Category Archives: History

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…”

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Melonie

The title above are the starting lines to what has been named the most popular love poem of all time!! We throw the word love around fairly easily. I love my hubby, I love my kid, I really love hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Bagni Di Lucca, Family, Florence, History, Italy, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Cookie Caper…

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Melonie

Just like in Tuscany, Christmas brings lots of festivals, street fares and reasons to have fun here in Tennessee! Every year we drive the curvy 35 minutes drive to the sweet town of Tellico Plains. This one red light, gazebo … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Food, History, Tennessee, Things to do, Travel Tips | Leave a comment

Day and Night….

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Melonie

Lucca at night (above)… Traveling to different places make you look at things differently. Although I live in the lovely Smokey Mountains, I don’t always notice the beauty around me. I live in a historic section of town yet take for … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, History, Italy, Lucca, Rome, Tuscany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

And I thought my kid’s soccer was rough?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Melonie

For the last several years I have been reading about an interesting tradition in Florence called…”Calico Storico”…historic football. I have watched insane Youtube video’s of what looks like grown men playing in a huge sand pit with a ball…oh, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, Food, History, Italy, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Crafty people make me jealous…

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Melonie

Another amazing aspect to the Harvest Festival in San Gimignano and all over Italy is the display of crafty people. I do admit I have an addiction of watching craftsmen. I have never been able to make anything so I … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, History, Italy, Naples, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany | Leave a comment

War of Love.

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Melonie

In San Gimignanao’s Harvest Festival, one of the favorite events is “The War of Love”. The entire weekend tells a story. The program (you get with the paid admission for the weekend) tells the folklore of the love story between the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, History, Italy, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany | Leave a comment

PULL!!!!

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Melonie

I have been posting the last few days on the “Harvest Festival” in San Gimignano, also known as the Town of Towers.  A lovely but a bit touristy town during the day, it is certainly worth the crowds on that … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, Food, History, Italy, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany | Leave a comment

The ladies get in on the action!

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Melonie

A surprise to some but a beautiful historical tradition to Italian festivals are the dances and competitions done by the ladies of the town. At the “Harvest Festival” in San Gimignano, the women have been working hard all year to … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, History, Italy, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany | Leave a comment

Throwing the Flags….

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Melonie

One of my favorite scenes in “Under the Tuscan Sun” movie is the young man showing his love to the young Italian woman by throwing the flags in the festival. I remember watching that movie thinking , how lovely, how … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, History, Italy, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany | Leave a comment

Let’s go to the Fair!

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Melonie

Once again this year we visited San Gimignano (the town of towers) located in Tuscany so we could experience the fun of Ferie delle Messi or Harvest Festival. It is an easy drive from Florence or Rome, a walled city … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, Family, Florence, History, Italy, San Gimignana, Things to do, Travel Tips, Tuscany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment