What's Up Tuscany English – Details, episodes & analysis

One of the things that annoy us Tuscans to no end is that most of what people know about our land is just wrong. The image that comes to mind to 90% of foreigners that come to visit us is mostly incorrect, just a result of the work of spin doctors, marketing guys and pretty much anyone that wants to sell stuff at an inflated price. This is quite obvious when it comes to food stuff: apparently, just adding the word "Tuscan" to anything allows the manufacturer to raise its price by a significant margin. Everything can be Tuscan, from herbs mixtures that no Tuscan has ever heard of to stuff that would make us cringe. If you ask anyone that knows a little about this land, they will tell you that Tuscan cuisine is all about vegetables, pasta, simple ingredients cooked in creative ways. While dishes like this exist, we Tuscans LOVE our meat. Maybe because it was a rare treat, we worship what we affectionately call "ciccia". The most famous of our meat dishes were born out of necessity: being meat very expensive, we would invent ways to turn the most lowly cuts into masterpieces. The recipe that was invented near Florence was so spectacular that it goes strong six centuries after its creation, which explains why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to Impruneta to discover all the secrets of the amazing peposo.

If you listen to the full episode you will learn how this beef stew was invented by terracotta workers that looked for a way to turn cheap cuts of meat into a sensational taste bomb. The slow cooked marvel was so incredible that Filippo Brunelleschi, while building the cupola of Florence cathedral, made it the official dish of the building site, spreading the recipe across Tuscany. In the second chapter we will go through the mandatory steps you have to follow to prepare a proper peposo and I will also give you a simple recipe to make this amazing dish in your very kitchen. There's going to be a few practical tips, suggestions on side dishes and the perfect wine to match. In the final chapter I will tell you how Impruneta is so in love with this meat lovers dream to have a November festival with a spectacular cook-off that will make you drool in anticipation. If you can't wait until then, I'll point you to several restaurants both in Impruneta and in Florence where you can enjoy this masterpiece of Tuscan cuisine at its best. While i can't say this is the signature dish of this land without incurring in the wrath of anyone who is not from Florence, I'd so as far as to say that the peposo should be its standard bearer. it has got everything we love about this land: it's made from cuts of meat no one wanted, cooked at low temperature for a long time which makes the meat extra-tender and super tasty. Next time you come to visit us, try it. If you love meat, it's a no brainer!
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/tutorial/le-tecniche/peposo-impruneta-ricetta/
https://www.discoverpistoia.it/peposo-storia-curiosita-ricetta/
https://www.today.it/benessere/alimentazione/storia-peposo-ricetta-impruneta-toscana.html
https://www.gazzettinodelchianti.it/impruneta/peposo-day-2023-super-successo-alla-cena-del-peposo-oggi-la-sfida-fra-rioni/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Incompetech - Leopard Print Elevator
Mike Chino - Calm and Harmony
Wayne John Bradley - Pick You Up
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/mike-chino-calm-and-harmony
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/

After three years spent looking for stories about this incredible region of mine, coming back from a little break was never going to be easy. No matter how ahead you plan, the dread of being late or having chosen the wrong subject is always around the corner. Luckily, though, this land is so full of amazing things that you just need a bit of luck and inspiration. A while ago, as I was researching for stuff to talk about, I bumped into an article that was talking about a town in Maremma that I had heard something about a long time ago. As it's quite far from where I live I never actually visited it but then I read a couple words that almost prompted me to take the car and drive there immediately. What were those words, you might ask? Possibly the best nickname for a town I've come across in the past 10 years: "Little Jerusalem". Being an history buff I immediately started thinking about the Templar Knights, relics stolen during the Crusades but the explanation was much simpler and, possibly, more intriguing. This charming village earned its nickname by being one of the very few places where Jews expelled from Rome actually were free to live and prosper. This story was so interesting that I had to look into it, which explains why, this week, What's Up Tuscany will travel south, to the heart of Maremma, to tell you everything there is to know about Pitigliano, a tuff masterpiece of a town that has got to be seen to be believed.

