March 7 - March 21   The weeks before Easter are filled with local traditional and sweets

- we have sifted through a long list of possible activites and picked those which we accessed to be characteristic - fun and in areas easy to find.  We have based our list on info provided by the local governments - however we are not responsabile if these activities are cancelled, moved or unavailable.

March 8 at San Giovanni Valdarno:

Fiera della Salacca, salacca is slang in Italian for a type of salted fish and  as custom would have it the weeks before Easter meat was banned and dishes based on this ingredient were numerous.  Many towns celebrate this event by either bringing out the local variations of the salacca or arringa.

WHERE IS San Giovanni, Arezzo, Tuscany ? About  50 km from Florence; 35 km from Arezzo; 50 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 200 km

March 11 and 12 at Montepulciano:

Fiera Arti e Antiquariato.  Local antique fair held ever second Sunday of the month and the Saturday before the second Sunday of the month.

WHERE IS Montepulciano, Siena, Tuscany ? About 110 km from Florence; 52 km from Arezzo; 60 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal city) 250 km

March 11 and 12 at Pisa:

Fiera dell'Antiquariato Modernariato e Artiginato.  With over 100 booths this is a local antique fair held ever second Sunday of the month and the Saturday before the second Sunday of the month. (EXCEPT for the month of July and August)

WHERE IS Pisa, (via  U.Dini, P.za Cavalieri, Via Corsia, P.za Buonamici, Via dei Mille, P.za Cavallotti, Via S. Maria) Tuscany ? About 105 km from Florence; 180 km from Arezzo; 168 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal city) 68 km

March 12 & 19 at Chiesina Uzzanese:

Fiera di San Giuseppe, Sagra della Fritella di Riso, Fair for Saint Joseph and the food festival for the "Fritella" made with rice Saint Joseph is the traditional Father's day celebration in Italy and typically Fritella is a small round ball made of flour, rice and egg - sometimes raisins and pine nuts - fried to a crisp and served hot.  As per the indications from the local goverenment there should be free samples distributed here!

WHERE IS Chiesina Uzzanese, Pistoia, Tuscany ? About  50 km from Florence; 130 km from Arezzo; 120 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 102 km

March 12 at San Miniato:

Mercantino arti e mestieri, Market for art and antique hand crafts. The charming little town of San Miniato will set up approximately 30 booths showing and selling various types of products.

WHERE IS San Miniato, Pisa, Tuscany ? About 40 km from Florence; 115 km from Arezzo; 100 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 78 km

March 18 & 19 at Torrita di Siena:

Palio dei Somari, Mule Race in Historical Dress. A weekend filled with colorful costums, racing mules and lots of yelling and cheering for your favorite team - and a demostration which recreates the fanfare of yesteryear.  There will be flag throwing contests, historic parades and of course the racing of the mules!

To serve a place at the medieval banquet please contact

Riccardo Roghi  riccardo.roghi@aliceposta.it Home: +39 0577-684105 Cell: +39 339 2906081

WHERE IS Torrita di Siena, Pisa, Tuscany ? About 100 km from Florence; 45 km from Arezzo; 53 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 200 km

March 17,18,19 and 24,25,26 at Certaldo:

Sagra del Tartufo Marzuolo, Food festival for Truffles marzuolo (from March). They serve dinner on the 17 18 19 as well as the 24 25 26 of March BUT they also serve lunch on the 19 and 26.

This is very requested and you MUST make a reservation - however I can say it is also delicious!! Click here for a Reservation Form  or call +39 0571.668974,cell +39 338.7415160

MIXED ANTIPASTO Crostini with Truffles Polenta Crostini with truffles, Crostini alla toscana Vol-Au-Vent Antipasto del tartufaio PASTA Tagliolini with truffles, Ravioli with truffles Gnocchi with  4 cheese, Farfalle with tomato sauce MAIN COURSE  Carpaccio with truffles and parmigiano Supreme of Chicken with white wine, Nodino di veal with truffles, Omelet truffles, Tagliata with truffles, Artista al tartufo

VEGGIES Mixed Salad French fries Sauteed Spinach SWEETS Home made, Cantuccini con Vinsanto Seasonal Fruit  DRINKS Wine and water

WHERE IS Certaldo, Pisa, Tuscany ? About 54 km from Florence; 117 km from Arezzo; 41 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 104 km

March 18 & 19 at Montefioralle:

Sagra della Fritella di Riso, Food Festival for the "Fritella" made with rice Saint Joseph is the traditional Father's day celebration in Italy and typically Fritella is a small round ball made of flour, rice and egg - sometimes raisins and pine nuts - fried to a crisp and served hot.  You will find both wine and fritelle made by the locals on sale here.

WHERE IS Montefioralle (Greve in Chianti), Florence, Tuscany ? About 30 km from Florence; 74 km from Arezzo; 60 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 142 km

March 18 & 19 at Cigoli (San Miniato):

Sagra del Tartufo Marzuolo, Food Festival for Truffles Marzuolo (harvested in March). There is a market and booths as well as a menu featuring many different local dishes with Truffles Starts in the evening around 8 PM - you don't need reservations, but it probably doesn't hurt to get there early!

WHERE IS Cigoli, Pisa, Tuscany ? (Cigoli is about 5 km west of San Miniato)  About 40 km from Florence; 115 km from Arezzo; 100 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 78 km

March  19 at Guardistallo (Cecina):

Sagra della Crogiantina e delle Fritelle, Food Festival for Tuscan bread with olive oil and the Fritelle (sweets). Toasted Tuscan bread with a little bit of garlic - salt -pepper and of course extra virgin olive oil.  A classic not to be missed.  This great little town on the coast offers the best in culinary classics.

WHERE IS Guardistallo (Guardistallo is about 9 km east of Cecina), Pisa, Tuscany ? About 160 km from Florence; 235 km from Arezzo; 80 km from Siena; Cecina (Coastal City) 9 km