The Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas Market of Heidelberg in Florence

In Piazza Santa Croce (Santa Croce Square) is ending the Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas Market of Heidelberg: the classic market with small wooden stands offering wonderful, traditional German goods, food and treats, but there are also many other stands of typical products from all over Northern Europe. The Heidelberg market will finish on the 16th of December. From the 17th of December, still in Piazza Santa Croce, a more typical Italian Christmas Market has started (despite a very English fish and chips stand). And in Piazza Santa Croce many interesting and funny initiatives for children will take place in “La Casetta delle Storie” (=“The Little House of Tales”) from the 17th to the 23d of December starting from 4 P.M. (free admittance):

20th Dec.: “S.O.S. from the Pole: for Heaven’s Sake, the donkey an the ox aren’t there…”
21st Dec.: “Bows and Christmas Papers: lets work on gifts…”
22nd Dec.: “Narrating and Rhyming …”
The initiatives and activities are held by the “Scioglilibro Assocation” together with “Chiari” bookshop infos: +39 328 6198311; scioglilibro@virgilio.it.

“La piana va in Citta” from the 8th to the 23rd of December at Caffe Michelangelo on Via Cavour, 8. This is not a market, but an exhibit where it is possible to admire all with a series of great quality, craftsmanlike products: everyone who loves great artisan work ought to come to the “Piana” of Florence.

“Piccolo mercato dell’artigianato” that means “The Little Market of Crafts” in the beautiful Piazza Santissima Annunziata will take place from the 10th to the 16th of December, 2007.

The markets are another initiative for the little neighbourhood town of Bagno a Ripoli (10 minutes drive from Florence), and the initiative of “A Tutto Natale” (=“All of Chritsmas”) with a special edition of the weekly market on December 22nd called “A Christmas with You”; on the 15th of December, there will be a market solely of the “Calcit” charitable organization (devoted to children diseases) at Grassina and Antella (two of the villages in the premises of Bagno A Ripoli); on the 16th of December there will be an extraordinary edition of the weekly market at Antella, and finally, on the 23rd of December, there will be another extraordinary edition at Grassina.“A Tutto Natale” will have also a rich program of initiatives in proximity to the Christmas Festival and here is the list from December 2007 to January 2008.

Grassina
December 23: Parking Lot of the Popolo House’ an extraordinary edition of the weekly market
January 5: Piazza Umbert I at 9pm- the Epiphany distributes socks
January 6: The March of the Magi Kings in the Piazza Tegolaia

Bagno a Ripoli
December 22nds from 10am until 7pm: “Natale con i Tuoi” = “Christmas with the ones you love;” beginning at 11 am: a market with the stands of the local Charitable Associations; at the end of the night, via Roma (the main street) will be alive with simple toys which adapt to intelligence for the big and the small; live music; Santa Clause will cheer up the festival with his pony and small gifts at 3pm. The Festival of the Nativity with a living Christmas scene in the piazza in Via delle Arti and 5pm. There will be a prize given to the thre best letters to Santa Clause at 5:30 pm, and there will also be a prize given to the most beautiful shop window; a parade will talke place of the Cherubini Philharmonic to the centre at 6pm, where Santa Messa will accompany the Cherubini Philharmonic in the Piazza della Pace.
For Information, please call: Call Center Linea Comune, te. +39 055 055 (800-055055 on the land line phone) from Monday to Saturday, from 8am until 8pm.

The Christmas Tree in Florence

Last friday, the 7th of December, a gigantic Christmas Tree (12 m) was placed in the heart of Florence, in Piazza Repubblica to symbolize the Florentine Christmas. An enormous Christmas tree, 12 meters tall, was placed in the center of the city to celebrate the holiday season. The Christmas tree will remain in the Piazza throughout the holidays, until January and symbolizes Christmas in Florence.

New Year's Eve Party and concert

The midnight feast will be back after the success of last year and take place at the Uffizi Center to celebrate the New Year in downtown Florence, right next to the Uffizi Gallery! Enjoy a delicious dinner, music, dancing and you simply can't forget a midnight toast. You are even able to join the festivities after dinner if you prefer, and this is a great way to bring in the new year in Florence.

And for the ones that prefer good old classic music, here’s the top: in Santa Croce square the Orchestra Filarmonica del Teatro lirico Europeo, conducted by Giuseppe Lanzetta will start performing from 11.00 PM. Music by Strauss, Verdi, Bizet. Free entrance!

The first of the year's concert in Florence will be held at the Teatro Comunale. The young (and brilliant) Orchestra of the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole will be performing at 11.30 in the morning. Free entrance!

ICE SKATING in Florence, Italy

ICE SKATING AT THE PARTERRE SQUARE

It is approaching Christmas time and Florence rediscovers the magic of skating on the ice rink at the Parterre Square of Liberty. Enjoy a classic night of ice skating at the facility in the city, which from 1996 until now, has seen the first structure in the Piazza Santa Croce and then at Parterre, with a growing success each year.

The Florence rink, consisting of a 20x30 track, is capable of accommodating 200 skaters at a time and is kept cooled by a large generator which can keep the temperature at a constant -10 °. Colored lights and background music offer a touch of atmosphere to attract and welcome even the youngest skaters. The ice skating rink will be available to rent shoes at the set price of to 6 euros (4 euros for those who own skates) per time.
The rink will be open on the mornings between: 9am / 10am 10am/11am, 11.30am / 12.30pm; between the hours of the afternoons: 2pm/3pm 3:30pm / 4:30pm 5pm/6pm 6:30pm / 7:30pm; and during the evenings for a skate between: 9pm/10pm 10:30pm/11:30pm and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12am until 1am.

As usual for pupils and students in primary schools, middle and high in the morning time between 9am-10am, will be able to enjoy free skating (unless it is accompanied by their teachers). The area is easily reachable by bus shuttles to and from the Historical Center and has a great area of underground parking available.

On Christmas Day, the skating rink will be dedicated to the children, who will be able to enter the rink and be greeted by Santa Claus, and during the Epiphany.
As every year, on the night of Saint Sylvester, the ice skating rink will be a natural meeting point for many Florentines to drink and ring in the new year again.

Events for the New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve in Florence

Enjoy a full dinner at the Rifrullo for 78 euros from after 9pm, with the opportunity to enjoy the bar only after 11pm and for the midnight cheers.
The dinner includes a tasty carpaccio with bresaola and castelmagno truffle, bass and salmon marinated with Mediterranean spices,risotto served in the form of parmesan,'whole' bluefin tuna served on a bed of mixed lettuce, lonzino lardellato served with robbery and lentils and a wide variety of sweets with drinks and a dance party. If chocolate eats and shot glasses made with cream mignon at midnight tempt you, then you certainly cannot miss out!

RIFRULLO restaurant and BAR LOUNGE via San Niccolo' 55 /r -Florence. For information: 055-234 26 21 info@ilrifrullo.com

Rifrullo is also a cheap restaurant in Florence for Christmas day.