If you listen to the full episode I will tell you about the many landmarks in this hilltop village, from a pretty church to a monumental fountain, from the aqueduct that was a gift from the Medici to an ancient monastery that became a fashionable palace in the Renaissance after being revamped by a famous architect. Then we will focus on the history of the Jewish community, how the ghetto grew with time and how the relationship between them and the general populace was strong enough to convince many regular families to risk their lives in order to hide their neighbours from the clutches of the Gestapo. The synagogue is still active and, even if the community is much smaller than in the past, people in Pitigliano still celebrate it by producing kosher wine and organising events to promote this interesting heritage. After some info on how to know the ghetto a bit better, I'll also point you to a couple amazing walks in the surrounding countryside that will let you know the mysterious and incredible Vie Cave, tens of metres deep man-made roads carved into stone that still baffle experts.

In the final chapter I'll provide you with plenty of tips on stuff to do, eat and drink in this part of the Maremma that has a lot of things to offer. If you know what's good for you, try a good acquacotta, the old-time soup that is part of local folklore but don't forget to try some of the sweets that are produced around here. Some, like the migliaccio or the cialdino del tufo, sound quite simple and similar to other stuff you find around Tuscany but there are a couple, from the "tortello dolce" to the "sfratto dei Goym" that you can find only in Pitigliano. We will wrap things up with two excellent local wines that are quite great and don't cost a fortune plus a bunch of events that you should sign on your calendar. The Count's Banquet in late August sounds like a very smart choice. This is not your regular Tuscany: it's a place that is at the same time very real, hearty and charming. Rather than cramming on the beach with thousands or fighting with random tourists in downtown Florence, spend some time here, in the heart of Maremma. You'll thank me later.
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.expedia.it/stories/10-cose-da-vedere-a-pitigliano-e-dintorni/
https://pitigliano.org/palazzi-e-monumenti/fontana-delle-7-cannelle/
https://www.quotidiano.net/itinerari/pitigliano/
https://www.visittuscany.com/it/idee/viaggio-nella-piccola-gerusalemme-di-pitigliano/
https://pitigliano.org/la-piccola-gerusalemme/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Walking the Wall
Pipe Choir - Fortress (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - A dark Blue Arc (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Trampled (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-walking-the-wall-creative-commons-music
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-fortress-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-a-dark-blue-arc-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-trampled-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/

From the first day of this podcast we've been hellbent on demonstrating that even the more mundane corners of this land hide incredible things. Some of you might have rolled your eyes, thinking this is just another attempt to bring back Tuscany to its golden age but this land is really special. Even if you're a seasoned traveller, expert in the art of avoiding the usual tourist traps, chances are you'll miss some of the outstanding beauties of our region. Look at Valdichiana, for example: while people gravitate naturally towards Cortona or Pienza, not many give more than a passing look to an ancient castle not far from the A1 highway. The town is quite small and looks like it's frozen in the Middle Ages but this is hardly special in this neck of the woods. And yet it's here, tucked away in a small museum, that you can find one of this land's best kept secrets. This castle that was fought over centuries between the powers of Central Italy was rich enough to commission one of the most unbelievable pieces of jewellery you have ever seen. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to the charming town of Lucignano to tell you everything there is to know about its amazing Golden Tree, a huge reliquary that has got to be seen to be believed.

If you listen to the full episode you will learn about how it took 120 years and the death of a wealthy lady to finish it and how its outrageous value made it a magnet for thieves since the 1400s. People in Lucignano loved it so much because that exchanging marriage vows in front of it brought good fortune to the newlyweds but in 1914 a band of thieves actually managed to break down and steal the art treasure. It took years before most pieces were recovered and the Tree rebuilt but a few days ago a bunch of other ornaments were discovered, bringing it back to the original glory. I'll walk you through the charming alleys of this weird castle, explain a curious plaque placed on top of an escalade and tell you several quirky stories about this place. In the final chapter, then, I'll walk you through some festivals held in Lucignano throughout the year, from the explosion of colour of the Maggiolata to the nostalgic Christmas festival that brings back the Tuscany of old. Last but not least, a couple of charming hotels able to turn a weekend break into a real event and two really good restaurants where you can treat your taste buds without breaking the bank. This might not be the most popular part of Tuscany but if you come to Valdichiana you'll fall in love with it. That's a promise.
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://viaggichemangi.com/italia/toscana/lucignano-cosa-vedere/
https://www.museodilucignano.it/il-museo/albero-d-oro/
https://www.intoscana.it/it/articolo/lalbero-doro-di-lucignano-stupisce-ancora-ritrovate-parti-trafugate-un-secolo-fa-al-via-il-restauro/
https://www.viaggiatricecuriosa.it/2020/11/11/lalbero-doro-di-lucignano/
https://www.tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review-g887269-d8594152-Reviews-Osteria_le_Botti-Lucignano_Province_of_Arezzo_Tuscany.html
https://www.tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review-g887269-d2264112-Reviews-Locanda_del_Baraccotto-Lucignano_Province_of_Arezzo_Tuscany.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Waiting (Instrumental)
Mike Chino - Calm and Harmony
EzaOne - Supernova
Pipe Choir - Gemini (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/mike-chino-calm-and-harmony
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/ezaone-supernova
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pipe_Choir/SGONS_Instrumentals/Pipe_Gemini_Instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/

