January

January is a month for snuggling up in front of a roaring fire, but if the weather is fine, it's also the season for mountain walks with panoramic views unobscured by leafy trees. Unexpectedly, potherbs for hearty winter soups are emerging in fields and walls; you can forage for them with an expert and learn to make zuppa. There are plenty of warming indoor activities too.

Sample activities

Accompany villagers from house to house with the good witch Befana perpetuating a village folk tradition (evening 5 January only)
Visit presepi, creative Nativity scenes with flowing streams and miniature water mills, shepherds and grottos
Forage for potherbs for zuppa (hearty bean and vegetable stew) and learn to cook it with a winner of the zuppa tournament
Guided mountain walks
Make water-marked paper at a paper museum
Hunt for marzuolo truffle (cousin of the white truffle)
Being the month to slaughter the family pig, you can make sausages with a butcher
Visit a handloom weaver or a blacksmith
Dine at the home of an Italian family where mamma is a superb cook
Visit a lardo producer and a sculpture studio in the marble mountains
Learn to make the huge variety of flatbreads of the Garfagnana
Visit cigar factory where women still hand roll the cigars (but not on their thighs)
Meals in family restaurants off the beaten track

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