Good flavors: the most beautiful festivals of December

EXHIBITION OF THE RED RADICCHIO MOGLIANO VENETO – Mogliano Veneto (Treviso) – Nice to look at, with its characteristic ruby ​​color and its typical taste: the Radicchio Rosso of Mogliano Veneto is the protagonist of a big party on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December. Rich tastings are planned with many delicacies from the Treviso cuisine. It begins Saturday 14 with an aperitif in the bars of the town, with cicchetti based on radicchio; continue in the evening with the theme dinners "Dinner with the Red". On Sunday 15th there will be tastings of risotto and radicchio omelette, exhibitions on farming and agricultural vehicles, concerts, guided tastings, demonstrations of ancient crafts and radicchio processing. INFORMATION: www.fioridinverno.tv.

I BANCHÉTI DE SANTA LUSSIA – Verona – In some places in Northern Italy, it is Saint Lucia who distributes gifts to good children: it is then celebrated on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December in a real anticipation of Christmas. For the occasion there are I Bancheti de Santa Lussia, the traditional fair dedicated to the Saint of light and protector of the eyes. Piazza dell'Arena is filled with stalls, with toys and gastronomic delights dedicated to adults and children. A large comet of white light signals the International Nativity Scene Review. INFORMATION: www.turismoverona.eu.

CHRISTMAS BEER FESTIVAL – Imbersago (Lecco) – Christmas is also a feast for adults and here are the blond foaming mugs of craft beer, perhaps paired with a plate of frankfurters and sauerkraut, salami or pork knuckle. It is celebrated on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, with the best artisan specialties from Italy and the world to warm up the holidays. The stands open on Friday at 7.00 pm and, for those who wish, there is also the possibility to have dinner (by reservation). Saturday we start with the mugs at 16.00 and, already from 19.30, the traditional "stincata" kicks off, with shin with beer accompanied by sauerkraut, fried potatoes and draft beer of choice, in a single menu at a special price. On Sunday, beer is the protagonist from late morning and continues throughout the day. Free admission; paid tastings. INFORMATION: www.birradinatale.it.

ART AND FLAVORS … WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS – Santo Stefano d'Aveto (Genoa) – Christmas atmospheres with lots of pancakes and mulled wine, with the Markets and the House of Santa Claus, until Sunday 22 December. Every Saturday and Sunday of the month the most suggestive streets and corners of the village, the castle and the river, light up with the reflections of the Christmas market lights, with booths open continuously from 10.00 to 18.00 in the Bocciodromo Arvigo. There is also Santa's House, creative workshops for children and accordion music. INFORMATION: www.unamontagnadiaccoglienza.it.

THE CHRISTMAS MARKET OF CESENATICO – Cesenatico (Forlì Cesena) – Christmas shopping in Romagna The Christmas lights "light up" the Leonardo Harbor of Cesenatico, on the Romagna Riviera. The traditional stalls full of many gift ideas, will make even more joyful the atmosphere, already rendered magical at nightfall, by the thousand lights of the Marine Nativity. Starting from December 8th, Cesenatico is illuminated by the thousand lights of the traditional Christmas Markets and by the installations of the Nativity Scene of the Marineria, which is proudly displayed on the boats moored in the Port of Leonardesco. For more than a month you can go shopping in the market stalls with many delicious local gastronomic specialties. The market is open on the following days: 8-15-21-22-23-24-25-26-29-31 December 2019 and 1-4-5-6-12 January 2020. INFORMATION www.cesenatico.it.

BABBO NATALE FACTORY – Pisa – It is the perfect place to post the letter for Santa Claus: from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 December at the Republican Arsenals (9.30am – 7.00pm), in addition to Santa Claus himself, there are the Elves and the elves who build toys and make cakes and biscuits, many juggling and magic shows, workshops, the puppet theater and the story-telling, the truccabimbi, a marvelous 4-meter snowball in which to enter for a magnificent souvenir photo, the market with handicraft and food and wine products . Admission fee. INFORMATION www.lafabbricadibabbonatale.it

THE ENCHANTED VILLAGE – Trescene di Cacciano Cautano (Benevento) – In Trescene, in the Cacciano district of Cautano, the Pro Loco organizes a nice Christmas market with the aim of enhancing the oldest village in the hamlet. In the foreground, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December, are the local handicraft and food and wine products. The evocative scenery is the ideal setting for a traditional re-enactment of Christmas, complete with craft workshops and "The village of Santa Claus" for children. INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/prolococepinoprata.cautano.

FESTIVAL OF TORRONE AND CROCCANTINO – San Marco dei Cavoti (Benevento) – Two weekends of sweetness with hazelnuts and almonds covered in chocolate: the crunchies of San Marco dei Cavoti are the symbol of the Christmas holidays. On the two weekends December 13-15 and then again December 20-22, you can delight in the many sweet desserts based on dried fruit and cocoa in the ancient streets that host the stands and banquets of local confectionery. Croquettes can also be paired with a good mug of beer, proposed by the Sustainable and Agricultural Beers festival held simultaneously with the festival. INFORMATION www.festadeltorrone.it.