Agrigento
ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
First half of February
Folk festival of song, dance, costumes, fireworks
Arezzo
GIOSTRA del SARACINO (Joust of the Saracen)
First Sunday in September
Tilting contest of the 13th century with knights in armor
Assisi
CALENDIMAGGIO (Celebration of Holy Week)
Easter Week
Celebration of spring according to rites dating back to
medieval times
Ascoli-Piceno
TORNEO della QUINTANA (Joust of the Quintana)
First Sunday in August
Historical pageant with people in 15th century costumes
Asti
PALIO - San Secondo
May 2
A 700 year old ceremony with procession in 13th century
costume. Flag Throwing Palio. Third Sunday in
SeptemberAncient festival with 800 costumes participants
Bari
SAGRA di San NICOLA
May 7
Historic procession in costume.
Cagliari
SAGRA di Sant' EFISIO
May 1 to 4
One of the biggest and most colorful processions in the
world. Several thousand pilgrims (wearing costumes dating
back to 1657) accompany the statue of the saint on foot,
carts and horses
Firenze
SCOPPIO DEL CARRO (Explosion of the Cart)
Easter Sunday
A pyramid of fireworks in the Cathedral Square is set off by
a mechanical dove driven from the Altar during High Mass.
CALCIO FIORENTINO (Soccer Match)
June 24 to 28
Revival of a 16th century football match in medieval
costumes.June 24thFireworks display from the terraced
gardens overlooking the city
Foligno
GIOSTRA della QUINTANA (Joust of the Quintana)
Second Sunday in September
Revival of a 17th century joust with 600 knights in costume,
historical procession
Genova
PALIO MARINARO dei RIONI
June 29th
Rowing race in ancient dress
Genzano
INFIORATA (Flower festival)
Corpus Domini
A religious procession along the streets carpeted with
flowers in magnificent designs.
Gubbio
FESTA dei CERI (Race of the Candles)
May 15
A procession in local costume in witch tall shrines are
carried to the church on the top of Mount Ingino.
PALIO dei BALESTRIERI (The Palio of the Archers)
Last Sunday in May
Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro
with medieval costumes and arms.
La Spezia
PALIO del GOLFO
Second Sunday of August
Rowing contest
Marostica(Vicenza)
PARTITA a SCACCHI con PERSONAGGI VIVENTI(Living Chess
Game)
Second weekend of September in even-numbered years
Chess game is played in the town square by living pawns in
period costume.
Napoli
FESTIVAL of San GENNARO
September 19
A religious ceremony honoring the patron saint of the city
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Nola
FESTA del GIGLIO (The Lily Festival)
Sunday following June 22nd
Allegorical towers are carried in a colorful procession
costume
Nuoro
SAGRA del REDENTORE (Feast of the Redeemer)
August 27 to 30
Colorful procession in Sardinian costumes
Oristano
SA SARTIGLIA
February 24 to 26
Medieval procession and jousting of masking knights
Palermo
FEAST of Santa ROSALIA
July 10 to 15
Procession, bands, fireworks in honor of the patron saint of
the city
Piana degli Albanesi
CELEBRATION of the EPIPHANY from the BYZANTINE RITE
January 6
Pisa
GIOCO del PONTE (Battle of the Bridge)
First Sunday in June
Medieval parade and contest
REGATTA of the GREAT MARITIME REPUBLICS
The friendly contest and historic regatta in which each of
the former maritime republics (Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and
Venice) race for a price
Roma
EPIPHANY FAIR at PIAZZA NAVONA
January 5th
A fair of toys, sweets and others presents takes place in
the open air among the beautiful Bernini fountains
FESTA DE' NOANTRI
July 19th to 26th
Folklore of Old Rome in Trastevere, including colorful
procession for the Vergine del Carmine, folk dances and
songs, carnival floats and fireworks
Sansepolcro
PALIO dei BALESTRIERI (The Palio of the Archers)
Last Sunday in May
Medieval crossbow contest between Gubbio and Sansepolcro
with medieval costumes and arms.
Sassari
CAVALCATA SARDA (Sardinian Cavalcade)
Next to last Sunday in May
Traditional procession of more than 3,000 people in
Sardinian costumes
Siena
PALIO - in Siena
July 2nd and August 16th
Procession and horse race. Participants are members of
ancient city districts, competing for the banner (Palio).
Colorful medieval pageantry.
Taranto
PROCESSION of the MYSTERIES
Good Friday
Renowned for its costumes and solemnity
Venezia
CARNIVAL in VENICE
February/March
Celebrations in costumes and masks, entertainment in streets
and squares. Music, mimes and fireworks.
IL REDENTORE (The Feast of the Redeemer)
Third Sunday in July
Procession of gondolas commemorating the end of the epidemic
of 1575
HISTORICAL REGATTA
First Sunday in September
Traditional competition between two-oar racing gondolas and
procession of ceremonial boats.
Viareggio
CARNEVALE (Carnival)
February/March -Highlight of the Carnival festivities is the
procession of spectacular and colorful floats
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