Discover Tuscany’s Blog: exploring Tuscany and all its hidden corners…

We have lots of pictures to share with all of our readers – from Monteriggioni to Filetto to Montepulciano!

Here is the first set: the Monteriggioni Medieval festival that takes place over two long weekends in July. The festival is perfect for families since there is entertainment and games for children as well as chance to dress up as knights or ladies. Then there are jugglers, puppet shows, minstrels, music, small farm animals which can be petted and more!

View more pictures of Monteriggioni's Medieval Festival »

If you also find yourself in Lunigiana between the 11th and 15th of August, make
your way to the Medieval fair in Filetto!

The area of Lunigiana has so much to offer, as we had ourselves discovered a year ago when we
first started exploring this area staying a few days in the countryside near Aulla.

At that time we visited the small charming village of Filetto, easy to reach near Villafranca in
Lunigiana. We discovered only afterward that a medieval fair is held every year in the small
medieval center, the “first and largest in Lunigiana”… and anyone who has read our past posts,
we particularly love to attend these events.

Checking out the program on the official website www.mercatomedievalefiletto.it we
are excited to see that there are many attractions and entertainment planned… so the fair looks
very promising!

In particular, everyday at 20.30 you can enjoy a special dinner with medieval dishes prepared for the festival. The dinner is a fixed menu at 38 euros per person, you have to reserve ahead by phone by calling either 320.020.8059 or 347.076.4935. The menu looks very interesting, definitely merits to be tried out!

We contacted the fair organizers to request a few more details and they’ve underlined the wish
to have all participants dressed in medieval clothes. We see that as an excellent sign of passion
toward the organization of the event. It is not strictly required, but we will try our best to fit in as well in our medieval clothes – we’ll let’ you know how it turns out!

Hope to see you there!

If you love wine and would like to pass a beautiful summer evening next week, remember that Wednesday, August 10, 2011 is generally known as the day of falling stars, which falls on the day of San Lorenzo. For this special night, many towns across Tuscany have dedicated a special night called “Calici di Stelle” to celebrate the region’s great wines!

Organized by the Wine Tourism Movement, Calici di Stelle offers many extraordinary events in many piazzas across Italy, from Sicily to Piedmont. This year Calici di Stelle is in fact dedicated to the anniversary of the 150 years anniversary of the Unification of Italy.

Tuscany has a record number of towns and villages participating in the manifestation, with over 30 municipalities organizing tastings of wine and other typical products, meetings, art exhibitions, shows, historical parades, concerts, and fireworks.

Amongst the many Tuscan cities participating in the event is Castellina in Chianti, Castiglione d’Orcia, Colle di Val d’Elsa, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Siena, and Vinci, all renowned for their fine wine production.

Wine will be the absolute protagonist in one of the most suggestive and evocative nights of the year, when you will have the possibility to admire San Lorenzo’s falling stars, the “tears” of the saint according to the legend, in the good company of exquisite wine.

A magic summer night when all your dreams will come true!

The complete list of all the Tuscan and Italian cities participating in the event is available on the official website of the National Association “Città del Vino”.

Livorno is preparing to live “Effetto Venezia“, a traditional big event organized in the characteristic city district named “Venice” and which comes this year to its 26th edition, completely inspired to France.

For ten days, from July 29 to August 7, 2011, will take place all kinds of events, from special guided tours, theater performances,concerts, exhibitions and street performances played in the Venice neighborhood, transformed for the occasion on this year in a large district of Paris.

Saturday, July 30 will be a “Notte Bianca” or “White Night” and main museums, churches and shops are open till late at night. At the Darsena Nuova in the port of Livorno at 1030pm you can also assist to the “Palio dell’ Antenna”, an exciting race of the four rowing boats representing the main city neighborhoods.

“Effetto Venezia” is with no doubt a wonderful opportunity to visit Livorno and appreciate one of his most characteristic districts!

The complete event program is available on the official website of the Effetto Venezia (only in Italian).

