The White Night of Bientina (Notte Bianca)

The "White Night" is an occasion for the shops to be opened all night. This event comes once a year, in June. The purpose of this event is to show and sell the products, it's like an incentive for the people to buy, seeing the dramatic situation that we are living in our country at the moment. In my town, Bientina, this occasion presents a different theme every year: 


               Two years ago the theme was Hawaiian,

last year the theme was Western, 

instead this year the theme was Ancient Rome.

 

This occasion isn't only celebrated in the city center, but along every street of the town. Seeing that it's a themed night, everybody takes part in the theme dressing up. The buildings are decorated with lights, music and various decorations, in this way the occasion takes colour! Everybody is welcome to participate to buy products and taste the traditional foods of Tuscany that every shop has to offer on their stands outside every shop. It really feels as if travelling back in time and to live the ancient civilization. The nice thing about it is that every year it's a surprise for everybody, because the theme is announced a few days before, so that the shopkeepers and the citizens can prepare themselves in time. You never know what to expect until that day.

 Benedetta Perotti

Historic race of Calcinaia

The historic race of Calcinaia, called "rowing Palio" in the past, is a fixed seat rowing competition which takes place on the waters of the River Arno in honor of the patron Saint Ubaldesca Taccini. In the Middle Ages the palio, a long rich cloth, was used to welcome kings and emperors, putting it over their heads like a canopy, so it was a very precious material. The prizes which were offered to the winners in medieval racing consisted of some lengths of silk, wool or velvet, and were called palios. It was therefore a "race to win the Palio". In Calcinaia, the Palio, heart-felt and waited for during the whole year, typically takes place on the last Sunday of May or the first Sunday of June between the districts of the village after a costume parade. In the first editions all the villages and towns which overlooked the river (Pontedera, San Giovanni alla Vena, Uliveto) took place in the competition. Then over the years Calcinaia was divided into three districts: Montecchio, Nave, Oltrarno.



The district Montecchio, recognized with the color blue, occupies the north and east of the village and represents the bourgeois life of Calcinaia;









The district Oltrarno, in red, occupies the south area of the Arno and represents the popular classes that in the past lived in the countryside in front of the village;







The district Nave, in green, occupies the area north of the Arno near the old medieval castle and represents the lord of the castle with its army.

The documents proving the existence of the race date back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, but the oral tradition peasant dates the race at even more remote times.
The night before the race, according to the tradition, a street party called "relive the past" is organized. It is a historical manifestation through the streets of the village that brings the whole village back in time. During this evening you can admire medieval carts, 19th century poor farmers hand in hand with 18th century distinct aristocrats, performances of all kinds, attractions, games, live paintings and food stalls, all kinds of drinks and tasty treats.
I really recommend to participate in this celebration different from the usual but however full of fun and cheer.

Foschetti Ylenia

THE BIRDS EXHIBITION in Capannoli

The birds exhibition is an event which takes place in Capannoli on the second Sunday of September.
This year the fifty-third edition of this event, which is considered as the most important in Tuscany, is being held.
The birds exhibition is characterized by the famous singing competition of songbirds from all over Italy.

For the children who live in Capannoli the day of this event is the last day of summer because the day after the event they must go back to school.
During the day of this event it is prohibited to circulate with any form of motor transport and for this reason there is a free shuttle bus that transports people to where the festival begins.
In the streets of the village there are a lot of stalls where we can find clothes, shoes, toys, something for the house and typical food.
In front of the Church there are a lot of animal stalls where we can buy cats, dogs, fishes, birds, hamsters and turtles.
It is a very beautiful event.                                            

Martina Simm.