“Here we have the Carraresi, the princes of Padua for 100 years. Then, in 1405, the Venetians arrived and killed them all, except for one, from whom my cousin, Francesca Papafava dei Carraresi, is descended”.
Italy has been a strong Christian based culture for generations and through the years has adopted Christmas into their traditions. Italy is known for its strong traditions, and people from around the world can easily share in their experience. An Italian Christmas follows uniquely region specific traditions that are respected by almost all the households in the country. If you're looking to spend your Christmas among warm, passionate people who collectively share in the festive season, then Italy is the place to be.
No visit to Tuscany would be complete without an overview of the many wonderful works of art in Florence. If you're visiting during high season (April-October),
advance reservations are a good idea for the most popular museums. Reservations can usually be made online. If you're on a tight schedule, check the hours of any museums you plan to visit shortly before you go, as hours can change without warning. In general, Sundays and Mondays are not good days to visit museums in Florence, as many are closed or have reduced hours on those days. Discounted tickets are available at most museums.
Delicious food, great shopping opportunities, traditional culture and a welcoming European atmosphere… what better way could there be to prepare for the festive season than to visit some of Italy’s famous Christmas markets? The Christmas Markets in Italy or ‘Mercatino di Natale’ as they are known locally, take
place throughout Italy from late November to early January. Italian Christmas markets are held in many cities, and boast a wonderful, celebratory atmosphere. Elaborate nativity scenes, which form a focal point of many of the markets, are something for visitors to look out for.
One of the most traditional and enticing Christmas markets is to be found in Merano, in South Tyrol, in the very north of Italy. It is perhaps its proximity to its northern neighbors, Switzerland and Austria, that leads this market to feature delicious home-baked goods, often sweetened with cinnamon and spices. Traditional artisan crafts are also popular here. There is truly nothing as magical as meandering around this traditional Italian market whilst admiring the magnificent mountain scenery that surrounds the town.
Città della Pieve is a small village in Umbria, in the province of Perugia. It is very near the border between Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio, and surrounded by some of the most beautiful places of these three regions: the Tuscan cities of Montepulciano and Cetona, Lake Trasimeno in Umbria, Lake Bolsena and the city of Viterbo in Lazio.
Città della Pieve is a medieval village, ringed by fourteenth century walls, featuring beautiful exposed brickwork. It is said to have the narrowest alleyway in Italy, Via Baciadonne, and is famous for being the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, called Il Perugino, considered to be the highest exponent of Umbrian art in the XV century.
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