New Year's Eve in Florence

Florence is the place for very special 2007/2008 New Year's

New Year's Eve in Florence
There are many events in Florence this New Years- from 'veglioni,' parties, and concerts both in local venues and on the streets, to numerous plays staged in theaters in and around Florence where you can spend a joyous night in the company of San Silvestro.

in the next days I will tell what to do in Florence for the New Year's Eve

Pitti Immagine Uomo 73 in Florence

PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO N. 73

9-12 January 2008
Fortezza da Basso, Florence

THE STAR OF PITTI UOMO IS PRODUCT CULTURE
“Pitti Uomo is very sensitive to market signals” says Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine. "Its interlocutor is an increasingly knowledgeable and refined audience. The 26,000 plus directors and buyers from the most prestigious fashion stores who come to Florence are looking for product culture and are not willing to stop at the global lifestyle proposed by big brands. They want a selection of the most interesting brands in terms of style identity and product quality: in some cases they are big, well-established names with huge sales, in others they are niche brands that are well known among the trade, and are characterized by their research content. And, so it is why Pitti Uomo is the place where business and creativity come together, but it is also the most faithful and up-to-date picture of international fashions: from the great showcase of men’s elegance in the Main Pavilion to the contemporary mix in the recently created Fashion District, via the young talents at New Beat(s) and the luxury collections at Pitti Rooms and the plans and investments that the sportswear and informal brands are making in the fair. The opportunities generated at the menswear show have prompted us to play our cards now and to launch a new and vital project for women’s wear like Pitti W – Woman Precollection”.

THE DISCOVERY FASHION PROJECT AT THIS EDITION OF PITTI UOMO IS ADAM KIMMEL
On 10 January, the Fondazione Pitti Discovery will present an absolute première, the Adam Kimmel Menswear Collection F/W 08-09 with an event-installation at the Istituto d’Arte di Porta Romana: It will be a fashion, art and photography performance by the young designer from New York citing American Art and involving the coolest artists on the contemporary scene – the New York scene!

ACCESSORIES ENTER THE HEART OF THE FASHION DISTRICT
Axessories is the new Pitti Uomo project dedicated to the world of men’s accessories with a high stylistic content. Located in the Rondino area, in the heart of the fashion district – the exhibition path created by the Touch!, Futuro Maschile, l’Altro Uomo and Ynformal sections – it showcases the height of cutting edge elegance for men today. Inside a special layout, a select number of brands will display their exclusive men’s accessory collections for fall/winter 2008/2009.

PITTI IMMAGINE ROOMS: THE LUXURY COLLECTIONS
Rooms n.7, the most sophisticated essence of contemporary luxury design is at home in the Villa Vittoria, just across the road from the Fortezza da Basso. Valuable, unconventional, limited-edition collections will be laid out along a path that winds its way through the atmosphere of a 19th century grand ball. Concept by Sergio Colantuoni, one of Italy’s most eclectic fashion editors.

NEW BEAT(S): THE EMERGING AVANT-GARDE TALENTS
Now in its ninth edition, New Beat(s) is the area that Pitti Uomo dedicates to debuts of new, upcoming designers and young brands following the direction of fashion. The new layout, designed by Ilaria Marelli, is called “Cave”, and transforms the areas of the Lyceum into a cave pierced by beams of light , ready to welcome previews of cutting edge projects from all over the world.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE: THE CONTEMPORARY STREET LOOK
Welcome to my house is the exhibition project that interprets fashion influenced by street culture: a rapidly evolving market, both in Italy and abroad. At the Lyceum, a select number of young but already well-known firms – many of which from Italy - will present their research on street styles. Graphic arts and a visionary spirit come together in the setting designed by UP! Studio, a group of creatives based in Paris.

MORE AND BIGGER INVESTMENTS IN SPORTSWEAR AND INFORMAL
The news at this edition includes the investments that many important sportswear and informal brands are making in the fair that is increasingly viewed as the ideal context for commercial and image presentations. To do this the exhibitors are expanding their stands and developing new, specific layouts, such as North Sails that will be at the forthcoming edition of Pitti Uomo in the Sala della Scherma, the Batrax group (with its brands Cashus, Jaggy, University Place, W.H.O.P. and Without Paper) that will be in the never before used Sala dell’Orologio, Martina Polo Player Gear will be showing its collection in the new setting at the Padiglione della Ghiaia, and the Geospirit group will showcase an overview of its brands (Geospirit, Peuterey and Kejo) in the Grotte.

THE CO-OPERATION WITH ICE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONAL CALENDAR

The co-operation between Pitti Immagine and ICE - the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade - continues during our next appointments with the support of press and buyers and, on this occasion, of our international press conferences.

Florence Biennale

The 6th edition of the Florence Biennale will be held from 1st to 9th December 2007 in the historical setting of Fortezza da Basso in Florence.

840 artists from 76 countries will exhibit more than 2,500 works of art and will take part in the exhibition for an extraordinary encounter between different cultures, styles and languages. The actress Anne Archer will be in Florence to award the Biennale with the Artists for Human Rights, association prize, for its support provided to the United Nations programme “Dialogue among civilisation” that the Biennale has been officially participating in since 2001.

The Biennale will include the presence of important artistic individuals such as Gilbert & George, who will receive the “Lorenzo il Magnifico”award for their career. Gilbert & George, together with Tim Marlow, manager of the White Cube Gallery of London exhibitions, will meet the visitors and artists participating in the Biennial, for which a rich calendar of meetings, conferences and video projections have been organised (including a video made by Gilbert & George).

The art and life of Frida Kalho and Tina Modotti will be presented in two conferences by Gregorio Luke, already manager of the Molaa of Long Beach and a member of the International Jury of the Biennale.

The Ars Electronica Center of Linz, the “oldest” museum of digital art in the world, that organises the Prix Ars Electronica, the Ars Electronica Festival and the Ars Electronica Futurelab, will have 300 square meters available to present digital art, interactive videos and to allow visitors to enter into the fantastic world of virtual reality.

The complete programme is avaliable on the Florence Biennale web site.

Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets: 10 Euros - Reduced Ticket 8 Euros

Info:
Florence Biennale
Ph.: +39 055 3249173 - +39 055 3218172
Fax. +39 055 333540
Web: www.florencebiennale.org

Officina vintage: a new store in Florence

Saturday afternoon I've been to a new store in Florence: Officina Vintage. It's a sort of concept store where you can buy nice vintage clothes and accessories and when you are tired, you can have a break relaxing on the nice sofas and drinking an italian espresso! you can see the bar with the coffee machine in the picture.

The store is quite big, and it's divided in separate areas with different styles (elegant, jeans, formal, informal..). Three young men own this store and they believe deeply in this project!
You can have an idea of what they sell looking at the website www.officina-vintage.com, but I definitely recommend you to go and see it.
In december they will stay open even on Sundays.
The store is not in the center of Florence, but it's easy to park.

Florence Electronic Movement

FEM Florence Electronic Movement Friday 23d Novembre 2007

MIRO_dj set TEO NADDI_dj set FABIO DELLA TORRE_dj (Minimono / Telegraph rec.)

special guest : ALEXX a.k.a. ALEX PETIT_dj set (Logistic / Telegraph rec.)

