With February, Carnival season 2012 comes alive and Tuscany prepares to celebrate with big masked parades and events dedicated to Carnival.

Have you already prepared your fancy costume and bought some confetti and streamers?

If you answered “Yes”, then you have only to choose the destination to celebrate! Otherwise, do not worry, you still have a few days to find a pretty carnival costume .

In the coming weeks in Tuscany you will find many fun Carnival events, both in small towns and larger cities.

If you are still deciding where to celebrate this Carnival 2012, here are some ideas:

The Carnevale di Viareggio, is without a doubt, one of the most famous masked parades in Italy.

These are the official dates of the parades:
Sunday 5, 12, 19, 26 of February (starting at 3 pm)
Thursday 21st of February (starting at 230 pm)
Saturday 3rd of March (from 7 pm)
Entry tickets: adults €15, free entry for children under 10 years old.

Every year along the seaside avenues of Viareggio, visitors are involved in the big event with music, a beautiful parade and lots of fun.
The protagonists of this Carnival are certainly the allegorical papier-mache floats, mainly inspired to topical and political facts, competing for the final prize decided by the jury.

Here’s a little sample of the Carnival of Viareggio, with a video from a past edition: look at the Carnival video.

In Foiano della Chiana (in the province of Arezzo), the oldest Carnival of Italy takes place every year.

Fancy costumes, music and a whole series of events will involve visitors in a big party on the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of February.
Price: regular ticket €8, children under 12 year old have free entry.

The masked parades will start at 3 pm. More details (in Italian only), on the official website.

In the historical center of Arezzo on February 12th, 19th and 21st the “Carnevale Aretino dell’Orciolaia” will take place with float parades and attractions from all around Italy.
More information in Italian are available on the official website of the Arezzo Carnival.

The villages in the Mugello, a beautiful area located on north of Florence, offer many nice events during the Carnival period.
In the center of Borgo San Lorenzo (Piazza Dante) the appointment is on the 5th, 12th, 19th and 21st of February, from the 2:30 pm. Free entry.

Saturday, February 11th will be the turn of the “Carnevalino” around the streets of Vicchio , while on Saturday February 18th, the village of San Piero a Sieve will host the carnival event “San Piero in Maschera” with music and performances from 2 pm onwards.

In Florence you can find some of initiatives related to Carnival on the weekends of the 11th-12th and 18th-19th of February during the Chocolate Fair, organized in Piazza della Repubblica, in the historical city center.

At the moment there are no clear news about the date of the traditional colorful multiethnic Carnival parade usually organized in the Florence city center but we’ll keep you posted on any news.

We wish you an amazing Carnival 2012 in Tuscany!

Photo by brasilnaitalia

Tuscany is preparing to celebrate the Carnival with many amusing events organized in next weeks in the main cities as well in the tiny villages of the region.
From the great and famous Carnival parades in Viareggio to the events in smaller towns, such as the Carnival at Mugello in Dicomano or San Gimignano, there are a lot of funny and colorful appointments for both adults and children.

Viareggio and its famous allegoric floats

Viareggio offers one of the most famous Carnival parade in Italy. Its allegorical floats in paper mache animate every year the seaside avenues of the city, well known as “La Passeggiata”.
On Saturday 19 a cerimony will officially open this Viareggio Carnival 2011. The real parades will take place around 3 pm on Sunday 20 and 27 of February, March 6 (Sunday) and Thursday 8. The final parade on March 13 will start at 5pm. The events required entry tickets.The Viareggio Carnival is really a funny (a bit crowded) event, enjoy a short video of one of its past masked parade.

Carnival in the Mugello Area

During next weekends in the beautiful area of Mugello, not far from Florence, several fun events will animate the characteristic villages of Dicomano, Vicchio (on February 26), Borgo San Lorenzo and San Piero a Sieve (on February 26). In Dicomano and Borgo San Lorenzo the appointment with the colorful masks and floats is on 20 and 27 of February and 6 and 8 of March.

Other events in Tuscany:

Carnival will celebrate in San Mauro a Signa, close to Florence, on 20 and 27 of February and in the historical center of San Casciano Val di Pesa on the February 20. The medieval San Gimignano, with its famous ancient tower-houses, will host a Carnival parade on 20 and 27 of February and on 6 of March.

In Foiano della Chiana (not far from Arezzo) is organized one of the most ancient italian Carnival parade. This year the shows will take place on 20, 27 of February and on 6 and 13 of March. Entrance fee.

