Chocolate is one of the best remedies for fatigue and stress. The Aztecs called it "food of the gods." The Euro Chocolate Festival in Perugia is one of the most delicious in the world, it will not leave anyone indifferent.
At the Euro Chocolate Festival in Perugia, photo by loggedelperugino
Every year in October, the ancient city of Perugia becomes the "sweet capital" of Italy. Here is the festival "Eurochocolate" (Eurochocolate a Perugia) - the largest chocolate festival in Europe. The place for the festival was not chosen by chance: Perugia is the birthplace of the famous Italian brand of sweets Perugina, created in the last century by Louise Spagnoli.
Louise Spagnoli - the founder of the brand
Candy "Kiss", photo Luciana Bono
The founder of the brand was born in Perugia, in 1877. She married at age 21, here in her hometown. In 1907, Louise, along with her husband Annibale, decided to open a family confectionery enterprise. Chocolate balls with katsotti nuts became a popular type of sweets from Perugina, which was later renamed Bacio - “kiss”. The name has been preserved, “Bacio Perugina” sweets with happy wishes inside are now known to the whole world.
Louise Spagnoli entered the history of Italy and as the creator of popular perfumes, and as the founder of a fashion brand of clothes, and as a generous philanthropist, and as a lover of romantic adventures. But that's another story. We talk about the festival.
How the festival came about
"Sweet October" Italy - annual chocolate festival in Perugia, photo dreamdiscoveritalia
The first Eurochocolate a Perugia festival took place in 1993. Since then, it has become a regular event. His idea belongs to Eugenio Gudaruchchi - the CEO of Perugina. Gudaruchchi borrowed the concept of the holiday from the famous Munich beer Oktoberfest. Currently, more than one hundred and fifty large and small, Italian and world enterprises annually participate in Perugia festivals.
Perugia - the "sweet capital" of the world
Chocolate City, photo S. Potente Agriturismo
For a week, the holiday transforms Perugia. The streets are filled with crowds of people and aromas of sweets. Experts, quality specialists, chocolate lovers and just tourists gather in the city. There are performances all around, clowns perform, colored balloons fly.
Chocolate reigns everywhere these days: statues are sculpted from it and palaces are erected, pyramids are built and fortresses built, souvenirs are made and murals are made. What varieties are not here! Chocolate with nuts, lemon, fruits and cognac; with sweet pepper and allspice. Bars and sweets, bars and balls, chocolate drinks are sold in chocolateries. Even the most ordinary foods and dishes are cooked with chocolate: pizza, spaghetti, sausages with truffles, cheeses. Edible souvenirs are sold: watches and candles, accessories, shoes, telephones.
Representatives of the perfumery and cosmetics industry also come to Perugia. A lot of chocolate-based cosmetic and hygiene products are produced by modern firms. At festive exhibitions you can see "chocolate" shower gels, soap, shampoos, fragrant bath foam, oils and masks, even perfumes.
Masterpieces are born at the festival, world records are set. Chocolatiers make sculptures and paintings made of chocolate mass. Amazing exhibits are exhibited on the main square of the city: miniature copies of world-famous monuments, architectural symbols of cities - all from the sweet "building material". The largest chocolate bar, two meters long and weighing almost six tons, was made here in Perugino. A giant confectionery product was awarded the Guinness Book of Records!
The renowned chocolatiers of the world give master classes, conduct tasting lessons - tell how to taste a treat in order to fully experience and reveal its taste. Professionals advise biting off small pieces, waiting for the chocolate to melt in order to feel its tenderness or bitterness, and enjoy the delicate aroma.
At festival exhibitions, you can follow the entire process of preparing the most popular product, to participate in it. Visitors are invited to become the authors of a personal brand, choose additives and design a "trademark" by signing a new type of sweets in their own name.
Photo for memory, photo dreamdiscoveritalia
On the main square of Perugia establish a mobile laboratory. There, experts examine the composition of chocolate and introduce the industry to innovations. Some new developments after the presentation at the festival are introduced into production. Despite the festive and gaming nature of the event, business meetings take place here, quite real business transactions are concluded, professional seminars are held.
The evening of each festival day ends with a stunning fireworks display.
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