Good Things From Italy - Le Cose Buone d'Italia

The use of olive oil to prepare sweets such as biscuits, ring-shaped cakes and jam tarts has always been much diffused in the Marche region as well as in other Central Italy regions.
For this reason we thought to propose to our clients also a Christmas speciality. The traditional Christmas cake from Milan has been reinvented with the help of a local pastry master chef. Panett’Olio is made with Olio (olive oil) del Carmine instead of butter as the traditional recipe would suggest. This is a tasty and easily-digestible product. Olive oil gives it extraordinary softness and lightness. In order to obtain an outstanding product choice of premium ingredients is fundamental. Thus, we only use fresh egg yolks and leaven.
The production cycle takes three days: leavening, cooking and cooling processes are monitored through a continuous checking of temperatures, times and humidity.

The jewelry Cesare Paciotti is also a great gift idea for Christmas. 

The jewelry Cesare Paciotti has a unique style, luxury and glamor that characterize the entire production of the brand. The Italian brand, one of the most beloved of all, is best known for his collections of shoes for women and men but also for the clothing line, always the latest fashion and for a series of exclusive accessories which complete the look.The jewels are certainly not less and with the original style and refined of the proposed new autumn winter 2013 2014, the jewelry Cesare Paciotti are also a great gift idea for Christmas 2013. [...]

On December 19 I leave for Europe to spend Christmas with my family in Italy. This will be the first time since 2006 that I have spent Christmas with them. To say I’m antsy would be an understatement. All I can think of is being with them, hearing the lyrical fall of the Italian language, feeling their embrace.

I can’t wait to wander through the piazza in Ascoli Piceno. Wrapped in an overcoat with a scarf, gloves and a cap, I will once again traverse the travertine piazza built nearly 3000 years ago. I will smile at the beauty of a few simple strands of Christmas lights strung across the square while Christmas carols play over the loudspeaker. I will once again visit my favorite cafe for pastries and a delectable espresso. I will savor and savor again.

Christmas will be magical.[...]

Christmas markets in Italy are one of our favorite parts of, well, Christmas in Italy! Not only are they beautiful and atmospheric (and a great place to get that holiday shopping done), but they make for an especially fun way to get to know an area’s local traditions, delicacies and artisans. Since we love sustainable and immersive travel, we think that’s always a plus!

Here are our 10 favorite Christmas markets in Italy, from Naples on up to the Dolomites!

The are several common things on the tables of Le Marche people during the Christmas festivities. One of these typical products is a cup or a glas of hot chocolate punch. Especially at the end of the "Cenone", the Chrismas Dinner or after the Midnight Mass, people use to invite friends at home or at the cafè to have this special hot drink. The company that produces this liquor is located in Ancona and has 50 years of experience.
This, in particular, it is a versatile liqueur made from the highest quality Dutch cocoa.
It 'called Chocolate Punch and should be drunk hot, but can be used smooth as chocolate liqueur for the sweet tooth as completion of various desserts such as crepes, slices of cake and ice cream.

Narrow lanes lined with earth-hued houses climb up a steep hill to the powerful bulk of an early medieval fortress: the small village of Sant’Agata Feltria, in Le Marche, looks straight out of a fairy tale at any time of the year. In December, however, it becomes even more special because it turns into a miniature Christmas village. Piazza del Mercato becomes home to Father Christmas, his reindeer and his elves, drawing children from all over Le Marche and neighbouring Romagna, who flock to Sant’ Agata to hand their letters to Father Christmas’ own PA. But there is much for grown-ups too—stalls are crammed full with baubles and honey, mistletoe wreaths and truffles, statuettes and formaggio di fossa. The scent of candles, the music of bagpipes and hundreds of Christmas lights fill the streets. [...]

What to know about Christmas in Venice, from the best Christmas markets to gift shopping to midnight Mass at St. Mark's Basilica!

Many foreigners residing in the Marche, maybe also lot of tourists and surely Marchigiani, know the benefits of having useful daily bus routes to Rome. These transports, mainly intended for students and workers, become advantageous, expecially in summer, for tourism visits to the most important monuments in the world and very useful to reach the airport with all its international connections.
Now there is another extraordinary opportunity. There are bus lines that connects Le Marche to the Campania Region, to reach Naples and Pompeii, 4 times a day.
This means you can schedule a visit to the excavation of Pompeii with return within the day.
Do not you believe it?
The line is the linea2mari.com of Cardinali and, for example, leaving from Porto San Giorgio at 7a.m. (6:59) you can get Pompeii at 12:30. You can have your lunch there, make your visit to the incredible monument and take the bus at 16:30 to get back Porto San Giorgio at 22:10, spending only 50 € both ways.

