Theater festivals in Italy. Events in Italy
Italy holds interesting festivals every month of the year. Here is information about the popular and unusual festivals in Italy, listed by month. You will be able to plan your trip with a visit to the most interesting event. is a great way to experience and understand Italian culture and enhance your holiday in Italy.
1. January
The January holidays begin with the New Year and smoothly flow into the Epiphany celebrations. Italian festivals are especially bright in San Antonio and San Sebastiano. The Sant'Orso wood carving fair has been held on New Year's Eve every year for approximately 1,000 years.
February 2
Lead the festivals held in Catania and Sicily dedicated to the second largest religious holiday in the world, Saint Agatha's Day. Other Italian festivals in February are dedicated to Saint Faustino's day.
3. March
Songs and chocolate distinguish March from other months in the country. There are also two other interesting performances: The Marriage of Venice and the Sea and the Palio de Somari. The Palio de Somari is a donkey race held on Saint Joseph's Day. Today this holiday in Italy is celebrated as Father's Day. The festival spring begins in March. Quite often, Easter also falls in March.
April, 4
In April, you can get to the frog races, the birthday of Rome, the festival of San Marco and St. George's Day. In April, the 25th is a national holiday. In addition, Easter often falls in April. Food festivals tend to become more frequent from April as well.
5. May
May in Italy is a good time to take part in the spring holidays. You'll find flower festivals, food and wine festivals, medieval tournaments, and blossom and spring events. May Day is a national Italian holiday.
June 6
The summer months bring many Italian festivals. The Festa della Repubblica, June 2, is a national Italian holiday. Also in many places in Italy, St. John's Day is celebrated. Almost all Italian cities, starting in June, hold outdoor concerts.
7. July
July is one of the best months to visit Italy. You'll find tons of food festivals, medieval festivals and lots of fireworks including the World Fireworks Championship. There are also many music festivals in July.
8. august
Ferragosto (Assumption of the Virgin), August 15, is an Italian national holiday. In August, you'll find a ton of local festivals all over Italy, and these festivities often feature inexpensive regional cuisine. Many Italians take a vacation in August to go to the sea, so you will most likely be able to enjoy the festivals. You can be a guest at a medieval festival in which people dressed in costumes from a bygone era take part. In August, there are also many musical performances in open areas.
9. September
In September, Italians return from holidays. Many festivals start on the first Sunday in September as a farewell to the end of summer. In September there are many festivals dedicated to Italian regional cuisine. Major September festivals include Venice's historic regatta, the Feast of St. Januarius in Naples. In addition, many places in Italy hold the Feast of San Michele.
10. October
October is a great month for Italian food events. Festivals dedicated to mushrooms, chestnuts, chocolate and truffles are especially popular. On the weekends of October, grape harvest festivals are held throughout Italy. Although Halloween is not such a big holiday in Italy, it is becoming more and more popular and you can find Halloween events in some places, especially in big cities.
11. november
November is white truffle season and you will find truffles at chestnut fairs and festivals. All Saints' Day is celebrated on a grand scale in Rome. Within its framework, a large festival of music, theater and dance is held.
12. december
December is a month of celebrations and events revolving around Christmas. In December, Italians celebrate the following holidays: Immaculate Conception Day, Santa Lucia Day, Christmas, St. Stephen's Day and several other saints' days. There is also a festival of wild boars in Tuscany and a religious music festival in Umbria. During the wild boar festival, you can try amazing wild boar meat dishes.
Just the other day I was asked a question about opera and classical music festivals in Italy. It is no secret that this country is not only famous for its beautiful architecture, breathtaking landscapes and rich history, but also for the famous composers who were born here: Giacomo Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi... Every summer, music and opera festivals are held in many Italian cities, which attract guests from all over the world. The most popular will be discussed today. I will leave their names, dates, a brief description, as well as links to sites. The article will be divided geographically, starting with the northern regions of Italy.
Piedmont
Stresa, Lake Maggiore
Festival in Stresa
Stresa Festival
One of the most important classical music festivals in Europe takes place every year on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. It is also known as Stresa Music Week. The history of the festival began in 1961 at the initiative of a lawyer from an aristocratic Venetian family, Italo Trentinaglia de Daverio, whose father at one time was the director of the La Scala theater in Milan and the La Fenice theater in Venice. The Stresa Festival is also a great start for young performers.
