Although Easter was early this year, the tourist season has officially begun! Researching and planning vacations are so much fun! I love figuring out the best was to maximze my time and opportunities, and local festivities are always fun. To help you with your plans for Umbria in 2008, I've compiled this brief list. This is by no means a complete listing, just some of our favorites. A search on PERUGIA ONLINE, UMBRIA ONLINE or BELLA UMBRIA will give you updated listings, including smaller, more local activities. There will be countless local festas (sagras) as well, usually featuring dinner with the local seasonal specialty followed by music and dancing. Take a look at the billboards posted locally for more information about what's happening where you are.(Some links might not have updated information until closer to the event.)
La Festa dei Ceri Gubbio May 15
A race through the streets with giant candles, held every year since the 12th Century. Also in Gubbio, on the last Sunday in May the "balestrieri" (crossbow competitors) challenge their Tuscan colleagues of Sansepolcro in an antique competition of shooting.
La Festa dei Ceri L'Infiorata di Spello May 24-25
The streets of Spello will be covered with millions of flower petals creating amazing mosaics of every type. The work starts on Saturday and continues throught the night. On Sunday morning the streets of Spello have been transformed into an art gallery.
SPELLOCantine Aperte May 25
Perfect for wine lovers the Cantine Aperte, which translates to Open Wine Cellars, is Italy’s biggest wine event taking place in May. In its 15th year, this important event offers visitors the opportunity to taste Montefalco wines and is a unique opportunity for all those who love to visit the wine cellars and vineyards to explore Umbrian wine culture and all its secrets. The largest producers in the area offer wine tasting matched to typical local produce.
CANTINE APERTIMarket of the Gaite Bevagna June 20 - June 29
A re-creation of everyday life of the Middle Ages that takes its inspiration from the antique division of Bevagna into four districts. Antique Umbrian foods, concerts, exhibitions and archery competition make an evening in Bevagna feel like a step back in time.
MERCATO DELLE GAITEQuintana Foligno June 4-14 and September 13-14
The Quintana is a traditional folk event taking place in June and September. In 1613 it was held for the first time, then revived in 1946 and after that the joust has been celebrated every year as a revival of the 17th century tradition. In the “Campo de li Giochi”, ten knights in flamboyant costume belonging to each town’s traditional quarter run with their beautiful horse through a special route in the center of which a XVII century wooden statue named la Quintana is placed. On the right hand of it, a series of rings with decreasing sizes are hanging: each knight has to seize the rings and at the same avoid penalties in order to win the prize.
QUINTANAProcession of Corpus Christi Orvieto June 15
Orvieto provides an atmospheric setting for the medieval and religious spectacular of Corpus Christi. Orvieto's version of this event recalls the 1263 Christian miracle of Bolsena in which, while a priest was giving mass, blood issued from the host. The linen altar cloth, on which the droplets fell, is traditionally kept in the Cathedral but is carried through the streets of Orvieto for the feast of Corpus Christi. The world-renowned parade featuring medieval dances, songs and music, starts at the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and ends at the Cathedral and sees more than 400 people celebrating with knights, ladies, musicians and flag men all dressed in 14th century costume.
International Arabian Horse Show Bettona June 27 - July 6I don't know anything about this festival, but Arabian horses are so beautiful I definitely plan to check it out. INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE SHOWWater Festival June–July
This event, held at the Lake Piediluco, set in the Umbrian Hills, dates back to the extremely ancient tradition of the celebration of the Summer Solstice featuring rites, purification ceremonies and lighting of fires. As time has passed, the festival has retained its original features but has expanded to include other events such as an illuminated procession of decorated boats by night, firework displays, theatrical performances and concerts of classical music.
Festival dei Due Mondi Spoleto June 27 - July 13
The Medieval town of Spoleto hosts one of Europe’s most vibrant festivals during the month of July with a remarkable program of visual arts performances. Typically the festival begins with an inaugural concert on the Piazza Duomo outside the Cathedral. During the annual festival visitors can enjoy quality concerts of classical music, opera, theatre, ballet, visual arts and cinema at various venues across the beautiful city.
FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI
Umbria Jazz July 11-20 Perugia
This year featuring Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Cassandra Wilson, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys, Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani, Paolo Fresu, Mario Biondi and R.E.M.
UMBRIA JAZZTodi Art Festival July 12–27
The annual Todi Art Festival is held in courtyards throughout the city, presenting theatre, music, classical and ethnic dance, and cultural events.
The Italian International Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix July 13–27
In its 20th year the Italian International Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix, held in Todi, sees more than 70 hot air balloons arriving from countries all around the world. The balloons are inflated twice daily creating spectacular photo opportunities. There are also many other attractions at the event to keep the whole family entertained. Sagra della Cipolla in Cannara near Bettona. First and second weekends in SpetemberMenus based on the famous Cannara onions.
Sagrantino Wine Festival September 18-21
The annual WINE FESTIVAL IN MONTEFALCO offers a chance to sample wines from a variety of wineries and to learn more about Umbria's most distinguished wine.
Celebration of ‘Made in Italy’ October 4–12
This nine-day event held in Orvieto each year, celebrates the wine and gastronomic tradition of the ‘Made in Italy’. The prestigious event was born in 1996, after a memorable world congress of the "Slow Food" Movement which took place in the Umbrian city. The event features conferences inside the beautiful museums and historic monuments, food tasting, art exhibitions and themed dinners.
Eurochocolate October 18–26 Perugia
This annual event will be any chocolate lovers dream! Dedicated to the chocolate for which Perugia is famous, this event comprises chocolate tasting, cooking classes, workshops and chocolate sculpting. Visitors will devour more than 50 tons of chocolate throughout this eight-day event.
EUROCHOCOLATEFrantoi Aperti November 1–2
The Frantoi Aperti festival, taking place during the first weekend of November, sees the doors open to several mills around Umbria offering visitors the chance to admire the olive trees, talk to producers and learn more about olive oil production through seminars and guided tastings as well as learning the secrets of a Mediterranean diet! Numerous farms and restaurants also take part in the festival by incorporating quality olive oil with traditional dishes. Last year we tasted gelato made with olive oil!
FRANTOI APERTIUmbria Jazz Winter Festival late December 2008 – January 2009
Five days of great music in the picturesque setting of Orvieto. Concerts are held in the 19th-century Luigi Mancinelli Theatre, the halls of the Emilio Greco Museum, the 14th-century Palazzo Soliano, the Hall of the Quattrocento in the Palazzo del Popolo, and the Palazzo dei Sette. The event kicks off with street parades and continues with a series of knock-out performances. The New Years Eve dinner is the high point of a packed evening with music and concerts lasting well into the New Year.
UMBRIA JAZZChristmas in Umbria December 24 2008 – January 6 2009
During the Christmas period in Umbria, religious ceremonies, historic commemorations and folklore events are organised. Living nativity scenes can be seen through many towns in Umbria and concerts of classical and jazz music are held in the beautiful churches. Visitors will also be able see the world’s largest Christmas tree made out of lights in Miranda, close to Terni and can be viewed from the valley below. Standing at 800 meters long and 400 meters wide and lit with over 7.5 miles of electric cables, it really is a spectacular sight.
Labels: festivals, Italy, sagras, Umbria
