| Jan 1
|
New Year's Day
|
Italy |
| Jan 6 |
Epiphany (religious festival) |
Italy |
| Late Jan-early Feb |
Carnevale (Mardi Gras) |
Italy |
| Jan 25-Feb 5 |
Carnevale (Mardi Gras, www.carnivalofvenice.com) |
Venice |
| Jan 20 and 27, Feb 3, 5, and 10 |
Carnevale (parade with floats, www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com) |
Viareggio |
| March 16-23 |
Holy Week (religious processions) |
Italy |
| March 23 |
Easter Sunday |
Italy |
| March 23 |
Explosion of the Cart (Easter Sunday; "Scoppio del Carro," fireworks, bonfire in wooden cart) |
Florence |
| March 24 |
Easter Monday (some closures) |
Italy |
| April 3-7
|
Vinitaly (wine festival; www.vinitaly.com)
|
Verona
|
| April 21 |
City Birthday Celebration
(parades, fireworks) |
Rome |
| April 25 |
Liberation Day (some closures) |
Italy |
| April 25 |
St. Mark's Day (religious festival, men present roses to women they love)
|
Venice |
| April 26-June 1 |
Florence Music Festival (www.maggiofiorentino.com) |
Florence |
| May 1 |
Labor Day (some closures) |
Italy |
| May 1 |
Ascension Day (religious festival)
|
Italy
|
| May 17 |
Annual Cricket Festival (music, entertainment, food, crickets sold in
cages) |
Florence |
| May 17 |
Lemon Festival (third Sat in May)
|
Monterosso (Cinque Terre) |
| May 25 |
Corpus Domini (procession on carpet of flowers) |
Orvieto |
| June 1-30 |
Annual Flower Display
(flowers carpet main square)
|
Florence |
| June 2 |
Anniversary of the Republic (various Italian National Day celebrations)
|
Italy |
| June 17 |
Festival of St. Ranieri (boat races)
|
Pisa |
| June 20-Aug 31 |
Outdoor Opera in Roman Arena (www.arena.it) |
Verona |
| June 24 |
St. John the Baptist Day
(religious festival) |
Rome, Florence, Monterosso & Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre) |
| June 24-27 |
Calcio Fiorentino (costumed soccer game, fireworks, www.globeit.it/caf) |
Florence |
| June 29 |
Battle of the Bridge ("Gioco del Ponte," medieval festival, last Sun in June) |
Pisa
|
| June 29 |
Saints Peter and Paul Day
(religious festival, fireworks in Rome)
|
Italy, especially Rome & Corniglia (Cinque Terre) |
| Late June-early Sept |
Outdoor Cinema Season (contemporary films) |
Florence |
| July-Aug |
Opera Season |
Verona |
| July 2 |
Il Palio (horse race, medieval parades, www.ilpalio.org)
|
Siena |
| July 6
|
Murano Regatta (boat parade, first Sun of July)
|
Venice |
| July 16 |
Festival of Madonna del Carmine (religious festival, fireworks)
|
Naples
|
| July 15-31 |
Festa de' Noantri (parade, fireworks, folk dances in Trastevere neighborhood) |
Rome |
| July 19-20 |
Feast and Regatta of the Redeemer ("Festa del Redentore," fireworks, decorated
boats, third Sun in July and the previous night) |
Venice |
| Aug |
Musical Weeks |
Lake Maggiore |
| Aug 3 |
Regatta di Pellestrina (first Sun in Aug) |
Venice |
| Aug 10 |
St. Lawrence Day
(religious festival) |
Rome; Manarola (Cinque Terre) |
| Aug 15 |
Feast of the Assumption (religious festival)
|
Italy |
| Aug 16 |
Il Palio (horse race, medeival parades, www.ilpalio.org)
|
Siena |
| Aug 27-Sept 6 |
International Film Festival (www.labiennale.org)
|
Venice
|
| First week of Sept |
Walnut Festival (games with walnuts) |
Monterosso (Cinque Terre) |
| First week of Sept |
Festa della Rificolona (children's procession with lanterns, street
performances, parade) |
Florence |
| Sept 7 |
Historical Regatta (old-time boats and pageantry) |
Venice |
| Sept 13-14 |
Volto Santo |
Lucca |
| Sept |
Burano Regatta (boat parade)
|
Venice
|
| Sept 19 |
Festival of San Genarro (religious festival)
|
Naples
|
| Nov 1 |
All Saints' Day (religious festival, some closures) |
Italy |
| Nov |
Musica dei Popoli Festival (Ethic and folk music and dances, www.festivaldeipopoli.org) |
Florence |
| Nov 21 |
Feast of Our Lady of Good Health (religious festival, Venetian "Thanksgiving," bridge built over Grand Canal) |
Venice |
| Dec |
Christmas Market on Piazza Navona |
Rome |
| Dec 7 |
St. Ambrose Day (religious festival, also the official opening of opera season at La Scala) |
Milan |
| Dec 8 |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (religious festival, some
closures) |
Italy |
| Dec 25 |
Christmas |
Italy |
| Dec 26 |
St. Stephen's Day (religious festival, some closures) |
Italy |
