This weekend is Ferragosto, the day of the Assumption, which is a national holiday in Italy. So we have decided to spend the whole weekend in Mugello, the green valley to the north of Florence. Read More »
On the night of Saint Lawrence, August 10th 2010, most of the wine cities in Tuscany will be animated by “Calici di Stelle” (Goblets of stars). For all night there will wine and food tastings, concerts, craft markets, guided tours and stars watching.
In the Chianti Classico region there will be many events: in Greve in Chianti there will be wine tastings, craft market and stars watching from 9.00 pm, in Castellina in Chianti the center will be animated by street musicians, craft market, wine and food tastings, and in Gaiole in Chianti wine and food tastings will start at 6.00 pm.
In Siena wine tastings will take place under the Loggia of Palazzo Pubblico from 9.30, together with guided tours to the Civic Museum and to Torre del Mangia, while in San Gimignano there will be in Piazza Sant’Agostino from 9.00 pm.
There will be also wine tastings and other events in Montepulciano, Castelnuovo di Berardenga, Castiglione d’Orcia and Campiglia Marritima, as well as other minor destinations. In fact the calendar of Calici di Stelle 2010 have many different events scheduled.
So look up high in the sky for your falling star while drinking a good glass of wine, and don’t forget to make a wish! 
I haven’t yet planned everything I will do this week end. The only thing that is certain is that I’m heading to Mercantia in Certaldo tonight. I’m going to go see this great Festival of Street Artists that I liked very much in the past. I’ll be in Certaldo around 8 pm and after taking a look at the market in the lower part of Certaldo and dinner, I’ll climb up to upper Certaldo to go see all the events.
On Saturday I’m planning a morning of total relax. After lunch, I’m planning to go to Cerreto Guidi, a nice Renaissance town about 35 min driving distance from Florence. There is Medicea, an event about culture, food and wine. At 6 pm the “historical reconstruction of threshing”, as well as wineries will open, with wine tastings and art exhibits. At 9.30pm a guided tour will be offered within the beautiful Medicean villa of Cerreto Guidi. This Renaissance villa, turned into the Museum of Hunting and of the Territory, was built by Buontalenti as a hunting villa for the Grand Duke Cosimo I.
I have yet to decide what to do on Sunday. I’d like to go to San Gimignano, where a new and very interesting museum opened two weeks ago. The museum is called San Gimignano 1300 and is a spectacular and extremely detailed reconstruction of this beautiful medieval city in Tuscany at that time. It should be really impressive. On the other hand, I’d like also to go to Palazzuolo sul Senio in Mugello for the medieval festival “At the Ubaldini’s Family Court”. The peculiarity of this festival is that this year it’s an historical reenactment of the heroic deeds of Roland. There will a free shuttle bus service from Florence and Pontassieve.
I think I’ll wait and decide on Saturday night what to do on Sunday. In the meantime I wish you a nice weekend!
It’s summer and the annual return of the International Festival of Street Artists in Certaldo starts this Wednesday. From July 14 to 18, Certaldo will host thousands of artists coming from all over the world: actors, clowns, acrobats, fire-eaters, musicians, circus’ artists, magicians and much more. Read Full Post »
Finally June has arrived! From the weather you wouldn’t say it, but I’m not worried for my plans for this weekend in Tuscany. Yes, this weekend I don’t plan to stay in Florence but plan on going around Tuscany. So, these are some of my plans.
Saturday morning early wake up, about 9.00, because I want to go to local markets. First I want to go to Impruneta and then to Greve in Chianti. I want to have a “light” lunch in Greve eating some schiacciata (Tuscan bread) filled with sbriciolona (a typical ham) at the Macelleria Falorni in the main square. Then I’ll head to Siena, have to be there before 5 p.m., because at that time starts a big treasure hunt in the historical center. The event is the conclusion of the great wine festival Chianti è. The treasure hunt will also meet the traditions of the Palio and will end with a typical dinner in Contrada. English speaking staff will assist you and reservations are required. Read the full post »
Easter is coming soon. And we have information to share with you on what to do and what to see in Florence and Tuscany next weekend.
Most of the museums in Florence will be open on Easter Sunday and Monday (April 4 and 5). In particular some State Museums are “extraordinarily” open such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery which are generally closed on Mondays. The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, the San Marco Museum, Medici Chapels, Bargello Museum and Palazzo Davanzati will all be open. Read Full Post »
Christmas time is coming and as usual December in Florence and in its surroundings means you can find many special events and markets related to Christmas.
Here are a few of the upcoming events in Florence, as well as in Mugello valley and Chianti region:
In Florence in Piazza Santa Croce from December 2nd to the 20th you’ll find the German Christmas Market with its characteristic wooden cabins. Opening hours from 10 am to 10 pm.
Christmas Trade Fair at Stazione Leopolda in Florence from the 5th to the 13th of December. It opens from Friday to Tuesday from 10 am to 10 pm and on Wednesday and Thursday from 3 pm to 10 pm. Ticket costs € 7,50; reduced ticket is € 6,00; children under 3 years have free admission.
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