Every even numbered year, on the second weekend of September, locals dress in period costume and perform a chess game (Partita a Scacchi con Personaggi Viventi) as living pawns on a giant chessboard (think Alice in Wonderland comes alive) in the town square of Marostica, near Vicenza in the Veneto region. Thousands of spectators come for the festivities which feature 600 characters ...
Italy is known for its delicious pasta, but you may not know about a special kind called lorighittas which is only made on the island of Sardinia. This type of pasta is twisted into a ring and is typically served on meat sauce. The making of this pasta has been a tradition for hundreds of years and is honored annually with a festa. ...
This regatta is an annual boating competition that takes place in the gulf of Trieste in which 2,000 boat owners come together to test their skills on the Mediterranean. The main event is on the water and takes place on every second Sunday of October, but there are plenty of on-land activities to enjoy, in addition to a host of ...
If you're in the city and find your body telling you it needs a break from all the sight-seeing, take the time to wind down at this festival. It offers free classes for yoga novices as well as events for those who are well-schooled in various yoga techniques. Note: Pricing varies by event; Please visit event website for more information ...
If you are looking for a charming experience during the holidays and find yourself in Campania, take the time to visit Salerno where the piazzas will greet you with spectacular artistic light installations. Now nearing its 15th edition, this public display has captivated even international audiences. There is even a ferris wheel that gives guests a bird's-eye view of the ...
Southern Italy is romanticized for its gorgeous countryside, sunny weather and its even warmer welcome from the locals. If you're in the Campania region, take the time to stop over in Naples and visit Christmas Alley, also known as Via San Gregorio Armeno in the Historic Center of Napoli. The via is lined with handicraft workshops adorned with the artisans' charming holiday art. A ...
Gubbio kicks off the Christmas season and keeps it going with the lighting of the world's largest Christmas Tree (first recorded in 1991 in the Guinness Book of Records). This charming medieval town on Mount Ingino in Umbria is home to the light installation for nearly the entire month of December and into the first week of January. Quite a ...
If you're looking for a unique and one-of-a-kind experience for the holidays in Italy (as if just being in the bel paese was not enough) then you should take a trip to Rome and visit the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata. This historical church is home to the beautifully haunting crypt of the Capuchin monks of the 17th century and ...
The town of Agnone in Molise has its own way of celebrating the holiday season with the annual 'Ndocciata Torch Parade. Join locals as the admire and awe in the competition for the best 'ndocce (eight foot tall torches) around! Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since 2002. Get a free issue to ...
Have you ever been told not to play with your food? Well the people in Pienza have, and they don't care! Here, just to the south of Siena, folks continue to keep the holiday spirit going with a friendly competition involving the throwing of panforte. This tournament takes place every year from December 26th - 30th in Pienza's city hall where ...