Carnival confetti, masks and fancy costumes will fill up the historical center of Castelnuovo Garfagnana on 26,27 of February and 6 of March.

These are only few of all the Carnival events you can join in visiting Tuscany in next weeks, you’ ll certainly find one close to you! It’s time to dress up and have fun: enjoy the Tuscan Carnival!

Here we are, the last weekend before Christmas. Bells are ringing and weather forecasts predict snow… what better way to say Christmas than this? Joking aside, here are the main events in Tuscany for this third weekend of December if you’re fine with covering up well to deal with the low temps around here at the moment.

Florence:

On Saturday and Sunday, December 18^th and 19^th, you can head over to Piazza Santissima Annunziata to the Arts&Crafts market. There will be several craftsmen showing their works, you might find something interesting for a gifts or two.

On Sunday in Piazza Santo Spirito you’ll find a traditional Christmas Fair with lots of delightful products, while at Ex-Leopoldine in Piazza Tasso there will be Mercanatale, the organic market for buying zero-km food and handmade products.

Tuscany:

On Sunday in Certaldo you’ll find Boccaccio’s Fair, a large market taking place all over the city center. In Greve in Chianti, “Waiting for Christmas” includes a Christmas market and a live Nativity scene. Santa Claus will be present, indispensable if you’re traveling with small children! Other Christmas markets will be in Mugello in Marradi and Palazzuolo sul Senio, and in Torrita di Siena.

Sincerely hoping it won’t snow, we wish you a nice weekend of shopping in Tuscany before Christmas!

It’s almost mid-December but it’s still warm. After a couple of freezing days we came back to mild, gray weather. So let’s see the main events for this second weekend of December:

Florence:

This weekend, head to the German Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce, open every day from 10am to 8pm. Then visit Florence Noel at the Leopolda Station until Sunday.
In Piazza Santo Spirito on Sunday December 12^th there will be the monthly arts and crafts market, while within walking distance in Piazza Tasso, at the Ex-Leopoldine Mercanatale, you’ll find a market of local farmers selling only organic products.

Tuscany:

In Greve in Chianti on Sunday there will be the Christmas market of local craftsmen. In Mugello there will be four different and characteristic Christmas markets that will be held in Dicomano, Firenzuola, Palazzuolo sul Senio and Marradi.
If you want to taste something special I suggest you go to Prato on Saturday and Sunday where Dolcemente Prato, Sweet Prato, will be taking place. There will be tastings of sweets and cakes made by the best pastry chefs. Tastings will be accompanied by local liquors and cocktails. In addition, you can admire the large Christmas tree made of 12 kilos of cantuccini, the typical Prato cookies.

For further Christmas markets going around this weekend, read our post on the Christmas markets in Tuscany.

Have a nice weekend!

Wow! Today is December 1^st and the countdown for Christmas has started! Florence has been lighted up with thousands of Christmas lights all around the city. As usual during the Advent there are several Christmas markets and lots of events all around Tuscany.

Christmas markets are the ideal places for finding unique Christmas decorations, handmade gifts and for tasting Christmas sweets and local products. Here you have a list of main Christmas markets in Tuscany 2010:

Florence:
From December 4^th to 12^th at Leopolda Station there will take place the annual fair about Christmas,  Florence Noël.
In Piazza Santa Croce will start today the classic German Christmas Market, that will go on until December 20^th from 10.00am to 8.00pm every day.

From December 3^rd to 5^th at Saschall there will be the Christmas Market organized by Italian Red Cross. Entrance will cost Euro 5,00.
On December 8th at the Pagliere in Via Machievelli, near Porta Romana from 10.00am to 5.00pm , there will be the annual Christmas bazaar held by the American International League of Florence (AILO) ONLUS. There will be sold new and vintage goods, as well as homemade cookies and cakes for raising money for charities in Florence and province.
In Piazza Santo Spirito on December 19^th there will be the Christmas fair.

Added Dec. 10: We just learned there is another Christmas market called Mercanatale on December 12 and 19, in Piazza Tasso at the Leopoldine where you can buy food products made by local producers, including just pressed extra virgin olive oil. Take the best of Tuscany back with you by being direct from the farmer! From mid-morning to late afternoon.

Mugello:
In Marradi on Sunday 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December the city center will host a large Christmas market. In addition on December 19^th you can get to Marradi from Florence by traditional  steam engine train.
In Palazzuolo sul Senio on December 5^th,8^th,12^th and 19^th there will be the Christmas market. There will also be a nice exhibition about the “1000 Nativities of Palazzuolo” until January 6^th.
In Dicomano the Christmas market will be on December 5^th, while in Firenzuola the Winter Market will be on December 12^th.

