Christmas Markets in Foligno

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This Christmas 2011 in Foligno the appointment with the Christmas Market in the city center will be renewed. So what are you waiting for? Come and visit this beautiful Umbrian city! You will find the Christmas markets of Foligno, and events related to the ongoing Christmas holidays in Foligno.

The Christmas markets have become a tradition in Foligno. The city is transformed during the Christmas period: small squares reveal unexpected lighting effects, Christmas music inundates the streets, Christmas choirs, the little market of dreams, music bands, and happy bands are the usual appointments of this time of the year.

The various events and happenings are aimed at livening up the historic center, focusing on its vitality, including shops and other commercial activities, while leaving behind other initiatives such as streets parties and celebrations for New Year's Eve.
Moreover, the attention that is reserved to children has been emphasized with many initiatives dedicated to them, and it must be said that the new featured activities are quite many.

The city of Foligno is located at the heart of the Umbrian Valley, a vast plain crossed by the river Topino, partly surrounded by rolling hills and partly by the highest mountains of the Apennines.
The town has always been a center of economic and cultural exchanges. Foligno is now a modern industrial city, but still retains a beautiful old town center full of monuments and works of art.
The heart of the city is represented by the Piazza della Repubblica, where buildings are of high artistic value.

Christmas Market in Massa Martana

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The traditional Christmas Market in Massa Martana is back. This is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy situated in the southern Umbria and nestled at the foot of the Monti Martani. The historic center of town will host the traditional wooden houses with exhibitors offering a wide variety of gifts and gift ideas, arts and crafts products including ceramic and olive wood, embroidery, crochet, decoupage, decorated, knitwear and handmade jewelry, works of local painters and sculptors and wooden toys.

Do not miss the Christmas decorations and typical Umbrian food and wine: wine, oil, cheese, cured meats, vegetables, honey, the delicious Nociata made with soft and sweet nougat and cleverly packaged in bay leaves.

The program of events for children and adults with initiatives for the entire duration of the event looks even richer this year. Children can not miss the home of Santa Claus with gifts, treats and surprises. Christmas-themed music, street tours with music bands and marching band shows, clowning, stilt walkers, jugglers and pipers. On Sunday there will be the grand finale concert with the Choir of the University of Perugia. All these things can make the magic of Christmas even more vivid with colors, lights, sounds and scents in one of the jewel cities of Umbria.

This is an opportunity to discover Massa Martana completely restored after the earthquake of 1997. The old town, enriched by architectural constructions of the Sixteenth and Eighteenth centuries, is located inside the castle walls. The front door is well preserved, decorated with carved stones and the emblem of the city. The Church of San Felice is noteworthy and it was dedicated to the patron saint of town. The Church of San Sebastian, with a valuable painting from 1595 depicting a "Madonna and Child", and the 16th century Town Hall are also notable. Just outside the center is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Church of Santa Maria della Pace, with the outside is completely covered with travertine.

Nearby Massa Martana there are many churches that represent a unique heritage including the Church of Santa Maria in Pantano, one of the oldest and most interesting religious buildings in Umbria and the Abbey of San Faustino, built on the ruins of a Roman villa.
The Roman presence is evidenced by the Fonnaia Bridge, built in 220 BC along the route of the Via Flaminia. Near the bridge are the Christian catacombs, alone in Umbria and including more than 300 niches.
To enjoy the environmental resources of the area you can walk the Martani hiking paths, which are equipped nature trails developing on the Monti Martani.

Christmas Markets of Perugia

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This is a mini series about Christmas markets in Umbria. This small region of Italy has four main spots where the magic of Christmas comes alive along the city streets. Here I will describe the markets in Perugia, the capital of Umbria. The forthcoming towns are Massa Martana, Spoleto and Foligno.
In northern European countries and in Italian regions that were influenced by the Nordic culture, the custom of the Christmas Markets is very heartfelt and popular. On days when there are these markets, all the artisans put their handicrafts on display: wooden statuettes, figures of the nativity scene, candles, ribbons and decorations of all kinds to decorate the home (such as wonderful balls to hang on your Christmas tree). There are also stalls selling typical culinary delicacies of the place. These Christmas markets usually begin during late November and last until Christmas Eve.

The Christmas markets of Perugia are an excellent occasion to buy original presents to bring back home. It's been a few years now that even in Perugia Christmas Markets started animating the entire Christmas holiday period. For tourists it will be an opportunity to dive into the colorful world of handmade creations, looking for gift ideas or just browse the various stalls immersed in the characteristic atmosphere of the festivities that Perugia can create.

