I Love Italian Travel - May Attractions Of Central Italy

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Part I

So you are thinking of passing your May holidays in Tuscany or elsewhere in central Italy. Don't despair; there are lots and lots of special spring events that simply aren't available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; May is almost upon us. We start our virtual tour in Tuscany on the western Tyrrhenian Sea coast and then proceed in a clockwise direction heading to The Marches on the Adriatic Sea. There are so many things to see and do in central Italy in May that this is the first of three articles.

One of Florence's best-kept secrets is the stunning Iris Garden of Florence, a former olive grove on the eastern slope of Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks the city. As its name indicates, this garden includes a fabulous iris collection. There are also century old trees and an unforgettable view of the city of Florence and its surroundings. This lovely garden is open to the public only from May 2 until May 20; make sure not to miss it. The city of Pescia, home to about 20 thousand, celebrates Pinocchio's Birthday on May 25th. You may choose to celebrate it at the Pinocchio Park in the city of Collodi, population about 25 thousand, named for this author who unfortunately died without an inkling of the colossal success of his children's story. On the final weekend of the month the similarly sized city of Cortona celebrates the Archidado Games, which commemorate an upper-class marriage, which took place in the late Fourteenth-Century. You'll enjoy seeing townspeople dressed in traditional costumes. On Saturday there are religious ceremonies and processions and crossbow competitions that pit neighborhood against neighborhood on the following day.

On the first Sunday in May, the town of Tolentino, with a population of approximately 20 thousand, presents their historic Le Marche Festa. This is a military pageant that recreates the Napoleonic period. The key activity takes place at the Castello della Rancia commemorating an 1815 battle which some historians and others consider to be the first battle in the war for Italian independence. Between the first and second weeks of May the town of Camerino, population 7 thousand, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of the regional capital Ancona, hosts their Fifteenth Century Le Marche Festa that just happens to coincide with the festival of the city's patron saint, San Venanzio. A major festival highlight is the Corsa alla spada in which competitors race up the town's wonderful steep alleys and streets. Another is the Giostra della Quintana (historical jousting tournament). You'll definitely enjoy the local food and wine specialties.


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Once upon a time Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books. And yet, he really prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, with the right food and friends. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his website http://www.wineinyourdiet.com which focuses on wine, weight loss, health, and nutrition issues.


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I Love Touring Italy - Springtime In The Marches

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The Marches is a narrow region of central Italy that lies on the Adriatic Sea. Its capital and largest city, Ancona, population 100 thousand is a seaport in the middle of the region. This is the real, traditional Italy. Like many parts of Italy, the region warms quickly during the spring months. You may want to start your spring vacation in The Marches in the town of Porto San Giorgio, population about 16 thousand, about halfway down the Adriatic coast from Ancona. On the third weekend of March this city is host to a Food Festival of typical regional products. There are literally hundreds of stalls and stands. One of the best wines in this region, the Rosso Conero Riserva DOCG comes from this area.

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The city of Fermignano, population 8500, located about 40 miles (70 kilometers) west of Ancona, holds the Golden Frog Race (Palio) on the Sunday after Easter. This means April 11, 2010 and May 1, 2011. In this race human competitors must keep their tiny racing frogs from leaving their wheelbarrows. This frog racing tradition seems to have started just over four hundred years ago. After this late afternoon race there is a historical, costumed pageant and then fireworks. I certainly wouldn't ask for frogs legs at a local trattoria. During the final week of April the city of Marotta di Mondolfo, population about 11 thousand, situated approximately 25 miles (35 kilometers west of Ancona) hosts the Sagra dei Garagoj food festival. "Garagoj" in the dialect signifies a special fish cooked by local fishermen on the beach. You might want to accompany this fish with a Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC or a Verdicchio di Matelica DOC white wine but be careful, their quality varies greatly. On the first Sunday in May, the town of Tolentino, population about 20 thousand presents the historic Le Marche Festa. This military pageant recreates the Napoleonic period in its nearby Castello della Rancia commemorating the 1815 battle that some call the first battle in the war for Italian independence. The town of Camerino, population 7 thousand, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Ancona, holds the Fifteenth Century Le Marche Festa between the first and second weeks of May that coincides with the festival of its patron saint, San Venanzio. This celebration features food, games, and wine. One highlight is the Corsa alla spada in which competitors race up the town's wonderful steep alleys and streets. Don't miss the Giostra della Quintana (historical jousting tournament). I can't promise you any Fifteenth Century wine. ----------------------------------------------------Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but he prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and people. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website http://www.travelitalytravel.com which includes information on Italian wine and food.

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