Despite Tuscans being completely in love with the past of their homeland, we haven't had the chance to talk about "big history" events, the ones that get into the books and are taught in schools. There is a reason for this: history hasn't been kind to this land. After being the centre of Western civilisation for half a millennia, the tide of history left Tuscany behind. When world trade shifted from the Mediterranean to the oceans, our land became just another backwater territory littered with relics of a glorious past. Things didn't necessarily have to go this way, though. There was a crucial time in our history when Tuscany funded a serious expedition to the Americas and was ready to build their very first colony overseas, on the north coast of Brazil. The expedition was a complete success but when the ships came back to Leghorn, the Grand Duke had died and his son was much more interested in what was going on in Lebanon than across the Atlantic. The story of the only expedition by an Italian state in the Americas is quite fascinating, with plenty of facts that are unknown by many Tuscans as well - myself included until a couple of days ago. What would have happened if Ferdinand I had lived just a few months longer and given the green light to the colony of New Tuscany? Would that have been enough to avoid Tuscany from sliding into irrelevance in just a few decades? Plenty of interesting food for thought in this episode. Let us know what you think about it by sending us a message on our social media accounts. Remember, folks, if you don't speak up, we're flying blind. Any feedback is crucial for the future of this podcast. Thanks in advance.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.corrieremarittimo.it/ports/da-livorno-la-spedizione-thornton-tentativo-coloniale-di-ferdinando-i-propeller-club/
https://www.polimathes.com/caffe-lettere/storia-della-spedizione-thornton/
http://falsariga.altervista.org/la-toscana-coloniale-la-spedizione-thornton/
https://www.nove.firenze.it/b402280923-toscana-e-mezzogiorno-spagnolo-nel-diario-dell-emiro-fakhr-ad-din.htm
http://www.fmboschetto.it/Utopiaucronia/Darien_Scheme.htm

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Mapping The Stars (Instrumental)
Artist: Pipe Choir
Source: www.pipechoir.com
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
#Pipechoir #Mapping The Stars Instrumental #CreativeCommonsRock

Not sure if you believe it or not, but this week is supposed to be the most depressing of the entire calendar year. Blue Monday might be just a clever marketing ploy but the whole January Blues is something that is quite real throughout the Northern Hemisphere. What was the solution that our ancestors came up with? Why not choose this time of the year and make it so that it is not only allowed to get silly, a bit rowdy and consume way too much sweets and alcohol? Yes, we're talking about carnival, something that Tuscans take very seriously. While the most famous carnival is the one in Viareggio, where hundreds of thousands of people gather to witness the massive, elaborate, satirical floats that parade on the Passeggiata every year, there are many other carnivals, a bit more quirky, that take place across the region. This week we've decided to tell you the stories of four of those special celebrations of the time before Lent, traditionally reserved to penance and restrain. There are some really unique and very ancient festivals that deserve way more attention than what they get now. Listen this episode and learn how a small town near Arezzo has pulled off an incredible feat: create from nothing a Venetian-style carnival that is neither cringeworthy or just plain awful. Listen to the story of how the workers of a massive steel mill on the coast managed to create a mascot for their carnival and use it as a way to express their grievances without getting arrested by the police. Find out how some clever partygoers used a very noble intention, helping out the poor, as a good excuse to have a massive banquet right before Lent. Plenty of surprises, as always so stick around! If you like what we do, just let us know what you think by dropping us a note on our social media accounts - all feedback greatly appreciated:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://www.carnevaledeifiglidibocco.it/
https://www.quinewsarezzo.it/castiglion-fibocchi-la-pademia-ferma-pure-vi-figli-di-bocco-comune-castiglionesi-carnevale.htm
https://valdarnopost.it/edizioni-locali/il-carnevale-dei-figli-di-bocco-una-tradizione-storica-di-castiglion-fibocchi-apprezzata-da-tutta-italia/
http://www.carnevaledifoiano.it/
https://www.greenme.it/viaggiare/italia/carnevale-foiano-della-chiana-antico/
https://www.arezzonotizie.it/attualita/annullato-carnevale-foiano-2022.html
https://www.facebook.com/carnevaledipiombino2014/
https://www.festedicarnevale.it/carnevale-di-piombino/
http://www.comune.piombino.li.it/moduli/output_immagine.php?id=3674
https://www.quinewsvaldicornia.it/piombino-la-leggenda-di-cicciolo-gordiano-lupi-blog.htm
http://news.prolocosangiovannivaldarno.it/festivita/
https://www.quinewsvaldarno.it/san-giovanni-valdarno-uffizio-di-santantonio-le-immagini-e-la-storia.htm
https://www.girovagate.com/2010/01/gli-uffizi-di-carnevale-di-san-giovanni.html
https://www.arezzonotizie.it/eventi/cultura/festa-salacca-2021-san-giovanni-valdarno.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Waiting
Artist: Wayne John Bradley
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commons

