Festa di Santa Croce, Lucca, Italy 

Every September in Lucca there is a festival to celebrate the feast of Santa Croce.    Lucchesi from all around the world (hence, Lucchesi nel Mondo) come to reunite and celebrate this ancient festival.    Watch this space for information about the upcoming festival for this year.

Carnevale, Washington, DC 

Each February we host a Carnevale for our members and other Italian-American organizations in the area.

Join us on February 27th from 6pm-10pm at the Holy Rosary Reception Hall, 595 3rd Street in NW Washington DC for our 2010 Carnevale celebration.

Get your creative juices in gear and come up with a clever costume in order to win the "Everyone Loves a Clown" costume contest.

• When: February 27th, 6pm-10pm
• Where: Holy Rosary Church reception hall (595 3rd Street NW, Washington, DC)
• What: Dinner, Dancing, Games and FUN! FUN! FUN!

For reservations, to see the menu, and to get additional information, please see the attached Carnevale 2010 Invitation. And join us on February 27th!

Italian Language Program 

Members who attend Casa Italiana Language School (CILS) receive a partial reimbursement of tuition.   This benefit is available to all members.

To be considered for reimbursement for classes, please email the completed Application Form to Osvaldo Barsi.   You may also mail it directly to:

Osvaldo Barsi
Lucchesi nel Mondo - Tuscany Club
2302 Crestlawn Ave
Cheverly MD 20785

Just Like Nonna Used to Make 

Members/non-members meet monthly/bimonthly in the home of a member, where we get hands-on experience in making a traditional Lucchesi/Toscani/Italian dish.    At the end of the class, we get to enjoy our creations.

Classes are limited to 12 people (first come, first serve).    Members have first priority, however, non-members are always welcome if there's space in the class.   

The class is free to members, non-members pay $10.

If you're interested in hosting a class or signing up for future classes, please contact Karen Berl.

13-Mar-2010 - Polenta e Coniglio with host chef Silvana Cipriani

22-May-2010 - Torta di Mandola with host chef Mariangela DiPietri

Italian Language/Cultural Study Program at Viareggio

Each year our parent organization, Lucchesi Nel Mondo, with funding from Regione Toscana - Consiglio dei Toscani all'Estero, provides scholarships for youth with Tuscan ancestry to attend this wonderful program.   Currently the scholarships cover the entire amount for the College program, full room and board at Cristoforo Colombo College dorms, all excursions, and reimbursement of ½ the student's airfare if the program is successfully completed.

We would like to encourage all eligible members to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.    If there is someone in your immediate family with Tuscan heritage (Tuscan parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents) and you are between the age of 18 and 30 years old (by July of the year you're applying), please consider applying for the program.

Locally we cannot guarantee that all applicants will be selected in a given year, but usually 1-2 students from our club are selected for a scholarship to the program each year.

While the 2008 program is now complete, if you would like further information about this program for 2009, please review the attached Program Information and Application Form, or contact Ann Barsi.

MEDAGLIA D'ORO Competition

This award goes to members whose ancestors come from the Province of Lucca and have distinguished themselves.    They must have distinguished themselves in economics, university education, and cultural, social, professional, or artistic activities.    Winners are honored at an awards ceremony in Lucca.

Scholarships from La Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa

Each year La Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa offers scholarships for Masters degrees to members of Tuscan descent.

For further information about any of these programs, please contact us.