Buona Pasquetta

Well, it's the Monday after Easter, which is a national holiday in Italy (and other countries).  So, in addition to most museums being closed as usual, government offices and most businesses are closed.  A handful of supermarkets, mini-markets and restaurants will be open.

Today's national holiday is Pasquetta (little Easter), also known as Easter Monday.  It is based on an event in the Bible.  Italians celebrate the day off with family.  Picnics are typical.  We will celebrate Pasquetta with a long walk in Florence and eat some gelato in our local park--a picnic of sorts.  Tonight, we will enjoy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

View from our apartment, the morning of Pasquetta (4/17/2017)

During the Easter season, we have enjoyed a typical Italian treat.  Like eating panettone and pandoro at Christmas time, Italians eat a traditional cake at Easter, colomba di Pasqua or colomba pasquale (Easter dove).  It is shaped like a dove.  Check out the photos below. 

The cake is like light and airy like panettone but the topping is different.  Colomba di Pasqua is topped with almonds and pearl sugar.  We have enjoyed our share of colomba di Pasqua.  It is delicious.

A small colomba di Pasqua from a local bakery (Antico Forno Giglio)

A family-sized colomba di Pasqua from the supermarket

Colomba di Pasqua

Wishing you a buona Pasquetta!

P.S.  Today, we are celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary.  Who could have guessed?