APRIL:
GREVE IN CHIANTI [Firenze]
Festa della Stagione Bona [Celebration
of good season] – 25th
April
Beginning of the good season. There's a procession in renaissance
costumes, a mediaeval market and gastronomic stands with typical
products of Chianti.
FIRENZE
Scoppio del carro [Bursting of the cart]
- Sunday morning, Easter April 12th
Festival with ancient origins.The cart is drawn by white oxen
from Piazzale Porta al Prato to the cathedral. Once it is
positioned in front of the church, a metal wire is connected,
through the open doors, to the main alter. A replica of a
dove with an olive branch in its beak and a lit fuse, is released
from the alter and it slides along the wire to ignite the
fireworks on the cart. According to tradition, if the lighting
of the cart comes off well, a good year is predicted for the
city of Florence.
POGGIBONSI [Siena]
Festa del patrono San Lucchese with
fireworks [Festival of the Patron]
– 28th April
Saint Lucchese met Saint Francesco of Assisi and decided to
live his life in the same way. So he became a holy man. Now
his body rests on the Basilica of San Lucchese and for the
day of his celebration the body is brought in procession.
Stands with typical products, fireworks in the evening.
MAY:
FIRENZE
72° Maggio Musicale Fiorentino [Musical
May in Florence] - From April
29th to July 2nd
» www.maggiofiorentino.com
TOSCANA
Cantine Aperte [Open cellars]
– Last Sunday in May
Wine producers open their cellars to the public. It is an
excellent opportunity to enjoy the wines proposed, and also
to sample typical traditional products and dishes.
MASSA MARITTIMA [Grosseto]
Balestro del Girifalco – 4th
Sunday in May
Medieval Festival in honour of Saint Bernardino. Historical
crossbow competition with parade in costume.
MONTESPERTOLI [Firenze]
52nd Chianti Festival - From
23rd May to 31st May
Tasting and sale of Chianti D.O.C.G. - Conferences and meetings
-Gastronomic pavilions-Artistic exhibitions-Philatelic exhibition
"Wine and Vineyard"-Folkloric spectacles-Sports
manifestations.
JUNE:
SAN GIMIGNANO [Siena]
Ferie delle Messi – June
19th, 20th, 21st
Historical re-evocation in the streets and squares of the
town, with medieval stands, parades in costume and a knightly
tournament called "Giostra dei Bastoni".
PISA
Festa di San Ranieri, Santo patrono di
Pisa, Luminaria [Luminaria of S.Ranieri, Patron]
- 16th-17th June
Lights Festival on the streets running along the river
Arno.
PISA
Gioco del Ponte - Last
Sunday in June
Historically event which consists of two distinct parts: the
historical procession along the Arno river which is a huge
military parade, and the battle, that takes place on the Ponte
di Mezzo.
AREZZO
Giostra del Saracino – 3rd
Saturday in June
Ancient game on horseback, with an impressive historical procession.
FIRENZE -
Festa di San Giovanni, Calcio storico in
Costume [San Giovanni Feast, Medieval Football Matches
& Fireworks]– 24th
June
Florence celebrates this day with the lively medieval football
matches played on Piazza di Sante Croce, ending with a fireworks
display over Piazzale Michelangelo.
FIRENZE
72° Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
[Musical May in Florence] -
From April 29th to July 2nd
» www.maggiofiorentino.com
COLLE VAL D’ELSA [Siena]
-
Sagra della Miseria – From
2nd Saturday to 3rd Sunday in June
Gastonomic Festival discovering the most typical and savoury
plates of this area.
JULY:
SIENA
Palio - 2nd July
- Proceeded by trial races the two days before.
Since 1147 historical secular horse race held in Piazza del
Campo, connected with districts or contradas into which the
town is divided.
MONTERIGGIONI [Siena]
Festa Medievale [Medieval Festival]
– 1st and 2nd week-end in July
Representation within the walls of scenes from medieval life.
Stalls inspired by medieval crafts; musicians and figurants
in costume move through the streets of the village.
LUCCA
Festa di San Paolino [S.Paolino Festival]
– 12th July
Torchlight parade and crossbow competition.
CASOLE D’ELSA [Siena]
Palio – 2nd
Sunday in July
Ancient horse race with parade
SAN GIMIGNANO [Siena]
International festival of music and art
- July and August
CERTALDO ALTO [Firenze]
Mercantia street Festival –
All days in the 3rd week of July
The streets and the squares of the medieval town animate with
artists, musicians, acrobats, artisans who practise their
crafts producing works of art with iron, copper, ceramics,
wood, and glass.
PISTOIA
Giostra dell’Orso [Bear Joust]
– July 25th
Held in the Patron day. It is a re-evocation of the ancient
"palio race".
VINCI [Firenze]
Volo di Cecco Santi [Vinci Fair]
– Last Sunday in July.
Fair with historic processions in costume, tournaments, exposition
of local crafts and, of course, gastronomic stands.
AUGUST:
SAN GIMIGNANO [Siena]
Classical music concerts and operas
The “Accademia dei Leggieri”, ancient theatrical
association founded in the 16th century, organizes classical
music concerts all summer long.