Festival dates
- July 14 - September 8
Program:
Tickets from 5 euros
Veneto
Verona
Opera festival in the Arena di Verona
Arena Opera Festival
For more than a hundred years, with interruptions during the First and Second World Wars, the walls of one of the oldest Roman amphitheaters in the world host an opera festival every summer. Its history began back in 1913, when opera singer Giovanni Zenatello and impresario Ottone Rovato from Verona proposed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi by staging the opera Aida in the walls of the Arena. Its peculiarity was that the scenery was not drawn, but voluminous, i.e. by modern standards it was a performance in 3D. The first performance was an incredible success. Franz Kafka, Maxim Gorky and many other famous people of those times came to the opening. That is why every year there is a performance of the opera “Aida” in the festival schedule.
At different times, such famous opera singers and singers as Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo can still be heard here.
Festival dates
- June 21 - September 7
In a programme:
- Aida (1913 production)
- Aida (modern interpretation)
- Troubadour
- Carmen
- La Traviata
- Yearning
- Performance by Placido Domingo
- Carmina Burana
Ticket prices from 22 euros
The schedule of performances can be viewed on the official website
Emilia-Romagna
Festival in Ravenna
Ravenna Festival, Ravenna
The Ravnea Music Festival was founded in 1990 on the initiative of Cristina Mazzavillani Muti. It combines many genres of culture: symphonic ethnic music, opera, theater, ballet, musicals, jazz.
Festival dates
- 1 – 10 November
Tuscany
Florence
Florentine Musical May
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
The Academic Music Festival was first held in 1933 in Florence and is considered to be the oldest festival of its kind in Italy and the second in Europe after Salzburg. It was originally conceived as an opera, but gradually ballet, symphony concerts, solo performances, etc. were added to the program.
See the official website for the schedule and dates of events.
Puccini Opera Festival
Festival Puccini, Torre del lago
Every summer in Tuscany, on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli, there is an opera festival named after the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. It was here that he lived for many years and wrote many of his works. The festival was first organized by Puccini's friends Giovaccino Forzano and Pietro Mascagni in 1930.
Performances take place in the open-air Teatro dei Quatromilla, which has 3,200 seats.
Festival dates in 2017
- July 6 - August 24
Tickets from 19 euros
www.puccinifestival.it
Marche
Pesaro
Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro
Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival
Every year in August, the birthplace of the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini in the city of Pesaro hosts an opera festival named after him. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is within its framework that you can hear the lesser-known works of the composer.
Festival dates
- 11 – 23 August
Program:
Tickets from 20 euros
Macerata
Sferisterio Opera Festival, Macerata
Sferisterio Opera Festival, Macerata
It takes place every summer at the Sferisterio Theater in Macerata. It was built in 1829 by Ireneo Aleandiri and was originally used for ball games, jousting, bull fighting and other events. In 1921, the first production of the opera "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi was presented here. This year is considered the starting point of the Macerata Opera Festival, which takes place here every year. A long break was made for the period of the Second World War and the subsequent years of recovery after its end.
The Sferisterio is famous for its excellent acoustics, as well as the longest stage in Europe.
Over the years, such famous opera singers and singers as Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, Renato Brusson and others performed here.
Festival dates
- July 19 - August 11
Program:
- Carmen
- Rigoletto
- Macbeth
Tickets from 20 euros
Umbria
Spoleto
Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto
Festival dei Due Mondi, Spoleto
The festival is considered one of the most important in Umbria. It was created in 1958 on the initiative of the composer Gian Carlo Menotti. His idea ended up being to unite two different cultures and two different worlds - European and American.
The festival brings together musicians, artists and artists. He achieved greater recognition at the international level. That is why every year Umbria receives guests of honor from all over the world.
Festival dates
- June 28 - July 14
The schedule of events, as well as ticket prices, can be found on the official website of the festival:
Lazio
Rome
Opera Festival in Themes of Caracalla in Rome
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Festival d'estate alle Terme di Caracalla
The peculiarity of the festival is that the evenings are held in the open air at the place where at the beginning of the first millennium the baths of the emperor Caracalla were located.
Italy is the cradle of unique, spectacular and exciting cultural events on an international scale.
In order to get vivid impressions and unforgettable emotions, there are a lot of opportunities here. Especially large and unparalleled choice of festivals for music lovers, taking place all year round.
