Every small village throughout Italy
celebrates with its own wonderful festival where all the locals
attend. Tourists and visitors are always warmly welcomed to
these events. During the harvest festivals the villagers tend to
celebrate with their local produce, such as polenta and
prosciutto, and especially wine. The rest of the events are more
likely to be historical re-enactments linked to costumed
cavalcades and jousting, processions, ceremonial races and
competitions, elaborate costumes, singing and dancing.
Italy's hill towns can often celebrate their events in very
exciting ways. Even if you do not speak the language, you will
undoubtedly understand what the locals are saying by their body
language and gesticulations. Witnessing a festival in a small
hill town with its winding alleys and friendly squares from
where you can watch it all happen, is unlike anything you will
ever see again. Tourist offices and travel agents have lists of
the festivals throughout Italy and can offer any last minute
information that may be required, since sometimes events have to
be cancelled due to poor weather conditions or other unforeseen
catastrophe. But on the whole the event is usually rescheduled
for the following day or so.
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These are just some of the festivals and events
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February - Vernio: Polenta Festival
April - Florence: Mediaeval "Explosion of the Cart"
April - Cerreto Guidi – Chianti wine fair
May - Querceta: Renaissance Parade and Horse Race
May - Pescia: Pinocchio's Birthday
May - Massa Marittima: Historic Pageant
May - Saturnia: Pecorino Cheese fair
June - Arezzo: Medieval Pageant and Jousting Tournament
June - Chiusi: Historical Horse Race and Pageant
June - Florence: Historil Soccer Game and Parade
June - Pisa: Battle of the Bridge, featuring water games on the
Arno River
June - Squirico d'Orcia: Festa del Barbarossa
June - Buti: Olive fair
Every 4 years in June: Regatta of the Great Maritime Republics
July - Lucca: Medieval Parade and Horse Race
July - Pistoia: Historic Parade and Jousting Tournament
July - Livorno: Historical Regatta
July to August - Siena: Palio Horse Race and Pageant
August - Grosset: Cowboy Parade and Rodeo
August - Giglio Island: Historical Regatta
August - Massa Marittima: Historic Pageant
August - Montepulciano: Historical Pageant and Games
15th August - Porto S Stefano: Palio Marinaro dell'Argentario
September - Carmignano: Historical Parade and Horse Race
September - Arezzo: Medieval Pageant and Jousting Tournament
September - Prato: Parade and Historical Ball Game
September - Bagno a Ripoli: Palio delle Contrade
September - Venice: finest regatta in Venice and gondola races
September - Monte San Savino: Roasted Pork fair
Saturday before first Sunday of September - Cerreto Guidi: Palio
del Cerro
November - San Miniato: Festival of the White Truffle
December - Volterra: White Truffle of Val di Cecina fair
On the first Sunday of the month, In Arezzo, you will find one
of the largest antique shows in Italy.
Every third Sunday, in Siena, it is possible to browse through
old and antique things in Piazza del Mercato
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