The countdown for the most expected events in Tuscany has just begun: from 1st to 24th July in Lucca will be held the Lucca Summer Festival 2011, a series of live concerts introducing famous international and Italian musicians and singers.

Actually the opening of such an event had to begin with the American band Blink 182 but they cancelled their world tour for lack of new material and postponed it to next year. By the way, we will not miss them because there will be such international artists like Elton John, Ben Harper, Arcade Fire, B.B. King, Joe Cocker and

On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June, Camaiore welcomes once again the several coloured carpets made of sawdust, on the honour of the traditional festivity of Corpus Domini.

As every year, there will be the traditional Corpus Domini procession in the historical centre of Camaiore (a town in the province of Lucca, in Versilia Coast), and just for this occasion, the realization of the carpets of sawdust will be held again by groups of skilled craftsmen in the night of June, 25th. The creation of such unique pieces will start from 8 p.m. of Saturday. The day after, the Saint Mass will be held at 8.30 a.m.

The realization of these little but great

We’re nearly arrived to the 150 years of Italian Unity eve and we’re all waiting curiously and quite impatiently for the celebrations in Italian cities to come.

Lots of exhibitions, events, lessons and many kinds of initiatives are already ongoing for a few days, in some cases also for months, dedicated to patriotism and to Risorgimento, a whole Italian riot movement against foreign oppressors and against devided Italian States for the unification of the country.

In January a list, available in full version in the celebrations official web site, has also been drawn with “Luoghi della memoria” (Memorial sites), monuments, squares and streets, often in state of neglect and forgetfulness, calling back the memory to the facts that led to the Unity. Amog them there are the Monumento alla Difesa in Venice, Parco del Gianicolo in Rome, Monumento a Garibaldi and Lungomare di Quarto dei Mille, Santa Croce in Firenze, Monumento alle Cinque Giornate in Milan, the Primo Parlamento Italiano in Palazzo Carignano , Turin,

Tuscany had always been one of the favorite destinations for tourism, thanks to its wonderful landscapes, cities freighted with art, cookery and nature.

But there’s one more thing that shouldn’t be forgotten: the importance of made in Italy.

For many years Italian clothing and accessories have been submitted to products coming from other countries, for example from China or America, and it was in danger of disappearing, losing the challenge of prices and supply. Only in 2009 a law was enacted to protect Made in Italy: strict controls on materials provenience, manufacture and places of production saved this mark, drastically decreasing the brands that could boast of that title.

Nowadays, Made in Italy is pointed as one of the best marks of the world, synonymous with quality and accurate working. Tuscany

The new Viareggio Carnival edition is just around the corner: the Versilia’s city is getting ready to welcome again thousands of visitors coming from all around the world to marvel at the famous ornamental floats that will parade along seafront streets, leaving the hangar situated in Cittadella del Carnevale, the place where carts are built by the skilled masters.

Born in the second half of 19th century, such a Carnival completely absorbs the inhabitants in organizing activities and active participation, rending it the main city of Viareggio-associated event. Nowadays, the Carnival doesn’t bring only confetti and celebrating floats, but also a lot of fringe events, sporting and cultural ones.

On Saturday February, 19th a fireworks display from 18:00 will be the starter shot to this 2011 edition,

The new and original website “Outlets in Italy” is now online. As the name already indicates, the website offers many useful information and tips about all the outlets in Italy.

This website gives users the opportunity to search for their favorite Italian brands in Italy and discover where to find it in one of the thousands shopping centers and fashion malls placed throughout the country. It is also possible – and very easy indeed – to search by location, region, city, or category of products (accessories, clothing, home, sport, underwear, perfumery, shoes, kids).

In this way, it is possible to find the best outlet shopping centers in Italy in a very simple and quick way: at home, with your pc and with

After waiting for presents on Christmas Eve, Christmas lunches and dinners here it comes the end of year 2010 and everyone wants to start in a good mood, in a way or another.

Every year, lots of traditions are performed in Italy to ensure a happy and lucky new year: wearing red underwear, Ancient Romans’ symbol of blood and war used to exorcize fears, eating lentils, grapes or pomegranate to assure money as much as the number of grains you are able to eat, and, of course, shooting fireworks, originally coming from Ancient China where they used to shoot them to fear evil.

In recent years, besides private

The so-called “Weihnachtsmarkt” comes back in Florence, the yearly traditional market with many stalls offering typical products coming not only from German tradition.

Cold cuts, cookies, sweets, but also warm clothing coming from Northern Europe will welcome visitors.

You can’t miss hot dogs with spicy wurstel going with light German beer, smelling scents that will conquer everyone. All this and much more in Santa Croce Square, December, from 1st to 19th, opening time from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

In addition, if you ever come to visit Pisa in this period,

On Sunday 30th November, the Region of Tuscany will celebrate the anniversary of death penalty’s abolition.

Festa della Toscana (Tuscan Feast) is a traditional appointment which joins the participation of all citizens and the Region of Tuscany institutions.

The origins of this feast date back to a legislative bill, to be more precise, the Penal Reform promulgated on 30th November 1786 by Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine.

With this reform, Tuscany put an end to the capital punishment, and marked an important moment of civility which would have changed its history forever. Tuscany in fact, thanks to Leopoldina Reform, was the first