If you go on the “boot” from north to south, then the first to meet is the “South Tyrol Jazz Festival” (Sudtirol Jazz Festival) - a musical event organized in 1982, which brings world-famous artists to perform on the stages of South Tyrol. Moving a little further south, to the province of Padova (Padova), namely - in Piazzola sul Br enta (Piazzola sul Brenta), we find ourselves in the Camerini amphitheater, which is the exclusive venue for the Hydrogen Festival. In the Langhe region of the Piedmont region (Piedonte) takes place the "Festival Collisioni" (Festival Collisioni), and in the region of Liguria (Liguria) - the "Goa-Boa Festival" (Goa-Boa Festival), which since 1998 combine commercial music with music for a specific niche audience in their programs, inviting Italian and foreign celebrities. The Ariston Theater in Sanremo hosts the "Art Song Festival - Tenko Prize" (Rassegna Canzone d "Autore - Premio Tenco) - a historical musical event of the "flower city" dedicated to Luigi Tenco.
Many musical events take place in Emilia Romagna (Emilia Romagna). The Emilia Romagna Festival is a musical show that touches almost all the provinces of the region and offers concerts designed for different audiences in terms of taste and perception. "I-Day Festival" (I-Day Festival), organized in 1999 in Bologna (Bologna) in the Arena of the North Park (Arena Parco Nord), is visited by lovers of alternative music, especially punk, rock and India. 
Closer to the center of the country, Pesaro, the birthplace of Gioachino Rossini, hosts the annual Rossini Opera Festival.
The city of Lucca, in the region of Tuscany, as well as its province, hosts two different events, neither of which is to be missed: the Lucca Summer Festival, held in the stunning setting of Piazza Napoleone. For the past 15 years, the festival has made this Tuscan town the capital of Italian and foreign music. As well as Italy's oldest Puccini Festival, dedicated to Giacomo Puccini and the small town of Torre del Lago, where the composer lived for more than thirty years.
In the heart of Italy, in the Umbria region, since 1973 the Umbria Jazz Festival has been held. This festival offers a variety of genres and famous names, and the Umbria Jazz Winter events are also very popular, which annually, in the month of December and January, attracts both passionate fans of jazz music and people who are simply inquisitive to the amazing town of Orvieto. 
No less famous is the "Festival dei Due Mondi" in Spoleto - a musical event that resonates throughout the world. And again in Umbria, this time in Gubbio, for more than twenty years the "Gubbio Summer Festival" has been organized, where internationally renowned musicians meet young performers.
The Lazio region also offers a wide range of activities. In addition to the numerous proposals of the capital, in the province of Viterbo (Viterbo) for six years in a row on the square of San Lorenzo (Piazza san Lorenzo), spread out against the backdrop of the delightful Palazzo dei Papi (Palazzo dei Papi), the "Opera Festival in Tuscia» (Tuscia Operafestival) has been held. 
In the south of the country, the undisputed king of summer music festivals is still the festival in Ravello, the pearl of the Amalfi Coast. The Ravello Festival is a gem of the cultural life of the Campania region, faithful to the tradition that distinguishes it from other festivals of holding two musical events - the traditional Concerto of Wagnerian music (Concerto wagneriano) and the wonderful "Concert at Dawn" (Concerto all'alba). 
Roccella Jonica, in the region of Calabria, hosts a major jazz music festival, the Roccella Jazz Festival, which features internationally renowned names every year.
The Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari is the venue for the Bari Jazz Festival with the most famous names in the world of jazz music.
Sicily is home to the Blues & Wine Soul Festival, a major ethno-musical event in Agrigento, which has become the largest ethno-musical event on an international scale. This is the only festival that has been able to create a phenomenal spectacle that combines the best music from such genres as blues, soul and gospel.
Pre-order and to avoid tedious waiting in lines. Is everything right? Are you planning to visit the opera, which Italy is so famous for, or concerts, the program of which is sometimes very rich and varied in summer? We bring to your attention list of the bestsummer music festivals that you can enjoy outdoors, under the moonlight, in the ancient, mesmerizing places of Italy. So, after visiting museums and attractions, get out your best outfits (men - dark suit, ladies - evening dress) and join music lovers from all over the world!
1. Rome Opera House - Baths of Caracalla
The final chord of your journey should be a visit to the performance on its summer stage among the majestic ruins of the ancient baths of Caracalla. The Romans call them the main stage of the “estate roman” (Roman summer), which has long been famous for its varied and vibrant program.