SAN GIMIGNANO [Siena]
Festival of thanksgiving from the people
of San Gimignano to the city's patron saint - Santa Fina
Religious festival -1st sunday of August
Fair -1st Monday of August
Festival of Saint Augustine
Liturgical Services in the Church of Sant’Agostino -
August 28th
Saint Augustine's Fair with stalls and stands - August
29th
MONTEPULCIANO [Siena]
Bravio delle botti – Last
Sunday in August
Barrel race through the town in medieval costume.
SIENA
Palio - August
16th
in honour of the “Madonna dell’Assunta”,
proceeded by trial races the two days before. Since 1147 historical
secular horse race held in Piazza del Campo, connected with
districts or contradas into which the town is divided.
TORRE DEL LAGO PUCCINI [Lucca]
Puccini Festival - July-August
Outdoor opera festival. Famous Festival of lyric music since
1930 following the Giacomo Puccini ‘s wishes.
CORTONA [Arezzo]
Sagra della Bistecca [Steak Festival]
– August 15
In a giant barbecue, steaks "alla fiorentina", rigorously
of “chianina” meat race, are cooked as it wants
the ancient Tuscan tradition. Stands with typical Tuscan products.
MASSA MARITTIMA [Grosseto]
Balestra del Girifalco – Second
Sunday in August
Medieval Festival. Historical crossbow competition with parade
in costume
MONTEPULCIANO [Siena]
Bravio delle Botti [The race of the
casks] – Last Sunday in
August
It has its origins in the 14th century. Competition in medieval
costumes.
SEPTEMBER:
COLLE VAL D’ELSA [Siena]
Mostra del Cristallo [Crystal glass festival]
- Last 15 days in September.
The old part of the village “Castello” becomes
a factory in open air with expert craftsmen attempting to
the working of the crystal. Shops expose and sell crystal
objects.
FIRENZE
Festa della Rificolona - 7th
September
Festivity of the florentine tradition with performers of all
kind, especially dedicated to children.
PIENZA [Siena]
Fiera del cacio pecorino [Festival of
pecorino cheese] – 1st
Sunday in September
The capital of pecorino cheese “dresses” with
perfumes and colours of its typical products.
AREZZO
Giostra del Saracino –
1st Sunday in September
Ancient game on horseback, with an historical procession.
GREVE IN CHIANTI [Firenze]
Market of Wine Chianti Classico
- 2nd week in September
It takes place in the beautiful public square of Greve. Typical
wine and products of this famous wine area.
VOLTERRA [Pisa]
Astiludio - 1st
Sunday in September
ASTILUDIUM derives from the Medieval Latin hasta (flag)
and ludus (game, festivities). The modern name ASTILUDIO is
used today to denote a performance in which the ancient traditions
of flag games are reenacted for the enjoyment of Volterrans
and visitors alike.
PIEVESCOLA [Siena]
Porcino Mushroom's festival - 2nd
and 3rd week end of September
OCTOBER:
MONTAIONE [Firenze]
Chestnut and Truffle Festival –
Last weekend in October
Gastronomic Festival with typical products
MONTALCINO [Siena]
Sagra del Tordo [Festival of the thrush]
– Last Sunday in October
The festival recalls the hunting that it is carried out with
the arc. Plates made up of game and local wine; dances and
songs in traditional costume.
MONTIERI [Siena]
Sagra della Castagna [Chestnut Festival]
– 2nd week-end in October
CERTALDO ALTO [Firenze]
Boccaccesca - 2nd
week in October
Gastonomic Festival in the village of Giovanni Boccaccio.
MONTERIGGIONI [Siena]
Festa d'autunno- Autumn festival
- 1st Saturday and 1st Sunday in October
Festival in honour of the grape picking.
MENSANO [Siena]
The Grape-picking festival - 1st
week end of October
ANTIQUE MARKETS:
AREZZO - Piazza
S. Francesco: 1st weekend every
month
LUCCA - Via
del Battistero: 3rd weekend every
month
FIESOLE - Giardini
pubblici di S. Francesco: 2nd Sunday
every month
SIENA - Piazza
del Mercato: 3rd Sunday every month
FIRENZE - Piazza
dei Ciompi:Last Sunday every month
GREVE IN CHIANTI - Piazza
Giacomo Matteotti: Monday Easter
MONTEPULCIANO - Piazza
Grande: 2nd weekend every month
PISTOIA – Viale
Pacinotti: 2nd weekend every month
FIRENZE - Fortezza Antiquaria -
3rd Weekend every month, Fortezza
da Basso
WEEKLY STREET MARKETS:
Monday: San
Casciano Val di Pesa
Tuesday : Poggibonsi,
Peccioli, Firenze
Wednesday: Siena,
Certaldo
Thursday: San
Gimignano
Friday: Colle
Val D’Elsa, Pienza
Saturday: Greve
in Chianti, Volterra
Please contact us for more info about:
ART AND CULTURAL EXHIBITIONS – Information
about all art exhibitions and festivals during your stay.
GOLF COURSES - For golf lovers information about the
best five golf courses in Tuscany.
RUNNING - Training and local running races for running
and jogging lovers. |
