Florentine Musical May 2009 in Florence

Florentine Musical May in Florence is one of the most important festivals of classical music in Tuscany, and not only.
Music concerts opera will be held at the Comunale Theatre in Florence.

Florentine Musical May's Orchestra, founded in 1928 by Vittorio Gui, has always been characterized by an intense, appreciated and in 1933 gave life to one of the most prestigious music festivals in Europe, the May Florentine.
Among historians directors, which have succeeded at the head of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Riccardo Muti and Zubin Metha.

The historical stage of Florentine Musical May is the Teatro Comunale of Florence. Have meanwhile started work on building the new venue that will host the illustrious Tuscan and musical event which will be officially inaugurated in the spring of 2011 and will cost 105 million euros.

The draft of the new auditorium Parco della Musica di Porta al Prato will be signed by the architect Paolo Desideri study 'Abdr associated architects' of Rome, and provides for the creation of two music halls and stage a tower of 35 meters, ramps, terraces and paths on a human.
La sala grande avrà 1.800 posti e 11 palchi, mentre quella piccola sarà capace di contenere 1.100 posti, ed infine la cavea all’aperto ospiterà 2.600 spettatori. The great room has 1800 seats and 11 boxes, while the small one will be able to hold 1100 seats, and eventually the air will host cavea 2600 spectators.

Program 72 ° Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the full schedule for the 72nd edition of the Maggio Fiorentino see April 20 held a concert for Mandela Forum in Italy in Florence. I proventi della serata saranno devoluti alla popolazione abruzzese così duramente colpita dal terremoto. The proceeds of the evening will be donated to the people of Abruzzo as hard hit by the earthquake.
Zubin Mehta dirige l'Orchestra e il Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino nella Sinfonia n. Zubin Mehta conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in the Symphony No. 2 Resurrezione di Gustav Mahler, soliste il soprano Akiko Nakajima e il contralto Marjana Lipovšek. 2 Resurrection of Gustav Mahler, the solo soprano Akiko Nakajima and contralto Marjana Lipovšek.

Other events that will point out why Maggio Musicale are:

30 aprile - i cinque Concerti per pianoforte e orchestra di Beethoven con il virtuoso pianista austriaco Rudolf Buchbinder; April 30 - the five concerts for piano and orchestra by Beethoven with Austrian virtuoso pianist Rudolf Buchbinder;

2 maggio - il pianista cinese Lang Lang torna al Festival con un programma musicale che, attraverso i secoli, va dal classicismo di Schubert, al romanticismo di Chopin, al Novecento storico di Bartók e Debussy; May 2 - the Chinese pianist Lang Lang returns to the Festival with a program that, through the ages, ranging from classicism of Schubert, the romanticism of Chopin, the historian of the twentieth Bartók and Debussy;

12 giugno - Claudio Abbado guida l'Orchestra Mozart con un programma che affianca La Tragica di Schubert alla penultima Sinfonia in sol minore di Mozart; June 12 - Claudio Abbado leads the Orchestra Mozart with a program that supports The Tragic Schubert's Symphony in the penultimate G minor by Mozart;

24 giugno - Michael Nyman , pianista, compositore di indimenticabili colonne sonore (Lezioni di piano, Fine di una storia, Il diario di Anna Frank), propone in questo concerto alcuni dei suoi successi di The Piano Sings, ultimo CD per pianoforte solo; June 24 - Michael Nyman, Pianist, composer of memorable soundtracks (piano lessons, End of a story, The Diary of Anne Frank), offers this concert in some of his success of The Piano Sings, the last CD for solo piano;

29 giugno - Riccardo Muti dirige l'Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini; June 29 - Riccardo Muti conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra;

1 luglio - lo spettacolo della compagnia di ballo MaggioDanza diretto da Zubin Metha conclude il Festival nella cornice pittoresca del Giardino dei Boboli dove saranno riproposte alcune delle musiche più belle della stagione appena trascorse, per un gran galà di danza. July 1 - the spectacle of the dance company directed by MaggioDanza Zubin Metha concludes the Festival in the picturesque setting of the Boboli Gardens where they will be again some of the most beautiful music of the season just passed, for a large gala of dance.

