Travel to the Northern part of the Tuscan coast and you will find a beautiful town called Viareggio. As it sits on the coast, this charming seaside town began as a medieval fishing village, and later became known for its shipbuilding. One of the main attractions of Viareggio occurs during Carnival, which is the period of fun and feasting before Lent.
Fun Facts and Curiosities
Legends about the Panettone
Panettone is a sweet bread loaf which is typical of the Italian culture. This sweet bread is a must on every table on Christmas time but also on the New Year Eve. It has a shape like a cupola with a cylindrical base. It contains a lot of different ingredients like raisins, candied orange, citron and lemon zest, but many different varieties are available with creme and chocolate. The Panettone is originally from Milan, in Lombardy, and now that has became, a so spread habit, in all Italy it is produced in an industrial way, but tasting the original one baked by one of the master artisans in Milan is a still a different experience. Continue reading "Legends about the Panettone"
Natale di Vetro in Murano
In Murano, one of the major islands of the Venice Lagoon, every Christmas,something special happens. Murano is renowned all over the world for its glass blowers and their incredible capabilities to give shapes and colors to the glass. On the 6th of December, there is the celebration for Saint Nicole, the patron Saint of glass blowers, from this date Murano celebrates, for about one month, the "Natale di Vetro" where all the island rejoices about its art glass. Continue reading "Natale di Vetro in Murano"
Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas Market
In Italy, we do celebrate the Christmas period in many different ways. One of the most common way throughout Italy to breathe and feel the Christmas atmosphere are the Christmas markets. In Milan, there is one market that has one of the oldest tradition of the city, the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas Market. Continue reading "Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas Market"
Motor Show the Fair of Motorsports
In Italy we love foods, we love our traditions and we love a laid back life style. There is another thing that we love very very much, motorsports. Our motoring heritage is huge with brands like Ferrari or Maserati and with racing drivers like Alex Zanardi, Valentino Rossi or Giacomo Agostini. So in Italy, we celebrate every year our passion for cars, motorcycle and motorsports, in Bologna, with the Motor Show, an international fair that attracts people from all over Italy and Europe. Continue reading "Motor Show the Fair of Motorsports"
100 Hundred Creche Exhibition in Rome
The 100 hundred creche exhibition is an event which celebrate one of the old traditions of Italy. In fact, Christmas tree a representation of the moment of the Jesus nativity. The name of this representations in Italian is "presepi" that translated in American English it sounds like "cribs". Continue reading "100 Hundred Creche Exhibition in Rome"
Take Flight Through The Lucanian Dolomites
The “Dolomiti Lucane” or Lucanian Dolomites is found in the Regional Park of Gallipoli Cognato in the heart of Basilicata. This rocky chain of sandstones has a rugged, almost lunar landscape, which is reminiscent of the mountains of the eastern Alps. Continue reading "Take Flight Through The Lucanian Dolomites"
Enjoy The Original Spring Water of Rome
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That includes drinking the water from one of the many beautiful public fountains around the city. It is truly the freshest supply of drinkable water and one could say it originated the concept of fresh spring water, as it has been available for public drinking since 312 B.C. Continue reading "Enjoy The Original Spring Water of Rome"
Vespa, a “wasp” on two wheels
One of the symbol of Italy is the famous moto scooter, Vespa. Vespa in italian means wasp. The legend told that the name of this unique moped was born when Enrico Piaggio, the founder of the current Piaggio Group, made this exclamation "Sembra una Vespa! (It seems like a wasp!)" the first time that he heard the sound of that motor scooter. Continue reading "Vespa, a “wasp” on two wheels"
The Ferrari Museum
Maranello is the town center of the Ferrari myth, in the heart of Emilia Romagna. In this worship place for every car sports fan and car daydreamer, there is a museum entirely dedicated to the most known red car in the world.
In this museum, you could admire Formula 1 cars and many others sports cars, but it's not a common museum. There are a lot of entertaining activities for the visitors, like the opportunity of tackling a real tires change or to test a real Formula 1 drive simulator, like the one that is used by the professional pilots. Plus, there are special exhibitions that represent a specific period or a subject of the Ferrari history. For example, the current exhibition is entitled "California Dreaming". This exhibition is celebrating the strong connection of the Ferrari brand with USA, in particular with one of its models the "California".
Ferrari sports cars are an Italian masterpiece that needs to be "experienced" in its own land.