The Olive Oil �World� in Tuscany

Dear Friends,

Today I want to speak to you about a special event that a great friend of mine, Andrea, together with the property owner of a small rural hotel near Siena, Borgo San Fedele, are organizing at the end of October.

The event that will last a week will be devoted to various topics from tourism in the towns and cities of Tuscany, to music and gastronomy, wine tasting, and above all the culture and �world� that revolves around Tuscan olive oil, probably the most famous and esteemed at an international level. 

Throughout the week various demonstrations and talks will take place, allowing the lucky ones that can attend the event, to learn all about the process carried out in the making of this �liquid gold�- from the harvest to the crushing of the fruit, explaining the full details of the procedure.

Attendees can stay in a completely restructured Hamlet a few km from Siena and from here can participate in a different activity each day learning all the secrets of the olive oil world. There will of course also be plenty of gastronomic opportunities such as a meal at Dario Cecchini (one of my favourite restaurants), as well as evenings of live jazz music.

 

If you�re thinking of visiting Tuscany this Autumn and are particularly interested in the olive oil �world� you can send an email to Andrea (capanno2000@libero.it)who will send you the full program of events as well as the prices.

As always I hope that this article might not just be useful for my good friend Andrea but also for some of you that, after reading it, might consider the possibility of gifting or sharing this unique experience with someone special to you.

What to do in Tuscany: Events in July-August 2011

Dear Friends,
Today I want to highlight some interesting shows and events taking place this summer in Tuscany, geared to both adults and children, especially for those who are just about to set off on their holidays in the coming weeks.

- The first event I�d like to mention is the classical music concerts taking place in Siena in the beautiful Accademia Chigiana in one of the most beautiful theatres of the Italian Renaissance. For the concert program see the following link: http://www.chigiana.it/

- Another popular event in Tuscany is the prestigious Festival de la M�sica de Radicondoli which begins on the 29th of July and continues until the 7th August. Here you will be able to enjoy pleasant evenings with music. Please visit the following site for more information: http://www.radicondoliarte.org/


- Another interesting festival is the Teatro Povero di Montichiello, where actors and musicians improvise to create a typically Tuscan scene. See the official website: http://www.teatropovero.it/

- I�d also like to recommend another interesting music festival, at San Galgano (see the above photo), an impressive roofless church situated in a spectacular enclave in Tuscany. Over the next weeks in this unique place various musical performances and operas will take place. A couple which particularly stand out are Carmina Burana and Swan Lake. For more information you can see the following webpage: http://www.festivalopera.it

- For something a bit different, from the 24th of July up until the 7th of August, in Siena, the jazz concerts are taking place. The Jazz school of Siena is one of the most important in the whole of Italy. For more information and the concert program visit the official website: http://www.sienajazz.it/


- Other notable musical events include: the Music festival of the Valdorcia (1st-16th August), the festival of the Crete Senesi from the 14th to the 22nd August and the Sarteano Jazz Festival from the 24th to the 26th August.

There are also events not exclusively devoted to music and particularly appropriate for children as well as adults.

- The Pontassieve: Summer in the Park festival overflowing with concerts, cinema, musical theatre, children�s events and dance takes place from 26th July until 13th September (Florence Province). See the following link: http://www.estatealparco.it/default.asp

- Finally, a 10 day festival of music, food, dance, markets, entertainment and shows to celebrate the Patron Saint of Borgo, San Lorenzo, will take place in the Borgo itself (Florence Province) from the 7th to the 15th August. Tel: 055 845 6230 / 84966229.

As always, I hope that this information is useful to those planning their upcoming holidays and that you enjoy any of the events you go to.

Emma.

Summer 2008 The opera Festival , Opera and Theatre season

Florence � at Giardino dei Boboli (what a wonderful location!!!)

Shows start at 9,15 PM

June 11-12-13-14
CATS

June 25 and July 10-30
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA

July 3-17-29
LA BOHEME

July 8-23
LA TRAVIATA

July 11
SIGUR ROS

July 14-15
THE BEST OF MOMIX 2008

July 22
FIORELLA MANNOIA � Italian Pop Concert

July 24
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

July 28
FILM MUSIC � Camera Orchestra

August 5
O.R.T.-ORCHESTRA DELLA TOSCANA � PUCCINI E VERDI A PARIGI

Chiusdino (Siena) � at Abbazia di San Galgano (just magic..google it for pictures!!)