Biglietti del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino : la prevendita dei biglietti è iniziata il 2 aprile. Tickets Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the presale of tickets started on April 2.

Per informazioni sul programma e biglietti potete visitare il sito www.maggiofiorentino.com . For program information and tickets please visit www.maggiofiorentino.com.

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Sweet Tuscany: Nannini pastry shop in Siena

Nannini Pastry Shop in Siena is very popular and not just in Siena or in Tuscany. Since many years this historic bakery delight both tourists and inhabitants of Siena who come here to enjoy a moment of total relaxation in sweetness.

What I like most of this historic coffee than others is the freshness of its pastries that oven in the morning are no longer being added during the day and evening are almost all finished. For this reason, if you go to siena I would advise you to switch from bakery so you can choose from the many pastes; in addition to these sweet you can taste the typical sweets of Siena.

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Tuscan cuisine restaurant in Siena: La Torre Inn

Trattoria La Torre - Tower Inn is located in Siena, in the shadow of the Torre del Mangia, a short walk from Piazza del Campo. The restaurant is really little, a unique environment where there are both tables that the kitchen. So after ordering, you can see the chef prepare your Tuscan meal, and if you choose the menu of the day you do not have to wait.

A quick service and economic costs make this restaurant like a fast food, but for the quality of food the restaurant is a classic restaurant specializes in regional dishes.

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Tuscan cuisine restaurant in Siena: Antica Trattoria L'Aquila

In Siena Antica Trattoria L'Aquila - Ancient Inn L'Aquila is a Regional cuisine restaurant located in the Eagle (Aquila) district where where you can taste excellent local dishes such as salami of 'cinta' (a pig bred in the wild in the Siena countryside), pici (hand-made spaghetti), wild boar stew, ricciarelli (Tuscan dessert made with almond paste).

Not only the cuisine, but the prices too are very good; indeed a meal can cost around 25 euros, really well spent view the quality of food.

From Piazza del Campo is easy to reach Antica Trattoria L'Aquila - Ancient Inn L'Aquila since this restaurant is located in the city center of Siena, along the old Street of Casato, where you can see the facades of noble palaces.
Although not particularly sophisticated and elegant, the environment of Antica Trattoria is nice and rustic.

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San Gimignano: the cradle of the Made in Tuscany

The ancient village of San Gimignano is nowadays as a stronghold of the Made in Tuscany, a citadel of shopping for the many tourists on holiday in the province of Siena.

Among the seventeen towers rising in the sky overlooking the streets and squares of San Gimignano there are many stores and shops that sell food products and local handicrafts. So here you can buy both Tuscan salami, pecorino cheese and wine from Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano ...) and bags, wallets, gloves and other items of the famous Florentine leather goods.

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Osteria Numero Uno: typical Tuscan restaurant in Siena

In Siena Osteria Numero Uno is a restaurant-pizzeria in street Pantaneto where you can taste some typical Tuscan dishes like ribollita, and in particular delicatessen of Siena including pici. The local I was advised by a Sienese doc so how do not trust him, the more I've tried their pizzas very rich and cheap, because the prices at around six to seven euros.

The restaurant consists of a unique environment that is pretty close in the end, quite simple and rustic with the vaulted ceiling and red brick that is typical of many restaurants located in the historic center of Siena.

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Da Camillo Inn: eat well to siena

I discovered the Da Camillo Inn, family-run restaurant in Poggibonsi, in the province of Siena. In a cozy and rustic environment, with vaulted ceilings and stone walls, you can taste the best Tuscan cuisine of Siena, including cod and the pici. For those who do not know, the pici are a particular type of pasta shaped spaghetti seasoned with bacon, tomato, cheese and breadcrumbs.

Dishes of meat lead in the menu in respect of the culinary tradition of Chianti, soft, delicious, whether you choose a cut or a escalope, perhaps with balsamic vinegar, the meat will not disappoint you. If you intend to go to San Gimignano, a city well connected with Poggibonsi which is far away only a few miles, I recommend that you eat at the Da Camillo Inn, you would be grateful to me.

