Befana

In Italian folklore, La Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout the country on Epiphany Eve – the night between 5 and 6 January.  The Epiphany is the Christian feast day that commemorates the visitation of the biblical Magi to the baby Jesus.

Modern Italian Christian legend has it that the Magi invited Befana to join them on their journey to find the new-born Jesus, but she declined, being too busy with her housework and

BEFANA house

baking.  Later, poor Befana had a change of heart.  She quickly packed a sack with food and gifts for the baby, took her broom to help the new mother clean her house, and set out to catch up with the Magi.  She searched and searched all through the night, but couldn’t find them, and to this day she is still searching alone for the little baby.  On Epiphany Eve she goes to every house where there is a child and leaves a gift, just in case…

Befana wears a full dark skirt, apron with patch-pockets, shawl, crooked hat and worn out slippers.  She is a smiling and good-hearted, if ugly, old lady, trying to make amends for what must be the mother of all errors of judgment.  She flies over the rooftops on her broom, descending into the houses through the chimneys to fill the stockings that the children have left hanging out for her.  The children also leave a small plate of food and a glass of wine by the chimney.  The next morning, together with the gifts in their stockings, they find the snack is gone and there is a mysterious sooty hand print on the plate…

Befana’s origins are lost in time and history – descended from prechristian traditions and entwined in popular culture and folklore.  One common belief is that her name derives from a mispronunciation of the Italian word ‘Epifania’, but there is also evidence to suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strenia, who presided over the Roman new year celebrations and gift-giving – ‘strenna’ is a word still used in Italian for gifts given around the Christmas and New Year period.  What is certain is that Befana predates Christianity, and has probably been integrated into the Christian calendar in the way that many pagan customs were adopted by the new Church.  Italian anthropologists Claudia and Luigi Manciocco, in their book “Una Casa Senza Porte” (House Without Doors) actually trace Befana’s origins back to Neolithic beliefs and practices.  On a lighter note, many Italian children simply believe that Befana is Santa Claus’ wife and lives at the South Pole.  Santa Claus cannot always satisfy every child’s requests, so Befana tries to make amends…

Befana leaves gifts in a stocking

Article by Zara Nelson for The Tuscan Magazine

Without a doubt, getting married can be stressful with all the planning, making sure the little details are perfect, and that everything goes off without a hitch!  We have become a generation obsessed with location, location, location; the perfect setting, the latest hotspot, the new ultimate destination or the celebrity hideout.  And Tuscany is quickly becoming the location of a lifetime!

Low cost travel and the Internet have made a flight to Europe as familiar as booking a train journey, and Tuscany has everything and more!  Where better to get married than a small island in the Mediterranean, a beautiful countryside villa or a remote winery nestled into the rolling hills of Tuscany?

 

View overlooking Florence in the heart of Tuscany

The first step in creating your Tuscan Dream Wedding, is to select the location.  Planning a trip to Tuscany to view different venues will soon have you swooning over the many charms of the region.  From lively wineries, bursting withe smell of wine-in-the-making, to village squares that are packed with fresh local produce markets.

Fabulous food and wine in Tuscany

Once the venue has been selected, the next tough decision is what food and wine to serve on the big day.  We all know that Italians are talented in the kitchen and are very proud hosts.  A menu tasting in the hands of an Italian chef is always guaranteed to make you smile….and wish you didn’t have that extra “cornetto” for breakfast.  The portions are generous and beautifully presented, and the wine flows…as does the Prosecco…and limoncello.

Fireworks

Once all the final arrangements have been made, the big day can finally begin!  As dawn breaks on the wedding day, or in most cases, the wedding weekend, the guests are settled into their various accommodations and there is a buzz of excitement in the air.  Undoubtedly, the day will be flawless and filled with countless happy memories.  And as the bride and groom walk off into the Tuscan sunset, guests will always remember the fireworks that lit up the rolling countryside.

Article provided by The Tuscan Magazine

A veritable army of grandparents, and a busy army at that – over 2 million of them are relied upon to provide regular full-time day-care for grandchildren whose parents both work, another 2 million are regular part-time carers, and a further 1 million are called into action when their grandchildren are ill.

