Experience Tuscany

The upcoming spring season brings to Tuscany a number of international music artists whose names are renown worldwide. Groups and soloists alternate in the most beautiful arenas and concert halls of Tuscany to present the spectators with their latest works.
The following calendar is not meant to be comprehensive of all the international artists and music concerts in Tuscany during the 2010 season, but it includes many of the main music events of the region.

March 11 Vanessa Peters in concert in Florence. Appreciated for her voice and defined delicious and enchanting, she was voted among the ten best voices in Austin, TX.

March 16 Pat Metheny in concert at Saschall in Florence. After a career dotted with successes and and 17 Grammy Awards, the great US musician presents a revolutionary solo concert with his latest creation named Orchestrion.

March 18 Philip Harper quartet in concert in Terranuova Bracciolini. The concert is inserted in the Valdarno Jazz contest 2010.

March 21 Chris Proctor in concert in Florence. International critics set the style of US guitarist Proctor among the best examples of American fingerstyle of the last 20 years.

March 24 Andy Timmons live in Pisa. The extraordinary US guitarist is famous for his unique live exhibitions that exalt his great artistic charisma.

March 25 Gospel Night at Teatro degli Industri di Grosseto. In concert Cheryl Porter Quartet with Sisters & Brothers.

March 26 Jon Hopkins at Città del Teatro di Cascina. Second event of electronic music at Fosfeni 2010.

March 27 Anoushka Shankar & Band live in Florence. The daughter of the immensely famous sitar player Ravi Shankar, she will be in concert with her Indian players music band.

March 29 Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band in Montecatini Terme. This is an exclusive jam session and a unique occasion to appreciate the music talent of the great US director.

April 6 The Hidden Cameras in Florence. The band of Joel Gibb and company arrives in Florence presenting one of the most interesting formations producing a style that fluctuates between folk traditional musics and contemporary rhythms.

April 15 Why? in concert in Florence. The US indie rock band presents live their last album Eskimo Snow.

April 17 John Scofield in concert at Teatro Guglielmi in Massa. John Scofield is considered one of three greatest jazz guitarists with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell. His influence started during the Seventies and today it is strongest than ever.

April 23 Pierre Bensusan live in Florence. Live one of the greatest acoustic guitar legends in the world.

April 27 The Unthanks live in Florence. The duo’s latest artistic production out since the nd of 2009, Here’s The Tender Coming, expands the stylistic horizons of their work with piano and orchestra sounds.

May 8 The Mike Stern band in concert at Teatro Guglielmi in Massa. Mike Stern, one of the greatest guitarists of all times will be accompanied by a super band during a historic event for the hosting town.

May 26 Gotan Project live in Florence. The band that rediscovered and brought back under the spotlight tango music with electronic music influences is back live in Florence.

July 10 Mark Knopfler in concert in Lucca for the 2010 tour. Knopfler presents his new album Get Lucky in Lucca.

July 25 Andrea Bocelli in concert at Teatro del Silenzio of Lajatico. This will be the fifth and last edition of this event that has become one of the most important ones in the international live music landscape.

More appointments to come in the next months.

The emotion of the Palio of Siena awaits you! There is nothing more mesmerizing than the atmosphere in Siena during the three days prior to the Palio. Thanks to “The Unforgettable Palio di Siena” contest you will be able to live these three days like a Sienese does. The prize is indeed three days in the city with a prime ticket for the Palio and a dinner ticket to live the grand dinner prior to the Palio day in one of the districts of the city, also called contrade.
Each contrada has its own people that was sworn in through church blessing and remains part of that district for life. The night prior the Palio the city streets of each district become a large restaurant with thousands of people sitting at long tables where wine, food, and typical chants fill the air in a festive and emotionally charged atmosphere. You will be in the middle of all the people belonging to that contrada and feel part of them for one night!
The next day you will of course take part in what is perhaps the most exciting event in Tuscany. Usually it is extremely hard and expensive to find Palio tickets, especially in a good position such as the one awarded through this contest. You will be sitting right near the start line, the hardest and most expensive tickets to find. The visual from there is the best not to miss anything of the race, and you will enjoy the crucial victory moment when the exulting people of the winning contrada come to claim the Palio, the painted banner that will be hung in their museum with all the others.
How nice will be to get to know Siena in a deep way to return to your wonderful hotel accommodation. A superior room for two people in a B&B with all comforts.
Participating is extremely easy. You just need to go here and complete the easy puzzle after the usual three seconds registration. After completeng the puzzle you will be asked to insert more details about yourself and then you are ready to get extracted and win this wonderful prize. For more info on the prizes, please visit this page.

Please click here to view or hide the contest rules, or visit this link.

Good luck!

Yesterday it was the third Viareggio Carnival weekend. Every weekend there is a great parade on the streets of Viareggio, and here is a video with even more spectacular floats than the previous article. The weekend was dedicated to the “joy of the music of the Carnival of Viareggio” and to Burlamacco, the mascot of the carnival. Singers have performed the 15 songs that are the soundtrack of this carnival edition.
But the whole city was open to music and colors. A space dedicated to children and grown ups was provided with the ICARUS ludobus that from 4,30pm has opened its doors and emptied its load of games for everyone. Traditional games, hand-built with natural materials like wood, balls and soft carpets for the whole family.

Here is the video that shows all the fun and amazing floats of the Viareggio Carnival. You will recognize the faces of Berlusconi and other Italian politicians caricatured by the expert hands of float masters. Other floats and masks are more of a work of fantasy, extremely well crafted and certainly inspiring. Make sure to drop by for the last days of the Viareggio carnival in Tuscany!

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Relax, romanticism and a wonderful vacation in Tuscany. What more to celebrate your Valentine’s in a superb way? Lulled and spoiled in the splendid Tuscan landscape and attended with great customer care in prestigious hotels and spa resorts, you will rediscover the meaning of taking care of oneself and share the wellness with the one you love.
For this 2010 Valentine’s there are many great hotel offers you should take advantage of, especially if you already are in Tuscany around February 14th and would like to make your romantic weekend extra special.

Hotel Adua & Regina di Saba Wellness and Beauty – Montecatini Terme
1 night at €145 including
1 night and breakfast in a standard double room, 1 dinner at the hotel restaurant, Live music on Saturday, Internet access, discount shopping card in Montecatini, inroom champaign and welcome gift upon arrival, soft robe and slippers for your usage.
Also including entrance at the SPA with thalassotherapy and hydromassage, Swedish waterfall, steam baths with varying temperatures and aromas, fitness room, relax area with herbal infusions of your choice.

The Valentine’s offer also includes the possibility of an extended stay. Two nights at €260 and three nights at €350 for two people, all other details apply. For more info and booking contact Hotel Adua in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany at info@hoteladua.it and here.

Hotel Manzoni – Montecatini Terme
1 night €125 including
All-inclusive stay (including half board stay, welcome gift)in a superior double bedroom, special Tuscan-style dinner with local wine tasting, welcome gift upon arrival, a SPA treatment (including sauna, aromatic showers, Rasul baths, steam bath, Kneipp bath, hydromassage, cromotherapy, relax area with herbal teas to choose), soft robes and slippers in room, courtesy cremes and toiletry, free Internet, and fitness room.
Adding an extra 20 Euros you can also have a 30 minutes relaxing massage per person.
For more info and booking contact the Hotel Manzoni in Montecatini Terme at info@hotelmanzoni.info or here.

Columbia Hotel & Spa – Montecatini Terme
at €168 per person including
1 night and breakfast in a double Liberty-style room, 1 candle light dinner in the hotel’s panoramic restaurant with wines, welcome gift and champaign upon arrival, soft robes and slippers in room, courtesy cremes and toiletry, 30 minutes relax massage, a 1 hour and a half wellness treatment (including steam bath and cromotherapy, Kneipp baths, aromatherapy showers, thepidarium steam baths, sauna and hydromassage), another wellness treatment of one hour and a half (including Rasul baths, saline grotto baths, vascular frigidarium, infrared sauna, ice water fall, relax area and herbal teas of your choice).
If you would like to stay two nights and have even more services included per day, the cost is 320 Euros per person. For more info please contact the Columbia Hotel in Montecatini Terma at info@hotelcolumbia.it or visit the site here.

Casanova Hotel Residence – San Quirico D’Orcia, Siena
at €95 per night per person including
2 nights in a double bedroom with half board service, buffet breakfast, relax spa treatment, and special candle light nocturnal baths, hydromassage pools, Watsu bathtubs, sauna, fitness room, pool towels, tennis court, pool table, tennis table.

Other wellness offers are available. Request more info at the Casanova Hotel Residence of San Quirico d’Orcia at info@residencecasanova.it or visit the site here.

