I wish you happy birthday – mine, that is. Have a look where we went on Sunday for a wonderful early celebration.
About a week ago amore’s elder daughter Sara and her boyfriend Julien bought the bistro where she had been working for the past year. It is called “LINA Vini e Vivande” and has the best location in Castelnuovo di Porto, a small town 40 km north of Rome.
This is all I knew before our first visit this Sunday. Well, the bit about the best location I added upon witnessing it. This was the calmest, happiest, most relaxed and glorious place I have encountered lately. Even all the dogs got along.
We had some lovely dry meats and cheeses, most excellent wines, and a ricotta chocolate crostata with one candle, for me. Most of the products are local and they don’t serve commercial beverages. Check out the opening hours before visiting.
Unlike some similar towns, Castelnuovo di Porto is alive. The castle above is active in hosting exhibitions and concerts. Many young people live here and LINA is the best gathering place for a drink and a snack.
Thank you, amore’s family, for embracing me, seeing that my own is far away. This is the Italy that many dream of. Here is some photo evidence.
The castle is right above. 
The arch to the left with the view of the church. 
The view down the square with a gelateria on the left. 
Here it is, LINA! 
Julien and Sara with some of their stock. 
Sara is pouring some amazing Barbera. 
The bonsai we brought found the perfect position. 
The meats and cheeses and a special crostino called coppa. 
Bestia got some dry bread, his favourite. Instead of the prosciutto skin which he refused. 
Then we went on a walk through that arch. He is smiling. 
Another pretty square. 
Colours and lemons. 
Father and daughter in a mirror. 
The crostata for me! But I shared it with everybody. 
When the sun joined the party, it became even nicer. 
The outdoor seating. 
Another walk past the church. 
More pretty streets. 
A friendly friend, no matter how many bowls he has to guard. 
Convenient gelateria neighbour. 
Goodbye, LINA, Sara and Julien, we’ll be back. 
Bestia is in full agreement.
An Embarrassment of Riches 
Happy Birthday to you, Manja! 🎈🎂 I love the candle on your cake. And Bestia chose bread over meat–my kinda pooch!
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Thank you, Lois! It was most excellent. Bestia doesn’t like the greasy parts, but enjoys the rest of the meat. But truly, bread is his favourite.
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Glad you had a wonderful day in such lovely surroundings, Manja. You got a mention on my first post on Rome yesterday, but I hadn’t realised it was birthday time again. We spent this evening in the company of a delightful group of Italians, who are part of our walking group and I practised my very limited Italian.
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Thank you, Jo! I’m glad you got to practice your Italian. 🙂 And happy to see your Rome tour begin on your blog. Already I see that you’ve seen more than me. (That cellar in that shop? What?) I’m pretty sure that rainy weather was better in a way. Less crowds, less heat, which is what I first connect with Rome. And I see that it improved, the weather. Looking forward to more.
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What an excellent place to celebrate! Happy Birthday! (K)
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Thank you, K. It was the best.
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Manja. How lovely that you shared your day with me. Happy birthday dear one. How wonderful it all is. Lovely photos. Sending you a year of blessings. Stay sweet. XoXo
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Thank you, Selma, for your lovely greeting. I was most glad to share it, as it was a perfect day. Love and peace.
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“Happy Birthday” what a lovely place to celebrate your occasion.
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Thank you, Conspicari. We went to see the bistro, and the celebration was a nice surprise. A most excellent Sunday.
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Happy belated birthday! Your day looks perfect, and the little bistro and town are lovely. I especially like the photo of Bestia on the slightly mossy steps.
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Thank you, Lexi! This was such a great day. We were out of home for 12 hours and it felt like another life. I was truly grateful. That moss is common among these tight streets where the sun doesn’t reach. Many doors will be coming from this town on Thursdays.
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Happy birthday! (It bears repeating.) You’re becoming quite the travel guide: so many hidden gems you know about! I’m having a glass of wine right now and would love some of those meats and cheeses to accompany it! All I have in my fridge is yoghurt… And I have to ask: what does Lina mean? Over here, it’s a woman’s name.
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Haha! Everybody needs some dry meats in their fridge. Yoghurt is good too though. Lina is an Italian name as well. The bistro had this name already before they got it. Thank you, SMSW, and cin cin!
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Cin cin!
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Wishing you a happy birthday. That looks like a happy place to spend a special day in, with special people. And with a nice little gelateria nearby!
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Thank you, I. J.! Oh yes, that was a lucky coincidence. Did you notice their walls? They look like sprayed with gelato. 😀 I loved that.
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Such a happy post, as it should be for your birthday, my friend. I love the photos of Amore and his daughters. The bistro looks like a place I would love to visit for some refreshment on a hot day.
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Thank you, Crystal! I’d LoVE to be there with both of you. It’s such an effortlessly happy place.
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Happy belated birthday, dear Manja!😍🎂🎈Glorious photos. How I’d love to walk those streets together someday. So happy you had a wonderful time.💜🌸💐
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Thank you kindly, Romana. That was a most excellent day. And the next Sunday after that I went to see two castles on an open-door day and an art exhibition by the lake. No complains! Just that I did it alone. Having you for company would be perfection.
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