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I Love Sightseeing Tours Of Italy - Winter Attractions And Events In Emilia-Romagna
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but prefers drinking fine French wine with by the right foods. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.
The Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy is internationally known for its fine cuisine that many claim is the finest in Italy. On the other hand, this region is hardly known for its mild winters. But you can still have a fine winter holiday there. You may want to start in the Savigno Sagra del Tartufo (Savigno Truffle Festival) which is held on the first three Sundays in November or a similar festival held the first weekend of November in Sasso Marconi. The regional capital of Bologna hosts a Jazz Festival for about a week starting in early November. The third weekend of every month the city of Ravenna hosts an antique market. The following weekend is Modena’s turn. Why not go to both and compare these two offerings?
There are lots and lots of Christmas markets in Emilia-Romagna during the month of December. Make sure to check the dates carefully. Given the region’s reputation, it should come as no surprise that many of this Christmas markets focus on gastronomy as well as handicrafts. As an extra added attraction, many of these Christmas markets are held in mountain huts.
Bologna’s basilica consists of several interconnected churches. The oldest existing building is the Santi Vitale e Agricola that displays a Fourteenth Century Nativity Scene. The seaside city of Cesenatico hosts a very unusual floating nativity scene in the harbor which was designed by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. Make sure to see it at night.
Bologna traditionally celebrates New Year’s Eve with the Fiera del Bue Grasso (fat ox fair); an ox is festooned with flowers and ribbons from its horns to its tail. Church bells peal, people light candles, and enjoy the fireworks. The celebration ends with a lottery whose winner gets to keep the ox. The seaside city of Rimini holds a huge New Year’s Eve festival in Piazzale Fellini. You’ll enjoy music, dancing, and entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display but ox lovers will have to go to Bologna.
The end of January Bologna celebrates Arte Fiera, which is a large international contemporary art Fair. This great event is followed by the month long Bologna Art First in which the old town celebrates modern art at over a dozen locations. In February 2010 Cesenatico will host the Tug of War World Indoor Championships. This annual event changes location so if you miss the 2010 competition you’ll have to go elsewhere.