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Calabria forms the foot of the Italian boot. This region is in the heart of the Mezzogiorno, the south of Italy. Who would expect to find an Albanian Carnival here? Who would expect to find an African Carnevale here? Keep on reading to learn about some of the most distinctive Carnevales in all Europe.

San Demetrio Corone is a village of under four thousand people in Calabria facing the Apennine Mountains and the Ionian Sea. It was founded more than five hundred years ago by Albanians who were fleeing an Ottoman invasion. Despite the centuries the townsfolk have managed to keep their Albanian language and customs while becoming Italians. On the first Saturday of Carnival they celebrate the “Feste dei Morti.” The poor and children go from house by house collecting alms. Then they march to the local cemetery where food and drink is served surrounded by the gravestones. The food known as “Colivi” is made from boiled wheat and was eaten at Paleo-Christian funerals. In the nearby village of Saracena, population about four thousand, named for the Arabs who formerly ruled this part of the world, the Festa di San Leone (Feast of St. Leon) starts with candlelight procession from the church of that name accompanied by music made with traditional musical instruments. Then comes the “Fucarazzi’” (bonfire) at dusk that stays lit all night long while the inhabitants and guests enjoy the ritual food and drink.

Another Albanian Carnevale in Calabria is held in the village of Lungro many of whose three thousand some inhabitants speak a dialect of Albanian. The villagers celebrate Carnevale by parading in traditional Albanian costumes. In northern Calabria, the city of Montalto Uffugo (population about seventeen thousand) holds an interesting parade of men wearing women’s dresses. They hand out sweets and tastes of Pollino wine. Following the parade, the kings and queens arrive for a night of dancing wearing costumes that include giant heads. Actually cross dressing is a popular Calabrian Carnevale theme for both men and women as are the ancient Commedia dell’Arte farces in which Carnival is dying, surrounded by busy but hopelessly ineffectual doctors. The funeral is grotesque and ends with a huge bonfire.

The town of Castrovillari, population well over twenty thousand on the northern border of Calabria, holds its Carnival of Pollino. The women dress in intricate traditional costumes and both the men and women celebrate the Pollino wine of the region, Lacrima di Castrovillari. But there’s more. This Carnevale now includes a children’s carnival and an International Folklore Festival with Jazz concerts and multiple events devoted to African, Afro-American, and Afro-Brazilian culture. The times they are a’changing.

Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, paired with the right foods. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-italian-travel-carnevale-season-in-calabria-1768062.html

Francavilla al Mare is a city of about 25 thousand located near Pescara, Abruzzi on the Adriatic coast. This carnival is considered so far above and beyond the regional competition that is simply known as the “Carnevale d’Abruzzo” (the Abruzzi Carnival). This seems to be the only such case in all of Italy with exception of Piedmont. Interestingly enough the Carnevale d’Abruzzo dates in its present form back to only 1956 when it greeted a group of Martians in a flying saucer. But of course Francavilla al Mare does not host the only Carnevale site in Abruzzi and you should take a look at several of them.

Abruzzi is home to the most tragic Carnevale in all Italy. Abruzzi’s capital city of Aquila, home to about 70 thousand, is located on a hillside in the middle of a narrow valley. It is partially situated on an ancient lakebed; this factor intensifies seismic activity. On February 2, 1703, Carnival day, a major earthquake struck destroying the city and killing three to five thousand people. In memory of the victims the Aquila Carnevale always take place on February 3, unlike all other Italian Carnevales whose date varies in function of Easter. Aquila’s most recent earthquake took place on April 6, 2009 killing over three hundred people. This was the deadliest Italian earthquake in almost thirty years.

There are many, many Carnevales in Abruzzi. A partial list of the cities and towns includes Civita Castellania, Poggio Mirteto (where it is known as Carnevale Liberato – Liberated Carnival), Lanciano, Citta Sant’ Angelo, Francavilla, and Versila, the sometime home of opera composer Giacomo Puccini, poet, novelist, dramatist, and political Fascist Gabriele d’Annunzio, and Carlo Collodi who wrote Pinocchio. Yet with all this competition Francavilla al Mare’s is still known as the “Carnevale d’Abruzzo.”

Cicerchiata is the traditional Abruzzi Carnevale treat. It looks like peanut brittle but is traditionally made from small beans known as Cicerchie, which unfortunately are getting harder and harder to find. Increasingly the beans are replaced by fried dough. Besides the beans (or dough) the recipe calls for butter, sugar, eggs, and white wine and for the frying, what else but olive oil? Note to dieters, the traditional recipe calls for frying the mixture in one inch of olive oil. This delicious dish is held together by a mixture of honey, sugar, and minced candied fruits. Accompany Cicerchiata with a Verdicchio white wine from the neighboring Marches region or even better, a Falanghina white wine from the Campania region to the southwest.

Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-italian-travel-abruzzi-carnevale-season-1722173.html

So you are hankering to visit southern Italy in February, but just aren’t sure what to see and what to do. Don’t despair; there are lots and lots of special events that simply aren’t available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; February is almost upon us. We start our virtual counterclockwise tour in Apulia, the heel of the Italian boot. Then it’s northwest to Campania on the Tyrrhenian Sea and then south to the island of Sicily.

On February 13th, the coastal city of Barletta, Apulia hosts the Commemoration of the Challenge of Barletta. This event recalls the historic challenge between 13 Italian horsemen and 13 French horsemen first held on February 13th, 1503. This is one beautiful traditional ceremony. The small town of Vico del Gargano whose nickname is “The Village of Love” celebrates The Feast of Saint Valentine by decorating its main church and statue of Saint Valentine with bay leaves and literally thousands of oranges. You won’t be surprised to learn that this area is known for its oranges.

The city of Mugnano di Napoli is home to the headquarters of the Pirotecnica Snc or Schiattarella fireworks firm. Can you guess how Mugnano di Napoli celebrates its Patron Saint Biagio? This family-run firm has won many national competitions so you may expect a real blast. For a complete change of pace visit Today’s Spouse in the regional capital of Naples, especially if you are planning a wedding. This event is held starting on the second Saturday of February in the spectacular Twelfth Century Castel dell’Ovo overlooking the harbor in romantic but sometimes dangerous Napoli.

On February 4 Sicily’s second largest city Catania situated on the island’s eastern coast facing the Ionian Sea honors its patron saint, Saint Agatha with a festival that boasts what may well be the world’s second largest religious procession. Saint Agatha’s statue is placed on a “fercolo”, a 40,000 pound silver carriage, which is pulled up Monte Sangiuliano by an unbelievable 5,000 men. This great festival lasts for two days and two nights and culminates in a monster fireworks display. Don’t forget to taste some of the marzipan specialties. Across the island on the western (Mediterranean) coast lies the town of Agrigento whose Almond Blossom Fair spans the first two Sundays in February. The ceremonies include an International Folklore Festival complete with music, singing, parades, puppet shows and open-air performances. You’ll enjoy traditional Sicilian sweets based on almonds and other goodies.

Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-italian-travel-southern-italy-february-attractions-1696813.html

So you are planning a visit to central Italy in February, but just aren’t sure what to see and what to do. Don’t despair; there are lots and lots of special events that simply aren’t available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; February is right around the corner. We start our virtual counterclockwise tour in Latium. Then it’s east to Abruzzi, northwest to Tuscany, and finally northwest to Umbria.

At the beginning of February, the small hilltop town of Fiuggi, Latium honors Saint Biagio. The townsmen transport “stuzze” (big) tree trunks from the forest on their shoulders and lighting them in the main square. The first Sunday of the month the village of Cineto Romano honors its patron saint, Saint Dorothy. This celebration is accompanied by the “Sagra della Polenta” honoring the popular, and I am told delicious, cornmeal dish by that name. You will definitely enjoy the music and other festivities even if you don’t indulge in polenta.

The Abruzzi village of Taranta Peligna also celebrates Saint Biagio’s Day. Saint Biagio is known as the protector of the throat; according to tradition he saved a child who had a thorn in his throat. A major feature of this solemn commemoration is the local specialty called “panicelle”, small hand shaped rolls that transported to the ovens by a procession of traditionally dressed young girls. The freshly baked rolls are blessed and freely distributed to the waiting crowd.

Then it’s on to the famous region of Tuscany. The little town of Vernio is host to a Chestnut Polenta Festival at the end of February or the beginning of March. This “Festa della Polenta” or “Pulendina” commemorates the 1512 famine, which ended when the local count distributed chestnut polenta, cod, and herring to the people. If you sleep in you will miss the medieval pageant of more that 500 participants who parade along the town streets starting at 9 in the morning. And don’t forget that Tuscany is home to some fine wines including Chianti, Brunello di Montalchino, and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. But not at 9 in the morning.

The Umbrian town of Terni celebrates their patron saint, Valentino, with a jewelry exhibition and contest and a torchlight parade. Can you guess the day of the month? On the third Sunday in February the city of Spello hosts an Olive and Bruschetta Festival. Then February celebrations end with the Norcia Fair devoted to the Norcia Black Truffle and typical specialties from the surrounding area. In addition to the food you’ll like the music, dancing, crafts, folklore, and sports events.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but prefers drinking fine French wine with by the right foods. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-italian-travel-february-attractions-of-central-italy-1686358.html