| 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 Ash | | | | ceremony in which participants wear costumes from |
| Wednesday. The biggest celebrations are held in | | | | the 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 the | | | | costume 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 vary | | | | procession is held on May 1st through 4th where |
| from one town to the next.Festa della Madonna Bruna | | | | pilgrims dress in costumes from the 1600s with |
| in Matera, ItalyThis is a unique festival held in southern | | | | accompanying horses, carts and a statue of the saint |
| Italy in July. The festival's highlight comes when a Carro | | | | on 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 one | | | | the 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 horse | | | | where a religious procession takes place on streets |
| race. l Palio di Siena | | | | carpeted 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 popular | | | | the last Sunday in May. Participants wear Medieval |
| international jazz festival that's held in July in Perugia.A | | | | arms 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 during | | | | event features fireworks, bands and a procession in |
| the advent of Lent. This type of festival has become | | | | honor 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 selling | | | | January fair with sweets, toys and presents that is |
| china baskets or cups filled with candies tied with | | | | held 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)Christmas | | | | of 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. Italians | | | | summer season of open air entertainment put on by |
| enjoy Christmas traditions, recipes and rites each | | | | the Rome Opera House. Highlights include music, ballet, |
| year.Easter In Italy (Buona Pasqua) Italy holds many | | | | opera, 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 are | | | | March, this celebration features masks and costumes, |
| conducted by churches.Thanksgiving in ItalyItaly | | | | music, fireworks and mimes. Entertainment is provided |
| celebrates Thanksgiving, but in a different way than | | | | in the streets. |
| America. The family meal usually consists of Italian | | | | Wherever you go in Italy, there's bound to be a |
| recipes (instead of turkey) that have been passed | | | | special event or festival nearby. Italy is full of fun |
| down throughout generations. Families gather for a | | | | celebrations all year. You can join in and become a |
| traditional meal during the holiday.Celebrate at the | | | | part of these great traditions when you visit Italy.You |
| Venice Carnival The Venice Carnival is a traditional | | | | can find international cell phones and service for Italy |
| festival where partygoers wear masks. It is romantic | | | | from Free incoming calls from all countries night and |
| and considered one of the largest festivals in | | | | day and calling the states is just US $.60 per minute! |
| Europe.Festa del RedentoreThis is a Venetian festival | | | | They rent and sell phones and satellite phones as |
| held to celebrate the end of a plague that occurred | | | | well.John Dulaney, born Dec. 11th, 1946, married with |
| during the 16th century. It's usually held the second | | | | children. |
| week in July with a fireworks display and a regatta. An | | | | Living most years since 1969 outside the USA and |
| architect named Antonio Palladio built the Church of | | | | working in motion pictures since 1965 I started with my |
| the Redeemer as a remembrance of the | | | | wife, Jojo, in March of 1994 in San Francisco, Ca. |
| occasion.Scoppio del CarroThis is an event held on | | | | I've lived in or been to approximately 36 countries and |
| Easter Saturday in Florence where a chariot pulled by | | | | have lived under Democracies, Socialism, Communism, |
| an ox goes through the streets on a journey to the Il | | | | dictatorships, kingdoms and others. There is nothing like |
| Duomo. Fireworks are ignited from the vehicle.Spoleto | | | | home. |
| FestivalKnown as the "Festival of Two Worlds," this is | | | | I participated at Channel Four in Manila, Philippines |
| one of the most popular musical events in Italy.Other | | | | during the "People Power Revolution" and stood, with |
| Traditional Events in Italy (City or region stated in | | | | my 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 the | | | | Communism /Dictatorship in dozens of countries and |
| Joust of the Saracen, this is a tilting contest that's held | | | | today enjoy the remains of our freedoms and |
| the first Sunday in September. Knights in armor depict | | | | protections of the Constitution in the USA here in |
| the 13th century customs. | | | | California. |
| *Calendimaggio (Assisi) -- Also called Celebration of | | | | Working in front of and behind the camera films |
| Holy Week, this is Italy's Easter event to celebrate | | | | around 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 the | | | | Umbria, Italy, some is for sale. After all is said and done |
| Joust of the Quintana that's held on the first Sunday of | | | | I count my children, wife Jojo and my friends as my |
| August. It's a pageant in which contestants wear 15th | | | | only real treasure. |
| century costumes. | | | | |