Archive for 'December'

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A post shared by Filippo Boldrini (@filippoboldrini) on Aug 27, 2017 at 6:48am PDT

If you were to find a vacation rental in Tuscany and decide to spend Christmas in Florence, you might find yourself coming face-to-face with the Italian love child of a French crepe and Mexican enchiladas; the Crespelle alla Fiorentina.

Usually served as a first course during a typical Florentine Christmas meal, this tasty dish is comprised of thin pancakes stuffed with ricotta and spinach, coated in béchamel sauce, tomato purée and cheese and baked until golden brown.     Read More

Murano glass is one of the most famous craft products in the world and is an artisanal glass that has been made on the Venetian island of Murano for centuries. The artisans of Murano were world leaders in innovation and design and created some of the most stunning glass objects that the world has ever seen. Today, they are still employing these centuries-old techniques and making all sorts of things from works of art, to trinkets, to household objects. These pieces are characteristic souvenirs for tourists visiting the city and there are are a number of factories and some individual artists' studios at work on the island to this day.     Read More

There are many Christmas markets held all over Italy each year and there are many great markets among them. You're spoiled for choice, really, if you're a Christmas market lover that is spending the festive season in Italy.

One particular Christmas market in Bologna, however, stands out amongst the others as especially interesting. This is the ancient Fiera di Santa Lucia, a market that can trace its beginnings all the way back to the end of the 16th century. For a market positively steeped in tradition and history, there is no better option. Just find a holiday rental in Emilia-Romagna and visit Bologna and the market.     Read More

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.     Read More