Shows start at 9.00pm

June 13 � July 26
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

June 18-21-28 and July 4
IL FLAUTO MAGICO

July 24
SULLE TRACCE DI DIAGHILEV

Barberino di Mugello � at Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo

Shows start at 9.00pm

July 11
LE STAGIONI


July 6
FAVOLE with Paolo Poli

July 13 at Chiostro Cennaio
LE STAGIONI

July 16 at Chiostro Cennaio
LAUDARIO DI CORTONA

July 20
LA BOHEME

July 27
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

Florence and the Hystoric soccer: The "King of Sports" is Born

Costumed Football was originally played during the military campaigns in ancient Greece, both as entertainment and training for soldiers. They had fun and in the meantime they exercised their muscles before the battle. The game arrived later to the Italic Peninsula, specifically to Florence in 59 b.c, and became immediately popular among the Roman Soldiers that dominated the city. They followed the same rules as the Greek game, just changing the Greek name from �Episciro� into the Latin name �Haspastum�

During the Renaissance the game greatly entertains the Florentine aristocrats, still playing with the same rules from the ancient Greeks. Initially the playing field is a giant sand pit of 80 x 50 meters. Piazza Santa Croce was the football field, covered with sand, where the two teams composed of athletic young men used to play the game. The players, �calc�anti,� were 27 per team, so there were 54 men playing a match using both their hands and feet in a sort of greco-roman fight that later on would become what nowadays we know as football and rugby.


In 1580 the Florentine count Giovanni Bardi published the official rules of calcio, in order to give proper form to that game that was absolutely integrated in Florentine�s life. By then, matches were 50 minutes long, and as it happens today the winner team was the one able to score more �caccie� (goals) during the game time.

The last match of �calcio fiorentino� was celebrated in 1739, ceasing the tradition until 1898. In 1898 when English football begins to succeed , the city of Florence decided to revive the traditional �calcio storico� , and they kept the tradition until the present days. Some centuries later we are able to see the recreation of those shows, mixing game and sports competition, so loved by the Renaissance Florentines aristocrats. Both the aesthetics and rules of the game didn't change through time, and in the XXI Century there are four teams playing each match, representing the historical quarters of the city (San Giovanni, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito)



Enjoying one of this matches in Piazza Santa Croce is a fascinating event that you shouldn�t miss, if you are so lucky of being in Florence next June. The most important matches are played the 24th. The colorful parade with characters dressed as the nobles players of the XVI Century also characterizes this tradition. The meeting point is at 04.00 p.m in Piazza Santa Maria Novella where the parade begins in direction to Piazza Santa Croce surrounded by fanfares and drumbeats.

For more information about it i would like also to post a link of a good travel guide for Italy and Tuscany Italy Travel Guide

Pisa events and the Folkloric Tuscany

Many important folkloric events take place in Pisa along the year, like: the Luminara di San Ranieri (the night of 16th June, the whole town is illuminated to celebrate the patron saint of Pisa




The Day after you can see the Palio di San Ranieri ( 4 teams race a regatta on the Arno, representing historical events). The Regatta of the Old Seafaring Republics (takes place on May and June, preceded by a parade that represents the four Republics: Pisa, Genoa, Venice and Amalfi).




But certainly the one that is more in the heart of Pisans is the Gioco del Ponte. It is a curious game between two teams � which means that the city of Pisa is divided in two rival parts: Tramontana and Mezzogiorno. It consists in two different parts.
First, there is a parade along the Arno river simulating a military procession. Then, there is a battle that takes place in the Ponte di Mezzo. During this battle both teams must give proof of their physical strength, reason why there is a hypotheses that this game has its origins on the classical antiquity.



The first known edition of the Gioco del Ponte more or less as it is now comes from the 1568. Ponte del Mezzo is the seat of the battle and the aim is to conquer a part or the entire half of the bridge occupied by the �enemies�. There are actually many teams of 20 men representing each faction, Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, and they fight in turn.




The fighting is represented by a cart in the middle of the bridge that must be pushed from both sides, till all the opponents are moved back to the end of the sliding rail. The winner is the faction that conquers more number of matches. It is interesting to observe that the cart didn�t exist before 1935, when the pushing was made with physical contact.

Folklore: Montepulciano Bravio

The Bravio is an extreme feat for the athletic pushers that alternate their strengths to compete with eleven pairs of rollers.
The huge and heavy wine barrels (hundreds of pounds) are rolled upwards the extreley steep uphills in town along a track of one mile and a half.

Just to let you have an idea of the extreme struggle, a couple of years ago one pusher died of a heart attack during the trials.

Here the Bravio in an 8 minute long video. It also is a good video to show the streets of Montepulciano.