Il Falconiere Relais & Chateaux – Cortona, Arezzo
starting at €445 for two nights for two people including
2 nights in double room of choice (€445 for a Classica, €545 for a Deluxe with hydromassage bathtub, €645 for a Junior Suite with living room and hydromassage tub, €745 for a Suite with living room, hydromassage and shower massage, €445 for a SPA room facing the pool with hydromassage tub, and €745 for the SPA Suite with hydromassage tub facing the pool), champaign and chocolate strawberries in room, Valentine’s breakfast with the love pie and a glass of muscat wine, candle light dinner, access at the Thesan Estruscan spa with a ritual for couples in the spa. A third night stay will cost you half price.
SPA ROOM Fronte piscina Spa, bagno con vasca idromassaggio € 445,00
SPA SUITE Fronte piscina Spa, soggiorno con vasca idromassaggio € 745,00

More info and reservations at Il Falconiere Relais & Chateaux in Cortona at Il Falconiere Relais & Chateaux – Cortona or at the hotel site here.

February 14th 2010 is not only Valentine’s day, but also the Chinese New Year. In Tuscany, and precisely in the Prato area, resides the largest Chinese community of Italy. 2 hundred thousand Chinese people, composed by immigrants, first and second generation members of this fast growing community.
Fortunately in recent times many prejudices about the Chinese culture and immigrant community in Italy have been tackled and dismantled, also thanks to movies like Miss Little China, which offers an interesting insight in the everyday life of a Chinese family in Italy.
Each Chinese year is tied to one of 12 animals that repeat in cycles. This year it will be the year of the Tiger. The Chinese calendar is a lunar one, and each new year starts with the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year it will be on February 14th, and in Tuscany it will be celebrated in Prato and Viareggio.
Viareggio. Today the first Chinese carnival float ever of the Viareggio carnival will participate to the street parade. It will be accompanied by the Chinese group Tongilang and an official Chinese delegation from Chongquin.
Prato. On February 12nd and 23rd there will be two days dedicated to people of any ethnicity. On the 12th at 8 pm there will be an open dinner in a Chinese restaurant in Campi Bisenzio. The typical dinner menu includes Chinese dishes with some Tuscan accents like melon and raw ham. Only 15 euros for a vast menu that will expand the boundaries of many on Chinese traditional cooking. If you are interested call +39 055 8959330.
On February 23 at 7 pm there is going to be a music concert at the Spazio Reale San Donnino. Internationally famous Chinese artists will sing Chinese and Italian songs accompanied by dances and traditional Chinese flute musics. A famous magician from China will entertain after the concert. Entrance is free and there will be a fund raise to help Haiti’s earthquake victims.

Do you love mystery movies and books? Is Ercule Poirot a hero of yours? Fantasizing what would be like finding yourself in a situation like Ten Little Indians? There is a fun way (one that does not involve any risk for your life!) to live an Agatha Christie’s mystery novel in Tuscany!
Between February and May 2010 every weekend (apart from the Easter weekend) is a great occasion to spend three days under the shadow of murder and mystery. A charming Tuscan accommodation, most likely a hotel, will be the setting of the role play. Someone will die during the first evening, and you will be called to solve the mystery, search for clues, think like the murderer to get to him or her. You have two full nights and three days to enjoy your holiday with murder in Tuscany.

The program is as it follows click here to view and hide it

The cost of the weekend is quite affordable. The price is 235 Euros per person in a double room and 205 Euros per person in a triple or quadruple junior suite. Prices include 2 nights, 2 buffet breakfasts, 1 aperitif, 2 dinners and 1 lunch with beverages (wine, water) and the roleplay murder game organization.
To reserve please contact Colori Toscani at +39 0575 26677 or at their contact page.
Whether you are thinking of coming to Tuscany for few days or for a longer stay, try to include one weekend with murder, it will be an original way to spend few days in a charming Tuscan accommodation…with mystery!

After listing the Sushi places in Arezzo, here is a list of the Japanese restaurants in Florence. The city center of Florence offers a nice variety of Japanese restaurants where to taste not only great sushi and sashimi dishes, but also other typical Japanese dishes like Okonomiyaki, Tempura, Teriaky, Soba, and more. The growing popularity of the Japanese cuisine in a land that is so attached to its culinary origins is the expression of the times changing and evolving the traditionally closed Italian and Tuscan culinary tastes into accepting globalized tastes and foods. Florence has always been the mooring dock of all those entering Tuscany as visitors or immigrants. From here each day depart many people to find a stable position elsewhere in Tuscany. Many stay in Florence, thus creating a very large multi ethnic community that through the years has educated the younger ones to accept and integrate different uses and tastes.

