Italy’s central regions
TUSCANY
Stretching gently down the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea, this region is a geographically charming mix of hilly landscapes and long sandy expanses, headlands and archipelagos. With Florence as its capital, Tuscany is unrivaled as a cradle of art and monuments to Italy’s many eras and civilizations: Etruscan, Roman, Gothic and Romanesque. From Fiesole to Chiusi, Volterra to Siena, Pisa to Elba, Tuscany’s beauty and appeal is as varied as it is enchanting.
creator Carlo Collodi) www.pinocchio.it. The Viareggio Carnival Parades, with floats and papier-mâché puppets take place each February. www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com. Near Siena is the Museum for Kids, to introduce children to the world of visual arts through labs, excursions, visits and arts and crafts. www.comune.siena.it Also Cavallino Matto, near Livorno, is an exciting theme park deep in the pine forest along the Tyrrhenian coast. www.cavallinomatto.it
Red Letter Days
Easter Sunday Scoppio del Carro, Florence, is a spectacular Easter celebration involving a cart with fireworks set up in Piazza del Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the liberation Temptations of a dove of peace. • Bianco di Pitigliano (DOC), white • Vernaccia di San Gimignano (DOCG), www.comune.firenze.it April - June Maggio Musicale white Fiorentino, Florence, is the • Chianti (DOC & DOCG), red city’s biggest arts festival, including • Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG), red international music, drama and dance. www.maggiofiorentino.com Tastes June 2 Festa di Sant’Erasmo • Ribollita, a popular Florentine (Feast of St. Erasmo), Monte vegetable soup with black cabbage Argentario (Porto Ercole), sees the • Bistecca Fiorentina, a regionally town’s Spanish fortresses adorned with unique T-bone steak lights while an evening procession of • Pecorino & Raveggiolo cheeses, from boats dressed with flags is held on the sheep’s milk in the Sienese hills sea. June, third Sunday and Arts & Crafts September, first Sunday Giostra • Ceramics and terracotta from an del Saracino (Saracen’s Game), ancient tradition dating back to the Arezzo, is an ancient festival with Etruscan era eight riders, two from each of the city’s • Jewelry from Florence and Arezzo districts, each galloping towards the • Marble from Massa Carrara “Saracen,” an “armed,” revolving • Il Toscano, a long, slim cigar with an mannequin in a fight for the most points. intense, strong aroma June 16 Luminara e Regata Storica per • Any leather goods, from jackets to San Ranieri (Illuminations and Historical handbags Regata for St. Ranieri), Pisa, is notable for the evening before, when a display Just For Kids of candles embellishes the contours Parco Collodi near Pistoia is a park devoted to Pinocchio (named after his of buildings and monuments; floating
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Italy’s central regions candles also light up the Arno river. The day after, the true festival begins with a rowing regatta with four competing teams. June last Sunday Il Gioco del Ponte (Bridge Battle), Pisa, is a grand military parade in 17th-century costume, followed by a competition between two teams pushing a cart on the bridge in opposite directions. www.comune.pisa.it July 2 & August 15 Palio di Siena, perhaps Italy’s most famous and colorful horse race in the historic town square. www.ilpaliodisiena.com September 13 Luminara di Santa Croce (Illuminations of the Holy Cross), Lucca, is a centuries-old procession carried out on the eve of the recurrence of the Holy Cross through a city decorated with thousands of lights, from the Church of St. Frediano to the Cathedral of St. Martino.
Tastes
UMBRIA
Just For Kids
The “cuore verde” (green heart) of Italy comprises an undulating landscape dominated by woods, valleys and water – most notably the lake known as the Trasimeno, and Falls of the Marmore, which are the highest in Italy. Etruscan traces are abundant in Todi, Bettona, Orvieto and Perugia, while Spoleto and Spello feature impressive Roman remains; Spello is a city, where the Romans left some impressive remains. Beautiful examples of Romanesque style are embodied in the Cathedrals of Assisi, St. Silvestro and St. Michele in Bevagna. The Renaissance still lives through magnificent monuments in towns like Perugia and Gubbio, to name but two.
