Hi Letizia, what a great idea! I've been planning my September trip to Umbria, but the only firm commitment I've made so far is to sign up for another of your fab cooking classes!
I've also booked a rental car for a few days, so I should issue a warning to motorists/pedestrians around Bevagna. But I don't think that actually counts as a "what's on...."
If I find any September events in my research, I'll post them. And I'll be anxious watching to see what Umbrian experts such as you, come up with!
Sandra, don't know if it's any use, but I think in Perugia in mid-September in 2006 they had a Notte Bianca. It's where all the museums are open all night and there are concerts and other events throughout the city.
Might be something to look out for in case they do it every year at that time.
Alas, in 2006 the event was a COMPLETE washout! I braved walking to the Corso Vannucci for the grand opening which was supposed to be a troupe of flag throwers, but was soooo soaked through after five minutes outside (despite having on both a rain coat and an umbrella) that I retreated to the dry comfort of my apartment for the rest of the night.
Also check my blog...I have a list of some of the larger festas listed in chronological order. It's far from complete, but it's a start! the post is called Festivals in Umbria, and you can click on the link. It was originally posted on Apr 5 if you ever want to search for it.
If I find any September events in my research, I'll post them.
Yes Sandra, that's exactly what I thought. When one of us finds something interesting, then we can post it here. Here we had a discussion about sagre in September.
Barb, great list!
PS. Sandra, Bevagna is such a quiet sleepy place that it is hardly possible to affect the local trafic, nobody seems to go more than 20 km an hour anyway! Just make sure not to park inside the city walls, there are two convenient parking lots just outside the gates.
Claire, I'll have to look into whether Perugia is having another Notte Bianca -- that sounds fantastic (if it doesn't rain!) Thanks for the suggestion! If I can find any info I'll be sure to post it.
I was in Rome a couple of years ago during its Notte Bianca and I couldn't believe how crowded and lively the streets were. I was with my mom and she was completed gob-smacked. She loved it!
Barb, I saw your April post listing Umbria festivals, it's a great list, very complete. I may be able to catch the wine festival in Montefalco.
Letizia, thanks for the parking tip. I'm going to have to do some research about parking at Spello and Montefalco (outside the city walls, I suspect!)
I'll be in Florence this October, but I may try to make my way to Orvieto and/or Perugia to check out these events: Celebration of ‘Made in Italy’ October 4–12 Eurochocolate October 18–26
Food tasting, art, wine and chocolate...I'm drooling already!
Although there will be innumerable smaller sagre, feste and shows, here in Città di Castello we have two big ones early autumn. First, the Festival of the Nations, a really special classical music festival which offers extraordinary music in historic venues around the area in late August and early September. Ticket prices are so cheap your dollar won't flinch. This year's guest is Israel. Next is the http://www.mostradelcavallo.com/ National Horse Show in early September. This year's site isn't up yet so the link is to 2007.
Toward mid-November will be the celebration of our patron saint, San Florido. The whole town turns into a carnival/market. I think that is the days around Nov 14, and it generally lasts 3 to 5 days. It's all free except what you buy.
The first weekend in November is the truffle show which is when the new price is set. They don't offer free sample truffles, but they always show some incredible finds in bulletproof glass and always have loads of truffle and other products for sale and those do offer tastes.
If you are around here for the introduction of the vino novello, hang out at the enoteche and wangle an invitation to the official tasting.
All this summer and autumn there is a magnificent show of sand sculptures in the city, and they are like nothing the words call to mind!
Originally posted by Claire295: You might like to double check your Feste in Umbria list--I think the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna is a week later than your list.
thanks Claire, you're right! I've corrected the dates, and don't know where I got those other dates. Maybe those were last year's dates.
Also, I don't know if I mentioned the archery tournament that alternates between Sansepolcro and Gubbio. Judith, do you have any info on it? I think it's in September.
Barb as far as I can find the Palio della balestra takes place on the last Sunday in May
Here is the link to the official website of Eurochocolate. They are always slow at updating events and English version, but eventually everything will be there.
It looks like we are in Umbria during the time of Bevagna's Mercato delle Gaite; we had been thinking of making Bevagna a day trip. Should we head over that way, any comments on what to expect, or how best to manage our visit?
Marcia I am sure Mary from Genius Loci would have all details, but I would only take care to arrive early if you want to attend any event because this is a popular event and it will be crowded. They generally help people to additional parking lots just outisde the walls.
Do not have high expectations about food from the food stalls, it is fun and rustic and that's it, on the other hand it is one of the reasons to go to any sagra.
For any of these events, check the times carefully....if possible! Often activities don't start until later in the evening. When we first arrived in Italy we thought these events would be all day affairs (esp on the weekends), like church picnics in the states. And often the food stands will open but the main activities might not begin until 9 pm or later.