The first edition of the Renaissance Fair at Colle Val d’Elsa! Our impressions

Anyone who has read our blog for a while probably has already understood we love to go to medieval festivals and that we often return to the ones held in Monteriggioni, Volterra and Roccatederighi in Tuscany. When we found out there would be a similar festival in Colle Val d’Elsa this year, right away we marked it on our calendars. This past Sunday, July 3, the entire Discover Tuscany made their way to Colle to go to “The Renaissance of Colle between 1479 and 1592”.

The dates the event’s official title refers to are important for Colle: the first marks the year Florence conceeded Colle citizenship in exchange for their fedelty against the Sienese enemy (1479) and the other was when Colle was proclaimed a diocese, marking it a city to all effects (1592).

(more…)

The beautiful town of Colle Val d ‘Elsa situated between Florence and Siena is completing the final preparations to take you back in time this upcoming weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday July 2 and 3, 2011 the medieval village will host “The Renaissance of Colle – History, Festivals and Battles between 1479 and 1592”.

During the two days, starting at 5pm up until midnight all streets, squares, shops and public places in Colle Val d ‘Elsa will become the setting for the celebration of the Renaissance, one of the city’s most important historical periods.

It will be an unique opportunity to see Colle Val d’ Elsa come alive with characters in Renaissance dress, skillful jugglers, fabulous musicians, street performers and actors entertaining and engaging the public from later afternoon until midnight.

Read more about the Renaissance Festival in Colle>>

We’d like to share our shots from the parade in historical costume that made its way through Florence’s historical center on Friday in celebration of St. John the Baptist, Florence’s patron saint. The parade made its way to Piazza Santa Croce, accompanying the players of the Blue team from Santa Croce and the White team from San Frediano that were disputing the final match. The Blue team won – here are some newspaper shots of the game and of the victory celebrations.

The parade is a bright and colorful affair, with soldiers, guards, nobles and ladies in their fine clothes, drummers, cannons, flag throwers and much more! We love the colors, hope you enjoy the pictures if you weren’t able to see them in person yet!

View more photos of the historical parade in Florence »

Are you in Florence this Friday, June 24th? Then take the chance to join in the celebrations for Florence’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist!

The big events on this day are the historical parade in costume through Florence that is followed by final match of the Calcio Storico in Piazza Santa Croce and the fireworks show at night. The Calcio Storico is a rough version of soccer played in Florence since the 16th century, and today still played in costume.

Continue reading about this Friday's celebrations in Florence »

Saturday May 14, 2011 will be the “Night of the Museums”, a special European initiative for which many museums in the various European countries will be open at night offering guided tours and events.

The event is sponsored by the UNESCO and the Council of Europe.

Florence joins this special initiative with the special openings to late night (and free entrance) of these museums:

Uffizi Gallery – from 7pm to 1am
Accademia Gallery – from 7pm to 1am
Museum of Opificio delle Pietre Dure – from 6pm to 12am
Palazzo Davanzati Museum – from 7pm to 1am
San Marco Museum – from 7pm to 1am
The Bargello Museum – from 7pm to 1am
The Medicean Villa in Poggio a Caiano – from 7pm to 1am

The Museum of Natural History and Palazzo Vecchio will also offer interesting special events and guided tours.

Read about the special events in Palazzo Vecchio »

Did you participate in the recent White Night in Florence? It was a really special night for the city, full of events and performances that accompanied both Florentines and tourists until late into the early hours of the morning.

This weekend Florence is going to dress in a new color: it’s time for BLUE! On May 7 and 8, in fact, Florence is preparing to live a “Blue Night”, 27 hours of events and exhibitions starting from the afternoon of Saturday 7th.

Piazza della Repubblica, in the historical city center, will host some of the most interesting events. Saturday starting at 4pm, the square will be the setting for a set of different short concerts that should have something for all tastes. From the tango music of the Alma Migrante group at 4pm to the rock music of Dinamo at 9pm to the pop-swing of the female trio of The Sixters at late night.

Saturday starting at 5pm up to 6:30pm at the Old Bridge and in the surrounding area you’ll find a curious performance of street theater on bicycle.

Saturday starting at 5:30pm, you can enter with free entrance at the Alinari National Museum of Photography, which will remain open until 11pm.

Read about the events on Sunday 8 »