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Orvieto Festivals and Folklore
Festivals and other events in Tuscany
Travel Guide for Visitors to the Chianti Classico Wine Region
of Tuscany, Italy.
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January Tuscan festivals and events |
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Befana La Festa dell'EpifaniaBefana La Festa dell'Epifania (Epiphany - the 12th Night of Christmas) 6 January 2023. This festival is almost more popular among Italian children than Christmas itself. La Befana is a character in Italian folklore, similar to Santa Claus, who visits all the children of Italy on the eve of 6 January to fill their socks with sweets if they are good or a lump of coal if they are bad. The family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few local specialities for Befana. During the day, many children dress up as Befana and visit the neighbourhood in the hope of receiving a small gift of money or sweets. Some of the costumes are astonishingly good and should be suitably rewarded. A popular market, the Fiera della Befana, takes place each year between Christmas and the Epiphany in Piazza Navona in the centre of Rome, where toys, sugar charcoal and candies are sold for the Roman children. In the areas north of Lucca, groups of singers still go door to door singing befanate. |
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February Tuscan festivals and events |
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Carnevale, ViareggioViareggio Carnevale (Carnival) was first held in 1873 and is now one of the most famous pre-Lent carnivals in the world. It is held in February (4, 12, 16, 19, 21, 25 February in 2023) and features huge paper-maché floats and models that parade along the "viali a mare", the sea promenades of Viareggio. "First category" floats are the biggest at 20 m high, 14 m wide and weighing about 40 tons each. They each carry as many as 200 costumed participants, plus others inside to manoeuvre the weights, the counter-weights and levers that will make the models move. The paper-maché models satirise public and political figures, as well as representing fairy-tale heroes. There is an extensive programme of related events including a large number of shows including extremely funny musical comedies in the local dialect, carnival menus available in the restaurants of the area, festivals in the various town neighbourhoods, as well as numerous masked balls held in the most fashionable discotheques and ballrooms. There's also a huge programme of sporting events. |
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March Tuscan festivals and events |
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Sagra o Festa delle frittelle, MontefioralleMontefioralle Frittelle Festival on or near St Joseph's day (Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 March 2023). Frittelle, fried rice cakes, are prepared in a huge cauldron of oil and the version prepared in Montefioralle is particularly delicious. The walled village of Montefioralle itself makes the trip to this little festival worthwhile. |
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Easter festivals in Tuscany, Italy
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Scoppio del Carro, FirenzeFlorence Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) is a Florentine Easter Sunday tradition that dates back to the First Crusade. When the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem on 15 July 1099, the Florentine Pazzino di Ranieri de' Pazzi was the first to raise a Christian banner above the city. He was rewarded with three chips of stone from the Holy Sepulchre which were later used in Florence during Easter celebrations to light the fire symbolising new life. The fire was then distributed around the city by a cart, where families would relight their hearths which were traditionally extinguished on Good Friday. This tradition is reported as early as 1102. However, the Pazzi family were stripped of all their wealth and privileges and exiled from Florence after their aborted attempt to overthrow the Medici in 1478. From that moment on, the Signoria took over responsibility for the preparation and celebration of the ritual explosion of the cart. The richly decorated cart, which dates to the 18 C, is hauled by brightly bedecked white oxen from Porta al Prato to the cathedral square. A wire is run from the choir of the cathedral and fixed to the centre of the cart. In the meantime a procession of clergy leaves the Church of the Santissimi Apostoli and goes to the Baptistery. At midday, a dove-shaped rocket, the colombina, is released inside the cathedral. It slides along the wire, leaving a trail of smoke along the length of the nave. When it reaches the cart, it sets off a cluster of crackers and then slides back to its point of departure. After a few moments, hundreds of multicoloured fireworks positioned on the cart go off with much banging and whistling. A Catherine Wheel on top lights up and starts spinning, ending with a loud bang and opening up to form the petals of a lily. Then four small gonfalons appear, bearing the emblems of Florence, of the old Pazzi family, of the Wool Merchants’ Guild and currently, as a sign of peace in the world, of the UN. The cart starts from via Il Prato at 9 am. At 10 am the procession of clergy starts from the Church of SS. Apostoli. The explosion of the Cart occurs at 11 am. |
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Other April Tuscan festivals and events |
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Mostra Mercato dell'Artigianato, AnghiariAnghiari Upper Tiber Artisans Market (Mostra Mercato dell'Artigianato) usually the week leading up to the 1 May. A wide range of hand-made traditional good on sale as well as demonstrations of their manufacture. |
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May Tuscan festivals and events |
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Calendimaggio, AssisiAssisi (in
Umbria, not Tuscany)
Calendimaggio
is a three day costume festival that takes place on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 1st of May
in which the upper and lower sectors of Assisi compete against one
another in various ancient games and a choir competition. Daylight and
evening costume processions and other similar entertainment.
