Italy’s festivals are the heartbeat of its culture, bursting with tradition, colour, and passion. Each celebration offers a chance to experience Italy’s story in full swing.

Immerse yourself in Italy’s iconic festivals

Discover the most iconic Italian festivals and experience the culture and traditions of the Bel Paese. From timeless carnivals to lively local celebrations, immerse yourself in the events that make Italian heritage come alive.

Carnevale di Venezia: intrigue and passion

This is where the magic of Venice happens, and during Carnival, it becomes a time machine. For around ten days, this enchanting city takes you back in time to the 18th century, with streets brimming with luxury, passion, and intrigue. It's a time for masks, mystery, and just a little bit of mischief. The streets become a big stage where everyone can step into a new character and leave the real world behind.

Palio di Siena: a horse race with a difference

The Palio di Siena is one of the most iconic Italian traditional celebrations, held twice a year. However, it is much more than a horse race, with burning passion that showcases the spirit of Siena. Each of the 17 districts in the city competes for victory, adorned with their own colours and emblems. To win a Palio is an honour, hence an object of fierce pride and rivalry.

Festa di San Gennaro a Napoli: a colourful spectacle not to be missed

San Gennaro is one of those Italian festivals where tradition and folklore meet in a riot of colours. On this special day, the city transforms into a carnival of colors, sounds, and mouth-watering flavours. In the middle of it all stands the Duomo, where thousands gather with bated breath for the liquefaction of the saint's blood.

Infiorata di Spello: the feast of Corpus Domini

The Infiorata of Spello is an unforgettable event, celebrated every year on the feast of Corpus Domini. Florsits work through the night, creating their beautiful floral carpets and displays in which the colours explode winding along the streets, decorating the town as if it were a living masterpiece.

Sagra del Tartufo di Alba: a delicious feast

It's an irresistible feast for the senses when the town comes alive with colourful streamers and busy stalls, selling all manner of local delicacies. Plunge into the culture of the place and relish the best food and wine from the invaluable truffle to delicious cheeses, cured meats, wines, and hazelnuts.

Festa della Madonna Bruna a Matera

This Italian traditional celebration is a day-long procession honouring the Madonna Bruna, as she is carried through the heart of the town. In the afternoon, the Madonna makes her way to the Cathedral, escorted by knights, and a stunning papier-mâché carpet awaits at the entrance. The festivities reach their peak with a dazzling firework display and lively celebrations throughout the city.

Notte della Taranta: it’s time to dance!

La Notte della Taranta is Italy's largest cultural music festival. It celebrates the region's traditional music, blending it with other genres. According to the legend, if someone was bitten by a spider (symbolizing possession by the devil) dancing was the cure. The dancer had to move feverishly, as if their life depended on it, to shake off the poison or the evil. A good excuse to dance all night!

Festa dei Ceri a Gubbio: a spectacular night

This holiday tradition in Italy honours the town's patron saint with a solemn and mysterious procession. While the original wax candles have been swapped for three massive wooden structures, the new "candles" are nothing less interesting. Each towering piece is topped with small statues of St. Ubaldo, St. George, and St. Anthony, making the procession a truly spectacular sight.

Regata Storica di Venezia: a tradictional Italian celebration

The Regata Storica is a dazzling throwback to the 16th century, featuring a grand procession of boats led by the iconic Bucintoro, the proud symbol of the Serenissima. The Grand Canal becomes a vibrant tapestry of decorated boats, with rowers dressed up with traditional Venetian costumes, making it a spectacle of colour and tradition.

Calcio Storico Fiorentino: a thrilling sporting event

Among the oldest traditions in Florence is Calcio Fiorentino, dating back more than 500 years. This intense sport combines wrestling, rugby, and football and is held during the third week of June. Three action-packed matches attract thousands of spectators to this cultural festival from all over the world, making it an essential event for those looking for a thrilling experience.

Italy's festivals area spectacle for all the senses, brimming with a passion and love for tradition that is quintessentially Italian. From Venice's masked magic to Siena's fierce rivalry, each celebration invites you to experience the heart of Italy like never before.ù

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