First Cafe in Europe

Do you know what was the first cafe in Europe? Where did it open and what is the story behind it? If you didn’t, I’m here to tell you about it…

The first cafe in Europe was, and still is, Cafe Pedrocchi. You probably already recognized it’s located in Italy by its name. But some of you may suppose it’s in Rome, maybe Venice…but it’s not. It is in Padua.

This is Cafe Pedrocchi from the back, right from the building with gotic arches, the one with doric order.

Tourist agencies usually combine Padua and Verona, since they are close, as one trip and leave less than a day in Padua. But that doesn’t mean that is anything less worth the visit. There is the inevitable statue of venetian knight Gattamelata by Donatello, Donatello’s house (he lived in Padua), Basilica di St Antonio di Padua with the oldest Magnolia tree in Europe in the court of the monastry….

Cafe Pedrocchi is a result of bringing together two incredible talents; the ones of Antonio Pedrocchi and Giuseppe Jappelli. Antonio Pedrocchi inherited a little cafe from his father. In just a few years he succeeded in accomplishing his ideas, combining art and architecture. He invested in an ambitious project of his friend who was an architect – Giuseppe Jappelli. Pedrocchi wanted to create two different places in this amazing neoclassical building. One that would be a cafe, open 24 hours a day and be open to all guests, and another, reserved for “la creme de la creme” of Paduan society. It would be a place where parties and balls were hosted, same as mason and other business meetings. Very exclusive and luxurious.

Antonio Pedrocchi succeeded, he made his dream come true. And even more that a decade later Cafe Pedrocchi is still a successful cafe with the closest philosophy and is well-known as one of the biggest and best cafes in Europe. It really looks amazing when you see it with your own eyes.

It’s incredible how a story always enriches every place…don’t you think? Sometimes it seams like we travel to hear stories…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Residenza D’Arte, Tuscany

Spring is approaching and it’s already time to start at least thinking about where you going to spend your next vacation. So to inspire you a little, I’m going to show you an amazing place in Tuscany, because I know Tuscany is a dream to many travellers.

Since I like to give a little edge to the travel experience, combine art most of the times and so on, I picked Residenza D’Arte as a perfect place in Tuscany. It’s located in Torrita di Siena, 14th century village near Siena and other interesting towns close by. But even better, you have entire Tuscany to explore…Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Arezzo… The best way to get here is to take a flight to Florence, maybe spend a day there, if for no other reason than to be stunned by the complex of Florence cathedral; a combination of romanesque, gothic and reneissance architecture which was built by great artists like Arnolfo di Cambio, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and Giotto. And then take an hour drive to Residenza D’Arte.

There isn’t much I can say…the pictures speak for themselves. The amazing views of nature, the park around this retreat and the colours! Residenza D’Arte was completely restored into a modern stay but with stone walls, arches and wooden beams continues to capture the tradition of Tuscany. All suites and rooms are furnished and decorated with contemporary art and design.

Each suite is unique and specially decorated. You can choose from Suite, Superior room and Junior room, which are all very spacious and comfortable. They are accessible from that park which is also decorated with sculptures by Anna Izzo, as is the rest of Residenza D’Arte.

While you’re there, you can switch from just being and observer and participate in painting and cooking classes, explore local places and savour the best Tuscan wines, enjoy in thermal center of Montepulciano, go horse riding, rent a bike or a car. And what’s Italy without shopping?! The perks of staying here extend to having an outlet center that houses big designer names like Gucci, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo etc. You can hire a driver or rent a private car.

This is my perception of an ideal place to relax and enjoy, to renew yourself…amazing art, stunning scenery, quietness.

What do you think? Is it already on your list?

What is your idea of perfect, relaxing vacation?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Delikatessen Frankowitsch – Graz, Austria

Another place in Graz I want to steer your attention to more closely is Delikatessen Frankowitsch. There are two reasons for it. First, while travelling people have very different habits, what they eat, when they eat etc. I know that when I’m travelling somewhere only for a day, I tend to eat light if I sit in a restaurant  for lunch but I usually skip lunch, mostly because I forget about it.  So if I don’t sit in a restaurant, I take about half an hour to eat a little something, and I try to search for something local. On the other hand, if I’m travelling for a longer period of time, I enjoy going to restaurants. The second reason is that many people search for local food, to buy a little something to take home.

That is why Delikatessen Frankowitsch is a great place to show you. It is very easy to find, just off Herrengasse up Stempfergasse, you can’t miss it.

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The place is divided in two parts. When you come in, on your right side you’ll see shelves and shelves of jams, honey, tens of different pates, pickled vegetables and mushrooms, olives, breads and sauces. In front of the shelves is a long refrigerator with probably every cured meet and cutles you can and cannot imagine; different sorts of cheese, salads and fresh pates. On the left is a great choice of wine, champagnes and beer. Oh, and don’t forget chocolate, olive oils and much more…

As you pass to the second part of Delikatessen Frankowitsch, you enter the buffet/bar where you can order any of their products and enjoy a quick meal, a drink or if you like some of their confection, a pastry or a cake. The place is always full of people, locals and tourists so don’t hesitate to drop by.

So what are your eating habits while travelling? Is this a kind of place you would look for?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Cafe Sacher in Graz

Getting to any place is easy. Knowing what to do then is  the harder part… With Graz has always been easy for me, especially because I get the chance to revisit very often. Then you don’t have the feeling of urgency and the strict list of things to see. That’s why, if we aren’t coming back to a city or any other place more than once, we want to know how to get both; enjoy our destination without panic and visit great places we found out about that we probably wouldn’t otherwise.

