Archive for 'Events'

Christmas in Tuscany is a wonderful time of year. As a traditionally predominantly Catholic country, the festive season is particularly important and widely celebrated and there are lots of traditions of partake in. Food, of course, is a big part of this and there is always something good to eat at this time of year in Tuscany, whether that be one of the many regional Christmas sweets or partaking in a Christmas day feast of savoury delights. There are also plenty of beautiful Christmas markets dotted in cities and towns all around the region, presepi (live cribs) that can be visited, Santa's grottoes and meetings with Befana (the kindly witch who traditionally performs Santa's job in Italy) and local traditions and events. In addition to all of this, the twinkling lights and decorations make beautiful Tuscany even more lovely.

You've finally done it. You've said goodbye to stress, planning, chaos and chores and you've decided to spend Christmas abroad, rather than glued to the kitchen and commitments. You've embraced adventure!

But it's not that simple. Many of us are sentimental about Christmas and the festive period (no matter what you believe or which holidays you celebrate) and it's hard to let go of that entirely. Especially if your social media feeds are full of people gathered in cosy homes with their families. Well, why not have a bit of both? Now that you have found avacation rental in the Florence area, embrace the festivities and the luxury by letting someone else bombard you with delicious food in a lovely setting: the Winter Garden by Caino at the famous and historic St. Regis in Florence.

Spongata di Natale is a round, flat festive Italian cake that has ties to various regions and towns in Italy and is thought to have been brought to Italy by the Jews, though others believe that it is a Roman dish that survived through the Middle Ages. The first recorded written recipe dates back to the end of the 14th century and required three days to complete and we know that its production was even regulated by the famous ducal family of Este by a special decree. While the exact origins are uncertain, we do know that it is a delicious treat, perfect for some rich sweetness during the colder months. A thin, pie-like cake that consists of a crunchy pastry coating and sweet filling made of spices, nuts, honey and dried fruit, it is actually not dissimilar to that more familiar Christmas food staple; the mince pie.

We've previously discussed Italy's Santa, a witch called Befana, before. Befana is a good witch, whose name comes from the Roman dialect's pronunciation of the Italian "epifania" (or Epiphany), and comes delivering gifts for the good children, and lumps of coal to the bad ones on the 5th of January, the night before Epiphany, to make up for missing Jesus long ago. She is visualised as an old and ugly witch who flies on her broom and delivers presents in stockings hanging over the fireplace (sounds familiar!), coming down from the chimney.

Befanini, meanwhile, are soft, sprinkle-covered, cake-like lemon-scented cookies that are typical of the Versilia area on the Tuscan coast. Traditionally made on the 5th, when the Befana is coming to visit, they are beloved of kids and adults alike and for good reason: they're delicious!

The Lucca Summer Festival is one of Italy's most famous music festivals and, this year, celebrates twenty years since its inception. As a result, the line-up is rather extraordinary. With events taking place from June to September, there are plenty of chances to experience this Tuscan music institution once you have found a luxury villa in Lucca.