Without further ado, here is the list:
Yagura: It bases its experience in the Japanese tradition innovating with a chef from one of the of the best restaurants in Tokyo. The chef specializes in developing real works of art made with fish, lots of recipes from sushi to sashimi, onigiri, hot Okonomiyaki, Tempura chops and more.

Aji-Tei: Located near the Fortezza da Basso, it creates original dishes in a classic modern-style japanese setting, with bamboo garden and minimalist ambient. It offers romantic sushi and sashimi nights as well as special prices at lunch time and in special occasions buffet dinners. The restaurant also offers Japanese cooking classes.

Tomo Sushi: Located near the Cavalli headquarters at the fringes of Florence, this Japanese restaurant specializes in sushi and sashimi with a great variety of many other courses, tempuras and soba. The location is not the most handy, but buses to there are frequent. The ambient is minimalist and friendly, also offering tatami sitting with under-the-table leg room for westerners that wanto to enjoy some privacy in rooms divided by rice paper sliders. Traditional music from Japan accompanies your visit at Tomo Sushi.

Eito: The former name of Tokyo. The true Japanese cooking, first class ingredients and a refined ambient in the heart of Florence. One step away from the Santa Maria Novella train station this restaurant offers one of the best sushi and sashimi of Florence, with a cool sushi bar and friendly service. Prices are just a little above average.

Momoyama: A painstaking attention to design drives the passion behind Momoyama, where you can find innovative Japanese dishes besides the classical ones. Especially dedicated to sushi and sashimi, this Japanese restaurant sits its guests in rooms lit by colored lights with classic Tuscan vaulted brick ceilings.

Kome Barbeque Restaurant Kaiten Sushi: Perhaps the best sushi restaurant of Florence. Located near Piazza Santa Croce, it features a great sushi bar with circular sliding mat. The owner welcomes you making you feel at home, in a wonderful atmosphere. The huge sliding sushi bar offers full dishes already prepared to pick and eat on the spot sitting on comfortable chairs instead of stools.

Wabi-Sabi: It offers a nice outdoor patio and a minimalist indoor ambient, mainly lit by candles. A very romantic restaurant with extremely tasty sushi and traditional dishes. The sitting area is mainly tatami style with comfortable leg room under the table. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and the sushiman creates delicious plates.

For more details on where to find all the Japanese restaurants in Florence, please find the map below with directions to and from each one:

View Florence Sushi Japanese Restaurants in a larger map

More updates on the Carnival of Viareggio, one of the most important in Italy, and certainly the main Carnival of Tuscany. With each passing year the organization becomes ever more grand and interesting, covering all kinds of interests for people of all ages. The number of the events increases and there are more occasions to participate to this wild party that embodies so perfectly the free spirit of Carnival.
Carnival balls have a long history that starts way before that of floats. Public places, such as the Teatro Pacini, the Royal Casino, but also private homes used to be the place of dances. The luxurious palaces of Lucca hosted exclusive receptions. As it was tradition, at midnight there was the dinner with champagne and a large swirl of confetti and streamers, cotillion for the ladies and the final quadrille dance at dawn with competitions for the most beautiful masks.
Here are listed all the Veglioni, or Carnival wakes of 2010, which consist of crazy parties that start at midnight and last all night long with music, dances, games, and drinks. Usually each party has a leading theme.

6th Edition of Gran Gala Miss Giarrettiera Piccante
On Saturday January 30th at 9pm at the Centro Congressi Principe di Piemonte

Welcome to Carnival
On Saturday January 30th at 10pm at the Capannina di Viareggio

Veglione de’ Viareggini
On Friday February 5th at midnight at the Capannina di Viareggio

Confetti Like Crazy
On Saturday February 6th at 9,30pm at the Capannina di Viareggio

Children Wake
On Wednesday February 10th at 3pm and on Thursday February 11th at 3pm at the Centro Congressi Principe di Piemonte

Goodwill Ball “The Sixties and Whereabouts”
On Friday February 12th at 10pm at the Bussola di Focette. By the Italian Leukemia Association

Veglione de’ Viareggini
On Friday February 12th at midnight at Capannina di Viareggio

Burlamacco is Folly
On Saturday February 13th at 9,30pm at the Capannina di Viareggio

Student’s Grand Wake
On Monday February the 15th at 10pm at the Capannina di Viareggio

Le Follie Burlesque
On Tesday Mardi Gras February 16 at 9pm at the Hotel Ristorante Apollo Viareggio

Veglione de’ Viareggini
On Friday February 19th at midnight at Capannina di Viareggio

Fairwell Carnival
On Saturdat February 20th at 9,30pm at Capannina di Viareggio

Take advantage of the Carnival in Tuscany! Make it to Viareggio, and you will discover the joyful side of Tuscany!