We're back in our little studio in the Arno valley after almost three weeks in London, where I finally had the chance to spoil my 18-month-old nephew, which I had only seen once due to the pandemic. This gave me the chance to think about my homeland and to appreciate how many beautiful things and charming traditions can be found literally everywhere. To show that this is no empty bragging, think about the fact that a few miles from my home there is a town that has been organising for centuries a horse race that has nothing to envy to the world-famous Palio in Siena. Rather then in the heat of the summer, the Palio delle Contrade in Buti is held every year in the third Sunday of January. The seven contrade of the small town each have their horses and jockeys run a half-mile in-line course up the hill to claim a silk banner painted by a local artist. There are many traditions and culinary delicacies linked to this historic festival, the first of the year when it comes to traditional horse races. Yet I've never even bothered to show up to see what the fuss was all about. Listen this episode to learn everything there is to know about the winter Palio up the hill and the charming town that hosts it. If you want to let us know what you think about this episode and this podcast in general, drop us a line in our social media accounts. Every feedback is greatly appreciated:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.lanazione.it/pontedera/cronaca/palio-buti-1.7185576
https://magazine.dooid.it/destinazioni/toscana/palio-delle-contrade-citta-di-buti-dooid/
https://www.paliodibuti.eu/il-palio/storia/
https://necrologie.iltirreno.gelocal.it/news/24345
https://www.pisatoday.it/cronaca/cavallo-morto-palio-buti-2016-cause.html
http://lanazione.campionatodigiornalismo.it/lanazione-archivio-20182019/2019/03/19/il-palio-di-buti-antico-ma-attuale/
https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/castel-tonini?ldc
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Buti

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Followers (Instrumental)
Artist: Pipe Choir
Source: www.pipechoir.com
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
#Pipechoir #Followers Instrumental #CreativeCommonsRock
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-followers-instrumental

