Tuscan Festivals
There is an enormous list of local festivals across the whole of Tuscany celebrating church feast days, holidays, local traditions or just a reason to have a party in mid summer. They are a great way to get an insight into the costumes and customs of the past or just to join in with the locals and have some good food and a night out. For the local “festas” held throughout the summer in local villages watch out for the posters in towns and villages or better still ask the property owner of any festas coming up in your area.
Here are a few of them:
JAN / FEB / MARCH
It’s Carnival!
Party revelry before Lent.
You’ve probably heard of the world famous Venice Carnival, that is truly spectacular! With a setting like Venice, how could it fail to impress. Even in the chilly air of February the atmosphere is breathtaking, with elaborate costumes and spookily masked figures parading the street and even dancing with the tourists in Piazza St. Marco!
But Carnival isn’t just a yearly event held in Venice, it is celebrated throughout Italy in many different ways from battles from orange laden carts to processions of gigantic, elaborately decorated floats. Nowadays, it is essentially a fun time when young children dress up in costume at the weekends in towns and villages throughout Italy during Carnival and throw paper streamers and confetti and generally have fun.
DATES: (dates change slightly each year, check before making a trip)
Venice
25 Jan - 5 Feb
Full of atmosphere and stunningly elegant to crazy costumes Fioano della Chiana (AR), Tuscany
Sundays - 20, 27 Jan + 3, 10 Feb
Giant floats are paraded through town.
Entrance ticket required
www.carnevaledifoiano.it
Viareggio, Tuscany
Parades Sundays between 20 Jan - 10 Feb
Procession of gigantic floats. Entrance ticket required.
tel: 0584 962568
www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com
As well as all towns and cities around Italy. generally on Sunday afternoons.
It’s Carnival! It’s party time!!
MARCH
Torrita di Siena (SI)
“Palio dei Samori”
15 + 16 March
Flag waving in the piazza. Procession in costume, followed by a historical donkey derby.
APRIL
Grassina
Castiglion Fiorentina
Good Friday and Easter processions.
Easter week and weekend
Many of which have cloaked figures in white but also black that take part in torch light processions to celebrate Easter.
Florence
“Lo Scoppio del Carro”
Easter Sunday outside the Duomo 11am.
Get there early for a good view as it gets busy!
A mechanical dove slides down a wire from high up inside the Duomo, flys through the open door and hits a carriage positioned outside the door. If it hits it correctly it sets off a spectacular display of fireworks right in the heart of town.
JUNE
Florence
“Calcio Storico”
1st & 2nd Sunday in June
Football (resembles all in wrestling more than football!) played in medieval costume.
Entrance ticket required.
Arezzo
“La Giostra del Saracino”
Piazza Vasari
Saturday 21 June & Sunday 7 September.
Dates back to 1535. Today, men on horseback dressed in medieval costume, compete in games between the 4 quarters of the city. The riders are armed with lances and have to hit a target.
Entrance ticket required.
Tel: 0575 377262
www.lagiostradelsaracino.it
JULY
Siena
“Il Palio”
2 July and 16 August
Piazza del Campo, Siena
The different “contradas” (town quarters) compete in a world famous horse race around the difficult course in the main piazza in the centre of Siena. The race is a traditional annual event in this city and winning or losing is taken very seriously. So if you’re next to the losing team’s supporters don’t be surprised if there are some tears and pretty desperate looking faces.
The winning team holds a street party to celebrate after the race and a celebration dinner is organised, where the winning horse gets pride of place!!!!
Entrance ticket required for seats.
Free entrance to the central piazza – standing only and very crowded but full of atmosphere!
Campi
Ever Sunday during July & August
Hilltop at Campi village.
Tiny hilltop hamlet holds an open air “festa” under the pine trees every year. Lunch and dinner is available, cooked on an outside barbecue. During the afternoon there is a raffle and in the late afternoon / evening - music and dancing. Great for kids. Beautiful views.
Near St. Gusmè (SI) and close to Siena
AUGUST
Montalcino
2nd Sunday in August
Archery contest in the town playing fields and procession in medieval costume.
Entrance ticket required.
Castelnuovo Berardenga
Montapeti /Casetta (SI)
End August / Beg Sept.
Medieval dinner on the site of a famous battle between the Sienese and Florentines.
SEPTEMBER
Arezzo
“La Giostra del Saracino”
Piazza Vasari
Saturday 21 June & Sunday 7 September
Dates back to 1535. Today, men on horseback dressed in medieval costume, compete in games between the 4 quarters of the city. The riders are armed with lances and have to hit a target.
Entrance ticket required.
Tel: 0575 377262 or e-mail sports@nots.it
Volterra (PI)
“L’Astiludio”
1st Sunday in September
Procession in medieval costume and flag waving displays.
Entrance ticket required
Florence
“La Rificolona”
6/7 September
Piazza Santissima Anunziata and around the centre.
Particularly good for children. Celebrated in and around Florence. It is a torch lit procession of lanterns, many of which are homemade and carried by children. Celebrates a feast day in memory of the birth of the “Madonna” when local people used to come to church in the dark, carrying lanterns.
Castelnuovo Berardenga
"Festa del Uva"
2nd half of September
Dinners, dancing, sports, competitions and a procession of floats.
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