To those of you who are even newer to Italy trip research than I am, something you may enjoy being alerted to is the profusion of annual festivals in Italian towns.
Right here at Slow Trips we have slknowles' photos of Assisi's Calendimaggio medieval and renaissance festival that's held the first weekend of May. I love the photo of the two little girls in costume and the photo of the costumed woman holding a cell phone to her ear!
Calendimaggio is almost enough to tempt me to visit Italy in May instead October, and to go to Umbria instead of Tuscany. But then there's Montalcino's medieval festival the first weekend of October, and there's ...... Arghhhh! Get me out of here!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
In Tuscnay, but I guess a bit everywhere, every village has its own festival and we call it Sagra. Usually it is always a Sagra of some typical product. In Civitella we have Sagra dell'Alta Maremma (Sagra of Upper Maremma) the last week of August. These are cool festivals, because you can eat for few euros and dance afterwards.
Finesettimana is also a good site for festivals. We also read all the posters in the towns to find out what is going on. Haven't had a w/e yet without something fun to attend.
Karen
Posts: 422 | Location: Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy | Registered: 08 July 2001
A word of warning about Candelmaggio. We were there this year, being festa buffs. The seats are very expensive (40E each as I recall) and seeing anything is made difficult because 1. barriers are set far back from the street and 2.the processions go on for hours. It was extremely crowded. we've been to a number of festivals (Sagra de Tordo in Montalcino being one of the best - first or second Sunday in Oct.) and found this one to be the least pleasant and friendly. Some of the small town olive oil, truffle, etc. festivals in the fall are the most fun.
Posts: 414 | Location: Boulder, CO | Registered: 22 May 2002
In September 29 2001 we were in Lucignano and chanced upon their Memorie del Passato. I can’t find this festival on any site but it would appear to be an annual festival held in the last weekend of September. The brochure says it is Arti, Mesterier, Scene di vita quotidiana from 1800 & 1900s. Participating shops, displays and processions were happening. The brochure advertised menus for participating restaurants and we dined in the Albergo Osteria Toto Lucignano, which I would reccommend if you get to Lucignano.
Lucignano is a lovely little hill town built with roads in concentric circles. It is easy to get to from the Rome - Florence autostrada.
John
Posts: 1582 | Location: Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia | Registered: 26 March 2003
My wife (RedRedWine) and I have managed to go to a few of the sagre (town festivals) in Tuscany. They were a wonderful experience. Good food and a very authentic atmosphere. I would definitely recommend going.. and every town seems to have one at some time or another. Enjoy your trip.
Further to the above mentioned discussion about festivals in Italy, here, according to Eyewitness Travel Guide : Rome, is a list of Italian Public Holidays:
New Year's Day (Jan 1) Epiphany (Jan 6) Easter Monday Liberation Day (Apr 25) Labor Day (May 1) SS Peter and Paul's Day (Jun 29) Ferragosto (Aug 15) All Saints' Day (Nov 1) Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) Christmas Day (Dec 25) Santo Stefano (Dec 26)
Didn't know what Ferragosto (on Aug 15) was, so that involved another search. Apparently it's the Assumption of Mary.
For example Saint Peter and Paul must be the patron saint's day, (Vatican and all), Ferragosto is more of a pagan holiday still hanging on, it is midsummer.. and as was common, the church used old pagan holidays for the newer Christian one's. the rest are all over Italy.. then each town add's their patron saints day! Good job! Here is a little article from my website on sagra's and festivals
Here in Siena we don't celebrate for Ferragosto but we do close down for St. Ansano. We live in the COmune of Castelnuovo Berardenga (the Chianti) so all of our schools were open on St. Ansano (Dec. 1) but the schools in the Comune of Siena were all closed. Gotta be cvareful about Saint's days.
What does it mean that you don't celebrate for Ferragosto? Are shops and offices open? Maybe restaurants (but those are open everywhere on Ferragosto) but I have never seen a shop open in Siena on the 15th of August. Also because the Holy Virgin is really celebrated here, isn't it?
I would say Ferragosto is a dead day everywhere in Italy. Am I wrong Cristina?
Because the Palio is on the 16th, too much is going on so almost everything is open on the 15th. Things close up early on the 16th if they open at all but the 15th, at least until the trial race in the evening, is normally open. The Madonna is very celebrated here but in the way of the Palio as the one on the 16th is for the Madonna dell'Assunta.
quote:Originally posted by Casina di Rosa: I think that San Pietro and Paolo is a holiday only in Rome.
Thanks for catching that, Gloria. I've now checked in Rough Guide to Italy (May 2003 edition), and it confirms what you said in that it does not include June 29 in its list of Italian public holidays.
quote:And now we also have another one on the 2nd of June: Republic Day. It's our political national holiday.
Thanks for that too. It is not yet in any of the guide books I have. I imagine future editions will include it.
A really wonderful festa is in San Daniele for the Proscuitto. It's huge, the food is spectacular. The smaller bird festival in Sacile (PN) is good too. Both of those are in July. For historical spectacle, try the human chess match in Marostica every other September (even years).
Amelia
Posts: 92 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 24 November 2003
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