Anno 2 numero 41 - Firenze Thursday 5 October 2006 ������������������������������� ������������������������� �������� ����� ����� �������� ������������������������������������ ��������������� ������������������������������ Florence Dying man’s Best Kept Guess what’s lands in the last wish Secrets coming to Forbidden dinner City By Britt Alexander By Arlene Ridolfi Valentine see pg. 5 see pg. 6 see pg. 17 see pg. 21 Buon Appetito STOMPING Renaissance Disneyland HAS STARTED Tourist tax approved for Florence Boccaccio Vineyards optimistic Certaldo’s festival about 2006 harvest feeds body and soul by Valerie Perkins he home town endemmia is harvest time, and Tof literary giant Vfor wine makers it’s the most Giovanni Boccac- exciting part of the process of cio is to become wine production. For the pickers worthy host to one however, it’s the beginning of a of Tuscany’s most long period of hard work. Grape unique food festi- pickers come from all over Europe vals. During two to work the Italian grape harvest. weekends in October (6-8 and 13- Locals looking for extra work may 15), the medieval town of Certaldo pick for two or three different win- will open its gates to a wide variety eries. Some families, those who of food-inspired events designed to are not in the wine selling busi- inspire cooks and connoisseurs and ness but make wine instead for dmission paid upon entering each Italian municipality now has tempt seasoned eaters from all walks their own use, invite friends over the city gates? Turnstiles and the right to apply a ‘city tax’ of 5 euro of life. for a day of picking or stomping, Aa stamp on your hand if you per visitor. Florentine citizens and A chance to feed both body and followed by an evening of drink- leave the ‘premises’? Will residents offi cial residents will be free from soul, the Boccaccesca Festival brings ing a bit of wine from previous stand by and watch their city become said contribution, which will weigh together food and the arts, thanks to harvests. It’s also customary for an amusement ‘park’ where visitors on the pocketbooks of both tourists its series of artistic initiatives—paint- hosts to give their guests fruit to pay to see the attractions? Should and commuters. The money earned ing, poetry and even sculpture— take home, and, later, bottles pro- the hoards of tourists that fl ock to will go towards the city’s service sec- inspired by culinary themes. Kids duced from their labour that day. Florence in search of old art bear the tor to supplement funds needed to will get a kick out of Alessandro Even for those wine makers cost of maintaining the city’s streets, manage Florence’s upkeep. Just how Gigli’s scrumptious stories and food- who practice their craft simply sites and services? These are the con- will they collect the money? For related rhymes. And once they’ve for the love of wine-making, the troversial questions that have been tourism councillor Silvano Gori, the had their fi ll of word games, they can 2006 vendemmia will be a stress- puzzling both national and regional answer lies in technology. ‘I think try ‘new’ snacks like the ones their ful harvest. Weather conditions law makers for months. The verdict, we have the technological means grandparents used to enjoy. Games this year have not been kind to it seems, has fi nally arrived. for determining who is exempt from and dances will abound thanks to Tuscan wine makers. There was According to new regulations payment. We just have to study the infamous Compagnia del Drago too much rain and cool weather announced last week during the III the best way to put the system into Nero. Agriculture factors in as well, through May and the beginning NationalV06281_XC70FLORENTINE_toExplore.qxd Conference for Tourism, effect,’ 24-03-2006 he says. 9:34 Pagina 1 in a show featuring the art of Daniel of June. see pg. 3 see pg. 3 VOLVO XC70. DON’T STOP TO EXPLORE. DEALER Peragnoli-Scar PETROL ENGINE 2.5 T 210 bhp (154KW). FIRENZE (NORD) - Via F. Baracca 183 - Phone 055.43074 TURBODIESEL COMMON RAIL D5: 163 bhp (120KW), 185 bhp (136KW). EMPOLI (FI) - Via Tosco Romagnola 120/122 - Phone 0571.592929 ALSO AVAILABLE WITH GEARTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Fuel consumption, mixed cycle: 7.6 - 11.1 l/100 km. AUTHORIZED REPAIRER SIENA (MONTERIGGIONI) - Via Cassia Nord 110 - Phone 0577.318505 www.peragnoliscar.com Carbon dioxide emissions: 201 - 266 g/Km. 3 www.thefl orentine.net News Thursday 5 October 2006 ������������������������������ Florence NEWS via santa maria 32r - 50125 Firenze tel. fax 055 2306616 continued from pg. 1 info@thefl orentine.net editore Buon Appetito Boccaccio Table of CONTENTS Azimuth s.r.l. Schmiedt (currently on exhibit in the Chiostro delle Suore). Schmiedt viale Montegrappa 142 - 59100 Prato sculpts earth with simple tools to create surprisingly original imaginary crea- FLORENCE NEWS direttore responsabile tures. 