Milan is the home of worldly pleasures; the shopping, opera houses and nightlife draw you in to its culture. The historical and modern points of interest can b...
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Milan, the fashion and financial capital of Italy, knows how to throw a good New Year's Eve celebration, despite the fact that it is usually cold.
If you are looking for warmth, head to Naples or Palermo. Otherwise, Milan offers a nice nightlife with many excellent bars and restaurants.
You can dance and enjoy live music, bands, fireworks, etc. at Piazza Castello and the Piazza del Duomo. The gorgeous Milan Cathedral will be in the background for this celebration, which lasts all night.
Another place to celebrate is Castello Sforzesco, which also has fireworks. This is a castle in Milan, and it used to be the residence and seat of the Duchy of Milan
Don't forget the Italian tradition for New Year's Eve is to wear red undergarments (see picture) , as it will bring good luck. And of course, on New Year's Day, it is customary to have lentil soup with sausage, as it is supposed to bring good fortune!
If you were to visit Italy during the holiday season, you will notice a great number of "Presepi", which is plural for "Presepio", or the traditional Christmas nativity scene with figurines.
They will usually start on or after December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and continue through the Epiphany on January 6th. (view list of Epiphany Celebrations in Italy)
You will find them in churches, public squares, piazzas, stores, etc. and many Italians will set one up in their home.
According to historians, the original nativity scene was first used by St. Francis of Assisi back in the 1200's.
A great place to see more presepi is in Naples, Italy along Via San Gregorio Armeno, where you will see many of the craftsmen showing off their masterful works. The street will have displays and stalls and has a festive ambiance during the holiday season.You can also see many other great nativity scenes in Rome, especially around Piazza Navona, and other parts of southern Italy in particular.
The picture of the nativity scene (above right) was taken at the Ceramics Museum (Museo della Ceramica) in Caltagirone, Sicily.
A new recipe for Baccala alla Marinara (cod fish marinara-style) has been added that would be perfect for the traditional 7-fish Christmas Eve dinner.
Pictured below are some images from a 7-fish Christmas Eve Italian dinner, or the famous "festa dei sette pesci." This is moreso a tradition in central and southern Italy and is actually not as popular as it has been in the past.
The importance of 7 comes from a couple of theories, it is either
The days of the week
The number of sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church
If you can not see the video below, then click here!
Just as I mentioned in a previous post (below), I thought Alitalia would announce some type of promotion over the past weekend, but instead they announced it today.
To wish you a happy holiday season, here is their announcement:
From now through December 20, 2011, take $250 off any transatlantic Business Class ticket and $75 off any Economy Class ticket
The ticket must be purchased on their US website and you must use the promotion code: HOLIDAYGIFT. Travel is between January 8, and March 31, 2012.
If you are planning on train travel in Italy, (which is highly recommended) here is a tip that will save you a lot of time (and aggravation).
Many Italians are still afraid of using new technology. That fact is generally true anywhere you go, and is generally more apparent in older populations. The use of credit cards is also not as common in Italy as it is in the United States and Canada.
Therefore, take a look at the line at the ticket counter (biglietteria) in the train station (la stazione). Note the number of people waiting in line to buy a train ticket:
Now look at the picture below - Literally, I just turned around in the same spot, approximately 120 degree turn, and found an automatic kiosk (fast ticket or biglietto veloce) where you can buy a train ticket with a valid credit card. And some of the machines even take cash. As you can see, no waiting!
Keep your eyes open as these technologies will become more common-place at Italian train stations. The screen options have many different languages, so if you are not adverse to using this technology to purchase a train ticket, it can save you a bunch of time.
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