Born in Paris in 1977, Alexandre is one of the Logistic and Telegraph founder. Good producer and talent scout. Alex plays house-techno freak from more then 12 years. From 1996 Logistic has hosted famous artists as: John Thomas, Robert Hood, Daniel Bell, Cabanne, Mattew DearŠ The sub-label Telegraph born thanks to the Cabanne'sinfluence.
Logistic Records is an electronic music label based in France. In ten years, Logistic has developed many projects and collaborations to constitute an over seventy references discography. Natural evolution after 5 years devoted to raves and partys organization, the creation of the label in 1995 in Montpellier by Alexandre Petit and Éric Dalbin was the answer to their hunger for techno music which reflects their principal influences: hip-hop, jazz and funk. Since, the groove is at the center of every Logistic release. Supporting quality over quantity, the artistic direction of the label rests on solid bonds with its artists. Then the meeting with John Thomas, a young French musician and African rhythms, was the beginning of a collaboration that lasts since the birth of the label and generated twenty-three record releases. Americans Robert Hood and Daniel Bell are other good representatives of the label.

Next guest: STILL VOR TALENT showcase feat
OLIVER KOLETZKI & FLORIAN MEINDL - Venerdì 30 novembre

FEM @ CENTRAL PARK is in via Fosso Macinante 1, Firenze (parco delle Cascine)
MIRO_dj set, TEO NADDI_dj set, FABIO DELLA TORRE_dj (Minimono / Telegraph rec.)
special guest
ALEXX a.k.a. ALEX PETIT_dj set (Logistic / Telegraph rec.)
PORNOROBOTZ_visual
Prices:
15,00 € drink included > normal price
12,00 € drink included > lists
Free entrance before Midnight
www.myspace.com/femflorencelectronicmovement

info: 393 9012540 lists: 339 7230615 tabels : 393 9557905

Thanksgiving day in Florence

Thursday, the 22nd of november for THANKSGIVING DAY there will be a great turkey dinner at trattoria Conte Diladdarno, in Florence.

There is a fixed price of € 25.00, which includes everything.
This little restaurant lies in the historical quarter of San Frediano, one of the most typical areas in Florence. The owner, Luca, is very friendly and welcomes everybody with a warm smile.
Firenze, via de’ serragli, 108 r
tel +39 055 225001
www.contediladdarno.it
info@contediladdarno.it

Florence Noel and Christmas markets in Florence

It's time for Christmas Markets in Florence!

- From the 24th of November until the 2nd of December at Stazione Leopolda (via Fratelli Rosselli) there will be Florence Noel: a special fair for Christmas shopping that will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself amongst the Christmas sweets and the atmosphere of Xmas. Events for the children, with Father Christmas’ house and chocolate tasting.
From monday to thursday: from 3.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Entrance fee: 6 euro with 2 chocolate tasting.
From friday to sunday: from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. Entrance fee: 9 euro with 2 chocolate coupons.
- From the 28th of November to the 16th of December Piazza Santa Croce will be the background of this Christmas market where the belief in Christmas is enough to turn dreams into reality. Enjoy buying nice handmade presents with the aroma of hot chestnuts filling the air. Heidelberg Christmas market is held on the Piazza Santa Croce, the famous square in front of the Santa Croce Church. There, several old stands sell products and sweet delicacies.

- In addition, a little Christmas Market staged from 10 – 16 December 2007 at Istituto degli Innocenti, at Santissima Annunziata square, not far from the Duomo.

Firenze Marathon

Next sunday in Florence there will be Firenze Marathon.

Meeting on Sunday, 25th of November 2007 with the 24th edition of the international classic road race.
The wrapping glamour of centuries of art, history and culture accompanies you step by step along the 42 kilometres and 195 meters of the Florence Marathon. A unique emotion which can be told only by those who have run in Florence and which has made the classic race of Florence an appointment that cannot be missed by thousand of sportsmen and enthusiasts who each year punctually come from all over the world on the last Sunday in November. The Florentine event has gained exponential importance during the recent years, so much that on last November 26th on the occasion of its XXIII edition a new record of participants has been achieved with over 7.700 runners (4.836 Italians and 2.872 foreigners, 37 % of the total approximately) coming from 58 countries.

The Florence Marathon is the main road race event taking place in Tuscany, which together with Rome is rightly by now the most important international marathon in Italy and among the first 20 marathons in the world as far as quality and number of participants

This is the route:

Piazzale Michelangiolo - Partenza - Viale Galilei – 1° Km - Piazzale Galileo- Viale Machiavelli – 2° Km. – 3° Km - Piazzale Di Porta Romana- Viale Petrarca – 4° Km - Viale V. Pratolini - Viale A. Aleardi - Viale R. Sanzio – 5° Km - Piazza Pier Vettori - Via Pisana – 6° Km - Via Sant’angelo - Via Del Pollaiuolo – 7° Km - Via Bronzino – 8° Km - Piazza Gaddi - Via Della Fonderia- Lungarno Santa Rosa - Lungarno Soderini – 9° Km - Piazza Nazario Sauro - Via Dei Serragli – 10° Km - Piazza Della Calza - Via Romana - Piazza Pitti – 11° Km - Via Guicciardini - Via Dei Bardi - Piazza S. Maria Soprarno - Lungarno Torrigiani - Lungarno Serristori – 12° Km - Piazza Poggi - Lungarno Cellini - Ponte S. Niccolo’ – 13° Km - Lungarno Del Tempio - Lungarno Colombo – 14° Km - Lungarno Aldo Moro – 15° Km - Via De Nicola- Via Gobetti - Via Di Varlungo- Via Turati - Via Aretina – 16° Km - Via Della Ripa - Via Rocca Tedalda- Via Aretina – 17° Km. – 18° Km - Largo Monzani - Via Aretina - Piazza L.B. Alberti - Via Di Credi - Via Mannelli – 19° Km. – 20° Km - Piazza Vasari - Ponte Del Pino - Via Campo D’arrigo – 21° Km - Largo Gennarelli – ½ Maratona - Viale Malta - Viale Fanti - Viale Paoli – 22° Km - Viale Fanti – 23° Km - Via Cialdini - Viale De Amicis – 24° Km - Cavalcavia Dell’affrico - Piazza L.B. Alberti - Via Piagentina – 25° Km - Via Fra’ Giovanni Angelico - Viale Duca Degli Abruzzi - Viale Giovine Italia - Via Dell’agnolo – 26° Km - Via Santa Verdiana - Piazza Ghiberti - Largo Annigoni -Via Della Mattonaia - Via Niccolini - Piazza D’azeglio - Via Della Colonna – 27° Km - Piazza Ss. Annunziata - Via Battisti - Piazza San Marco - Via Ricasoli - Piazza Duomo – 28° Km - Piazza S. Giovanni - Via Roma - Piazza Della Repubblica - Via Strozzi - Via Della Vigna Nuova - Piazza Goldoni -Borgo Ognissanti – 29° Km - Via Il Prato - Via Magenta - Via Montebello - Viale F.Lli Rosselli – 30° Km - Piazza Vittorio Veneto - Via Del Fosso Macinante - Viale Del Visarno - Piazzale Jefferson - Viale Degli Olmi – 31° Km - Piazzale Delle Cascine - Viale Dell’aeronautica – 32° – 33° Km - Piazzale Dell’indiano - Viale Washington - 34° - 35° Km - Piazzale Kennedy - Viale Lincoln – 36° Km. – 37° Km - Piazzale Vittorio Veneto - Corso Italia - Via Magenta - Via Solferino - Via Palestro - Via Montebello – 38° Km - Via Curtatone - Lungarno Vespucci - Lungarno Corsini - Lungarno Acciaiuoli – 39° Km - Via Por Santa Maria - Via Vacchereccia - Piazza Della Signoria - Via Calzaiuoli - Piazza Duomo (Lato Misericordia) - Via Del Proconsolo – 40° Km - Via Ghibellina – 41° Km - Viale Giovine Italia - Piazza Piave - Lungarno Della Zecca Vecchia - Piazza Cavalleggeri - Corso Dei Tintori - Via Magliabechi – 42° Km -Piazza Santa Croce – Arrivo

