Dream of Italy

Rome: FictionFest
2017-12-07 - 2017-12-11 | Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro De Coubertin, 30, Rome, Italy
FictionFest encompasses international fiction in all forms, from books to movies and TV, and includes several screenings. Please check the event website for updated dates.

Puglia: Putignano Festival
2017-12-26 | Unnamed Venue, Puglia, Italy
The Putignano Festival, in the region of Puglia, is believed to be the longest and one of the oldest carnivals in the world, with records dating back to December 26, 1394. It is considered the longest-running carnival because it begins on December 26th with the multi-centennial tradition of the <i>Propaggine</i> (where Saint Stefan Protomartyre’s Holy Relices are transferred from Monopoli to Putignano amid cavorting carnival-goers) and continues until Shrove Tuesday, then picks up again for a summer encore in July. The parade has gained interest in the past ten years, when enormous floats, satirical masks, and colorful masked groups further enlivened the event, turning the once medieval procession into a social and political demonstration, of sorts. Representing the carnival in full is the Farinella, a clownish character in a costume of multicolored patchwork topped off with a bell-tipped three-cornered hat and bell-encrusted shoes and collar.

Matera (Basilicata): Feast of Madonna della Bruna
2018-07-02 06:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Unnamed Venue, Matera, Italy
On July 2nd, the intriguing town of Matera, where cave dwellings (sassi) give off an ancient air, hosts the feast of the Madonna della Bruna in homage to the city’s patron saint. The feast is centuries old, and commences at dawn with a shepherds procession to awaken the ancient quarters of town. A statue of the Holy Mother, the Madonna della Bruna, is carried through the streets and in accordance with ancient tradition onlookers attack the figure, destroying it in a grand finale complete with fireworks above the sassi, an UNESCO World Heritage site. The statue is rebuilt each year.
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Palermo (Sicily): Santa Rosalia Festival
2018-07-14 19:00 (Europe/London) | Unnamed Venue, Palermo, Italy
The Santa Rosalia Festival, known to Sicilians as “festino“, celebrates Palermo‘s patron saint with a week of festivities, including parades, fireworks, and music.
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Passignano (Umbria): Palio delle Barche
2018-07-22 - 2018-07-29 | Unnamed Venue, Passignano, Italy
The “Palio of the Boats” is divided into three stages: the first and third events are water races, while the second stage requires contestants from the town’s four districts to carry boats on their shoulders through the steep hills and passageways of old town Passignano. The palio, held annually on the last Sunday in July, originates from an attempted invasion in 1495. A small number of exiles from Siena and Perugia invaded the castle at Passignano, but were intimidated by Passignano’s violent reaction and fled the town carrying their boats on their shoulders. During the palio, women participate in the “Race of the Jugs,” an event that pays homage to past women who protected the castle’s water supply by carrying jugs of water with speed and grace.
Note: dates have not been announced yet. Please check the event website for updates.
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Gubbio (Umbria): Summer Festival
2018-07-23 - 2018-08-09 | Piazza San Pietro, Gubbio, Italy
The town of Gubbio, near Perugia, hosts an annual summer festival highlighted by concerts and performances by talented local musicians. The musicians also teach seminars and master classes for €80 per class.
Note: Dates have not been confirmed; please check the official event website for updates.
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Rome: Miracle of the Madonna of the Snow
2018-08-05 07:00 - 19:00 (Europe/London) | Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 42, Rome, Italy
According to legend, in 352 AD, a rich and bored Roman gentleman experienced a vivid dream in which the Virgin Mary told him that a certain hill in Rome would be covered in snow in the morning, and that he should then use his money to build a church on that site.
Being that Rome was deep in a steamy summer in the beginning of August, the gentleman didn’t think much of this prophecy, but decided to test it out nonetheless. Pope Liberius was also having a very similar dream. The gentleman and the Pope bumped into one another, then ran together towards the hill, where they both observed snow falling…
Today this is the home of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The miracle is re-enacted every August.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.

Civitavecchia (Lazio): Feast of the Sea (Il Padellone)
2018-08-15 | Unnamed Venue, Civitavecchia, Italy
Civitavecchia rings in the anniversary of its founding, as well as the defeat of the Saracens, in charming seaside style: A boat race, historical procession and a gastronomical fair featuring huge quantities of free seafood, and in particular, a gigantic Padellone — a giant platter of fried fish that especially encapsulates the anniversary of the founding of the city.
Other celebrations take place in Civitavecchia on the week before Il Padellone, but these events are not determined until very close to the date.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
Related article: Dream of Italy’s Lazio Travel Advice

Ferragosto
2018-08-15 - 2018-08-29 | Lazio
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 time of the year was used to promote travel within the country, including discounts on train voyages to see all the beauty that Italy has to offer. Today it is still a largely celebrated holiday.
In Rome, on the evening of August 15th (the Feast of the Assumption), the piazze are filled with the performances of professional dancers for the Gran Ballo di Ferragosto. Squares throughout the city are enlivened by performances of all walks of life, from tango to rock, hip-hop, ballroom dancing, and more, with a giant concert in the Parco Archeologico of Teatro Marcello, as well!
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
Photo credit: Romano Guidotti, flickr.com

Venice: OPEN Art Festival
2018-09-01 - 2018-09-30 | Unnamed Venue, Venice, Italy
OPEN displays contemporary art in public spaces in Venice’s Lido area, encouraging “synergy, creativity, and artistic intuition.” OPEN exclusively displays sculptures from up-and-coming international artists. Please check the event website for updated dates.

