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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Winter Holidays in Italy
Italy celebrates the winter holidays with special events and festivals. Italy's winter holiday season generally starts with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, a national holiday, and runs through Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, on January 6. Then Carnevale, Italian carnival, is celebrated throughout Italy in late winter. Italian National holidays are December 8, 25, and 26 and January 1 and 6.
Find out more about each of these winter holiday traditions by clicking on the links.
© by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to About.comIn addition to nativity scenes, Christmas lights and trees are becoming popular, too. Vatican City erects a huge Christmas tree in Saint Peter's Square along with a life-size nativity scene. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often spent with family, and big meals are prepared. There's often a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, Saint Stephen's Day, is also a national holiday. You can find out more about special decorations and events with the link above.
If you're looking for an Italian themed Christmas gift, check our Italy Gift Guide for recommended books about Italy, films set in Italy, and Italian music.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
UNESCO Sites in Northern Italy
The prehistoric petroglyphs of the Valcamonica was Italy's first UNESCO World Heritage site, designated in 1979. La Valle Delle Incisioni, the Valley of Engravings, is the largest collection of prehistoric rock carvings in Europe with more than 140,000 petroglyphs done over a period of 8,000 years. In addition to prehistoric sites, the beautiful Valcamonica is dotted with picturesque medieval villages and has many hiking trails.
Pictures | Valcamonica Map and Rock Art Sites
Friday, September 28, 2012
Florence in December
Here are the festivals and events that happen each December in Florence.
Early- to Mid-December - Hanukkah. Hanukkah in Florence is celebrated in the Ghetto - the Jewish area of Florence which was the first segregated Jewish community in Europe. Visit the Florence Synagogue, just north of Santa Croce, for the lighting of the Menorrah, kosher food finds, and Hanukkah festivities.
December 8 - Immaculate Conception. On this day, the Catholic faithful celebrate the day of the Virgin Mary's conception of Jesus. In Florence at this time, the Fierucolina dell'Immacolata, an art and food fair in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, is typically held. Also, as December 8 is also a national holiday, many businesses may be closed in observance.
Mid-December - Christmas Markets in Florence. From now until mid-January, there are several Christmas fairs in Florence. One of the most popular is the Mercato Tedesco di Natale - the German Christmas Market - held in Piazza Santa Croce. It is filled with stalls selling some typical German crafts, but also plenty of Italian-made nativity crafts, children's toys, and seasonal treats. Another Christmas market is Florence Noel, which is held at Stazione Leopolda near Porta al Prato. This is where you can take the little ones to have their photo taken with Babbo Natale, as well as purchase Christmas crafts and gifts.
December 25 - Christmas Day. You can expect everything to be closed on Christmas Day as Florentines celebrate the most important religious holiday of the year. Of course, there are many ways to celebrate Christmas in Florence, from attending midnight mass at Il Duomo to visiting Christmas crèches around the city.
December 26 - Saint Stephen's Day. This public holiday after Christmas is typically an extension of Christmas day, when families venture out to view nativity scenes in churches and visit Christmas markets. The feast day of Santo Stefano is also held on this day and especially celebrated at churches that venerate Saint Stephen.
December 31 - New Year's Eve (Festa di San Silvestro). Just as it is all over the world, New Year's Eve, which coincides with the Feast of Saint Sylvester (San Silvestro), is celebrated with much fanfare in Florence. Check our our information on New Year's Eve in Italy for more information on festivities and traditions.
Continue reading: Florence in January | Florence Month-by-Month
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Ponte Vecchio
One of Florence's most photographed landmarks, the Ponte Vecchio is Florence's most famous bridge. The Ponte Vecchio, which spans the Arno River from Via Por Santa Maria to Via Guicciardini, is also Florence's oldest bridge, having been spared from bombing during World War II.
The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 to replace a bridge that had been destroyed in a flood. Initially, the shops on both sides of the bridge were favored by butchers and tanners, who would throw their flotsam into the Arno, a practice which would create a stinking cesspool in the water below. In 1593, Grand Duke Ferdinando I decided that these trades were "vile," and permitted only goldsmiths and jewelers to set up shop on the bridge.
Since that time, the Ponte Vecchio has been known for its gleaming gold shops, which overflow with rings, watches, bracelets, and all kinds of other jewels. Ostensibly, buyers are able to bargain with the gold sellers on the Ponte Vecchio, and sometimes bargains can be had here. Since this is a high tourist area, however, prices are often inflated. Shop around before giving in to the temptation.
Travel tip: Note that the popular bridge – which is typically packed with tourists – is also a prime target of pickpockets. Be mindful of your belongings when browsing the baubles.
Ponte Vecchio Pictures
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
UNESCO Sites in Central Italy
Siena is a classic medieval city in Tuscany. Much of the city's Gothic appearance from the 12th - 15th centuries, when Siena was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe, has been preserved. Its large fan-shaped piazza, Piazza del Campo, is the heart of Siena and the home of Siena's famous summer horse-race, the Palio of Siena. UNESCO says, "The whole city of Siena, built around the Piazza del Campo, was devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape".
Siena Pictures
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Best Gelato in Rome
San Crispino is touted to have the best gelato in Rome. I was first led there by the Daphne Inn, one of my favorite places to stay in Rome. I have since heard of San Crispino from several other sources as well. They make a variety of flavors but pistachio is supposed to be one of their best. Although I am not a big fan of pistachio, it was very good.
At San Crispino you won't find any special concoctions - no whipped cream or chocolate sauce - in fact you won't even find cones! The owners believe that anything else interferes with the pureness of their gelato. So the gelato is served in a simple cup with a plastic spoon for you to carry out (there is no place to sit).
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