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| January festivals in Tuscany | |
| Befana La Festa dell'Epifania (Epiphany - the 12th Night of Christmas) 6 January. This festival is almost more popular among Italian children than Christmas itself. La Befana is a character in Italian folklore, similar to Santa Claus, who visits all the children of Italy on the eve of 6 January to fill their socks with sweets if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad. The family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few local specialities for Befana. During the day, many children dress up as Befana and visit the neighbourhood in the hope of receiving a small gift of money or sweets. Some of the costumes are astonishingly good and should be suitably rewarded. A popular market, the Fiera della Befana, takes place each year between Christmas and the Epiphany in Piazza Navona in the centre of Rome, where toys, sugar charcoal and candies are sold for the Roman children. In the areas north of Lucca, groups of singers still go door to door singing befanate. | ) |
Viareggio Carnevale (Carnival) was first held in 1873 and is now one of the most famous pre-Lent carnivals in the world. It is held in late January (20 and 27 January in 2008) and early February (3, 5 and 10 February in 2008) and features huge paper-maché floats and models that parade along the "viali a mare", the sea promenades of Viareggio. "First category" floats are the biggest at 20 m high, 14 m wide and weighing about 40 tons each. They each carry as many as 200 costumed participants, plus others inside to manoeuvre the weights, the counter-weights and levers that will make the models move. The paper-maché models satirise public and political figures, as well as representing fairy-tale heroes. There is an extensive programme of related events including a large number of shows including extremely funny musical comedies in the local dialect, carnival menus available in the restaurants of the area, festivals in the various town neighbourhoods, as well as numerous masked balls held in the most fashionable discotheques and ballrooms. There's also a huge programme of sporting events. |
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| February festivals in Tuscany | |
| Viareggio Carnevale (Carnival) is held in late January (20 and 27 January in 2008) and early February (3, 5 and 10 February in 2008). See January for details. | |
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| March festivals in Tuscany | |
| Montefioralle Fritelle Festival on the Sunday following St Joseph's day (15 and 16 March 2008). Frittelle, fried rice cakes, are prepared in a huge cauldron of oil and the version prepared in Montefioralle is particularly delicious. The walled village of Montefioralle itself makes the trip to this little festival worthwhile. | ) |
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| Easter festivals in Tuscany | |
| Florence Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) is a Florentine Easter Sunday tradition that dates back to the First Crusade. When the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem on 15 July 1099, the Florentine Pazzino di Ranieri de' Pazzi was the first to raise a Christian banner above the city. He was rewarded with three chips of stone from the Holy Sepulchre which were later used in Florence during Easter celebrations to light the fire symbolising new life. The fire was then distributed around the city by a cart, where families would relight their hearths which were traditionally extinguished on Good Friday. This tradition is reported as early as 1102. However, the Pazzi family were stripped of all their wealth and privileges and exiled from Florence after their aborted attempt to overthrow the Medici in 1478. From that moment on, the Signoria took over responsibility for the preparation and celebration of the ritual explosion of the cart. The richly decorated cart, which dates to the 18 C, is hauled by brightly bedecked white oxen from Porta al Prato to the cathedral square. A wire is run from the choir of the cathedral and fixed to the centre of the cart. In the meantime a procession of clergy leaves the Church of the Santissimi Apostoli and goes to the Baptistery. At midday, a dove-shaped rocket, the colombina, is released inside the cathedral. It slides along the wire, leaving a trail of smoke along the length of the nave. When it reaches the cart, it sets off a cluster of crackers and then slides back to its point of departure. After a few moments, hundreds of multicoloured fireworks positioned on the cart go off with much banging and whistling. A Catherine Wheel on top lights up and starts spinning, ending with a loud bang and opening up to form the petals of a lily. Then four small gonfalons appear, bearing the emblems of Florence, of the old Pazzi family, of the Wool Merchants’ Guild and currently, as a sign of peace in the world, of the UN. The cart starts from via Il Prato at 9 am. At 10 am the procession of clergy starts from the Church of SS. Apostoli. The explosion of the Cart occurs at 11 am. | ) |
