Archive for 'Events'

Spring is a beautiful time of year, when the earth defrosts after the long winter, flowers burst free from their slumber deep below the ground, baby animals find their footing on lush green pastures, the sun begins to show up on a more regular basis, tourist crowds awaken but remain smaller, and everything comes roaring back to life. It is a perfect time for a vacation, before demands and costs run high and the sun starts beating down, and Italy, in particular, is especially lovely at this time of year. However, there are some specific destinations in Italy that are at their best in Spring and we have been listing the best of the best among them in the last couple of posts. In this final entry in this series, we will discuss our last picks so you can get choosing among them and planning your Spring getaway in Italy...

5. Levanto, Liguria

The Ligurian Coast is swamped come Summer, particularly along the famous Cinque Terre. However, this lesser-known town is actually also an incredibly popular destination as one of the best surf destinations in Italy, which are in short supply.

Italy is beautiful in Spring; the countryside is lush, the cities less full, the queues outside tourist attractions smaller, the temperatures more pleasant, and the prices of things lower. It is a great time to plan a vacation to most parts of the country, however, there are some destinations that are particular lovely in Spring, at their best at this time of year. We began outlining some of these spots in the last post and will continue to in the next but here are two more to keep in mind...

With endless, impossibly green rolling hills, fields of flowers, more pleasantly cool weather, smaller tourist crowds, and lower prices, Spring is an excellent time to visit Italy. Hit up any of the cities and you'll find things a little slower and calmer than in Summer or head to the most popular destinations and you'll find it easier to book your rental and activities. All of which is a real bonus and takes a lot of the stress out of travel.

However, instead of simply choosing a destination that is a little bit more accessible and easy during the Spring months than the Summer, why not head to a destination that is actually also at its best during Spring?

These are the places in Italy that are at their loveliest and most charming over the next few months...

Variations on April Fool’s day are celebrated in different cultures around the world but the most strangely named is likely Italy's iteration, “Il Pesce d'Aprile,” or April's Fish. Celebrated on the first of April, it, too, involves playing practical jokes on friends, family, and those around you and, supposedly, has very ancient origins.

While it is traced to the 16th century, Il Pesce d'Aprile became popular in Italy in the 19th century, some time between 1860 and 1880, beginning in Genoa among the upper echelons of society. The odd-sounding name is actually not that strange at all and is linked to the zodiac symbol for the day and the fact that everything that happens on the day is supposedly related to the abandon of the Pisces constellation from the Sun though another origin story claims it results from the traditional prank for Pesce d'Aprile being taping a cutout of a small fish (pesciolino) to someone's back.

There are many interesting traditional festivals that take place all over Italy from foodie delights to heart-in-your-mouth horse races, costumed parades to wild parties. However, among them all, there is one that stands out as, perhaps, the most unique, bizarre, interesting and entertaining. This, of course, has to be the Palio della Rana. Taking place in the town of Fermignano in Le Marche, not far from Urbino, this festival features multiple events and celebrations including an annual race that takes place each year on the Sunday following Easter. While the Palio di Siena is one of the most famous horse races in the world, this is probably the most famous frog race in the world. Yes, you read that correctly, it is a frog race and if you want to experience it for yourself, you need only find a vacation rental in Le Marche and plan to be there on time for the big event!

The Palio della Rana festival was born as a result of the town's independence from the rulers of Urbino in the 18th century, warranting major celebrations and new traditions. Among those new traditions that were created at this time, the frog race emerged. It involves representatives from the 7 contrade of Fermignano (Cà L’Agostina, Calpino, La Pieve, La Torre, San Lazzaro, San Silvestro and Santa Barbara), each clad in traditional clothing and wearing different colours, compete for the title of champion. Specialists inspect the frogs before and after the race to ensure there is no foul play and each frog is placed on a wheelbarrow, underneath a basket.