EASYROME

On the second weekend of May the city of Brescia, Lombardy hosts the Mille Miglia (Thousand Mile Race), a non-competitive version of that classic auto race from the 30's and 40's. Hundreds of thousands of spectators watch almost 400 classic cars as zip through the city streets in a thousand mile (1600 kilometer) race throughout northern and central Italy. The city of Legnano, population about 60 thousand, holds its Carroccio Festival & Palio delle Contrade on May 23rd to honor a military victory in 1176. You'll see hundreds of people marching in medieval costumes followed by a horse race. A few days later the city of Caravaggio, population 16 thousand, plays host the Madonna of the Fountain celebration that commemorating Madonna's miraculous appearance in 1432 when she was said to console a young woman in distress. Spend May's last Sunday in the beautiful walled city of Bergamo, population 120 thousand, situated about 60 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Milan at the Bergamo Marathon. You may even apply to run this race. I'd rather watch.

The city of Trento, population over 100 thousand, is home to the the Trento Film Festival that focuses on Mountain, Exploration, and Adventure films for approximately ten days starting at the end of April. For a few days in mid-May the local capital Bolzano hosts a fine wine exhibition in the Mareccio (Maretsch) Castle that is situated close to the city center. Finish the month at the Speck Festival, showcasing the local specialty, cured and seasoned raw bacon. You'll find plenty more local foods and wines as you listen to musicians in traditional costumes.

By early May the weather warms up in Friuli-Venezia Giulia as just about everywhere else in northern Italy. On 2nd of May the town of Coseano, approximately 52 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the local capital Trieste, hosts the annual "Coseano Vie d'Artista" festival where over two hundred artists display their paintings on the town streets. The kids will love "Il Paese dei Balocchi" (Toyland) in the town of Rive d'Arcano, population about 2,500, also located some 52 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Trieste. Pinocchio will be there along with lots of music and games. In mid-May the mountainside church of S. Pietro Zuglio some 70 miles (110 kilometers) from Trieste hosts the Kissing of the Crosses Celebration. After a parade numerous crosses that come from all the churches in the surrounding valley are assembled in this hilltop church. Participants march in single file and reverently touch the cross of Saint Peter to symbolize Peter's devoted kiss to Jesus. Other May festivals in lucky Friuli include the International Chair Salon in Udine, the Sapori Pro Loco gastronomical festival in Villa Manin di Codroipo, a poetry festival in Monfalcone on the coast, and a musical festival in Pordenone. There's even a sundial festival in Aiello.

Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.

Article Source: ArticleSpan