The 2^nd October is national Grandparents’ Day this year, and Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Republic, offered his official thanks: “We are deeply grateful for the generosity which Italian grandparents demonstrate every day.  With their constant willingness to listen, understand and help, they provide a solid point of reference in the lives of families who are dealing with social problems and the serious consequences of current economic trends” said Napolitano.  “Their contribution is unique, they are the witnesses of the generations that were the protagonists in the civil and democratic growth of our country” he concluded.

Grandparents’ willingness to help could be transformed into a burdensome legal obligation in some circumstances – just two days before Napolitano made his ‘gratitude’ speech, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that, in principle, grandparents are actually obliged to financially maintain their grandchildren if the children’s parents do not.  It seems that Italian grandparents are weighed down with duties, but what about their rights?  They have few or none.  The Justice Commission will soon be considering a proposal that would at least give grandparents the right to file for access to their grandchildren – something they have not been able to do until now.  Otherwise, in the case of a messy divorce, they could theoretically find themselves financially maintaining grandchildren they are not actually allowed to take to the park.”

By Zara Nelson

Lake Trasimeno, located on the Tuscan/Umbrian border, may not be swarming with VIP’s like it’s more famous counterparts to the North, but this tranquil retreat has an abundance of charm.   

Ferry on Lake Trasimeno

With its ideal location, the lake is within a 100km range of Florence, Perugia, Siena, Arezzo, Assisi, Orvieto, Gubbio, Spoleto, Chiusi, and Cortona.  This means that the greater part of Italian Renaissance art and a large portion of ancient and medieval art are within easy reach.  You can easily reach all of that, as well as being a couple of hours drive from the center of Rome.
Surrounded on three sides by the rolling hills of Tuscany, the 128 sq. km lake is the fourth largest in Italy.  Many of Lake Trasimeno’s gently slopping shores are covered in reed beds, which local craftsmen use to create beautiful reed umbrellas and screens.  Wildlife is abundant around the lake as it the natural home of heron, kingfisher, cormorants and osprey.
The shallow waters, on average only 3 meters deep, are crossed daily by small, white ferry boats.  The little boats chug along, dropping passengers off at two of the lake’s three islands (Maggiore, and Polvese, the other – Minore – is uninhabited).

Sunflowers by the lake

But don’t let the region’s beauty fool you into thinking Lake Trasimeno is only of interest to art buffs and nature lovers.  Sports fanatics will find more than enough to entertain themselves with!  The lake has facilities for kite surfing, sailing, canoeing, wind surfing, motor boating and water skiing.  There are even “open lake” days when you have the chance to try out a wide range of watersports.

The gentle terrain of the lake side and surrounding hills are the perfect location for hiking and mountain biking.  There is also the opportunity to ride on horse back to the numerous medival castles and villages that surround the lake.  Fishing in the lake is extremely popular and visitors will often see local fisherman hard at work.  Trasimeno is well stocked with perch, pike, carp, tench and even eels.

Castle overlooking the lake

The lake settlements date back to Etruscan times and tombs can still be seen near Castiglione del Lago.  When the area was controlled by Romans, engineers built the first lake outlets to regulate the water level and control flooding.
But the history of Trasimeno is not always as peaceful as the setting that surrounds the lake.  In 217BC, Hannibal and his army stopped at the lake on their way to Rome.  Shockingly, the “Battle of Trasimeno” left 16,000 Romans dead.  Turoro, a small village situated just above the lake, has a visitors center that explains the historical importance of this event.  Visitors can even visit the battlefield and “ossaia”, the giant pits where the bodies were buried.

Most of the settlements remaining around the lake date back to medieval times and include castles and fortresses.  Passignano, Monte del Lago and Castiglione del Lago are certainly worth seeing!

Local market

The food of Trasimeno is as diverse as the landscape that surrounds it.  Because of the lake’s unique position, being partly in Tuscany and partly in Umbria, partly countryside and partly lakeside, the local food has a great variety.  Hearty, homemade food that uses the freshest ingredients describes the local cuisine.

