The Nights of Archaeology

Le Notti Dell’ Archeologia (The Nights of Archaeology)

The Nights of Archaeology, will unroll for the first time over the span of one month from June 30th until July 29th, with 300 other initiatives in Tuscany: opening extraordinary nights of museums and parks, archaeolgical trekking, guided tours and visits, expositions, themed dinners, confrences, educational activities, and an international inspection of archaeological cinema. It really will be a true “Archaeological Party” carried out by the Tuscan Region with the Association of Archaeological Museums in Tuscany (AMAT) and the collaboration of the Superintendence for Archaeological Assets (Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici)..

The theme of the 2007 edition of this festival is “The Antique Streets of Etruria”, for discovering the streets of global communication and antique maritime. A red thread will unroll on the territory of the research of antique Etruscan practicability through expositions, confrences, museum trips, and also trekking through the antique paths and layouts that unify the Etrustic centers and the population confined within.

The money earned from the archaeological trekking will be dedicated in particular to the antique streets.

Cortona suggests several journeys, introduced for the first time in a tour that will be presented at the Palazzo Casali (Casali Palace) the night of July 3rd at 10:00PM. Among the available tours are: Cortona al Castello di Montecchio Vesponi (Castle of Montecchio Vesponi), the discovery of the antique water mills (July 22nd leaving at 9:30), and Ruffignano a Poggioni along the street that connects the Cortona hillside and the Valle di Chio (July 28th leaving at 9:30).

Campiglia Marittima will organize a “Walk in History”. It will be a journey trekking along the Via delle Fonti to the Etruistic mines of the Archaeologic Mining Park of San Silvestro (July 14th leaving at 10:00).

In Piombino, the Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia proposes a journey to the setting of the Etrustic Necropolis to the Acropolis, along the layout plan of the antique street of the Romanella (July 6th leaving at 6:30PM).

In Carmignano will be The Etrustic Walk, a trek from the Tumulus of Montefortini to the Necropolis of Prato Rosello (July 1st leaving at 8:00) and there will also be a nocturnal walk to the archaeological Pietramarina (July 6th, leaving at 6:30 PM).

Within the guided tours, Poggibonsi suggests a nocturnal visit, by torchlight, to the diggings of Imperial Poggio (July 7-8, and 21-22 at 9:30 PM); Cecina has 2 itineraries: that of Romano, a journey in stages by bicycle, horse, and cart from the towers of Vada, to the quarters of San Gaetano, to the villa of San Vincenzino, and will conclude at the Rosignano Archaeological Museum with a tasting of old fashioned recipes (July 28th leaving at 3 PM); second is Etrusco, a trip from the Guerrazzi Museum to the archaeic installation of Casalvechhio ending at the Necropolis of Belora (July 21st leaving at 10:00).

This year, the archaeologic museums of Grosseto and Scansano suggest the exhibition Le vie del sacro (The Holy Streets). The sanctuaries in the Etruistic and Roman Maremma (July 7th – September 30th) will present 100 other votives, mainly terrecotte but also bronzetti, that represent parts of the body, heads of sacrificed, domestic animals, and children. Also here, you can relive again a spot which is said to be a rural and urban sanctuary from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries A.D., discovered during the digs condcuted in the last few decades in Maremma.

At the Museo Archeologico (Archaeological Museum) of Vetulonia , you can see the exhibition 'Vetulonia e le altre' (Vetulonia and the Others) of Isidoro Falchi of Vetuloni. At the Stages of the Etruistic Commerce exhibit (July 8th – November 4th 2007), you can discover evidence of the ancient complex network of exchanges that took place in Vetulonia that were created within the centers of Etruria during the archaeic age.

At the Baths of Massaciuccoli in Massarosa, a fantastic mosaic of animals will be available to view after a long period under the Factory of Pietre Dure of Florence, dating back to the second half of the 1st centruy A.D. and is also part of a Roman building discovered in 1932. Also, July 28th is the inauguration day of the new pavilion (7:00 PM), a very modern structure of glass and wood that will cover the enitre archaeological area.

Within the more curious and interesting initiatives of Le Notti dell’Archeologica 2007, in Montalcino will be the journey of L’Etruria 5 milioni di anni fa: il fossile di balena (Etruria 5 Million Years Ago: The Whale Fossil). It will be a visit to the biggest and oldest whale fossils ever discovered in Italy and the river basin of the Mediterraneon (July 5th at 5 PM).

In Piombino, will be the event La Cittadella del libro archeologico(The Citadel of The Archaeologic Book – July 6-15 from 5PM – 9:30PM) where there will be a exhibit where you can find (at discounted prices) rare books unavailable on the market. Also, in Gavorrano, il Laboratorio di Educazione Ambientale (Laboratori of Acclimated Education) will organze a language and writing corse for adults and youth by an expert (July 7th from 9-9:30 PM).

The numerous Didactic Initiatives, presented to youth and adults but overall meant for children ages 7 –10 years old to demonstrate to the young the understanding of daily life and the customs of ancient Tuscany.

And finally, for this year an International Review of Archaeological Cinema will be held thanks in part by the “International Archaeological Cinema Review” and the magazine “Archeologia Viva”.

For information, please call: 055 – 59.78.308

Live music in Florence

On July still live music jazz at Golden View open bar, a gorgeous restaurant in Florence, near Ponte Vecchio. From the 16th live music every night.

From July 17th to the 22nd Italia Wave Love festival, it is located 20 minutes from the center of Florence at Osmannoro (close to Campi Bisenzio) : The Scissor Sisters, Cassius, Kaiser Chiefs, Casino Royale and Avion Travel are just a selection of the bands that will be performing at this annual concert. There will be 5 different stages set up here for the different genres and also many exhibitions. Camping is available as well just a few meters from the parking area with bathrooms, showers and restaraunts nearby.

