San Donato Val di Comino Travel Guide

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From 6 pm to about 9pm the streets become alive at the 5 street bars in the center of town. after 9 the streets become deserted and it is time for bed..

Dress Code: Dress as you please.. Italians are friendly

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You need a car to get around this valley... Traffic is not bad..Mostly rural mountain roads. You need a international driving permit in Italy.. You can get these for $15 at any AAA office in the USA.

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On monday mornings,
The old town of Atina has a huge flea market in town..
Get there early around 8 to 9 am... market closes around 12 noon to 1pm..
Get there early to get a parking space..

What to buy: shoes,clothing,gifts,food for a picnic almost everything is new.

What to pay: bargains

As I have walked through the town with friends, and while walking alone, I must say that the town is safe. I have often seen the local police drive through the town and near the piazza. The police drive by in their jeep, and they often acknowledge the people as they walk by. To be honest, I feel safe in the town and have not heard of any type of major crimes occuring in the town while I was there. No one has ever bothered me, and I have never even seen a fist fight. Other than a few stray cats in the yard, there was not any problem during the winter, spring or summer months. As for any traveller, just keep your passport in a safe and secure place. It is just good common sense as you do not know who may be "passing through" the town from another city or country. Honestly, San Donato is safe, in my opinion.

Favorite thing: A typical meal begins at 1:00pm in the afternoon. Many of the local stores, banks and bars close at 1:00pm, but will reopen at 4pm. The largest meal of the day is in the afternoon. The traditional foods of San Donato are: Broccoli Rabe, Veal, Pasta and marinara sauce, salmon sauce, or in bianco, meaning white wine sauce. Pasta fagioli is very popular. Often, the locals like to eat fettucini with mushrooms. Also, the locals eat frittata, which is an omelette made in a large skillet with onions, zucchini or other vegetables. It is a large, round, flat omelete which can serve about 6 people. Crispelle, polenta, lasagna, cannaloni, and lamb are popular. The locals like to eat french fries or roasted potatoes as a side dish. Pannetone and castegnoli cookies are popular in this region. Pears, tangerines, figs, apples, oranges, and figs are popular fruits, as well as chestnuts. The locals like to drink fruit juices, such as pear, blueberry, or red orange. Once in a while, the locals may drink milk with a mint syrup (menta) as a cool, refreshing drink. San Donatese love their espresso or cappuccino, but they also drink Orzo. If a San Donatese is in a hurry, they may buy a pannini with tuna and green tomatoes.

Fondest memory: My fondest memory of San Donato is my grandparents' house, tasting the gelato for the first time, and the way my grandmother's house smelled. At the age of 10, I was able to eat flavors like spumoni, straccatella ( white, creamy, vanilla with chunks of chocolate), and nocciola ( filbert nut flavored gelato) . I remember eating a coronetto for the first time ( a croissant filled with hot, smooth chocolate). Most of all, I remember my first vacation there with my mom and my dad. We went to the Pescasaroli mountains for dinner back in 1980. It was the first vacation that I had taken with my dad, as he often worked long hours. It is the fondest memory because I was able to spend a relaxing day with both my mom and my dad, as well as my grandparents. It was one of the first summers that my dad took a day off from work, and seeing how happy he was to return back to his roots, his hometown of San Donato. Back in 1980, I was only 10 years old, but with the cool, mountain air, prosciutto, gelato, and hanging out with my dad on our first real vacation, what more could I have asked for?