1 Renaissance Disneyland Fabiana Ceccarelli ‘Piatto d’Artista’ will showcase internationally-renowned Italian-Ameri- editor in Chief can painter Edward Giobbi, whose works represent his great passion for Buon Appetito Boccaccio Nita Tucker cooking. And for those whose tastes turn to traditional handicrafts, the Boccaccesca Festival will also host two interesting events spotlighting tradi- Stomping has started managing editor tional artisans and their crafts: ‘Maestri in Mostra’ will present on-site dem- Linda Falcone onstrations by expert artisans of various trades; and ‘L’artigianato in vetrina’ Spooks and snoops contributing editors will provide space for craftsman to exhibit and sell their wares, thanks to 4 Marco Badiani, Elia della Chiesa, a program sponsored by Artex. As you meander through the stalls, expect Pensioners among poorest Giovanni Giusti, Antonio Lo Iacono, samples of Tuscan culinary treats, including wines, cheeses and specialty More than just words Amy Gulick, Tony Tucker cold cuts. Thanks to Le tavole del Boccaccio (‘Boccaccio’s tables’), hungry and cultural editor curious folk can follow the map of local restaurants that will open their Florence lands in the Jane Fortune doors for food samplings inspired by this special occasion. For the entire list 5 Forbidden City of where to fi nd good eats see www.boccaccesca.it. But those who’d rather sales director ‘eat in’ can brush up on their own cooking skills by attending special lessons Chains replace charm Giacomo Badiani with chefs Riccardo Monco and Italo Bassi from the Enoteca Pinchiorri. travel & Leisure writer These expert chefs will teach you how to prepare your own tasty fi rst and NATIONAL NEWS Sabine Eiche second courses and desserts—ones you won’t be afraid to whip up in your 6 Italy still hotspot for US own kitchen. Another venue for good food and creative fl air is the V Premio graphics and layout Chichibio, a contest reserved for students enrolled in hotel management Plugging up the leaks Leo Cardini - Cathy Gale courses. Awards will go to the most delicious and creative cookery, as future agilelogica.it chefs put their skills to the test. Dying man’s last wish Combining age-old tradition and modern-day creativity, the Boccaccesca printer festival promises to tempt taste buds and nourish an appreciation for alter- SPORT NEWS La Marina, Calenzano (Fi) native art and ancient craftsmanship. 7 Oldest but not slowest iscrizione al ROC Two teams at top spot (reg. degli operatori di comunicazione) continued from pg. 1 n. 9927 reg. trib. di Prato TOP PICKS & trasmessa il 19/04/05 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS STOMPING HAS STARTED Events Highlights wondering where that scorching Tuscan sun was hiding, it came beating down, despite intermittent days of cold and rain, up until August. Tempera- UP CLOSE & PERSONAL tures climbed in June and July, which was frightening as it could have cre- 14 An interview with ated another ‘tropical’ harvest like the one in 2003. However, September Jane Fortune was beautiful… ‘A wave of warm weather can block the vegetative function of plants,’ CULTURE & CUSTOMS reported Il Corriere Del Vino recently. Still, wine specialists are optimistic. 15 ITALIAN VOICES: They are predicting an important grape harvest, in terms of both quantity A Window on Language and quality. According to the predictions of the UIV (Unione Italiana Vini), and Customs in Italy Italy will produce more than 53 million hectolitres of wine, which is six per- cent more than last year. There has been rigorous vegetative development MOSAIC all over Italy, which will produce high quality wine as well. The notable noc- 16 Spotlight on Florentine turnal thermal excursions are superior to those of 2005—this should assure Museums complex aroma which will make a very elegant wine,’ stated a representa- tive of APROVITO (Associazione Produttori Vitivinicoli Toscani), who also TRAVEL & LEISURE hypothesises that although grapes may mature late this year, they will be Best Kept Secrets healthy and of higher quality. 17 Another interesting characteristic of this year’s harvest is that, while there was a great deal of rain, it didn’t produce any signs of water stress Calling on Caruso on the vines because the temperature was scorching. ‘If it doesn’t rain any- more this month, we should have the same quantity of grapes as 2005, but 18 of a superior quality,’ said a representative of Tenuta Valdipiatta. ‘Grapes that mature late are generally healthy grapes.’ THE ARTS 19 A not-so-real Italian Neorealism? FOOD & WINE 20 FOODIE’S CORNER: ‘Squashed’ bread with grapes Guess what’s coming to 21 dinner BOOK REVIEW 22 Florentine Crime, Florentine Retribution USEFUL NUMBERS 23 CLASSIFIED ADS 4 Thursday 5 October 2006 News www.thefl orentine.net Florence NEWS News in BRIEF Spooks and snoops MORE THAN ‘Giovanni’Violet smiles from on the block JUST WORDS Wantlocal childrento be on a fi rst name basisFiorentina’s with the star city players of Florence? showed nine offi cials arrested for selling secrets Hospitals call for English- Callthey outcare the about name the ‘Andrea’ children and of speaking volunteers 3,201the Meyer men andPediatric boys will Hospital answer.