The Italian Festival, held at Idiom on the outskirts of Somerset West on Saturday, was heralded by beautiful weather for the crowds that headed up to this spectacularly-beautiful estate, high on the side of the Hottentots Holland mountains. This year, Idiom partnered with the Italian Consulate and the Italian Institute of Culture in Pretoria to bring the Sbandieratori d’Arezzo to the festival. Hailing from the heart of southern Tuscany, these flag wavers bring to life the vibrant tradition of street parades seen in many Tuscany towns, dating back to the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Guest Chef Andrea Volpe was out from Tuscany, and demonstrated how to make Pappardelle al Cinghiale – a typical Tuscan pasta dish made with a slow-cooked wild boar ragu. The wine-tasting area focused on the Tuscan region this year, although there were also wines from the Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, and the Veneto open for tasting. Unfortunately, Sunday’s festival proceedings had to be cancelled (a highlight would have been the appearance of the Alfa Romeo club), due to the high winds the previous night, and anticipated on the day.