Impruneta (Tuscany): Chianti Grape Harvest Festival
2018-09-29 | Unnamed Venue, Impruneta, Italy
Chianti drinkers, rejoice: Your festival is here! In September, the Tuscan city of Impruneta becomes intoxicated with celebrations of the garnet gem of Tuscany — the Chianti grape. In this Festa dell’Uva, wine-lovers can wander from booth to booth, tasting Chianti varieties as well as regional delicacies. There are also historical processions with incredible costumes (and some mischievous antics, due to rivalries between the town’s neighborhoods which manifest themselves during this excited time of year).
Note: dates have not been confirmed. Please check the event website for updated dates.
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Dream of Italy’s Tuscany Travel Advice
Related Article: A Day In Chianti: Food, Wine and Shopping
Related Article: An Italian Wine Education

Urbania: Le Marche: Festa Nazionale della Befana
2019-01-04 - 2019-01-07 | Pro Loco Casteldurante, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Urbania, Pesaro, 61049, Italy
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 with food, theater performances, and fun workshops. The Festa Nazionale della Befana gives an alternative insight of holiday celebrations.
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Milano: Corteo dei Magi
2019-01-06 | Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano, Milan, Italy
This event is an ancient Italian tradition to celebrate the holidays. There is music and a live presepe vivente, also known as a nativity scene, in the Piazza del Duomo near the Basilica of Sant’Eustrogio in Milan.
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Arezzo (Tuscany): Antique Market
2019-01-06 | Antique Fair, Piazza Amintore Fanfani, 3, Arezzo, Tuscany, 52100, Italy
Under the Vasari Portico in the main piazza of Arezzo, the first Sunday and preceding Saturday of every month you will find the largest antique market in Italy. From dressers to comic books to old military uniforms, this market holds a variety of treasures. Arezzo, located in the region of Tuscany, is one of the twelve Etruscan cities that was conquered by the Romans. It is the birthplace of Petrarch who is credited with marking the beginning of the Renaissance. The Piero Della Francesca is a must to visit in the church of San Francesco. The streets of Arezzo are filled with shopping, history, and art that will offer a trip worth taking.
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Rome: Epiphania
2019-01-06 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Rome) | St. Peters, Via della Conciliazione, Rome, Italy
Each year in Rome, hundreds of people in medieval costumes walk along the avenue leading up to the Vatican carrying gifts for the Pope, who will then say a morning mass in Saint Peters.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.

Venice: Epiphany Regatta
2019-01-06 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Rome) | Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
In a city that holds hundreds of regatta races throughout the year, this one stands out, as it features 50 men dressed as La Befana (the Epiphany witch). The rowers paddle up the Grand Canal and toward the Rialto Bridge, competing to be the first to reach a giant stocking that hangs from the bridge. This is an exciting event to witness if you are in Venice for the holidays.
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Matera: European Capital of Culture
2019-01-13 08:00 - 2019-12-31 17:00 (Europe/Rome) | Matera, Matera, Italy
Matera has been named Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2019, and will celebrate with events all year long. Visitors can engage in an interactive experience by using their own phones as they are lead through the exhibit with a chatbot created by Martel.IA, they can also participate in a two-day L.A.R.P. event, take part in a community seeding workshop that promotes sustainability and even enjoy live dance performances from renowned choreographers such as Maria Hassabi.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
Photo credit: Gianluca Canello, flickr.com

Fòcara in Novoli (Lecce): Sant'Antonio Abate Feast Day
2019-01-16 | Piazza Aldo Moro
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 a mountain as high as a three-story house. Thousands of pilgrims walk from nearby towns to honor the Saint. In addition to the bonfire, there are masses, religious processions, food, wine, and musical events.
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Aosta: Fiera di Sant’Orso
2019-01-30 - 2019-01-31 | Lazio
Each year the streets of Aosta are filled with the international woodcarving and handicrafts fair. Dedicated to the 6th century Saint Orso, this fair has been held for about 1,000 years. It is a chance for artisans to show off their skills and imagination.
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Florence: Chianti Lovers
2019-02-10 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi, 1, Florence, Italy
The Chianti Wine Consortium hosts Chianti Lovers as a preview of upcoming vintages to be released. 100 wineries bring 500 wines for the public to taste.

Muravera (Sardinia): Citrus Festival
2019-04-06 - 2019-04-08 | Unnamed Venue, Muravera, Italy
Since the 1960s, the town of Muravera has celebrated its abundance of fresh, local citrus with the Citrus Festival, which includes citrus tastings, music, art shows, and parades. Note: dates have not been confirmed; please check the event website for updates.
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Gelato Festival
2019-04-21 - 2019-09-04 | Lazio
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 been confirmed; please check the official event website for updates.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.

Tuscany Walking Festival
2019-04-24 - 2019-05-10 | National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, Tuscany, Italy
The Tuscany Walking Festival is a celebration of nature and conviviality, calling visitors together to traverse on foot Tuscany’s six national parks, located along Tuscany’s coast. The festival features hundreds of different events aimed at bringing people together to share the beauty of the Mediterranean scenery. Beyond offering good exercise and a great way to experience Tuscany, the festival narrows the divide between the coast and seven-island archipelago, which sits between Tuscany and Corsica in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The event is held in the spring and fall; keep an eye on the official website for confirmed dates.
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Ferrara: International Kite Festival
2019-04-25 - 2019-04-28 | Parco Urbano Giorgio Bassani, Ferrara, Italy
For four days in April, the skies of Ferrara are cluttered with all kinds of kites, including stunt kites, flown by kite enthusiasts from all over Europe.
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Rome: 100 Painters on Via Margutta
2019-04-26 - 2019-05-01 | Unnamed Venue, Via Margutta, Rome, Italy
100 Painters on Via Margutta is an event held twice a year that features the work of 100 local and international artists on Rome’s Via Margutta, a street famous for inspiring painters, sculptors, artisans, poets and musicians.
Note: dates have not been confirmed; please check the event website for updates.
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Milan Food Week
2019-05-07 08:00 - 2019-05-13 17:00 (America/Denver) | Milan, Milan, Italy
Milan Food Week celebrates the taste and culture of Italian food at art galleries, restaurants, and bars throughout the city. Tastings, art, exhibitions, and a wine-tasting tram that runs past the city’s major attractions are all part of the festival. On par with Milan Design Week, all the events will be held in the city centre in a mix of exclusive and charming locations, shops, art galleries, show rooms, bars and restaurants.
Note: dates have not been confirmed; please check the event website for updates.
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Florence: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
2019-05-10 08:00 - 2019-07-15 17:00 (Europe/Rome) | Opera di Firenze, Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, Florence, Italy
This music festival, held in Florence, began in 1931 as an opera festival and has since expanded to include dance
Note: Dates have not been confirmed; Pricing may vary by event: Please check the event website for updates.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
Photocredit: maggiofiorentino.com

Gubbio (Umbria): Corso dei Ceri (Running of the Candles)
2019-05-15 | Unnamed Venue, Gubbio, Italy
One of Italy’s oldest and weirdest traditions, Corso dei Ceri, or “Running of the Candles,” takes place once a year on May 15th in the picturesque Umbrian town of Gubbio. Three “candles” (actually 30 foot-high wooden pillars) crowned with statues of saints are paraded around the town by “ceraiuoli” and then run up the streets of Gubbio to the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo which overlooks the town. Must see to believe!
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
Related Article: Gubbio: City of More Than Just Silence

Sardinia: Porto Cervo Food Festival
2019-05-17 15:00 - 2019-05-19 19:00 (Europe/London) | Cervo Conference Center, Piazzetta di Porto Cervo, Porto Cervo, Italy
Held in the Sardinian resort town of Porto Cervo, the Porto Cervo Food Festival features fine Italian food. For two days the Cervo Conference Center will be transformed into a culinary village in which Sardinia’s signature local products will flank superb gastronomic offerings from Italy’s other leading regions: charcuterie, cheeses, jams, wonderful preserves and even caviar and bottarga (cured mullet roe) will all be available for tasting.
A spectacular culinary voyage along the Italian peninsula will reveal the nation’s most authentic flavors, which, of course, visitors may also purchase to take home as a reminder of a very special weekend. This year’s festival will feature pickled foods: from vegetables to fish, delicacies prepared with this traditional method of preservation and their use in the kitchen will be the main theme of the many events planned.
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Puglia Tango Festival
2019-05-31 - 2019-06-24 | Hotel Villa Romanazzi Carducci, Via Giuseppe Capruzzi 326 , Bari, Italy
The Puglia Tango Festival, held in Bari, celebrates the classic Latin dance with performances, music, and lessons for the public. Lessons are free for those who have never danced tango before, and guests can purchase packages of lessons, tango dance parties (milongas), and tango experiences for various prices, ranging from 10 to 25 euros per event. Experience the famous Buenos Aires moods of tango with workshops, performances by prestigious dancers, and milongas every night.
Note: Please check the event website.
Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to see what we are all about. Join now to access them all. Let our expert travel planners book your Italy trip. We also host a TV series and podcast.
