Italy’s cultural events and festivals celebrate saint’s feast days, film festivals, seasonal foods, dramatic opera, ballet and the recently instituted Notte Bianca, a city-wide celebration that’s a great excuse to stay up all night. The evocative settings for many events are outstanding, like the Verona opera festival in a Roman amphitheatre or the Taormina film festival below the Mt Etna volcano in Sicily. Religious festivals include lavish processions and fireworks while food festivals in Italy celebrate everything from Artichokes to Zabaglione.
Posted In: Hip Trip Tips for Travel in Italy, Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy
Celebrate Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage with FAI, the National Trust of Italy, and unique attractions not normally open to the public the weekend of March 26 & 27, 2011.
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The Festa di San Giuseppe in Sicily is a feast day that honors St. Joseph, and it mainly centers around food. The tavolata – laden table – of sweets and festival breads, and a day-long food auction are part of the celebrations. Of course, I was there to bid.
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In honor of the 150th Anniversary of Italy on March 17, 2011, celebrate with free entrance to state museums and archeological sites
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A visit to a carob mill when the carob harvest is in full swing in eastern Sicily, and time to contemplate the food culture of Italy during a walk among magnificent carob trees.
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When villages in Italy’s South Tyrol celebrate Törggelen, new wine can be tasted along with regional food specialties during this seasonal wine festival.
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The San Lorenzo beach in eastern Sicily was the setting for the recent release of nine loggerhead sea turtles (caretta caretta) by the Sicily Wildlife Fund.
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Next to the huge sweet onions of Giarratana, Sicily, all other onions pale in comparison. Roasted or grilled the cipolle di Giarratana are celebrated in an annual festival.
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Hiking Italian style means gourmet cuisine in the Dolomites, where Michelin-starred chefs have created special dishes served at mountain rifugi during the “Peaks of Gastronomy” initiative.
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The 2010 Taormina Film Fest takes place June 12-18 in the magnificent Greek theatre, where you can enjoy cinema under the stars as well as spotting a few stars like Robert deNiro and the perennially tan Valentino.
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In 2010 the Festa Della Repubblica celebrations in Italy on June 2 take place in a climate of political instability.
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Called a calcipitu in Sicily, a rudimentary go-kart is a part of the Italian culture of street games, where danger and noise go hand in hand. Join the celebration during a walk through Ragusa Ibla.
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The 2010 Cantine Aperte program opens 1000 wineries in Italy for wine tasting, cellar visits and other special events on May 30.
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