Archive for 'Events'

We've been talking a lot about the Christmas traditions, events and celebrations that take place in Italy over the festive period in Winter but, while Italy is traditionally an overwhelmingly Catholic country, there are other celebrations to be had for people of different faiths in the country. Rome may seem like an unexpected destination for such things but, even though it is home to the Vatican, there is a strong and historic Jewish community in the city that will be celebrating Hanukkah from the 12th to the 20th of December this year.

Hanukkah is an annual Jewish celebration that lasts seven nights and eight days and celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. There are different variations on the tale of the origin of the holiday but the basic story was that King Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Judaism, ordered an altar to Zeus be built in the Temple, banned brit milah (circumcision) and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple.

If you have found a vacation rental in Florence and are planning a trip to the city in the run up to Christmas, one of the highlights and must-see attractions has to be its Christmas markets. Christmas markets are one of the best things about Christmas. They offer delicious foods, lovely hot drinks, a vibrant Christmassy atmosphere, shopping, festive music and fun in one place (because one can't say “under one roof” in this case, can they?). There are plenty of Christmas markets in Florence to choose from but one of the most famous is the Weihnachtsmarkt, located in piazza Santa Croce in Florence.

Named for, and based on, the style of Christmas markets you can find in Germany, it offers everything you would want from a typical festive market, all with a distinctive Tuscan twist on the model. Running from the end of November until a few days before Christmas, it is a great place to taste Tuscan products and food, mulled wine and beer from all over the rest of Europe as well

This week, we're talking Christmas markets on the blog. They're wonderful things, aren't they? Festive music playing, excited kids running about, happy families smiling, young love all abloom, food being enjoyed, hot drinks warming hands and no reason to rush at all: what could be a more perfect way to spend a day in the run up to Christmas?

While Italy is not as famous as her northern neighbours for her Christmas markets, there are actually plenty of great Christmas markets around the country, including Milan's Oh Bej! Oh Bej! (meaning "oh so nice! oh so nice!" in the Milanese dialect).

Just find a vacation rental in Milan and explore this excellent traditional market for yourself!

Another lovely Italian Christmas market tradition exists in the Alpine town of Bolzano in Trentino Alto Adige. Set against the Rosengarten Dolomites, it is a beautiful medieval settlement made up of romantic arcaded streets and picturesque squares.

It boasts two markets each Christmas, one of the biggest markets and also one of the oldest markets in the country.

White Christmasses aren't a common-place thing in Italy, as a general rule, but this Alpine setting means you'll get that snowy, atmospheric setting, perfect for, not just one, but two Christmas markets. For the ultimate Christmas market experience in Italy, find a vacation rental in Trentino or a vacation rental in Veneto and visit this lovely town for the day.

I will admit something in writing that horrifies most Italians I meet: I don't like coffee. I know, it's sacrilege! When I lived in Italy, people couldn't accept this and tried again and again to make me see the error of my ways but no matter how it was made, I couldn't be convinced. I took a sip or two and couldn't drink any more. Eventually, the mother of the family I was staying with took it upon herself to introduce me to a very chocolatey coffee drink in Turin, telling me that even babies liked it and, maybe, it could be my stepping stone into the world of coffee. She was so excited, I didn't have the heart to say no.

As I expected, it wasn't for me. “Monica,” I said, “I don't think this is for me. I don't really like hot chocolate either, so it's like combining two things I'm not a fan of.”

This horrified her even more. “You don't like hot chocolate either? You've never tried Italian hot chocolate, have you?”