During the month of December until Christmas, the Strenne Market will take place in Piazza del Circo in Perugia. Stalls offer Christmas decorations, toys, gifts, decorations. In addition you can buy local handicrafts such as leather bags and the "cocci" traditional ceramics produced on site. The market is open from 9 am to 9,30 pm from December 1 until the 24.
This Christmas market is divided into two areas, one dedicated to crafts and the other dedicated to gastronomy. In the stalls you can buy lots of products to make original gifts such as Christmas decorations, home decor, candy, toys and crafts.

The Largest Christmas Tree in The World

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Do you know where the largest Christmas tree in the world is? In Gubbio, a precious little town in Umbria.

This wonderful installation is lit up on December 7 every year, since December 1980, and is turned off during the night of January 10 of the following year.
With each passing year the popularity of the event has boomed and reached an increasing resonance, so much that the lighting up ceremony has been carried out with an ever growing presence of people and by celebrities of greater fame at every edition. The upcoming edition of the Christmas tree in Gubbio will be lit up by the Pope in Rome!

Benedict XVI will use a tablet PC in Vatican City that through an Internet connection will command the switch in Gubbio. The 2011 largest Christmas tree in the world will be lit up at 6,30pm and you will be able to follow the ceremony on RAI 1 (if you have satellite television) or see the images on the webcam of the official event's website.

But, wait a minute, who says this is the largest Christmas tree in the world? Well, in 1991 the World Guinness Record committee assigned the title to the installation, making official what the simple people of Gubbio had been saying for many years.

Some cool numbers:
1981 the first installation
1000 sqm is the shooting star's surface
200 lights trace the shooting star
260 lights trace the shape of the Christmas tree.
270 multicolor lights are set inside the tree
8,500 meters of electric cables
650 meters is the height of the tree
350 meters its base width
1350 the number of plugs
1,900 work hours to build the Christmas tree
35 Kilowatt necessary to light up the tree

If you decide to spend your Christmas in Umbria, make sure to include Gubbio in your itinerary. It is one of the most delicious towns in Italy, one that will make you fall in love with the region. Plus, it will give you the chance of a unique event and a spectacle of rare beauty to keep in your heart.
Come to see the largest Christmas tree in the world.

So long for now! To the next time I find something interesting to share about Umbria.

Umbria Villas with Pool

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At this time of the year, when you speak about holidays, most people think about spending quality time with their family during Christmas or staying a week or two in their favorite ski resort. Summer still seems very far away and preparing the next summer holiday doesn’t seem to have a high priority.

Do not make the mistake to wait until 2012 if you are planning to spend your next summer holiday in Umbria. High season in Umbria runs from June to September, the hottest months of the year, and finding accommodation during those months can be a difficult challenge if you are waiting for too long.

This is especially true if you decide to rent a villa instead of going to a crowded hotel.

Renting a villa in tuscany will require a little bit more planning as some of the most exclusive places are already booked a year in advance. But the effort is worth your time as you will enjoy multiple advantages.

You will get more space for yourself and your family. Depending on your needs, you can find small villas of 1 or 2 bedrooms or go for a luxury villa that can welcome up to 58 guests!
You will live an incredible local experience. Renting a villa is the best way to mingle with local people and share their life. You will be able to discover their habits, to hear insiders tips and get the chance to live the real Umbrian life.
You will get privacy. You will be able to use your own amenities, no sharing, no queuing!
You will be totally independent. You will not have to schedule your day taking into consideration breakfast or lunch hours and you will not have to renounce at your favorite food because it is not on the menu!

Umbria has an incredible offer of villas available for rent and you will with no doubt find the villa that fits your needs. You could for instance decide to rent a 17th century home in Perugia, a typical Umbrian farmhouse in Todi, a beautiful family house in Assisi, a secluded villa in the Umbria mountain or a restored medieval house in Spello.

A Umbria villa with pool is definitely the best choice for you if you want to relax and have your family around you.

So, do not waste time and plan your Umbria summer holiday now and make sure your family gets an once in a lifetime experience!

Eurochocolate 2011

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Eurochocolate 2011, nine days of brown craziness ending on October 23, was marked by gluttony but also by trails and cultural initiatives to allow visitors to get the most of Perugia, the Umbrian capital.

