Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

Turin hosts its annual chocolate festival, CioccolaTO’, from March 2 through 11.
Ten days of tastings, classes, competitions and many more chocolate themed events.

The historic square Piazza Vittorio Veneto is the main venue for CioccolaTO’, but many shops and cafés located in the historic district of Turin will offer tastings and the chance to experience something linked to chocolate.
Even many restaurants will offer a chocolate themed menu and the chance to taste recipes based on chocolate.

When: March 2 through 11, 2012
Where: Turin (Piazza Vittorio Veneto).
Festival program and detailed info are available at www.cioccola-to.it .

Below a video of the “Orange Battle” in the town of Ivrea (Piedmont).
The event takes place the four closing days of Carnival — Saturday, Sunday, and Monday running up to Shrove Tuesday — in the streets and squares all over town.

The orange fights are held between teams of orange throwers on foot and hooded people standing on carts drawn by horses.

The Christmas Market in Turin is held in the piazzas and gardens of Borgo Dora. The market stalls open daily (Mon-Fri: 3pm-8pm ; Sat-Sun: 10am-9pm).

Turin Christmas Market is not only shopping, it offers more attractions and activities at weekends. Details can be found at http://mercatinonataletorino.it .

When: Dec 3 – 23, 2010 (annual);
where: Turin (Borgo Dora)

Milan hosts an ancient Christmas market in the area surrounding the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle).
The market, called “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” fair, is one of the top annual folkloric events in the city. It offers a large variety of Christmas typical items and sweets.

When: Dec 5 – 8, 2010 (annual)
where: Milan (Castello Sforzesco).

The Castello Sforzesco is one of the top attractions of the city. Schedule to visit the castle: daily 7am-6pm; the castle museums: Tue-Sun 9am-5.30pm.

Alba, the Piedmontese town also known as the capital of White Truffle, is hosting its 2010 International White Truffle Fair.

This annual event gathering world’s greatest chefs and enthusiasts of this precious tuber also called “White diamonds”, includes a truffle auction, a truffle market and a truffle fair.

The market, featuring white truffles as well as a number of truffle-related produce and specialties, takes place at weekends.

When: Oct. 9 through Nov. 14, 2010 (annual)
Where: Alba (Piedmont).

Detailed info of Alba International White Truffle Fair are available at http://www.fieradeltartufo.org/.

In November Piedmont offers a number of activities to enjoy for visitors traveling there.
This region offers a number of wine and food festivals throughout the fall months. The most common example is with the several truffle-themed festivals held in Piedmont in November.

However those who make a trip to Turin, capital and major center of Piedmont, can also enjoy something else than just tasting food and wine.

An international fair of contemporary art, “Artissima“, is held in Turin early November — 2010 Artissima is from November 5 to 7.
Hosted at Turin’s Lingotto Fiere exhibition centre, Artissima brings more than 200 emerging galleries from around the world to show off fine art, films and live performances.
Schedule and details of the fair are available at Artissima website ( http://www.artissima.it/ ).

Also in November, with the Turin Marathon, visitors have one of the best ways to enjoy the city. The 2010 Turin Marathon will take place November 14.
Those who can’t afford a 42 km race, can participate to the more affordable StraTorino and the Four-legged StraTorino, teaming up dogs with their owners.
Details on how to enroll are available at http://www.turinmarathon.it/en .