Chianti:
On December 8^th,12^th and 19^th in the particularly shaped Piazza Matteotti in Greve in Chianti there will be the Christmas market.
In Gaiole in Chianti the markets will be on December 5^th and 8^th from 10.00am to 7.00pm in Piazza Ricasoli.

Pisa and Lucca:
In the historical center of Pisa the Christmas market will take place under the Logge di Banchi and in Largo Ciro Menotti every day from 9.00am to 12.00am until December 24^th.
In Piazza della Cittadella and Via di Poggio in Lucca center there will be a Medieval Christmas market from December 10^th to 12^th.

Lunigiana:
In Fivizzano the market will take place on December 4^th,5^th and 8^th, while in Aulla it will be on December 18^th and 19^th.
In Pontremoli and surroundings there will be on display several beautiful nativity scenes from December 19^th to January 9^th.

Pistoia, surroundings and Montagna Pistoiese:
From December 4^th to January 9^th in Pescia there will lots of events related to Christmas that you can check on the Italian website http://www.vaiinduomo.com/. There will also be the Christmas market in Piazza della Maddalena.
In Pistoia under the Galleria Nazionale the market will take place from December 7^th to 12^th from 9.00am to 8.00pm.
On the mountains in Cutigliano from December 4^th to 12^th there will be Christmas Slow, a special event combining together the slow food and Christmas market. In addition there will be organized a special nativities’ itinerary.

Siena and surroundings:
In Siena on December 4^th and 5^th there will be a large market called Mercato del Campo, right in Piazza del Campo.
On December 18^th and 19^th there will be a nice Christmas market with arts and crafts in Torrita di Siena.

Good and bad news in and about Tuscany

We have decided to start a new blog’s column, if we can call it this way. Every week we’ll collect the most interesting articles about Tuscany and its cities and regions. News telling about its excellence and about its worst. The following are the main articles and news about Tuscany of the past weeks:

Chianti Waste-Less – Florentine Chianti municipalities -  Barberino Val d’Elsa, Greve in Chianti, San Casciano and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, will start producing less waste following a revolutionary project. The municipalities will provide restaurants, offices, shops, accommodations, as well as events and fairs with a “waste-less” logo in order to promote their green attitude. They will also promote a healthier and greener lifestyle for citizens, as well as the re-use of packaging and the construction of new salvage centers.

The best Resort in Europe – The Most excellent charming hotel, the most desired prize for luxury hotels worldwide by the guide Condé Nast Johansens, has been awarded to Monsignor della Casa Country Resort in Borgo San Lorenzo. This luxury hotel in Mugello near Florence has been recognized as the best European accommodation for its hospitality and for its atmosphere, that perfectly preserves the ancient look of the historical village. 

Collapses in Roselle – After the shocking pictures of the collapse in Pompei (Naples) in Tuscany it raises the alarm for the collapses of the Etruscan walls of Roselle. The city of Roselle is one of the few Etruscan cities that has preserved the whole city walls, almost 3,5 km. A part of the walls has been fenced in because of the serious risk of collapses. 

Diana Goddess Sanctuary in Alberese – In Alberese within the Maremma Natural Park, has been been discovered the sanctuary of the Roman Goddess Diana, goddess of virgins and wild animals. The temple dates back to 2^nd-3^rd centuries b.C. and covers about 350 sq. meters. Within the temple archaeologists have discovered three statues depicting Diana and her brother Apollo as well as some coins and several lamps. The temple is well preserved. 

The most beautiful coasts in the world – National Geographic drew up a list of the most charming coasts in the world. In the top 10 there was the Italian Cinque Terre, that as been described as a European treasure and a virtuous example to be followed.

Florence, a Top Destination – Florence has been voted the most beautiful and enchanting destination in the world by TripAdvisor.com. The city excelled cities such as Paris, Washington, Rome and Venice. Last week the young city major Matteo Renzi accepted the prize on behalf of the city of Florence. 

Hoping that the weather will be mild and won’t rain, these are the main events in Florence and across Tuscany for this upcoming weekend of November.

Florence:

This weekend will finish Food and Wine Biennial 2010. The main event will be Florence Wine Event 2010 from Friday 19^th to Sunday 21^st November in the Ammannati Courtyard inside Palazzo Pitti. It’s an important appointment for wine lovers that will taste wine and oils purchasing the “tastings kit”, that includes a drink card, the goblet and a brochure.

