Gubbio - each 15th of May - Festival dei Ceri

It is not easy to "tell the story" of the Festival of the Ceri. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Italian folklore display. The festival has always played a fundamental role in the heart of the Eugubina community. An in-depth study of the festival's origins and numerous meanings is something that we are happy to leave to scholars. Its origins are obscure, it is enough to know that there are two basic hypotheses: one religious and one pagan.

The first, which is well-documented and set, out sees the festival as a solemn act of devotion on the part of the Eugubini towards their Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini which started in 1160, the year of his death. Since then, every 15th May, the eve of the day of mourning, the devotional offering to the patron Saint is a fixed appointment for the people of Gubbio who are said to have taken part in a great mystical procession, carrying candles all around the town and up Mount Ingino (where since 11th September 1194 the body of Saint Ubaldo lies, in the church which bears his name). Certainly, the Eugubini dearly loved their important townsman, especially from 1154 onwards, when Gubbio conquered no less than 11 allied cities. The victory seemed miraculous, and was also thanks to the intervention of Bishop Baldassini.

The wax candles, offered by the Arts and Crafts corporations, probably became difficult to transport with the passing of time, and towards the end of the 16th century were substituted by three wooden structures, which were agile and modern. They have been replaced a number of times. They have kept their original form up until today and on the same date; they follow the same route to the same place.

The second theory, which is more suspect and hypothetical, sees the festival as being a continuation of a pagan festival in honour of Ceres, goddess of the harvest, reaching us after having come through the glory of communes, renaissance power, papal domination and the battles of the Risorgimento.


more info @: http://www.ceri.it/ceri_eng/index.htm

video @: http://www.ceri.it/ceri_eng/video/index.htm

From November 8th until Sunday, November 16th -The Crete Senesi White Truffle Fair

San Giovanni d’Asso (Si) – Crete Senesi (various townships south of Siena in Tuscany but a part of the Province of Siena) is a crossroads of flavours and culture. The township of San Giovanni d’Asso, in the heart of Tuscany, invites visitors to discover this land full of history and wines and foods during the 23rd White Truffle Fair.

This happening is in the ambit of “Crete d’Autunno”, an Autumn event proposing a rich program calendar beginning the first weekend of November until December 8th, in the townships of Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni d'Arbia, Rapolano Terme and San Giovanni d'Asso.

The Crete Senesi White Truffle Fair will remain open to the public from Saturday, November 8th until Sunday, November 16th. The main event of the Fair will be, as usual, the “Truffle for Peace” Award Ceremony. This year’s award will be given to someone who has distinguished himself/herself in committing to the welcoming and acceptance of people. Every day, the white truffle (or white diamond as it is called here) will be the star of the market stands in the centre of the town. It will also be the desired object of a “guided search” (Saturday, November 8th) and a competition between truffle dogs (Saturday, November 15th) coordinated by the Associazione Tartufai Senesi.


A partnership with the Enoteca Italiana of Siena and the Vini Doc Orcia Consortium will guarantee the quality of the wines used. These two wine associations will have stands for the public for the entire duration of the Fair. This year’s edition will also have the traditional “Sapori Senesi” award for the best pecorino cheese from the territory (the morning of November 9th) and the journeys into the past on board the truffle steam train, departing on November 9th and 16th from Siena and Grosseto. Information of the 23rd White Truffle Fair is available on the website www.terresiena.it. This small capital city of the Siena white truffle will also be the stage for a special event. On Sunday November 9th, the Overland long vehicle will be arriving to the Fair. Overland is the expedition which has been travelling around the world since 1995. Following the arrival of these unique motorized means of transportation, a special event will be dedicated to Overland inside the 14th century Castle of San Giovanni d’Asso and all of the people, means of transportation and social initiatives of this very famous transcontinental expedition will be presented. The day of the 9th of November will conclude with a special award given to the charity activities of the “Overland for Smile” project.