MTV’s TRL Awards

Thanks to our beloved “Jersey Shore,” MTV Italia’s TRL Awards were hosted in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence.  Piazza Santa Croce, the traditional “stage” for all Florentine celebrations since even before the reign of the Medici, was the central focus of Italy for one evening. On this evening, thousands of tourists, students, and residents packed … Continue reading »

Scoppio del Carro

Preparing to come to Italy in the fall, I did some research on what crazy events Florence might stage over the course of the academic year.  Among other various, small events, was this event called the “Scoppio del Carro”—the explosion of the cart. Apparently, back in the Middle Ages, a man was dragging a cart … Continue reading »

Notte Bianca

Ever have one of those nights where you can’t sleep no matter how hard you try?  Well in Italy, they celebrate those nights. Actually, they name a night after those types of nights.  The Italian idiom for passing a sleepless night is passing a note in Bianca-a night in white, I assume referring to the … Continue reading »

Italian Palm Sunday

In the Christian tradition, the Sunday before Easter Sunday is Palm Sunday.  On this day, each member of the congregation is handed a little piece of a palm leaf or branch, which is later blessed.  This palm branch is used to commemorate Christ’s return to Jerusalem, and how, according to the Bible, palms were laid … Continue reading »