The baths got their name in honor of the Roman emperor Antonino Caracalla, who during his reign (211-217 AD) managed to create a monumental structure - the second largest public baths. Using modern vocabulary, this ancient Roman complex can be called a sports and entertainment center.
The terms found their theatrical life in 1937. Summer musical seasons attracted the best world performers here. Voices were heard in the ancient walls Maria Callas And Beniamino Gigli, the famous trio of tenors shone here Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras And Luciano Pavarotti.
In 1993, the concert hall in the ancient ruins was closed for a seven-year restoration, and in 2001 the summer seasons at the Baths of Caracalla resumed.
An opera or ballet performance in ancient ruins will undoubtedly leave an indelible impression on you.
Performances:
Hurry up with the purchase of tickets - they are sold out very quickly.
Where: the Baths of Caracalla are located on Via delleTermedicaracalla, 52, 15 minutes walk from the Grand Circus.
2. Arena di Verona
Experience opera at its best! The ancient Roman amphitheater, built in Verona c.30 AD, is the third largest building of its type in Italy and is world famous as the largest concert venue. The open air can accommodate up to 14,000 opera gourmets.
Before the performance, by all means, do not forget to include Juliet's house in the itinerary, enjoy a glass of wine in one of the many restaurants on Piazza Bra and tune in to meet the beautiful!
Performances:
Where: Arena di Verona is located in Piazza Bra, in the heart of the city center
3. Puccini Opera Festival
The Puccini Festival, which is a summer event in the town of Torre del Lago (Tuscany), is held in honor of the famous Italian composer and his operas. Giacomo Puccini was born 18 km from here in the city of Lucca, and in Torre del Lago itself there is a memorial villa where the composer wrote such operas as La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly. The festival was first held in 1930, 6 years after Puccini's death, and has since attracted around 40,000 spectators annually. Performances are held in an open amphitheater that can accommodate more than 3,300 people.
Performances:
Where: Torre del Lago - west of Lucca and south of Viareggio. Easily accessible from Lucca, Pisa and Florence.
4. Sferisterio Opera Festival
The open-air arena, where this annual opera festival takes place, was conceived in 1819 as a ball court. But by the 1900s, opera had taken over - the first was Bellini's Norma in 1914. Today, the Sferisterio Theater is one of the best European venues for opera performances.
Performances:
Where: scenic area of Macerata in the region.
5. Ravello Music Festival
Since 1953, the city of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast has hosted the International Music Festival, also known as the Wagner Festival. It was here at Villa Rufolo that Wagner wrote fragments of his opera Parsifal. Usually performances are held at Villa Rufolo, but during the summer, when the weather is good, you can enjoy outdoor concerts.
Performances and concerts:
- timetable can be viewed
Where: The Ravello Concert Society holds indoor and outdoor concerts at various locations in the city.
Have you ever been to these music festivals? Tell us!
September in Italy is rich in festivals - at this time there is an opportunity to visit various gastronomic, musical, cultural events. Everyone will be able to get into closed palaces, fly in a hot air balloon, learn to juggle and carve wood, try different types of pizza, cheeses and hams. All holidays are held on a grand scale, musical performances, fairs, tastings and true Italian passion.
Balloon Festival, Ferrara, from 6 to 15 September
The first balloon festival was held in 2005, and in 2007 it already acquired the status of an international holiday, which attracts a large number of tourists and spectators. More than 50 crews take part in the festival, and all kinds of balloons, balloons, airplanes rise into the sky. Spectators can climb into any of the baskets of balloons participating in the festival and fly over the historic center of the town of Ferrara and the Po Delta.
In the evening, an unusually spectacular air show is held in the sky. This festival is very dependent on weather conditions, and in case of wind or rain, all flights are canceled for safety reasons. But do not be upset - the festival lasts for 10 days, so you will definitely succeed in flying.
Parma Ham Festival, Parma, from 6 to 15 September
For 12 years, Parma ham producers have been organizing a festival of their signature product. The program of the festival includes exhibitions, tastings, open days of factories, where everyone can see the production process of the world famous ham, learn the secrets of salting and aging prosciutto di parma.
It will also be interesting to visit the Parma Ham Museum, where you can taste ham paired with various wines. Every year this event becomes more and more popular and it is visited by more and more people from all over the world.