For more info: www.firenzemarathon.it/

Interpol to perform in Florence

Interpol to Perform on November 12th

On Monday, November 12th, 2007 at Teatro Saschall on Lungarno Aldo Moro, 3, the New York City based, American rock band, Interpol, will be performing in Florence for all to enjoy. The band will play new songs from their recently released third album, 'Our Love to Admire,' as well as older songs from their previous two albums. This is an opportunity to make the most of the city with locals, rocking out to American Music. Ticket prices range from 21£ to 120£ and for more information, you can call the number 055.6503068 or contact the ticket office by e-mailing info@saschall.it, or checking out the Teatro Saschall website at www.saschall.it. Take advantage of and internationally recognized band performing in the very heart of Florence.

Halloween in Florence

Tomorrow is the night of 31st of October: sort of magic and special for Anglo-Saxon tradition: it’s Halloween! Children dress up and go knokcing to the doors of neighbourhoods and ask for ”trick or treat?” Houses ready to receive them are decorated with emptied and lighted pumpkins. Nowadays this Anglo-Saxon celebration is getting popular also in Italy and some towns like Florence are ready to animate the night before All Saints. Not only for the many foreigners who live in Tuscany, and specially in Florence, but also for Italian youngsters who are looking for any excuse to have fun and enjoy the florentine nightlife.

Halloween, Florence 2007

Originated in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the Celts celebrated the Druidic fire festival called 'Samhain'. 'Samhain' celebrated the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times or the close of harvest . Today it has become a commercialized holiday with costumes, candy, harvest and ghoul-like decorations. This is especially true in the United States and some parts of Europe.

Today in Italy Halloween or All Saints Day is becoming more and more popular, especially in the cities. So get your costumes ready because you will find plenty to do on Old Hallow's Eve in and around Florence.

Halloween is on a Wednesday this year and on the Fall break of most study abroad programs. Think of it as the ultimate spring break but with costumes! Many private bars and discos host special events on Halloween night. During the day there are festivals and cultural events taken place around Florence.

The following proposals for a great Halloween’s night come from Florentine pubs, bars and discos :

Auditorium Flog W live: HALLOWEEN HORROR PARTY
HALLOWEEN NIGHT: “PROFONDO ROSSO PARTY' with DAEMONIA in concert. DARIO ARGENTO TRIBUTE: a night with the soundtracks of the most terrific movies by Dario Argento (PROFONDO ROSSO,SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, TENEBRE) and other horror cult movies, (HALLOWEEN by JOHN CARPENTER, TUBULAR BELLS by M.OLDFIELD, the Exorcist) SPECIAL VIDEO SELECTION ENERGY ZONE D.J.’s Open 9.30 p.m admittance ticket € 8.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Convivium: Halloween night
Features special drinks and food buffet. Viale Europa 4-6 Firenze.

Halloween party at Rifrullo's: special dinner with pumpkins, special events. For more info: www.ilrifrullo.com info@ilrifrullo.com

Halloween at Boston T
A night for dancing and drinking at Viale Europa.

Halloween Party at Fortezza da Basso 'Cosmo Night - Halloween Party with special guest from Germany dj FELIX KROCHER

Halloween for kids in Via San Gallo 25r, 50127 Firenze, tel 055 2658324: events, plays, games, free gitfs and cakes for children at the bookstore. From 4.30 pm.

Halloween Jazz Party with FLORENCE FUNKY COMPANY in concert from 9 pm. After dj set ’70-'80 until late at JAZZ CLUB (Via Nuova de’ Caccini n° 3)

Halloween night will be also at the Otel: a mysterious night immersed in the sound of the music. 9, Via Generale Dalla Chiesa Firenze.

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL DINNER at Red Passion, ristoshow. On stage: “Brit-Rock Wave” with “LULLABY Quartet” in concert from 9 pm RED PASSION (via de' Serragli 48r, 338.2799075 - 0552381016).

Borgo a Mozzano. Just a bus ride away, you can find yourself lost in a haunted road or treat yourself to some Halloween goodies. Try the "path of terror"! Watch the video>>

Long term rental apartment in Florence

Long term rentals

Elegant bilocal apartment in a country house, few steps from Florence, Italy.

The apartment is in the countryside, 10 minutes from the the city center of Florence. It’s an independent building, nobody under, nobody above, nobody besides.
It’s very silent and quiet, the ideal place for relaxing after work.
It has private parking for car and motorbike. The apartment has been completely renewed and furnished in August 2007.

The apartment is on 2 floors: on the main floor there is the living room, upstairs the sleeping room (double bedroom) and the bathroom (with window). All the windows have nice views on gardens and trees. The building belongs to an old tuscan country structure. The ceilings have wooden beams and the floors are in cotto. The dining room has the cooking corner and a lovely fireplace. The dining room has a table that seats six persons.
On the first floor there’s a bright double bedroom with a wardrobe, a bath with shower.

Where it is:

The flat in the area knowed as “Firenze Certosa” very close to the city of Florence and to the roadway (A1). It could be a good place to stay while visiting Tuscany: Siena and Arezzo are less than 1 hour, San Gimignano and Volterra are about 40 minutes. Pisa is near too. With the roadway you can reach all the places of interest in Italy: Rome, Naples, Bologna.. Then, when you come back home, you can park easily in the front of the apartment and rest in the silence of the country. The apartment is not far from Impruneta, at the beginning of Chianti area, where you can find many typical restaurants and wine bar.

Rock Contest 2007

If you have any interest in music, enjoy live performances but don't know where in Italy you can find a concert filled with variety and new beats,then look no further. On Thursday, October 11th, Florence will kick off 'Rock Contest 2007' at the Ambasciata di Marte on Via Mannelli which will take place every Thursday in October and November. This extended concert which occurs every Thursday night in October and November culminates 36 bands from across the country which compete to impress the fans, gain votes and finally be the last-standing group to call themselves the winners of this famous event. Previous winners of the competition have gone on to become very popular in the music industry today, and you won't want to miss this 19th annual band competition for music-lovers everywhere. Performances begin at 9pm and entrance to the concert is free. Come see what the Italian music scene is all about while taking part in this staple of Florence culture!