The Torre di San Niccolò is still hot spot for artists and musicians in Florence. There will be jazz, folk, reggae and rock concerts held here from saturday July 21st until saturday August 4th.

Fiesta rock festival is being held at The Mulina Racetrack at Cascine park, the green park in Florence (entrance in front of the ampitheater and access from via del Barco or from piazzale del Re). Under the direction of Piero Pelù (singer for the Florentine rock band Lifiba), the festival will be going on all summer long and open tuesday through saturday from 6:30 on.
Fi.ESTA Rock Ippodromo Le Mulina
Parco delle Cascine, Firenze (ingresso davanti all’Anfiteatro)
Tel: 055 4362505

Aside from the Fi.ESTA Rock, the Fi.ESTA Ballet is a more family oriented event and is located at the Racetrack of the Visarno, right by the Mulina Racetrack. There is ballet and other sports with a more spectacular nature, like Polo which is practiced here almost every afternoon. There are more bars, restaraunts and appropriate spots for children here.
Info Fi.ESTA Ballet/Visarno
Tel 055/4362505

Don't miss also the Estate Fiesolana: concerts, movies, theatre...

Mostra di Cezanne and big icecream

Last saturday I finally visited Mostra di Cezanne (Cezanne Exhibition) at palazzo Strozzi. Even if the paintings by Cezanne were few, I really enjoyed the exhibition because of it was really detailed, full of rich descriptions (in both languages: italian and english) and with a good exposure.

There were also some paintings by other famous painters (Van Gogh, Sargent, Matisse..)
As I came out, I walked without any destination, through the center of Florence, crowdy of tourists. There was a nice temperature, more similar to June than July.
I really liked walking in the narrow streets of Florence, like a tourist.

I decide to have an icecream and I remembered that - when I was at high school - I used to go to a nice little gelateria near Piazza della Signoria.
I went to Gelateria de'Neri (at Via de' Neri) and I ordered a big icecream with nut and "cannolo alla siciliana". Really tasting!
To find it: just go to the back of the Palace of Signoria, then pass near the new Uffizi Center (the building in front of the exit of Uffizi) and take the street named "via de' Neri". After 100 meters, on your left, you will find the gelateria.

Wine tournament in Fiesole, Florence

I've received this email from a friend of mine:
3rd edition of the "campionato di vino" - Fiesole (Florence, Italy) september 2007
hello everybody,
this is sabino from slow food firenze (italy).
Our convivia is proud to present the "campionato di ... vino" (the wine
tournament) !
It will take place in the teatro romano in Fiesole, just a couple of miles away from Florence, Italy on september 8th and 9th, 2007.
You can find a brief report, in english, of the former edition here
hope to see you in Fiesole
cheers

This campionato di vino (wine championship) is a nice event taking place in Fiesole, on the hill above Florence. It's a truly authentic “enological olympics” open to several teams.
In and around the event there will be tasting stands presenting various gastronomic delights varying from products of the Slow Food Presidi to those from the farms of Fiesole as well as those of other prestigious artisans of gusto from Tuscany and beyond.

4th of July in Italy

While all american people were celebrating the 4th of July, eating turkey and having fun for the Independence Day, in Italy another event was celebrated: the presentation of the new 500.

The fiat 500 is a very famous car in Italy, it was launched for the first time in 1957, on the 4th of July.

And it was one of the most successful made-in-italy product ever. Millions of this car were sold in every part of the globe. In the years it has become one of the symbol of Italy.

After a intermediate model that was a failure (some years ago), Fiat decided to go back to tradition and started studying a new car, related to the old so much loved model. With Leo Burnett, Fiat realized a marketing campaign very rich and complex. Through the web site they asked to the huge brand community of 500 lovers to tell their stories, to product their contents, to design accessories and elements of the car, to partecipate to several actions and contests.
With a user generated content vision Fiat made the car day by day together with people, talking with them.

Yesterday the new 500 was presented in Torino, in front of vip, the press and special guests.
Today and tomorrow it will be presented in many italian squares: from Florence to Rome, from Bologna to Caserta, from Pisa to Napoli the new 500 will be travelling through Italy.

Brunch in Florence

I've received this email:

I have read your page on Sunday brunch in Florence. I contacted Rifrullo, in San Niccolò but they are not having their brunch in July. Could you give me information on contacting some of the other places. I have not been able to find information on Finis Terrae or Angel Restaurants. Or could you make another recommendation for a Sunday brunch in July? I thank you for any help.

During the summer many places change their menu. Rifrullo has decided to interrupt the brunch for July and August. I don't know if other places do continue serving brunch on sundays. You can try one of these (if they are open):
- Noir (ex Capocaccia), in Lungarno Corsini, not so far from Ponte Vecchio. 20 euros. Nice club in the center of Florence. Informal, little terrace on the street where you can have brunch if you reserve the table.
- Westin Excelsior (5 star hotel in Borgo Ognissanti) from 12.30 to 3.00 pm, breakfast and lunch (and baby sitting service). 37 euros. Very elegant place.
- Gallery hotel (luxury hotel near PonteVecchio): esotic brunch. Very elegant place.
- Angels, an american brunch for students, with a small buffet and a selection of specialities (bacon, pancakes, omelettes, steak sandwiches) from 10 euros. Veru informal and noisy place. Nice atmosphere.
- Via dell'acqua, american brunch from wednesday to sunday, from 10am to 4am, a selection of american brunch (egg and bacon, hash browns, french toast, hamburger, fries, vanilla coke, muffins, pancakes) but you can find also pasta and salades. Via dell'acqua 2/3, near Santa Croce and Piazza San Firenze. It's part of the famous italian restaurant "Acqua al 2".