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Greve in Chianti antiques and collectors fair - this is now one of the better antiques fairs in Tuscany and it occurs twice per year, on Easter Monday and the second Sunday of October. Stalls are set up in the main piazza (Piazza Matteotti) and one ot two adjacent streets. Among the main categories on display are old and reproduction rustic furniture, old tools, farmhouse and vineyard artifacts, ceramics, glassware and cutlery, a very good range of embroidered linen, very interesting iron work, paintings, postcards, not many books, silver gilt and much else. Along the street off the square, porchetta and other snacks are available, together with plenty of pecorino, dried fruit and sweets. |
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| April festivals in Tuscany | |
| Anghiari Upper Tiber Artisans Market (Mostra Mercato dell'Artigianato) usually the week leading up to the 1 May. A wide range of hand-made traditional good on sale as well as demonstrations of their manufacture. | ) |
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| May festivals in Tuscany | |
| Assisi
(in
Umbria, not Tuscany)
Calendimaggio
is a three day costume festival that takes place on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 1st of May
in which the upper and lower sectors of Assisi compete against one
another in various ancient games and a choir competition. Daylight and
evening costume processions and other similar entertainment. NOT TO BE MISSED! |
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Massa Marittima Balestro del Girifalco crossbow competition takes place twice a year on the first Sunday after May 20 and the 2nd Sunday of August. |
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Spello (in Umbria, not Tuscany) Infiorate di Spello on Corpus Domini, the ninth Sunday after Easter (24-25 May 2008) is an unusual act of religious devotion, namely the creation of elaborate pictures composed using cut up flower petals spread along the streets of Spello. The entire town is carpeted in flowers and some of the compositions display remarkable skill. The Infiorate is competitive and awards are given to the teams in a number of categories. The tradition of flower petal compositions is relatively recent in Italy. The famous Corpus Domini flower carpet celebration in Genzano, 30 km outside Rome, dates from 1778, and the Spello tradition began only in the 1930's but is now famous. Work is carried on throughout Saturday night. At noon on Sunday, the bells of the cathedral are rung and the Bishop sets forth to parade through Spello piazza by piazza. |
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| June festivals in Tuscany | |
| Anghiari The Palio of the Victory of 1441 on 29 June and usually the two preceding days. Includes events that require purchase of a ticket. | ) |
Pisa Palio of San Ranieri on 17 June (the day of St. Ranieri, patron saint of Pisa) - the four districts of Pisa (San Martino, San Francesco, Sant’Antonio, and Santa Maria) compete in a boat race, with each boat containing eight oarsmen, on the Arno for the “paliotto”, the prize. The race is held on the Arno along an upstream stretch of 2 km. On the night before, the famous Luminara is held in which the Pisans hang thousands of candles from the buildings along the river. Thousands of locals crowd along the banks of the Arno to see the fireworks at midnight. |
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Arezzo Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen) is held twice a year, a night version on the third Saturday in June and the second on the first Sunday in September. This tournament has its origins in the early 16 C and commemorates Christian efforts to hold back the tide of Islam in the 14 C. A lively and colourful procession of costumed participants is followed by the main event in which eight costumed knights charge towards a wooden representation of the Saracen, aiming to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. The Saracen is mounted on a swivel so that part of the task of the knight has to avoid being struck back. Each pair of knights represents one of Arezzo's four rival districts and their supporters each occupy a side of the piazza. The winner receives a golden lance. |
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Florence Calcio Storico (costume football), the famous Florentine traditional football that dates from the Renaissance and takes place on 24 June plus two other days that are chosen on Easter Sunday. All are in early July or June. Four teams originating from each of the traditional city districts participate in the tournament: Blue for S. Croce, Green for S. Giovanni, Red for S. Maria Novella, and White for S. Spirito. All of the players are dressed in mediaeval breeches. There are 27 players on each team which means that matches can by fairly violent given the large number of players. Rules are minimal, so that almost anything is allowed to get hold of the ball and score a 'caccia'. |
