The town of Carpegna, in Pesaro and Urbino, in the region of the Marche, celebrates its “Sega la Vecchia” Italian sagra in the form of the town sports festival every year. The four parishes of the town get together for a traditional meet, challenging each other in games, followed by a huge country banquet. The whole festival takes place on March 27 and involves sack races, hoop races, tug-of-war for both men and women, wood sawing, sled racing, and other old fashioned games.

At the end of the of this Italian festival, the team who wins parades through the town with the “vecchia”, meaning old lady - a folkloric statue figure who returns every year for the games - before burning the figurine in the piazza outside the town’s “palazzo”. Afterwards, the mess hall and benches are made available for the post-victory dinner. For more information, see the Carpegna site.

Continue reading: Mini olympics at Pesaro and Urbino: Italian town festival from Carpegna

Italian sports star and reigning MotoGP champion, Valentino Rossi, apparently has a new girlfriend. Known as a ladies’ man (could it be the name…?), Valentino is generally very private about his love life, focussing on his sport instead. The new relationship though, is generating some interest with Valentino apparently dating the girl since last autumn.

Her name is Marwa Klebi, she is 25-years-old and is originally from Tunisia. The pair first met in a bar in Pesaro, in the Marche, and were caught on camera as Rossi took his new beau on a ten-day trip to the Caribbean.

Source | TwoWheelsBlog

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi: new girlfriend

The Italian truffle festival at Sant-Angelo in Vado (Pesaro) has encountered an unusual problem this year, in the form of champion sports star Valentino Rossi. The truffle festival has reached its 46th edition, and the logo of this year’s festival features the number “46″ written in yellow.

The only problem is that the number is also Valentino Rossi’s race number, and the festival organisers were warned against using it in the festival logo. Correspondence between the legal studio of Podrini and Benedetti, who are charged with protecting the Rossi brand, suggests that legal action requiring compensation has been undertaken.

The local mayor is absolutely stupified, as you can imagine. Settimio Bravi says: “I’m very upset by this behaviour. We haven’t copied anyone. We are celebrating 46 years of the festival and I therefore have to use that number. I couldn’t write ‘45 + 1′ or ‘47 - 1′. Otherwise it will be thought that Valentino Rossi has bought the number 46 the world over and no-one can use it.” He continues:

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi legal action against truffle festival

Keeping in the theme of beauty farms and health spas in Italy, the Due Campanili hotel in the Marche has a spring package for a weekend offer in Italy including accommodation, food and health spa treatments.

The hotel is at Montemaggiore al Metauro and is offering three nights’ stay in a double room, with half board, a dinner at the Due Campanili restaurant, massage and the use of the pool and sauna. The package is offered at 310 euros a person, or 385 euros if you prefer to upgrade to the junior suite.

The hotel can be found on hill above the mediaeval town of Montemaggiore al Metauro in the province of Pesaro and Urbino. The complex includes gardens, and a beautiful view over the plains, across to the Appenine mountains and the valleys of the Metauro river. The rooms all have private bathroom, and are in 13 separate cottages around the alleys of the old town.

Continue reading: Health spas in Italy: weekend packages for the Marche

This villa is only five minutes away from Pesaro, in the Marche and is surrounded by 21 hectares of park giving you all the peace and quiet you need. It is truly beautiful with blue Adriatic views from the property.

The 520 square metres are distributed over three levels with architectural grace. The terracotta floors are very romantic, along with wooden beamed ceilings giving the villa a warm feel.

Continue reading: Italian villas: luxury views at Pesaro

From 1st June to 2nd June Pesaro will host the first International Pipe Fair. A two-day show during which pipe smokers and pipe makers will meet and create moments redolent of times past. A fair that will showcase the most beautiful pipes ever made. It’s chief attraction will probably be the beauty contest, dedicated this time not to women but to tobacco pipes.

The judges will really have a hard time to choose the winner. Too many beauties I’m afraid. There’ll also be a smoking contest. Each contester will smoke from an exclusive pipe made by Master de Paja. Another beauty that will break many a heart.

Continue reading: Pesaro hosts International Pipe Fair