PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, SIENA

It seems that finally spring is coming in Tuscany.

This is Piazza del Campo in Siena, one of the 100 most beautiful squares in Italy.

When you're in Florence take the chance to get here for a half day trip. Busitalia has a ride every 30/40 minutes from Florence to Siena at the cost of €15,60 both ways!

La torre - Piazza del Campo, Siena

Piazza del Campo, Siena

Piazza del Campo, Siena

MEDIEVAL CARNIVAL IN SAN CASCIANO VP

San Casciano Val di Pesa - il carnevale medievale

Carnival never ends!!! 

Sunday, April 7th in San Casciano Val di Pesa, only 20km away from Florence, 

there will be the medieval carnival.

This small town is situated in the middle of the Chianti and Valdelsa district and in year 1326 Castruccio Castracani, the duke of Lucca, took control over the castle of San Casciano and destroyed it.

San Casciano Val di Pesa

And so the fourth edition of the medieval carnival, called the "Siege of Castruccio", brings you back in that difficult period of the city.

The main event will be the "Carousel of the districts" where the five districts the Horse, the Lilium,  the Lion, the Tower and the Rooster will contest "the key of the village" against Castruccio Castracani.

San Casciano Val di Pesa

The free event will start at 10am and go on until sunset.

The artistic direction is entrusted to the "Associazione Culturale Laboratorio Amaltea" and on their website you'll find more useful information.

www.laboratorioamaltea.org

30° FLORENCE HALF MARATHON 2013

XXX Half Marathon FLorence

Vivicittà is the annual Half Marathon of Florence which takes place Sunday, April 7th, 2013.

There are 4 races taking place: 

the Half Marathon (21,097km) €20/24 for the registration fee starting at 9:30pm, 

the non competitive race (10km) €5 for the registration fee starting at 9:45am, 

the walking with Milena Megli (5km) €5 for the registration fee starting at 9:45am, 

and the Tommasino Run for the kids with a free registration fee.

All this races will start from Santa Corece Square!!! 

Find below the course of the Half Marathon

30° Half Marathon Firenze

To register yourself and for other infos please visit the official website

http://www.halfmarathonfirenze.it/

THE BURSTING OF THE CART (the program)

Scoppio del carro - Firenze

Are you ready for the Easter event of Florence??

Are you warming up your cameras??

This is the program of what is going on os Saturday and Sunday in Florence.

Saturday, March 30th, 2013

9:20pm - The procession of the FLorentine Republic starts from Palagio di Parte Guelfa and goes through Via Porta Rossa, Via Por S. Maria, Via Vaccherecchia and Piazza della Signoria

9:30pm - Piazza della Signoria: The procession of the FLorentine Republic together with the Gonfalone procession goes from Palazzo Vecchio through Via Vacchereccia, Via Por S. Maria, Borgo SS. Apostoli, Piazza del Limbo

9:45pm - The parade leaves from SS. Apostoli Church and moves to Via Por S. Maria, Via Vacchereccia, Piazza della Signoria, Via de' Calzaiuoli and arrives in Piazza del Duomo at 10:15pm

10:30pm - At the Duomo Cathedral starts the Easter Vigil and is lighted up the fire

Sunday, March 31st, 2013 (Easter)

8:15am - The "Brindellone" (Cart) with the procession of the Florentine Republic starts from Via il Prato and goes through Borgo Ognissanti, Piazza Goldoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, Via Strozzi, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Roma and arrives in Piazza San Giovanni (Battistero)

8:30am - A group of flag bearers will leave from Palagio di Parte Guelfa, passing through Via Porta ROssa, Mercato Nuovo, Via Vacchereccia, to reach Piazza della Signoria

8:40am - Piazza della Signoria: The procession of the FLorentine Republic with the Gonfalone (Flag of Florence)and the Mayor of Florence will move through Via de' Calzaiuoli and Via degli Speziali to reach Piazza della Repubblica at 9:55 am where an exhibition of the "Sbandieratori" (Flag Bearers) will start

11:00 am - Piazza del Duomo will start the most beautiful event of the Bursting of the Cart

As this is a free show I suggest to go in Piazza del Duomo a little bit befor of 10:30 to make sure you'll have a god place to see the explosion of the cart!!!

MODERN STORY OF THE EASTER DOVE

Colomba pasquale

The Easter Dove (colomba pasquale in Italian) is a typicall Easter cake, the counterpart of the well known Italian panettone.

It was Dino Villani, marketing director of the firm MOTTA (famous for the panettone) who invented in the '30 the Easter dove with the intent to use the same machines and the same dough of the panettone.

In year 1944 Angelo Vergani, the founder of the VERGANI firm, reinvented the recipe and since then the classic Easter dove made with flour, eggs, sugar, yeast, butter, candid orange peel and an almond icing, become a typicall Italian Easter cake!!!

Colomba di Pasqua Vergani

Manifersto colomba Motta