Maybe it used to be a see before, or someone who ate a lot of clams just dropped the shells. Did you find out? Am curious...

Beatrice De Vis 4529 days ago

There was no one there to tell us, but the shells were everywhere (certainly not rubbish left behind)...  so I can only assume that they grew there at some point.

Ron Andruff 4529 days ago

There are some clams that live in fresh waters, i.e. "sphaerium" and others.

Valter Olmi 4528 days ago

Thanks Valter!  That would make sense...

Ron Andruff 4528 days ago

The Spanish and Portuguese eat them a lot. Do Italians too? I ate them in Spain, Portugal, but never in Italy, but I suppose I just missed out Valter?

Beatrice De Vis 4526 days ago

Just noticed I made another mistake : la mer = the sea with "a" not "the see"... should reread before I post! Sorry guys...

Beatrice De Vis 4526 days ago

In Italy we are regular and enthusiastic eaters of any kind of clams, with the local names vongola, cozza, ostrica, capesanta, mosciolo (a kind of black savage clam present only around Conero promontory) and many others. All these are living in the sea. I never ate fresh water clams.

Valter Olmi 4526 days ago

Since I have been living for twelve years with someone who does not like Italian food..., but I remember now that many years ago I got invited by a very nice much younger guy than me to the Paparazzi in Brussels and I had a spaghetti with clams, must have been vongola, cozza, ostrica, capesanta or mosciolo : wrote that in my diary (together with the Woolford's Bourbon) for next time I invite one of my nieces to an Italian restaurant. Oh and I forgot about one other very nice trip to Italy and Firenze, so interesting, wonderful visits and food; and Siena oh so beautiful and Pisa. Tuscany also has wonderful food!

Beatrice De Vis 4525 days ago

If you want to eat mosciolo you can do it only in places near Conero, because the harvesting is limited and not exported far. I assure you that is an amazing experience, after what you will disregard cozza, similar to mosciolo in shape and color but not in taste. 

Valter Olmi 4525 days ago

Whaow you are a specialist on clams Valter! I do not know the difference between all of these, do not even know where Conero is... but I remember that in Toscany I had real great food every day!

Beatrice De Vis 4523 days ago

You too may become a specialist... hint: intensive use of Google (engine and Earth) and Wikipedia, where you will find also notices on Conero.

Valter Olmi 4522 days ago

The pictures of Conero on Google look absolutely great, and Wikipedia says : "C'est le seul relief côtier sur la mer Adriatique de Venise au Gargano (massif dans la région des Pouilles). That reminds me that I was in Venice as well, twice actually, once when I was about 20 and once when I was 40, so I guess I'll go back when I'll be 60!

Beatrice De Vis 4519 days ago