The courtyard houses in Tuscany.
The courtyard houses in Tuscany are an unusual and unique type of ancient settlement. The courtyards are formed by groups of buildings, usually in a straight line, parallel or at right angles to each other.This layout that is Roman in origin. They are south-facing and have an open, stone or brick paved communal area where people worked or socialised, where grain was spread out to dry, and where the well and communal oven were situated.
The houses were backed onto by barns, haylofts, storerooms and outhbuildings for the various agricultural tools, which also stood in rows and marked out the communal courtyard.
The typical material of the courtyard houses was “mandolate,” bricks of varying designs and shapes which were positioned in such as way as to allow air into the haylofts.
You won’t find the Easter Bunny in Italy, but you will find some interesting Italian Easter celebrations. Easter, Pasqua in Italian, has its share of rituals and traditions.
The Monday following Easter, la Pasquetta is also a holiday throughout Italy. While the days before Easter in Italy include solemn processions and masses, Easter is a joyous celebration.
Religious processions are held in many towns on the Friday or Saturday before Easter and sometimes on Easter Sunday. Many churches have special statues of the Virgin and Jesus that play a big part in the processions. The statues may be paraded through the city or displayed in the main square. Parade participants are often dressed in traditional ancient costumes. Olive branches are often used instead of or along with palm fronds in the processions and to decorate churches.
Rome and St. Peter’s
While Easter mass will be held in every church in Italy, the biggest and most popular mass is held by the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica. On Good Friday, the Pope celebrates the Via Crucis in Rome near the Colosseum. A huge cross with burning torches lights the sky as the stations of the cross are described in several languages. At the end, the Pope gives a blessing.
Florence – Scoppio del Carro
In Florence, Easter is celebrated with the Scoppio del Carro, explosion of the cart. A huge, decorated wagon is dragged through Florence by white oxen until it reaches Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence’s historic center. Following mass, the Archbishop sends a dove-shaped rocket into the cart, igniting the fireworks held in the cart. This spectacular display is followed by a parade in medieval costumes.
* dining room
* family dining room and TV room
* office
* kitchen
* laundry
First Floor
* 3 double bedrooms with bathrooms en suite
* 1 master double bedroom with bathroom en suite
* 1 suite double bedroom with bathroom en suite
Facilities
* daily breakfast
* air conditioning
* central heating
* computer & internet
* telephone & fax
* computerised telephone billing
* stereo CD player with central rediffusion
* satellite TV
* alarm
Staff
* 1 cook on request
* 1 maid (6 days a week)
* gardener
Exclusions
* food
* beverages
* telephone and fax billing
* gratuities
* laundry
* transfers
* lunch and dinner
“Orecchiella” Park was born in the 1960s. It includes the Regional State Forest and three nature reserves (Orecchiella, Lamarossa and Pania di Corfino). In the Apennine part of the Garfagnana region, one can find this natural reserve rich in flora and fauna with deers, roe deers and wolves roving freely in the wilderness.
Many species of birds, some migratory, have found their home in this ideal habitat.
The Royal Eagles, always present on the Pania di Corfino, have extended their hunting territory up to the summits of Monte Prato and Monte Vecchio. The mountain flower garden with wonderful summer flowers and the botanic garden “Piana di Corfino” will fascinate wildlife lovers.
The Visitors’ Center hosts reception facilities, the Nature Museum and the Museum of Birds of Prey.
The Nature Museum presents dioramas of ungulates in dynamic situations, as well as a series of three-dimensional panels which illustrate the cycle of the traditional natural elements (air, water, earth, fire).
The Museum of Birds of Prey presents the life-size reproduction of an eagle’s nest, informational panels on diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, and display cabinets with stuffed specimens.
This Park can be reached from Castelnuovo by following the directions for Villa Collemaldina and Corfino.
For contacts:
Phone +39 0583 619098 or +39 0583 955525
Fax +39 0583 619002
Follonica is a town and comune (township) of the province of Grosseto in Tuscany. Follonica is about 40 km north west of the Grosseto.
It was founded in 1834 by Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany for the workers of a new ironworks plant. However, the area was already settled in Etruscan and Roman times. The ruins of the medieval castle Castello di Valli, built in 884 AD, overlook the modern town from a nearby hill.
Follonica is a popular tourist site during the summer for Italians. The city has been awarded the Bandiera Blu (“Blue Flag”) every year for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater.
The most important beaches are:
Cala Violina
Carbonifera
Torre Mozza
Pratoranieri
Cala Martina
