*Everyday Life*

A big plus for all our guests is that we live nearby. We will welcome you, show you around, provide maps of the area and give you a list of restaurants and enjoyable excursions. We are always on hand if you need us but we will leave you to your well deserved holiday!

We sometimes see that families arrive here with the car full of groceries and food. Please note that most of the food you buy at home is available also here. Our local supermarket is open from 8AM to 9PM every day except Sunday; and 9AM to 8 PM on every other Sunday. Another supermarket nearby is open from 8AM to 8PM and also every Sunday morning from 9AM to 12.30AM. And another smaller grocery shop, Gelsastore, is open any day of the year from 4 in the morning to 1 at night!

* Market *

A medley of colors and scents awaits you every Wednesday morning in Fucecchio in Piazza XX Settembre.

*Restaurants!*

One of the reasons to rent a holiday accommodation is that you can cook your own food and avoid eating out. You can shop at farmers' markets, try local recipes, keep your children entertained while cooking... But sometimes you just want to relax and unwind with a nice glass of wine and let others cook! Among other local area information, we will give you a list of nearby restaurants (one of them is at walking distance!) we usually go to! And we will be happy to call and reserve a table for you, if you like!

*Palio di Fucecchio (horse race)*

Every year since 1981, there is this horse race in Fucecchio. The town is divided into contrade (just like Siena!). You will spend your holidays at La Scuola Holiday Home, so in contrada Torre, whose colours are white and blue. Before 'the' day, there are dinners in each contrada, possibly al fresco, in order to spend nice time together, get to know each other and have a home style meal with some good wine. The date of the event is usually the third Sunday of May. In the morning you can attend the historical parade with its lively display of rich costumes - 1200 people! - along the streets of Fucecchio. The 3 afternoon races take place at la Buca del Palio (Via Fratelli Rosselli in Fucecchio). Palio might last until sunset! Then you can go dining at the winning contrada. For a fucecchiese, Palio is like Football World Cup for Italians! The date for 2014 is the 18th of May!

*Infiorata di Corpus Domini (flower carpets)*:

On the Sunday of Corpus Domini the streets of historic Fucecchio are covered by beautiful floral carpets. It is a quite common tradition in central Italy that originated in St. Peter's Basilica in 1265.

In Fucecchio the custom of sprinkling the streets with flowers and forest sprigs compose sacred figures, dates back to the 30es but it was only in 1990 that the Flower Festival has become a tradition.

The carpet of flowers are displayed in the old city centre, starting from and coming back to the Collegiate Church. The materials used are many varieties of seasonal flowers (poppies, brooms, carnations, roses ...) and many other type of natural material (grapes, coffee, wood chips ...).

*Padule di Fucecchio, a bird watchers' paradise*

The Padule di Fucecchio is the largest non-coastal marshland area in Italy (around 1,800 hectares!).

The Padule is one of the last refuges for many plant species (the yellow floating heart or water fringe, now very rare in Tuscany, or white and yellow pondlilies, etc.), and is a big attraction for birdwatching enthusiasts, especially during the spring migration. Over 150 species can be observed throughout the year, at least fifty of which are nesting birds. Of particular interest are the herons, which nest in colonies, and migratory birds like the stilt bird, crane and black stork. There are 9 nature trails in the marshes, most on foot, some by car.

*Calendar 2013*

Infiorata - Flower Carpets 1 June in Fucecchio

Festa del Vento - Wind festival 2 June in Fucecchio

DIANA KRALL Glad Rag Doll Tour 2013 6th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

LITFIBA 10th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

LEONARD COHEN 9th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

BRYAN ADAMS 10th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

Rassegna d'Estate, shops open after dinner 10 July in Fucecchio

NICK CAVE and THE BAD SEEDS 11th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS 13th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

THE KILLERS Opening act: BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB 17th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

Rassegna d'Estate, shops open after dinner 17 July in Fucecchio

MARK KNOPFLER An Evening with Mark Knopfler and Band 19th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

ALESSANDRO SIANI Sono In Zona Show 20 July at Lucca Summer Festival

RENZO ARBORE L' Orchestra Italiana 21 July at Lucca Summer Festival

EARTH WIND AND FIRE 22 July at Lucca Summer Festival

Rassegna d'Estate, shops open after dinner 24 July in Fucecchio

NEIL YOUNG and CRAZY HORSE Alchemy Tour 25th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

SIGUR ROS 27th July 2013 at Lucca Summer Festival

PINO DANIELE & MARCUS MILLER 30 July at Lucca Summer Festival

Rassegna d'Estate, shops open after dinner 31 July in Fucecchio

Salamarzana - Medieval Festival 31 August and 1 September in Fucecchio

*Events Calendar 2014*

Palio dei Bambini - Children Fair 11 May in Fucecchio

Palio dei Cavalli - Medieval Parade & Horse Race 18 May in Fucecchio

On arrival you will receive information regarding bathing rules when you collect the keys. The bathing rules are also stated on posters in the holiday home, and for your own health and safety it is important that you follow these rules. Otherwise, La Scuola srl cannot be held responsible for any inconveniences.