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April 2019
Gelato Festival
The Gelato Festival is on tour just in time for the summer heat, stopping in 12 Italian cities between now and October. Guests will be able to watch gelato makers at work, taste and vote for their favorite flavors, and sample a special flavor in each city, including Nutella and a mango-kiwi-strawberry combination. There will also be opportunities to learn how gelato is produced and participate in gelato-making classes. Locations include Rome, Naples, Florence and Turin. Note: Dates have not…
Find out more »August 2019
Goblets of Stars
Goblets of Stars (Calici di Stelle) is a wine event held annually across Italy on the night of and the week leading up to the Feast of San Lorenzo, a night that is historically lit up with shooting stars, interpreted as the tears of San Lorenzo. Evening concerts, parades, and events celebrating wine are held in piazzas across the country. Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue…
Find out more »Ferragosto
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 the 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 time of the year was used to promote travel within the country, including discounts on train voyages to see…
Find out more »September 2019
European Heritage Days
European Heritage Days began in France in 1954 as a way to celebrate the European continent. Celebrations are arranged across Italy, with different themes for each country every year. Free admission to museums, archaeological sites, concerts and theater invite Europeans and visitors to discover the heritage and culture of Italy. Please check the event website for updated dates Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see…
Find out more »January 2020
Fòcara in Novoli (Lecce): Sant’Antonio Abate Feast Day
Fòcara in Novoli, a small town near Lecce, honors the town's patron, Sant'Antonio Abate, on the eve of his feast day January 17. The origin of the fire ritual is said to date back at least 1,000 years and is credited to monks from the east who settled in Novoli. The fòcara is a bonfire constructed of olive branches and grape vines in Piazza Tito Schipa. Using a huge ladder to pile the branches on top, the fire builders make…
Find out more »August 2020
Ferragosto
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 the 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 time of the year was used to promote travel within the country, including discounts on train voyages to see…
Find out more »January 2021
Fòcara in Novoli (Lecce): Sant’Antonio Abate Feast Day
Fòcara in Novoli, a small town near Lecce, honors the town's patron, Sant'Antonio Abate, on the eve of his feast day January 17. The origin of the fire ritual is said to date back at least 1,000 years and is credited to monks from the east who settled in Novoli. The fòcara is a bonfire constructed of olive branches and grape vines in Piazza Tito Schipa. Using a huge ladder to pile the branches on top, the fire builders make…
Find out more »