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PESCE D'APRILE

Ma di tutti gli animali, perchè proprio il pesce??


Sembra che l'usanza di mettere un foglio di carta col disegno di un pesce sulla schiena della vittima dello scherzo abbia origini antichissime e pagane...

Il Primo Aprile in diversi paesi c'è la particolare usanza del Pesce d'aprile. In questo giorno vengono fatti scherzi (detti appunto pesci d'aprile) anche piuttosto sofisticati con lo scopo di mettere le persone in imbarazzo.

Le origini di questa ricorrenza sono sconosciute: attorno alla sua nascita si sono sviluppate infatti diverse teorie.

Una delle ipotesi più accreditate si rifà alla riforma gregoriana del calendario. Fino al 1582, il Capodanno veniva festeggiato tra il 25 marzo e il primo aprile. A seguito della riforma da parte di Gregorio XIII, il capodanno fu spostato al primo gennaio. Non tutti però si abituarono subito al cambiamento e vennero quindi additati come gli “sciocchi d'aprile”. Da qui la matrice burlesca del primo d'aprile.

C'è poi un'altra teoria molto più antica, che ricollega l'origine della festa del pesce d'aprile a un periodo anteriore al 154 a. C. A fare da trait d'union è sempre il Capodanno: all'epoca, infatti, il primo di aprile segnava l'inizio dell'anno. E la stessa cosa avveniva nel calendario giuliano (introdotto da Giulio Cesare nel 46 ac) dove il primo di aprile indicava l'inizio del solstizio di primavera.

Per festeggiare la fine dell'inverno i pagani usavano propiziare gli dei con doni e sacrifici in loro onore. La festa era anche occasione per esprimersi in massima libertà con lazzi, burle, buffonerie. Quando la chiesa soppresse la festa stabilendo l'inizio dell'anno il primo di gennaio, la vecchia tradizione continuò comunque a sopravvivere tra i pagani, che per questo venivano derisi e scherniti.

Ciò che è certo è che In Europa, i festeggiamenti del primo d'aprile diventano usanza intorno alla fine del 1500: sono la Francia di re Carlo IX e la Germania degli Asburgo a dare il via. Da questi due paesi, la tradizione si diffonde poi in Inghilterra (nel XVIII secolo) e negli altri stati europei.

In Italia l'usanza del primo d'aprile è relativamente recente: risale al 1860-1880. la prima città ad essere contagiata dalle usanze d'Oltralpe fu Genova, importante porto commerciale. La tradizione si sviluppò prima tra i ceti medio-alti, poi prese piede anche tra il resto della popolazione.

Ma il primo d'aprile, non è una festa solo italiana. È una tradizione che, con sfumature e nomi diversi, vive in gran parte del mondo.

In Francia è poisson d'avril e richiama l'immagine del sole che, alla fine di marzo, lascia il segno dei Pesci per entrare in Ariete.

In Inghilterra e negli USA invece, si usa l'espressione april's fool day (il giorno dello sciocco d'aprile), dove il termine fool si rifà al folletto delle corti medioevali per sottolineare la connotazione scherzosa della festa.

In Scozia, invece, il pesce d'aprile dura due giorni: il secondo giorno, chiamato taily day (giorno delle natiche), gli scozzesi si divertono attaccando sul fondoschiena del gawk, lo sciocco, un cartello con la scritta kick me (prendimi a calci).

Anche nel Sud-Est Asiatico ci sono tracce di questa manifestazione: la data però è diversa. In India per esempio, le danze iniziano il mese prima, il 31 marzo, durante una festa secolare chiamata huli dove è prassi prendersi gioco dei conoscenti facendo compiere loro peripezie inutili.

Dall'altro capo del mondo, invece, bisogna aspettare la fine dell'anno. Il 28 dicembre, in Messico, si festeggia il dia de los innocentes che nonostante ricordi la strage degli innocenti compiuta da Erode è il contraltare del nostro primo aprile

Interstices Part 2 - same bus stop, different day

interstices
Originally uploaded by lovingitaly2009

Tuscany highlights

San Gimignano: towers wine and saffron


The Etruscan origins of San Gimignano (originally named "Silva") explain its hilly location, at about 1000 feet above sea level, overlooking one of the most enchanting valleys in Tuscany.

In the early Middle Ages, thanks to its position along the main European pilgrimage route, the Francigena, the village became an important agricultural market.
Its subsequent growing economical power made it an ambitious center for the wealthiest and most powerful families from Florence and Siena. These families built watch-towers to protect themselves from the enemies. These constructions also symbolized the power of their owners.
Originally used with military purposes, the more than 70 towers of the 13 hundreds were lately transformed into private houses (not the most comfortable of a kind of house!)

After the numerous battles and wars which destroyed most of them during the centuries, nowadays the remaining towers are about 15; it is even possible to climb one of them: the Torre Grossa - that is the tower attached to the Public Palace of the town in Piazza Duomo.

Arriving in San Gimignano it is St. John's Gate (1261) to welcome the visitor. Already at the first sight, one feels like being catapulted back in time.
Walking along the main street, lined with shops displaying the great local manufact, one can admire the colorful ceramics, the alabaster goods, the various kitchen tools made of olive wood, the hand-made cutlery and knives and the knitted goods, among many other products.

But the king of the local specialties is a white wine - the only white variety which had DOC appellation in Chianti (a land of red wines): the Vernaccia.
Excellent when cool (2° is the perfect temperature), it matches fish and fresh cheeses; or it is a perfect aperitive in the heat of the Summer.
One can see the vineyards of Vernaccia a couple of kilometres before reaching the town, to the right.
Vernaccia is also produced in Sardinia, but becouse of the action of the wind and sea the flavour is totally different.

One last "little" local product worths a mention, a superb spice here produced since ancient times: the saffron! In the best gelato place (gelateria di piazza) of San Gimignano they make a saffron taste which is really the top of the tower for the palate!!

Mussolini and the "Wedding Cake"

rome-tour-piazza-venezia
Originally uploaded by lovingitaly2009

Here's a favorite from early on in Rome. This series is called "Interstices" because so many interesting things intersect at Rome's busstops (did I spell that right?). It was taken at Piazza Venezia in Rome, right underneath the famous balcony of the building where Mussolini gave his thundering speeches. The monument is the Vittoriano or "Wedding Cake" that celebrates Italian unification. Just today I came across a brochure that the city tourist board put out back in the '80s and there is a great photograph of the bronze statue (in the distance -- between the bus sign and the Italian flag) of king Vittorio Emmanuele II. What was fun about the photo is that it shows just how big the statue is: the workers -- 19 of them(!) are sitting around a table and eating lunch INSIDE the belly of the horse!

Antinori at Badia a Passignano

BADIA A PASSIGNANO: holy and profane

The origins of this site are uncertain. Probably in 1049 (but some historians talk about a foundation dating back to 890 or even to the 4th century) San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the Vallombrosian order (a branch of the Benedictines),
on his way to Florence stopped in the site of Passignano and founded a monastery.

The monks planted vines and trees, working a land which extended for more than 540 acres in the heart of Chianti.

The monastery became an important cultural center which promoted scientific research and viticulture. Moreover the monks - at the time more than 100 - produced about 6000 volumes and documents, some written in Hebrew and Greek.

Even Galileo Galilei taught mat here in 1587!

The history of the monastery is really intense and full of ups and downs, until Napoleon in the 17 hundreds suspended the monastic activity.
The monks, who could come back to Passignano only in 1818, could remain until 1866 when the Italian Government, after the Unification of Italy, dispossessed the monastery from its land, its numerous farmhouses, and eventually sold it.

The renown Antinori family from Florence acquired the vineyards around the monastery in 1987; they also use the fabulous cellars situated underneath the monastery: with their thick walls and vaulted ceiling, they perfectly preserve the temperature and humidity for the 2000 French barriques stored there.

The best wine produced at their estate is Badia a Passignano Riserva Chianti Classico.

A Super Tuscan which deserves a go is also their Tignanello (100% Sangiovese grape). Guado al Tasso, another excellent wine, even if produced on the coast of upper Maremma (in Bolgheri DOC zone) is sold at the Bottega, as well as with many other excellent wines produced by the Antinori.


