Tuscany – The singing of trees

jazz-tuscany

Musical entertainment one summer evening in the Botanical Garden in Lucca.

The Lucca Town Council takes care to the promotion of the town, its beauties, its typical aspects which make it unique, such as the town walls, the point of frequent meetings of both visitors as well as citizens.
Nevertheless, there are still some places of interest that remain almost ridde to tourists and forgotten even by the local people.
With the aim to rediscover and enhance these places, this year we have decided to favour the botanical garden that becomes an excellent space of entertainment and relaxation in the summer heat.
The idea to promote this site where historical background is combined with the beauty and scent of plants has met the enthusiasm of local associations and institutions which have joined the project to bring music to the garden.
We offer a weekly programme of music events ranging from classical music, jazz, up to contemporary one which will accompany visitors during their evening walks where the scenery meets art in a unique attraction.

July  9.00 p.m.
Friday 3: “Musica italiana anni ’50, ’60, ‘70”
Friday 10: “I suoni del pianoforte”
Friday 17: “Suoni tra gli alberi”
Friday 24: “Note tra i fiori”
Friday 31: “Jazz all’orto”

August 9.00 p.m.
Friday 7: “Serata con Vivaldi e Bach”
Friday 14: “Tra Rinascimento e Barocco”
Friday 21: “Una serata con l’opera”
Friday 28: “Sinfonia..all’orto”

Tourism in Lucca

If you are reading this article, the chances are you are either visiting Lucca on holiday, spend some part of the year here, or indeed live here on a permanent basis. You will certainly be aware that the tourist season is in full swing.
But who visits Lucca? Some interesting information has emerged from a recent suvey conducted on behalf of the Provincia di Lucca, i.e. embracing the region around Lucca from the Versilian coast to the Garfagnana, as well as the city itself.
A sample of some 1500 visitors was polled between April and October of last year.
How Many? The first surprise lies in the volume of visitors. It is reckoned that when second houses are taken into account, the total number of person7visits over the year adds up to an amazing 12 million. This figure is far higher than previous official estimates, reflecting the additional effort that is now being made to capture data on visitors who do not use any of the formal tourist services, such as the APT offices.
Where from? Over 60% of visitors to the region are Italians, higher than the average for Tuscany as whole. This figure rises to two-thirds when confined to the coastal resorts of Versilia. The figures are reversed for the Lucca itself where over 60% of visitors are from outside Italy.
Where do they stay? Over 70% stay in hotels, while over the year, it is now reckoned that some 8 million visits are made to holiday or second homes in the region . compared to only 3 million previously reflected in the official figures.
What do they spend? When the cost of accommodation is included, the average tourist here spends a little over Euro 100 each day, slightly more at the coast, and less in the Valle di Serchio. All that adds up to an annual gross spend in the region of around Euro 1,300 million. Not to be sniffed at.
Who are they? The typical visitor to our region is a 40-something independent traveller ( i.e. not with an organised party ) with a higher than average education, travelling probably with partner and/or children, and with their own or hired car. 70% have organised their own accommodation using the internet ( especially foreign visitors ) or by word-of-mouth. The majority favour medium to upmarket hotels, with 25% in rented apartments or villas, and 11% in agriturismi.
Why Lucca? Predictably, culture and art score highly with visitors to the city itself, with 40% citing these as the main attractions. Rest and relaxation come close behind, and are more important to those who head for the coast and the countryside.
Likes/Dislikes? By and large visitors appreciate the goods and services an offer, and the quality and presentation, but find Lucca expensive and are sometimes disappointed by the level of knowledge of foeign languages and the speed of service. Clearly also there is a feeling that services for the disabled, public transport, parking and public facilities generally, especially those for children, ” could do better “.
Further studies will report in more depth on the typical visitor profileand levels of customer satisfaction. Clearly, the volume of tourism here now warrants an evergreater understanding of visitor needs.

Events in Tuscany

Pisa: Musica sotto la Torre.
A series of concerts in the cloisters of Pisa Cathedral. Entrance Euro 12. All concerts start at 21.00. More info at 050 3872229 0r Pisa sotto la Torre.

Matteo and Michele Liuzzi ( piano adn cello ) play Bach, Hauta, Faurè, Gliére and Bottesini. 2 July.
Andrea Zani ( piano ) and Lucia Minetti ( solist ) in Mormo l’ Amore, musical journey to France 6 July.

Events in Tuscany

In 1997 the European Charter for Music estabished two annual dates on which music would be celebrated in the open air in capitals throughout the continent.

Lucca participates with jazz, pop. rock, rhytm and blues, and classical music in Piazza Anfiteatro, Piazza San Frediano and Cortile degli Svizzeri.

Church of San Giovanni; Puccini Concerts: Puccini e la sua Lucca
Recitals organised by Caledonian Academy of Tuscany. Thickets available at the door. More info at Puccini e la sua Lucca – tel. 340 8106042.

Puccini and Mozart. Starts 19.00 on 29 and 30 June.


Make money in Tuscany thanks to Brunello!

Yes, Brunello, thanks Brunello! … and China! Just a suggestion to change your life and come here to produce your wine! Why not?

Now, with recession hovering over their main markets in Europe and the United States, makers of premium Italian wines are turning to China where wine is becoming increasingly popular and the newly rich easily splash out on a top-price bottle.

Makers of famous Tuscan red Chianti and its upmarket cousins Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino opened The House of Tuscan Wine in Shanghai in July to promote their output in China’s major industrial center.

Italy toasts China

A 1.2 million euro ($1.55 million) investment put together by Tuscan administrative bodies, chambers of commerce and Italy’s oldest bank Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena would pay off as wine imports to China were set to rise after liberalization of import licenses in 2007, Mugnaioli said.

Wine consumption in China has been growing by 8 percent a year over the past few years and is expected to hit 1 billion bottles in 2011, the Consortium of Brunello producers says.

Industry experts say China may become the world’s eighth largest wine consumer by 2012.

Tuscany – China, Corking competition

The French and other major wine producers have been faster than Italians in realizing the huge growth potential of the Chinese market. The competition is fierce for carving out market niches, Mugnaioli says.

“It’s good that there is competition. Every competitor, every wine producer is bringing Chinese consumers closer to wine,” he says, fresh from taking a group of Chinese buyers and reporters on a week-long wine tour early this month.

Italian winemakers have analyzed the Chinese market and changed their previous consumer target, which was in the age group between 40 to 60 years old and was considered to have the best purchasing power, Mugnaioli says.

“Our new target is in a range of 20-35 years old: graduates with stable jobs, well-paid and with a Western model of lifestyle and food habits,” he says.

Red wine is a symbol of class and luxury in China where it accounts for 90 percent of consumed grape wine, experts say.

Enoteca Italiana has started its promotional activity in China with Tuscan wines. However, it hopes other wine-making regions will join the initiative, overcoming their long-standing reluctance to work together, Mugnaioli says.

Italian wine exports to China remain tiny at about $20 million in 2007 compared with total Italian wine exports of about 3.5 billion euros a year, according to industry data.

But exports to China jumped 64 percent last year, making Italy the fourth-biggest wine exporter there after France, Chile and Australia.