Copyright © 2011 by Communicart.it – Firenze Printed by : Industria Grafica Pistolesi – Ed Il Leccio srl. Via della Resistenza, 117- Loc.Badesse Monteriggioni (Siena) Author: Veronica Ficcarelli (Communicart.it – Firenze) Concept Design: Arch. Nicola Natalizio Cover Calligraphy: Betty Soldi Editing Team Veronica Ficcarelli, Bess Melendez , Nina Brown, Rachel Mascetta Translation: Bess Melendez, Nina Brown , Rachel Mascetta Photographs: Veronica Ficcarelli (Communicart.it – Firenze) with the unique contribution of Rachel Mascetta & Dave Yoder Printed in February 2012 by Industria Grafica Pistolesi – Siena map of Tuscany __ 6 __ __ 7 __ Remembering Santa Lucia, One of the most magical places in Tuscany. For me, and for my friends from all over the world - a perfect place. “E vanno gli uomini ad ammirare le vette dei monti, ed i grandi flutti del mare, ed il lungo corso dei fiumi, e l’immensità dell’Oceano, ed il volgere degli astri... e si dimenticano di se medesimi” (Men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and pass themselves by) Sant’Agostino This book is dedicated to Mochy , my dog the best everything ever had in my life for over 17 years __ 8 __ __ 9 __ __ HOW TO CONSULT THE GUIDE __ Content Introduction Dedicated sections on Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter Events: Celebrations & Traditions; Art, Crafts & Music; Food & Wine; Nature & Sport Tuscan Specialties from the Producers’ Point of View: Tradition, Handicraft, Food & Wine, Health & Well-Being, Organic Food & Markets Plus Helpful Tips, Suggestions, Recipes, History, and Glossaries (useful words and phrases) Veronica’s Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Trip Tips Top Tips Great for Every Season Discover our region in depth and become a real ‘ Toscano ’: Tips for Travel, Accommodation, Markets Year-Round Recipe, Book Stores in Tuscany Index by Category Index Throughout The Book You’ll Find Special Sections On The History Of Tuscan Producers And Get Their Insider’s Point Of View __ 10 __ __ 11 __ VILLA LE BALZE Content VILLA MEDICI VILLA SCHIFANOIA Introduction 59 2ND WEEK OF DEC. (ODD NUMBERED YEARS)BIENNALE DI ARTE CONTEMPORANE Florence 72 The idea 59 Nature & Sport Events 72 Specialities throughout the seasons... 60 ALL YEAR LONG-TRENO NATURA-Nature Train 72 Specialities with tradition and innovation…Movers and Shakers 61 Food & Wine Events 73 Spotlighting our Best 62 TRENO DEL VINO-The Wine Train- Montalcino (Siena) 73 Festivals & Traditions 62 DECEMBER (AND SOMETIMES NOVEMBER)-MERCATINI DI NATALE Art, Crafts & Music 62 Christmas Markets- All around Tuscany 73 Nature & Sport 63 BEGINNING OF DECEMBER-ANTICA FIERA DI CARMIGNANO Food & Wine 63 Antiques & Food Festival -Carmignano (Prato) 73 CARMIGNANO 74 WINTER 66 AMARI Pastry Shop & Due in Carmignano SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO CHURCH 74 December Events 67 Festivals & Traditions Events 67 Buying Wine in Carmignano 75 END OF DECEMBER- BABBO NATALE IN ARNO -Santa Claus on the River Arno -Florence 67 CAPEZZANA ESTATE & Carmignano Wine END OF DECEMBER- GIOCO DEL PANFORTE -Game of the Panforte -Pienza (Siena) 67 FICHI DI CARMIGNANO- Figs of Carmignano 75 Panforte Historic Tips 67 PANFICATO 76 END OF DECEMBER-PRESEPE VIVENTE DI CASOLE D’ELSA RIGOCCIOLI & their Genuine Jams Casole Live Christmas Crib - Casole d’Elsa (Siena) 68 1ST WEEK IN DECEMBER-FESTA DELLA CIOCCOLATA-Chocolate Festival- Barga (Lucca) 76 Art, Crafts & Music Events 67 BEFANINI DELLA VERSILIA- Special Befana holiday cookies from Versilia 76 ALL MONTH LONG-SCOPERTA DEI LUOGHI RELIGIOSI ED ARCHEOLOGICI 1ST WEEK IN DECEMBER-SAGRA DEGLI ANTICHI SAPORI Discov. The Religious And Archa, Sites Of Fiesole -Fiesole (Florence) 68 Antique Flavours Festival- Lastra a Signa (Florence) 77 FIESOLE 69 STRAW WEAVING 77 Food in Fiesole 69 MUSEO DELLA PAGLIA-Straw Museum VINANDRO HATS 78 TULLIO GREVI & Their Unique Hats Buying Wine in Fiesole 70 1ST WEEK OF DECEMBER- LA CITTÀ DELLA CASTAGNA BIBI GRAETZ & TESTAMATTA WINE ESTATE The Chestnut Town- Castelnuovo Garfagnana (Lucca) 79 Buying Olive Oil in Fiesole 70 FRITTELLE DI CASTAGNE-Chestnut Fritters 79 BUONAMICI FARMHOUSE 1ST WEEKEND IN DECEMBER-CALICI D’INVERNO- Winter Chalices -Massa Marittima (Grosseto) 80 Finest Accommodation in Fiesole 71 MUSEO DELLE MINIERE-Mining Museum & Technological and Archeological Park of the Metalliferous The Florentine hillside (Fiesole, Florence)-VILLA SAN MICHELE Hills- Massa Marittima (Grosseto) The Florentine hillside (Fiesole, Florence)-VILLA IL SALVIATINO DECEMBER 8-MERCATINO AMERICANO DI NATALE- American Christmas Market -Florence 81 Antique Market in Fiesole 71 FIRST 20 DAYS IN DEC.-IL MERCATINO DI HEIDELBERG-German Christmas Market- Florence 81 Interesting Gardens in Fiesole 71 BEST TUSCAN PANETTONI & PANDORI-Typical Christmas Cakes 82 VILLA GAMBERAIA AL DOLCE FORNO-LUNARDI VILLA I TATTI CORSINI VILLA PEYRON IL CANTUCCIO DI FEDERIGO VILLA NIEUWENKAMPRIPOSO DEI VESCOVI PARRINA __ 12 __ __ 13 __ SIGNORINI IN PRATO Florence centre & Poggio Imperiale Hill: WHY THE BEST HOTELS MID-DECEMBER-ARTISTI NEI BORGHI-Food & Wine Festival- Torrita di Siena (Siena) 84 VILLA CORA GRAND HOTEL Buying Cheese in Torrita di Siena 84 HOTEL SANTA MARIA NOVELLA COVERI FARMHOUSE HOTEL L’OROLOGIO CAVOLO NERO RICCIO DI TOSCANA- Black Cabbage 84 HOTEL BALESTRI FETTE COL CAVOLO NERO-Boiled Cabbage served on Toasted Bread, Olive Oil and Pepper 84 HOTEL ROSSO 23 December Recipe 85 HOTEL UNIVERSO FARINATA DI CAVOLO NERO, INFARINATA ALLA GARFAGNANA- Thick Soup with Beans The Florentine Poggio Imperiale Hill (Florence)-CASADIMINA Florence - 2 km from the centre (Fiesole)-VILLA SAN MICHELE The Florentine hillside (Florence)-VILLA IL SALVIATINO January Events 86 The Florentine hillside (Certosa)-MARIGNOLLE RELAIS Art, Crafts & Music Events 86 The Florentine hillside (Bagno a Ripoli)-VILLA IL SASSO END OF JANUARY-PITTI IMMAGINE-Fashion Fair- Florence 86 Finest Weekly & Beyond Accommodation in Florence: PRIVATE VILLAS & PRIVATE APART - MUSEO DEL TESSUTO-Prato Textile Museum- Prato MENTS in Town 97 MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILES OF PRATO AREA 86 The Florentine hillside (Via Bolognese)-VILLA L’ACACIA PRATO 88 Florence centre, Palazzo Pitti area-PALAZZO BELFIORE MORTADELLA 88 Florence centre, Palazzo Signoria area-MEZZANINO TOWER BISCOTTI DI PRATO OR CANTUCCI DI PRATO 89 Florence centre, Piazza Signoria