Events in Tuscany 2011
February
Viareggio Carnival
Viareggio hosts some of the best known and most popular carnival celebrations in Italy during the period before Ash Wednesday. Fireworks, Parades, costumes, masked pageants, flower show and local food and wine allow the Tuscans to indulge before Lent!
- 20\02 Masked Parade
- 27\02 Masked Parade
March
Ancient Camellias of Lucchesia
Weekends of 12th, 19th and 26th of March 2011
In the parish of St. Andrew's, Spring will be welcomed to Lucca with the 22nd exhibition of ancient camellias. These beautiful flowers are all over the parish in the gardens of the ancient villas and oil mills. This extraordinary event really must be seen at least once in a lifetime.
April
Easter Sunday - Scoppio del Carro - Florence
On the morning of Easter Sunday Florence marks the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart). The event dates back 300 years, the cart drawn by two white oxen enters the cathedral square - the Piazza del Duomo. The cart is loaded with fireworks and a mechanical dove flies down a wire and ignites the fireworks. The explosions ensure a good harvest. The explosion is at 11am after the cart’s parade through the streets of Florence.
27th Santa Zita da Lucca
On 27th April each year, Lucca pays a floral tribute to its most beloved saint, Santa Zita. A flower market is hosted in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, with the focus on rhododendrons and azaleas. Also the team of gardeners from Lucca’s Botanical Garden create a fantastic themed garden in Piazza San Frediano.
April - June Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Florence hosts the Maggio Musicale from late April through to June. This classical music festival includes concerts, recitals, opera and ballet at various venues throughout the city.
This is a very popular event and tickets need to be booked in advance.
May
Display of the Virgin Girdle
Prato’s most sacred relic, the Virgin Mary’s Belt remains locked away in the beautiful “Pulpit of the Sacred Girdle” which also houses the Agnolo Gaddi’s fresco, “The Legend of the Holy Girdle” (1392-95). Legends tells that the belt was given to the Apostle Thomas when Mary ascended to heaven. The belt taken out five times a year and shown to the crowds in the piazza. The dates are below:
June
The City of Viareggio Carnival
From June 16th until September concerts from the greatest artists in the world. Concerts include national and international music, dance performances, the Festival Gaber (Italian Music), and shows with the greatest Italian comedians.
16th Illuminations of Saint Ranieri
For over three centuries, Pisa has celebrated the "Luminara of San Ranieri" on the evening of 16th June. The illuminations are held on the eve of the day of Saint Ranieri at dusk.
Over seventy thousands candles are lit and place in lanterns. These lanterns are then placed in special white wooden frames (le biancherie), that are arranged along the cities palaces, medieval streets, churches and bridges across the Arno river. The city is illuminated by the thousands of candles transforming the centre of Pisa into a magical fairytale. The Miracles Square and the Leaning Tower, are illuminated by oil lamps, which create a beautiful and historical site.
17th Saint Ranieri Boat Race
The highlight of the celebrations of the day of Saint Ranieri is the boat race. Four boats, inspired by the frigates of the Medicean Order of the Knights of St. Stephen compete to win the Palio di San Ranieri. The boats represent the historical neighborhoods (St. Mary, St. Francis, St. Martin and St. Anthony) the boats are respectively called la celeste, la gialla, la rossa and la verde. The race is run along a 1,500m stretch of the river Arno and the boats row against the current.
At finish line there is a 10m pole mounted on a boat. The boats "montatore" has to climb on the top of the pole and grab the correct coloured flag in order to win. There are three flags on the pole : Blue (1st place), White (2nd place) and Red (3rd place). The last boat receives a pair of geese as a consolation.
Gioco del Ponte
Gioco del Ponte is held on the main deck of the city of Pisa . Ponte di Mezzo is divided in two significant parts: the historical military parade and the Battle on the Bridge. The city is divided into two teams separated by the River Arno. The two teams represent the districts: Mezzogiorno (districts of: Sant’Antonio, San Martino, San Marco, Leoni, Dragoni e Delfini) and Tramontana (districts of: Santa Maria, San Francesco, San Michele, Mattaccini, Calci e Satiri). The battle consists of team members pushing a cart on rails at their opponent. The winner will be crowned The Mistress of the Ponte di Mezzo until the following year.
