Events calendar Italy

During the "Giornate Fai di Primavera" (the equivalent of our Heritage Days), several unknown palaces, places and other private sites are exceptionally open to the public. Unusual and generally free, for all tastes and ages, these visits are an opportunity to explore Florence differently, but also the Tuscan hinterland. The dates vary each year, coinciding with the first weekend of spring in March.

This is Milan's great international marathon: 5, 10 or 21 km.

For Sant'Agnese (Saint Agnes), on January 21, at the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura on via Nomentana, the Pope blessed two lambs that were then entrusted to the Benedictine sisters to weave a coat with their wool for the archbishops. The lambs are presented to the Pope in a basket with white and red flowers: the white symbolizing the virginity of the saint, the red symbolizing her martyrdom. A tradition that has lasted for 500 years and welcomes a large number of faithful and visitors every year.

Museums, palaces, churches, archives and private mansions usually closed to the public open their doors to visitors during the Culture Week organised by the City of Rome. Make sure you know before you leave because the date changes every year, but if you have the chance to travel during this period, you will save a lot on your budget because museum admissions are free or at a reduced rate! Special events and night openings are also on the week's agenda.

On the day of the Epiphany, a tradition that dates back to the 14th century takes place: the procession of the Three Wise Men, made up of Gaspard, Melchior and Balthazar, as well as many other characters, shepherds, knights and peasants, travels along Via Torino and Corso di Porta Ticinese, from the Duomo to the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio, to finally lay down their gifts in front of a living crib. For the people of Milan, this is an opportunity to gather around the procession, which has become an unavoidable celebration of the Christmas season.

Every year, this open-air opera festival is held in the evocative setting of the Arena di Verona, the city's Roman amphitheater. An event not to be missed if you love opera singing! Four or five operas are usually performed over 40 days each year. The first edition of the festival dates back to 1913, the centenary of Verdi's birth, when Aida, one of his best-known operas, was performed.

This important festival of baroque classical music takes place every year in Piedmont, on the island of San Giulio, in the center of Lake Orta. An incredible setting! Five days of concerts punctuate the event, as well as numerous theatrical performances in period costume by candlelight. Remember to book your tickets online early, as the festival's insular location and local popularity mean that remaining seats in June are scarce.

It's the most important event around Lake Orta: during the last two weeks of August, there's a great show and an international fireworks competition in the middle of the lake, as well as fairs, cultural debates and numerous concerts. For the occasion, boat trips are organized from Orta, recommended to make the most of the festival! It celebrates San Vito, the patron saint of the town of Omegna along with Saint Ambrose. Religious celebrations take place in the Collegiata di Sant'Ambrogio.

The Nivola is a centuries-old tradition that every year, on the Saturday closest to September 14, the Archbishop of Milan climbs on a kind of mechanical cloud (la nivola) to the highest point of the apse of the Duomo to recover the relic of a nail of the Holy Cross. The faithful have the opportunity to see this nail placed on the altar of the Duomo until Sunday. It is then returned to its original place. This tradition dates back to 1576, when the archbishop of the time implored the relic to end the plague epidemic.

A day when the rainbow flag is the protagonist on the streets of the city. A great parade is organised, as well as festivities throughout the evening.

Milan too can boast an international fair of design and modern and contemporary art (from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day) which attracts more and more traders and visitors every year. Over the years, this event has become a reference in the field of contemporary art, where collectors, gallery owners, museum curators, artists, etc. meet. Miart offers the largest chronological range of works at the modern and contemporary art fairs in Italy. The fair welcomes galleries from over 20 different countries.

This festival of Italian and French jazz music takes place in ports, downtown and on boats.

The beer festival is celebrated in Trinità d'Algultu in the second part of August.

The beer festival and adjacent are celebrated in the city in late July.

During the summer, festivals using Sardinian products are organised in the city. A at the end of June, the festival of the seadas, fried cake filled with honey and cheese, one of the most popular delicacies island. In July, it celebrates the celebrations of fish and wine vermentino. At the beginning of August, typical dishes of the life shepherd are offered during the Festa degli pastori in the town of Porto Pozzo.

This international festival of blues and jazz music takes its name from the red rocks of Arbatax, where it was organized for a decade. Today, it is taking place in front of Santa Maria Navarrese Church during the month of August. Tickets can be purchased for each concert or'cumulative'place on site or in many stores on the island.

This international windsurfing regatta takes place at the Bouches de Boniface in late September.