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Balestro del Girifalco, Massa MarittimaMassa Marittima Balestro del Girifalco crossbow competition takes place twice a year on the first Sunday after May 20 and the 2nd Sunday of August. |
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Radda nel BicchiereRadda in Chianti Radda nel Bicchiere wine festival with wine tasting and food stands 20 and 21 May 2023.
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June Tuscan festivals and events |
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La Giostra dell'Archidado, CortonaCortona Giostra dell'Archidado crossbow competition held in late May or early June usually on the Sunday of Pentecost (Whitsunday). There are additional festivities in June including the mediaeval fair, flag throwing and mediaeval dinner at 8 pm after the competition. Every year, a procession of 300 or more people wearing wonderful mediaeval costumes as well as many riders on their horses parade through Cortona's historic centre. The competition known as the Giostra dell'Archidado commemorates the wedding of Francesco Casali, Lord of Cortona, and the noblewoman Antonia Salimbeni of Sienna, which took place in 1397. The crossbowmen from Cortona's five quarters, "quintieri", compete for a golden arrow. The contest is held in Piazza Signorelli. |
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Palio della Vittoria 1441, AnghiariAnghiari The Palio of the Victory of 1441 on 29 June and usually the two preceding days. Includes events that require purchase of a ticket. |
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Palio di San Ranieri, PisaPisa Palio of San Ranieri on 17 June (the day of St. Ranieri, patron saint of Pisa) - the four districts of Pisa (San Martino, San Francesco, Sant’Antonio, and Santa Maria) compete in a boat race, with each boat containing eight oarsmen, on the Arno for the “paliotto”, the prize. The race is held on the Arno along an upstream stretch of 2 km. On the night before, the famous Luminara is held in which the Pisans hang thousands of candles from the buildings along the river. Thousands of locals crowd along the banks of the Arno to see the fireworks at midnight. |
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La Giostra del Saracino, ArezzoArezzo Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen) is held twice a year, a night version on the third Saturday of June, and another joust on the first Sunday in September. In June, there are selection jousts, all taking place in the evening (8.15 pm to 11.30 pm). The final selection occurs on the evening of Thursday 15 June and there is a dinner on the evening of Friday 16 June. The main tournament takes place on the third Saturday of June throughout the day and into the evening. Tickets are required. This tournament has its origins in the early 16 C and commemorates Christian efforts to hold back the tide of Islam in the 14 C. A lively and colourful procession of costumed participants is followed by the main event in which eight costumed knights charge towards a wooden representation of the Saracen, aiming to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. The Saracen is mounted on a swivel so that part of the task of the knight is to avoid being struck back. Each pair of knights represents one of Arezzo's four rival districts and their supporters each occupy a side of the piazza. The winner receives a golden lance. |
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Il Calcio Storico, FirenzeFlorence Calcio Storico (costume football), the famous Florentine traditional football that dates from the Renaissance and takes place throughout June, the first two dates being confirmed on Easter Sunday. The final takes place on 24 June, saint's day for the patron saint of Florence, St. John the Baptist. NOTE: in 2024, the finals will take place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June to avoid a conflict with a local election. Four teams originating from each of the traditional city districts participate in the tournament: Blue for S. Croce, Green for S. Giovanni, Red for S. Maria Novella, and White for S. Spirito. All of the players are dressed in mediaeval breeches. There are 27 players on each team which means that matches can by fairly violent given the large number of players. Rules are minimal, so that almost anything is allowed to get hold of the ball and score a 'caccia'. |
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Il Palio dei Rioni, Castiglion FiorentinoCastiglion Fiorentino Palio dei Rioni is held on the third Sunday of June. It is Roman-style horse race that focuses the competitive skills and the ancient rivalry between the "Rioni" or districts of Porta Cassero, Porta Fiorentina and Porta Romana. The event is preceded by an impressive historic-folklore procession which fills the old town centre with evocations of ancient mediaeval life. |
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Festa del Barbarossa, San Quirico d'OrciaSan Quirico d’Orcia Festa del Barbarossa On the last weekend of June, San Quirico commemorates the meeting here in 1155 between Emperor Frederick the First, Barbarossa, and Pope Adrian IV's papal emissaries. The festival features mediaeval costume parades, flag throwing and archery competitions. |
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July Tuscan festivals and events |
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Il Palio, SienaSienna
Palio
is a very famous bare-back horse race round the sand-covered Piazza del
