Memories of an Altar Girl
01 Apr 2010
Easter is a great time to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations, and a marvelous opportunity to discover local customs and old traditions.
Olive trees and palms… the sacred and the profane!
29 Mar 2010
Olive tree pruning season in Tuscany generally falls around Palm Sunday, and it’s a big deal.
Capodanno Pisano: New Year’s Day on March 25
25 Mar 2010
Pisa celebrates New Year’s Day on March 25 with a parade and a sunbeam lighting a marble egg in the Cathedral at midday sharp. A fabulous event that commemorates an ancient tradition!
Women’s Day in Italy
08 Mar 2010
On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day, so on the occasion I am giving this “virtual” mimosa flowers to my favourite women on the web (and in real life too!).
The downsides of visiting Tuscany at carnival time
02 Feb 2010
Carnival is not only about costumes and delicious sweets… it’s also about spray foam, stinky-bombs and over-excited teenagers.
Traditional Carnival Stock Characters
31 Jan 2010
Le Maschere Tradizionali, the traditional carnival stock characters, are impersonations of “human types” in a caricature style. Until not long ago they were the main source of inspiration for carnival costumes.
Great St. Valentine’s Day activities in Tuscany
29 Jan 2010
Tuscany is the perfect destination for a very special Saint Valentine’s Day. A list of romantic things for all budgets.
Carnival in Tuscany
12 Jan 2010
Tuscany is home to one of the most-renowned carnivals in the country, Carnevale di Viareggio, a spectacular series of parades and the perfect opportunity to indulge in some of the traditional carnival sweets!
Epifania, epifania…
04 Jan 2010
Epiphany is a religious holiday celebrated on January 6. In Italy, though, we also celebrate La Befana, an old woman, a witch-like character, who brings gifts to the good kids and coal and garlic to the naughty ones.
New Year’s Eve in Tuscany
28 Dec 2009
The traditions of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in our corner of Tuscany.
