Holidays In Italy

Just like any other country, Italy has many country specific holidays.  Many of their holidays I have never heard of before living in Italy, but they sure know how to celebrate them!

La Epifania

January 6th

This holiday, originating from the three wise men who offer God the gift of gold, is a feast of ‘La Befana’.  La Befana is a fictional women that flies around on a broom bringing presents to the children of Italy.  Many cities in Italy celebrate by organizing parades and festivals during the celebration of the Epifania.

La Pasqua

April

Easter is one of the most widely celebrated holidays throughout Italy.  Many Italians celebrate with friends and family on this day with a long lunch.  ‘Il Colombo’ cake is a typical treat of the Easter celebration.  One of my favorite celebrations of Easter in Italy is the Scoppio del Carro in the city of Florence.  Many gather in Piazza del Duomo to experience the explosion of the cart and then the parade following the explosion.

Il Ferragosto

August 15th

Il Ferragosto comes from the word ‘feria’ meaning holiday and ‘agosto’ meaning August.  Il Ferragosto is celebrated mostly by going to the beach and occasionally in the mountains.  Because the entire population flocks to the beach, most shops close down for ‘le ferie’.

The Feast of St. Ambrose

Milan, Italy

Milan’s parton saint St. Ambrose is celebrated on December 7th.  This holiday includes a special church service at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.  Additionally, the Oh Bej Oh Bej street market takes place which includes many different vendors that line the streets to participate in the street market.  This is definitely a celebration you want attend during your visit to Milan.

Sicilia

I decided to share with you all my Italian roots: the historical yet gorgeous island of Sicily!  Throughout my tour of Sicily, I visited 10 cities yet I feel like I covered just a selection of the island.  So much history is packed into such a small island, it’s worth taking at least two weeks to conquer it.  Sicily was home to many Greek colonies before the fall of the Roman empire, in 476 c.e., which has translated into cities filled with Greco architecture.  Sicily has many touristic attractions that you cannot leave Sicily without seeing them!

Teatro Greco

Siracusa, Italy

Teatro Greco is an amphitheater located on a hillside in Parco Archeologico della Neopolis.  This classical amphitheater used to hold up to 16,000 people at once while hosting the works of Sophocles and Euripides.

Taormina, Sicily

Taormina is one of the chic seaside towns located in north east region of Sicily is home to one of the most fascinating Greek theaters. If you love the beach, you’ll love this town on the Mediterranean sea.  Taormina is also home to the famous Mount Etna, a active volcano.  When I visited, we were able to sled down the volcano and many even ski down the mountain!  Mount Etna is a nice get away from the heat in the summer.

Cefalu, Sicily

Cefalu is most known for its beautiful town on the coast of Sicily, and just an hour train ride away from Palermo.  La Rocca or the rock is one of the most popular attractions and swarming with tourists during the summer season (La Rocca pictured above).  The walkability of Cefalu makes tourists trade in their car for a pair of walking shoes!  If you are visiting Palermo, this may be a great overnight or even a day trip!

Noto’s Cathedral

Noto, Sicily

This cathedral embodies everything Baroque.  The material used on this building is compacted limestone giving it a sandy looking color that illuminates the city at sunset.  If you can make it to Noto for the sunset you won’t regret it!

La Gusta di Italia

Since I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively through Italy, I would like to share some of my favorite dishes from various regions.  Every part of Italy is different and just like the dialects, the dishes vary from regions.  And yes, all these dishes are worth the calories!

LAZIO

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

My host mother referred to this pasta dish as the “university students favorite food”. This roman dish combines parmesan cheese, pancetta, egg, pepper, olive oil, and spaghetti to make one amazing flavor.  You can’t leave Rome without trying this classic dish.  

straccetti con la rucola

This dish may be on the more expensive side of the menu but you will dream about this flavor for the rest of your life.  This dish includes strips of beef cooked with white pepper seasoning, topped with arugula and occasionally parmesan cheese slices.  

Pizza Bianca

This isn’t necessarily though of as only from Lazio but I’ve had a hard time finding it as good in any other region than Lazio.  Pizza Bianca or white pizza is just dough cooked with certain seasoning or ingredients baked into it.  For example my favorite flavors were con olive (with olives) or al rosmarino (with rosemary).  Many Panifico will sell pizza bianca in large or small quantities to take on the go for breakfast.  (Click on the picture for a recipe!) 

TOSCANA

Budino di riso

One you try one of these, it will haunt you forever.  I really did not like the italian pastry type breakfast but I couldn’t resist these sweet treats to accompany my morning espresso before class.  These pastries are almost like rice pudding baked into a crostata to make a cute little pie.  If you visit Florence make sure you try one (or 10) of these pastries (you won’t regret it!).

Cantucci e vin santo

These are what Italians call what we Americans think are biscotti.  (Biscotti means cookies in Italian).  Cantucci are typical of Tuscany and are made to accompany Vin Santo, a liqueur made in Tuscany.  Vin Santo is an post dinner drink that people use for digestion along with their espresso.

LOMBARDIA

Gnocchi al gorgonzola e noci

This rich primo is one of my favorites and if it’s on the menu, I will most likely be ordering it.  Gnocchi combines potatoes to the consistency of regular pasta to make to make my favorite pasta.  Gorgonzola cheese, typical of the Lombardy region, is a strong and flavorful taste.  The gorgonzola sauce combined with walnuts and gnocchi make the perfect dish.

SICILIA

Caponata

Caponata mixes a variety of vegetables such as eggplant, olives, tomatoes, onions, pine nuts, and olive oil slow cooked all together but served room temperature or chilled.  You can eat Caponata along or accompanied by a piece of bread to “fare la scarpetta” at the end.  I enjoyed this dish all 10 days I was in Italy!

LIGURIA

Linguine al Nero di Seppia

This dish may look odd when you first see it but it has a flavor I’ve never tasted before!  Nero di Seppia means squid ink so this linguine’s color is black from the squid ink.  Many dishes come with pesto or some type of seafood such as clams (le vongole), both typical of Liguria.  This gorgeous seaside town is home to all the seafood dishes you can think of.