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San Gimignano Ferie delle Messi and the Giostra dei Bastoni, the Knights of Santa Fina re-enact the old "Feriae Messium" tradition on the third Saturday and Sunday of June. These days were once celebrated by the entire population as a festivity that preceded the harvest, and it is now a two-day mediaeval-style festival with costumed knights on horseback, jousts, parades, acrobats, fireworks, musicians, art and crafts market and plenty of good eats. |
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Pisa Gioco del Ponte (Battle of the Bridge) on the last Sunday of June when teams from the two banks of the Arno, Tramontana (north) and Mezzogiorno (south) grapple with one another on the Mezzo Bridge. The six teams from the two banks challenge each other to push a 70 ton cart on a 50 meter rail over the opponent’s line. |
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| July festivals in Tuscany | |
| Siena
Palio
is a very famous bare-back horse race round the sand-covered Piazza del
Campo that takes place every
2 July and 16 August. The contrade (town neighbourhoods) compete for the palio
( banner) dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The square is filled with costumed pageantry before the
race and afterwards massive feasts are set up on long outdoor tables that can stretch for blocks on the side streets.
Tickets for favoured locations provided with seating are expensive but a
good view of the race can also be obtained from the middle of the piazza
where a large crowd stands.
NOT TO BE MISSED! |
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Monteriggioni Festa Medievale (Mediaeval Festival) takes place on the first weekend of July. This is one of the best costume festivals in Italy with local and also professional performers, music, demonstrations of mediaeval trades, food stands filling the piazza inside the fortified town of Monteriggioni. |
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Pistoia Giostra dell'Orso (Joust of the Bear) takes place after a magnificent procession held on the 25 July in honour St. James, patron saint of Pistoia. Twelve knights take part in the Giostra, a mediaeval jousting tournament. The knights' goal is to hit two stylised bears with their lances to the sound of drum rolls and fanfares. The bear (orso) is the heraldic beast of Pistoia and the Giostra is the highlight of the town's "Luglio Pistoiese" festival. |
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| August festivals in Tuscany | |
| Massa Marittima Balestro del Girifalco crossbow competition takes place twice a year on the first Sunday after May 20 and the 2nd Sunday of August. |
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Panzano in Chianti Hazel Nut Festival :: Festa del Nocciolo is a dinner of local dishes served at outdoor tables along the streets of Panzano. The feast takes place on 14 August, the evening before Ferragosto (Assumption Day) which is the most important holiday in Italy. Of all the days of the year, it is on Feragosto that Italians celebrate with their families. |
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Siena Palio on 2 July and 16 August. Details above under 'July'. |
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Volterra Volterra A.D 1398 is a mediaeval fair that takes place each year during the last whole week of August, starting on a Sunday, and is one of the best mediaeval fairs in Italy. A week of costumes, events, food complete with mediaeval money. NOT TO BE MISSED! |
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Montepulciano Bravìo delle Botti (barrel rolling race) takes place on the last Sunday in August between the eight Contradas (town neighbourhoods) of Montepulciano competing for a Palio, a painted cloth banner. The barrels weigh 80 kg and have to be rolled uphill about 1800 m along the main street of Montepulciano, finishing in the Piazza Grande. Costume processions precede the competition and a street banquet follows. The event, which was originally a horse race, dates back to 1373. It was abolished in the 17 C but was revived as a barrel race in 1974. |
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| September festivals in Tuscany | |
| Pienza Pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) Fair and "Cacio al Fuso" on the first Sunday in September. Pienza makes among the best pecorino in Italy and a wide range of excellent cheeses is available to be tasted and bought during this fair. The Cacio al Fuso is a cheese rolling competition. Cacio is the original Tuscan word for pecorino and the fuso or spindle is the target of the game. | ) |
