Journeys Viaggio

Today the UCI Road World Championship is heating up! The Junior Women’s road race opened the circuit to fans, who could finally appreciate the technical difficulties of the it. The circuit had been described as tough, and it proved to be so: the winner of Toscana2013 will have to be a strong, resistant cyclist.

Tomorrow, there will be two more road races: Junior Men’s in the morning and Elite Women’s in the afternoon.

The first Junior Championships was held in 1975 in Switzerland. The winner, Roberto Visentini became a strong professional rider afterwards. Ever since, many successful cyclists won their first races in this category: from Greg Lemond, Pavel Tonkov, to Marco Serpellini, Damiano Cunego, Roman Kreusiger, Ivan Rovny, but also Diego Ulissi and Giuseppe Palumbo, the only riders to win two consecutive medals in the category.
The race starts at 8:30 in Montecatini Terme and finishes in Florence – Mandela Forum, after 5 laps of the circuit. The total distance is 140,5km.
At 14:15, the Elite Women will race on the same course. The first Elite Women’s race, won by Elsy Jacobs, took place in Reims (1958). The most important rider so far in this category is Jeannie Longo, who won a total of 14 medals between World Championships (on road and on track) and Olympic medals.

Talking with some Florentine friends today …Florence is bursting with enthusiasm for the cycling competition going on right in the heart of the city ! A delightful experience for locals and visitors!

The UCI Road World Championships are taking place in Tuscany between the 22nd and the 29th of September. It is certainly a great occasion to show off Bella Toscana to the world. Races are being held in Lucca, Pistoia, Montecatini Terme, Fiesole and Florence. All schools in Florence and Fiesole will be closed on September 27 and 28 due to road closures for the race.

Elite Men to race for the World title.. individual time trials are one of the most anticipated events of the year. The ITT is one of the most exciting competitions of the World because of the quality of the athletes taking part in it and their technical equipment.

Locals and visitors alike will have the opportunity to see some fabulous cycling in Florence the remainder of this week, whether you intended to or not.

The feast of St Francis of Assisi is the most important festival of the Franciscan calendar in Assisi, Italy. It commemorates the saint’s transition from this life to the afterlife, according to the Catholic Church. For two days, starting on October 3, the town of Assisi is illuminated by oil lamps burning consecrated oil brought from a different Italian town each year. Solemn religious services are held in the Basilica of St Francis and in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. For many educators, caregivers and animal rights organizations, this day is an opportunity to teach children about endangered or abused animals and what can be done to help save these animals. This feast coincides with World Animal Day.

The election in March of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church made history several times over. His nomination also broke with the 2,000 year history of the church as the first Jesuit and the first Argentinian (though he’s the son of Italian immigrants) to be chosen by his fellow cardinals. Bergoglio is also the first non-European Pope in over a millennium. Perhaps the most telling among the firsts surrounding this popular and modest new Pope, however, is the name he has chosen for himself: Francis or Francesco in homage to Saint Francis of Assisi.

Who was the man who has so inspired the new Pope? Born Francesco Bernardone in 1182 to a wealthy textile merchant in Assisi, Francis abandoned his life of luxury and war-mongering as a young man and dedicated himself to spiritual pursuits until his death in 1226.

Though many travellers to Assisi limit their visit to a quick stop at the town’s imposing Basilica of Saint Francis, there is much more to this historic town than its most recognizeable monument. Be sure to find the quiet, flower-filled back alleys, hidden trattorias and secret spots scattered thoughout this beautiful hilltown. Maybe you would like to join Pope Francis in Assisi on October 4th this year!

The “modern” history of gelato begins in the Renaissance with alchemist Cosimo Ruggieri, who is credited with creating the first gelato flavor at the court of the Medici family in Florence, the fior di latte. Gelato and sorbets were food for the rich because ice and salt were expensive and, therefore, only served in private residences.
The Sicilian Francesco Procopio Cutò made gelato available to all when he opened Café Le Procope in Paris in 1686 and started selling it to the public. In the 19th century, the Neapolitan doctor Filippo Baldini wrote a treatise where he stated that gelato and sorbets are good both for the body and mind. Welcome news for many of us…surely it’s still true!

The origins of gelato go back 12,000 years when, in Mesopotamia, slave runners traveled up to 100 kilometers to collect ice and snow used to cool drinks served during royal banquets and religious ceremonies. During the 11th century, the Arabs developed shrb, “sugar syrup”, a base for making fruit sorbets, medical herbs, spices and flowers. Shrb was the predecessor of sorbet, which became very popular in Sicily when it was under Arab rule; the Arabs grew in fact as many as 400 different types of flowers to flavor their sorbets.

Well, thanks to the early culinary artists….”I scream, you scream, we all scream for gelato !” ..and our demand is granted !

I always recommend that my Italy bound clients learn a few basic Italian words and phrases. Although English is spoken in most tourist parts of Italy, knowing a little bit of Italian will definitely improve your experience. Italian’s genuinely appreciate the visitor who ‘makes the effort’, even if it is just your greeting “Buongiorno” or “Arrivederci”.

Dianne Hales, author of La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language says, “I’ve spent more than 25 years learning as much Italian as I possibly can, but the question I’m often asked is ‘What do I need just to get by in Italy?'”
Here Dianne shares her recommendations for the least Italian you should know:
•Greetings. Know how to say “buongiorno” (bwohn-JOR-noh) for “Good morning” or “Good Day”; “buona sera” (BWOH-nah-SAY-ra) for “Good evening”; and “arrivederci” (ah-ree-vay-DEHR-chee) for goodbye (obligatory when you leave a shop or restaurant).
•Disclosure. Say up front, “Non parlo italiano” (nohn PAR-loh ee-tah-leeAH-non) for “I don’t speak Italian.” A good follow-up question: Parla inglese? (PAR-lah een-GLAY-zay) Do you speak English?
•Courtesy. Please, thank you, and you’re welcome are the most important phrases in any language. The Italian phrases are “per favore” (pehr fah-VOH-ray); grazie (GRAHT-zee-ay) and prego (PRAY-goh).
•Personal preferences. Wherever you go, someone will ask, “Va bene?” (VAH BAY-ne): “Is it going well? Is everything okay?” If it is, you can reply “Si, bene!” (see BEHN-nay) for yes, all is well. “Mi piace” (mee pee-AH-chay) means “I like”; non mi piace, “I don’t like it.”
•Prices. Bottom line, you’re going to be buying food, tickets, souvenirs and other irresistible things. Before you do, you’ll want to know, “Quanto costa?” (KWAHN-toh KOH-sta): How much does it cost?

Buon viaggio! Have a good trip.