What's On

 

UPCOMING & SPECIAL EVENTS

CELEBRAZIONI PUCCINIANE (PUCCNI CELEBRATIONS)
Lucca – Until dicembre 2008
www.puccini2008.it

The Celebrazioni Pucciniane is an internationally renowned event that is celebrating 150 years since the birth of the most well known Italian composers in the world.  The celebrations will host a rich calendar of events, concerts, performances, exhibitions and conferences that will take place until the end of the year with the goal of paying tribute to the artist as well as presenting the public with the beauty of his birthplace.  Puccini was a recognised artist in his time and his fame travelled from one theatre to another, from Europe to the United States and South America bringing with it Italian cultural and artistic traditions.  The event in honour of Puccini aims to involve the whole country in memory of his great musical legacy.


FILIPPO LIPPI GENIO E PASSIONE (FILIPPO LIPPI GENIUS AND PASSION)
Duomo - Prato
www.restaurofilippolippi.it

The flow of visitors to the Cattedrale di Prato (Prato Cathedral) continues for the restoration of the series of paintings by Filippo Lippi, one of the most important conservation operations recently undertaken in Italy.  As well as restoring the works of the brother (who risked ex-communication for falling in love with his model) to its formal glory, the restoration offers you the occasion to see the city through Lippi’s painting. Infact, Prato is the city that has conserved the largest number of works of the very artist that influenced Botticelli and Ghirlandaio. From the Capella Maggiore del Duomo you can move on to discover the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo where the Pala di Faltugnano can be found, the il Museo di Pittura Murale, where you can see the baby Jesus cradled in the arms of Sani Stefano and Giovanni Battista and the Madonna Cintola. The Modonna col Bambmino is on display at the Galleria di Palazzo degli Alberti and the Chiesa dell Santo Spirito is holding the Presentazione al Tempio.
 

TRIONFI ROMANI: I GIORNI DELLA GLORIA (ROMAN SUCCESS- THE GLORY DAYS)
Colosseum - Roma
Until 14 September 2008
www.pierreci.it

The Colosseum will be host to a selection of reliefs, coins, bronze works and paintings that share the theme of the successful victory of the Romans against the Etruscans and Constantines. The first section of the exhibition brings together works dedicated to the Triumph through depictions of Etruscan funerals in the Hellenistic world. In its essence the Roman world depicts works that describe circensian procession and the of opening of the games at Circo Massimo but most of all themes that are linked to actual triumphant procession, with prisoners in chains and a show of the riches that they had accumulated.  The second part of the exhibition focuses on the theme of the winners and the conquered, with the portrayal of noted faces such as Cesare and Pompeo, battle scenes and the erection of monuments following the victorious campaign.  The exhibition concludes with the depiction of the defeated populations who have submitted to the power of Rome.

MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO
Teatro Comunale – Florence
From April 22nd to July 1st 2008
www.maggiofiorentino.com

This is one of the oldest traditional cultural events in the city of Florence. The Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina was born in 1928 and in 1933 the first edition of the Festival commenced and became recognized all over the world in the years to come. The Festival also includes dance troupes that call themselves “MaggioDanza” (MayDance). In need of renewal and enrichment, the event has opened its doors to young artists who specialize in the rock, jazz, blues and electronic music in an event called “Maggio Off Music Contest”.


RAVENNA FESTIVAL
Ravenna  - from June 13th to July 19th 2008
www.ravennafestival.it

Thanks to the success of previous Ravenna festivals, it will be held once again in 2008. The 19th edition of the Festival is centered on all that is female in myth and the arts. The calendar of events will be inaugurated by one of the most popular and beloved heroines of the opera repertoire, Violetta Valéry, the protagonist of La Traviata.  The portrayal of women will include several known women, from a nun play write from the year 1000, to Anita Garibaldi and Juliette Greco.  The program will also include jazz, cinema, painting, and musicals (such as the reproduction of Cats).  Among other events there will also be the inclusion of "Sunday liturgies" and “Concerts at 7 p.m."


OPERA FESTIVAL
Florence - San Galgano Abbey - Barberino di Mugello-Montevarchi
June 13th – August 3rd 2008
www.festivalopera.it

The Opera Festival will take place once again with a rich calendar of both classic and modern operas, running from June 13th to August 3rd.  The festival will travel through four prestigious and famous locations in Tuscany from the magnificent Boboli Gardens of Pitti Palace in Florence to the ruins of the gothic Abbey in San Galgano, in the province of Siena, from the Medici Villa of Cafaggiolo to Barberino of Mugello to the historic Varchi Square of Montevarchi in Arezzo. This year the melodrama embraces musicals, with the original production of “Cats” a notable performance that is loved world-wide, it has been remade with timeless success since 1981.
 

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORT FICTION
Trevignano – Rome
May 28th – June 1st 2008
www.cittadelladelcorto.it

 This is a festival of “short” fiction to discover new talents in the romantic corner of Trevignano, a town facing the lake of Bracciano north of Rome. The Festival, in its 14th edition and is particularly attentive the themes such as youth and social, welcoming digital and classical 35mm experimental videos.  The Festival is open to Italians and non-Italians with the participation of 24 different European, Asian, North American and South American countries.

Major Annual Events In Italy

Tuscany

  • Viareggio: Carnival di Viareggio. February/March. Highlight of the Carnival festival is the procession of spectacular and colourful floats.
  • Pisa: Gioco del Ponte (Battle of the Bridge). First Sunday in June. Medieval parade and contest.
  • Siena: The Palio Horse Race. 2 July and 16 August. Procession and bareback horse race held in the Piazza del Campo, the main square of Siena, Participants are members of the ancient city districts competing for the banner (palio). Colourful medieval pageantry.
  • 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 Mass.
  • Arezzo: Giostra del Saraceno. First Sunday in September, a tilting contest of the 13th century with knights in armour.
  • Florence: Maggio Musicale. April-July. Teatro Comunale. www.maggiofiorentino.com
  • Lucca: Puccini Festival,. y and July/August. Torre del Lago, Lucca. www.puccinifestival.it
  • Siena: Estate Musicale Chigiana. July/August. www.chigiana.it
  • Florence: Calcio Storico. Historic soccer match. 24 – 28 June. Revival of a 16th century football match in medieval costume. Fireworks display from the terraced gardens overlooking the city.

 

Umbria

  • Sansepolcro: Palio dei Balestieri. 8 September. Crossbow palio between San Sepolcro and Gubbio. Medieval contect with costumes and arms.
  • Assisi: Celebration of Holy Week. Calendimaggio, celebration of Spring according to rites dating back to Ancient times.
  • Gubbio: Festa dei Ceri (Racew of the Candles). 15 May. A procession in local costume where tall shrines are carried to the church on top of Mount Ingino.
  • Gubbio: Palio dei Balestieri (Palio of the Archers). Last Sunday in May. Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro.
  • Foligno: Giostra della Quintana. Second Sunday in September. Revival of a 17th century joust with 600 knights in costume, historical procession.
  • Spoleto: Festical dei Due Mondi. July www.spoletofestival.it
  • Todi: Teatro Comunale – July/August. Music festival. www.todimusicfest.it
  • Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia. 8/17 July. www.umbriajazz.com

 

Lazio

  • Rome: Epiphany Fair in Piazza Navona. 5 January. A fair of toys, sweets and other gifts takes place in the open among the beautiful Bernini fountains.
  • Rome: Festa de’ Noantri, 19 – 26 July. Folklore festival of Old Rome in Trastevere, including a colourful procession of the Vergine del Carmine, folk dance and songs, carnival floats and fireworks.
  • Rome: Open Air Opera at Terme di Caracalla. July-August. www.opera.roma.it
  • Ostia Antica: The Passion Play. Daily except Mondays 14 May to 10 October. www.33ad.info
  • Viterbo: Baroque Music Festival. August.