I have rarely tasted so good dishes spending so little. An example? The appetizers range from three to five euros, unless you take the starter by Camillo (8 euros) that is a mix of typical Tuscan starters (bruschetta, crostini, salami ...), and the first cost around six to seven euros.

Even the desserts are all very good. There are few but good. Creme caramel or cake pear? This is the question... to you the answer. :-)

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Chocolate fair in Monsummano Terme: a sweet Tuscan event

If throughout the year the Tuscan chocolate valley's road passes from Monsummano Terme (Pistoia province), at the end of January this is more true than ever. In the weekend that runs from January 30 to February 1 2009 Monsummano welcoming Cioccolasità for the happiness of all the gluttonous.

Among the exhibitors present at the event dedicated entirely to chocolate could not miss some great masters chocolatiers whose fame has crossed national borders, I refer to Roberto Catinari and Slitti, inventor of the teaspoon of chocolate melts in the coffee when you turn the and the recent sugar tablet Lattenero which has won the Golden Tablet in 2005 for the category 'chocolate milk'.

Monsummano Terme Cioccolosità involves for an entire weekend the center, offering to visitors a path that winds along the streets and main squares of Monsummano leading to the discovery of authentic works of art with chocolate, a real pleasure for sight and palate, which can be satisfied with the tasting offered during this sweet Tuscan week-end chocolate.

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The chocolate fair in Florence: a sweet event in Tuscany

The chocolate fair in Florence is a sweet event hosted by the Fifth edition in Square Santa Croce 22-25 January 2009. There is no better way to start the new year to enjoy the specialties of artisanal chocolate prepared by master chocolatier, 30 Italians and foreigners present at this fair.

It is famous artisan firms, including several interesting realities located in Tuscany, land that has become famous in recent years in the world for its chocolate, but also in Piedmont, a region that has a tradition in the production of a very good chocolate.

Here are some names of the exhibitors at this fair chocolate: the chocolate factory Brotini San Miniato Basso (province of Pisa), the Chocolate Boutique in Florence, the Cioccolateria Signorini Pistoia, Poretti and Chocolate Chocolate Sweet and Turin.

Those who want to learn more about this Tuscan sweet event can visit the website www.fieradelcioccolato.it and go to the chocolate fair in Florence in order to try personally these goodness .

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The chestnut cake: a classical Tuscan sweet

The chestnut cake is a traditional Tuscan dessert prepared especially in autumn and winter as a base of chestnut flour. If you consider the deployment of the chestnut in Tuscany you can well understand why the castagnaccio - chestnut cake can lay claim to a centuries-old history, as evidenced by the quote made in 1553 in the Commentary of the most monstrous things and notables of Italy written by Orlando Ortensio who gives the authorship of this excellent Tuscan sweet to Pilade from Lucca.

The ingredients are very simple so that in the past chestnut cake was on the tables of the peasants, and today this sweet can be found in the Tuscan cities' bakeries where it is called Baldino, Pattona, or more commonly castagnaccio - chestnut cake preparation is always the same.

We first need to obtain a fairly liquid batter lumps and without joining the chestnut flour with milk. Add to this compound a pinch of salt, orange, pine nuts, raisins and nuts kernels in abundance, then the dough must be prepared in a baking dish (taking into account that this cake is traditionally low) oiled and sprinkled with a few sprigs rosemary to give the final touch to this very sweet scented.

Bake at 180 ° until the cake appears not sufficiently substantial, if or until toothpick back clean then you can remove the pan. To enjoy the best you have a little patience and let it rest.

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Panforte of Siena: Tuscan sweet

In these days of celebration panforte Siena makes its appearance, along with panettone, pandoro and ricciarelli, on the shelves of supermarkets and bakeries, and not only in Tuscany. The goodness of this traditional Christmas cake of Sienna is now famous throughout Italy, but how and when it is born panforte?

