Archive for 'Events'

  

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Arista alla Fiorentina
Tuscany, like any other country where Christmas is widely celebrated, has many different traditions to do with the holiday and is an important event that brings families together. Of course, if it's an Italian celebration of a holiday, food is going to be an important part of said celebrations.

For example, Arista alla Fiorentina is a pork-based dish originating from Florence that is a delicious alternative to turkey and a sure crowd-pleaser. “Arista” comes from the Greek word “aristos”, meaning "best" and, according to legend, it can be traced back to the 15th century, when Greek clergymen visiting Florence in 1430 for an Ecumenical Council were served the Tuscan-style roast pork and found it to be "aristos". It has been called this ever since then. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and try this delicious dish for yourself.     Read More
Posted in: December, Events, Florence, Food and Wine, Localities, Products & Specialities

  

Monday, December 12, 2016
Cavallucci
Continuing on from our last post, we are outlining some of the dishes from Tuscany that you need to try if you are spending the Christmas period in the region this year!

These include delicious desserts and wonderful main courses and, among them, you are sure to find something to please everyone in your party.

Savoury dishes and gelato are what come to mind when people think of Italian food but the beautiful and historic Siena, is actually particularly well-known for her pastries and, while they are not something you only find at Christmas, they are very much connected to the time of year. In fact, you will probably find many are readily available in nicely packaged sets in gourmet and specialist food shops in your own city over the festive period.     Read More
Posted in: December, Events, Food and Wine, Localities, Products & Specialities, Recipes, Siena

  

Friday, December 9, 2016
Cantuccini
If you are spending time in Tuscany, trying delicious local dishes and delicacies is bound to be on the top of your to-do list. This should be no different if you happen to be spending Christmas in Tuscany.

Forget your regular traditions for once and, instead, truly immerse yourself in Tuscan foodie culture – you won't regret it! To help you out, we've put together a guide to some of the dishes, treats and sweets that you should keep an eye out for on your trip.

Tuscany's hearty cuisine is perfectly suited for the weather in Winter. One of the most cherished dishes is Zuppa di Farro, or Farro Soup. Farro is a grain not unlike spelt which is readily available in Italy but less common elsewhere.     Read More
Posted in: December, Events, Food and Wine, Localities, Lucca, Products & Specialities, Recipes

  

Friday, December 9, 2016
An example of a Presepe
Our last article outlined the Italian tradition of Presepi, or Nativity Scenes, and their origins and cultural significance. This second installment aims to help you find some real examples if you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning on spending time in the region over the festive period.

We have put together a long, but in no way exhaustive, list of some of the better Presepi that you can find in Tuscany.

However, as we mentioned in the last article, almost every church and town will have one, though they may vary in scale, style and elaboration. Among these, you may even find some hidden gems that we haven't listed so take this as a rough guide rather than the bible.     Read More
Posted in: Curiosities, December, Events, Florence, January, Localities, Mugello, Must See Attractions

  

Thursday, December 8, 2016
Crib figures
Each year the international media plays reels at the end of Christmas news reports of the highly elaborate Nativity scenes that can be found all across Italy. What might appear to be a cute gimmick, is actually a very old tradition, indeed.

Dating back to the very origins of the Christian holiday, these physical representations of the birth of “bambino Gesù", or “presepe", were popularised in Italy and now can be found throughout the globe. Find a vacation rental in Tuscany and discover the presepe dotted all over the region!

They vary in size, the material they are built with, the number of elements, people, animals, dress, and activities that are figured but the core concept is constant: the Virgin, Joseph and baby Jesus an angel presiding over everything, an ox and a donkey.     Read More
Posted in: Churches & Religious Buildings, Curiosities, December, Events, January, Must See Attractions, Tourist Attractions