News - The fall in Italy...

18/10/2010 Autumn is truffle season in Italy, where the world’s greatest chefs and gastronomes pile into the northern and central towns to purchase what some refer to as a ‘food of the gods’.

November is a great time to explore Italy with your taste-buds, but if you want a little more than just a taste (excuse the pun), then here are my few choice selections for this month.

SPORT

The Eternal city buzzes with excitement and anticipation on 7th November as the local football derby kicks off. Lazio meets Rome at the Stadio Olimpico, where the atmosphere is always electric and the fans – a frenzy!

Stay in the plush city space of Residence via Assisi in Rome.

FOOD & WINE

La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco is a celebration of all things Truffle-like in Tuscany this month (13 – 14th November).

25% of Italy’s white truffles are produced in this region, which can demand over €1,000.00 each. Sometimes referred to as ‘white diamonds’, the fair includes a market selling a whole range of truffle related produce, an auction and a fair.

Alba International White Truffle Fair celebrates its 80th year in 2010 so expect a real feast in this region of Piedmonte. Only 1.5 hrs from Milan itself the Tuber Magnatum Pico of Alba is world –renowned.

Cottages to Castles have an array of fantastic properties in Tuscany allowing you to taste these little delicacies and explore this fantastic region. Link to property list in Tuscany

CULTURE & TRADITION

Only in Italy.... the Goico dell’Oca is a spectacle for all visitors to witness! This human-scale snakes and ladders game replaces geese for snakes and involves 6 teams (representing the local towns of Mirano) who fight their way through various obstacles to win the game.

This rather bizarre looking game was apparently first seen in Italy in 1580 during the Medici period and is now performed here once a year to the amusement of the visitor!

Mirano lies between Venezia, Padova and Treviso with the Goico dell’Oca taking place 13th & 14th November.

Other November interests include Rome Film Festival, The Betrothed exhibition (a large scale wedding fair in Bari) starts and opera season also gets started in November as many of Italy’s top opera houses re-open.