Traditions and Middle age in the Medieval Festival

Volterra is a small town in Tuscany famous for its terracotta. The Medieval festival is called "Volterra - A.D. 1398" and is a one-week-long reenactment of the original Medieval Volterra as it was in 1398. The city center is closed and free from traffic during the weekend. The artesans create Tuscan artesanry in front of you and cook the medieval way.

This year 2007 the Festival also includes a noteworthy dinner at the castle on the 19th of August, 2007. A medieval dinner will be prepared and served by the "prisoners" in the courtyard of the "maschio" of the medicea fortress of Volterra.

Enjoy the video!

July 2007 is the Palio of Sienna on the 2nd

The Palio of Siena of July 2, 2007 has been a continued sequence of spectacular events. Jokeys to the ground, horses running counterways, and an unforgettable head to head finish feat that brought havok in Siena.
Do Enjoy it, the Palio of Siena of July 2, 2007, here it is for you!

Tuscan's Sagras

Sagra is the Italian word for Food Festival. What can you expect to find when you go? Normally it is a group of locals in the Pro Loco (which means local promotional agency) who get together and prepare a menu with a theme. The money earned in these events is dedicated to buying things for the town folk or setting up parks and play area for the children.
So what does this mean for the average tourist? You will forever see florescent colored posters in the Tuscan countryside talking about Sagra, Sagra, Sagra.You're probably curious - but who knows what you will find when you actually walk into the town. For starters, if it is well known sagra on the regional level, you are very likely to compete with the locals for a place at a table. Tourist don't usually venture in this area - and they definitely miss out on a good meal at excellent prices all for a good cause. Not to mention the peak at a part of the "real" Toscana.

Also commonly defined as a local festival, very often involving food, and frequently a historical pageant and sporting events: when the sporting event is a historical recreation as well, such as a joust or a horse race in costume or armour.
In most cases there is a lunch and a dinner menu - but it helps if you can read the poster for the times (you don't need to know Italian for that)

When you arrive you will find a menu tacked to the wall, you place an order at the cash register, then pay and they give you a ticket. You are then ushered into a large general eating area where everyone shares the tables - and the food starts coming out!

It is charactized by the friendly environment with home cooked food. You will often children and young adults serving and cleaning tables while their Moms, Dads and Grandparents in the kitchen washing, peeling, frying and dishing it up.

You will normally find menus which highlight either a special ingredient or a special recipe from that area - like truffles, fritelle, olive oil, tortelli and much much more. In a land where food and religion are on the same level - you will find that the number of choices will overwhelm you.

More useful information can be found at Italia Mia guide to Italy and its products

Siena's Palio

Distinct Italian flair with the colourful costumes, horses in fancy dress and the detail to protocol makes this a true call back to yesteryear - there is nothing like listening to the drums and trumpets in the narrow city streets as they echo off of the medieval buildings, watching the colourful pageant of nobility, flag throwers and military men march down the stone paved roads.

Though one must admit the tourist attraction in Tuscany that these events draw - the origins of the modern day re enactments in Tuscany are more closely tied to local pride then anything else. Tuscan cat calls, cheers, chants and a wild display of colour in favour of their local Tuscan champion, they parade into the grand square and proceed to re enact a game of strength and skill, one can almost hear the calls and yells of the public...well almost is an understatement. The Italians take these competitions as serious as they do their soccer matches!


Perhaps one of the more famous - but not the only one for sure - is the re-enactment takes place in the famous square in Siena, Tuscany. Held twice during the year in Siena, once in May and the second in July, you will find a one of a kind horse race. The entire square in Siena is covered in sand and the route is well marked. Make a note on your Tuscan calendar of the main phases of the Palio, there are four days of celebration.

It's important to know that only ten of seventeen contrade run each time and that their participation is decided by a draw, which takes place at least twenty days prior to each Palio. The contrade is the way Siena has divided its town up into competing factions. Each with their own flag, colors and church - where most of them take the horse itself in for the blessing.

At the end of the Parade, a burst of canon fire announces the jockey's exit from the Entrone. Each jockey is given a whip made of ox tendon with which he may incite the horse and block his opponents during the race. They then draw close to the starting point, where two hemp ropes have been stretched across to allow the jockeys to line up between them. The entrance order is decided by luck: in fact, there is a special bottle-type mechanism, with a neck-piece grafted into an oval container, once the bottle is turned over, the balls randomly line up along the neck-piece, in this way deciding on the order of the start. This procedure is carried out three times so that the starter is able to use the two reserve starts if the first one is not possible.