Temptations
• Colli Perugini (DOC), red and white • Torgiano Rosso Riserva (DOCG), red • Sagrantino (DOCG), dry dessert wine
• Black truffles of Norcia, Cascia, and Spoleto; earthy, distinct and strong flavor • Honey from Valnerina, a delicate, mixed flower fragrance and flavor • Budellaccio salami from Norcia, flavored with salt, pepper, and fennel seeds, dried fireside • Porchetta, pork, cooked on a spit over a wood fire, stuffed with minced liver, heart and lungs, pepper, garlic, salt and wild fennel
Arts & Crafts
• Pottery from Deruta, with a unique color scheme • Pottery from Gubbio, based on a 16th-century luster technique that causes red-golden reflections • Tablecloths from Perugia woven in the “occhio di pernice” (eye of a partridge) design of white linen embellished with blue bands and geometric decorations
Citta’ della Domenica in Perugia is a nature park and zoo with hundreds of wildlife and exotic animals, even a reptile house, a huge play area and a little train to tour visitors. www.cittadelladomenica.it
Red Letter Days
February, last weekend Black Truffle Fair, Norcia, has local and national food producers showing off their specialties, with frequent tastings of truffles, the cheese and lentils of Castelluccio and forest fruits. May, last Sunday Palio della Balestra, Gubbio, consists of a medieval crossbow contest between the Società Balestrieri Eugubina and San Sepolcro. October, first Sunday Palio dei Terzieri, Trevi, boasts a contest
between three districts and a historical, costumed procession, commemorating the reconstruction of the town destroyed in the 13th century.
MARCHE
A rugged region, facing the Adriatic Sea, with narrow valleys, deep gorges and numerous rushing streams that meet a coastline of gently rolling hills and flat plains. The regional capital is Ancona, and remarkable Roman remains exist in Ascoli, Fano, Ancona, Fermo, Urbisaglia and near Macerata. The presence of local artists such as Raphael and Bramante made this area one of the hotbeds of Renaissance art. Beauty can also be found in natural form in the stunning views from cities such as Pesaro and Urbino.
Temptations
• Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (DOC), white • Piceno Red (DOC), red
Tastes
• Olive all’ascolana, delicious deep fried stuffed olives • Brodetto, a simple, tasty fish soup • Arrosto segreto, a fish dish, cooked on both sides at the same time • Porchetta, a very flavorful dish of roast pig • Fabriano Salame, very spicy cured beef from Fabriano • Fossa, cheese aged while buried in a pit, great with jam
Arts & Crafts
• Lace pillows, a delicate, timeless art • Accordions and other high-quality musical instruments from Castelfidardo • Engraved and decorated furniture
Just For Kids
Gran Sasso & Monti della Laga National Park, in Casa del Parco di Arquata del Tronto.www. parconazionalegransasso.it
Red Letter Days July 15 – August 15 Macerata Opera Festival, Macerata, one of the world’s most famous opera seasons held in the old arena called Sferisterio. www.sferisterio.it August Summer Jamboree Festival, Ancona, an eclectic musical festival with bands from all over the world. www.summerjamboree.com August, third Sunday Festa del duca (The Duke’s Festival), Urbino, held in honor of the Duke Federico da Montefeltro, begins on the 15th with heralds, drummers, games, crafts and foods recalling the Renaissance, followed by tournaments on the Sunday.
ABRUZZO
The region embraces the highest and hugest massifs of Central Italy, with peaks which often are higher than 2,000 meters, as well as a steep and rocky Adriatic coast. The capital L’Aquila has strong Roman and Renaissance influences, but the most creative period was during the Middle Ages, as seen in many wonderful cathedrals, abbeys and sculptures. Goldsmithing is also a renowned craft, dating back to the 16th century. Adding to the drama of this area, the National Park of Abruzzo is home to species like the Marsican Bear and the Gray Wolf.
Temptations
• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (DOCG), red • Cerasuolo (DOC), rosé • Trebbiano (DOC), white • Centerbe, a liqueur from various aromatic plants
Tastes
• Saffron, the pride of the Navelli plains • Purple-red garlic, exclusively from the fields of Sulmona
Italy Travel Planner
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