Dates & Venues:
Thursday, October 18 @ Omi Music Club in Sesto Fiorentino
Thursday, October 25 @ Ambasciata di Marte
Thursday, November 1 @ Omi Music Club in Sesto Fiorentino
Saturday, November 10 @ 'Centro Giovani' youth center in Calenzano
Thursday, November 15 @ Ambasciata di Marte

Chestnut Festival

Chestnut Festival

To truly experience Florence, one must take advantage of the various fairs and festivals which take place in and around the city during the colorful month of October.

One of the most popular is the Chestnut Festival located in the neighboring area of Mugello every Sunday in October (7,14,21 & 28). Enjoy the festivities while indulging in the many scrumptious, tasty desserts of the Tuscan region such as fried cakes and roasted chestnuts topped with honey. In the late morning, treat yourself to the many traditional dishes of the region including polenta (ai funghi porcini, carni di cinghiale e capriolo) and local wine. In the afternoon, take time to digest and enjoy the live music and variety of attractions and exhibitions offered. Mugello is easily accessible by train or bus and the 20 to 30 minute travel from Florence is well worth the time spent at this historic, delicious festival in a classic Italian town.
You can also have a tour on a special "old" steam-engine train!

Festival of Creativity

Festival of Creativity 2007: 400 events dedicated to the arts, research, innovation, and intelligence. Florence, Fortezza da Basso October 25 to 28, 2007

Thursday 3pm - 3am
Friday to Sunday 10am to 3am free entrance
From October 25 to 28 at Florence's Fortezza da Basso, the second edition of the Festival of Creativity will take place, an event promoted by the Tuscan Region and organized by Fondazione Sistema Toscana. With an exhibition space of approximately 40,000 square meters, 400 events (concerts, meetings, exhibits), 1,600 artists and speakers from over 40 countries around the world, the Festival program includes meetings and debates with great representatives of modern culture, the world of art and design, and the Italian and international music scenes.

Last year this festival was a great success with more than 170.000 visitors!

Pure creative energy will dominate during the Carta Bianca meetings, an hour dedicated to the great masters of modern creativity: Derrick De Kerckhove, the undisputed guru of mass media; Joshua Davis, the New York designer who revolutionized commercial art in recent years; and the great Dario Fo, who will lead a public conversation on Leonardo Da Vinci.

The River to River: Florence Indian Film Festival is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Festival of Creativity, which takes place October 25 to 28, 2007 at Florence's Fortezza da Basso. On this occasion, four short films of past editions of River to River will be screened on Saturday October 27 at 5pm at the Teatrino Lorenese at the Fortezza da Basso. The shorts portray various aspects of modern India. www.rivertoriver.it

Using musical instruments, videocameras and video screenings, this jam session will come to life and allow the public to interact under the guidance of three experts in the field: Livio Magnini (guitarist of Jetlag, Bluvertigo musical producer), Jacopo Rondinelli (bass player of Jetlag, set designer) and O.M.M.A. (internationally-famed media artist and Nokiatrendslab vj). www.nokiatrendslab.it.
October 25-28 THE MIX 7pm - 10pm
October 25-28 PERFORMANCE 11pm - 3am DJs and VJs selected during the Nokia contest
for other info: http://www.festivaldellacreativita.it

Spanish dinner in Florence

This night at the florentine restaurant "Il Rifrullo" there will be a special dinner with tapas and other spanish foods.

For 18 euros you can eat how much you can and drink Sangria and Tinto de verano. For info: info@ilrifrullo.com

Luxury hotels and restaurants in Florence

Strolling on my own in the web I found one more out of hundreds website about Florence: Italianday.com.

One can say there are too many touritsic website. That was different. I rather enjoyed the pictures of monuments and landscape (marvellous!).
Actually there is not only Florence, there are much more Italian destinations. I see there are many hotels around all Italy (Sardinia, Venice. Rome, Florence, Umbria, Apulia..).
Some of there are really gorgeous.. This website offers a selection of Italy luxury hotels and charming accommodations (I think it is very useful for those travellers willing to come to Italy).
There are 4 and 5 stars hotels, castles and charming dwellings and some restaurants. In Florence's page at the moment there is just one restaurant: Borgo San Jacopo. I have never been there so far, some of my friends have been there and said they eat well. Surely on the photo looks like it is on a great position (Ponte Vecchio just few steps away) and prawns in another photos look really tasty.. something to try for sure! Well, in Italy there are really fabulous places. I know the five stars hotels on the Florence’s pages of Italianday.com (Westin Excelsior and Grand Hotel) because sometimes I popped put there for some parties or ‘aperitivi’ I really didn’t know anything about Castello del Nero in Tavernelle. I actually read on a newspaper they have a spa as well. I really would love to sleep in a luxury hotel once.

