Shopping for bargains
in January is a tradition the world over. Roman families take advantage of the 20% discounts on beautiful bed linens and towels offered by the city's exclusive shops.
Here in Vetralla, 68 kms north of Rome, it takes
on a deeper significance at
the mega market of January 17th
which has been held for centuries and is dedicated
to Sant’Antonio, St.Anthony Abbot, protector
of animals.
The celebration begins the evening of the 16th with a huge bonfire in nearby Bagnaia. Here are some photos of the event by Gianfranco Pignatale.
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| a family of grey cats waiting for a blessing |
The morning of the 17th sees the blessing of pet dogs, cats and horses in front of the church. Most offices are closed and the school kids play hookey as the whole town turns out to shop all day long.
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| fresh berries and dried fruit |
Hundreds of bancarelle (stalls) fill the centro storico, selling everything from dried fruit and sweets to fishing boots.
The dried fruit vendors who come from
the nearby hilltowns of Vallerano and Canepina offer
dried figs, chestnuts, pepperoncino as well as imported banana, pineapple, and even cranberries from
the bogs of Cape Cod. They travel so far and wide that tradition
says when Columbus arrived in the New World, there was one of these stalls
waiting for him.
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| Selling dried cranberries from Cape Cod |
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| fluffy dresses |
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| Penny Candy and nuts |
You can find brightly colored penny candy next to fluffy dresses, tools and knives, artificial flowers and
ceramic kitchen utensils on
successive stalls.
Most of all it’s a time to
stroll among the crowds, greet
friends and family, show off new family members or a new fur coat….shopping is secondary.
What's on your January sales shopping list? What bargains have you found?
Mega market in Vetralla? What a pity not to be there on Tuesday, I love markets.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe it's better this way, I waste all my money during the Christmas season :-(
Those look a lot like first communion dresses but in Vetralla little girls must wear those terrible nun-like contraptions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment GC I really dont know who buys those fluffy white dresses, maybe for weddings.
DeleteWe only have a monthly market, but there is the ubiquitous dried fruit vendor. Ours also sells his own honey! Pat Smith
ReplyDeleteLocal honey is sooo good especially for people with colds, flu. I just learned that its the only food that never goes bad...its good even after years .
DeleteThanks for the reminder about the market tomorrow, hope you find some good things to buy. Maybe see you at the bonfire tonight! Christina
ReplyDeleteChristina, why not come to the market with some of your students..its a great people watching occasion.
ReplyDeleteWish we had the rolling Italian market here in the US. Interesting that yours comes also as an annual event, celebrated by the abitanti. Studied Italian in Liguria several years ago for five weeks and got used to the weekly market in the piazza. You can get anything almost including the caro e meno caro; from underwear to carciofi. The beauty of the market is the freshness of its produce and the abundance and variety of cheese and dried meat. This of course leads to the dinner table where the food tastes so much better for it. You have been blessed being able to live in this beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteDEar Pensionato, so true, we are so lucky to have fresh food bought daily, cooked beautifully, enjoyed with wine and our extra virgin olive oil. Where did you study in Liguria? I lived in Genova-Nervi for a year.
ReplyDeleteWe were in Chiavari, about one half hour south of Genoa by rail.
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