Festa d'autunno, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, 23-25 Oct 2009

The ancient tiny hilltop hamlet of Monte Santa Maria Tiberina is host to the annual Autumn Festival this coming weekend.

For three days the cobbled streets are filled with stalls serving roasted chestnuts, porchetta, woodland goodies like Porcini mushrooms and truffles, locals parade through the streets in medieval dress and there is flame throwing and other entertainment!

The Monte is really, really old with Etruscan origins. If you visit the village today, you can still see the form and layout of medieval times. It is perched high on the hillside with incredible views over the Upper Tiber Valley. The main tower is visible for miles around, even from neighbouring Tuscany and is a real local landmark.

On Friday 23rd the Festa opens with a dinner in the old castle at 21.00. On Saturday 24th October, from 16.00 onwards there are typical artisan stalls and medieval entertainment. On the morning of Sunday 25th, you can walk in the local woods looking for mushrooms and chestnuts, have lunch in the Taverna del Gatto and in the afternoon see the flagthrowers from Castiglion Fiorentino (Sbandieratori).

A lovely, traditional weekend in Umbria, really worth taking part in.

Eurochocolate, Perugia 16-25 October 2009

Autumn is here and it's time for the huge chocolate festival in Perugia, capital of Umbria, Italy!

Eurochocolate is an amazing event with the streets of the city lined with stands selling chocolate by makers from all over Europe.

Perugia is itself home to the world famous chocolate, the "Bacio", or "kiss", a delicious praline topped with a hazelnut, coated in dark chocolate and visits to the Perugina factory are possible all year round.

The Eurochocolate festival is host to big names such as Nestlè, Toblerone, Milka, Lindt and many other smaller, individual chocolate makers. There are cookery lessons, tastings and even a Chocofarm with beauty treatments available based on cocoa and chocolate!!!

If you've never been to Umbria before, it's a great time to visit. The rich autumn colours of the trees are accentuated by the bright, sunny days and crisp evenings. Combined with a traditional time for eating truffles, funghi porcini and tasting the first pressings of olive oil, think about taking a short break before the onset of winter.

Many of the villas, apartments and B&Bs have great out of season rates too!