Live jazz music in Florence

PROGRAM 1st-31th of October 2007

Concerts start at 10.15 pm – members only
Promotion: for only 5 euros you can gain a membership card valid till December 31st
October special promotion: “U.S.A. College day”, every Wednesday if you are an AMERICAN STUDENT in Florence and BRING WITH YOU your STUDENT ID card, you can buy 2 Jazz club membership card for only 5€ (2 for 1: come with a schoolfellow!)
Monday 1st closed.
Tuesday 3nd JAM SESSION BLUES + HOUSE BAND Today the Jam Session has the colours of blues: it will start with STAY FREE BAND (www.stayfreeband.com), led by one of the most important blues musician in Tuscany. Roberto Uggiosi: guitar and voice; Marco Polidori: bass; Luca Solini: drums.
Wednesday 3rd METROPOLIS JAZZ QUINTET. Standard jazz, Italian and American evergreen songs with a lot of free space for improvisation. Denise Lembo: voice; Marco Zini: tenorsax; Umberto Quattrone: guitar; Alessandro Berti: double bass; Enzo Marino: drums.
Thursday 4th NADIA ANGILELLA GROUP. A modern arrangement of Italian ’40s and ’50s songs and ’30s and ’40s American swing. Nadia Angilella: voice; Paolo Iannone: piano; Piero Barbetti: drums; Paolo Bulletti: bass.
Friday 5th From 21 p.m. Fiesta española with GIGI CARDIGLIANO GROUP. Flamenco, paella and sangria (info for dinner: Vincenzo Ricchi 331 6477097).
Saturday 6th “Jazz & Friends” presents DANIELE MALVISI (sax) + Leonardo Pieri: piano; Nicola Vernuccio: doublebass; Cosimo Marchese: drums. Jazz with a great Italian saxophonist and composer.
Sunday 7 th and Monday 8 th closed.
Tuesday 9th JAM SESSION + HOUSE BAND. Tonight jazz-funk, with the House Band made up of Francesco Cherubini: drums; Leonardo Volo: piano, Carlo Bonamico: bass. But Jam Session is free and open to any kind of jazz…
Wednesday 10th EMIFOLK (13 BLUES). Folk-blues-rock&roll. Emiblues (Emiliano Degli Innocenti): guitar, mouth organ, bass, and voice; Folk13 (Folco Tredici): guitar, mouth organ, and voice.
Thursday 11th SUNRISE JAZZ ORCHESTRA conducted by Stefano Rapicavoli. Born in 1994, one of the first jazz orchestra in Tuscany which already playes with big artists.
Friday 12th CHICAGO BLUE REVUE. R&b-swing-rock’n’roll, arranged in 50s’ Chicago Style. Giacomo Ferretti: guitar, voice; Fabrizio Berti: mouth organ, voice; Piero Ferretti: bass, voice; Enzo Panichi: drums.
Saturday 13th Silvano Grandi & THE SULTANS OF SWING. Silvano Grandi: piano; Maurizio “Bozorius” Bozzi: bass; Eraldo Cardinali: drums + Guests.
Sunday 14th and Monday 15 th closed.
Tuesday 16th JAM SESSION BLUES + STAY FREE BAND, led by one of the most important blues musician in Tuscany. Roberto Uggiosi: guitar and voice; Marco Polidori: bass; Luca Solini: drums.
Wednesday 17th TRIO SCAFROGLIA. Tommaso Ceccatelli: guitar; Andrea Vincenti: voice; Mirco Capecchi: double bass (Swing).
Thursday 18th ROBERTO ANDREUCCI ’70 FUNK TRIO. Funk and jazz-funk in ’70s style Roberto Andreucci: electric piano; Milko Ambrogini: bass; Stefano Tamborrino: drums..
Friday 19th ALEX GONFIANTINI BLUES BAND. One 19 years old talent. When he was 16 he was on the stage of Pistoia Blues; at seventeen he opend the second night at Turrita blues; at eighteen he played at Bordighera Jazz & Blues. Keep an eye on him! Alex Gonfiantini: voice and guitar; Carlo Bonamico: bass; Antonio Masoni: keyboards; Cosimo Marchese: drums.
Saturday 20th PERFIDIA QUINTET. The band, whose name comes from a very famous 30s' bolero, works to restore the intense and full of pathos atmosphere of bolero, son and latino american music, especially the traditional cuban music. Francesco Birardi and Gianni Biondi: guitars and voice; Paolo Casu: congas, darbouka, percussions; “Sandrito” Garbey: trumpet; Michele Staino: double bass.
Sunday 21st and Monday 22th closed.
Tuesday 23th JAM SESSION + HOUSE BAND. Tonight latin jazz & fusion, with the House Band with Marco Pezzola: piano; Carlo Bonamico: bass; Pepe Bonanno: drums. But Jam Session is free and open to any kind of jazz…
Wednesday 24th FEIJOADA. Brasilian Music. Irene Giuliani: voce; Guido Salvi: guitars; Lorenzo Innocenti: electric bass; Tommaso Rosati: drums..
Thursday 18th “CAPPOTTO E CAMMELLO” (Coat & Camel). Leonardo Boni and Roberto Uggiosi: guitars and voices. A new reading of ragtime and blues-swing songs by artists as Sam Chatmon, Sonny Terry, Browie McGee etc.; the love for this kind of music also appears through their version of more recent authors' songs, like John Fogarty and Lennon-McCartney.
Friday 26th SOUND POWER FUNK in “Rock my love” . Andrea Coppini: sax; Franco Baggiani: trumpet; Emanuele Fontana: piano and keyboard; Marco Cattarossi: bass; Cosimo Marchese: drums. An extraordinary explosive band, led by Andrea Coppini and with teachers from the music school “Sound” of Florence (www.soundrecords.it ), which plays rock songs arranged in funky style.
Saturday 27th SIX DIXIERS. Alberto Guerrini: clarinet; Mirko Rabitti: trumpet; Nerio Bianchi: trombone; Enzo Bonfiglio: banjo; Francesco Lorenzini: bass; Giole Camellini: drums. The band plays both classical dixieland songs of ‘20s and ‘30s and songs of the smaller bands playing in those years. In the repertory songs like Sweet Georgia Brown , All of Me , Basin Street Blues, Fire chief Rag, and Italian songs like Pippo Pippo, Mille lire al mese, etc.
Sunday 28th and Monday 29th closed.
Tuesday 30th JAM SESSION BLUES + STAY FREE BAND, led by one of the most important blues musician in Tuscany. Roberto Uggiosi: guitar and voice; Marco Polidori: bass; Luca Solini: drums.

Wednesday 31st HALLOWEEN PARTY: live music with “Florence funky company” (soul-funk and disco music) + DJ SET to late night. Witches, wizards, vampires etc. are welcome!

Info and reservations: Vincenzo Ricchi, 331 6477097; after 21 p.m.: 055-2479700

JAZZ CLUB
Via Nuova de’ Caccini, 3 - Firenze
tel. 055-2479700 / 331 6477097
www.jazzclubfirenze.com
open from 9 pm to late night
concerts from Tuesday to Saturday – closed on Sunday and Monday
every Tuesday JAM SESSION + HOUSE BAND

On the tuscan road

"ON THE TUSCAN ROADS”

TASTING THE RECIPES OF THE TUSCAN TRADITION

“..THE FOOD OF A TERRITORY INTEGRALLY BELONGS TO THE CULTURE OF A POPULATION. AND TODAY I ACCEPTED THIS CHALLENGE, TOGETHER WITH THE RIFRULLO, PRESENTING A TUSCAN FOOD WHERE THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL OLD FARMERS RECIPES ARE CONSIDERED: THAT IS THE FOOD OF OUR TERRITORY, OF OUR COUNTRYSIDE, OF OUR CLYMATE, OF OUR VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND, FINALLY, OF OUR FAMILIES” GIANMARCO MAZZANTI , tuscan chef

this wesnesday there will be the first appointment with the tuscan recipes:

SEPTEMBER 2007
The CHIANTI region: land of Gallo Nero and of the tuna that doesn’t live in the sea.
OCTOBER 2007
The LUNIGIANA region: land of bread and pilgrims
NOVEMBER 2007
SAN MINIATO : the jewels of San Miniato
JANUARY 2008
The MAREMMA region: homeland of strong tastes
FEBRUARY 2008
The CASENTINO : land of cold cuts, beans and stews
MARCH 2008
The GARFAGNANA : not just cereals
April 2008
SAN ROSSORE : a game reserve and its jewels
May 2008
The Etruscan coast and the blue-fish

For all those who will participate at at least 6 dinners, there’ll be a special gift from the Rifrullo!
Come and taste the real Tuscan dishes: food, wine, history, people…at the RIFRULLO you will experience an itinerary throughout this beautiful country!

