From Spring to Autumn Tuscany is full to the brim with villages which hold special events to celebrate typical foods and unusual dishes with frogs, ostriches and steaks all being showcased! Invariably the villagers come out in force and dinners are followed by dancing and evening markets. Essential Italy‘s favourites include:
28th, 29th, 30th May 2010: Bettolle, Siena – The Valley of the Giant White Festival
For steak lovers this is a MUST! The famous Bistecca Fiorentina comes from the Chianina cow, a truly wonderful animal which produces the finest steak in the world. The steak consists of a T-bone grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, seasoned with just salt and black pepper. The Bistecca is thickly cut and very large and is served very rare, garnished with lemon wedges and of course accompanied by red wine. This festival celebrates everything linked to the ‘Chianina’ and offers visitors food tasting, folklore shows, musical events and viewings of these amazing animals.
29th May – 6th June 2010: Snail Festival (Sagra della Lumaca) in Camucia, near Arezzo
This is a wonderful festival of the Escargot with snail based menus, pizza and local produce tastings , walking and cycling tours, motorcycle and rally car shows and street parades all followed by a different dance event in the evenings with music provided by local orchestras.
Last weekend of July / first weekend of August 2010: Frog Festival in Brolio, near Arezzo
The tiny village of Brolio (between Arezzo and Cortona) holds the Sagra della Rana – the frog festival. A classic for the locals – 10,000 frogs legs are imported especially for this event and the evening dances are considered to be the best in the area.