Old recipe books tell of secular origin that becomes miraculous in legend. On Christmas Eve it is said that a child brought as a gift to Jesus a little bread with almonds that, following the blessing of St. Joseph, was transformed into a delicious panforte.
A medieval tradition says that the gingerbread, the ancestor of panforte Siena, has been prepared for the first time by Sister Leta to remedy a problem happened in the kitchen. As it happens, a cabinet broke broke spreading inside the raw materials she used to create this new tuscan sweet... it is better to say 'not all evil comes to harm'.
Among the ingredients spices were more abundant more than nowadays, including pepper from which the name of gingerbread, held together by caramelized sugar and honey. As such goods at the time particularly valuable and expensive this cake was consumed by the wealthy classes.

Coming to the present day, the classic version of panforte is white, also called Margaret on the occasion of the visit to Siena of Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1879. The secret of success lies in panforte white wealth and goodness of its compound (an explosive mix of calories!) From 1675 that has a well-seventeen ingredients, as many as are the lands of the Palio di Siena: honey, sugar, wheat flour, walnuts, nuts, almonds, candied citron, candied orange, popone candy, candied lemon peel, cinnamon, coriander, pepper aromatic, pine nuts, cloves, water and knead for fire to cook. A sweet energy so as to have alleged aphrodisiac qualities and to be in the past been used as food 'emergency' to feed the army during the siege of Siena in Siena in 1555, unfortunately without enough to withstand the attack of the Florentine who conquered the city.

In addition to panforte Margherita (or white), you can enjoy the panforte black, chocolate, not to be confused with Cecco cake, Christmas cake senese less common but no less delicious. If you're undecided between the brands that produce the panforte what I recommend is Flavors, in my opinion, the best ever.

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New Year's Eve in the square in Pisa

The New Year's Eve in the square in Pisa doubles and even quadruple to celebrate the arrival of 2009, four shows will indeed take place in the evening of December 31 in four of the Tuscan city squares: Square Garibaldi, Square San Paolo all'Orto, Square Gambacorti Chiara and Logge the benches.
The event called Last of the year Carnival will interlace culinary journeys to entertainment shows and music of every genre, from Blues to Rock, from Jazz to Reggae, Ska from the Latin American dances, to culminate in the traditional toast Midnight. of the New Year festival in Pisa, or rather the holidays, attended by some local center as the Bazeel, the Leningradcafé, the Borderline and Metamusic Agency. Here is the program of the evening in the four squares in Pisa.

Square Garibaldi. The New Year celebration begins at 8 p.m. with an aperitif - dinner-based on products from Tuscany, organized by Bazeel, continues to 9 p.m. with Latin American dances performed by the A-Team, a group of animation of Pisa.
At 11 p.m. Blues Band Nick Beccattini start play, the concert will not only blues but also rock, funk and soul, and it breaks to celebrate midnight according to the tradition with classical taste of zampone, lentils and sparkling. We danced into the night to pace dela Latin American music.

Square San Paolo all'Orto. The evening of 31 December starts at 9 p.m. with a dinner based on Tuscan soup and enters into full swing at 11.30 p.m. with a concert by Ray Daytona, surf punk band established itself in Italy.
The New Year celebration continues in the streets to music with a DJ Set After Show with Dome La Muerte Lady Maina and ending at night.

Square Chiara Gambacorti. The program of the festival for the New Year in Square Gambacorti provides a concert reggae, performing Vibes Working Group, winner of the 2008 Ciampi for the best cover. The show will start at 11 p.m. and for two hours this square resound of reggae music, ragga muffin and dance hall style.

Logge dei banchi. The program of the celebration of New Year has not only musical performances. At 7.30 p.m. a musical cocktail will animate the evening until 10.30 p.m., when the concert will begin, the Chiasso Mozzo Noir Folk Punk Band performing. These singers come from Pisa and their music has roots in rock and popular authors.
The comedy of Antonio Calandrino, eclectic actor movie theater and presenter of the evening, will accompany at the stroke of midnight, he will recite passages of his last show "The I God will." in conclusion of the evening the music ska & rocksteady de 'La Ghenga'.