July
Lucca Summer Festival
Every Summer in the month of July, Lucca becomes the city of the music. During The Summer Festival, some of the biggest names from around the world perform on on the stage of Piazza Napoleone.
2nd Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a horse race which takes place every year on 2nd July and 16th August. The Palio in July is run in celebration of the "Madonna di Provenzano”. The 10 jockeys ride bareback and wear the colours of the Contrade (city ward) they represent.
The race circles the Piazza del Campo and consists of 3 circuits. The winning horse is the champion and can win the title for it’s contrade without a rider.
4th-27th The Beer Festival
Since 1983 every year in the month of July The Beer Festival takes place on the soccer field of BorgO A Mozzano near the bank of the river. The festival includes lots of shows,concerts, cabaret, ballroom dancing, pizzerias and food stalls. At the festival there is a wide selection of both Tuscan and German food, and the main event: the Beer. There is also a children’s play area and the Borgo Expo area.
12th Palio di San Paolino
Every year on the 12th July, Lucca celebrates the first bishop of Lucca San Paolino di Antiochia. The Palio di San Paolino crossbow tournament is held in the centre of Lucca, between the three districts.
There is a parade in historical costumes in the centre of the city, before the start of the competition. The archers shoot a single arrow at the “jug”, a 12cm target, from a distance of 36m. The winner is presented with the "Palio", a drape painted by a local painter.
Puccini Festival
This annual opera festival is held in Torre del Lago, the birth place of composer Giacomo Puccini. Each year a wide selection of Puccini is performed, attracting 40,000 visitors. Please find the July 2010 performances below.
The City of Viareggio Carnival
Please check back for events in 2011
August
Puccini Festival
Please check back for August 2011 performances.
Notte di Notte Concerts
From 29th July to 28th August, every Thursday and Saturday night at 9pm, concerts are held on stage in the Piazza San Michele. The performances alternate between the Musical Institute L. Boccherini and the Music Association Music Club A. Catalans.
All concerts are free.
16th Palio di Siena
The second race of the Palio di Siena is held on 16th August. The Palio in August is the Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary.
The City of Viareggio Carnival
Please check back for August 2011 events.
September
Lucca Festival
September is a month of festivity in Lucca. Events are held throughout the month including cultural events, sporting events, exhibitions and music shows.
13th Luminara di Santa Croce
The highlight of the Lucca festival is the Luminara di Santa Croce. There is a procession through the streets of the old town carrying the Volto Santo (Holy Face), a wooden crucifix from the Church Saint Frediano to the Cathedral of Saint Martin. The procession is illuminated by thousands of candles. After the procession there is the "Mottettone" concert in the cathedral and a firework display on the banks of the river.
The next day at the Cathedral of San Martino the high mass, the Feast of the Holy Cross, is celebrated.
There is a market held in Piazza San Michele with a wide variety of stalls, open daily from 9am to 8pm.
3rd-6th Il Castello Rivive (Nozzano Castello)
For three days in September the castle of the medieval town of Nozzano Castello goes back to it’s roots. There is a historical celebration of the middle ages with fire-eaters, minstrels and knights. The town becomes a natural theatre and within the beautiful setting of the Serchio valley.
Nozzano Castello takes centre place in the view from Albergo Villa Casanova.
The City of Viareggio Carnival
Please Check back for September 2011.
October
Lucca Comics and Games
Since 1966, Lucca has been the "Italian Capital of Comics" and hosts the most important Italian event, "Lucca Comics & Games".
The event has grown since 1993 with numerous international guests, exhibitions and more than 140,000 visitors. The Lucca Comics and Games show takes over the whole of the city's historic centre.
2011 Dates to be confirmed