Local shop window

The nearby Valdichiana valley grows some of the best fruit and vegetables in all of Italy.  Trasimeno itself is home to a small bean that is unique to the area.  It is also home to the Chiania breed of cattle, which is used in the famous “fiorentina” steak.  The lake fish form an large portion of the local diet as well as pheasant and wild boar.  Umbria is world famous for its truffles, and Trasimeno is no exception.  Many dishes will feature truffle shavings or truffle flavoured oil drizzle.

This article provided by The Tuscan Magazine

A wheel of fabulous Tuscan cheese

Tuscany is the home of a specific kind of pecorino cheese, aptly named pecorino Toscano.  Pecorino Toscano is a firm, ewe’s milk cheese that in 2006 gained the status of “protected designation of origin” – meaning that true pecorino Toscano, only comes from Tuscany.

Pecorino is one of the most widely produced cheeses in Tuscany and the fundamental process that creates it has remained largely the same for the last two thousand years.  The cheese is made from full creme, pasteurized ewe’s milk, and is generally made by farm based cheese producers.  Pecorino Toscano is a characteristically hard cheese that is often used for grating, and therefore the cheese must age for at least four months.

Display of cheese

This distinctly Tuscan cheese has a variety of uses depending on local customs and traditions and is often substituted for parmesan.  Each cheese maker puts their own flair on the cheese, some wrap the cheese in walnut or grape leaves, others run tomatoes on the cheese as it ages and others still surround the cheese with ash to lock in moisture.

Master of Cheese, Andrea Orsini

If you are ever in Lucca and want to get a first hand glimpse into the craftsmanship that goes into this regional wonder, then look no farther than Cantina Bernardini.  Deep in the cellars underneath the streets of Lucca their Master of Cheese, Andrea Orsini, develops his cheeses in the traditional manner. For centuries milk and raw cheese has been brought down from the Garfagnana to be aged in cellars of great houses in Lucca. At Cantina Bernardini they use these original methods to  create authentic cheeses.

Orsini is a master of pecorino Toscano as well as countless other cheeses.  He believes the key to a good cheese is the ageing process.  Depending on what type of cheese it is there are different ageing methods. Some needs to be stored with limited access to air, others are stored in cool dark cellars for months at a time.  Sometimes wrapped in hay, sometimes stored in old wine barrels, or covered in herbs or swathed in the finest muslin.

Without a doubt, pecorino Toscano is a savory treat and when given the opportunity, indulging is more than encouraged!

Article provided by The Tuscan Magazine.

Lama Tzong Khapa Institute Logo

In the provence of Pisa, near the city of Santa Luce, sits a little village called Pomaia.  While this little town may seem obscure, it is actually a very important point for Buddhism – The Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, one of the biggest Tibetan monasteries, is found here.

The place is magic!  The monastery has incredible views of the Pisan mountains that hover over the Tuscan countryside.  Beyond the rolling hills of the countryside, the sea is visible in the distance.  Early in the morning, when the last whispers of fog are still lingering, you may be taken by surprise and think you are looking out over Tibet! In fact, the Dalai Lama has visited several times and Richard Gere is a regular visitor to the monastery.

Monks from the Institute

The Institute offers a wide range of retreats to increase your physical, emotional and spiritual state of well being. While most of the activities are based in the study and practise of Tibetan Buddhism, the Institute also offers a large variety of classes based on other spiritual traditions.  There is also the opportunity to study cognitive sciences, psychology, and even education programs for children.  The institute also teaches courses on caring for the environment and alternative medicine.  Beyond all that, the monastery also gives classes to help people suffering from disease or those preparing for passing away.

Dalai Lama

The Institute is always open to the public and also offers a shop.  The amazing little shop sells spiritual items, books, CDs, Tibetan symbols, clothing and much more!

Love is compassion.

Lama Tzong Khapa Institute Logo

Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa (Buddhist Monastery)

Via Poggiberna, 15

56040 Pomaia – Pisa

Tel. 050 – 685654 www.iltk.org

Article provided by The Tuscan Magazine.

