Traditional events in Italy

Traditional Events in Italy's Many Cities

Agrigento

ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL First half of February Folk festival of song, dance, costumes, fireworks

Arezzo

GIOSTRA del SARACINO (Joust of the Saracen) First Sunday in September Tilting contest of the 13th century with knights in armor

Assisi

CALENDIMAGGIO (Celebration of Holy Week) Easter Week Celebration of spring according to rites dating back to medieval times

Ascoli- Piceno

TORNEO della QUINTANA (Joust of the Quintana) First Sunday in August Historical pageant with people in 15th century costumes

Asti

PALIO - San Secondo May 2 A 700 year old ceremony with procession in 13th century costume. Flag Throwing Palio. Third Sunday in September Ancient festival with 800 costumes participants

Bari

SAGRA di San NICOLA May 7 Historic procession in costume.

Cagliari

SAGRA di Sant' EFISIO May 1 to 4 One of the biggest and most colorful processions in the world. Several thousand pilgrims (wearing costumes dating back to 1657) accompany the statue of the saint on foot, carts and horses

Firenze - 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 High Mass.
CALCIO FIORENTINO (Soccer Match) June 24 to 28 Revival of a 16th century football match in medieval costumes. June 24th Fireworks display from the terraced gardens overlooking the city

Foligno

GIOSTRA della QUINTANA (Joust of the Quintana) Second Sunday in September Revival of a 17th century joust with 600 knights in costume, historical procession

Genova

PALIO MARINARO dei RIONI June 29th Rowing race in ancient dress

Genzano

INFIORATA (Flower festival) Corpus Domini A religious procession along the streets carpeted with flowers in magnificent designs.

Gubbio

FESTA dei CERI (Race of the Candles) May 15 A procession in local costume in witch tall shrines are carried to the church on the top of Mount Ingino. PALIO dei BALESTRIERI (The Palio of the Archers) Last Sunday in May Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro with medieval costumes and arms.

La Spezia

PALIO del GOLFO First Sunday of August Rowing contest

Marostica (Vicenza)

PARTITA a SCACCHI con PERSONAGGI VIVENTI (Living Chess Game) Second weekend of September in even-numbered years Chess game is played in the town square by living pawns in period costume.

Napoli

FESTIVAL of San GENNARO September 19a A religious ceremony honoring the patron saint of the city

Nola

FESTA del GIGLIO (The Lily Festival) Sunday following June 22nd Allegorical towers are carried in a colorful procession costume

Nuoro

SAGRA del REDENTORE (Feast of the Redeemer) August 27 to 30 Colorful procession in Sardinian costumes

Oristano

SA SARTIGLIA February 24 to 26 Medieval procession and jousting of masking knights

Palermo

FEAST of Santa ROSALIA July 10 to 15 Procession, bands, fireworks in honor of the patron saint of the city

Piana degli Albanesi

CELEBRATION of the EPIPHANY from the BYZANTINE RITE January 6

Pisa

GIOCO del PONTE (Battle of the Bridge) First Sunday in June Medieval parade and contest REGATTA of the GREAT MARITIME REPUBLICS The friendly contest and historic regatta in which each of the former maritime republics (Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice) race for a price

Roma

EPIPHANY FAIR at PIAZZA NAVONA January 5th A fair of toys, sweets and others presents takes place in the open air among the beautiful Bernini fountains
FESTA DE' NOANTRI July 19th to 26th Folklore of Old Rome in Trastevere, including colorful procession for the Vergine del Carmine, folk dances and songs, carnival floats and fireworks
Estate Romana End of June to August (Roman Summer) is a program of evening entertainment for all tastes coordinated by the city of Rome. The "Teatro dell'Opera di Roma", the Rome Opera House, offers a summer season in the open air. Recently, this has taken place in the spectacular surroundings of the Baths of Caracalla, with the program consisting of an opera and a ballet, running from early July to early August. Evening music and other events are offered at Castel Sant'Angelo overlooking the Tiber river; drama and music are staged at the Roman theater of Ostia Antica, organized by Cosmophonies and the Festival Euro Mediterraneo, which also puts on high-profile musical events at the ruins of "Villa Adriana" (Hadrian's Villa) as well as Fiesta where you can dance to Latin American music from 11 pm to 3-4 am. "All' ombra del Colloseo" (in the shadow of the Coliseum) dancing and theater are organized in a nearby park overlooking the Coliseum.

Sansepolcro

PALIO dei BALESTRIERI (The Palio of the Archers) Last Sunday in May Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro with medieval costumes and arms.

Sassari

CAVALCATA SARDA (Sardinian Cavalcade) Next to last Sunday in May Traditional procession of more than 3,000 people in Sardinian costumes

Siena

PALIO - in Siena July 2nd and August 16th Procession and horse race. Participants are members of ancient city districts, competing for the banner (Palio). Colorful medieval pageantry.

Taranto

PROCESSION of the MYSTERIES Good Friday Renowned for its costumes and solemnity

Venezia - Venice

CARNIVAL in VENICE February/March Celebrations in costumes and masks, entertainment in streets and squares. Music, mimes and fireworks.
IL REDENTORE (The Feast of the Redeemer)

Third Sunday in July Procession of gondolas commemorating the end of the epidemic of 1575
HISTORICAL REGATTA

First Sunday in September Traditional competition between two-oar racing gondolas and procession of ceremonial boats.

Viareggio

CARNEVALE (Carnival) February/March Highlight of the Carnival festivities is the procession of spectacular and colorful floats