Any time that a town closes to traffic for a fair, spettacolo or weekend eating means that it will be crowded. People love to meander through the streets and not have to worry about cars or vespas mowing them down. Our town had its first weekend without cars and next weekend will replicate with the "Cene in Cantina ". See the proloco vetralla site www.prolocovetralla.it for menus and to book, especially if you are coming from Rome in a big group. There are several artisans boutiques and places to taste and purchase wine and oil (the wines of www.villachiariniwulf.it are fantastic!!) .
Corinna, that's another great list -- thanks for posting! I'm deeply disappointed that I'll be in Umbria too late for the Pintoricchio festival, but I'm hoping make up my own itinerary and see as much of his work in Spello and Perugia as I can.
I've also had my eye on the Montefalco Settimana Enologica.
But I have a rather ignorant question -- I can't drink red wine at all, even tiny amounts trigger my asthma. So would there be much for a white-wine drinker at such an event?
As well, I found another possible calendar item: The Sagra Musicale Umbria, which is held in Perugia and in other towns in Umbria from September 12-26. Apparently, it's a fairly important music festival and the program looks interesting (at least, for classical music fans, which I am.)
I hope to catch a couple of the concerts, which are in some beautiful venues (that's half the fun!) One that looks good is in Montefalco at the Museo de San Francesco; another that interests me is in Perugia at Basilica di San Pietro.
At 10-euro per ticket, it sounds like a good deal and will keep me out of the enotecas every night!
Ciao Sandra you can always ask for a good grechetto (e.g. Antonelli form Montefalco) or an Orvieto (e.g. terre vineate of Palazzone). There should be always some white wine on offer, and may be prosecco.
Thanks, Letizia, for those suggestions! I'd love to see even a little bit of Montefalco's wine festival and it's nice to know I wouldn't feel left out.
Spend a day or two at the Scuola d' Arte in Deruta. It is near the Hotel Melody. You can take private lessons in majolica painting. They will fire your finished piece and mail it to you. I painted at the school last Spring and have another date with Nicola Boccini to take more lessons this September.
There is a Sagra del Pesce (fish) by Lago (Lake) Trasimeno on the northern part of the lake this weekend, 27 - 29 June. Besides dinner tonight there will be gospel choir performance and a concert by Bluesindrome. On Saturday, another dinner followed by an evening of dancing. On Sunday, there will be a lunch followed by activities for children and later a dinner followed by an evening of dancing.
You can find more events around Lago Trasimeno on TrasiNet.
Hi Barb, I don't remember how much the lessons cost. The school charges by the hour and you can take as many or as few as you like. It is a very friendly but very professional setting. Nicola Boccini speaks excellent English. You can obtain more information by logging on to scultore@gmail.com Having painted in the maiolica style is helpful but not necessary. They will test you first to see how they can best help you.
I have just received the Strada dei Vini del Cantico newsletter and this is what's going on in July/August.
1. 'Summer Moon Festival' in Torgiano 26-27 July 2008 Wine & local products tasting, live music under the stars, dinner with typical products.... info at info@comune.torgiano.pg.it
2. 'Festival of Goose' in Bettona 25 July - 3 Aug 2008 For those who like meat!
3. Massa Martana 1-15 Aug 2008 Town Festival of Ice Cream Every night people who love ice cream will meet in the 'Ice Cream Square" to taste the most delicious icecreams and listen to some good music! http://www.comune.massamartana.pg.it/
And tonight is the first of 3 nights of food and music in San Venanzo! More to come on Sat and Sunday nights! If you're in the area, stop by and say hello!
Thanks for those updates Corinna...we're really looking forward to the festa in Massa Martana! Here's a poster from a previous year....remember, the dates are different this year!....
The Giostra dell'Arme in San Gemini is held at the end of September or beginning of October. Here's the umbriaonline.com English language translation. My Italian isn't good enough to figure out what the dates are this year; last year the San Gemini comune page didn't provide the dates until mid-September. San Gemini is a smaller town, probably less well known, but the jousting on horseback was cool. It's located in the triangle formed by Acquasparta, Amelia and Terni.
Posts: 408 | Location: New Jersey, USA | Registered: 16 September 2007
News of today: Electronic Music and Arts Festival July 24-25-26 2008 - Foligno www.dancityfestival.com
Cambio Festival Modern music and art festival July 25-27 2008, Palazzo di Assisi www.pontelevatoio.it Lovely ambiance in a small village near Assisi. We love to spend there a summer evening, take a drink in the tiny piazza and listen to some good music!
The dates of the festa in medieval ROTECASTELLO have now been set! Strangely, it runs on Firday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 8-11. Of course food is available every night beginning at 7:00, as well as entertainment beginning around 9:30. Monday is the night when everyone dresses in medieval clothing and marches into town to tell the story of Rotecastello.