Casa del Podesta

Michelangelo Buonarroti, though he would later be known as simply be known as Michelangelo,  was born in the village of Caprese on March 6, 1475.  The village is nestled on the Apennine Ridge in the lush Tuscan Tiber Valley.  Originally known as simply Caprese, the town was renamed by Royal Decree to Caprese Michelangelo to celebrate the birth of perhaps the world’s most well-known artist.

With a population of just about 1,600 people, Caprese is extremely proud of its artistic history.  The house - Casa del Podestà – where Michelangelo was born, the church where he was baptised, and the Museum of Michelangelo are all open to the public.  The museum houses recreations of masterpieces as well as work by Michelangelo’s contemporaries.

Fresco by Michelangelo

The area around Caprese Michelangelo contains several rivers that flow into the Singerna River, which later joins the Tiber River in Lake Montedoglio.  The rivers and the vast expanse of surrounding forests create a breathtaking scenery, and even contribute to the area’s history.  The chestnut tree, or “the bread tree,” and the naturally growing mushrooms are essential to the regions economy.  The hills around Caprese are punctuated with rows of olive trees, small vineyards, fields of sunflowers and tobacco plants.

Few locals speak anything other than the local dialect, but they warmly welcome visitors who attempt to converse in the language.  The locals are more than happy to lend a helping hand when one struggles for the correct word or stumbles over complicated grammar.

The area boasts countless delicious restaurants, all featuring house specialities which include the local ‘funghi’ or mushrooms. There are also numerous agriturismi which pride themselves on serving ‘cucina tipici’ or typical dishes, though they taste far from typical!

While firmly on the tourist map for those keen to follow the art trail or to enjoy the peace of the countryside, Caprese Michelangelo is far from the stereotypical Tuscan town.

During the summer months there is dancing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in the small town square where everyone gathers for an aperitivo.  Throughout October Caprese Michelangelo becomes the focus of attention for miles around as it stages a chestnut festival.  Thousands make their way to the village on two consecutive weekends to sample all manner of chestnut-based delicacies.

Lake Montedoglio

The little village also boasts a camp site, a centre of excellence for tennis,  and horseriding stables near by. Fishermen will discover their favourite place by the shore of Lake Montedoglio, as it is home to many species of fish including pike, cat fish, carp, black bass, and eels.  Trout can also be found in the rivers that feed the lake. Canoeing and windsurfing are also available

Possible excursions include to the nearby antiques town of Anghiari, Sansepolcro, the birthplace of artist Piero della Francesca, Gubbio, a city famous for its pottery, Assisi, famous as St Francis’s birthplace  and of course Arezzo and Florence.

On the road from Caprese to Anghiari you will find the Ravangi Oil Mill. Run by Giacomo and Francesco Bartolomei, the brothers are continuing the oil mill tradition to produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil, harvesting by hand, followed by traditional cold pressing using grindstones, after which the oil is decanted and flavoured. The Bartolomei family of Campalla has been running the oil mill since the second half of the eighteenth century and the mill itself has been documented since 1421.

FACT FILE

Where: Upper Tiber Valley south east of Florence

History: Michelangelo’s birthplace in 1475

Shopping: Shops in Caprese include a general store, hardware shop, florist and chemist, while nearby there is Busatti (Anghiari), Ravagni (Anghiari), CISA (Anghiari), The Mall Designer Outlet (near Florence) featuring Gucci, Fendi, Botegga Veneta, Dior, Georgio Armani and many more at discounted prices

Eating and drinking: Plenty of restaurants – Il Cerro, La Buca, Cristallos, Fonte della Galletta, Il Rifugio

A bed for the night: Cristallos, La Buca, Camping Michelangelo, Borgo Tozzetto (agritourismo)

Close by: Anghiari, Sansepolcro, Monterchi, Arezzo, Gubbio, Assisi

Airports: Perugia (1 hour), Rimini (90 minutes), Bologna (2 hours), Pisa (3 hours)

Article provided by The Tuscan Magazine

Driving in Tuscany

Now, maybe the Priority to the Right rule was obvious to you the first time you drove in Italy but in my case I just interpreted this as “crazy Italian drivers” always pushing in.  This was a mis-understanding that I harboured until recently when my young son started studying for his license to ride a 50cc scooter.  During the period that he was studying the Codice della Strada and telling me how bad my driving was and explaining exactly why it was so bad I was struck by the realisation that perhaps he had a point.

I’d heard of the priorité à droite rule in France and had experienced the pleasure of driving quickly down a long straight empty road only to have a beat-up 2CV van pull out at the last second from it’s hiding place behind a tree and then proceed at a reckless 10km per hour before turning off the main road 100m later.  But at least I was prepared for that.  However, although I was conscious of Italy’s reputation for driving skills, I never realised that Italy also had the Priority to the Right rule.

I was lucky enough to live in Naples for a year where the rules of the road simply do not apply.  Or certainly not the ones that are written down anywhere.  The actual rules seem to require all scooters to have 3 riders, none of whom are allowed to wear helmets.  There are also red lights where if you stop you will have someone shunt you from behind and red lights where if you run the light you find yourself the only one and stuck in the middle of a junction with people coming at you from all directions and indicating that they consider you to be some kind of imbecile.  Which may be the case.  But how are you supposed to know which red lights to stop for and which ones are just for decoration?

Until now, my understanding of the basic rule of Italian Driving was that whoever had the “nose” or the front of their car ahead had precedence.  I faithfully followed this rule for years.  Often it went well for me, presumably, on reflection, when I was merging left.  Sometimes it didn’t go so well, presumably on those occasions when I was merging to the right.  But no-one ever told me explicitly that, in Italy, unless there are markings on the road indicating otherwise, you give way to the right.  I would have remembered that!

So anyway, there it is, my advice on driving in Italy: be prepared to give way to vehicles coming from the right. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

Article by Mauro for The Tuscan Magazine

Who is going to visit Tuscany in the next days?

End in December 8

Food and Wine feasts

1) Artingegno a Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Comune di Firenze Address: Via Quintino Sella

2) Artingegno a Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Comune di Fucecchio Address: Piazza Montanelli

3) Natale a Palazzo Strozzi

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Comune di Bagni di Lucca Address: Piazza Eduardo Tolomei

4) Natale Slow

Dates: 06 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Comune di Cutigliano Address: Piazza Umberto I

5) Mercatino di natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Comune di Campi Bisenzio Address: Piazza Dante

Music & Concerts

6) Galà Lirico – aria di Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 December 2011

Where: Circolo Cherubini a Grignano, Prato Address: Via Onorato Bambini 8

End in December 10

Food and Wine feasts

7) Mercatino di Natale a Vaglia

Dates: 04 December 2011 – 10 December 2011

Where: Comune di Vaglia Address: Via del Poggio agli uccelli

8) Mercanzie di Natale

Dates: 10 December 2011 – 10 December 2011

Where: Comune di San Piero a Sieve Address: Piazza Colonna 1

End in December 11

Food and Wine feasts

9) “Presepi a Laterina” e mercatino di Natale

Dates: 04 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Laterina Address: Corso Italia

10) Il Natale nel medioevo

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Lucca Address: Piazza del Carmine

11) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 10 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Empoli Address: Piazza Farinata degli Uberti

12) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Pontassieve  Address: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

13) Fiocchi di Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Firenzuola  Address: Piazza Don Stefano Casini 1

14) Luci di Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Vinci Address: Via Roma

15) Fiera dell’albero di Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Castel San Niccolò Address: Viale Italia

16) Porciano e i sapori del Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Lamporecchio Address: Piazza Berni 2

17) Animazione per grandi e piccini con Babbo Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Campi Bisenzio Address: Piazza Giacomo Matteotti

18) Arriva il Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Incisa in Val d’Arno Address: Piazza del Municipio 5

19) Mercatino di Natale ‘Sapori a Prato’

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Prato Address: Piazza Duomo

20) Porciano e i sapori del Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Comune di Lamporecchio Address: Piazza Berni 2

Theatre

21) Pagliaccia secca e l’albero di Natale

Dates: 11 December 2011 – 11 December 2011

Where: Teatro La Baracca, Prato Address: Via Virginia Frosini 8

End in December 13

Food and Wine feasts

22) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 12 December 2011 – 13 December 2011

