Umbria – lisa loves to travel

Nero Norcia 2017: Umbrian Black Truffles

March 5, 2017@lisastravelguidesLeave a comment

19074571468_2735452c5f_b (2) — *View of Norcia, Umbria*

The Umbrian town of Norcia sits at the foot of the Monte Sibillini in the Valnerina River Valley. It’s about 45 minutes east of the famous music festival town Spoleto and near the Umbrian border with the Lazio and Le Marche regions. An ancient settlement, Norcia has found traces of human occupation from the Neolithic Age (approximately 10,000 BC – 2,000 BC). It’s a great base for hiking mountains and walking through the beautiful natural scenery of the Santa Scolastica plain.

A Black Truffle

Egg with Shaved Truffle

Tagliattelle al Tartufo

Piazza San Benedetto has been the center of the town since the middle ages and includes the historic Palazzo Communale (14th century) and church of San Benedetto (Middle Ages). It serves as the base of operations for the 54thd Nero Norcia celebration of winter black truffles that began last weekend and ends next weekend. Aside from the usual festival treats of food stands, music and children’s activities there’s a magician, photography exhibit and speakers about truffle production in the area. Tasting tours via horse drawn carriages, are organized by dairy company Gruppo Grifo both Sundays and include local chocolate and dairy products (purchase tickets at their festival stand).

19069942688_22dcce0407_b (2) — *Piazza San Benedetto in Norcia; Left: Palazzo Communale; Right Church of San Benedetto*

The shade of trees in the forests nearby harbor these fragrant and expensive mushrooms. Used raw or cooked they are often tossed with rice or pasta. Norcia’s foodie highlights are more than just it’s truffle production; the famous Norcinos (butchers) and their salumerie shops are not to be missed for further tastebud exploration.

5626285087_410ac16afb_b (2) — *Nearby Castellucio di Norcia*

#neronorcia #eventiumbria #umbria #italyfestivals #norcia

INFORMATION

2017 Nero Norcia Information

Umbria Tourism

@umbriatourism

Umbria Tourism on Facebook

ABOUT

Lisa M. Vogele is the author of Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals, a travel reference guide that “helps you go local” by incorporating festivals into your travel planning. The second book in her Food & Folklore Series on Festivals of Spain will hit the shelves in 2017. You can find out more information about Lisa’s books, custom itineraries and small group tours at Lisa’s Travel Guides. BROCHURE: Fun with Food & Festivals Tours!

PHOTO CREDITS:

VIEW OF NORCIA FROM FIELD: LAVALNERINA.IT VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY

BLACK TRUFFLE: MOEDERMENS VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY

EGG WITH SHAVED TRUFFLE: NOCIVEGLIA VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY

TAGLIATELLE AL TARTUFO NERO: UMBRIALOVERS VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY-SA

PIAZZA SAN BENEDETTO: STEVECADMAN VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY-SA

CASTELLUCIO DI NORCIA: PHOTO CREDIT: MOYAN_BRENN VIA FOTER.COM / CC BY

Four Fabulous Food & Folklore Festivals

May 13, 2016@lisastravelguidesLeave a comment

P1030040 You have your pick of festivals to attend this weekend in Italy: lemons or fish on the Ligurian coast, rowing in Venice or running in Gubbio. Rather than choose between them, I decided to give you a taste of each.

This Saturday, food is the focus on the Ligurian coast. Monterosso al Mare is the northern most stop of the Cinque Terre (five lands) full of picturesque pastel-colored houses along the Mediterranean coastline. The Festa del Limone in Monterosso highlights the lemon in food offered by vendors throughout the old town. Each year a special gastronomic walking tour is also offered and you can eat your way through each course at different stops in the old and new town, including a visit to a fragrant lemon vineyard. There is yellow everywhere as residents compete with elaborate window displays using lemons, children run lemonade stands, folk musicians stroll and street food to eat, including some awfully yummy porchetta! My friend Robin and I took the tour last year and weren’t disappointed in the quality of food or atmosphere; our group was expertly lead by Kate Little of Little Paradiso Tours and the plucky Valentina (the namesake of Villa Valentina in Levanto, a high-end B&B).

Also this Saturday, The Sagra del Pesce in Camogli has been held since 1952 and is a highly anticipated event. A huge quantity of fish is fried in a gigantic frying pan then shared with locals and visitors. The locals hope it will bring the generosity of the sea to the local fisherman. Retired frying pans are kept and displayed on a wall near the harbor.

Every May 15^th since the year 1160, the City of Gubbio, deep in the green valleys of Umbria, holds the Corsa dei Ceri. Three guilds challenge each other to carrying three towering candlesticks, each weighing in the 800 pound range, on their shoulders up to the basilica of Sant’Ubaldo. There are events for several days leading up to this grand finale.

7300023284_f1b26f15e5_b Vogalonga literally means “Long Row”. It’s a boat race from Piazza San Marco to Burano and back (20 miles/32 km roundtrip). Hundreds of boats take part with many participants in historical costumes. It is held each May 15^th and this year is its 42^nd celebration.

Pro Loco Monterosso (office at ground level of train station – tickets for gastronomic walking tour)

Kate Little of Little Paradiso Sommelier & Tour Guide

Villa Valentina in Levanto

Vogalonga Official Information

Corsa dei Ceri Information

Photo Credits:

Monterosso al Mare Festa del Limone all photos Lisa M. Vogele & Robin Russo

Retired frying pans of Sagra del Pesce: Jukk_a via Foter.com / CC BY

Fisherman in Camogli, Liguria: Sangre-La.com via Foter.com / CC BY

Harbor of Camogli at Sunset: Sangre-La.com via Foter.com / CC BY

Corsa dei Ceri, Gubbio, Umbria: GregTheBusker via Foter.com / CC BY

Vogalonga, Venice, Veneto Participants: Old Fogey 1942 via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Vogalonga on the Grand Canal, Venice: dalbera via Foter.com / CC BY

NERO NORCIA: Black Truffles in Umbria

February 26, 2016@lisastravelguidesLeave a comment

A Black Truffle

Egg with Shaved Truffle

Tagliattelle al Tartufo

Piazza San Benedetto has been the center of the town since the middle ages and includes the historic Palazzo Communale (14th century) and church of San Benedetto (Middle Ages). It serves as the base of operations for the 53rd Nero Norcia celebration of winter black truffles that began this morning and continues this weekend and next. Aside from the usual festival treats of food stands, music and children’s activities there’s a magician, photography exhibit and speakers about truffle production in the area. Tasting tours via horse drawn carriages, are organized by dairy company Gruppo Grifo both Sundays and include local chocolate and dairy products (purchase tickets at their festival stand).

#neronorcia #eventiumbria #umbria #italyfestivals #norcia

53rd Nero Norcia Information

Umbria Tourism

@umbriatourism

Umbria Tourism on Facebook

Photo Credits:

View of Norcia from Field: LaValnerina.it via Foter.com / CC BY

Black Truffle: moedermens via Foter.com / CC BY

Egg with Shaved Truffle: nociveglia via Foter.com / CC BY

Tagliatelle al Tartufo Nero: UmbriaLovers via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Piazza San Benedetto: stevecadman via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Castellucio di Norcia: Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn via Foter.com / CC BY

Fair of the Dead! Halloween Weekend/All Saints & All Souls Days Umbria

October 30, 2015October 30, 2015@lisastravelguidesLeave a comment

4064804616_29c3cf60cb_b — *Skulls and Bone; Photo Credit: Photo credit: Gabriele Asnaghi / Foter.com / CC BY-SA*

Celebrating Halloween in Italy with costumes and trick-or-treating is becoming more popular each year. They have imported the American “Halloween” through television, pop culture and films only recently. Italian children don’t shout “trick or treat?” they shout “dolcetto o scherzetto?” after knocking on neighbors doors dressed as little witches and goblins. This “new” event precedes the traditional Italian Holidays of All Saints Day (Ognissanti) and All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd respectively. Italians honor deceased family members on these annual holidays by visiting their graves, placing flowers and offering prayers.

Piazza Novembre; Photo credit: Perugiacity.com / Foter.com / CC BY — *Piazza V Novembre; Photo credit: Perugiacity.com / Foter.com / CC BY*

In a town known more for its Perugina Baci chocolate treat and educational institutions, Perugia’s Fiera dei Morti has been in progress since medieval times. Written evidence of its existence dates back to the year 1260 when it was called the “All Saints Fair”; however, it’s been called the “Fair of the Dead” since the 1700’s. It is considered one of the most important fairs in the area and was started to exchange agricultural livestock and products before winter arrived but has developed into over 500 vendors selling local crafts and sweets. You can find everything from housewares to clothes to spices in stands found in the Pian di Massiano, Piazza del Bacio and the historical center.
The festival Runs November 1st – November 5th. If you are in the area and recovered from your chocolate hangover acquired at last week’s Eurochocolate festival make sure to try local specialties “Beans of the Dead”, Torta al Testo (traditional bread of Perugia) and the tibia shaped cookies known as stinchetti made especially for I Morti.

Fiera dei Morti 2015 Perugia