Campo that takes place every
2 July and 16 August. The contrade (town neighbourhoods) compete
for the palio ( banner) dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The square is
filled with costumed pageantry before the race and afterwards massive
feasts are set up on long outdoor tables that can stretch for blocks on
the side streets. Tickets for favoured locations provided with seating
are expensive but a good view of the race can also be obtained from the
middle of the piazza where a large crowd stands. |
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Festa Medievale, MonteriggioniMonteriggioni Festa Medievale (Mediaeval Festival) takes place usually in July - for 2023, the banquet will be on 6 July, and the rest of the festival on 7, 8 and 9 July 2023. This is one of the best costume festivals in Italy with local and also professional performers, music, demonstrations of mediaeval trades, food stands filling the piazza inside the fortified town of Monteriggioni. |
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Giostra dell'Orso, PistoiaPistoia Giostra dell'Orso (Joust of the Bear) takes place after a magnificent procession held on the 25 July in honour St. James, patron saint of Pistoia. Twelve knights take part in the Giostra, a mediaeval jousting tournament. The knights' goal is to hit two stylised bears with their lances to the sound of drum rolls and fanfares. The bear (orso) is the heraldic beast of Pistoia and the Giostra is the highlight of the town's "Luglio Pistoiese" festival. |
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August Tuscan festivals and events |
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Balestro del Girifalco, Massa MarittimaMassa Marittima Balestro del Girifalco crossbow competition takes place twice a year on the first Sunday after 20 May and the 2nd Sunday of August. |
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Il Palio, SienaSienna Palio on 2 July and 16 August. Details above under 'July'. |
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Bravìo delle Botti, MontepulcianoMontepulciano Bravìo delle Botti (barrel rolling race) takes place on the last Sunday in August between the eight Contradas (town neighbourhoods) of Montepulciano competing for a Palio, a painted cloth banner. The barrels weigh 80 kg and have to be rolled uphill about 1800 m along the main street of Montepulciano, finishing in the Piazza Grande. Costume processions precede the competition and a street banquet follows. The event, which was originally a horse race, dates back to 1373. It was abolished in the 17 C but was revived as a barrel race in 1974. |
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September Tuscan festivals and events |
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Cacio al Fuso, PienzaPienza Pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) Fair and "Cacio al Fuso" on the first Sunday in September. Pienza makes among the best pecorino in Italy and a wide range of excellent cheeses is available to be tasted and bought during this fair. The Cacio al Fuso is a cheese rolling competition. Cacio is the original Tuscan word for pecorino and the fuso or spindle is the target of the game. |
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October Tuscan festivals and events |
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La Fiera di San Luca, ImprunetaImpruneta Fair of Saint Luke is one of the oldest surviving live stock fairs in Europe. It is held in the week in which the feast of St Luke occurs (18 October). This fair combines farming and folk culture with religion. Every day there are a great many stalls. Tuesday is dedicated to agriculture with a horse and cattle fair, saddlery, farm machinery and so on. Wednesday offers a donkey race and other games to amuse the local children and Thursday is marked by the horse races and the closing firework display. |
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November Tuscan festivals and events |
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La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco, San MiniatoSan Miniato La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco
(White Truffle Fair)
takes place during the last three weekends in November, with a
large offering of truffles plus truffle-derived products, wine,
pecorino, salami, olive oil, grappa etc. This territory produces 25% of
Italy's white truffles and while expensive the prices here are as good
as you can get and the truffles are fresh. Truffles don't retain their
aroma for more than 2-3 days so you can have truffle dishes in the
restaurants and booths here in San Miniato or take a few home for
immediate consumption. There are smaller truffle festivals during
October in nearby Corazzano (first weekend of October) and Balconevisi
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December Tuscan festivals and events |
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La Processione della Madonna di Loreto, AnghiariAnghiari Procession of the Madonna of Loreto on 10 December starting at 7 pm is an important religious procession for Anghiari. Tableaux vivants of Old and New testament scenes feature at various points in the town. |
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Ostensione della Sacra Cintola della Madonna, PratoPrato Display of the Virgin's Girdle on 8 September and 25 and 26 December. Details above under 'September'. |
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