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Venice: Festa del Redentore

Unnamed Venue Venice, Italy

The Redentore Feast (Feast of the Redeemer) is a deeply felt celebration in Venice as it combines religion with entertainment, thanks to the Saturday night phantasmagorical fireworks’ display attracting thousands of visitors: a kaleidoscope of shades, from a game of light and colors on the inimitable setting in St. Mark’s Basin, lights up the spires, domes and bell towers of the ...

Free
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Sestri Levante (Genoa): La Barcarolata

Sestri Levante Sestri Levante, Genoa, Italy

Every last Sunday of July, Baia del Silenzio (or Silence Bay) in Sestri Levante is the  alive thanks to a boat parade under the stars! Tourists and locals can compete in the decorating of their boats with twinkling lights and dress up in carnival costumes in preparation for the parade in the evening! The night wraps up with a gorgeous firework ...

Free

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Spelonga (Marche): A Beautiful Party

Spelonga Marche, Italy

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 ...

Free
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Acquavivo Picena: Medieval Wedding Banquet

That's right, a Medieval Wedding Banquet, also called the Banchetto Nuziale Medievale, takes place every August in the village of Acquavivo Picena in Le Marche. The weekend invites guests to step back into the 13th century by witnessing a blessing of cloth, performances,  a wedding, a palio and, last but not least, a feast in celebration of the marriage between Forastéria ...

60€
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Rome: Miracle of the Madonna of the Snow

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 ...

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Rome: Feast of San Lorenzo

Basilica di San Lorenzo Via Tiburtina, Rome, Italy

The martyrdom of San Lorenzo is celebrated in Rome with fireworks and celebrations throughout the area around his crypt on the Via Tiburtina, where he was killed in 258 AD. The patron saint of librarians, firemen, bakers, and other professions whose jobs involve fire and roasting, San Lorenzo's association with such incendiary professions is certainly a disturbing one -- His ...

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Positano (Amalfi Coast): Landing of the Saracens

Unnamed Venue Positano, Italy

On this summer evening at sunset, costumed actors re-enact the battle that took place on the night of August 15, 1558. The landing of the Saracens is also celebrated with music, food and a certainly gorgeous sunset, making this an event for the whole family. Dream of Italy is a membership website and award-winning travel publication publishing 170 issues since ...

Free
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Civitavecchia (Lazio): Feast of the Sea (Il Padellone)

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 ...

Free
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Cappelle sul Tavo (Abruzzo): Palio of the Dancing Dolls

To kick off ferragosto this friendly battle, also called the Palio delle Pupe, amongst 14 neighboring towns in Abruzzo puts on a show for spectators. Pupe are papier-mache lifesized dolls and are covered in fireworks. For over 40 years these dolls have a dance "battle" where representatives from the towns climb up inside the doll and perform a dance to folk ...

Free
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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 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 ...