A TAVOLA CON L’ARTE
A journey through the beauty and flavours of Italy. Ilaria Guidantoni and Antonio Paolini have mapped out more than 300 extraordinary destinations across all 20 Italian regions, from major cities to hidden villages, following three themes: “Dining in Places of Art”, where museums and historic villas open their doors to culinary experiences; “Art at the Table”, featuring trattorias and restaurants that have embraced the language of art in both their cuisine and their interiors; and “Art in the Glass”, exploring wineries designed by renowned architects and vineyards where art installations interact with the landscape. A practical, richly illustrated guide for those who seek out and appreciate the many expressions of Italian creativity and style.
An original journey through contemporary patronage of the arts, signature dining and historic wineries.
Written by two experienced authors whose expertise complements each other, Ilaria Guidantoni and Antonio Paolini, and published by Cinquesensi Editore, the book captures a highly relevant and steadily growing trend: the dialogue between beauty and gastronomy, rooted in a longstanding and distinctly Italian tradition.
More than a simple directory of places to visit, the book offers a genuine journey of discovery while also serving as a practical, richly illustrated reference guide. It deliberately moves away from the concept of rankings, choosing instead to highlight the distinctive character and merits of each destination.
Readers are guided from major cities of art to lesser-known villages, following two complementary paths: dining in places of art, encompassing cafés, trattorias and signature restaurants housed within museums, foundations, house museums and historic residences; and art in dining spaces, exploring commercial and gastronomic venues that have embraced contemporary artistic expression as an integral part of their identity and offering.
Completing the picture, the emerging phenomenon of wine patronage is given considerable attention under the heading “Art in the Glass”. Today, wine producers are increasingly taking on the role of modern patrons of the arts, opening their estates, vineyards and production facilities to the public not only for tours and tastings, but also to offer high-quality hospitality and dining experiences in settings enriched by art installations.
The book is intended for travellers who embrace conscious, sustainable and high-value tourism. It outlines a new circular economy in which culture becomes something to be experienced at the table while simultaneously supporting business development. This phenomenon reflects growing cooperation between local institutions and private companies, with food and wine brands increasingly sponsoring festivals and art exhibitions.
Format: 16.8 × 23.5 cm
Pages: 640 Price: €30.00
ISBN: 979-12-81615-31-1
Publisher: Cinquesensi
ILARIA GUIDANTONI
She divides her time between Milan and Tuscany. With a background in classical studies, she holds a degree in Theoretical Philosophy from the Università Cattolica in Milan and completed a postgraduate course in Bioethics at Rome’s Policlinico Gemelli, with a published thesis on the myth of Beauty. She is a certified sommelier with the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS) and a member of ASET Toscana. Her work focuses on Mediterranean culture. She contributes to the culture section of BeBeez.it and curates art exhibitions and cultural events. Her recent work includes the translation of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s final work, published in Italian as Le fantasticherie di un vagabondo solitario (2022), and Carmi by the poet Odilon-Jean Périer (2023), both for LdM. For Oltre Edizioni, she produced the first Italian translations of two works by Jean Sénac, often referred to as the “Pasolini of Algeria”: Ritratto incompiuto del padre (2017) and Per una terra possibile (2017). On 2 June 2020, she published the ebook I giorni della peste 2.0 – riflessioni emozionali dal confinamento. Her latest book, Il bacio da sfogliare, published by Cinquesensi Editore in 2024, received a Recognition of Merit at the 13th edition of the Sarzanae International Literary Prize for Poetry, Narrative and Essays (formerly the Città di Sarzana Prize), as well as an Honourable Mention at the 42nd edition of the Premio Firenze.
ANTONIO PAOLINI
An economics journalist and food and wine critic, Antonio Paolini spent nearly thirty years at Il Messaggero. He has edited some of Italy’s most prestigious national food and wine guides, including Ristoranti d’Italia by Gambero Rosso for five years from 2018, and previously Vini de L’Espresso. During his more than ten years with the L’Espresso Guides team, he served on its Editorial Board and wrote the wine column for the weekly magazine of the same name. For Vinodabere.it, together with Maurizio Valeriani, he produces highly specialised online guides dedicated to the wines of Sardinia and to Italian Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. For the past three years, he has served as an editorial consultant and food and wine expert for Gruppo SAE, the owner and publisher of six daily print newspapers. In addition to his work with Gambero Rosso and L’Espresso, he has authored or co-authored dozens of food and wine books and guides for publishers including De Agostini, Veronelli, Feltrinelli, Gribaudo and Touring. He has served as a wine judge at international competitions in Europe and the United States and helped establish the Accademia degli Insensati, a multidisciplinary tasting group based in Rome.
