Special Events and Festivals in Italy

Carnevale Festival in ItalyCelebrated 40 days before*Palio San Secondo (Asti) -- This is a 700-year-old
Easter, Carnevale is a large festival held before Ashceremony in which participants wear costumes from
Wednesday. The biggest celebrations are held inthe 13th century.
Viareggio, Ivrea and Venice. Carnevale celebrations*Sagra di San Nicola (Bari) -- This is a historic
are held in many cities around the world.Celebrate thecostume procession held on May 7th.
New Year in ItalyItalians bring in the New Year with*Sagra di Sant' Efisio (Cagliari) -- A large colorful
music, dancing and fireworks. Celebrations may varyprocession is held on May 1st through 4th where
from one town to the next.Festa della Madonna Brunapilgrims dress in costumes from the 1600s with
in Matera, ItalyThis is a unique festival held in southernaccompanying horses, carts and a statue of the saint
Italy in July. The festival's highlight comes when a Carroon foot.
carrying the Madonna is destroyed. The Carro is made*Calcio Fiorentino (Florence) -- This is a soccer match
of papier mache and takes an entire year to create.held in June that resembles those football games of
Making the Carro is a skill passed down from onethe Medieval times.
generation to the next.L'Ardia di San CostantinoHeld in*Infiorata (Genzano) -- A beautiful flower festival,
Sardinia, L'Ardia di San Costantino is an Italian horsewhere a religious procession takes place on streets
race. l Palio di Sienacarpeted with flowers.
Il Palio di Siena is a famous festival and horse race -*Balestrieri (Gubbio) -- Known as the Palio of the
probably the most famous in the country.Archers, this is a Medieval crossbow contest held on
Umbria Jazz Festival in PerugiaThis is a very popularthe last Sunday in May. Participants wear Medieval
international jazz festival that's held in July in Perugia.Aarms and costumes.
Carnevale Ogni Scherzo ValeItalians have this carnival*Feast of Santa Rosalia (Palermo) -- Held in July, this
before the 40 days of deprivation experienced duringevent features fireworks, bands and a procession in
the advent of Lent. This type of festival has becomehonor of the patron saint of the city.
popular in cities around the world.Valentine's Day in*Epiphany Fair at Piazza Navona (Roma) -- A
ItalyItaly celebrates Valentine's Day with shops sellingJanuary fair with sweets, toys and presents that is
china baskets or cups filled with candies tied withheld outdoors at the gorgeous Bernini fountains.
ribbons. Getting engaged on Valentine's Day is a*Estate Romana (Roma) -- Coordinated by the city
tradition in Italy.Christmas In Italy (Buon Natale)Christmasof Rome, this event takes place from the end of June
in Italy is marked with white, red and green colors,until August or during Roman Summer. There is a
which are also the colors of the Italian flag. Italianssummer season of open air entertainment put on by
enjoy Christmas traditions, recipes and rites eachthe Rome Opera House. Highlights include music, ballet,
year.Easter In Italy (Buona Pasqua) Italy holds manyopera, drama and more.
ceremonies during the holiday of Easter no matter*Carnival in Venice (Venice) -- Held in February and
when the date of the holiday. Most ceremonies areMarch, this celebration features masks and costumes,
conducted by churches.Thanksgiving in ItalyItalymusic, fireworks and mimes. Entertainment is provided
celebrates Thanksgiving, but in a different way thanin the streets.
America. The family meal usually consists of ItalianWherever you go in Italy, there's bound to be a
recipes (instead of turkey) that have been passedspecial event or festival nearby. Italy is full of fun
down throughout generations. Families gather for acelebrations all year. You can join in and become a
traditional meal during the holiday.Celebrate at thepart of these great traditions when you visit Italy.You
Venice Carnival The Venice Carnival is a traditionalcan find international cell phones and service for Italy
festival where partygoers wear masks. It is romanticfrom Free incoming calls from all countries night and
and considered one of the largest festivals inday and calling the states is just US $.60 per minute!
Europe.Festa del RedentoreThis is a Venetian festivalThey rent and sell phones and satellite phones as
held to celebrate the end of a plague that occurredwell.John Dulaney, born Dec. 11th, 1946, married with
during the 16th century. It's usually held the secondchildren.
week in July with a fireworks display and a regatta. AnLiving most years since 1969 outside the USA and
architect named Antonio Palladio built the Church ofworking in motion pictures since 1965 I started with my
the Redeemer as a remembrance of thewife, Jojo, in March of 1994 in San Francisco, Ca.
occasion.Scoppio del CarroThis is an event held onI've lived in or been to approximately 36 countries and
Easter Saturday in Florence where a chariot pulled byhave lived under Democracies, Socialism, Communism,
an ox goes through the streets on a journey to the Ildictatorships, kingdoms and others. There is nothing like
Duomo. Fireworks are ignited from the vehicle.Spoletohome.
FestivalKnown as the "Festival of Two Worlds," this isI participated at Channel Four in Manila, Philippines
one of the most popular musical events in Italy.Otherduring the "People Power Revolution" and stood, with
Traditional Events in Italy (City or region stated inmy wife's brother, along with half a million others
parentheses)*Almond Blossom Festival (Agrigento) --against the threat of tank attack.
Festival of song, fireworks and costumes.I have witnessed the ruinous effects of Socialism
*Giostra del Saracino (Arezzo) -- Also known as theCommunism /Dictatorship in dozens of countries and
Joust of the Saracen, this is a tilting contest that's heldtoday enjoy the remains of our freedoms and
the first Sunday in September. Knights in armor depictprotections of the Constitution in the USA here in
the 13th century customs.California.
*Calendimaggio (Assisi) -- Also called Celebration ofWorking in front of and behind the camera films
Holy Week, this is Italy's Easter event to celebratearound the world we removed to the suburbs and a
Spring as they did in Medieval times.quiet life, for a few years. We still have property in
*Torneo Della Quintana (Ascoli-Piceno) -- This is theUmbria, Italy, some is for sale. After all is said and done
Joust of the Quintana that's held on the first Sunday ofI count my children, wife Jojo and my friends as my
August. It's a pageant in which contestants wear 15thonly real treasure.
century costumes.