Perugia Chocolate Festival- Have you been?
Sep 13th, 2011, 09:09 PM
#1
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Perugia Chocolate Festival- Have you been?
Staying In Spello, October- with 5 days to explore some of Umbria.
Was planning on daytripping to Perugia and now discover that the Chocolate Festival will be on during that time.
Thought we'd stay away on the Sunday ( fearing the biggest crowds) but any other advice , especially from those who have experienced the event?
Would be catching train to Perugia.
Have not visited Perugia before.
Was planning on daytripping to Perugia and now discover that the Chocolate Festival will be on during that time.
Thought we'd stay away on the Sunday ( fearing the biggest crowds) but any other advice , especially from those who have experienced the event?
Would be catching train to Perugia.
Have not visited Perugia before.
Sep 14th, 2011, 02:42 AM
#3
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Perugia is a pretty big ugly uni town
Have stayed there dodgy around the train station
never have been to the chocolate festival...
www.assisi.com my fav old town personally
would head there lots more touristic.
Have stayed there dodgy around the train station
never have been to the chocolate festival...
www.assisi.com my fav old town personally
would head there lots more touristic.
Sep 14th, 2011, 02:44 AM
#4
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Actually not a huge chocolate lover myself, but the chocolate sculptures sound interesting!
The festival runs for the whole time that we are in Umbria, so if we want to see Perugia we have to see the festival. Just wondered what impact it will have on general sightseeing.
The festival runs for the whole time that we are in Umbria, so if we want to see Perugia we have to see the festival. Just wondered what impact it will have on general sightseeing.
Sep 14th, 2011, 03:25 AM
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Have not been to Perugia during Chocolate festival, but must say that I disagree with qwovadis. While there is an outer crust of drab modern development, the inner core is anything but "ugly" IMO. Very atmospheric and historic, with a lively college town feel - despite the Amanda Knox circus.
Sep 14th, 2011, 03:44 AM
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I haven't been to the festival but I have taken the Perugina chocaolate factory tour.
Pretty cool I must say. You actually get to tour around the factory and see & smell the real stuff. Just about all factory tours in the US these days are simulated/video tours.
And yes, they give out samples!!
Pretty cool I must say. You actually get to tour around the factory and see & smell the real stuff. Just about all factory tours in the US these days are simulated/video tours.
And yes, they give out samples!!
Sep 14th, 2011, 12:22 PM
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We were there last year. We were in the area for a couple of months...and when we heard of the C Festival we booked a room in Perugia for 1 night (Fri/Sat) When we left mid day Sat the line of cars heading into town was forever..I don't think they all ever fit!! Your idea with the train seems good. The festival was worth attending for sure..but the chocolate was very very expensive. As with most festivals..it was great for people watching.
Sep 14th, 2011, 12:31 PM
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Lavender
Fogot to mention that if you will be in Umbria for a bit...please read the book "Living in a Foreign Language" by Michael Tucker (remember him from LA Law?) and his wife Jill Eikenberry It is fantastic..with many insights to the area. They fell in love with Umbria on a trip..eventually purchasing a home there.
Fogot to mention that if you will be in Umbria for a bit...please read the book "Living in a Foreign Language" by Michael Tucker (remember him from LA Law?) and his wife Jill Eikenberry It is fantastic..with many insights to the area. They fell in love with Umbria on a trip..eventually purchasing a home there.
Sep 14th, 2011, 11:24 PM
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We've been to the festival a few times. We always rode the train and then took the local bus up the hill from the train station. You can buy tickets for the bus just outside the train station. You DO NOT want to try and walk as it's very steep AND NOT close! Parking is a mess - take the train!
Once there, you'll find many, many stalls selling chocolate and all things chocolate. If you can go mid-week it's far less crowded. Don't go on the last Sunday (we did one year) as it's so packed you can't move.
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8679/img2388j.jpg
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/677/img2385d.jpg
These pictures are of a guy "chopping" a 4 x 4 x 4 cube of chocolate with an axe. They would then bag and hand out free samples! They had a few of these "blck" throughout the festival.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9291/img2372uo.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6468/img2393qo.jpg
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/8687/img2402c.jpg
Again, I'd recommed taking the train to get there - we walked part of the way DOWN to the train station, but you sure don't want to climb the hill up into town upon arrival. For more help on riding the trains in Italy, you might look at this link: http://tinyurl.com/riding-trains
Have fun!
Once there, you'll find many, many stalls selling chocolate and all things chocolate. If you can go mid-week it's far less crowded. Don't go on the last Sunday (we did one year) as it's so packed you can't move.
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8679/img2388j.jpg
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/677/img2385d.jpg
These pictures are of a guy "chopping" a 4 x 4 x 4 cube of chocolate with an axe. They would then bag and hand out free samples! They had a few of these "blck" throughout the festival.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9291/img2372uo.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6468/img2393qo.jpg
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/8687/img2402c.jpg
Again, I'd recommed taking the train to get there - we walked part of the way DOWN to the train station, but you sure don't want to climb the hill up into town upon arrival. For more help on riding the trains in Italy, you might look at this link: http://tinyurl.com/riding-trains
Have fun!
Sep 15th, 2011, 04:39 AM
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rineurope
Thanks for all the info- much appreciated.
Love the photos, specially taking an axe to chocolate! And what a hunk of chocolate!!
Planning on going midweek so hopefully not as crowded as your photo shows.
Thanks for all the info- much appreciated.
Love the photos, specially taking an axe to chocolate! And what a hunk of chocolate!!
Planning on going midweek so hopefully not as crowded as your photo shows.
