Christmas in Tuscany |
It's almost time for everyone in Italy to head home for the holidays and the air is buzzing with excitement and merriment. The Italians have a saying "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi" - "Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you like". The roads are particularly busy at Christmas as everyone tries to fulfil this tradition of being with their family. There are Christmas markets in most of the towns which are filled with people looking for traditional decorations and presents. Winter may not be the time most people think of to visit Tuscany but there are advantages. Not having so many tourists around means that everyone has more time for you, there are very few queues, you get great photo-opportunities of historical attractions covered in snow, prices for flights & accommodation are cheaper & the Italians know how to do Christmas in style! Pack the right clothing, hire the right car (if visiting remote areas) & come see a different side of Tuscany. Not to be missed in the restaurants of Tuscany in winter is the traditional Tuscan Minestrone soup Ribollita also look out for any dishes containing Cavolo Nero (Black Kale) and of course olio al tartufo (truffle oil). They havent made a mistake in the shops in Italy if you see a witch on a broomstick for sale. La Befana is a witchlike figure that brings sweets to good children (& lumps of coal for the naughty ones) on Epiphany Eve (5th Jan). Legend tells us that she was invited by the 3 Wise Men to visit the baby Jesus but she declined as she was too busy. Changing her mind later, she went in search of them but was unable to find them. Each Epiphany Eve she takes to the skies in search of baby Jesus & visits each child on the way. More about places to stay in Tuscany ..... Do you have a special memory of an Italian Christmas? |
Related Articles
- Window on Milan and Lake Como
- Cook like an Italian chef
- Coming up in Italy
- Window on Sardinia
- Window on Venice
- The cuisine of Italy's 'heel'
- Belmond offers a Villeggiatura
- Twenty top reasons to visit Italy
- Work and travel in Italy
- Eurochocolate is the word
- Taste tour of Sicily
- World's smallest mobile library
- A villa in Chianti
- Unbelievably intricate art in Naples
- An Italian ghost town
- Italy's blue ribbon road
- Silk from the sea
- Terre Madre 2018
- Mystery castle of the south
- Monster magic
- Fairytale island in a lake
- Rambling to Rome
- Sicily's writers' trail
- Venice gets a helping hand
- Italy's football island
- V is for Venice
- Gruesome grottos
- World's largest Christmas tree
- Stay in a Monastery
- Ca Sagredo, Venice, Italy
- Sizzling Sicily
- Belmond Hotel Cipriani
- Food and art in Tuscany
- Meet Sarah in Venice
- Suppli in Italy
- Eataly in Italy
- Italian Easter cakes
- Ride like an Italian
- Taste Sicily
- Budget gondolas, Venice
- Eating gelato in Rome
- Italy's distant islands
- Luxury Venice
- Tour Tuscany
- Street food in Italy
- Monastery Tours
- The rest of 'The Boot'
- Fascinating Facts about Sicily
- Facts about Sicily
- Let's Visit Sicily
- Italian - a few words
- La Pasticceria - Italian pastry shop
- Coffee in Italy
- Pizza - Italy's contribution
- Dining in Italy
- Driving in Southern Italy
- Southern Italy on a plate
- Christmas in Liguria
- Just a Little Italian accommodation details
- Escape to the Hills
- More to See and Do
- Food to Taste
- Places to Visit
- Things to Do
- Helpful Information
- Explore Italy and Its Food
- In the Mood for Italy
- Introduction to Rome
- Hello Tuscany
- Introducing Venice (Venezia)
- Out in the Tuscan Sun
- Rome's Left Bank
- Southern Comfort
- Venetian Class
Www.Foodandtravel.Com.Au - Australia Best Food Travel Website 2021
foodandtravel.com.au has been awardedBest Antipodean Culinary Travel Expert, 2019by the prestigious UK-based magazine... |
Ready for a taste treat? Embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure through the vibrant tapestry of Malaysia. Led by the charismatic Malaysian ex-pat Chef Wanitha Tanasingam, this intimate journey promises to tantalize your taste buds and ignite your senses, sending you home with memories to last a lifetime.
The flipside of travel... How not all of it is joyous. This book describes how one brave young woman survived to tell her story. Read more about her struggles HERE...
Have you ever wondered how some people continuously come up with stunning photos, and you don't? FUJIFILM can solve your problems. Check out this BRAND NEW offer....
Planning a visit to Kerala? The old port district of Kochi is well worth seeing, as well.
Our tuk-tuk driver, Shaheer, showed us the secrets of the narrow back streets. To contact Shaheer...
Mobile: 9946129040
LISTEN TO SALLY'S PODCASTS... ...from all around the world
Tune in and hear her talks on Radio 2GB 873AM....
WHO LIKES SWISS CHEESE? Did you miss seeing the recent story of the Swiss festival of cows coming down from the mountains?
Denmark Delivers Copenhagen's canals, a palace with pomp and cermnony, a kilometre-long shopping street, crayon-cooured canal-front dining... ...what more can a visitor ask for? Find out, because there is much more.
History and beauty with a dash of fun... ...and that's just the beginning of Armenia!
Zany Zadar & Croatia's north Crazy and beautiful, a place everyone should visit.
Lovely Lisbon ~ and beyond. Sardines and secrets!
Two virtual visits to Ontario AND
Where is Tbilisi? Once you discover its beauty and history, you will be making plans to visit as soon as you can. Read more....
Madrid the marvelous - so much to see in Spain's capital.
If you missed reading about Thailand's organic produce....
Here's something fun to check out! The world's most popular surnames ....
~ Northern Spain ~ mountains and miracles - and much more! After this journey, many people will never see the world the same way again.
Visit Portugal's beautiful hearl.... Gondolas, cathedrals, cakes and a palace thrown in for good measure.
And how about these vineyards in Georgia? See other gardens in strange locations here....
Make your own food and travel videos? YES YOU CAN! Gordon Hammond gives some insider tips.....
Travelling to Sydney? The northern beaches are spectacular.
Hungary has something for every traveller. Especially those who love good food...
|