16 degrees to maintain flavor balance, and for a dry Martini to 18. Plant extracts and infusions, sugar, and alcohol are added to the prepared wine base.

Bianco

Martini Bianco has a very pleasant spicy aroma of iris, lemon, raspberry and a soft taste with no bitterness. It is produced using Italian white wine. In Bianco you can feel the astringency of the herbs a little, but you can still smell the vanilla very well. It is vanilla and herbal tincture in combination with dry wine that gives Bianco such a unique, refined taste.

Rosso

Martini Rosso is characterized by a bitter taste, rich caramel color, and herbal aroma. There is very little sugar in it. This is the oldest vermouth, it is almost 150 years old.

Rose

To make Martini Rose, a blend of white and red grape varieties is used. It has a very delicate taste, which is why young girls prefer it. This is the first semi-dry wine from Martini.

Rosato

Martini Rosato (pink) has notes of cloves, cinnamon, and a hint of flowers. Rose wine is used in the production of this vermouth. This vermouth is also not very bitter, its composition includes white and red wine. The spices are clearly felt in it. Rosato appeared at the end of the 20th century.

D'oro

Martini D'oro consists of white wine enriched with vanilla, honey, citrus aromas and fruity notes. It is called golden because of the hue that caramel gives it.

Martini Fiero

This drink is made with a lot of citrus fruits, so the aroma is very strong of blood orange.

Extra Dry

It is characterized by low sugar content and high degrees of strength (18). It clearly shows the flavors of lemon, raspberry and, slightly weaker, toffee.

Bitter

Bitters have a bittersweet taste with a high alcohol content, rather than wine, as in other types of vermouth. Its strength is 25 degrees.

The composition of various types of Martinis is kept strictly secret, so this company secret has made it possible to create an aura of elitism and prestige around the brand. Martini has become a symbol of success and the sweet life; enjoying it means touching the elite of society.