 

Veneto

  • Venice: Carnival of Venice. February/March. Celebrations in costumes, entertainment in the streets and squares, music, mimes and fireworks.
  • Venice: Il Redentore (Feast of the Redeemer). Third Sunday in July. Procession of gondolas commemorating the end of the epidemic of 1575.
  • Venice: Historical Regatta. First Sunday in September. Traditional competition between two-oar racing gondolas and procession of ceremonial boats.
  • Marostica: Living Chess Game. Takes place during the second weekend in September, in an even-numbered year. The chess game is played in the town square by living pawns in costume.
  • Verona: Arena. June/August. Opera season. www.arena.it
  • Verona: Jazz Festival. End of June. www.estateteatraleveronese.it

 

Campania

  • Nola: Festa del Giglio (Feast of the Lily). The Sunday following 22 June. A colourful procession in costume.
  • Naples: Festival of San Gennaro. 19 September. Religious ceremony honoring the patron saint of the city.
  • Ravello: Ravello Classical Music Festival – March-June/Sept-Nov & Wagner Festival (end June-August). www.ravellofestival.it or www.ravelloarts.org

 Liguria

  • Rapallo: Summer Festival (music, theatre and dance). Valle Christi. July/August. www.omniaeventi.com
  • La Spezia: Palio del Golfo. Second Sunday in August. Rowing contest.

 

Sicily

  • Piana degli Albanesi: Celebration of the Epiphany from the Byzantine Rite. 6 January.
  • Agrigento: Almond Blossom Festival. First half of February. Folk festival of song, dance, costumes and fireworks.
  • Palermo: Feast of Santa Rosalia. 10 – 15 July. Procession, bands, fireworks in honour of the patron saint of the city.
  • Taormina: Taormina Arte. July/August. www.taormina-arte.com

 

Le Marche


May

  • Tolentino - Historical re-enactment of the battle between the troops of Gioacchino Murat and the Austrian army (2-3 May)
  • Camerino - Sword and Palio Contest (17 May)
  • Sarnano - National Antique and Craft Fair (last Sunday of the month)
  • Fermo - Festival of the Piceni (Morrubiano)


June

  • Recanati - San Vito Crafts and Antiques Fair and Celebration of Leopardi
  • Porto Recanati - Historical Palio of San Giovanni
  • Sarnano - National Antique and Craft Fair (first Sunday)


July

  • Sarnano - “And I think of the Middle Ages”, exhibition and historical re-enactment (until the 20 August)
  • Porto San Giorgio - Festival of the Sea (second half of the month)


August

  • Amandola - Harvest Festival Procession in medieval costume (third Sunday of the month)
  • Fermo - Palio of the Assunta (15 August)
  • Ascoli - Jousting Tournament (first Sunday of the month)
  • Pedaso - Festival of Mussels


September

  • Recanati - Frittelle Festival (sweet and savoury deep fried local delicacies)


October

  • Montemonaco - Chestnut Festival
  • Fermo - Vino Cotto Festival (Loro Piceno)


November

  • Amandola - White Truffle Market and exhibition



Marche

  • Ascoli Piceno: Torneo della Quintana. First Sunday in August. Historical pageant in 15th century costumes
  • Macerata: Arena Sferisterio. July/August. www.macerataopera.org
  • Pesaro: Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival. August. www.rossinioperafestival.it

 

Lombardia

  • Stresa, Lake Maggiore: Stresa Musical Weeks. August/September. www.settimanemusicali.net
  • Milan: Oh Bej! Oh Bej! 7 – 9 December. Milan’s patron saint is celebrated with a beautiful Christmas market filled with sweets and typical products in the area surrounding the church of Saint Ambrogio

 

Piedmont

  • Asti: Flag Throwing Palio. Third Sunday in September. Ancient festival with 800 costumed participants, historic procession and horse race
  • Asti: Palio San Secondo. 2 May. A 700-year old ceremony with a procession in 13th century costumes