By putting www in front of Orvieto and .it after Gusto you can get the details. Has English text.
Looks like much fun and entertainment! Trying to fit it into our itinerary. (Sorry to have to miss the "eurochocolate" sagra.) Another reason to return in the fall next year!
Please, can anyone advise: when attending a festival such as this, particularly one lasting two weeks, are any particular days better than others for a tourist (first timer) to attend?
Your opinions are much appreciated. Thanks also, to everyone who posted previously. We have used the above to research further and hope to include several events while in Italy.
Thank you,
Carouselgirl
PS: Barb, I saw your listing. That's quite nice .... thanks for posting it! Suspect you've been having a lot of fun attending some (all?) of these events.
Posts: 61 | Location: Georgia, USA | Registered: 10 May 2008
I don't know if this is common knowledge among all you slowtravel people but I thought I would add this anyway...here is a website that supposedly gives festivals all over Italy...
This weekend here in Città di Castello is the Feast of San Bartolomeo, to which farm animals of all kinds are brought to the city for blessing. They stay in stalls erected in some of the parking lots and I find it fascinating to visit all the different Italian breeds-- some cute, some scary. At the same time will be celebrated the Medieval Artisan's days in the Medieval part of town, the Mattonata. Restaurants will serve special meals, workers of all kinds will ply their trades in the evening streets as they would have done eons ago. Many in town will be in costume, too. Saturday Night will finish with fireworks over the city.
For art lovers visiting Perugia, I thought this looked interesting -- an exhibition comparing some works by such artists as Picasso, Degas, Van Gogh, Modigliani with Italian artists of the same era.
Here's a publicity blurb: "DA COROT A PICASSO e DA FATTORI A DE PISIS Sept. 15th 2008 to Jan. 15th 2009, in Palazzo Baldeschi al Corso, a fascinating comparison between two ''collecting tastes'', the American one of Duncan and Elisa Philips and the other one of the noble from Piacenza Giuseppe Ricci Oddi.
"The double title of exhibition: From Corot to Picasso and From Fattori to de Pisis just refers to two main ambits which characterize those collections. A selection of works by the greatest artists of Impressionism and European Avant-garde of the Twentieth century will arrive from Usa, including Corot, Courbet, Manet, Degas, Monet, Bonnard, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Braque, Picasso.
"These important artists will be compared with the Italian art protagonists of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century, as Fattori, Sartorio, Carrà, Casorati, Campigli, De Pisis."
From 7 to 14 September Todi arte Festival. Mostly poetry and cabaret but also some classical music concerts. The website is not very informative but it is possible to download the program from here (scroll until the bottom of the page)
From 5 to 28 September Umbria Music Fest Classical music and Jazz, venues all over the region
From 18 to 21 September Sagrantino wine Festival in Montefalco The program seems to be available only in Italian and consists of various wine tasting, concerts and films which will be projected in the town gardens.
We attended the last night of the Sagra delle Cipolle last night. The dinner was run very professionally, the service was prompt and the food was great! We were disappointed that there was no music.
I've always found the website/info for the MOntefalco festa difficult to figure out, but since we're close we'll probably drive over one day to check it out. At the very least we'll end up with a glass of Sagrentino!
I've always found the website/info for the Montefalco festa difficult to figure out
Indeed it does take some decifering. Basically they have either a film or a concert every evening at 9:00 p.m. Every day, but at different times they have some jazz plus wine tasting which they call "in vino veri...jazz" All the rest is speaches of probabaly relatively small importance to the traveler.
Today was a religious celebration here in San Venanzo and beginning tomorrow, Sept 9th, we'll have a new festa, Festa dello Sport! It runs Tuesday, Sept 9th thru Sunday Sept 14, and every evening will feature, fun, food, music and dancing! This is a brand new festa, so if you're in the area, stop by to check it out!
Also on Sunday the 14th, a motorcycle race will stop in San Venanzo for lunch around 12:30, and people will be able to check out all the motorcycles up close!
San Venanzo is on the SS317, just a few kilometers above Marsciano. Stop by and say hello!
After all these years our valley is getting together soon to discuss what we can have as a celebration. My suggestion is either the "Sagra of no cell signal" or the "Festa of no television signal". At least we have truffles and many mushrooms with which to mark our specialness.
Unfortunately the Umbria online site doesn't list the smaller feste and sagre, so here's the poster for this week. I'm not sure you'll be able to read it all, but I'll try....
We will be in Umbria next week. The past report of the Sagra in Montefalco --6 euro wine goblets for tasting -- sounds like a lot of fun. But lectures and speeches --what a bore. So what can we expect? Is it worth going to?
Judith as there are all sorts of exotic things, why don't you suggest a sagra of Chocolate Chips Cookies? Then you would be the queen of the feast and you could even run a workshop or two!
Town Festival of Ice Cream 
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