I suggest you to visit Naples in these days before Christmas, especially the area of Via San Gregorio Armeno.

A trip to Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples during the Christmas period is absolutely necessary.  Via San Gregorio Armeno is filled on both sides with shops selling everything that you could possible imagine and more. Tiny terracotta figurines, windmills, hay bails, fruit and bread baskets, battery-operated figures making pasta, political personalities, footballers and to complete your nativity kit, a whole town to arrange them in. If you want to take pictures and watch artisans making figures and buildings from scratch, you can chose the end of September and october as they prepare for the Christmas rush.

With these bus lines you can also schedule a trip to the Reggia di Caserta with even 5,45h for the visit.

http://www.linea2mari.com/?mobile=0 

Christmas in Le Marche is always been traditional since the time Emperor Aurelian decreed in 274 A.D that the Nativity Feast should take place on 25 December to coincide with the pagan festivals surrounding the Winter Solstice.

The first nativity scene decorated the village of Greccio, 80km east of Rome and synonymous with 25 December celebrations throughout Italy. In 1223 Giovanni Vellita created one in Le Marche at the behest of St Francis of Assisi who held a mass in front of the nativity scene which established it as the holy symbol of Christmas.

The traditional Christmas in Italy revolves around the church, religious festivals, families and feasting. Indeed no festival is ever complete without the element of food. The Christmas season starts with La Vigilia (the vigil) on the 24 December and finishes with L’Epifania (the Epiphany) on 6th January, it encompasses Natale (Christmas) on the 25th, San Stefano (St Stephens) on the 26th, San Silvestro on New Year’s Eve and Capodanno on New years Day.

In Le Marche, La Vigilia on 24th December has an equal importance to Christmas, and is celebrated with a huge feast of at least 7 courses that usually includes fish. A typical Vigila dinner begins with antipasti of different fish dishes such as smoked salmon, lumache (snails in a tomato sauce), seafood and marinated anchovies.

The first course, primo piatto, consists of pasta or risotto with a fish sauce. Fish is also unmissable for the secondo (second dish). In relation with the territory around Le Marche, the family choose the fish of the tradition: baked trout, langoustines, stoccafisso (stockfish) or baccalá (dried salt-cured cod), eels, red mullet, or, fried whitebait. As traditional contorno (side dish), bitter greens such as Cicoria, especially sauted with oil and garlic represent a perfect choice for Le Marche Christmas Vigilia. In alternative there are seasonal vegetables or contorni such as Roast Fennel or Globe artichokes. As conclusion the unmissable sweet specialities such as torrone (nougat), panettone, pandoro, and exotic fruits plus a glass of Vino Cotto, a smoky flavour, sweet wine originates in Roman times.

Most locals go to mass at midnight to pray, sing carols and celebrate the birth of Jesus. This heart warming night is concluded with socialising, hugging and kissing as friends and neighbours exchange greetings and toast each other in the Piazza of the Church with a local wine or a warming punch, mulled wine or vin brule.

Christmas Day starts slowly and noisy as children wake to open the Christmas Gifts, conscious to have a better second chance with the witch delivery the day of La Befana, the epiphany (6th of Jannuary). All the family, with relatives from other towns, is now around the table for the Christmas lunch. Gorgeous anti pasti of cold meats, cheeses, pickled vegetables etc. give only an idea of the large meal that will follow. The first course is something "in brodo" (in broth) such as meat cappelletti or wild mushroom filled tortellini and then something baked "al forno", such as vincisgrassi, the famous Le Marche lasagna made with Chicken livers or Cannelloni, . For the main course, there is a range of meats cooked al forno or grilled "alla brace" on an open fire and even fried. Typically le Marche style is the great variety of meat used: leg of lamb, stinco (pork), and chicken, stuffed olives Ascolana Style. The main course is usually accompanied by side plates of roast potatoes and other seasonal vegetables, winter salad leaves. Then again the sweet specialities such as torrone, panettone, pandoro and, if the relatives were generous: Panforte di Siena, Cantuccini, Saporelli...

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