Jo Lindsell left England and moved to Italy in June 2001, where she now works as a freelance writer. Her main areas of interest are travel and history. She writes in both English and Italian. Her book Italian for Tourists is available to buy at www.lulu.com/jolinsdell
Traditionally the children of Italy anxiously await a visit from another figure, La Befana, hanging up their stockings on January 6, the Feast of Epiphany, rather than Christmas Eve.
Being known as the land of love, it is only logical that the patron saint of lovers comes from Italy. Strongly associated with the festival of Valentine’s Day, San Valentino lived in Rome when the Empire was under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Legend has it that
The annexation of Tuscany to Unified Italy, and the decision made immediately thereafter to move the capital to Florence, was a great shock for both the city and the region. The functional needs deriving from this new role as capital had a profound impact on the city, but the ruling