The Game of the Bridge in Pisa, on June 26th 2010

On Saturday June 26th 2010, the famous Game of the Bridge will take place in Pisa starting from 5 pm. We are talking about a historical event of the “Giugno Pisano 2010”, a month rich in initiatives, events, historical celebrations in order to celebrate the ancient Pisa’s traditions.

Such an important historical re-evocation takes place in two different moments: the battle is preceded by a Historical Parade, a sort of military parade taking place along the Arno River. Subsequently, the real Battle is set on the Ponte di Mezzo, where the ancient historical enemy Pisa areas of Mezzogiorno (south of the Arno) and Tramontana (north of the river) will challenge each other in a very exciting atmosphere.

The Tramontana “troops” represent the districts of Santa Maria, San Francesco, San Michele, Mattaccini, Calci and Sartiri, whereas the Mezzogiorno represents Sant’Antonio, San Martino, San Marco, Leoni, Dragoni and Delfini.

During the days preceding the battle, Ponte di Mezzo is carefully set: an instrument in wood, a sort of heavy trolley (seven tons) is set on fifty meters long tracks. The final victory goes to the team that wins the greater number of battles, pushing the trolley into the enemy field and knocking over the staff with the banner with the colors of the enemy team.

If you’ve never visited Pisa before, this is a perfect occasion!

Further information about the city of Pisa are available on the brand new tourist guide to Pisa, www.aboutpisa.info.

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Opening of the New Museo Galileo in Florence: remembering the Great Scientist

Here we go. After 2 years of restoration and radical renovation, the Museo di Storia della Scienza (Institute and Museum of the History of Science)in Florence reopens its doors to the public under a different name: Museo Galileo (Galileo Museum).

Such an event is conceived in order to celebrate the International Astronomy Year (2009), an UNESCO initiative to commemorate the astronomy and science discoveries made by the Pisan scientist. And what’s a better way to pay homage to him than a new and modern Museum?

The Museo Galileo will host more than 1,000 invaluable instruments and experimental apparatuses belonging to Medici and Lorraine families, (more…)

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Saint Ranieri Luminara enlightens the city of Pisa

Still today, Pisa hedges within its ancient walls the most beautiful and magic traditions of the past loved by its citizens which every year are celebrated in a unique way.

Among the most beautiful, exiting and stunning, we find the event of Luminara, which on every 16th June takes place in Pisa in honor of the patron of the city, San Ranieir, whose memorabilia are preserved in the Chapel of Pisa Cathedral (Duomo) since 1688.

On this occasion, some days before the event, about 70,000 little lights and candles are placed on the facades of the buildings (more…)

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Villas of your Dreams in the Wonderful Tuscan Landscape

Since ever Tuscany has been renowned all over the world not only for its wonderful landscapes but also for its magnificent villas: the Medicean villas around Florence, those in Liberty style in the province of Lucca and the farmhouses in the Chianti district and in Maremma.

Not to mention the aristocratic palaces and the historical residences in the centre of many cities of art, including Arezzo, Siena, Pisa, etc.

Even the famous tenor Enrico Caruso, at the apex of his career, decided to buy two villas located on Florentine hills. In short, Tuscany is really rich in villas.

And in the last few years, an increasing number of tourists chose to spend their holidays in a villa in Tuscany.

Would you like to spend pleasant holidays in a villa in Tuscany? (more…)

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About Italy is on Facebook! Become our FAN!

Of course, also the original and up-to-date Blog about all the news & events in Italy and the main Italian cities is now on the most famous social network in the world: Facebook!

Now you can find all the information you need also on the page of About Italy on Facebook! It’s really easy, become our fan and you will receive real-time updating about events, exhibitions, performances, sport and cultural events in the most beautiful Italian cities: Florence, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Turin, Venice…and don’t forget about the valley of Mugello, the Versilia coast and the Region of Liguria!

Italy is full of wonderful places to discover and visit among mountains and the sea, from the North to the South…you will be spoilt for choice! In order to know the events of the week, you need just (more…)

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Celebrate this New Year’s Eve in Italy!

Where are you gonna spend this New Year’s Eve?

In the Belpaese, you will be spoilt for choice! We would like to remind all our visitors the best events and parties organized in the most beautiful Italian cities, where you will find great celebrations, fireworks, music at full volume, dances and delicious wine and food.

The cosmopolitan city of Turin, in the region of Piedmont, in 2010 will be elected “European Capital of Youth”. In order to show such a merit, the young city of Turin for the New Year’s Eve 2010 organizes a special evening with loud music, a concert which will take place in Piazza Vittorio Veneto from 9.30 pm, an event dedicated to people under 35! The absolute protagonists of the night will be the famous English group Groove Armada and the American group Juliette Lewis and New Romantics, followed by many other artists until midnight, when it will be time for spectacular fireworks.

In Milan on the other hand, (more…)

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It’s Time for Christmas Markets 2009 in the charming Italy!

Hey folks, the moment has come!

With no doubts people love and hate them, but the season of Christmas markets has come and it will be in all the Italian cities!

Colored lights, stands full of sweets, traditions and handicrafts products, toys and decorations will be placed along the streets and in the most famous (and not) squares in Italy. So, get ready to snoop around, nibbling and why not, to purchase the first Christmas gifts!

From Sicily to Valle d’Aosta, Italy in this period is full of such nice markets which welcome many Italians and foreign visitors, who come here to just take a look at the stalls rich of curious and original things. The list is endless, but we want to remind you the most unique noteworthy ones.

So…how not to mention the very famous Christams markets typical of (more…)

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“Tuscany Feast” 2009. When the past teaches the progress

Tuscany can boast of several records, especially one: this region was the first in the world to abolish the capital punishment. In fact on November 30^th 1796, the enlightened Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo banished confiscation, torture and death penalty through a single law.

Since 2001, Tuscany has been celebrating this historical occurrence with an official feast, which even schedules a holiday for the schools of the ancient Grand Duchy and a program rich of events spread on all the regional area.

This initiative aims not only to remind and celebrate a defining moment of modern history, but in particular to reflect on the present and the future of the whole mankind. It’s important to notice, in fact, that the capital punishment is still applied in many countries in the world, and that Italian State is fighting for its abolition with an international moratorium at UN.

Hence this topic is a living matter, together with other related issues as democracy, peace, equality and justice all over the world.

Tuscany Feast so deals with values which are not only strictly related to death penalty, but also to other current problems, such as dialogue among different cultures and inclusion, sexual equality and deaths on-the-job. For this reason, during the event, congresses, lectures and official meetings are scheduled, to which (more…)

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The House of Mirrors - An Innovative Artistic Experience in Pisa

A brand new event in Pisa: The House of Mirrors, from 5^th to 7^th November 2009, at Stazione Leopolda.

It’s an innovative and alternative art exhibition, which displays a series of works inspired by the same subject: the picture of a human face, selected by the organization team through a photographic contest. Starting from this common matrix, each one of the participants produced a unique creation, a personal work of art, resulting from his own techniques, inspirations and emotions.

From artist to artist, also the language used can change, and the possibilities are as many as the number of sections in which the exhibition is divided into: Sculpture, Painting, Computer Art, Comics, Video, Tales, Poetry.

Finally, a global message - that is at the same time the founding idea of the project, comes out: (more…)

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European Heritage Days 2009. A Fully Cultural Weekend !

No plans for the weekend?

Well, if your answer is “no”, then we’ll suggest you something unique to do.

This weekend in fact, on Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th September 2009, there will be a fully cultural event: as usual, also this year all the European countries will celebrate the European Heritage Days, which were conceived in 1991 by the European Council in order to encourage and promote the cultural dialogue and exchange between European countries.

As every year, MiBAC participates in the event with the slogan “Italy, the treasure of Europe” and organizes throughout Italy several initiatives intended to increase the value of Italian culture and heritage, with the aim to share all this great richness with other European countries.

In fact, throughout the country, many events and activities will take place in order to increase the national heritage value: over 1000 sites will be open to the public with free entrance, extraordinary openings, art exhibitions, concerts, shows and (more…)

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