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In Siena watching the stars of the New Year

Only 4 days, 8 hours, 9 minutes at the stroke of midnight of the new year, in newspapers, on television and radio astrologers communicate forecasts of 2009, strictly divided sign for sign. While waiting to find out what was in store for us next year, I want to suggest you an appointment with the stars, quiet, I do not to submit to yet another horoscope, the sky that I invite you to observe is that 'astronomical'.

Not quite on a New Year's Day but on 3 January 2009 in Siena the Observatory's Astrofili Senesi will be open to the public; at 21:30 you can watch by telescope the stars and nebulae that 'live' the northern hemisphere and for once the show will not take place Under the Tuscan Sun, but it will be the Tuscan sky itself. The astronomical station of Siena Palmiero Capannoli is located near Port Laterina, if you arrive in Siena by train it is necessary to take a bus to reach Independence Square and here take another bus /(n 54) which stops at Port Laterina, while if you come by car you can park in route Bastianini and route of the Nuovo Asilo.

Now it only remains to hope that the night is clear and therefore the maximum visibility and check the weather forecast ... and that the stars are with you!

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Kinzica de' Sismondi, who was she?

How many live or know some of Pisa will know that one of the historical neighborhoods that had divided the Tuscan city was called Kinzica (for those who are handy was more or less up to via San Martino). Its name derives from that of a woman lived in Pisa in the Middle Ages and still remembered here as an heroin, especially at events such as the Maritime Republics' race involving Amalfi, Venice, Genoa and Pisa course.

During the costume parade before the person that has the shoes of Kinzica dei Sismondi arrives on horseback, accompanied by six maids and a palfrey, and accompanied by eight drummers and four bishops. Who was Kinzica treated with such a great importance? The answer probably lies in a historical episode that has become over time a legendary alone.

Around 1004-1005, when the events took place, the pirates threatened the city of Pisa at a time when it was defenseless. Their plan was sent in smoke from Kinzica de' Sismondi that sounded the bells and awakened the inhabitants so that the people rejected the invaders. A few added that she fought in first person for the defense of the city. In any case, the result was an overwhelming victory and everlasting memory of Kinzica Sismondi in the collective memory of the city.

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Biscuits Befanini for a sweet New Year

What's better to wish someone a sweet Christmas giving as a gift something really sweet, maybe we prepared? On the Christmas' sweets the Tuscan recipes are of a wide variety of biscuits and cakes that can be selected.

What I have decided to propose to you for these festivals is traditionally one of the recipes prepared in Tuscany in the early days of the new year, as the name reveals: the Befanini (from Befana, an old woman who brings the sweets to children for the epiphany).

Ingredients:
For the dough: 500 gr. flour, 100 gr. butter, lard nut, 200 gr. sugar, 2 eggs, 1 egg yolk, some 'milk (enough to make the dough consistent)
For the marzipan: walnuts, almonds and chopped egg clear (mounted)

Preparation:
The mixture should be kept in the refrigerator for about 10, 15 minutes and then laid out with rolling pin and then with the special shapes are obtained many biscuits with the shape of heart, star, Christmas tree ... Now you are ready to prepare marzipan, with a little bit of Alkermes and then spread the batter with a spoon on befanini. Now you only have to put them in the oven and let them brown and... Bon appetit!

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Palace Alla Giornata in Pisa

Poised between myth and reality, the story that I want to tell you in this holiday concerning the origin of the term At the Day (Alla giornata) with which is named one of the historic buildings that are located on the river Arno of Pisa, current seat of the Rector of the University, story that had a happy ending just one day of Christmas of a few centuries ago.

The narration of the facts leads us in the seventeenth century and the protagonist is a knight Pisan that, following fierce naval battle, fell into Turkish hands. Entrusted to the custody of one of the favorites of the bey, he soon earned the admiration for the courage shown during his captivity so that he would be left free if in return had agreed to renoune his religion.
Despite the Knight of Pisa showed no hesitation, the court took on with a new proposal, namely to be free enough to stop to observe the rule on Friday in thin had always strictly followed. Past few weeks, a knight on Friday asked that he had led a lavish meal, happy to hear this news, the courtier turkish remained true to his promise and released into freedom. What he did not know was unaware that that day is celebrated Christmas event for which the precept of Friday was exceptionally lean suspended.
Back in Pisa, the knight built a palace on the Arno River and as a votive he placed above the entrance three links of the chain that had kept him prisoner and he wrote the motto At Day to remember that even in difficulty, we must not lose hope because in just one day the adversity can capsize.

