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Recipe of the week: "Pappa al pomodoro"

Pappa al pomodoro, a Tuscan bread-and-tomato porridge, sounds like kid's food, and it is - for kids of all ages. In the past it was also very much a homey dish, a tasty summer way to use up leftover bread that no housewife would have dreamed of serving to a guest. Now it's on the menus of Florence's trendier restaurants.

Serves:
8 - 10

Ingredients:

• 8 whole garlic cloves
• ripe tomatoes
• 1 pound loaf of stale bread, sliced (or unseasoned stuffing mix)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 leek, thinly sliced, only white part
• 6 cups water
• 1 bunch basil
• Salt
• Chili pepper

Preparation:

The night before slice the bread and leave it out to get stale.

Tuscany Accommodation

Accommodations in Tuscany are classified to the type of accommodation: villas, apartments, B&B, agriturismo, castles. The price are displayed in weeks and they do not always include breakfast, but should include service charges and taxes. In same areas, the local APT ( azienda si Promozione Turistica ) can supply information about Villas amd Hotels, but in others tourism is coordinated by an AAST ( azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo ).

It is also possible to obtain a list of accommodations from information offices in stations and airtport. If you arrive in a town without having reserved beforehand, go  directly to the APT or to the AAST for help. Leaflets will be available in English, and usually at least one person there will speak English. B&B or agriturismo breakfast consist mainly of a brioche or brad, butter and jam, and coffee or tea. Some Tuscany Villas may provide a full breakfast on request.

Venice Marathon - 25 October 2009

One word is enough to describe Venicemarathon course: spectacular.

However, if you are running the Venicemarathon not to gaze at the landscape, but to improve your personal best, don't worry: the race track is mainly flat and fast. Moreover, meteo conditions are usually perfect to perform at high level.

Start takes place in Stra, a small town a few kilometers east of Padova, in front of a magnificent mansion, Villa Pisani, built in the 18th century, which is the first and the largest of the beautiful mansions of the Brenta riverside.

You can take a short break in our precious pearl:

Chez Trionfi

Chianti Ecomarathon, Italy

What?
The Salomon Ecomaratona del Chianti is a trail marathon in the splendid landscape of Tuscany. A 9 km walk and a 17 km race will take place as well for runners who would like to enjoy the local food and wine over the weekend.

Where?
The trail marathon (just 2kms on a road) starts from the square of Castelnuovo Beradenga and continues into the Chianti hills and vineyards until you reach Campi . Then back to Castelnuovo Beradenga on a different route.

Follow the link below and explore some charming holiday accommodation in Siena where you can stay during this event:
Vacation rental in Siena

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Recipe of the week: "Panforte di Siena"

Panforte dates back to at least the Middle Ages, some believe back even further, and originated in Siena (or at least Tuscany). It literally translates to “strong bread”, referring to its piquant flavor. Being so densely packed with dried fruit, nuts, spices, and honey I’m sure the Crusaders referred to it as their energy bar.
Many regard Siena as the Panforte capital of Italy. While there are various recipes for panforte most Senese believe it should contain seventeen ingredients to represent the seventeen contrade (subdivisions) of the walled city.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• Nonstick cooking spray, for pan
• 3 cups whole blanched almonds
• 1 3/4 cups whole hazelnuts, skinned or unskinned

Farmhouse holiday rental "Il Collonzolo"

Il collonzolo in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina - Tuscany Holiday lettings: Il collonzolo in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina - Tuscany Holiday lettings in Italy

From the Etruscans to Sodoma: A Day in the Sienese Countryside

The Etruscans left few written records, and nobody knows what the complex at Poggio Civitate, a hill near the town of Murlo (southwest of Siena), was. However, the footprint our man left in the roof tile is dramatic proof of the suddenness with which destruction came: Life size terracotta statues of gods and sphinxes, roof tiles, frieze plaques with horse race and banquet scenes, pottery, jewelry, all was smashed and buried. 

And so it remained until Mr. Phillips, who hoped to find an Etruscan town, began excavating Poggio Civitate in 1966. The first day a wall was discovered, but instead of being part of a house, it proved to be part of a huge, fabulously... 

Follow the link below and explore some charming holiday accommodation in Tuscany where you can stay to visit plenty of Etruscan dwellings:

Tuscany accommodation