Look a lot like Xmas!

Santa’s almost at the door (or fireplace!), snow has already whitened mountains’ peaks so… Xmas season has finally come!

Time to get ready! Wrapping presents in gold paper with big velvet ribbons, print the labels(here’s our favorites…and free: http://www.threelittlemonkeysstudio.com/santas-special-delivery-printable-gift-tags/ ), writing festives wishes while “jingle all the way”‘s playing…

But…WAIT! We just miss a thing…PRESENTS!!

Keep calm! Here’s a list of Xmas markets you could not miss, where to find dreamy-cutie-useful-original-handmade-perfect Xmas gifts!

So put on scarf & gloves, arm yourself with a take away mug of hot chocolate and chose your perfect Xmas itinerary in Le Marche region! In our map all the appointments you could not miss, keep reading below for more infos 🙂

6-24 DECEMBER (from 9 am to 10 pm), @Piazza Pertini (ANCONA)

Find the traditional Xmas market in the heart of the city. Even if you’re  a Xmas presents’ latecomer you can make last minute shopping on Xmas’ Eve! Looking for something special? Visit the VINTAGE market open from 20 to 24 December in Piazza Roma.

27-28 DECEMBER, @ Corso Garibaldi (ANCONA)

Antiques lovers’ this is the last appointment of the year…Time to make a present for yourselves 🙂 and , (why not?) find amazing vintage accessories for New Year’s Eve.

More info here: http://www.anconatoday.it/eventi/natale-in-ancona-6-dicembre-2014-4-gennaio-2015.html

One of the most evocative Xmas market in Le Marche, province of PESARO-URBINO.

The little town of CANDELARA hosts till 14 DECEMBER a candles’ festival, switching off artificial lights in alleys (at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm), creating a unique, intimate and very old-time atmosphere. Of course there’s a candle & Xmas’ stuff market through the medieval center… breathe Xmas magic 🙂 For kids also Santa’s laboratory and the snowy alley!

Find out more http://www.candelara.com/

6 DECEMBER- 6 JANUARY, FERMO

Welcome in Le Marche Xmas town! A whole events’ calendar for all Xmas tastes which includes markets, concerts, shows…Have a look here and find your favorite: http://issuu.com/fermoturismo/docs/fermo_citt___natale?e=14469716/10345756

Is there a best place to enjoy a romantic Xmas rather than Paolo & Francesca’s castle in GRADARA (province of PESARO-URBINO)?

For these holidays (from 6 DECEMBER to 6 JANUARY) the medieval town turns into”Little Santa’s elfs village”: winter tastes such as vin brulè and chestnuts, tombola for adults and kids but the best part is ( hold on tightly literature’s lovers!) a walk through the village and the castle with live actors playing Paolo & Francesca’s drama ! Book the walk and find more info here: http://www.gradara.org/

For those who do not know Paolo & Francesca dramatic love story: http://www.gradara.org/storia-di-gradara/paolo-e-francesca/

A various Xmas market: from handmade, to vintage, through decorations! 14 and 21 DECEMBER, @MACERATA (http://www.ilbarattolo.com/mercatinodinatale.html)

Santa’ll be waiting for kids to mail their letters in Borgo Ficana @ Santa Village! Do not be late! http://amanuartes.jimdo.com/

Till 6 JANUARY 2015 (every week end) in URBINO, is the perfect occasion to shop at the Xmas market and also visit this beautiful city that’ll also host @ Palazzo Ducale, Leonardo da Vinci’s paint “The beautiful princess” (“La bella principessa”). Tickets and info: http://www.labellaprincipessa.it/

4-5-6 JANUARY, @ SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO

First appointment of the year with art & history, addressed to all antiques’ lovers! It’s gonna be a sweet Befana (even though you’ve received coal 🙂 )

After hot chocolate, shopping, chestnuts and god-knows-how-many-others-sweets…time for sport! In OSIMO center the iceskating rink is waiting! So put on silver skatings (times and cost at http://www.comune.osimo.an.it/absolutenm/templates/?a=1578&z=4) and if it’s not enough….more events here 🙂  http://www.comune.osimo.an.it/absolutenm/templates/default.aspx?a=1543&z=49

Have a holly jolly Christmas & see you out there (I’ll be the one with hot-something in hands!)

Legumes’ nights!

Who loves legumes?!

Here find some recipes from Appignano, Marche legumes’ town, that last weekend hosted Leguminaria (“Legumes in the air”), a festival to rediscover this rural area’s traditional foods and professions. Legumes, a poor food that farmers and artisans use to eat in this region, are the protagonist of this 3 nights’ festival.

We walked through cellars, tavern and tiny alleys eating lentils, beans and chikpeas in handcrafted ceramic bowls (“le cocce“) made by local artisans. (…the best part is that you can keep them with you at the end!)

Take Marche’s taste at home trying these traditional (…and easy…and good!) recipes we collected for you!

Find out more at http://www.leguminaria.it/

Ingredients:  onion, pork rind, salt, celery, carrot, olive oil, beans previously soaked in water (at least for 15 hours), tomato puree.

Preparation:  soaked the beans in water for at least 15 hour, wash them up and boil them in hot and salted water. Clean and wash carefully the pork rind, then boil it in hot water till it becomes tender. In the meanwhile prepare a sautée with olive oil and onion. Now pour the pork rind in the sautée, add 2 or 3 spoonful of tomato puree, celery and carrot in bits. Salt and let it cook till it becomes a dense soup. Finally add the beans and let them cook for anoher 10 minutes. Serve it hot, pouring a drizzle of olive oil and toasted bread…Enjoy!

Ingredients:  onion, pork sausage, salt, celery, carrot, olive oil, lentils previously soaked in water (at least for 2 hours), tomato puree, garlic, a white wine’s glass, pepper.

Preparation:  chop up onion, garlic, carrot, celery and sautè them with olive oil. Then add sausage and lentils previously soaked in water (at least for 2 hours), salted and boiled for 20 minutes. Cook it up, mixing and adding white wine. When wine will be evaporated, add tomato puree and water in the pot till the lentils will be covered up. salt znd cook for an hour keeping the pot covered. Finally, if you want, raise the flame so that the soup will become more dense. Add an handful of pepper, a drizzle of olive oil in each plate and serve with toasted bread…Buon appetito!

Ingredients:  onion, rosemary, salt, olive oil, chikpeas previously soaked in wa

ter (at least for 15 hours).

Preparation:  soak the chikpeas in salted water, at least from the night before (15 hours). Drain them and put an hint of bicarbonate.  Then beat them carefully, immerse them in a pot with lukewarm water and rinse them. This operation must be repeated at least twice. Cook them in anotehr pot with clean lukewarm water adding garlic, salt and rosemary. Serve with a little branch of rosemary in each plate, a drizzle of olive oil and toasted bread…Gnammy!

For any question or curiosity….comment below! °v°