Here we are with some clients on a recent day excursion from Florence: what a nice meal we had! Truffle sauce with tagliolini (noodles) and sheep cheese with pears with Antinori wine, of course!

At the estate it is possible to arrange a wine tasting with an expert and it can be followed by lunch.

Thought of the day: if wine is the drink of God, Badia A Passignano is where God had some of his best workers!

SASSICAIA - a poem of wine!

The story of Italian wine was deeply influenced, - taking a leap into the highest ranks of prestige and renown,- in the late 1970’s when Huge Johnson, one of the most influential names who have ever written about wine, placed an unknown product named Sassicaia into a blind tasting of the world’s greatest Cabernets.

Its success and the subsequent world-wide fame that was created were a vindication of the vision, of the genius of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, heir of a distinguished name in Italian viticulture, and the prophet who had realized that his estate in Bolgheri (Tuscany) where he bred world-class race horses, could produce wines at the same distinguished level.

With the help of enologist Giacomo Tachis, the Sassicaia in 20 years has become a legend on five continents!

Founded in 1940 the Estate “Tenuta San Guido”is now under the direction of Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta (Mario’s son) and the vineyard (125 acres) is in the middle of an enchanting countryside by the Tuscan coast.

Not far from the port city of Livorno (about half hour drive southward) the place where the estate is located has also a poetic fame.

It was here, in fact, that the poet Giosuè Carducci spent his childhood, by the end of 1840’s.

Enthusiastic believer of the strength of the people, Carducci has always celebrated their longing for freedom, their wild but sincere feelings, their moral uprightness and their heroism.

Cherishing a free and rebel childhood, and a passionate fiery youth, Carducci wrote his most touching lyrics when, become teacher of Italian Literature at the University of Bologna, longed for his beautiful Maremma (the area south-west coast in Tuscany): an endless, wild landscape “where horses wander around” (dove… i cavalli errando van…), where the noble severe cypresses line the ancient country roads, and the sea diffuses its generous scent in a magic light.

Carducci wrote “Davanti San Guido” (passing by train in front of San Guido, coming back to his childhood places after a long absence).

The opening lines of the poem go: “ I cipressi che a Bolgheri alti e schietti van da San Guido in duplice filar, quasi in corsa giganti giovinetti mi balzarono incontro e mi guarder. Mi riconobbero, e – Ben torni ormai – bisbigliaron ver me col capo chino - …”

When you will take a day trip to Bolgheri, you will not only have the chance to taste some of the best Italian wine, but you will also experience an ancient world of feelings, so unique and memorable!

Flavours of Florence

As a tour guide of Florence, I started giving suggestions about good restaurants in Florence on Trip Advisor. I love great food and I want to help you find it too. Sometimes when you follow the guide books, you find yourself disappointed because the listing is inaccurate: they are too old or just written by someone who doesn't live in the city and therefore is not updated.

In fact it is not rare to read about an "extraordinary" restaurant and then find out it has been closed or has changed ownership and the food is not that good any more!

Well, said that, from now onward I will start giving suggestions which I will be constantly updating. Of course, if you ask questions, I can be more specific and give you more personalized racommendations.

The first couple of cozy places where good prices combine with excellent food and service are:

- Buca Mario in piazza Ottaviani ( best traditional dishes and a familiar welcoming atmosphere)

- Tredici Gobbi in via del Porcellana (a nice casual trattoria, warm atmosphere, good service, typical Tuscan cuisine)

- Paoli in via Tavolini (near Piazza Signoria, right in front of the church of Orsanmichele, a strangely shaped building in the form of an high cube).
Here, besides the unique environment (the location is in fact an old watch tower), the salads are terrific:
fresh and rich, the waiter prepares them right in front of you, from the trolley. Also the deserts are very good. All the typical dishes (their ribollita, that is the vegetable soup, is the best in Florence) are of high quality.

And then, to get "the cherry on top of the cake" as we use to say (la ciliegina sulla torta), in front of Paoli, at the gelateria Perchè no you can taste the best gelato in Florence: hand made gelato, whatever flavour you pick you can taste the real fruit and the milk which makes it so creamy; and it is not even too sweet (like a more popular gelateria downtown...!)