winter in Tuscany

Every year, around december 8th, in the medieval village of San Quirico d’Orcia, there is the Festival of Oil

If you love tuscan extra virgin olive oil with its strong taste (as I do!!), I suggest you to plan a visit in Tuscany in this period and, why not? to do a walk for the streets of San Quirico during the Festival of Oil… there you will have the possibility of tasting the delicious Fettunta (Fettunta is a bread slice with new extra virgin olive oil and salt) It is so simple… and so special.

I have to be honest: I  normally don’t find the celebrations themselves  exceptionally wonderful … but in any case,  San Quirico is so cozy, the Orcia Valley is so magnificent, food and wine here are -as usual-  superlatives… and december is a nice opportunity for tasting tuscan recipes and extra virgin olive oi, in particular, at its best, when it’s new! (because you as you know, for oil it is not valid the rules of red wine and the freshest is the oil, the best is for the taste)

Here is the program of Festival of Oil 2010:

Festival of Oil 2010 San Quirico d’Orcia

Saturday, December 4

10.00 a. m. – City Center - Opening Stand

10.30 a. m. – Palazzo Chigi – Opening of exhibition “The oil in the landscape of Val d’Orcia” with drawings and writings made by secondary school children of San Quirico d’Orcia

10.30 a.m. – Palazzo Chigi – Opening of exhibition “In Val d’Orcia chasing butterflies and dreams …” Photos by Tiziana Bindi

10.45 a.m.  – Oil Trekking - walking in San Quirico d’Orcia discovering the secrets of bruschetta with oil and olive oil tasting at the new park Carlo Sorbellini

11.00 a.m. – Piazza della Libertà – issuance and cancellation of special post stamp “2010 Oil Festival” in collaboration with Poste Italiane

3.30 p.m. – Palazzo Chigi - oil-based massages

3.30 p.m. – Old Town – Street Band in concert

4.00 p.m. - Palazzo Chigi – Laboratory of creative entertainment for children

9.30 p.m. – Piazza della Libertà – CAMILLOCROMO in concert

Sunday, December 5

10.00 a. m. – City Center - Opening Stand

10.45 a.m.  – Oil Trekking - walking in San Quirico d’Orcia discovering the secrets of bruschetta with oil and olive oil tasting at the new park Carlo Sorbellini

3.30 p.m. – Old Town – EXTRA DIXIE JAZZ BAND in concert

3.30 p.m. – Palazzo Chigi - oil-based massages

4.00 p.m. - Palazzo Chigi – Laboratory of creative entertainment for children

4.30 p.m.  – Piazza della Libertà – Ceremony of the “As good as Oil” prize reserved to farms producing olive oil. Jury  formed by specialized journalists of Wine and Food

Ore 6.00 p.m.  – Palazzo Chigi – Mini wine tasting course – by Giampiero Cresti, OTA

MONDAY ‘December 6

10.00 a.m. – City Center – Opening Stand

TUESDAY ‘December 7

10.00 a.m. – Old Town – opening stand

4.00 p.m. – traveling the great puppet show

WEDNESDAY ‘December 8

10.00 a.m. – Old Town Opening Stand

2.30 p.m. – Old Town – Entertainment with the Company of the DUO and Trescone MOTOFOLK

3.30 p.m. – Palazzo Chigi - oil-based massages

4.00 p.m. – Palazzo Chigi – the extra virgin 2010 “The City of San Quirico d’Orcia rewards the memory of the Mayor of Pollica Angelo Vassallo. Withdraw the award on his son, Antonio Vassallo

6.00 p.m. – Palazzo Chigi – Mini wine tasting course – by Giampiero Cresti, OTA

During the festival of oil (Festa dell’Olio) in the historic center of San Quirico d’Orcia you can taste the best products of Orcia Valley and all oil excellences of the Siena territory.

Don Giovanni, Opera at San Galgano, Chiusdino (Siena)

Since many years, in the summer, the Abbey of San Galgano is the location of concerts in collaboration with the renomate siennese Chigiana Academy. In the scenic open air Cathedral of San Galgano, under a blanket of stars, take place every summerlays, operas, concerts, musicals and ballets.

Inside the Abbey, 800 seats to accommodate the public.

Performances at the Abbey of San Galgano start at 9.00 p.m.

Bookings/tickets: Ph. 0039 055 5978308/ 0039 055 5978309

For more informations and the programme:

Opera Festival

Multipromo Opera festival

via San Francesco, 3

50014 Fiesole (Fi)

info@festivalopera.it

web site