|
The following will be updated as soon as we
are able to obtain 2010 information from the events.
March
Italian Antique Show
Todi
Held at the Palazzo delle Arte it shows paintings, carpets, ceramics and
bronze works.
April
Paolo d'Aloja Memorial Canoe Regatta
Terni
Held at Lake Piediluco draws Olympic and World champions.
National Antique Show & Market
Assisi
The nation's finest antique dealers exhibit. www.assisiantiquariato.it
St. Juvenal's Race
Narni
Knights run through the city with lances and compete to throw them through
rings. An historic procession is held the evening before.
May
Calendimaggio
Assisi
Where the Middle Ages come to life in Assisi's
picturesque cobbled streets. The old houses are bedecked with flowers and the
townsfolk dress in medieval costumes, playing the music and games of centuries
ago. Truly spectacular! Advance ticket needed.
Corso dei Ceri
Gubbio
One
of the most remarkable and truly authentic celebrations in Italy. The festival
begins in the morning when the teams assemble the Ceri (candlesticks) for the
race. The Ceri are three towering,
beautifully decorated wooden constructions, 20 feet high and weighing up to 900
pounds, topped with statues of Saint Ubaldo, patron saint of the town and of
masons, Saint Giorgio, patron saint of traders, and Saint Antonio, patron saint
of peasants. Trained for the honor
from childhood, the teams run these monstrous Ceri over a 2.5mile course through
the town and up the steep Mount Ingino to the
sanctuary of Saint Ubaldo. www.gubbio.com/ceri
Palio della Balestra
Gubbio
Traditionally every year in May the
Crossbowmen of Sansepolcro go to the town of Gubbio to compete with their
archrivals in honor of Saint Ubaldo, whose crossbowmen wear medieval costumes
designed on the basis of those originally painted by Piero della Francesca
centuries ago. The distance of the target from the crossbowmen is over 100 feet.
Springtime Festival
Montone
Music Festival, free
admission
Gathering of the Blacksmiths
Montone
Masters
of the craft of Wrought-iron demonstrate and exhibit their craft.
Free admission.
The
Opening of the Wine Cellars
Most parts of Italy Last Sunday in May
An
event with steadily increasing participation in most parts of Italy. On this day
from 10AM to 6PM local residents, tourists and wine connoisseurs can taste
freely the carious products of the local vineyards. Visit www.movimentoturismovino.it
to find the participating cantinas.
June
Procession of Corpus Christi
Orvieto
A wandering priest, on
pilgrimage to Rome in 1263 was burdened with doubts until he celebrated mass in
the crypt of Santa Christina in Bolsena. During
that mass his doubts were abolished when a few drops of blood from a wound on a
statue of Christ fell on the altar cloth. This
miracle eventually led to the construction of the Cathedral of Orvieto, a
masterpiece of craftsmanship and beauty. The
blood-stained altar cloth leads the annual Corpus Christi procession and the
world-renown parade starts at the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and ends at
the Cathedral. The magnificent
period costumes are all handmade to historical specifications by local
seamstresses and the medieval streets jump to life with banners, drummers, flag
throwers, music and stalls of food. Not
to be missed.
Infiorata
Spello
The
traditional festival of Corpus Domini
marked by wonderful works of art created literally on the streets using
thousands of different colored flower petals.
The artists work all night on the Saturday before and to see it at its
best, it is wise to arrive early on Sunday (7-8am).A MUST-SEE.
Water Festival
Terni
Dates back to the celebration of the Summer Solstice. Held at Lake Piediluco
it features boat parades, fireworks and symphonic concerts.
Spoleto Festival
Spoleto
Begun in 1958 and internationally renowned festival
celebrates the performing, literary, and visual arts with non-stop performances
of Opera, orchestra, concerts, ballet, prose readings, film and theatre.
Information can be obtained at 800-565-600 from within Italy. www.spoletofestival.net
July
Umbria Jazz
Perugia
Contemporary jazz festival held in Perugia since 1973. www.umbriajazz.com.
Preggio Music Festival
Preggio weekly July-August
Fine singers and musicians perform under the stars or
in the shadow of a 10th century Romanesque church.
The Roman Theater Season
Gubbio
An amphitheater used as a stage for plays written by classic authors.
Todiarte Festival
Todi
www.todiartefesitval.it
Music, theater, ballet & cultural events.
The
Italian International Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix
Todi – the second full week in July, weather permitting.
Call 075-894-2526
70
hot air balloons will participate arriving from countries around the world.
The balloons are inflated twice daily, once in the morning and again in
the evening creating unforgettable photo opportunities.
There will be many side attractions at the launch site for the whole
family.
Festival
of the Bringoli
Lisciano Niccone
Food
festival.
Mussel
Festival
Cittá di Castello - 3rd week of July
Dozens
of open-air cooking stands prepare the shellfish in a least ten different ways
and by the end of the feast, at least a ton of mussels will have been consumed
at rustic tables set up outside the city walls for the occasion.