Arezzo Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen) is held twice a year, a night version on the third Saturday in June and the second on the first Sunday in September. Details above under 'June'. |
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Scarperia Renaissance fair and Diotto. On the first Sunday in September the inhabitants of Scarperia in the Mugello dress in renaissance costume in preparation for the festival celebrating the founding of Scarperia by the Florentine republic on the 8th (die-octo) of September 1306. There are numerous demonstrations of renaissance activities such as a fletcher at work. The main processions, flag throwing and games take place on 8 September. |
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Prato Display of the Virgin's Girdle. The Virgin Mary's belt, given, legend has it, to the Apostle Thomas when she ascended to heaven, is kept in a magnificent reliquary (Maso di Bartolomeo 1406–1456) housed in the equally beautiful "Pulpit of the Sacred Girdle" (Donatello and Michelozzo) on the external façade the Duomo. It is taken out five times a year amid much religious pomp and mediaeval drum rolling to be shown to the crowds massed on the piazza. These occasions include 8 September (celebration of the nativity of the Virgin Mary) and December 25 and 26. The story of how the girdle arrived in Prato is illustrated in the chapel immediately to the left of the entrance of the Duomo in Agnolo Gaddi's fresco cycle of "The Legend of the Holy Girdle (1392-95)". |
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Sansepolcro Palio della Balestra crossbow tournament held every year on the second Sunday of September when large numbers of citizens dress in mediaeval costume. This a very ancient competition between the bowmen of Sansepolcro and Gubbi held in honour of Sant'Egidio (Aegidius), founder and Patron Saint of Sansepolcro. |
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Florence Festa della Rificolona (Festival of the Lanterns), 7 and 8 September, is said to be one of Florence's oldest festivals, and has its origins in the most important farmers market of the year, held in the Piazza of SS Annunziata on the eve of the birth of the Virgin. The farmers and their families would get up very early, put on their Sunday-best and walk to Florence by the light of candles held in tissue-paper lanterns on the end of poles. The sophisticated Florentines would mock the yokels' attempts at elegance and the children would make their own brightly coloured lanterns and follow along, jeering and whistling. Today, the night of the 7th sees the children of Florence running through the streets with their rificolone, and there are street parties, theatre and a huge market in the square. |
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Lucca Luminara di Santa Croce (Festa della Esaltazione della Santa Croce) 13 September is the principal event of the year in Lucca and part of a series of festivals during September. It is a devotional procession in which the Volto Santo or Holy Face, a wooden crucifix figure is carried along the streets of the old town centre from the Church Saint Frediano to the Cathedral of Saint Martin, illuminated by thousands of small candles. Afterwards there is the "Mottettone" concert inside the cathedral and fireworks on the banks of the river. |
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Impruneta Festa dell'Uva (Grape Festival) - probably the most popular annual event in Impruneta both for natives and tourists. Over the years it lost some of the original rural characteristics but its essential popular nature has remained intact. The most important part of the parade, which usually starts at 3.30 pm, consists of allegorical carts built by the four districts of Impruneta: Fornaci, Pallò, Sant’Antonio and Sante Marie. During the day of the festival, popular dances, performances, tasting of agricultural products and shows of the local handicraft products are held. The "festa dell’uva" is held on last Sunday of September. |
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| Greve in Chianti Chianti Classico Wine Festival (Rassegna del Chianti Classico), this is a show case for Chianti Classico wines that takes place in Piazza Matteotti in Greve in Chianti on the second weekend of September and the preceding Friday (12, 13 and 14 September 2008). You buy a glass and are then free to try any wine offered at the many stands. |
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Panzano in Chianti Vino al Vino Chianti wine festival is held on the third weekend in September (19, 20 and 21 September 2008) in the main square of Panzano. Wine from many of the Panzano wineries is available to be sampled. This is a smaller and more informal event than the Greve wine festival in preceding week. |
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Castelnuovo Berardenga Wine Festival held during the last week of September and with numerous booths for tasting and buying the typical products of this part of Siennese territory, with special attention to the excellent Chianti wine of the area. The parade of allegorical carriages derives its theme from the countryside and the life of the farmers, and is accompanied by local men and women in traditional costumes. |
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| October festivals in Tuscany | |
Impruneta Fair of Saint Luke is one of the oldest surviving live stock fairs in Europe. It is held in the week in which the feast of St Luke occurs (18 October). This fair combines farming and folk culture with religion. Every day there are a great many stalls. Tuesday is dedicated to agriculture with a horse and cattle fair, saddlery, farm machinery and so on. Wednesday offers a donkey race and other games to amuse the local children and Thursday is marked by the horse races and the closing firework display. |
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| Greve in Chianti antiques and collectors fair on Easter Monday and the second Sunday of October. Details above under "Easter" | |
Panzano in Chianti Festa dei Macellai (Butchers Festival) is a relatively new but very popular event held on a Sunday late in October at which prepared meat butchers from around Italy promote their products for charity. Visitors buy a ticket that allows them to sample freely from the wide range of excellent Tuscan and Italian specialities on display. |
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Montalcino feast of the thrush (Sagre del Tordo) on the last weekend of October. This event is quite spectacular, with drum parades and archery trials on Saturday, and a popular feast held inside the walls of the castle all day Sunday, with very good food and wine purchasable by the glass. On Sunday morning there is a parade in mediaeval costume, a festive lunch (by invitation only) and then the main archery contest takes place in the afternoon after another costume procession. Two archers from each of the four quarters of Montalcino compete. It's advisable to arrive very early for these feast days, if you are not staying inside Montalcino itself, because parking rapidly vanishes and visitors walk several km uphill from where they are obliged to leave their vehicles. |
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Radicondoli festa of roasted chestnuts and wine in late October or early November. This event is included here not because it is famous, of historical interest or in any way sophisticated, but as an example of the innumerable enjoyable occasions that present themselves all over Tuscany when the local people get together for some fun. Radicondoli is well off the beaten path for tourists but well worth a visit to enjoy authentic Tuscan life. It is located south west of Siena on the border of the Maremma. This particular festa includes free-style noise-making by the Radicondoli brass band (but, hey! The idea is for everyone to have fun, right?), roasted chestnuts, porchetta and other hearty fare plus plentiful supplies of wine. If you have the opportunity to participate in a fair like this, don't miss it. |
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| November festivals in Tuscany | |
| San Miniato La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco (White Truffle Fair) takes place during the last three weekends in November, with a large offering of truffles plus truffle-derived products, wine, pecorino, salami, olive oil, grappa etc. This territory produces 25% of Italy's white truffles and while expensive the prices here are as good as you can get and the truffles are fresh. Truffles don't retain their aroma for more than 2-3 days so you can have truffle dishes in the restaurants and booths here in San Miniato or take a few home for immediate consumption. There are smaller truffle festivals during October in nearby Corazzano (7 October 2007) and Balconevisi (21 October 2007). | ) |
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| December festivals in Tuscany | |
| Anghiari Procession of the Madonna of Loreto on 10 December starting at 7 pm is an important religious procession for Anghiari. Tableaux vivants of Old and New testament scenes feature at various points in the town. |
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Abbadia San Salvatore Le fiaccole di Natale is a bonfire festival of great antiquity held during the night of 24 December. The origins of this festival are obscure but it undoubtedly reflects the central role of the chestnut forests that still blanket the lower reaches of Monte Amiata and that have sustained the small villages for centuries. Includes a torch procession and festivities throughout the night. Festivals involving similarly constructed bonfires, known as Natalecci, are held in the Garfagnana area of northern Tuscany. |
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Prato Display of the Virgin's Girdle on 8 September and 25 and 26 December. Details above under 'September'. |
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