Newborn bathroom at Geranio’s apartment

Enriched mosaic, natural pebbles, sanitary ware conforts and enjoy a lovely view over Florence!

Elegant simplicity

Want to try a zen experience?

Il Ceppo di Natale-Chestnut Log

Il dolce delle feste di Natale per eccellenza! Quest’anno il Ceppo di castagne, cioccolato e crema di burro all’essenza di arancia,  è arrivato sul tavolo apparecchiato per la Befana giusto in tempo l’ultimo giorno.  Grazie alla mamma che, continuando la tradizione di famiglia, addolcisce i nostri palati, racconta anedotti quest’ultimo giorno di festa

This is the  ultimate Christmas cake ! This year the Chestnut Log with chocolate and butter cream and orange, has showed up on our family table just in time on our holidays last day.  Thanks to my mum who is carrying on our family tradition, sweetens our palates, tells stories on this last holidays day.

 

 

Clementine Marmalade

Yes, this is it. My favourite marmalade at Xmas. Easy to make with organic clementines, sugar & lemon.  I basically use 2 kg clementines, 1 kg sugar and 2 lemons. Lovely taste on cottage cheese or a fresh slice of bread!

Day Trip # 4-Pisa & Lucca

 Pisa & Lucca
(105 km- 1:30 away)
The Leaning Tower…are you ready to climb 56 meter high and 296 steps? In Pisa the Square of Miracles (La Piazza dei Miracoli) really worths all your attantion  with its Leaning Tower, the  beautiful  Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Monumental Cemetery (representing the cycle of life).The Cathedral, belonging to Pisan-Romanesque architecture, shows a stunning white-and-grey marble façade.  The interiors have been realized with white-and-black marbles instead. The popular bell tower leaning on one side. Do you know why? The ground,  too soft underneath, does not support the tower’s weight!

The best wayt to start  exploring Lucca is taking a nice 4 kilometers walk  along the old city walls overlooking the town. The city of Lucca is reach in religious buildings il Duomo, St Michael Church and more.  Carry on your visit with Piazza Dell’Anfiteatro, an oval square, where the actual buildings were built around the original Roman amphitheatre structure and the famous Torre Guinigi with  the trees at the very top of the tower. In Lucca is also home to several annual music events and manifestations that always attract people from everywhere: Summer Festival in  July. Another popular event is Lucca Comics & Games in late October/early November

Day Trip # 3-Chianti

Chianti

(32 Km;50 m. away from the Casale)

Chianti area covers the territory between Florence and Siena. San Donato, Greve in Chianti, San Gusmè, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Barberino Val D’Elsa are some of the magical villages you may visit. Your eyes cannot be less impressed with the  endless rows of grapes, olive trees, cypress tree-lined driveways and fields of sunflowers you’ll meet on the way. Take this chance to visit small and large vineyards, tour the “cantina”& taste the own farmhouse wine production. It’s something magical to hear a farmer’s enthusiasm, dedication and respect to its territory and wine!

Day Trip # 2-Val D’Orcia

Montalcino, Pienza & Montepulciano

(130 Km- 2:00 away from the Casale)

Montalcino, better know as the city of Brunello wine, it’s a beautiful village dominating the Val D’orcia natural park. In the 16th century, the famous architect Rossellino was commissioned by Pope Pius II to build the town. The Duomo (Cathedral), which dominates the center of the piazza, has a façade that is one of the earliest designed in the Renaissance manner.  Visiting the town wine cellars that start from the top of the hill and go all the way through it’s an amazing experience. Pienza enjoys a strategic position  dominating all the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views. Under Leon Battista Alberti in 3 years, a group of amazing and harmonious buildings were completed: the Cathedral, the Piccolomi Palace, the Town Hall, and the lovely central square. Pienza is well know for its cacio that is to say cheese! Made from sheep’s milk, you can taste the Pecorino of Pienza in local restaurants with other typical products such as wines, spices, pici (handmade pasta) and so on. Don’t forget to order pici cacio e pepe! When in Montepulciano, elegant Renaissance  city with ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, stop in Piazza Grande, the heart of Montepulciano, where the barrel-racing Bravio delle Botti contest is held in August every year. Take a walk through Montepulciano to view the town and its beautiful historical buildings  and enjoy heartbreaking views of the surrounding countryside vineyards producing the famous Nobile!

Day Trip # 1-Siena & San Giminiano

Siena & San Giminiano
(86 Km-1:15 away from the Casale)

Siena will immediately charm you with its characteristic medieval streets and the famous Piazza del Campo, where the renowned Palio, a horse race around the piazza, is run twice (July & August) every year in summer.Siena is said to have been founded by Senius, son of Remus, one of the two legendary founders of Rome. The Campo is dominated by the red Palazzo Pubblico and its tower, Torre del Mangia along with the Duomo of Siena. What to visit? Piazza del Campo, just standing at the center of the Piazza del Campo square, you will almost feel wrapped up in a warm embrace. Torre del Mangia,  with its height of 87 meters, offers one of the most beautiful views of the city. And for sure the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta & the Piccolomi Library.What to eat? A special Siena pasta are the Pici (like a thick spaghetti) usually with a sauce of sage and almonds. When getting to the dessert taste the Ricciarelli, with almonds, and  the Panforte with almonds and candied fruit

San Gimignano, a small walled village about halfway between Florence and Siena, is famous for its fascinating medieval architecture and 14 towers that rise above of all the other buildings offering an impressive view of the city from the surrounding valley. Enjoy its local products including saffron and its white wine, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Sorbs Fruit Jam

Probably not many people know sorbs fruit. It’s a little wild apple with a sweet and parfumed taste. I’ve discovered a big tree while I was on a nice walk with friends in the country. Sorbs, cinammon and pine nuts and my jam is ready

 

Olio Novo-New Oil

To produce a rare and delicious olive oil with all my family’s hands : what can be more joyful?! If you visit Tuscany don’t forget to taste the Bruschetta: a slice of plain bread with new olive oil and salt.

The Cavalcade of The Magi in Florence

For Italians, La Festa dell’Epifania on January 6th is as significant a holiday as Christmas Day; especially for Italian children!

The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus.

According to the Italian legend, La Befana, a witch-like woman riding on a broom, refused to join the Wise Men on their journey to see the baby Jesus. When she regrets her decision, she sets out to bring gifts to the Child but never finds him. Instead, she leaves gifts for other children. Italian children leave out their shoes or put up stockings for the Befana to fill on January 5th, Epiphany Eve.

And the legend continues that every Epiphany Eve, the old, tattered and soot-covered Befana flies around the world on a broomstick and comes down chimneys to deliver candy and presents to children who have been good during the year. For those who have fallen a bit short of model behavior, la Befana will leave lumps of coal.  Knowing that all kids can’t be perfect year-round, some shops in Italy sell carbone or black rock candy that actually looks like pieces of coal…so even those not quite perfect can still enjoy a sweet treat.

Unlike Santa Claus, La Befana has been an Italian tradition since the XIII century and comes from Christian legend rather than pop culture.