For further details: http://www.ilrifrullo.com/index.php?lang=en

Corri la vita marathon

Next Sunday in Florence there will be "Corri la vita".
"The run against Breast Cancer"

CORRI LA VITA is a marathon with the goal of collecting funds for the fight against breast cancer. It is a wonderful event that will involve the city of Florence and the whole of Tuscany. All are invited to participate: residents and non residents, from the most serious athletes to the most sedentary, but also children, adults of any age, individuals, whole families, groups, colleagues and friends…everyone is welcome. Participating means you will have the chance to add your contribution towards saving millions of lives each year.

In 2005, with the success of the previous editions, a new Cancer Rehabilitation Center was created to assist people who have undergone breast or intestinal surgery in both physical and psychological rehabilitation. Part of the money collected with Corri La Vita is also designated to FILE which provides hospice care and pain alleviating therapy.

As in the previous editions, there will be a non-competitive walk (approx. 6 Kilometers) open to all and a competitive mini-marathon (approx. 12 Kilometers). The exact itinerary, as always, will start and end in Piazza Santa Croce at 9.30 am and you can be sure that it will lead through beautiful hidden gardens and historical buildings and sites.

DATE AND PLACE: Sunday, September 30th 2007, in Firenze Piazza Santa Croce
DEPARTURE TIME: 9:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Boots will be open in Piazza Santa Croce Saturday 29 September 10 to 17 and last minute Sunday 30th September from 8:00 to 9:00 in.
Every participant must fill in an entry form, specifying if he/she wants to walk (6 km.) or take part in the competitive race of 12 km (see example of required medical certificate below). The entry form must be taken to:
The enrollment fee is minimum 10 Euro per person and for this you will receive a bib number, together a free Salvatore Ferragamo T-shirt and gift bag certificate. Children under 10 do not pay, but those children who register and pay their € 10 will be eligible for a t-shirt, bib number and gift bag certificate plus the possibility of winning race prices.

Read also Vivicittà Firenze half marathon

Lucca comics and games 2007

Lucca is known throughout the world as a city of Art, History and Culture. Since 1966, however, Lucca has also been the undisputed City of Comics, and year after year has hosted an event dedicated to strip cartoons that is acknowledged to be the most important and exciting of its kind in Italy.

I've been to several editions of Lucca comics, even last year when it was held in the center of the town. It was quite funny to have a coffee in a bar besides Jessica Rabbit or Jack Sparrow, it was gorgeous to watch Luke skywalker and the Jedi fight near the ancient walls, or walk besides Darth Fener.. it was funny to see Sailor Moon window watching in Lucca.. (you can see some pictures here)
A long and impressive story that has made Lucca one of the world's capitals of comics, thanks to the enthusiasm and skill of international experts, publishers, authors, critics and fans.
In 1993 started a section, Lucca Games, dedicated to role-playing and simulation. Soon after, this was joined by Lucca Junior for children.

Almost 400 exhibitors from all over the world, spread out over 16,000 square metres of covered area, large exhibitions mounted in important buildings in the historic centre of Lucca, meetings and discussions, innumerable new publications, meeting with the many authors who take part in the exhibition, more than 400 accredited journalists and more than 85,000 visitors - these are the current statistics for LUCCA COMICS & GAMES, statistics that have made Lucca a must for cartoonists, game writers, publishers, scholars, opinion leaders and fans.

Together with the new Italian Museum of Comics, set up in 2001, Lucca Comics & Games is now a great cultural event representing arrival in a journey that began 40 years ago. And above all, the beginning of a new adventure that makes Lucca the fantastic City of Comics and Games - in the heart of Tuscany, in the heart of Italy, in the heart of fans all over the world.

This edition is devoted to Alice in Wonderland.
From the 1st to the 4th of November.

Dancing at Barberino Outlet

Tomorrow afternoon at Barberino Outlet there will be the special exhibition of the Kataklo' company. These dancers have become famous thanks to the opening ceremony for Olimpics games in Turin.

On Saturday 15 September 2007, from 6 pm, you will be able to enjoy an evening in the company of great artists of dance, with the spectacular Kataklò Athletic Dance Theatre and many other internationally known dancers.

This weekend you can admire original idea of Michelangelo shown on the facade of San Lorenzo church, you can go to Fragranze show, you can wander through the little market of antiquees at Fortezza da Basso, you can have brunch at Rifrullo (they have started again the great Sunday brunch).

Fragranze, Pitti exhibition

From 14 to 16 September 2007, in the Gardens of Palazzo Corsini, Florence, Pitti Immagine presents the fifth edition of Fragranze, the only event of its kind in Europe dedicated to the world of artistic and selective perfume-making.

THE EVENT
One of the most beautiful gardens in Florence will be the stage for the most exclusive fragrance, timeless perfumes, research on cosmetic specialties, body-care and wellness products and perfumed accessories. Exceptionally high, artisan quality, sophisticated items and unique products from the world’s biggest names.
Fragranze is the meeting point for the most advanced, creative and niche fragrance market (there were over 1,000 visitors at the last edition). It is the event that selects and showcases the latest and most interesting products the industry has to offer, and it’s a workshop-laboratory that researches products that are complementary to and coherent with perfumery.
During Fragranze Florence, the place where modern perfume-making was born, the place where the wealth of monumental and botanical gardens combines with the unique nature of its artisan workshops, will be valorizing its traditions and projecting them into the future proclaiming itself at the international capital of creative perfume-making.

THE BRANDS
Of the over 100 brands at this edition, we can mention: Abahna, Aqaba, Casaroma, Clive Christian, Crabtree & Evelyn, Diptyque, Creed, E. Marinella, Floris, Il Profumo, La Maison de la Vanille, Laura Tonatto, Le Prince Jardinier, Lorenzo Villoresi, Maitre Parfumier et Gantier, Menard, Nougat, Penhaligon's, Profumi di Pantelleria, Robert Piguet-Bahgari e The Laundress.

THE NEW FORMAT
The new staging concept was designed by Sergio Colantuoni, stylist and fashion editor for important international fashion and lifestyle magazines. The products will be displayed in an elegant and imaginary store of the future projected back to the 1940’s. It will be a tour of elegant “couture-parfumeur” windows, framed in stuccowork, lights and floral arrangements, and then a huge, magical room that will host Meeting-Parfume and Risto-Parfume with different atmospheres bonded together by a special alchemy.

EVENTS, INFORMATION ENTERTAINMENT
The 3 days of Fragranze will feature a program of events that combines information and entertainment: projects, exhibitions and presentations organized by Pitti Immagine and the exhibitors will turn the spotlights on the international leaders in artistic perfume-making and contemporary life-style and wellness culture. The various initiatives scheduled for this edition include a special installation-journey through 7 areas dedicated to the 7 basic fragrance classifications, and a photographic exhibition which takes a look at the personal idea of beauty of perfume-wearers, realized through images taken by young Italian photographers.

OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
This edition, too, of Fragranze will be open to the public for one day. On SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, all fragrance enthusiasts will be able to enter this fascinating world to learn about the exclusive products and to participate in the events and become closely acquainted with modern olfactory culture. Entrance fee: 10 euro.

see also Pitti Immagine Uomo

Food and wine tasting

Tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 September 2007, at 8,30 pm

after the summer stop, the wednesday special events at the Rifrullo are starting again.