Christmas is now around the corner and everyone is getting ready for the most important holiday of the year. In Tuscany, every family has its own recipe for the perfect holiday meal, but can have some problems when it comes to Christmas Eve, when a still popular religious precept imposes to serve no meat. While there are endless variations on the theme, we chose to present you with our very own perfect recipe for a successful and proper traditional Tuscan Christmas Eve dinner. It won't be an easy or light meal, far from it. From starter to dessert, it is still going to impose heavily on your waistline. As there will be plenty of time to think about getting back in shape, why don't you try some of the staples of Christmas in Tuscany, from the humble pasta e ceci to the sformato di cardi, compose the perfect Christmas cheese platter or bake your own versions of the many cakes and cookies that Tuscans adore this time of the year. Get the detailed recipes in the links below and follow us in our guide on how to avoid the many pitfalls of the first culinary ordeal of the long holiday season that will last until January 6th. What do you think of these recipes? Do you have a favourite from your neck of the woods? Let us know by joining the conversation on our social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.chefsilvia.it/ricette-di-natale/item/insalata-di-polpo-e-patate.html
https://blog.giallozafferano.it/max3cocco/pasta-e-ceci-alla-toscana/
https://www.elviradolciecucina.it/2019/12/20/crespelle-alla-fiorentina/
https://www.cacciuccopridelivorno.it/il-cacciucco/la-ricetta-del-cacciucco-5c/
https://www.repubblica.it/sapori/2020/11/11/news/stoccafisso_con_le_patate_alla_pisana-273887502/
https://it.julskitchen.com/contorno/sformato-di-cardi
https://www.pecorinotoscanodop.it/fuoridalgregge/natale-a-tavola-cinque-consigli-per-un-perfetto-tagliere-dei-formaggi/
https://www.chefsilvia.it/ricette-di-natale/item/panforte-di-siena.html
https://www.ricettedellanonna.net/ricciarelli-di-siena/
https://www.ricettedalmondo.it/castagnaccio.html
https://turismoinmaremma.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/natale-porto-santo-stefano-pagnottella/
https://www.valcor.it/ricetta/cavallucci-toscani/
https://www.cucchiaio.it/ricetta/torta-ricciolina-del-monte-amiata/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Stand Up
Artist: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: www.pipechoir.com
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-stand-up-creative-commons

People around the world go absolutely bananas for Christmas, coming up with all sorts of traditional celebrations for the holiday. The relationship between us Tuscans and Christmas is a bit contentious, so to speak. It's not that we hate the holiday, it's just that it's too cold to properly celebrate. Now, Easter, that's our thing. Despite this, there are several places around the region that have come up with quirky and fascinating ways to celebrate the birth of Christ. This week we've listed five of these ancient traditions that have managed to survive to this day. Most of them involve fire and most probably born in pagan times as a way to celebrate winter solstice. We go from the massive bonfires in the town at the foot of an ancient volcano to the even more massive torches on the hills surrounding a Garfagnana hamlet. Did you know that until not many years ago, Tuscan children thought that their presents were brought not by Santa but by the magical tree stump that burned for days in their fireplace? There are also fun ways to celebrate the festivity, as the panforte cake throwing contest organized from Boxing Day in Pienza. Listen to these five eminently quirky ways to celebrate Christmas, Tuscan style. Next Friday we'll go one step further and tell you the dishes and specialty you have to have on your table to have a proper Tuscan Christmas - stick around, you'll love them! What do you think about these traditions? Do you have a favourite from your neck of the woods? Let us know what you think by joining the conversation on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.firenzetoday.it/social/ceppo-natale-firenze-storia.html
https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/it/le-leggende-di-natale-in-toscana/
https://www.visittuscany.com/it/idee/5-tradizioni-di-natale-in-toscana/
https://www.ursamajorbubble.com/2020/12/01/natale-in-garfagnana-tradizioni-e-curiosita/
https://www.sienanews.it/toscana/siena/natale-in-toscana-e-il-rito-magico-del-ceppo/
https://www.snapitaly.it/abbadia-san-salvatore-tutta-la-tradizione-della-citta-delle-fiaccole/
https://sentieridicioccolata.it/fiaccolata-di-natale-di-monteriggioni-lungo-la-via-francigena/
https://garfagnanadream.it/storia/le-leggende-di-natale-della-garfagnana/
https://www.lagazzettadelserchio.it/garfagnana/2019/12/a-gorfigliano-la-magia-dei-natalecci-il-cielo-illuminato-a-giorno/
http://www.pienza.org/gioco_panforte_it.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: Coffee And Time
Artist: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-coffee-and-time-creative-commons-instrumental
http://www.pipechoir.com/

As long-time listeners know for sure, we're not fans of the picture-perfect image of Tuscany that is so popular with foreigners. According to us, in order to figure out the real character of this land you have to look away from the manicured countryside and delve deep into the more savage parts of the land we call home. The wild region that lies across the Southern border with Latium has become integral to Tuscan character, providing us with many myths and legends. A few weeks ago we told you the story of Domenico Tiburzi, the Tuscan Robin Hood - now it's time for another Maremma legend, the one about the "butteri", the Tuscan cowboys that back in 1890 won a bet against none other than Buffalo Bill. When his Wild West Show arrived in Rome, he challenged the locals. He would give them the equivalent of a year's pay if they were able to tame and ride the wild horses he brought across the Atlantic for five minutes. Under a driving rain, the "butteri" were able to complete the task, drawing massive cheers from the crowd. While this legend is known and cherished by all Tuscans, some not-so-minor details are left aside. Despite this, "butteri" have come to represent the heart and soul of Maremma, with their "uniform" becoming very popular. As with their American cousins, "butteri" are nowadays barely surviving, now that the massive ranches they worked in have been broken up and the wild marshes have been drained in the 1930s. You can still see how they lived and worked in the past in many shows that are organized around Grosseto in the summer. Listen to the story of the Tuscan cowboys in this week's episode. If you like it, let us know what you think by joining the conversation on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://firenze.unuci.org/articolo.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/world/europe/05italy.html
https://www.quinewspisa.it/i-butteri-dellalta-maremma-tra-storia-e-leggenda.htm
https://romah24.com/prati/speciali/8-marzo-1890-quando-i-butteri-laziali-cacciarono-buffalo-bill-dal-quartiere/
https://www.maremmatoscana.it/blog-post/butteri-della-maremma/
https://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/1999/06/16/LF204.html
http://www.anamcavallomaremmano.com/index.php?id=70&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=393&tx_ttnews[backPid]=117&cHash=4b5353d820
https://maremma-magazine.it/primo-piano/eventi/cera-volta-maremma-mito-dei-butteri-rivive-nella-cornice-del-marruchetone/
http://www.sferamagazine.it/sfera-today-attualita/120%C2%B0-anniversario-sfida-butteri-contro-cowboys-di-buffalo-bill/
https://www.historynet.com/how-the-west-was-spun-buffalo-bill-codys-wild-west-show.htm

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: A MIDNIGHT ON JAQUAY (Instrumental)
Artist: Pipe Choir
Source: www.pipechoir.com
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-a-midnight-on-jaquay-instrumental

If you happen to travel on Tuscan back roads on a sunny day, chances are you'll bump into a group of cycling enthusiasts. The love story between this land and the bicycle dates back to the glory days of the sport, when it was the most popular in the land. While the names of the champions are known by almost everyone, not many know that probably the greatest of the lot, Gino Bartali, was responsible for saving more than 800 Jewish Italians from deportation during the German occupation. Cycling alone between Assisi, Florence and Rome, knowing full well that if discovered he would be executed on the spot, the champion just did his part. The most extraordinary part of his story is that he didn't say a word about it until his death in 2000, when details of his work with the resistance finally came into light. Why he didn't say anything? According to him, "good deeds are better left unspoken" and that was the end of it. For him, cycling was a way to keep in touch with God and express his profound Catholic faith. Bartali, who became a figurehead for traditional values in the years after WW2, remained extremely humble and true to his values until the very end. That's maybe why an Italian bishop initiated three years ago the process of beatification of the Tuscan champion. Will there soon be a day dedicated to Saint Gino Bartali, patron saint of sportsmen? No one knows. One thing is sure: people will keep on talking about the grumpy Florentine champion for a long time. What do you think about this story? Let us know by joining the conversation on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.famigliacristiana.it/articolo/gino-bartali-nelle-parole-del-figlio-mio-padre-un-giusto.aspx
https://www.elasticinterface.com/it/magazine/gino-bartali-shoah/
https://thevision.com/cultura/gino-bartali-ebrei/
https://www.viaggiatoriignoranti.it/2021/05/gino-bartali-il-giusto-e-lattivita-a-favore-degli-oppressi.html
https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2021-10/quo-246/gino-bartali-beato.html
https://www.tempi.it/bartali-yad-vashem-giusto-nazioni-firenze-seconda-guerra-mondiale-ebrei-salvati-bicicletta/
http://osservatorioglobalizzazione.it/dossier/ritratti/bartali-ciclismo-italia/
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/gino-bartali-l-angelo-due-ruote-AFW33kK?refresh_ce=1
https://www.ildubbio.news/2020/05/05/ginettaccio-il-campione-che-salvava-gli-ebrei-nascondendo-carte-nella-bici/
https://www.bicidastrada.it/gino-bartali-beato/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: A Slave to Nothing (Instrumental)
Author: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-a-slave-to-nothing-instrumental
http://www.pipechoir.com/