February

Carnival celebrations and banquets to say farewell to meat (carne) before Lent. Viareggio is second only to Venice for its Carnival parade of stupendous animated floats. With the sea on one side of Viareggio and mountains of marble on the other, you can dine on fish and lardo di Colonnata.

Sample activities

Carnival is the celebration just before Lent when you eat up all the delicacies you're not allowed during the 40 days before Easter; plunge into the good-humoured crowd in fancy dress and marvel at the parade of floats
Learn to make cenci, delectable crispy sugary carnival treats
Make water-marked paper at a paper museum
Be part of the jury in a Slow Food zuppa (hearty bean and vegetable stew) tournament
Forage for potherbs for zuppa and learn to cook it with a winner of the zuppa tournament
Visit a lardo producer in Colonnata and find out how pork fat is transformed into a delicacy
Sightseeing in the seaside town of Viareggio with its turn of the 20th century stile liberty architecture
Dine at the home of an Italian family where mamma is a superb seafood cook
Visit a sculptors' studio
Hunt for marzuolo truffles (cousins of the white truffle)
Meals in family restaurants off the beaten track

Ask us for our full menu of activities since we're always finding new interesting producers.