Where: Comune di Fauglia  Address: Piazza Trento e Trieste

End in December 15

Culture & Museums

23) Aspettando il Natale al museo di storia naturale

Dates: 15 December 2011 – 15 December 2011

Where: Museo di Storia Naturale del Mediterraneo, Livorno Address: Via Roma 234

End in December 16

Music & Concerts

24) Concerto di Natale

Dates: 16 December 2011 – 16 December 2011

Where: Cattedrale, Pisa 
Address: Piazza dei Miracoli

End in December 17

Food and Wine feasts

25) Aspettando il Natale 2011

Dates: 03 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Comune di Carmignano Address: Piazza Giuseppe Verdi

26) Natale e Quale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Comune di Sassetta Address: Piazza del Municipio

27) Mercatini di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Comune di Londa Address: Piazza Umberto I 9

28) Natale e Quale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Comune di Bagni di Lucca Address: Piazza Eduardo Tolomei

29) Naturalmente, è Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Villa Borbone, Viareggio 
Address: Viale dei Tigli

Music & Concerts

30) Orchestra del Trasimeno – Concerto di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Collegiata di Sant’Andrea – Duomo di Carrara, Carrara 
Address: Piazza Duomo

31) Concerto di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Chiesa di San Leonardo, Cerreto Guidi Address: Via Ponti Medicei

32) Concerto di Natale nella Chiesa della Propositura

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Comune di San Casciano in Val di Pesa Address: Piazza della Repubblica

33) Concerto di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 17 December 2011

Where: Teatro Manzoni, Calenzano Address: Via Pietro Mascagni 18

End in December 18

Food and Wine feasts

34) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Pietrasanta Address: Località Tonfano

35) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Gavorrano Address: Piazza Bruno Buozzi

36) Mercato di Natale nostalgico Tedesco

Dates: 30 novembre 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Firenze, Firenze 
Address: Piazza Santa Croce

37) Mercatino di natale 2011

Dates: 04 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Marradi Address: Piazza Scalelle 1

38) Aspettando Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Greve in Chianti Address: Piazza Giacomo Matteotti

39) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Montemurlo Address: Piazza Don Milani

40) Fierucolina di Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Firenze Address: Piazza della Santissima Annunziata

41) Artingegno a Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Fiesole Address: Piazza Mino da Fiesole

42) Mercatini di Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di San Giovanni Valdarno Address: Piazza Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour

43) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Vinci Address: Piazza della Libertà

44) Natale nel Borgo

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Licciana Nardi Address: Piazza del Municipio

45) Fierucolina di Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Firenze Address: Piazza Santo Spirito

46) Sapori e colori del Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Sarteano Address: Piazza XXIV June 1944

47) Dolci note di Natale a Palazzo Huigens

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Comune di Livorno Address: Piazza del Municipio

48) Arriva Babbo Natale sul battello

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Fortezza Vecchia, Livorno Address: Piazzale dei Marmi

Cinema & Shows

49) Natale con i cartoni animati

Dates: 04 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Cinema Eden, Prato Address: Via Benedetto Cairoli 24

Teatro

50) La vera storia di Babbo Natale

Dates: 18 December 2011 – 18 December 2011

Where: Teatro Rossini, San Giuliano Terme
Address: Piazza Palmiro Togliatti

End in December 19

Cinema & Shows

51) Saggi di Natale

Dates: 19 December 2011 – 19 December 2011

Where: Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma, Grosseto Address: Strada Corsini 5

End in December 20

Food and Wine feasts

52) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 19 December 2011 – 20 December 2011

Where: Comune di Torrita di Siena Address: Piazza del Comune

End in December 23

Food and Wine feasts

53) Anche a Barga è Natale

Dates: 23 December 2011 – 23 December 2011

Where: Comune di Barga Address: Via Conti

54) Natale in piazza

Dates: 23 December 2011 – 23 December 2011

Where: Comune di Filattiera Address: Piazza Castello

Music & Concerts

55) Concerto di Natale

Dates: 23 December 2011 – 23 December 2011

Where: Chiesa di Santo Stefano al Ponte Vecchio, Firenze 
Address: Via Por Santa Maria

