There’s a kind of building that has always made me curious, so I took a look on wikipedia and that’s what I found…

“A trullo is a traditional Apulian stone dwelling with a conical roof. The style of construction is specific to Itria Valley (in Italian: Valle d’Itria), in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia (in Italian Puglia). They may be found in the towns of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Fasano, Cisternino, Martina Franca and Ceglie Messapica. Trulli were generally constructed as dwellings or storehouses. Traditionally they were built without any cement or mortar. This style of construction is also prevalent in the surrounding countryside where most of the fields are separated by dry-stone walls.

The roofs are constructed in two layers: an inner layer of limestone boulders, capped by a keystone, and an outer layer of limestone slabs ensuring that the structure is watertight. Originally, the conical structure would have been built directly on the ground, but most of the surviving structures are based on perimeter walls. In Alberobello atop a trullo’s cone there is normally a pinnacle, that may be one of many designs, chosen for symbolism.

Additionally, the cone itself may have a symbol painted on it. Such symbols may include planetary symbols, the malochio (evil eye), the cross, a heart, a star and crescent, or quite a few others. The walls are very thick, providing a cool environment in hot weather and insulating against the cold in the winter.

The vast majority of trulli have one room under each conical roof: a multiroomed trullo house has many cones representing a room each. Children would sleep in alcoves made in the wall with curtains hung in front. There are many theories behind the origin of the design. One of the more popular theories is that due to high taxation on property the people of Puglia created dry wall constructions so that they could be dismantled when inspectors were in the area.”

Remember that it’s possible to accommodate inside a trullo… really magical!

Also known as “whore’s pasta”, the name of this robust pasta dish originated in Naples after the local women of easy virtue. All the ingredients are just as easy to put your hands on, making this a quick and satisfying meal!

INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion—finely chopped
2 cloves garlic—finely chopped
4 anchovy fillets—chopped
1 small red chili—deseeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons capers—rinsed and drained
8 pitted black olives—quartered
14 oz (420g) canned tomatoes—chopped
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
7 oz (200g) spaghetti

METHOD
HEAT 2 tablespoons of the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the onion for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. ADD the garlic and anchovies and cook for a minute, stirring to break up the anchovies. ADD the chili, capers, olives, tomatoes, salt and pepper, and bring to the boil. REDUCE the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. WHILE the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta. DRAIN the cooked pasta into a colander and put the sauce in the bottom of the pot. TOP with the hot pasta, parsley and reserved tablespoon of olive oil, and toss together gently to combine.

Variation: To make this meal more protein-packed you can add a 6 oz (180g) can of tuna (drained and flaked) to the sauce at the end of cooking to heat through.

I found this recipe on mediterrasian.com.

I found a good description of what the winter in Rome means.

“Snow is almost unknown in Rome, and even on the coldest days in winter, the sun usually makes a generous appearance. Locals wrap up in sleeping-bag coats, muffled up to their noses, but there really aren’t many days that feel very cold to someone from a cooler climate. Heating in Rome (usually centralised) is generally switched on in mid-November. Temperatures vary throughout the winter; sometimes a cold wind can send a chill through the streets, at other times it’s mild enough to eat outside, even in February. Many restaurants and bars have heaters above outdoors tables, and continue to serve customers. You’ll need a coat, gloves and scarf, but don’t forget your sunglasses.

Visitors to Rome over Christmas will doubtless head for the Vatican. Highlights of the season are the Papal Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and the Pope reading his Christmas message in the piazza in front of St. Peter’s at noon on Christmas Day. In St. Peter’s Square there is also a famous life-size nativity scene.
The Christmas period in Rome really begins on the 8th December, the festival of the Immaculate Conception, when the Pope pays a visit to the Spanish Steps, and flowers are placed over a statue of Mary. He then moves on to give mass at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The last big religious date is the 6th January, Epiphany. For Romans this is the feast of the Befana, an old lady from a folkloric version of the Christmas story, who brings gifts to children and sweeps floors. You will see the Befana represented in many forms at the Christmas Market in Piazza Navona, and also during the Epiphany parade of colourful characters and floats leading up to the Vatican.

As well as the grand display outside St Peter’s, and a smaller effort in Piazza Navona, other nativity scenes (presepi) can be seen in most of Rome’s churches. These are important destinations for Italian visitors, and it’s worth inspecting one or two. Some have fascinating details, and even feature day-into-night lighting effects. If you are really keen, there is a large exhibition of presepi in the Sala del Bramante by Piazza del Popolo (admission charge). In our apartment block, the dour porter used to set up a large nativity scene; all the figurines lovingly displayed - apart from the baby Jesus, who usually doesn’t make his appearance in the crib until Christmas. One year the courtyard was even ornamented with a large Christmas tree which played a jaunty ‘Jingle Bells’ every time someone walked past.

At the Christmas Market in Piazza Navona you can buy the components for your own nativity scene, as well as sweets, wooden toys and all sorts of Christmas-related ornaments and goodies. Shoppers can marvel at the elaborate additions to nativity scenes, from working waterfalls to moving bakery scenes (in which the bakers look suspiciously like pizza chefs).

Those interested in Christmas shopping will find the main shopping streets sparkling with festive lights and packed with shoppers. Groups of busking musicians, often dressed as Santas, play cheerful seasonal tunes. Many shops lay down red carpeting on the pavements (which quickly gets filthy), and the last few years have seen an invasion of large inflatable Santa Clauses. As well as the Christmas lights, a giant Christmas tree appears in the centre of town, in Piazza Venezia or by the Colosseum. (Rome is somewhat safer than Naples: a similar giant tree was stolen from the centre of Naples one recent Christmas).

Rome is full of good places to buy presents: hundreds of little food shops are packed with goodies to take home. Other good Roman gifts include gloves and accessories (try the shops around the Spanish Steps) and kitsch souvenirs (anywhere near the Vatican). Two of our favourite present-shopping destinations are the Bottega del Cioccolato on Via Leonina and stylish stationers Fabriano on Via del Babuino, which stocks various Italy-themed items. Most non-food shops will wrap gifts for you free of charge, in shiny packaging.

The winter is a good time for those interested in cultural events, or the Italian way of life. During the summer, Rome empties as locals head on holiday, bars, clubs and theatres close down. Theatre seasons usually run, like the football, from autumn to spring. There aren’t as many festivals as there are in the summer, but you are more likely to catch regular performances of shows during your visit. On the shopping days before Christmas, and around the Italian bank holiday of 8th December, the streets can rather busy, but usually the tourist sights are not too busy in the winter. Thanks to the sunshine and the mild climate, it can be a pleasant winter treat to sit outdoors with a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate or vin brulé (mulled wine).”

If you want to read the article check on Italy heaven website.

Where to go on holiday on new year’s eve?

If you want to celebrate with friends, going somewhere special over Christmas, you have to find a place suitable for groups.
I think that the funniest thing, when you travel with friends, is to spend time together and accommodate in a spacious place. If  you have half a mind to take my advice, I think you should accommodate in a villa or in a rural house.

These kinds of structures have a lot of bedrooms and a large common room suitable for dinners with your many friends. Moreover, they are situated in wonderful places, surrounded by nature. The rural houses are among the most popular in the Italian regions of Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria.

I found an interesting article by Martha Bakerjian, About.com, about Italian traditions and events on New Year’s Eve… hope you’ll appreciate it!

“Italians love festivals and the ending of the old year and beginning of the new year, il capodanno, is a great time to celebrate in Italy.

New Year’s Eve in Italy - La Festa di San Silvestro

La Festa di San Silvestro is celebrated December 31 on New Year’s Eve. As with most Italian festivals, food plays a major role. Families and friends get together for a huge feast.

The star of the dinner is lentils, symbolizing money and good fortune for the coming year.
Traditionally, the dinner in many parts of Italy also includes a cotechino, a large spiced sausage, or a zampone, stuffed pig’s trotter.
The pork symbolizes the richness of life in the coming year.

Fireworks and Dancing

Huge midnight fireworks displays celebrate the coming of the new year. Most towns have public displays in a central square but private parties will also include firecrackers or sparklers, too, and will continue for a long time.
Naples is known for having one of the best and biggest New Year’s fireworks displays in Italy.
Some smaller towns build a bonfire in the central square where villagers will congregate into the early morning. If you’re near the coast, lake, or river you will hear boats and ships blowing their horns.

Dancing is also popular and many towns have public music and dancing before the fireworks. Rome, Milan, Bologna, Palermo and Naples put on huge popular outdoor shows with pop and rock bands. These events can sometimes be seen on television, too.

More New Year’s Eve Traditions in Italy

Guests of private or public parties are sometimes entertained with a game called “Tombola”, similar to Bingo.

The New Year is also celebrated with spumante or prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. New Years parties, whether public or private, will often last until sunrise in order to watch the first sunrise of the newborn year.

An old custom that is still followed in some places, especially in the south, is throwing your old things out the window to symbolize your readiness to accept the New Year. So, keep an eye out for falling objects if you’re walking around near midnight!

Oh, one more thing, don’t forget to wear your red underwear to ring in the new year! They say it’ll bring you luck in the coming year.”

…now you know enough about Italian New Year’s Eve!

If you will be in Tuscany on the December 31st, you certainly would like to know how to spend the most shining night of the year!

I found a website (firenze da bere) that has made a list of the parties in Florence…

You just have to choose where to have fun!

Happy New Year!

If you want to know some Italian tradition, you can read an article I found.

Often, the description of a foreigner is even more interesting that Italians’one.

Enjoy Emily Langer’s article for Washington Post about the chestnut-roasting.

Here an article I found by Nick Pisa on scotsman.

“HOMELESS and vulnerable people at hostels and care homes for the elderly in Milan are in line for a luxury Christmas lunch after officials donated £350,000 worth of seized caviar to them.
The 40kg haul of top-grade Beluga caviar was discovered during spot checks on strictly controlled foodstuffs.

Authorities decided there was too much of the delicacy to dispatch to restaurants quickly so it was given to the canteen of a hostel to be served up on Christmas Day.

Juri Mantegazza, a spokesman for the Italian Forestry Corps in Milan and who seized the caviar, said: “Tests carried out on the caviar showed it was edible, but as it does not keep very long and there was not enough time to arrange for it to be distributed elsewhere, we donated to a local charity. We have, however, kept a small amount as part of the investigation.

“I understand that the charity will distribute the caviar to various hostels in the Milan area and they will serve it as part of the Christmas Day lunch for the homeless.

“It’s a little Christmas present for those who wouldn’t normally eat caviar.”

Father Virginio Colmegan, of the Casa della Carita (House of Charity) said: “Every gift we are given is warmly accepted even if the majority of our guests don’t even know what these little black balls are. What is important to remember is that even the poor have rights and dignity, more than the desire for luxury items.”

Father Roberto Davanzo, of the Carita’s charity in Milan, said: “We are against all forms of waste and if this was the only alternative then it is warmly accepted. Even homeless and tramps have the right to try at least once the food of the rich.”

Beluga caviar is found in the Beluga sturgeon in the Caspian Sea, but it is considered an endangered species and there have been several trade bans in an attempt to save the fish.

Beluga is usually eaten with a spoon made of mother of pearl, bone, or other non-metallic material, as metal utensils tend to impart a metallic taste to the delicate and expensive roe.

Gourmets are also accustomed to savouring other forms of caviar in a variety of ways, including hollowed and cooked new potatoes, on a blini, or garnished with sour cream, crème fraîche, minced onion or minced hard boiled egg whites. Beluga is usually served on toast.

It is not known if the hostels or care homes have the correct utensil for serving or how they will present the caviar.”

Merry Christmas!

Italy is a particular territory and foreign people still believe that ours is a place where you can find things that in other places have disappeared, like a major human contact, typical little shops where the owners perfectly knows what you’re gonna buy, and so on…

If you’d like to find a real place where you can feel and taste the ancient atmosphere and tradition of a Medieval village, you can organize a week end in Villa in Tuscany, one of the main touristic regions of our Country.

There is a Villa in Colleoli, an ancient village between Pisa and Florence, that allows you to ride, have a wine and touristic tours and to do many other activities correlated with the main attraction of the region.

Borgo di Colleoli is the name of this marvellous Villa in the very center of Tuscany, that gives you the possibility of organizing tours through the major Tuscan cities, and offers to the guests a place of geat tradition: frescoes by 1592 and completely renovated location in respect of the ancient medieval structures.

A real paradise for a relaxing holiday in Tuscany.

Italian Version.

If you don’t know how to celebrate the New Year, you could attend the most romantic event in the most romantic city… in San Marco square, in Venice, at midnight there will be the kiss in unison: hundreds of couples (and not just couples, I think!) will say “Happy New Year!” kissing each other.

This event, called “Love 2009”, is at its second edition and has also won the “Best Event Award” in 2008.
To the mob scene of the concurrent kisses will be added the fireworks and a romantic soundtrack.
See you in Venice for an unforgettable New year’s eve…