Indulge yourself at Perugia's famous Eurochocolate festival

Perugia's Eurochocolate Festival, an annual event thatthis delectable favourite and afterward you will have
is famous throughout the world, is the most popularno doubt about chocolate's distinct nutritional and
chocolate festival in Europe. Chocolate is big businessdietary benefits.
in Umbria and Italy, with annual sales of 350 millionYou can also take part in informative and lively forums
euros. Consumption has doubled over the past 10that highlight the production of cocoa as a sustainable
years, rising from two to four kilos per year, perindustry for third world nations. The festival has a
person - and is still growing!special area that features certified Fair Trade cocoa
This year's festival, ChocolAge, runs from 13-21products, made from cocoa that was bought from
October 2007. Each year a new theme is developed,Third World farmers at a fair price. This cocoa was
and commercial, educational and cultural activities areproduced with full respect for workers' rights and
planned around the theme. For nine delightful days,grown in an environmentally friendly way. Most Italian
Perugia in Umbria is transformed into a chocolateartisan chocolate makers use cocoa with the Fair
lovers dream - a fantastic occasion to discover andTrade certification.
enjoy the highly celebrated Umbrian hospitality.If you need some exercise to work off all that
More than a million chocoholics visit this beautiful cityoverindulgence, there are excellent tennis courts in the
each year, to sample chocolate delights from all overcity and plenty of places to walk and cycle. Around
Europe. You can scramble with the locals for freePerugia, you will see some of the region's most
trimmings as chocolate artists carve huge sculpturesinnovative architecture - the Renaissance-era Rocca
out of the massive metre-high blocks of darkPaolina Fortress, the Priori Palace and beautiful
chocolate placed around Piazza IV Novembre. Joinchurches such as the Duomo San Lorenzo and the
special guided tours of the city, peruse the manyBasilica of San Domenico. For the more adventurous,
exhibitions and live demonstrations, and enjoy thethere is plenty of climbing, trekking, rafting, canoeing and
numerous and generous free tastings, when sampleskayaking in the hills nearby.
of chocolate from all over the world, including Vietnam,If you are more into relaxation, you will enjoy the
Cuba, Bolivia and Papua New Guinea, are handed outaromatherapy sessions that utilise cocoa and
on special trowels.chocolate facemasks. The Eurochocolate festival also
If you enjoy shopping, the city's charming promenadesshowcases the latest in chocolate beauty treatments -
are filled with vendors - more than 700 booths offerand some are free. What a fantastic way to top off
an incredible array of goodies made with chocolate -nine days of celebrating the 'food of the gods'.
pasta, salami, liquors, cheeses, desserts, drinks and aPerugia is Umbria's capital city, known as the 'green
vast array of pastries, cakes and candies, and muchheart of Italy', and the area, with its fascinating array of
more.mediaeval towns and hilltop villages, is a popular tourist
During the festival, Perugia also hosts numerousdestination. The city is 175 km from Rome and 150 km
educational and cultural events - cooking classes,from Florence and is easily accessed by road and
banquets, chocolate theatre, a chocolate cookingtrain. Inexpensive flights are also available from Rome
competition by top chefs, and finally theand Florence. You can hire a car at the airport and
much-anticipated Eurochocolate Awards. The manytrain station, but be sure to book well in advance as
seminars and talks will increase your knowledge aboutthis is a very popular festival.