December 8 is an Italian and Catholic holiday: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Cities throughout Italy celebrate with special masses, parades, and music. Many stores remain open for holiday shopping. Get your FREE copy of Dream of Italy's Christmas in Italy Guide
Cities throughout Italy celebrate Santa Lucia Day on December 13. Sicily hosts an especially large parade on December 13, bringing Santa Lucia's coffin to the Church of Santa Lucia. Another parade is held on December 20 to bring her back to the church's crypt. Get your FREE copy of Dream of Italy's Christmas in Italy Guide
It's the summer and in August many Italians are looking forward to Ferragosto which starts on August 15th. It's known as a two-week vacation period with roots in ancient Rome. When Emperor Augustus invented the feriae Augusti to mark the end harvest he also made it a moment that signified a period of well-deserved rest. Later, during the fascist regime, this ...
On the 6th of January every year, La Befana, the Italian witch, delivers treats to children across Italy just as Santa Claus would; only she travels by broom. In her hometown, Urbania, 50 thousand Italians celebrate with over 300 kilos of desserts, the most important aspect of a festa, of course. Throughout the streets and piazzas, you will find stands overflowing ...
You read that right. It's a clam festival located in the province of Le Marche to celebrate the history of this sea creature in the Falconara cuisine. The harvesting of clams has long been a part of tradition in this coastal town as well as a form of sustenance for fisherman's families. This event celebrates this history and invites others to ...
A Celtic festival of music and games is hardly the sort of thing you’d expect to find in the mountains of central Italy. But the Montelago Celtic Festival, launched in 2003, routinely attracts over 20,000 exuberant and kilted Italians and Europeans for a totally unique weekend experience. Every year in August, the alpine plains of Colfiorito straddling the border of Le ...
Every three years the wonderful town of Spelonga in the le Marche region hosts a town wide celebration known as la Festa Bella (the Beautiful Party) for the entire month of August. The silhouette of a ship is recreated in the town piazza where a Turkish flag waves high up on the ship's mast in memory of the Turkish defeat ...
It's the summer and in August many Italians are looking forward to Ferragosto which starts on August 15th. It's known as a two-week vacation period with roots in ancient Rome. When Emperor Augustus invented the feriae Augusti to mark the end harvest he also made it a moment that signified a period of well-deserved rest. Later, during the fascist regime, this ...
A medieval celebration fit for a duke takes over the historic city of Urbino on the third Sunday in August, with events focused around the Piazza Duca Federico in the old quarter of the city. Knights on horseback, meandering musicians and poets, and fair ladies in 15th century period gowns parade throughout the city and feast on traditional fare. Crafts, ...
It's the summer and in August many Italians are looking forward to Ferragosto which starts on August 15th. It's known as a two-week vacation period with roots in ancient Rome. When Emperor Augustus invented the feriae Augusti to mark the end harvest he also made it a moment that signified a period of well-deserved rest. Later, during the fascist regime, this ...