56) Aspettando Babbo Natale – Concerto di Natale

Dates: 23 December 2011 – 23 December 2011

Where: Comune di Rufina Address: Piazza Don Lorenzo Milani

57) Concerto di Natale della Scuola Verdi

Dates: 23 December 2011 – 23 December 2011

Where: Teatro Metastasio, Prato Address: Via Benedetto Cairoli 5

End in December 24

Food and Wine feasts

58) Mercatino di Natale alle Logge di Banchi

Dates: 27 novembre 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Logge dei Banchi, Pisa 
Address: Piazza XX Settembre

59) Natale in Museo

Dates: 17 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Museo di Storia Naturale – Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola”, Firenze Address: Via Romana 17

60) Fiaccole Notte di Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Abbadia San Salvatore Address: Piazza della Repubblica

61) I Natalecci

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Minucciano Address: Via La Piana

62) Fiaccolata di Natale ad Abbadia San Salvatore

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Abbadia San Salvatore – Sede Address: Via Roma 2

63) Arriva Babbo Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Pontremoli Address: Piazza del Duomo

History & Folklore

64) Aspettando Babbo Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Piteglio, Address: Via Aia Grande

65) Arriva Babbo Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Comune di Cutigliano Address: Piazza Catilina

Music & Concerts

66) Ort – Concerto di Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Teatro Verdi, Firenze 
Address: Via Ghibellina 99

67) Santa Messa di Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Chiesa Santa Maria della Stella, Chianciano Terme Address: Via San Michele 11

68) Spatzenmesse di W. A. Mozart – Messa di Natale

Dates: 24 December 2011 – 24 December 2011

Where: Chiesa e Convento di San Domenico, Prato Address: Piazza San Domenico

End in December 26

Food and Wine feasts

69) Un Natale speciale … a Chiusi

Dates: 04 December 2011 – 26 December 2011

Where: Comune di Chiusi Address: Piazza Duomo

70) Mercatino di Babbo Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 26 December 2011

Where: Comune di Viareggio Address: Piazza Mazzini

End in December 27

Music & Concerts

71) Natale e Epifania in Music & Concerts

Dates: 06 January 2012 – 27 December 2011

Where: Comune di Carmignano Address: Piazza Giacomo Matteotti

End in January 1

Food and Wine feasts

72) Artingegno a Natale

Dates: 03 December 2011 – 01 January 2012

Where: Comune di Follonica Address: Piazza XXV aprile

End in January 5

Music & Concerts

73) Concerto di Natale

Dates: 05 January 2012 – 05 January 2012

Where: Teatro Magnolfi Nuovo, Prato Address: Via Piero Gobetti 79

End in January 6

Food and Wine feasts

74) Fiera di San Michele di Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 06 January 2012

Where: Comune di Lucca Address: Piazza San Michele

75) Mercatino di Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 06 January 2012

Where: Comune di Torrita di Siena Address: Piazza Giacomo Matteotti

76) Presepi e alberi di natale a Bibbona

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 06 January 2012

Where: Comune di Bibbona Address: Piazzetta di Bacco

77) Natale a Sarteano

Dates: 10 December 2011 – 06 January 2012

Where: Comune di Sarteano Address: Piazza San Lorenzo

End in January 8

Food and Wine feasts

78) Natale alle Logge

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 January 2012

Where: Le Logge della Mercanzia C/o Palazzo del Capitano, Montepulciano Address: Piazza Grande 7

79) Natale nel Mondo – Mostra presepi

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 January 2012

Where: Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie – Museo, San Giovanni Valdarno Address: Piazza Masaccio 9

80) Festa e Fiera di Natale

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 08 January 2012

Where: Comune di Montepulciano  Address: Via della Resistenza

End in June 30

Exhibits

81) Natale nel Mondo – Verso Londra 2012

Dates: 08 December 2011 – 30 June 2012

Where: Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie – Museo, San Giovanni Valdarno Address: Piazza Masaccio 9