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

Crowd awaiting for the start from Cesare Prandelli

Corri la Vita was a huge success with thousands of both residents and visitors alike showing up in Piazza della Signoria this morning to take part in the benefit run against breast cancer. We found ourselves in a festive atmosphere crowding the piazza together with over 15.000 other people, many running and many doing the shorter walking course. It was fun to participate again this year because it is one those events that makes you happy to live in Florence. The 10,2km course that we did went through the main historical center, passing by the Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica, before heading toward Porta Romana and Poggio Imperiale, then through the Boboli Gardens up to the Forte Belvedere. For the record, despite the many hours passed in front of the computer, we were able to run the whole course in a little over an hour and are quite proud of our results.

the Carro Matto from last year

If you’re in Florence this weekend, plan on hanging around the area between Piazza della Signoria and Piazza del Duomo between 4 and 5 p.m. to get a glimpse of the “carro matto“, which literally means crazy cart. The cart is pulled by a pair of white Chianina oxen and carries over 1500 wine bottles, the traditional flask ones with straw bottoms, that are artfully assembled and presented to the ruling government in Palazzo Vecchio. The cart is preceded by a parade in historical costume, the beat of drums and the show of Florence’s flag throwers which perform in Piazza della Signoria at the very end.  You can read our post on the Carro Matto from last year as well as see our gallery of photographs of the parade and flag throwers in Piazza della Signoria. The setting is incredible and it is fun to see all the Renaissance costumes .

Parade starts around 3.30 pm near the Palagio di Parte Guelfa and heads first to the Duomo where the wine is blessed by religious authorities. The cart then proceeds down Via Calzaiuoli and stops at Chiesa di San Carlo dei Lombardi where an offering of wine is made, then arrives in Piazza della Signoria around 5 pm. The flag throwing exhibition is set to start around 5.30 pm. Hope you enjoy the show!

This coming up Sunday a large part of Florence will be in Piazza della Signoria for a special event, the 7th edition of Corri La Vita. It is an event that brings together charity, physical activity, culture and social commitment in the form of a race and walk on Sunday September 27 with thousands of participants each year. One can participate in a 10km competitive race or join in the walk of 5km.

The important part in participating is contributing to the fight against breast cancer since all proceeds go to the Oncological Rehabilitation Center of Florence. There are many well-known TV and sport stars that participate every year, with an official t-shirt designed by Salvatore Ferragamo. This year the shirt is bright orange, a color selected by Corri La Vita fans on Facebook.

We participated last year and it is an event that truly makes you feel part of the city, especially since you walk and run through Florence’s beautiful streets in the historical center. We’ve decided once again to participate in the 10km race…. taking our time, of course, the important thing is to arrive at the finish line.

For further information on registration and course of the race, you can visit the official site of Corri la Vita.

P.S. You can register for the walk on Saturday in Piazza della Signoria from 10am to 5pm as well as for the race from 10am to 1pm. For the 10km race you need a medical certificate attesting you can participate in competitive races. Final registration for the walk will be from 8-9am on race day, the start is for 9.30am – see you there!

For two weeks now, standing in the shadow of the imposing Palazzo Vecchio in Florence near Neptune’s Fountain and the monument to Cosimo I, visitors have been able to admire “Two Rivers“.
That is the title of the great bronze statue, over 4 meters tall, that New York artist Greg Wyatt created and positioned in front of the entrance of the Sala d’Arme in Palazzo della Signoria. The sculpture, donated by the artist to the city of Florence, represents the Arno and Hudson rivers, the two main waterways that divide the two cities of Florence and New York, the two cities residing within the artist’s heart.

“Two Rivers” will remain in this location until the end of October while the exhibit dedicated to works by Wyatt continues inside the Sale d’Arme in Palazzo Vecchio, after which it might be transferred permanently to Piazza Poggi. The use of the conditional is necessary because the placement of the sculpture in Piazza della Signoria a few weeks ago has raised several objections and a debate on the statue’s future collocation.

