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...About South of Siena Tour.....
EVENTS in Buonconvento
In February Buonconvento
is animated by the Carnival. Funny Charriots and the "Contrada's
masks" parade along the streets.
On the Holy Friday before Easter,
the church organizes the via crucis of Jesus. Group of people parade in
old costumes along the streest starting from the church of St. Peter and
Paul.
On June 29th, the Festival of St. Peter and Paul is held, with several
religious celebrations.
During the last week of September,
there is the famous gastronomic fair "Sagra della Valdarbia"
In these days several cultural events and commercial activities take place,
like Sculpure, Drawing, Photografic exhibitions.In the last four years
the 4 quarters of Buonconvento called "Contrade", set up their
own Restaurants and propose some local dishes.
EVENTS in Montalcino
On the first week of May
the market Fair takes place and on the
8th of May the fastival in honour of Our Mary del Soccorso will
reunion the inhabitants in a parade lead by the local band, then the city
quarters will offer the big candle to Our Mary, and the festival ends
with the market Fair and the Horse Race.
The
Opening of the Hunt Festival
On the last weekend in
August, this festival opens the annual archery tournaments and
is a forerunner to the Sagra, which is staged in October.
On the first week of September the Honey's Week takes place inside the Fortress "Medicea": Market fair of the local famous production of Honey
La Sagra del Tordo
-The Festival of the Thrush
On the last weekend every
October, the most important cultural event in the Montalcino calendar
takes place. Visitors arrive from all over
Italy, from other countries in Europe, and even internationally to witness
this passionate festival.
EVENTS in Bagno Vignoni
EVENTS in S. Quirico
On next Sunday after
February 3rd, the Festival in honour of St. Biagio Bishop is held
with several religious celebrations.
On the third Saturday and Sunday of June,
takes place the Festival of BARBAROSSA inspired by the meeting between
Federico 1st called BARBAROSSA and the LEGATI of Pope Adriano IV. In this
occasion the Pope asked for the consignement of the eretic frier Arnaldo
da Brescia to give his approval to the Barbarossa Emperor Incoronation.
The Celebrations start with the Quarters Mass, at the end of it they sort
out the order of partecipation at the "Tiro con l'Arco" and
astiludio. After the games tipical local dishes are served.
On the first Sunday of September
there is the Celebration of Our Mary di Vataleta with a religious procession
and fireworks. Once every 10 years the festival goes on for one week.
On the first Sunday of October,
is held the FESTA DEL ROSARIO.
EVENTS in Pienza
On the first Sunday of
September there
is the Market Fair of the famous local cheese "Pecorino di Pienza".
This is a Gastronomic Festival with games. Besides the Pientino Chese
you can sample the local products like honey, truffels, wines. The main
Festival attraction is the game "Cacio al Fuso" which consists
in making a round cheese form rolling from a certain distance and get
it the closest possible to a Fuse put in the middle of the Square.
EVENTS in Monticchiello
During the second fortnight
of July and first days in August, at Monticchiello di Pienza the
inhabitants play a local drama, written by themselves during the winter,
which usually takes inspiration from the main actuality themes: this is
the famous "TEATRO POVERO DI MONTICCHIELLO".
From 1969 to 1979 the stories were created by Mario Guidotti. Since then
the plays keep the same autodrama formule featured by a paricular dramaturgical
scheme: the first part is placed in the past, the second part in the present
and in the third act, the last one, there are the future views.
EVENTS in Montepulciano
On Sundays in February
there is the Carnival with funny charriots parades along the main streets.
On May 1st, there are St. Agnese
Celebrations. The celabration is in hounour of St. Agnese, city protector
and in this day the Main streets will be filled of market stalls of all
kinds.
On August 10th, at Valiano (located
close to Montepulciano)is held the St. Lorenzo Fair ; in this market fair
you find stalls selling animals, rural products and equipments.
On August 15th, there
is the famous"Bruscello" on scene; on the Duomo Square, a drama
play inspired by local rural tales.
The second and third week of August,
inside the Medicea Fortress, takes place the Interprovincial Market Exhibition.
During the second fortnight of August the
famous festival called "Bravio delle Botti"is held.
On Monday after the last September Sunday,
at Montepulciamo Stazione area the Maestà del Ponte Fair takes
place.
On the first Saturday of September
in Acquaviva located close to Montepulciano, there is the St. Vittorino
Fair. On Novemer 30th stalls of every kind are placed for Sant'Andrea
Fair.
Gastronomy
Red wines from Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino to the
Nobile di Montepulcino and white ones like the Bianco Valdarbia
; extravirgin olive-oil, sheep's cheese from the clay hill area, durum
wheat, special sweetmeats, honey from Montalcino, truffles from
San Giovanni d'Asso and Asciano, charcuterie, finely-tasting meats
from the "Chianina" cattle: all these are the basics of the well-flavoured
Sienese food. They are the most important elements of this cuisine, where
the importance of the spit and grill has been preserved for achieving
light, lean and tasty dishes; with the constant fundamentals of oil, vegetables
and good bread baked without salt, which is at the base of the traditional
Sienese soups.
In short, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean cuisine, making excellent
use of herbs, plus garlic and onion, shallots, leeks and celery. And,
amongst the meats, the use of game, in an authentic relationship between
mankind and nature, with no tendency towards selfish destruction of the
fauna. Amongst the soups the "ribollita" still holds the first
place in winter: a bean soup left to cool and then re-heated with oil
added. In summer "panzanella" triumphs: dry bread soaked in water
and then blended with basil and onion (tomatoes and anchovies too, recently)
and then oil, vinegar and salt.
Amongst the centuries-old dishes are omelettes with bacon cubes, "pici", which are the Sienese version (in the south of the province this is the age-old usage) of spaghetti rolled out by hand and seasoned with meat sauce or garlic, or, in the lack of anything else in the house, with breadcrumbs fried in oil. Amongst the meat dishes, as first course, "pappardelle" with hare, and, as second course, the tradition of meat fried in egg and breadcrumbs, and the "Chianina" steak done on a grill over burning, but flameless charcoal.
Typical, simple dishes which characterize a cuisine completed by sweetmeats such as "Panforte" and "Ricciarelli", whose recipes have been handed down from mediaeval pharmaceutics. Dishes which have, of course, undergone a certain transformation. In the restaurants in Siena and its province nowadays one can find many variations on the theme of the traditional Sienese wines and gastronomy, refined diversifications, but still with the same basic ingredients: the bouquet of herbs, crusty bread, olive oil, typical meats and then the flavour of fully-bodied wines, elegant and graceful just like the hills of their origin.