Italian Festivals: IL Palio di Siena

One of the most popular Italian festivals is Il Palio di Siena. This medieval race has its roots from medieval times and is celebrated twice a year in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first one is held July 2nd in honor of the Madonna of Provenzano and the second one on August 16th a day after the Feast of the Assumption, in honor of Madonna dell'Assunta. The festival is so famous that even foreigners would visit Siena just to witness this horse race and all the pageantry that goes with it.

The Palio culminates the ongoing rivalry between Siena's 17 contrades or neighborhoods. The contrades have their horse riders or jockeys. The ten contrades will be selected by a drawing twenty days before the race. The ten contrades will participate for the July race and the other seven contrades (who were not picked up for the July race) will compete for the August race with three other contrades from the first race held in July. Horses are assigned to the riders by a draw three days before the race. The horses should be of mixed breed and no purebred horses are allowed.

The event takes place in Piazza del Campo, it starts with a mass, a trial run and blessing of the horses. The race starts with the marching of the Corteo Storico all dressed in medieval costumes playing medieval music and bearing and waving flags. At about 7PM the race is set to begin, the riders will race around the Piazza del Campo for three laps. The racetrack is covered with dirt, tuff and padded crash barriers. The line-up of horses is decided by lottery and when the starting rope is dropped the race officially starts. The race is usually finished in 90 seconds. Surprisingly the winner of the race is not the jockey but the horse who first crossed the finish line, regardless if it finished with or without its jockey.

The winning horse and jockey of the contrade is awarded the palio or victory flag, it is a banner of handpainted silk. Winning the palio gives pride to the contrade for which the horse and its jockey belong too. This festival is the pride of Italy's Tuscan region and the medieval town of Siena.

Photo Credit: The Race of the Palio
Photographer: Jakried
Photo Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53769668@N06/

Photo Credit: The Corteo
Photographer: Sylvain Boursot
Photo Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26600187@N08/with/4738866372/

Italian Festivals: The Ardia di San Constantino in Sardinia

The Italians love life. They celebrate life and their Roman Catholic faith with festivals. One of these events is the Ardia di San Constantino which is celebrated in the town of Sedilo in Sardinia. This festival and religious feast honors Saint Constantine (the first Christian Roman Emperor). The Ardia is a competition and devotion all wrapped in one. In the Ardia the local horsemen of Sedilo will be the "defenders of Christianity and the guardians of the Sanctuary." Three men will play horsemen and will be escorted by three men who will also be riding horses. Each three horsemen will be given a flag they would carry as they ride their horses. One will receive a white flag, the other one a red flag and the last one a yellow flag. The other three men acting as escorts will be provided with lances and banners to protect the yellow flag bearer from the red and white flag bearers. The escort's job is to prevent the other horsemen from moving beyond the flags.

The three horsemen will then prepare themselves to race once they reach the steep slope in the area of the sanctuary. The horseman carrying the yellow flag will be the one to abruptly decide when the race must start without giving any warning to the other two horsemen. The two horsemen carrying the white and red flag will do their best to win the race and prevent the yellow flag bearer.

The horsemen will race for the Arch and will do the ritual rotations around the church for about three to seven times for which the yellow flag bearer will again abruptly decide without warning the race towards the rotunda with an iron cross. Then again the whole ritual will be repeated from the start. The spectators may simply watch the event and some will do their the ritual turn by foot or on their knees around the Sanctuary showing devotion to St. Constantine.

Photo Credit: Ardia di San Constantino Festival
Photographer: Cristiano Cani
Photo Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristianocani/

Italian Cuisine

Saltimbocca

 As famous as Italy is known for their wine they are also famous for their contribution to international cuisine. Most people basically think that Italian food is all about tomatoes, olive oil and pasta but there are a lot more to these. We should always remember that Italy has many regions and each region (like any other countries) have certain food that is distinctive to another. Trying to make this blog short we will just go through quickly on the regional cuisine of Italy in general.

In the northern region, the people use less olive oil, tomato sauce and pasta but more butter, rice, chesse. Meat would be from rabbit, quail or grouse and shellfish from the coast and carp and trouts from streams. Some of the North's cuisine are: Prosciutto di San Daniele - a sweet cured ham, Boreto Graesano - a fish and white polenta soup, Tomaxelle - veal rolls and Coniglio in Umbido - rabbit stew, Costoletta alla Valdostana - a veal chop covered in Fontina, Minestrone alla Milanese - made with vegetables, rice and bacon, Risi e Bisi - rice and peas), Fegato alla Veneziana - calf's liver fried with onions, Cardi alla Bagna Cauda - dish of locally grown chard served with hot sauce, anchovies, garlic and white truffles. These are only some of North Italy's delicious cuisine.

In central Italy comes the olive oil, cheese, rich tomatoe sauces and cured meats. Meat would be from wild boar and beef and assorted shellfish and seafood from the coasts. Some of Central Italy's cuisine are: Fagioli all'uccelletto - beans sauted in garlic and sage with tomatoes, Cacciucco alla Livornese - fish soup, Panforte - a cake containing almonds, honey and candied fruit, Brodetto - fish stew with oil, garlic and saffron, Spaghetti alIa Carbonara with creamy egg and cheese sauce dusted with black pepper, Saltimbocca - a fillet of veal rolled in ham and flavored and served in a Marsala sauce and a lot, lot more.

Finally the southern region for rich and spicy tomatoe sauces and the best olive oil, pasta, wheat and rich seafood variety. Some of South Italy's famous cuisine are: Capretto Ripieno al Forno - a roast kid stuffed with herbs, Nduja - a soft spicy salami that can be spread on bread, Orecchiette and Bucatini pasta - both served with tomato sauce or with olive oil, garlic and cauliflower, Caponata - an antipasto made with eggplant, olives, capers and celery, Spaghetti con Bottarga with dried gray mullet roe shaved on top, Culingiones - round ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese and Porceddu - suckling pig or suckling goat roasted outdoors over aromatic woods, and that is only to name a few.

Italians are really very passionate about their food and knowing some of them is a good start to learn more about their lifestyle. I would say I like the cuisine of the southern region but since seafood is my favorite I am open to tasting any seafood from all regions of Italy. How about you?

Photo Credit: Saltimbocca
Photographer: Celeste "Little Waltz"
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bankevair/