Nine contrade are called to line up between the ropes according to the order of the draw, while the tenth take a run-up (only when he decides on the right moment) in the way deciding the moment of the start. At that point, the starter lowers the front rope and opens the race.

If the start is invalid, a cracker is let off to stop the horses which will then have to return to the starting point. The horses have to circle the track three times, for around 1000 metres and the first one to finish is the glorious victor, approved by the three winning's judges.

Even a horse, without its jockey, can carry its contrada to victory.

Ticket Museum In Tuscany

Getting the most for your time at the Tuscan  Museums:Why be bothered waiting in long hot lines, when you can reserve a spot in advance at one of the more famous museums in all of Tuscany.  Do it yourself, with contained reservation fees - read about this and other museums right here.
Or why bother waiting in any lines when you aren't sure if this is the right museum.  There are so many truely interesting places in the many towns of Tuscany - check out the places you might be interested in before you get to the ticket booth.



Organize before you arrive and save yourself the long hot and uncomfortable wait outside of the Uffizi to Botticelli or outside of the Academia to see the ever famous Davide by Micheangelo.  One of my favorite museums which has just opend up again after a few years of restorations is the   Palazzo Davanzanti  you can view a medieval home with various tools and furnishings which would have been present at this time.  Another off the beaten track - but very easy to get to is Bargello.  This Museum is famous not only for the wealth of material inside but also for the incredible building that houses it (its also very close to one of my favorite restaurants Yellow Bar)




Information and Booking
Contact Firenze Musei, Tel: +39 055294883
Booking charge : � 3,00 per person. plus the cost of the ticket into the museum
 
Call - they speak English!  They will reserve the date and time with you and you pay when you come to pick up the tickets at the museum.  CLICK HERE  for more details from the official site in English on the several museums which are open to the public, including the cost, the times they are open and the days they are open.

Got kids who might not sit through a museum tour -- but you are looking for something other ice cream for them to remember Florence by  Palazzo Vecchio in the city center has a few interesting options, including a tour of a secret passage way and guided tours of the cieling in the older rooms (walk among the rafters to see how the cieling was built!)  Check out the site below, it is in English and you can phone or email them for more info (in English!) for children of all ages --- including big ones (like those over 35 year old :))
CLICK HERE FOR KIDS MUSEUM INFO


Most people know they want to see Siena - they have heard lots of great stories about Siena but what is it really all about? 

• Keep in mind that Siena can get PACKED - and in the summertime it can get HOT - so what does this mean to you? 

Head over there early and enjoy the cool mornings and uncrowded bars and cafes or hang out there in the afternoon (in the summer after 5pm) when you can start to enjoy the locals come to life.  Early spring, late fall and the winter are great times to visit without lots of pushing, crowds and hot, long lines (even for the bathrooms!)
Of all the Museums the one which is probably most visited is the Duomo  or cathedral is a beautiful building, a mix of Gothic and Romanesque architecture with dark green and white marble in the facade.  One of its main attractions is the marble-inlaid floor, to which many artists contributed.  There is a line to get and a ticket - so check out the time schedule before roaing around (because there is no shade while you wait!!)



However the Museo Civico in the main square of Siena including the Torre di Mangia (a very tight trip to the top of the tower...if you are ambitious and explorative GO FOR IT!) is a close runner up.  For a virtual tour of the Museum itself  check out this link.
There is also a secret place that most don't know about in Siena is the underground water system and you can pick up more info and request a private tour at this link. 



According to the late fourteenth-century papers of Siena, in 1176 the friars of the Carmine Monastery dug and found a vein of water of some importance, a discovery that for a long time legitimated later searches and prolonged the story of the underground river. The Sienese squandered time and money for centuries in the search of this legendary underground river, to which they gave the name "Diana," even though no historical records ever proved its existence.
This link of Siena will give you an extensive view of the museums and their official sites in Siena as well as a lot of fun info on Siena itself.  You can even book ahead  for the Museo Civico,  I know the page is in Italian so I will give you a quick overview - you can send a fax (+39 0577 226265 o +39 0577 46829)  indicating the date you would like to visit the number of persons (and their ages so they can tell you if there are any special rates).
Include an email address and / or fax number so the office can confirm.  You will have to pay for the tickets in advance (probably by a money transfer or cashiers check in Euros at least four days before your appointment.)  The good things is they give you a discount for doing everything in advance!

Italian Language schools in Tuscany

I choose Pisa mainly for the opportunities offered by the airport easly
reachable by many low- cost flights. In fact Pisa is the most important
international airport in Tuscany and it is well connected especially with
European countries.

