Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

Siena, Tuscany, is set to stage the first of the two annual editions of its iconic “Palio di Siena“. It’s the most popular historic horse race held in Italy.

The July 2 edition is also known as “Palio di Provenzano“. The other one, named “Palio dell’Assunta“, takes place on August 16.

Here’s a video of the Palio di Siena held on July 2, 2008.

Over a thousand of wineries across Italy throw open the doors to the public last week-end of May. It’s “Cantine Aperte” — Open Cellars — annual week-end wine festival.

It offers a chance to combine trips to some of the most amazing places in the countryside across the Peninsula — just think to Piedmont, Tuscan hills … — with sampling of excellent wines.

It’s also a great occasion for wine enthusiasts for taking a closer look at how — and where — the wine is made.

The sponsor of the event, the “Movimento Turismo del Vino” — Italy’s Wine Tourism Movement — offers on its website www.movimentoturismovino.it, advice on how to plan your wine trip.

A few tips on rituals worth attending while visiting Italy during Easter Season.

In Rome: Good Friday Procession
On Good Friday the Pope leads a solemn torchlit procession, from the Colosseum up the Monte Palatino, reenacting the 14 Stations of the Cross, from Jesus’ death sentence to the placement of his body in the tomb. Tens of thousands of the faithful gather with torches and lights to follow this solemn procession.

In Florence: Explosion of the Cart (Scoppio del Carro)
On Easter Sunday, people gather in Piazza del Duomo to watch a dove-shaped rocket, — called “Colombina“, fly out of the Duomo and ignite a huge wooden cart-structure in the square outside. The event is scheduled for 11am.

In Sicily: various Easter rituals in Palermo and surroundings
If you are visiting Palermo at Easter, don’t miss the “procession of the Cocchieri” on Good Friday as well as the impressive re-enactments of the Last Supper at major churches throughout Palermo.

Singular Easter celebrations and rituals are taking place throughout the Holy week in the towns located in the surroundings of Palermo. Among them we suggest an Easter archaic festival of medieval origins, the “Dance of the Devils“.
The re-enactments of this ancient ritual, with local residents performing the Dance of the Devils by wearing large and terrifying iron masks, is taking place in the town of Prizzi. It represents the cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Gourmet tourists visiting art cities in Italy in mid-March have some options to attend major food events in Florence and in Turin.

Sweet Turin

Turin hosts a 10-day chocolate festival — “CioccolaTO’” .
This annual festival — 2009 edition is held March 6 through March 15, offers chocolate tastings alongside a rich programme of cocoa-themed events.

For those who are interested to mix art, history and food, “Merenda Reale” — Royal Snack — offers a series of “sweet” meetings which revive the Savoy’s tradition of the afternoon snack and of the great patisserie.
Beginning February through March 15, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, 19 venues in Turin are transformed into 18th-century tearooms serving cakes and drinks produced by some of Turin’s most prestigious pasticcerie.

In Florence, an exhibition about the pleasures of the table — “Pitti Immagine Taste” — is held the second or third week-end of March (2009 edition: March 14 - 16).
The event taking place at Florence’s Stazione Leopolda offers the chance to explore the cultural and biological diversity of food through debates, Taste Tours and visits to Taste Shops.