Forbes magazine recently published “Europe’s Most Idyllic Places to Live” with a raking of five favorite simple, unspoiled and near-heavenly locations to take up residence in Europe according to a panel of experts in the fields of travel and relocation.

Lucca came in second place, a charming medieval city in Tuscany, just after the Greek island of Patmos.

Lucca was chosen, according to Forbes, because while it has the charm of other Tuscan towns such as Pisa, it lacks the crowds and confusion. The beautiful, walled medieval city has an enviable geographic location just 45 miles from Florence, about an hour from the Tuscan beaches in one direction and an hour from skiing in Abetone in the other.

Continue reading about the idyllic city of Lucca >>

a rificolona, or paper lantern

Last night we went for the first time to the Rificolona in Piazza Santissima Annunziata. It was an interesting gathering, mostly families with small children bearing lit paper lanterns toward the piazza but the procession really included people of all ages.

It was difficult to take good pictures since it was already dark but we did what we could. Since then, we’ve gone searching for more information on the tradition of the Rificolona and this is what we found about the Rificolona in Florence »

View the photo album with a few of the photographs that came out decently, considering the little light that was available and the movement of the people.

The Curva Fiesole at the start of the match Fiorentina-Sporting Lisboa

Last Wednesday Fiorentina played off against the Sporting Lisboa for the qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and we were there to show our support for Florence’s soccer team.

The “curva Fiesole”, the area of the stadium where the most passionate Fiorentina fans sit, even prepared a banner and beautiful color choreography to welcome the Portuguese fans since the two cities are “twin cities” which you can see in the photo above.

We can’t say that the game was a really good one: the home team had long moments in which they were stretched to their limit by the fast, darting runs of the opposting team and it looked as if they risked droping out of the competition. After the first half, Fiorentina was under one goal and some of the super critical fans of the Viola even started to boo the team. Not very supportive at all. The Viola, however, played much more confidently in the second half with supportive cheering from the Curva Fiesole encouraging them forward and equalized the game with a goal by the young and talented Jovetić. But it is also important to remember that Italian teams rarely play very well in August, while the Sporting demonstrated it was in great shape as a team.

The 1-1 result allows Fiorentina to proceed to the next round of the Champions League where the draw has assigned Fiorentina matches against the glorious Liverpool, the Olympique Lyonnais (with which we have a score to settle from last year!) and the Hungarian Debreceni.

It will be difficult to go beyond this round but it is important to both participant in the great matches of European soccer and in the great showcase offered by the Champions League. It will also be an excellent occasion for many Florentines to follow their home team abroad, combining rooting for the team with visits to other European cities .

Naturally, it will also be a chance for other fans to visit Florence as they follow their own favorite teams. And if you need any tips or suggestions, you can always check out our guide about Florence

Sunday morning we took off to Volterra to once again travel back in time to the Middle Ages. Volterra is the perfect setting with its medieval architecture and since the whole city is involved in one way or another, the festival has been a favorite of ours since we discovered it.

Continue reading about our day at the Volterra medieval festival »

photo by fairlybuoyant

The Civetta or Owl contrada won the race after a 30 year dry spell. No other contrada had waited so long for such a sweet victory. One could say that nature just took its course: running after sunset helped the nocturnal creature as it entered the race at its prime time for activity.
The contrada, known as the “prior” district for having hosted the priors of the districts during a time of conflict with city hall in 1887, was also able to secure victory thanks to the ability of its jockey in taking the spot assigned to the Unicorn, its great rival, and then in masterly handling the experienced horse it had received through lottery.

 
Read more about The day after the Palio

Siena's Campo: the Palio race is run around its perimeter

Today, Thursday August 13 the only flower which grows on tufo, or tuff rock began to bloom: the Palio di Siena.

This is an evergreen plant which blooms only twice a year, once being at the height of summer on the 16th of August for the feast of the Virgin Mary’s Assumption. The flower emanates an intoxicating, giddy perfume for local residents and visitors alike.

The Palio is not a sporting event, and it isn’t just a horse race. The event is a tournament from the past that continues to still evoke great passion in the people of Siena. You have to see it to believe it.