I discovered in Pisa a charming town, with spectacular promenades
along the river. The population is young and friendly and the climate mild.
The weather is frequently good and the beach in Marina di Pisa or Tirrenia
is well connected by bus. It is also possible to reach in 15 minutes the
beach in Viareggio.

Also the connections between Pisa and Florence, Lucca, Rome, Venice and
Milan are very good. From there I had the opportunity to visit the main
destinations in Italy for a cheap price.

The language course I attended at Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo was
very effective and enabled me to speak
Italian correctly. At the language school I met many friends from all
over the world and there the Italian staff is helpful and friendly.

During the free time I had also the possibility to take part in many
activities like visits to Florence, to Cinque Terre and dancing and
drinking during beach parties and pizza parties.

The website is ILM - Italian language
schools

Your Etruscan Holidays

The cities to explore on the Tuscan Coast

Sure enough we have all heard, at least once about the Etruscans. Many might not know that this pre-Roman people lived and thrived in Tuscany, along the coast and in northern Lazio. They used to call their land Tuscia, from which came the name of Toscana, Tuscany, that is.
The origins of this people are quite misterious as their language. Some say they came from the Eastern regions and were a group of Arians, others say they were indigenous, others say they were from Greece, and others say that they were indigenous merchants that during their exchanges mingled and mixed with all the other peoples (Greek, Arians, and Arabs perhaps?).
Anyhow, the most important thing nowadays is to discover them at the many museums and cities present all over Tuscany. Some of these cities are Chiusi, Roselle, Quercianella, Bolgheri, Suvereto, Piombino, San Vincenzo, Monterotondo, San Quirico, and Cortona.
What better way to discover these places but staying there for at least a week? Thankfully there is a portal that suggests many accommodations in this area. The name of the portal is Etruscan Holidays, and here you will be able to find the accommodation satisfactory for your needs to discover the Etruscan Riviera and the Etruscan history and culture.

All about Tuscany

If you are looking for another source of information on Tuscany, you need to visit http://www.choose-tuscany.com, where you will be able to find a website with information on Tuscany, travel, food, wine, weather, geography, history and accommodation.
The site pays particular attention to describing the aspects that make Tuscany a cradle of civilization and why Tuscany is so loved and visited by millions of tourists each year. Dense with detailed information on the region, its people, the economy, tourism, and not least, its gorgeous recipes and wines, this site is a must-visit.

A directory on Tuscany would also be http://www.tuscany.org/ and www.giralarete.it

Program 2006 Tuscan Sun Festival

As every year the Tuscan Sun Festival begins this 5 of August and lasts two weeks. Artists from all around the world will came and share their arts with the public. Music, Art and Literature are the main topics of this year festival. Here Below you will find the first 4 days Music Program

5 of August 21:00 at Teatro Signorelli Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitry Sitkovetsky will perform musics from Vivaldi, Cilea, Puccini, Massenet, Verdi, Mozart, more...


6 of August 21:00 at Teatro signorelli, Piano Recital and Piotr Anderszewski will perform musics from Mozart, Beethoven, Bach


7 of August 21:00 at teatro Signorelli Pinchas Zukerman and Zukerman Chamber Players will perform musics from Kodaly, Mozart, Dvorak, and more


8 of August 21:00 at Teatro Signorelli Susan Graham Dmitry Sitkovetsky will perform musics from Bach, Mozart, Mozart, Mozart, Shostakovich


If you would like to have more information about this event in tuscany please have a watch to tuscan sun festival or in the tuscan sun festival oficial site

Fish Fair is near Siena

At Badesse Fresh Good Fish on the Cheap!!

This little town near Siena (Badesse is the name of the town) hosts this fair that every year returns to present increasingly better dishes and service. That is what our friends told us, anyway.
And I must say I believe them, since the taste of fish was really good (kinda Marcellino's in NY, just to compare) but with much less flare than a regular restaurant and just a bit more uppity than a regular fair. Cloth napkins and table cloths, porcelain dishes, and silverware contrasted with teh plastic chairs, but at the end the quality of the fish was really good. I had some pasta with pesto and little squids, while someone else tried the black seabass.


All good I have to say and the service was fast. The Greco di Tufo was really good and the Watermellon at the end sweet as it should be. The cotton candy maker was just perfect for the kids (and not only for them !). We spent an average of 20 Euros each, really cheap compared to similar quality restaurants. Something I would really recommend is the "Moscardini in Crosta", small octupus in spicy tomato sauce and on toasted bread. Yummy!!


The fish fair in Badesse runs each year from the beginning of July for two weeks. Better if you go during weekdays.