Fish
Fry
Passignano sul Trasimeno – last
Sunday of July
Festival
with the biggest pan in the world offered on the scenic shores of Umbria’s
largest lake. There is also a boat
race.
August
Montefalco's August
1st & 3rd Sunday of August
Folk and cultural celebrations, art shops and hadicraft exihibitions in the
village streets
Palio dei Terzieri
Citta della Pieve
A 16th Century festival featuring an historic procession, period costumes
inspired by the paintings of Pietro Vannucci ("Perugino") acrobats,
flame throwers, jugglers & archery.
Festival of Nations
Cittá di Castello -
Music festival in Cittá di Castello. www.festivalnazioni.com
Corciano Festival
Corciano
A series of concerts, theater productions
and exhibitions by Umbrian artists
Ferragosto
All of
Italy 8/15
This
commemorates the assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus, into heaven.
Italy virtually shuts down. August
is considered “vacation month” from the first day of August.
Keep this in mind as you plan your holiday because not
only during, but also slightly before and after this holiday everything in Italy
shuts down including most tourist attractions, supermarkets, restaurants,
stores, banks, public services and businesses.
If this holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the Monday or Friday
in-between is treated as a ponte (bridge) holiday and stores and services
remain shuttered.
Take note and check specifically before you plan your holiday to make
sure that the sights you want to visit will be open!
On the other hand, a holiday in the country is perfect and Umbria offers
a varied assortment of food and music festivals, lively events offered mainly in
the evening.
Fuga
del Bove
Montefalco
Bull
race that has been run since the fifteenth century.
Each neighborhood is represented by a bull that is herded, coaxed, bribed
with food, and “bullied” to finish first.
A strange contest accompanied by music, wine, flag-throwing contests,
dancing, food and incredible views from this tiny, medieval walled town.
Montefalco is famous for its cloth using techniques passed down from the
Middle Ages.
September
Segni Barocchi
Foligno
Baroque festival with music, movies, plays & figurative art exhibits. It
also includes costume parties, games & tournaments.
Gathering
of Musical Bands
Umbertide
Outdoor
performances, free admission
Horse Show, Competition & Auction
Citta di Castello
One of the most prestigious horse shows in Italy. Also includes an Arabian
horse competition and auction.
Sagra Musicale Umbra
Perugia
Founded in 1937 it is a festival that focuses on sacred music and 20th
century music.
Festa dell'Uva
S. Elena di Marsciano
Perhaps the finest wine fesitval in Italy. A week-long
celebration.
National Antique Show
Todi
At the Palazzo delle Arte it is reserved for Umbrian crafts such as jewelry,
ceramics, lace, copper & brass items, furniture, fabric and embroidery.
October
Celebrations for St. Francis
Assisi
Liturgical ceremonies in honor of St. Francis held in the Basilica at Assisi.
Palio
of the Goose
Citta di Castello – 1st week in October
Old
and popular festival in the Mattonata neighborhood which hosts this goose race.
Citta di Castello is a small city perfect for strolling.
Chestnut
Festival
Preggio
All
the basement rooms of the old houses of the village open up as tiny botteghe
and restaurants, featuring varied menus that include
roasted chestnuts and dishes made with chestnuts.
Local artisans display their crafts.
Eurochocolate
Perugia
An
annual event in Perugia dedicated to the chocolate for which it is famous.
Some 300,000 visitors devour 50 tons of it. Chocolate tasting, shows,
workshops and chocolate sculpting. Chocolate sculptures such as the Berlin Wall
are recreated in chocolate bricks. During
the two weekends of the festival, there is a shuttle bus from the parking area
to the gates of this gorgeous medieval city. www.chocolate.perugia.it
A
chocolate lovers dream!
National Truffle Show and Market
Gubbio - Last weekend of October through the 1st of November
Stands are set up in the historic center of this ancient town
and the famous truffle is presented in every possible fashion. Also cheeses,
marmalades, honey and local liquors
November
Trade Fair of the Truffle
Citta di Castello
Celebrates the white
truffle, one of the most sought after species, which grows in fair quantities in
the Upper Tiber Valley. The white
truffle is valued on many accounts: its intense and absolutely unique aroma, its
size and shape which should be as even and rounded as possible, its peerless
flavor which is best brought out and served uncooked, since it requires neither
sauces or dressings. Other
woodlands products available: mushrooms, chestnuts, honey, oil, wine and
cheeses.
Italian Wine Judging Contest
Torgiano
Nationally famous competition held in Torgiano.
December
Christmas in Perugia
Various
Solemn rites celebrated in Assis, church music, creches and living creches in
Petrignano, Rocca Sant' Angelo, Affigliano, Giove, Monteleone d'Orvieto, Calvi,
Perugia and Volterra. Also the Christmas Tree of Gubbio (the world's largest)
and The Comet of Miranda (Terni).
Umbria Jazz Winter
Orvieto
Winter edition of the famous festival. Held the city's historic buildings
is features a special celebration on New Year's Eve. The closing concert is held
in the famous Duomo and features a gospel choir.
Casa d'Oliva - the best in Italian vacation rentals
imagineitaly@aol.com
| 