Perugia hosted the 18th edition of Eurochocolate, more at http://www.eurochocolate.com. It was a wonderful opportunity to savor the succulent productions of master craftsmen that from a simple cocoa bean are able to create new products, always very tasty. But it was also a good opportunity for a visit to the city!
Let's start from chocolate. It was an event including many events, such as workshops for children to teach them to eat chocolate intelligently, while adult audiences will be shown some sweet ideas to create chocolate cakes and other sweets for any occasion.

Nestle chocolate sculptures were on display in Corso Vannucci on Sunday October 16th from 10 am to 6 pm. A very important health initiative was the diabetes control campaign aiming at giving out the correct information to promote the prevention of diabetes. One of the main partners and sponsors of Eurochocolate was Kodak, which made available a large frame made with more than 800 kilos of chocolate from October 14 to the 24, which also was the icon of Eurochocolate 2011.

But you can also discover Perugia independently walking along the Via Regale, which connects the Cathedral of San Lorenzo the the old Perugia Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Peter in the Benedictine Abbey. You can also choose to spend an entire day in the Abbey to live an exciting experience through the ages from medieval times to today. Or immerse yourself in the discovery of the treasures of the city: the masterpieces of Perugino, the divine painter. Starting from the Cathedral passing through the National Gallery of Umbria, you can retrace the steps of the career of the great painter, and then admire the masterpiece of his frescoes in the Collegio del Cambio. All this and much more is Perugia, a beautiful town of Etruscan origin.

Cooking Courses in Umbria

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A heavenly landscape, rich with artistic legacy and a unique place where you have the opportunity to live and experience life to the fullest does exist! If you really want to enjoy yourself in outstanding surroundings, charming people and exceptional cuisine then Umbria is the right place for you.

Without any doubt, Umbria is known worldwide for its delicious regional Italian cuisine and incredible wines. This is like heaven on Earth for all of those who enjoy in life, good food, wine and friendly people. If you are an adventurous person who likes exploring new things and new places, traveling to Umbria would be like going to the culinary paradise.

Many of the recipes that you will learn from the best Umbrian chefs in hands-on cooking courses have been in Umbrian families for generations now. All of those organic and fresh ingredients and various spices that they use for cooking will make your meals unforgettable. Considering that Umbria is also home of wine and cheese, your trip will bring you everything that you always dreamed about.

Italians know how to appreciate good food and good wine; therefore making their meals with love and patience. They infuse love into their cooking. The art of cooking for them is the entire process of creating a masterpiece that will astonish anyone who even gets a whiff of it.

All the products that are used in cooking classes are organically grown. The chefs will personally escort you to open air markets where you buy produce from the local farmers. They will teach you how to choose the freshest, most delicious Umbrian foods available, which is the first lesson of fine Italian cooking. You will learn the secrets of making your meals extra delicious and also learn to distinguish wines and to match them up with the meals that you are serving.

Italians know that every meal should be special and made with love. They say that if you are eating food that is tasty and looks and smells good, you will feel the one of the ultimate pleasures in life: gastronomical satisfaction. Every day should be a reason to enjoy life and you can do that by paying attention to the smaller things, like what you eat, it will only make you feel happier and healthier.

While visiting Umbria, you will learn a lot about wines such as Sagrantino, Montefalco, and Spoleto wines. You will be able to experience wine samplings in some of the oldest and most reputable Italian wineries and wine cellars in Umbria. No wonder why people always say that Italians are always happy and cheerful. They know how to live their life and how to enjoy it! A good glass of red wine can make many giddy with happiness!

By visiting Umbria, you will be able to go on custom tours of Todi, Sansepolcro, Assisi, and Trasimeno Lake and enjoy in local festivals (if available at that time of year), and explore the kitchens of many local masters who open their doors to a select few students to pass on the secrets of their mastery. A mystical land, and full of profound history and tradition, Umbria will leave you breathless and hungry. And since Umbrian people know how to celebrate life, and they are more than happy to share that with their guests, why not share in a tasting or culinary course and experience their delights? A land of free spirits and divine surroundings is everything you need to feel the real beauty of Umbria, alongside learning how to cook and eat a meal that will surely be memorable.

Exploring Umbria, its beauty, learning how to cook local meals and combining the right wines will make you feel like an expert of Italian cuisine. You will be able to visit some of the most beautiful areas in Italy. You can also enjoy some wine tours and taste new things that will leave you speechless.