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Villa Medici at Poggio a Caiano

Villa Medici at Poggio a Caiano is located a few kilometers from Florence, in the province of Prato ant it is easily reachable by bus from the station of Santa Maria Novella.

Built by Giuliano da Sangallo for the will of Lorenzo the Magnificent on an area belonged to the historical Florentine families of Rucellai and Strozzi, the villa of Poggio a Caiano has seen in years the alternation of various artists including Filippino Lippi for the fresco in the loggia on the first floor, Andrea Sansovino in the pediment majolica, Andrea del Sarto, Alessandro Allori and Pontormo for the realization of the beautiful cycle of frescoes that decorate the walls of the Salon of Pope Leo X.

In addition to the villa and the park, you can visit the Museum of still life, inaugurated in June 2007, which boasts a number of paintings on a time span ranging from sixteenth to the eighteenth century. If you do not have time to visit both, my advice is to see the villa, one of the most beautiful among the Medici villas that I have ever seen.

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Art, genius and madness in Siena

Next 2009 the schedule of exhibitions in Tuscany is quite full of interesting encounters with art, like the one I want you to talk about.

Art, genius and madness, exhibition at the Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, from January 30 to 25 March 2009. The exhibition aims to analyze the combination between artistic genius and madness through an excursus full of big names, such as Van Gogh, Munch, Ernst, Dix, Grosz, Guttuso, Ligabue and the list still includes other famous artists.

All this for a total of over 300 works, including paintings and sculptures from some of the major European museums including the Museum d'Orsay and the Musée National d'Art Moderne - Center Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Museo del Prado of Madrid, the Kirchner Museum in Davos and National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, Pinacoteca di Brera and Braidense Biblioteca Nazionale in Milan.
For information contact the Museum Complex Santa Maria della Scala in 0577 224,811 - 224,835.

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Unusual, secret Tuscany

Unusual, secret Tuscany is a book, published by Jonglez, that addresses at tourists who want to discover a non-postcard Tuscany and at those who live in Tuscany and think they know all the places in which they live. It is not like a traditional tourist guide, so if you are planning holidays in Tuscany will do better to rely on travelers' canonical bible Lonely Planet with his valuable advice, but if you want to walk out of the beaten track, then this book is for you.

I accidentally discovered on the shelves of Feltrinelli, the title intrigued me, so I peeled and I noticed that there are many small details of monuments and corners of cities like Florence and Siena that I know quite well that to date I had escaped.

Two examples of all: on some buildings in the center of Florence you can see strange openings similar to the doors but large as windows (like that of the next photo), having formerly a particular function, while on the left side of the Cathedral of Siena was carved a square formed by written Palindrome (SATORI AREP TENET OPERA rotas) which has cryptic and multiple interpretations, esoteric, alchemists, numerology. A palindrome like this in Siena was found on a square column in Pompeii, and then dated no later than 79 AD.

If you're curious at this point to know what the mysterious Florentine doors are and you want to discover the meaning of Siena Palindrome there remains that read Unusual, secret Tuscany.

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Villa Medici of Quarrata is... Magic

In a green protected area, nestled in the hills of Montalbano in the province of Pistoia, lies the Villa Medici of Quarrata whose name is: The Magic (La Magia.

The beautiful Renaissance palace is located in a park museum where there are works by contemporary artists merged with nature, as in the Micat in Vertice by Fabrizio Corneli (installation of light and shadow on the facade of the limonaia) and The factory memory by Anne and Patrick Poirier (installation sandstone whose shape echoes the ellipse of the brain).

Temporarily exposed works are addes to this permanent collection. Even for a few days is the turn of the garden of marble Hidetoshi Nagasawa. Landed in Italy for the first time in 1967, the Japanese sculptor proposes you an impressive petrified wood, made of columns, exposed until Dec. 30 in the Villa.

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