area-SIGNORIA APARTMENTS BISCOTTI DI PRATO-Almond Cookies from Prato 89 Florence centre, SMN area-PALAZZO ARRIGHETTI APARTMENT ANTONIO MATTEI & its Biscotti di Prato Florence centre, San Niccolò area-LUNGARNO SERRISTORI APARTMENT PESCHE DI PRATO- Prato Peaches 91 Florence centre, Ponte Vecchio area-UFFIZI APARTMENT NUOVO MONDO PASTRY SHOP Spas & Thermal Baths in Florence 99 Excellent Breakfast in Prato 91 SOUL SPACE SIGNORINI PASTRY SHOP IN PRATO TROPOS Buying Honey in Prato 91 VIRGIN ACTIVE FLORENCE LA BOTTEGA DEL MIELE, Fresh Pollen and Honey TERME DI FIRENZE LE PAVONIERE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – Poggio a Caiano, Prato YOGA Sanctuary in the heart of Florence END OF JAN.-BEG. OF FEBR.-VINTAGE SELECTION- Vintage Fashion Fair- Florence 92 Interesting Gardens in Florence 100 FIRENZE, FLORENCE 93 BOBOLI GARDENS FIORINO, The Florin 93 VILLA DEMIDOFF David, the symbol of Florence 94 ORTO BOTANICO GIARDINO DEI SEMPLICI- Botanical gardens Finest Daily Accommodation in Florence: HOTELS, B&BS AND SOME APARTMENTS 95 Golf Clubs in Florence 101 Florence centre, Duomo area- LE STANZE DI CATERINA GOLF CLUB PARCO DI FLORENCE Florence centre, San Lorenzo area-FLORENCE DREAM DOMUS Antique Markets in Florence 101 Florence centre & Fiesole Hill- FLORENCE HOTELS, Fh Hotels: Piazza Santo Spirito Antique Fair HOTEL CALZAIUOLI Mercato delle Pulci, Flea Market: Piazza dei Ciompi GRAND HOTEL Fortezza Antiquaria, Fortezza da Basso MEDITERRANEO Food Markets in Florence 102 HOTEL VILLA FIESOLE SAN LORENZO MARKET GRAND HOTEL PALATINO SANT’AMBROGIO MARKET Florence centre- FOUR SEASONS HOTEL FIRENZE SANTO SPIRITO MARKET Florence centre, SMN area JK PLACE CASCINE MARKET Florence centre-PALAZZO VECCHIETTI __ 14 __ __ 15 __ MERCATO NUOVO, Logge del Porcellino BUONAMICI FARMHOUSE MERCATO DELLE PIANTE, THE PLANT MARKET Coffee Producers in Florence 107 MERCATO ORTOFRUTTICOLO DI NOVOLI CAFFE’ PIANSA MERCATO DELLE PULCI, FLEA MARKET JOLLY CAFFE’ PAOLO CARANDINI Outlets in and around Florence 108 Milk Producer in Florence 102 BP STUDIO FACTORY OUTLET MUKKI LATTE ROBERTO CAVALLI Food in Florence 104 Parco delle Cascine 108 High-End Restaurants in Florence 104 CONTE OF FLORENCE BUCA DELL’ORAFO LORI, CLARA E LORENZO OUTLET LA GIOSTRA CLUB MALO NOVE MAXISMALL TECNO SPORT DISCOUNT SANT’AGOSTINO 23 Parco De’Renai 110 Organic Markets in Florence 104 A Walk along the river from the parco delle Cascine to the Parco dei renai in Signa 111 Fierucola Del Pane NANNINI FACTORY OUTLET Fierucola Dell’Immacolata NANNINI OUTLET La Fierucolina NANNINI BOUTIQUE Pizza Restaurants in Florence 104 RASPINI VINTAGE OUTLET AMALFITANA RASPINI MAIN SHOP CAFFÈ ITALIANO ALL YEAR LONG-EVENTI, MOSTRE & TOURS A FIESOLE FIRENZE NOVA Events, Exhibitions And Tours In The Town Of Fiesole- Fiesole (Florence) 114 O’MUNACIELLO Food & Wine Events 114 ROCCO E I SUOI FRATELLI SECOND HALF OF JANUARY, 1ST WEEK IN FEBRUARY-VINO & PIZZA Tuscan Restaurants, Meat, Soups and Typical Florentine Gastronomic Specialities In Florence 105 Wine & Pizza- Empoli and surroundings (Florence) 114 CAMMILLO The Roman Theatre 114 CIBREO January Recipe 115 I QUATTRO LEONI PAPPA AL POMODORO-Tomato soup thickened with Bread, enriched