What's On

UPCOMING & SPECIAL EVENTS

Viareggio: Carnival di Viareggio. February/March. Highlight of the Carnival festival is the procession of spectacular and colourful floats.
Pisa: Gioco del Ponte (Battle of the Bridge). First Sunday in June. Medieval parade and contest.
Siena: The Palio Horse Race. 2 July and 16 August. Procession and bareback horse race held in the Piazza del Campo, the main square of Siena, Participants are members of the ancient city districts competing for the banner (palio). Colourful medieval pageantry.
Florence: Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart). Easter Sunday. A pyramid of fireworks in the Cathedral Square is set off by a mechanical dove driven from the altar during Mass.
Arezzo: Giostra del Saraceno. First Sunday in September, a tilting contest of the 13th century with knights in armour.
Florence: Maggio Musicale. April-July. Teatro Comunale. www.maggiofiorentino.com
Lucca: Puccini Festival,. y and July/August. Torre del Lago, Lucca. www.puccinifestival.it
Siena: Estate Musicale Chigiana. July/August. www.chigiana.it
Florence: Calcio Storico. Historic soccer match. 24 – 28 June. Revival of a 16th century football match in medieval costume. Fireworks display from the terraced gardens overlooking the city.

Sansepolcro: Palio dei Balestieri. 8 September. Crossbow palio between San Sepolcro and Gubbio. Medieval contect with costumes and arms.
Assisi: Celebration of Holy Week. Calendimaggio, celebration of Spring according to rites dating back to Ancient times.
Gubbio: Festa dei Ceri (Racew of the Candles). 15 May. A procession in local costume where tall shrines are carried to the church on top of Mount Ingino.
Gubbio: Palio dei Balestieri (Palio of the Archers). Last Sunday in May. Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro.
Foligno: Giostra della Quintana. Second Sunday in September. Revival of a 17th century joust with 600 knights in costume, historical procession.
Spoleto: Festical dei Due Mondi. July www.spoletofestival.it
Todi: Teatro Comunale – July/August. Music festival. www.todimusicfest.it
Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia. 8/17 July. www.umbriajazz.com

Rome: Epiphany Fair in Piazza Navona. 5 January. A fair of toys, sweets and other gifts takes place in the open among the beautiful Bernini fountains.
Rome: Festa de’ Noantri, 19 – 26 July. Folklore festival of Old Rome in Trastevere, including a colourful procession of the Vergine del Carmine, folk dance and songs, carnival floats and fireworks.
Rome: Open Air Opera at Terme di Caracalla. July-August. www.opera.roma.it
Ostia Antica: The Passion Play. Daily except Mondays 14 May to 10 October. www.33ad.info
Viterbo: Baroque Music Festival. August.

Venice: Carnival of Venice. February/March. Celebrations in costumes, entertainment in the streets and squares, music, mimes and fireworks.
Venice: Il Redentore (Feast of the Redeemer). Third Sunday in July. Procession of gondolas commemorating the end of the epidemic of 1575.
Venice: Historical Regatta. First Sunday in September. Traditional competition between two-oar racing gondolas and procession of ceremonial boats.
Marostica: Living Chess Game. Takes place during the second weekend in September, in an even-numbered year. The chess game is played in the town square by living pawns in costume.
Verona: Arena. June/August. Opera season. www.arena.it
Verona: Jazz Festival. End of June. www.estateteatraleveronese.it

Nola: Festa del Giglio (Feast of the Lily). The Sunday following 22 June. A colourful procession in costume.
Naples: Festival of San Gennaro. 19 September. Religious ceremony honoring the patron saint of the city.
Ravello: Ravello Classical Music Festival – March-June/Sept-Nov & Wagner Festival (end June-August). www.ravellofestival.it or www.ravelloarts.org

Rapallo: Summer Festival (music, theatre and dance). Valle Christi. July/August. www.omniaeventi.com
La Spezia: Palio del Golfo. Second Sunday in August. Rowing contest.

Piana degli Albanesi: Celebration of the Epiphany from the Byzantine Rite. 6 January.
Agrigento: Almond Blossom Festival. First half of February. Folk festival of song, dance, costumes and fireworks.
Palermo: Feast of Santa Rosalia. 10 – 15 July. Procession, bands, fireworks in honour of the patron saint of the city.
Taormina: Taormina Arte. July/August. www.taormina-arte.com

May

Tolentino - Historical re-enactment of the battle between the troops of Gioacchino Murat and the Austrian army (2-3 May)
Camerino - Sword and Palio Contest (17 May)
Sarnano - National Antique and Craft Fair (last Sunday of the month)
Fermo - Festival of the Piceni (Morrubiano)

June

July

Sarnano - “And I think of the Middle Ages”, exhibition and historical re-enactment (until the 20 August)
Porto San Giorgio - Festival of the Sea (second half of the month)

August

Amandola - Harvest Festival Procession in medieval costume (third Sunday of the month)
Fermo - Palio of the Assunta (15 August)
Ascoli - Jousting Tournament (first Sunday of the month)
Pedaso - Festival of Mussels

September

October

November

Ascoli Piceno: Torneo della Quintana. First Sunday in August. Historical pageant in 15th century costumes
Macerata: Arena Sferisterio. July/August. www.macerataopera.org
Pesaro: Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival. August. www.rossinioperafestival.it

Stresa, Lake Maggiore: Stresa Musical Weeks. August/September. www.settimanemusicali.net
Milan: Oh Bej! Oh Bej! 7 – 9 December. Milan’s patron saint is celebrated with a beautiful Christmas market filled with sweets and typical products in the area surrounding the church of Saint Ambrogio

Asti: Flag Throwing Palio. Third Sunday in September. Ancient festival with 800 costumed participants, historic procession and horse race
Asti: Palio San Secondo. 2 May. A 700-year old ceremony with a procession in 13th century costumes