In the gardens of Fortezza da Basso there will be “Fortezza Antiquaria” the renowned and big antiques market where you can find almost everything. At Sachall there will be “Artigianarte” a large market for arts&crafts, antiques and collectibles. Entrance costs euro 3,00 and it will open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tuscany:

If you want to spend the weekend outside Florence, there are several Fairs of  White Truffles in Borgo San Lorenzo in the Mugello valley, in San Miniato and in San Giovanni d’Asso within the Crete D’Autunno 2010 festival.

If you love chocolate then in the medieval center of Certaldo there will be on Saturday and Sunday the Chocolate Fair. In Piazza Grande in Arezzo there will be “Sweet Autumn” where you will be able to buy and taste hand made chocolate, candies and bonbons. You will also have the chance to taste the “pan balestrone” a very ancient sweet typical of Arezzo, similar to Sienese panforte.

While I’m crossing my fingers for the weather not to rain, I wish you all a nice weekend!

Last week we turned back the clock and now at 6.00 pm it is already dark. For me, November is the gloomiest month of the year, because it’s cold, the days are short and you don’t yet feel the holidays as in December. Luckily, in November there are many fairs and food festivals to cheer me up .

On November 6^th in Florence the Food and Wine Biennial 2010 will begin and last until November 22^nd. On Sunday November 7^th there will be Sweet Temptations where you can taste sweet wines as typical vinsanto together with typical cakes and cookies. In Piazza Santissima Annunziata there will be the nice and interesting Fair of Shepherds and Wool. There will be the exhibition of sheep and bovines, as well as organic food and wool.

In Scarperia in the Mugello valley, on Saturday and Sunday there will be the Market Fair of Truffles and Local Products that will also take place the following weekend on November 13^th and 14^th. On Sunday there will also be an antiques market.

In Pontassieve there will the Festival of New Oil with oil tastings, food and entertainments for children and adults. It will start on Saturday afternoon and continue on until Sunday night.

The weekly appointment with Crete d’Autunno Food Festival will be in Ponte a Tressa near Monteroni d’Arbia, where the Chianina and Cinta Senese Festival will take place. It will celebrate these delicious and fine Tuscan meats with tastings and guided tours to local farms. Here you can consult the program of Crete d’Autunno, unfortunately only in Italian.

October will end soon and on Saturday night we will have to turn back the clock  to the solar time. This means that we will sleep one hour more but we’ll lose one hour of day light I recommend you take note and don’t forget to turn back your clock!

This last weekend in October is also the Halloween weekend. If you still don’t know what to do I recommend you read our suggestions for spending the Halloween weekend in Florence.

In Tuscany there are other events such as the last appointments with autumn and food festivals in Mugello. In addition in Barberino del Mugello from Saturday October 30^th to Monday November 1^st there will be the Market fair of black and white truffle.

On Friday November 29^th will also start the Crete D’Autunno 2010 Food Festival. This is a great food festival going on until December 8^th, celebrating flavors and typical products of this beautiful region near Siena. There will be food tastings, markets, guided tours and much more across the municipalities of  Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni d’Arbia, Rapolano Terme and San Giovanni d’Asso. The first appointment will be in Montisi near San Giovanni d’Asso, where there will be “The first oil and much more” with oil and wine tastings together with guided visits to oil mills. Here you find the complete calendar of Crete D’Autunno Food Festival in Italian.

I would like also to mention Lucca Comics & Games that will take place in Lucca from Friday to Monday. It is an important international festival about comics, animation movies and role plays. So if you are going to be in Lucca this weekend don’t worry if you’ll see Spider Man wandering around

Although the unpredictable weather is trying to make me feel sick there are some interesting events on this third weekend in October.

In Mugello there will be the traditional Chestnuts Festival in Marradi, in Palazzuolo sul Senio there will be Festival of Marrone and other products coming from the woods. Even in Borgo San Lorenzo there will be the Chestnuts Festival, together with polenta and Florentine steak. In addition on Sunday October 24 there will take place a large market with any kind of products, from clothing to food. It will be from 8am to 6pm along the center of Borgo San Lorenzo.

In Florence there is the Creativity Festival 2010. It’ s a nice event celebrating creativity in its widest meaning. The festival is all around the city and has a full calendar of appointments. For example I suggest you go to Piazzale Michelangelo to take a picture to “Rock” a controversial marble installation. It’s signed by Italian contemporary artist Graziano Cecchini and features 400 tons of white Carrara marble framing the Duomo. I also recommend you wander around Florence discovering this great event.

Hoping it won’t rain I wish you all a nice weekend!