In Graz, Cafe Sacher is one of those places. For some the tradition they started back in the 19th century will be enough. But let me give you the other reasons you should visit Cafe Sacher…

When you enter Cafe Sacher, you actually enter a passage. There are two different areas of Cafe Sacher. The first one looks onto the street (Herrengasse) and is modern, dark, with dark wooden stools and tables. It has a classy touch, like a blend of the old atmosphere and modern, but very simple interior. That part is just a cafe and it’ s the one I prefer. When I came there last time, it was already full. Down the passage, under the barrel vault and lighting from the floor covered in stone,  you’ll enter the other part of Cafe Sacher that partially also serves as a restaurant later in the day. This part has the feeling of past times, with secessionist furniture, marble tables and dimmed lights.

The staff on Cafe Sacher is really friendly and nice, and most important of all, they make amazing coffee. You can go for stronger or lighter tastes, or Austrian mixes with different alcohol beverages. The freshly brew their coffee and make fresh, “home made” cream. Of course, what would be a real European cafe without cakes?! Their menu changes, but what you should try your first time there is the Sacher cake or the Apfel strudel.  Sacher cake is a traditional Austrian chocolate cake with apricot jam and Apfel strulel is a kind of light pasty with apple.

Lovely place, don’t you agree?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Sorger – bakery in Graz, Austria

So one of the perks of going to Graz is being able to buy something delicious in one of the bakeries in Graz. My friend Matea and me have a little tradition, since we lost count of how many times we’ve visited Graz together plus all the times besides those,  of going to Sorger. We arrive early in the morning and to start a great day Sorger is our first destination.

Sorger is located in the center of Graz; the best to find it is to walk to Hauptplatz and then find Sporgasse where the bakery is. Sporgasse is a street going uphill and Sorger is just a few steps away on the right side.

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The interior is elongated with wood pannels on the wall and stone one the floor. It looks cosy and warm. But I’m sure you’ll be taken over by amazing bakery goods a lot more than the simple interior. All the sandwitces, pasty, bread  and cakes will make your choice a lot harder. It all looks delicious! And don’t let me tell you how delicious it is… Our recommendations are Chocko-vanille hornetten, Mozart croissant or one of those integral rolls (try the one with cornflakes on top…crazy combination!). For you who don’t know what Mozat filling is, it’s the same as Mozat kugel, a small layered ball of chocolate, nought, pistacio and marzipan. It’s a traditional chocolate from Saltzburg, where Mozart lived. But more obout the some other time.

In the extension of the area is a place that looks like a cafe, where you can sit are eat what you bought in the bakery, order a cup of coffee and enjoy. Especially if it’s cold outside as it was when we visited Graz last time, before this Christmas…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Cafe Gerbeaud in Budapest

I love visiting Budapest in winter. Especially now, before Christmas, walking around the city of beautiful architecture and art, soaking the great atmosphere. There is a place that I love to go to, that for me represents Budapest and where I feel like one of the artists from around hundred years ago, drinking good coffee and drawing in the warm corner of the cafe.

Vorosmarty square

Just walking into Cafe Gerbeaud, you’ll feel like you have walked into a different time. With marble floors, wood panneling on the walls, rococo plaster work on the ceiling and sparkling chandeliers, the interior is even more that you expect looking at the beautiful building in the center (Pestum). Connoisseurs will recognize secessionist style furniture and a little french influence.

The magic continues once you open the menu…you have to order a coffee and a piece of cake. Coffees are delicate and fine, and cake selection is completely exceptional. Try a well-known Hungarian Dobos cake or Esterhazy cake.

Esterhazy cake

Cafe Gerbaud is also know by their bakery goods that they have diligently perfected since they opened their doors in 1858. So if you stop by in the morning for breakfast, to read the newspapers, it will be as appealing. French brioche, English apple pie with vanilla sauce of traditional pogatscha with cottage cheese will spoil you. But those are the little pleasures we should all enjoy.

You can take a part of that experience back home with you. Cafe Gerbaud will offer you, in the Green Salon, handmade bon bons, house jams, preserved fruits and cakes beaufully packaged. It won’t be an easy choice…

…and you will keep on coming back…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Must visit places

Europe is about a lot of things. So many places, cultures, languages, people and styles to explore and enjoy. Wherever you choose to go, you will be enchanted by something that catches you in the moment and as soon as you start living and breathing as the people around you, your vacation will feel too short but nevertheless irreplaceable.

So which are those places? Is it Paris? Rome? London? Florence? Barcelona?… That’s what everybody thinks of  when we ask what are the “must visit” places for you in Europe. We all know these cities and they are at the top of the list for most travelers. Since we all know that, there is no need for me to talk to you about something that you already know.

I’m here to talk to you about places smaller in size but bigger, more special in impression or feeling they create. Places that take you to another time, sweep you of your feet with their charm or just make your heart beat a little faster because of great design, shopping, amazing food or views. Places that you might not have heard of or you might not find while walking the streets. Those are the places that you will enjoy, that will help you experience the spirit of the city and remember your trip as a more special one.

I hope that you will enjoy more in reading about and finding these little places rather than chasing popular demands. Because that’s what travel is all about; taking what you like the most of the city, or any place and enjoy it, make is your own, make it your unique experience…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor