Italy would not be called “dolce vita” if there are not so many festivals and historical events. Especially Tuscany has a huge repertoire of festivals full of tradition. Almost each Tuscany village has its own traditional and individual festival with its many culinary specialties of each region.

Always a good reason to celebrate for Mediterranean countries is in September and November where people celebrate thanksgiving for their olives and wine harvest. The residents of the country are always happy about visitors and tourists and are generous hosts.

They will tell you about their culture,

The appointment with Carrara Marmotec 2012, currently in its 31^st edition, comes back from Wednesday 23^rd to Saturday 26^th May in the historical centre of Carrara.

Carrara Marmotec is the International Fair of marble, technologies and design linked to the stone sector that takes place in the city of Carrara, marble capital.

One of the most important goals of the fair is the spread of the stone value and the support for the use of up-to-date technologies and new processing techniques of stone, capable of giving new features and many other applications to marble.

The Italian artist Giuliano Tomaino took inspiration from Italo Calvino’s novel and called his exhibition “Il cavaliere inesistente” (“The Nonexistent Knight “).

The personal exhibition of this artist will take place in Pietrasanta (province of Lucca, Tuscany) at Complesso di S. Agostino until 12th February 2012.

Like in Calvino’s novel, the exhibition is set in the medieval stronghold in Pietrasanta: the village, the castle, the church, the battle field and the monastery. And just like Calvino, Tomaino shares the idea of the artist as a person who is bound to the market rules, the powers and politics authorities, which are more important than works and the artist himself.

Along the walls of the city, you’ll find many “cimbelli”, eleven bright sculptures indicating pilgrims their way toward the city.

Sculture in città (Sculptures in the city) was born from the architect Mario Botta’s idea. They’re all red-colored artworks that talk to each other from a corner to another of the city: rocking horses, hands and feet, human figures which are the protagonists of a fantastic tale.

Giuliano Tomaino was born in La Spezia in 1945 and currently lives and works in Sarzana (a beautiful town near La Spezia, in Liguria). He began his career in the late 1960’s with Arte Povera, assemblages of objets trouvés.

The theme of cimbello (bird call) was born in the 90’s, suggested by some swallows getting in his studio. He began to exhibit his artworks in great galleries such as Heinz galleries in Zurich, Mc Cann in Frankfurt, Tornabuoni in Florence, Susanna Orlando in Forte dei Marmi, Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, etc.

Giuliano Tomaino’s works will wait for you in Pietrasanta (Lucca) until 12th February 2012.

Free admittance

Opening hours: 4 to 7 pm

For further information about Pietrasanta please have a look at the travel guide About Versilia.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, adults and children, are you ready? Carnival time has come and Viareggio is ready to party with you as usual.

As widely known, Viareggio Carnival is the most popular and entertaining Italian carnival in Europe, rich in masks, coloured dances and parades, floats and district night celebrations that every year get more and more irreverent.

Once again, this year the carnival will begin

If you want to spend a magic, and unforgettable new year’s eve, at the sound of music, surrounded by magnificent buildings rich of culture Italy is the place to be!
This year 2011, Italy doesn’t miss the change to surprise us another time with events suitable for every age and for every kind of wallet!

Starting from Turin the capital of Piedomont , in Piazza San Carlo from 22:30 to 01:30 , you will have the chance to partecipate to a free concert full of culture and risorgimental spirit.. Renzo Arbore one of the most famous italian musicians, with the help of his orchestra,will make us dream of the past with his music rich of memory and tradition.

On the other hand, Milan with its charming Castello Sforzesco, will be the setting of a celtic celebration. Internationl groups such as the Irish Kila and the Scots Wolfstone, will project us into the world of the scottish Highlands, with its nostalgic but at the same time, full of life ballads.