During the festival, about 700 kilograms of ham are eaten and hundreds of liters of wine are drunk.
Piedigrotta, Naples, 7 September
Piedigrotta is a purely Italian festival of lyrical songs. The roots of the holiday go back to pagan times, when in the cave of Piedigrotta, not far from Naples, the priests sent their cults with songs and dances. Subsequently, this holiday turned into a celebration of the Virgin Mary, and the church of Santa Maria di Piedigrotta was built on the site of the cave. Since then, at the beginning of September, a competition for the best folk song has been held, in which anyone can take part. Songs are performed in the main square and broadcast on the radio, and the parade of chariots opens the event. Participants perform in national costumes and with a support group. The Neapolitans themselves love and appreciate this tradition of holding a music festival.
Paper Lantern Festival, Florence, 7 September
Every year on September 7, a very colorful paper lantern festival is held in Florence. All the inhabitants of the city walk from Piazza Santa Croce to the church of Santissima Annunziata, holding over their heads paper lanterns of various shapes, colors and sizes.
Florentines try to make lanterns themselves, and tourists who decide to look into Florence that day and participate in the event can buy them in any of the shops. All this procession is accompanied by music and songs, and a farmer's fair unfolds on the square in front of the church, where merchants offer goods from the new crop, prepare dishes of national Tuscan cuisine and sweets. The history of this festival goes back to the distant 17th century, when the inhabitants of nearby villages went to the Florentine church at dawn for worship, and the path was illuminated by hand-made lanterns.
Venice Film Festival, Venice, August 28 - September 7
In the first week of autumn, you can still get to the Venice Film Festival, which runs from August 28 to September 7. This year, the 70th anniversary film festival is being held on the Lido island, near Venice. Here you can meet actors, directors and try to get an autograph from them or just join the world cinema.
Lido Island itself is also interesting - there is where to walk and sunbathe. And on a local shuttle boat-vaporetto in 20 minutes you can swim. One has only to remember that all accommodation during this period has already been booked, so you will have to look for a hotel in Venice itself or even in nearby cities.
Pizzafest, Naples, 13 September
In addition to tasting this favorite dish of all, at the festival you can participate in master classes, competitions, listen to live music, buy souvenirs, learn a lot of interesting information about Italy and Italian cuisine. Also, while in Naples, you should go to the oldest and best pizzeria Antica Pizzeria Port "Alba - it has been operating since 1738.
"White Night", Rome, September 14
Every year, for the past 10 years, the Night of Museums takes place on the second weekend of September. The festival has such a name, because on this night both the residents themselves and the guests of the city walk around the capital, as during the day: they visit museums, have fun, go to theaters and cinemas, or simply relax on the streets and in squares. For the first time "White Night" was held in 2003 in order to draw attention to the historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the city. In recent years, this festival has gained popularity, and now about three million people take part in it.
It is especially impressive that many residences, palaces, galleries open their doors on this night, which are usually closed to the general public. Squares and streets at this time become pedestrian, live music sounds everywhere, artists perform and master classes are held.
International Street Art Festival, Caorle, 1st to 10th September
During this festival, the old streets of the Italian town of Caorle are filled with actors, dancers, acrobats, jugglers from Italy and other countries of the world. Here you can enjoy performances, performances, circus and theatrical performances, take master classes from jugglers, mimes and magicians and learn how to walk on stilts. The program of performances can be found on the festival website or in tourist information centers.
Cheese Festival, Bra, from 13 to 16 September
Cheese makers from several countries bring their goods to the cheese festival in the Italian town of Bra. , by the way, produces about 500 varieties of cheese, which vary by region. Residents and guests of the city can taste various varieties of this product, learn the process of their preparation, learn to distinguish one type of cheese from another.
Professionals will explain how to distinguish the flavors of cheese and recognize a quality product. At the cooking classes, you can cook and try a variety of cheese-based dishes. Children will be especially interested in the part of the fair devoted to dairy products: yoghurts, ice cream, milkshakes.
Crafts Festival, Tuscany, September 27
The craft festival takes place in the small provincial Italian town of Montepulciano on the last Friday of September and lasts a week. This festival is quite young - it was first held in 2007.
These days, potters, woodcarvers, lacemakers, glassblowers, blacksmiths, jewelers and other professionals come to the town to revive interest in local handicrafts, hold master classes and exhibit their original works at the fair.
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