In Siena this year there is a cool ice skating ring that has been kept open beyond the festivities. Usually, the municipality set up a large platform in the middle of the city park. It would be open from the beginning of December and closed when the festivities came to an end, usually on Epiphany day, January 6th.
This year there has been a change and the ice skating ring is still open. Moreover, it’s been enlarged, adorned with scenic effects to give the impression of being set on a snow-covered land. Wooden shapes of rain deers, small firs groves, and white fluffy clothing on top of railings and roofs giving a snow build-up effect create quite a nice effect that at night is increased by the lighting, thought to enhance the white-snow effect.
It is not all the news for this year, however. The whole set up has been enlarged to include a warm restoration joint, a “snow” slide, a little caterpillar-train for the youngest children, and a small gadget and toy kiosk. The restaurant is a pub-like setup with wooden benches and a counter staged like a mountain chalet. Here it is possible to eat warm sandwiches and drink beer, hot chocolates and other warm drinks. The slide is a fun, long ride for all ages. Sided by small whitened firs, it resembles a quick rid on skis down a mountain slope. The nicest thing is that from atop the slide one can see the wonderful view of the roofs of Siena.
The kiosk sells all sorts of winter themed gadgets like mechanical penguins, Santa’s toys, and more. In addition children can have fun riding on the little train if ice skating is not much of their liking.
The ice skating ring in Siena will stay open until January 17th 2009.
The opening time is from 10 am until 1,15 pm and from 2 pm until midnight. Children pay 3,50 euros until age 11, adults 6 euros to enter and rent skates, 2 euros until 11 and adults 3 euros for entrance only.

Here some pics and of the ice skating ring in Siena:

And here is a quick video of it:

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So we have looked at what is going on on New Year’s Eve in Florence, Siena and part of the Mount Amiata, but what else will happen in the rest of Tuscany on that special night?
For one thing Florence will also have a concert of the Italian artist Lucio Dalla at the train station Santa Maria Novella, while the Florence Chamber Music Orchestra will play in Piazza della Signoria, and jazz bands will play in the streets of the city center.
Music will also be the protagonist in Pistoia and Pisa. Pistoia hosts a multi ethnic band, while street performers will stage theater and concerts in the Cathedral’s square. In Pisa it will be a series of local groups to liven up the evening and the night. The Working Vibes concert has been canceled. Both events are free entrance for all.
Near Siena in Poggibonsi there will be live music and a dj set in a fantastic medieval setting. The city keep will be open for this special occasion only, and guests will be able to enjoy dancing and relaxing in this wonderful setting. Free for all!
Viareggio celebrates with “Happy New Year Viareggio 2010″ with comedians and the final celebration with fireworks sinchronized with music and confetti.
Arezzo offers six squares with six different types of live music. At Caffè Costanti from 7 pm there will be an aperitif with drinks and finger food with all the artists that will entertain in the six squares, so you will get to know them personally. Ethno, Ska, Electronic, World, and Disco music for all. The wee ones will have fun from 8,30pm in a miniature city at Cicciottà in Piazza della Libertà.
Grosseto will also be filled with music. Piazza Dante will be pervaded by revival blues music from the 30’s and 40’s and film musics from the 70’s. Piazza del Sale is going to give space to dance electronic music all night long, while street bands will give color and sound with dances and fun. Two disco buses will connect the suburbs with the center. A DJ set will be live all night and give life to a club on wheels.
Monteriggioni has organized a less grand but nevertheless romantic New Year’s Eve with a Blues concert in the square of the castle, roasted chestnuts and hot spiced wine for all. At midnight fireworks will welcome 2010! Free entrance for all.
Lucca will gift everyone with free entrance to 4 hours of live music and entertainment in Piazza Napoleone, at midnight there will be the first welcome to 2010, then 17 minutes and 58 seconds later there will be the New Year of Lucca, as that is the real solar midnight of that meridian. Fireworks and champaign will follow.

Wherever you will be, Happy New Year to You!