Wednesday 12th, they shall start with a wine tasting. The wines are from La Montina. You can have dinner at a special rate.

The menu is selected in order to follow the wines FRANCIACORTA DOCG:

Selection of ham and salami with crostini (BRUT)
Mix of fried vegetables (Extra Brut)

Tagliatelle with vegetable ragout (Satin)
Risotto with prawns and courgettes

Melon and watermelon dessert (Demisec Rosè)
Please contact us for your table reservation. Places are limited!
Price per person: Euro 22,00 (including service, water, wines).

To reserve: phone numbers: 055 2342621 - 055 2347850
For further details, please visit the web site www.rifrullo.com
And don't forget to that every Sunday you can find at the Rifrullo their well known rich Brunch (from 12,30 to 15,30), while the evening is dedicated to the happy hour, with lots of good things to eat! (all you can eat just for 10 euros)

Wine tournament near Florence

I wrote about this wine tournament in Fiesole (near Florence) several months ago, now it's time to go and drink!
From saturday, the 8th (3.00 pm) to Sunday, the 9th of September (until 5.00 pm) you can taste several kinds of wine and tuscan food. Entrance free, you pay for the glass necessary for drinking wine.
On Sunday, at 6.00 pm, there will be a special celebration for the "bistecca alla fiorentina" with the cut of the steak, made by the florentine association of butchers.
Here's the detailed program (I'm sorry it's in italian):
Campionato di..vino in Fiesole, near Firenze.

Live music in Florence in September

Tomorrow there will be the Rificolona here in Florence. Besides the main procession on the night of the 7^th, from Piazza Santa Croce to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, and the kids carrying the coloured lanterns through the streets of Florence, you can go also to Piazza della Passera for the Rificolona concert.

In the little square near to Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Pitti, in these days there are some little jazz live concerts.
For the eve of the 7th: Rossana Casale trio jazz with Luigi Bonafede e Aldo Mella.
Rossana Casale is a famous italian singer, with a smooth voice and long carrier.
Entrance free.
In the afternoon food and events for kids, from 5.30 pm.

Feast of Rificolona

This friday in Florence there will be the "rificolona": an historical event made for kids. Children wander through the streets of Florence carrying papier-mâché lanterns tied to the ends of sticks, called rificolone.

More probably the Festa della Rificolona grew out of the great fall market held September 7 (the day before the Nativity of the Virgin) in Piazza Santissima Annunziata. It was perhaps the most important market-day of the year, because it allowed the farmers to gather cash for the coming winter. To arrive early those living in the outlying regions would shoulder their packs long before dawn and carry lanterns, made by suspending candles within tissue-paper wind-shades, to light their way. Entire families would come, dressed in their Sunday best, but they were ignorant county folk and their attempts at elegance only made the city people laugh (Florentines still call an overdressed, over made-up woman a rificolona). Children would blow whistles at them, and make their own lanterns with colored tissue paper to follow along, or shoot at the farmers' lanterns with blowguns, in an attempt to knock over the candles and set the tissue paper ablaze.

The Festa della Rificolona closes with a procession on the night of the 7^th, from Piazza Santa Croce to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, which is led by the Cardinal.
Various Rificolona laboratories are organised by the City Wards to help keep up the lantern making tradition.

Pizza festival near Florence

The little town of Lazzeretto, in the Florentine countryside hosts the Pizza Festival (Sagra della Pizza) until Sunday 16th September 2007. Lazzeretto lies between Empoli and Pistoia, not so far from Florence. (here's the map to get to Lazzeretto)
The festival is a very big gastronomic event and propose a big selection of home made pizzas cooked in the traditional wood stove. Besides all those pizzas the festival also propose typical dishes of the Tuscan gastronomy.

Every night music, performances and more (entrance free) here is the program of live music and dancing.

European Biennial of Wrought Iron Exhibition

The European Biennial of Wrought Iron Exhibition reaches its 17th edition. The European Biennial of Wrought Iron Exhibition is an important meeting and exchange point for blacksmiths from all over the world, who are the keepers of an ancient profession that, in centuries, has maintained unchanged many of its characteristics. Blacksmiths are the real protagonists of an event that this year is even richer for what regards the international character of the manifestation, thanks to the twinning between 7 municipalities, members of the European Union of the Cities of Iron, that was signed in Stia last year.

Thie event is held is Casentino, Tuscany, in the city of Stia.

Program:

Thursday 30^th August

10:30 piazza Tanucci, inauguration ceremony

11:30 piazza Tanucci, visit of the stands

21:00 piazza Mazzini, Opening of the World Forging Championship

21:30 Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta - piazza Tanucci, Concert : “Albacustica” and vocal group directed by G.M. Checcacci

Friday 31^st August

8:00-24:00 piazza Mazzini, World Forging Championship

08:20-20:00 Palazzo Comunale, International design and drawing contest
“Pierluigi Della Bordella”

09:00-24:00 piazza Tanucci, opening time of stands

21:00 Palagio Fiorentino, Conference by prof. Ortensio Mendicino and prof. Peter Parkinson

Saturday 1^st September

8:00-24:00 piazza Mazzini, World Forging Championship

08:20-20:00 Palazzo Comunale, International design and drawing contest “Pierluigi Della Bordella”

09:00-24:00 piazza Tanucci, opening time of stands

Sunday 2^nd September

08:00 piazza Mazzini, non-competitive forging exhibition

09:00-23:00 piazza Tanucci, opening of the stands

12:00 medieval centre and Parco delle Terme, historic procession and exhibition of crossbows from San Sepolcro

16:30 piazza Mazzini, Prize-giving ceremony

How to arrive in Stia
BY CAR
- from Florence: Pontassieve, S.S.70, Consuma mountain pass, Scarpaccia, Stia
- from Arezzo: S.S.71 Umbro-Casentinese, Bibbiena, Poppi, Pratovecchio, Stia
- from Cesena: E45 Rome direction, Exit at Bagno di Romagna, Mandrioli mountain pass, Badia Prataglia, Soci, Poppi, Pratovecchio, Stia
- from Mugello: San Piero a Sieve, Dicomano, Londa, Croce ai Mori mountain pass, Stia

by motorway
- from south direction: A1 exit Arezzo, S.S.71 Umbro-Casentinese direction Casentino, Bibbiena, Poppi, Pratovecchio, Stia
- from north direction: A1 exit Barberino di Mugello, San Piero a Sieve, Dicomano, Londa, Croce ai Mori mountain pass, Stia
A1 exit Firenze Sud , Pontassieve, Diacceto, Consuma mountain pass, Scarpaccia, Stia
A14 exit Cesena Nord, E45 Rome direction, exit Bagno di Romana, Mandrioli mountain pass, Badia Prataglia , Soci , Poppi, Pratovecchio, Stia

BY BUS
- from Florence: SITA bus for Casentino (Stia) – direct line

BY TRAIN
- from Florence: Train for Arezzo, Change for L.F.I. train to Stia
- from Arezzo: L.F.I. train to Stia