Medici Tombs and Santa Croce

These are the two biggies that are left to see on your short visit. Santa Croce. From Piazza Signoria it is only a 6 minute walk, but it is well worth it. In this church, which was begun in the 13th century, the tombs or the monuments to famous people (over 200) line the walls. It is a history lesson just to walk through the church. By now, you also know that a good way to cool off is to go into the stone churches. So, with your Michelin guide grasped firmly in your hands, walk through a bit of history of the city of Florence. The Medici Tombs are near the corner of the market area and you have probably passed them several times. The building was built in the 1600's for the sarcophagi of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Go upstairs and stand in amazement at the size of some of the tombs, but the best tombs are hidden away. Once you enter the room, off to your right there is a small door (and lots of people coming and going) and this door will lead you to a narrow walkway that empties out into the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano. The statues were done by Michelangelo. On Lorenzo's tomb (he is the one who looks like "The Thinker" dressed in Roman clothing) are the figures of Dawn (calm, walking with her head back in a lazy fashion) and Evening. Lorenzo is called "il Pensieroso" or the thinker, and the helmet he wears casts a shadow over his face, a reminder that thinkers have to carry a burden of thought in search for wisdom. Giuliano's tomb has Night and Day. Michelangelo admitted that the statues of the two men did not resemble them, but he said that l00 years from that time, "Who would care?" and so he pictured them the way he wanted to. Enjoy the evening, because tomorrow you hop the train to Venice. Should you care to remain in this city, you can always choose to cut one day off your stay in Venice. Tough choice! i would choose Venice, but i am definitely prejudiced toward that city.

The bell tower of Piazza San Marco is magnificient and, after a little wait, you can buy a ticket to climb to the top. The view from the top is quite something because it is the highest vantage point in all of Venice. The tower collapsed about l00 years ago, but no one was hurt and the Italians meticulously cleaned the bricks and then restored the tower to its original looks and size.

The only way to get a glimpse of the top of the church of San Marco is to climb to the top of the bell tower. You can see that the view is rather impressive from this height.

The clock tower on the piazza is unique. On the top of the building are two bronze figures which move and strike the giant bell on the hour. Usually this is enough noise to make the pidgeons fly, so don't look up!

Bolsena Lake: The Lake of the Etruscans

The Bolsena lake, rich in crystal clear waters the whole year long, occupies the largest volcanic caldera in Europe and is adorned by the Martana and Bisentina islands, two rocky remains of the explosions of the last craters. Since prehistory the lake attracted inhabitants from the nearby hills, communities who moved down to the shores where they managed to work the fertile land as well as to practise breeding and, most of all, fishing.
During the Iron Age (IX-VIII century b.C.) the Villanovians, ancestors of the Etruscans, founded two large villages close to the lake. Bisenzio, on the western shore, was built upon a rocky hill running sheer into the waters, while the “Gran Carro”, on the opposite side, was originally located at the middle of a wide plain which was later submerged because of the gradual uplift of the lake level.
During the Etruscan period the Bolsena lake basin was a boundary area between two of the most important Etruscan city-states, Vulci and Volsinii, but its south western sector was also influenced by the powerful Tarquinia because of the easy connection  to the Tyrrhenian coast through the Marta river valley.
The best way to experience a route connecting the most important Etruscan places around the Bolsena lake is to visit first the Etruscan-Roman town of Volsinii. Volsinii was founded after the destruction of Velzna, the present Orvieto, carried out by the Romans in 265 b.C. together with the deportation of all its inhabitants to the Volsini Mountains.
The archaeological area is 100 metres north of the Castle of Bolsena, along the road towards Orvieto. A parking lot is available. At the left of the entrance, the remains of the thermae of the first century a.C., can be seen. Further on stands the level ground of the forum, which dates back to the Flavian period. Most of its paving has been removed and used again during the Middle Ages to build the close Castello quarter, the first settlement of the present Bolsena, and the Monaldeschi Fortress, where you can visit the Bolsena Lake Territorial Museum which is full of Etruscan and Roman remains.
The northern and southern sides of the forum are bounded by two wide roads while on the western side, facing the lake, originally there was a great basilica, a public building where justice was dispensed, which was then transformed into a Christian place of worship under the emperor Constantine. A staircase on the northern side of the forum is an ancient via tecta (i.e. a road originally covered by a vault), leading to the ancient public toilets and the residential area. The “House of Paintings” shows several rooms decorated with remarkable frescoes of the III century b.C. and an underground place where ceremonies were secretly carried out in honour of Bacchus. Nearby stands the “Atrium House”, with precious marble floors (opus sectile) and a big nymphaeum surrounded by niches where statues stood in ancient times.
Go down to the via Cassia, turn to the right and with a distance of 12 kilometres you arrive to San Lorenzo Nuovo. The name of the village reveals its recent origins, but many Etruscan evidences related to the important settlement of Civita di Grotte di Castro are widespread throughout its territory. A trail easily connects the southern part of the village to the small rural church of Madonna di Torano, where several chamber graves can still be seen. The most important, the “Column Tomb”, has a single rectangular room with funeral platforms on three sides and a double sloping ceiling, held up by a rojecting
rafter and a column of the Tuscan order.
Back to the north on the via Cassia, before entering Acquapendente, the route crosses the Campomorino plain which is full of Etruscan remains. In the surroundings of Casale Lutinanino stood a small necropolis with chamber graves of the Hellenistic period (IV – II century b.C.). Until a few years ago, a couple of tombs could be seen. In one of them the main chamber was surrounded by some loculi, burial cells, but the entrance was closed because the ceiling collapsed. The second tomb had a Greek cross plan and a double sloping ceiling where a central rafter and lateral joists had been sculpted, thus
imitating a domestic roof.
Again to the north on the via Cassia, the route crosses the town of Acquapendente and goes down towards the Paglia river. A few hundred metres before the bridge, turn left on the Provincial Road No. 52 (Procenese) to reach the village of Proceno in ten minutes. The settlement has a charming position, castled on top of a hillside defended by high cliffs on every side. During the Etruscan period it belonged to the city-state of Chiusi, whose legendary king Porsenna was responsible for its foundation and was buried in a big burial mound on a nearby hill (Poggio Porsenna). A heritage of his name can still be found in the name of Proceno. Back to via Cassia, we suggest you to return to Acquapendente and turn right along the Provincial Road No. 124 leading to Grotte di Castro. The territory around this village displays the highest number of Etruscan remains of the whole lake basin. The Municipal Archaeological Museum is worth a visit due to the presence of several funerary outfits of the archaic period, found in the necropolises of the area and related to the large settlement of the Civita rise (Salpinum?). From Grotte di Castro, the first stretch of the Provincial Road No. 124 going down towards Gradoli and the lake runs along the Civita tuff plateau, on the left. Shortly afterwards comes the archaeological area of Pianezze, a necropolis where a group of about twenty wide chamber graves can be admired. The graves are dug in a tuff crag, they all have sculpted interiors and one of them is painted.
From Pianezze, go down towards the Bolsena lake and then turn right on the Provincial Road No. 212 towards Gradoli. After one kilometre, at a junction, turn left towards Capodimonte on the Provincial Road No. 114. The road runs close to the lake shore and after about eight kilometres the green shape of Mount Bisenzio appears. In ancient times, the hill was occupied by a widespread Etruscan settlement (Bisenzio) which spanned for about 85 hectares and included the Palazzetta rise. The place is now an archaeological naturalistic park and can be reached through a trail on the left of the Provincial Road, at the top of the slope where the entrance of the ancient village lies. After the visit, go back to the Provincial Road No. 114 and turn left at the following junction to reach the Capodimonte lakeside towards the village of Marta, which is only two kilometres away. A central road, Via Laertina, crosses Marta from both sides and leads to the bridge over the homonymous (Marta) river, which is the only outlet of the Bolsena lake. During the Etruscan period the Marta river valley was a main line of communication between the lake and the Tyrrhenian coast, including the important Etruscan towns of Tarquinia and Tuscania. Close to the Marta river inlet stands the Cornossa hill where in ancient times was an Etruscan settlement to which several necropolises were connected.
You can reach the town of Montefiascone by travelling on the country road along the lake shore. After two kilometres, you get to an archaeological area with the remains of an Etruscan sanctuary of the VI – III century b.C. Proceeding on the same road, after a few minutes a bend on the right takes you to the Provincial Road No. 16 which climbs up to Montefiascone. The town is the largest and the most ancient settlement of the lake district and was built on one of the highest hills of the Volsini Mountains. An outstanding panorama overlooks the Bolsena lake and opens its view towards distant horizons such as the sharp shapes of the Apennines, the glows of the Thyrrenian Sea, the Cimini Mountains and the Mount Amiata.
The Etruscan phase of the settlement is witnessed both on top of the hill where later, in the Middle Ages, the so called “Popes’ Fortress” was built, and in the surroundings where several small necropolises of the Hellenistic period (IV – III century b.C.) were found during the last century. Recent archaeological excavations below the medieval fortress have brought to light layers filled with protohistoric and Etruscan finds and the remains of powerful defensive walls in opus quadratum built with big tuff bricks.
The last part of the route leads to the countryside of the Civita d’Arlena hill, a place immersed in nature within the Turona naturalistic archaeological park. The area is well signposted and may be reached by going towards Bolsena along the via Cassia as far as km 108.100 and then turning right to a narrow country road. Between the VIII and the III century b.C. the Civita hill was occupied by an important Etruscan settlement. A trail crosses the top of the rise from both sides and is accessible by foot, by horse or with mountain bikes. It leads to the remains of a small temple, built in the VI century b.C. near to a big volcanic fracture. According to the imagination of Etruscan people this rift must have looked like a gate opened towards the kingdom of the gods of the underworld, whose worship was particularly popular within the ancient
territory of Volsinii.
Going back to the via Cassia and turning right, at a distance of 7 kilometres you can reach Bolsena, starting and ending point of the route around the largest lake of the Lazio region, dedicated to the discovery of Etruscans.

Formia today …

Many scholars link the city of Formia to the legendary city inhabited by the cannibal Lestrigoni population which destroyed Ulysses' fleet in the Iliad, while others believe it was the Spartan colony in which Aeneas stopped on his way to Lavinium. More probably, the city was founded by the Aurunci and then occupied by the Volsci. During Roman times, the ancient town of Formiae was one of the most important cities on the Via Appia between Rome and Capua, and, indeed, its position on the Via Appia, its closeness to the sea, the mildness of its climate, the beauty of its environment and its relative closeness to Rome made it one of the best and most sought after holiday locations for wealthy Romans.
Among the visitors to the area were Mamurra and Maecenas, both of whom built villas in the area, although its most famous visitor was undoubtedly Cicero, who loved to spend long periods of time in the area and even sought refuge there on being forced to escape from Rome. Formia is also believed to be the birth place of Vitruvius. During the reign of Hadrian, Formia was raised to the status of Roman colony and continued to flourish as a city until it was occupied by the Longobards. Evidence of this long period of wellbeing is provided by a number of items found under the church of Saint Erasmus following its destruction by the Saracens. Formia was a diocesan centre until well into the 5th century. Unfortunately, the city was seriously damaged by bombing during the second world war.

Today...
Formia is now an important seaside resort with long sandy beaches as well as a comfortable base for holiday makers wishing to venture into the Aurunci mountains. Its enchanting bay is generally crowded with sailing boats, water skiers and delta-planers.

The island of Ponza

The island of Ponza has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age, although its villages were only established under the domination of the Volsci.
Used as a trading port by the Phoenicians and a holiday resort by the Romans - of whose villas many traces still remain, the most famous being the 1st century villa located on the hill of the Madonna in the middle ages, Ponza was a flourishing religious and commercial centre.
Subject to numerous incursions by Saracen pirates, the waters of Ponza have been the arena of many battles including the battle in which Ruggero Lauria, Duke of Calabria, defeated Admiral Corrado Doria.
In the 14th century the Aragons drove out the Cistercian monks who inhabited the island with the result that they founded the church of Saint Mary of Ponza in Formia.
In 1542 King Carlos V of Spain ceded the island of Ponza to Pier Luigi Farnese on the premise that he would defend it from pirate incursions.
After a short period of Austrian domination, in 1734 Elisabetta Farnese, the mother of King Charles Bourbon II of Naples, conveyed the whole archipelago to her son who insisted that the islands should become private assets of the crown.
In 1813 Ponza was occupied by the British army and only given back to the Bourbon dynasty two years after the signing of the Treaty of Vienna.
Following the success of Giuseppe Garibaldi, in 1861 Ponza was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
In 1928 the island was used by the Fascist regime as a prison for its political opponents, while Mussolini was imprisoned on the island in 1943.
Today...
Ponza offers both unspoiled nature and fashionable resorts.
One of its most famous attractions is the Chiaia di Luna beach which takes its name from the lunar colour of the 200 metre high cliffs which make it one of the most enchanting spots on the island.

Latina, the history

Yesteryear...
Founded in 1932 under the Fascism regime and originally named Littoria, the city was built on the site of a small village which had developed during the reclamation of the Pontine marshes. The building project was led by Valentino Orsoline Cancelli, Government Commissioner for the Reclamation of the Pontine Marshes. The reclamation work was widely exploited by Fascist propagandists and indeed they are many famous images of Mussolini working in fields where there was once nothing but marshland. The city changed its name from Littoria to Latina with the fall of Fascism and, despite having been seriously damaged during the second world war, experienced great economic development in the 1960s and 1070s as a result of its inclusion in the Cassa del Mezzogiorno.

Today...
Latina is now the second most highly populated city in Lazio and an important agricultural and industrial centre. It also has a military airport. Developed according to a plan based on the fundamental principles of urban design and architectural rationalism, Latina is a fine example of a modern Italian city whose geometrically inspired streets and squares are typical of minimalist architecture.

Terracina: the history

Yesteryear...
Supposedly founded by a group of Spartans who fled their city in order to escape the reforms of Lycurgus, the city of Terracina was conquered by the Volsci before becoming a Roman colony in 329.
Enlarged and renovated during the reign of Sulla, the city soon became one of the most flourishing centres in Lazio.
In the 4th century Bc, it was the birthplace of the Emperor Galba and throughout the imperial age it was the favourite holiday resort of the Roman nobility.
Both Trajan and Antoninus Pius improved the city's ancient port, while Trajan also improved the surface of the Via Appia.
Appointed a diocesan centre in the 4th century, the city suffered serious moments of decline as a result of barbarian invasions and Saracen attacks.
In 882, the city was incorporated into the estate of the church of Saint Peter, although it was nevertheless granted considerable autonomy.
Defended against the Frangipane family by the papal authorities, in 1088 the city was chosen as the location of the first conclave to be held outside Rome during which Pope Urban II was elected.
Although the progressive swamping of the Pontine plain caused the city to fall into decline, in the 18th century its fortunes revived following drainage of the surrounding area by Pope Pius Vi, who also extended the city.
Unfortunately much of the medieval city was destroyed by bombing during the second world war, although some early 13th - late 14th century Gothic style buildings still survive.
Today...
Its enviable geographical position, beautiful medieval city centre and marvellous promontory make Terracina one of the most delightful cities in the region of Lazio.
On clear days the view from the city extends as far as the island of Ischia and Mount Vesuvius.

San Felice Circeo: the history

Possibility inhabited as early as the 1st century bc and then occupied by the Volsci, San Felice Circeo became a Roman colony in 393 bc following the construction of a port-canal by the Emperor Nero.
Devastated by the Visigoths, the city was subsequently conquered by Totila, the King of the Ostrogoths, only to be destroyed by the Saracens.
The castle was built in 1118 by the Terracinesi family and occupied by the Frangipane family until 1203 when Pope Innocence III ordered that it should be consigned to Pietro Annibaldo.
Having returned to the estate of the Terracinesi family, in 1250 the castle was ceded to the Knights Templar before being sold to the Pironti family (the lords of Terracina), the Annibaldeschi family and finally, in 1301, to Pietro Castani, the grandson of Pope Boniface Viii, in whose family it remained, with the exception of a few brief interruptions, for approximately four centuries.
In 1441 the village of San Felice Circeo was destroyed by Alfonso of Aragon and the inhabitants were forced to seek shelter in Terracina until the estate was given back to the Castani family by Pope Pius II.
Subsequently re-acquired by Pope Alexander VI for his daughter Lucrezia Borgia, in 1500 the city was devastated by the army of King Frederick of Naples.
Passing into the hands of the Ruspoli and Orsini families, the city was then sold to the Apostolic Camera which was soon forced to sell the estate to Prince Stanislao Poniatowski for 86 thousand scudi in order to meet the expense of supporting the French army.
Prince Poniatowski was nevertheless obliged to return the city to the Apostolic Camera in 1822.
Today...
San Felice Circeo is one of the smartest seaside resorts in Lazio.
In addition to a collection of elegant boutiques, top class restaurants and delightful hotels, the town also offers spectacular views over the Pontine plain towards Latina, over Terracina, over Ponza and as far as the Lepini and Musoni mountains.
The National Park of Circeo encloses over 10 kilometres a sandy dunes.

European Heritage Days 24th and 25th September in Italy

Italy is taking part, together with other 49 European States in the 2011 European Heritage Days that will take place in our country on 24th and 25th September, with the wellestablished slogan "Italy – Treasure of Europe". Since its founding in 1954, this event has been widely followed and much appreciated by the public as it has provided an opportunity to become acquainted with the extraordinary European cultural heritage. Over the years, the event has become of such importance that in 1999 the European Council and the European Commission made it a mutual undertaking, with the intent to strengthen and favour dialogue and cultural exchange with the objective of increasing public awareness with respect to the great wealth that cultural diversity generates within Europe. It is therefore necessary to reaffirm, together with the European countries, common cultural and historical roots, fundamental for the development of common strategies and projects for the protection and safeguarding and for the acquiring and passing on to future generations, even in moments of crisis, of the knowledge of the great cultural heritage of our country and that of the whole of Europe. The recent inscription of two new Italian sites to UNESCO's World Heritage List - "Longobards in Italy - Places of the power"and "Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps", enters into the spirit of the European Days. The series of prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements in and around the Alps, comprising 111 villages, extending into the territory of 7 countries: Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Germany and Slovenia, testifies the existence of a strong common link between old continent traditions. MiBAC will be participating in this grand European festival with both its central and territorial institutions which, as well as organising events for the occasion, will open free of charge to the public, all State heritage sites including those of archaeological, artistic, historical, architectural, archival, cinematographic, theatrical and musical interest. In synergy with MiBAC, the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Italian Cultural Institutions Abroad, the autonomous Regions and Provinces and public and private Communal and Cultural Institutions, will take part in the event giving added value to the initiative by opening art sites free of charge and organising events. With the free entry to art sites and the organisation of numerous events, the public will be able to freely discover or rediscover both known and less well-known museums, monuments or archaeological sites, offering the opportunity to reflect on the foundations of our history. It is necessary, however, to reinforce communications so that this becomes an opportunity for the citizens of each European State to find out about the cultural heritage of other European countries, appreciate differences, embrace similarities and understand in this way, the sense of a common Europe which cannot exist as such without the awareness of common ideas, values and sentiments. During these "Days" the entire European artistic and cultural heritage will be open to the World.

Umbria Film Festival 2011

Fifteen Umbria Film Festivals. This event has reached an artistic and organizational maturity that make it one of the main cultural events of our region. This has been made possible only thanks to the constant and tireless work of the Associazione Umbria Film Festival, its President Marisa Berna, the artistic director Vanessa Strizzi and all those members, i cannot name them all, who with passion and enthusiasm have continued to work to create and organize this event. To all of them goes my personal and heart-felt tank, for the passion and tenacity with which over so many years they have worked for this event. Even if it does not show, there have been and there are difficulties and obstacles that we have had to deal with in order to organize such an important event, however they have always been overcome and forgotten when on the big screen we see the images created by some many extraordinary artists who have been and will be at our Festival. My heart-felt thanks are also due to the institutions, namely the Regional Government of Umbria and of the Province of Perugia, as well as to all those companies that support us even in this moment of general extreme economic difficulties. i always hope in a time when Italy will become seriously aware of the fact that our real country does not belong to the powdered, haughty and hugely costly image that appears on television, but to the thousands of local realities in which culture represents a fundamental element in the construction of people-oriented quality of life and in the fulfilment of the rights of citizenship for those who live in these places. Nonetheless, the Festival is still here ready to give us emotions and to make us think, to make us defend even in out open-minded Region the need for a relativistic-based cultural approach in order to make us able to fight against the germs of both ideological infections and the critical anaemia that characterize our current society. a special mention is due to our friend and cocitizen Terry Gilliam. His appreciation for our Festival, for Montone and its inhabitants, that he never fails to express whenever he has the chance, makes us deeply proud and honoured of such consideration. Thank you Terry!

Mayor of Montone Mariano Tirimagni

Meal times in Italy - the importance of wine

In Italy wine exists primarily to turn everyday meals and family get togethers into pleasurable social occasions.
Wine is part of the cultural fabric of Italian life. It goes on the table along with the salt, pepper and olive oil and is made to be drunk with food. This means that the flavours of Italian wine are often both more subtle and more demanding than those of wines from countries where the link between food and wine is less strong.
Just as there is hardly any such thing as ‘Italian' cooking, the wines of Italy are intensely regional. Vine growing echoes the North / South divide, though largely for climatic reasons. Wines from a delimited region are designated Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC). Most Doc wine, which accounts for about one in every eight bottles produced in Italy is produced north of Rome.
As one travels south the grape varieties and the tastes become increasingly exotic. Italy grows more grape varieties and makes more wine (nearly a fifth of the world's total) than any other country. Not all of it good, but much of it exciting.

The Cinque Terra region of Italy

The Cinque Terra refers to a strand of five delightful Mediterranean seaside villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) cascading along a five mile stretch of the northwestern Italian coast like glistening, glittering little gems.

• Monterosso al Mare
• Vernazza
• Corniglia
• Manarolo
• Riomaggiore

We will fly into Genoa, take the train or ferry* toward La Spezia to Monterosso and then we can either walk between the towns, take the train, or ferry* (*the ferry does not dock at Corniglia due to the lack of harbor).  Cars are out of the question here, as it should be.  The some 600 residents of Vernazza banded together and stopped a road from built through their town.  Bless their souls.
Thankfully, there are no Super 8s, but there are several nice hotels and Bed & Breakfasts, we can also rent rooms from the locals or stay in a hostel.  Here is a link to the Baranin B&B whose AMAZING site has more information about the Cinque Terra than their own B&B!  Strangely, it seem to imitate and replicate THIS SITE.
I don't expect we will go hungry, especially if you like pasta, pesto, focaccia or farinata, fish, wine, olives and grapes as this region is quite famous for all of those delicacies.  Mmmm, farinata.
We will be spending our days working up our appetites by hiking the trails, diving, swimming, sunning on the beach, fishing and boating, attending a festival or two if we time our trip right - we just missed the Lemon Festival in May, we will also be spending some time in the Cinque Terra National Park and Marine Reserve, as well as exploring the five five castles and the five sanctuaries of each of the unique Cinque Terra towns, but mostly we are going to literally absorb peace and quiet while we reflect and relax.
If you want to learn more, visit, my favorite - the 5terra website, the Cinque Terra Consortium, Cinque Terra online, the dreaded wiki page, and I also found this helpful site put together by a past visitor to the Cinque Terra.
If sightseeing pictorials are more your taste, please visit the TerraGalleria gallery and the picturescolourlibrary gallery.

Fare Night-Perugia Estate 2010

In times of crisis, the possibilities that are generally considered are two: give in to the inevitable or proudly resist. We have identified a third: re-launch. Thanks to the extraordinary response from cultural operators and private companies, various associations and citizens who are simply passionate about sounds, words and colours, we have created a summer programme packed with events linked to the great collective project "Perugia Assisi European Capitals of Culture".

A new package, "Fare Night-Perugia Estate 2010", has replaced the glorious "Tenera è la Notte", with the aim of discovering a different part of Europe every year beginning with the Balkans. We will encounter this extraordinary treasure and contradiction of our continent in a series of initiatives developed around the charismatic figure of Goran Bregovic, who is in concert in Piazza IV Novembre, on the 10th August for the "Notte delle Stelle". Moreover, music, theatre and literature are being performed as part of the project "Voci ‘e Notti - Attori improbabili in cerca di pubblico" on the terrace of Cinema Lilli, an event that can be coupled to the more traditional programme of " Palazzo della Penna presenta..." The events on offer in the Monteluce neighbourhood are new, with open-air cinema evenings and the grand finale of "Sogno in una notte di fine estate" which with art, live shows and gastronomy will conclude a summer celebration to be enjoyed as a sign of collaboration, conviviality and the pleasure of being together.

Hence, FareNight Perugia Estate 2010 kicks off the new cultural offer for the city of Perugia, which will continue on September 25th, with the inauguration of the great exhibition "Teatro del Sogno - da Chagall a Fellini" (Theatre of Dreams - from Chagall to Fellini) at the National Gallery of Umbria.

Wladimiro Boccali Mayor of the Municipality of Perugia
Andrea Cernicchi Councillor for Cultural and Social Policies
Giovedì 22 Luglio 2010

Did you know The Mamuthones?

The Mamuthones is one of the most interesting archaic carnivals in the whole of Europe, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday in the old town centre of  . Apart from the floats and various other entertainments, all recent additions to the carnival, the heart of the event is centred on two closed groups of masked men: the 12 Mamuthones and the 8 Issoahodores.
They are dressed in their costumes according to a precise order which is centuries old, and which takes a very long time. The Mamuthones carry a heavy bunch of handbells and their faces are hidden behind fearsome masks: their terrifying appearance is offset to some extent by the contrast with the colourful costumes of the Issoahodores.
During the day the protagonists have no contact with the public but perform a mysterious dance, with slow solemn paces, that is drawn out until midnight. The masked figures radiate a solemn aura that is extremely moving.

Specchia and the pilgrims’ road as known as Cammino Leucadense

The pilgrims’ road

Time has stood still here in Specchia, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Just a few kilometres outside the town you can still find traces of the ancient Via dei Pellegrini, also known as the “Cammino Leucadense”, the route used by pilgrims to reach the Madonna di Finibus Terrae sanctuary at Leuca. From the year 1300, the first Holy Year, it was also used as a route to Rome.

According to tradition, in 1220, Saint Francis of Assisi also used this road on his return from the Holy Land, a fact backed by the presence of the Black Franciscan church and monastery.
Along the Via dei Pellegrini there is still evidence of its past that was rich in events that deeply influenced the life and culture of the local people; this penitential route touched the edge of Specchia, continued on to the small church of S. Angelo, now reduced to just a few ruins, then continued on to the Serra dei Peccatori and Serra dei Cianci.
The main road connected numerous crypts, sanctuaries, votive chapels and places of worship scattered along the mountain ranges. It is still possible to go along the secondary branch of the road leading to the abbeys and churches that offered refreshment to the body and the spirit and which became halting places for the pilgrims.

The Specchia’s area

Specchia, situated in the hills of the Salentina peninsula and surrounded by olive groves and Mediterranean maquis, also offers a splendid view of much of Capo di Leuca, a panorama lit by the blazing sun and the reflection from the white-washed walls of the houses.
The village offers peace and solitude as well as the opportunity of admiring its Catalan and Baroque portals, cornices in Leccese stone, ornate corbels on the balconies, wrought iron railings, arches, friezes and votive niches.
Conservation of this ancient hamlet is an objective, and you will note the absence of cables on the outside of the houses. The narrow lanes, interrupted by flights of steps and closed to traffic, enclose this hamlet which is the result of spontaneous architecture dating from the 16th century.

Useful information

Town Hall via San Giovanni Bosco 1 tel. 0833536293 fax 0833539769 www.comune. specchia.lecce.it segreteria@comune. specchia.lecce.it

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa