Traditional festivals, month by month

Palios, processions, carnivals and historical re-enactments worth planning a trip around: the festivals from our regional guides, gathered in a single calendar.

January

• Fair of Sant'Orso30–31 January · Aosta ValleyAosta, woodcraft.
• National Befana FestivalJanuary · MarcheUrbania.
• Fanóve and the bonfires of St AnthonyJanuary · PugliaBonfires in many villages.
• Sant'Antonio and CarnivalJanuary and February · SardiniaThe bonfires and masks of the Barbagia, the Mamuthones in Mamoiada.

February

• Battle of the OrangesCarnival · PiedmontIvrea.
• Sanremo Song FestivalFebruary · LiguriaSanremo.
• Venice CarnivalFebruary · VenetoMasks and parties.
• Viareggio CarnivalFebruary · TuscanyThe papier-mâché allegorical floats.
• Sant'Agata3-5 February · SicilyCatania, one of the largest religious festivals in the world.
• Acireale CarnivalFebruary · SicilyAllegorical floats made of flowers.
• Sant'Antonio and CarnivalJanuary and February · SardiniaThe bonfires and masks of the Barbagia, the Mamuthones in Mamoiada.
• SartigliaCarnival · SardiniaThe race for the star in Oristano.

March

• Scoppio del CarroEaster · TuscanyA cart of fireworks in front of Florence's cathedral.
• Madonna che scappaEaster · AbruzzoSulmona, the «running Madonna».
• Procession of the MysteriesHoly Week · PugliaTaranto, the hooded «perdoni».
• ValljeTuesday after Easter · CalabriaArbëreshë dances in the Albanian villages.
• Procession of the MysteriesGood Friday · SicilyTrapani, a twenty-four-hour procession.

April

• Milan Design WeekApril · LombardyMilan.
• Scoppio del CarroEaster · TuscanyA cart of fireworks in front of Florence's cathedral.
• Rome's Birthday21 April · LazioRe-enactments at the Circus Maximus.
• Madonna che scappaEaster · AbruzzoSulmona, the «running Madonna».
• Procession of the MysteriesHoly Week · PugliaTaranto, the hooded «perdoni».
• ValljeTuesday after Easter · CalabriaArbëreshë dances in the Albanian villages.
• Procession of the MysteriesGood Friday · SicilyTrapani, a twenty-four-hour procession.

May

• Turin Book FairMay · PiedmontTurin.
• Fish festivalSecond Sunday in May · LiguriaCamogli.
• Palio di FerraraMay · Emilia-RomagnaOne of the oldest palios in Italy.
• Festa dei Ceri15 May · UmbriaGubbio, the race up Mount Ingino.
• InfiorateCorpus Domini · UmbriaSpello, carpets of flowers in the streets.
• CalendimaggioMay · UmbriaAssisi, a contest between the two halves of the town.
• Procession of the Snake Catchers1 May · AbruzzoCocullo, the statue of St Dominic covered in live snakes.
• Sagra dei MisteriCorpus Christi · MoliseCampobasso.
• Carrese di San PardoLate May · MoliseLarino.
• Miracle of San GennaroSaturday before the first Sunday of May, 19 September and 16 December · CampaniaNaples.
• Feast of St Nicholas7-9 May · PugliaBari, the historical pageant and the procession at sea.
• Maggio di AccetturaMay-June · BasilicataThe marriage of the trees.
• InfiorataMay · SicilyNoto, Via Nicolaci carpeted with flowers.
• Sant'Efisio1 May · SardiniaThe procession of traditional costumes in Cagliari.
• Cavalcata SardaMay · SardiniaCostumes and riders in Sassari.

June

• Mille MigliaJune · LombardyBrescia.
• Feast of the CouncilJune · Trentino-South TyrolTrento.
• Arena Opera FestivalJune–September · VenetoVerona.
• Aria di FestaJune · Friuli Venezia GiuliaSan Daniele, prosciutto festival.
• Palio del NiballoJune · Emilia-RomagnaFaenza.
• Notte RosaEarly summer · Emilia-RomagnaThe whole Riviera.
• Luminara and Gioco del Ponte16 June and the last Saturday of June · TuscanyPisa, on the Arno.
• Calcio storico fiorentinoJune · TuscanyThe final on the 24th, in Piazza Santa Croce.
• Giostra del SaracinoJune and September · TuscanyArezzo, in Piazza Grande.
• InfiorateCorpus Domini · UmbriaSpello, carpets of flowers in the streets.
• Mercato delle GaiteJune · UmbriaBevagna, the medieval workshops.
• Festival dei Due MondiJune and July · UmbriaSpoleto, music, theatre and dance.
• Infiorata di GenzanoJune · LazioCarpets of flowers along the main street.
• Sagra dei MisteriCorpus Christi · MoliseCampobasso.
• Festa dei GigliJune · CampaniaNola, wooden obelisks carried on shoulders, UNESCO Intangible Heritage.
• Ravello FestivalSummer · CampaniaConcerts at Villa Rufolo.
• Feast of Sant'Andrea27 June and 30 November · CampaniaAmalfi, the saint's statue carried at a run up the cathedral steps.
• Maggio di AccetturaMay-June · BasilicataThe marriage of the trees.
• Volo dell'AngeloSummer · BasilicataPietrapertosa and Castelmezzano.

July

• Festa del RedentoreThird Saturday of July · VenetoVenice, fireworks over the San Marco basin.
• Arena Opera FestivalJune–September · VenetoVerona.
• Prosciutto festivalJuly · Friuli Venezia GiuliaSauris.
• MittelfestJuly · Friuli Venezia GiuliaCividale.
• Palio di Siena2 July and 16 August · TuscanyIn Piazza del Campo.
• Festival dei Due MondiJune and July · UmbriaSpoleto, music, theatre and dance.
• Umbria JazzJuly · UmbriaPerugia.
• Quintana of AscoliMarcheJuly and August.
• Macerata Opera FestivalJuly–August · MarcheSferisterio.
• Summer JamboreeLate July · MarcheSenigallia.
• Festa de NoantriJuly · LazioTrastevere.
• Giostra cavallerescaJuly · AbruzzoSulmona, a knights' joust.
• Bagpipe showLate July · MoliseScapoli.
• Wheat Festival26 July · MoliseJelsi, carts decorated with ears of wheat.
• Ravello FestivalSummer · CampaniaConcerts at Villa Rufolo.
• Valle d'Itria FestivalJuly and August · PugliaMartina Franca, opera.
• Festa della Bruna2 July · BasilicataMatera, the papier-mâché float torn apart by the crowd.
• Volo dell'AngeloSummer · BasilicataPietrapertosa and Castelmezzano.
• Festino di Santa Rosalia14-15 July · SicilyPalermo.
• Luminaria di San Giacomo24-25 July · SicilyCaltagirone, the illuminated staircase.

August

• Stella MarisFirst Sunday in August · LiguriaCamogli, procession of boats at sea.
• Palio del GolfoAugust · LiguriaLa Spezia.
• Arena Opera FestivalJune–September · VenetoVerona.
• Palio di San DonatoAugust · Friuli Venezia GiuliaCividale.
• Palio di Siena2 July and 16 August · TuscanyIn Piazza del Campo.
• Bravio delle bottiLast Sunday of August · TuscanyMontepulciano.
• Quintana of AscoliMarcheJuly and August.
• Macerata Opera FestivalJuly–August · MarcheSferisterio.
• Perdonanza Celestiniana28–29 August · AbruzzoL'Aquila, UNESCO Intangible Heritage.
• Ravello FestivalSummer · CampaniaConcerts at Villa Rufolo.
• Notte della TarantaAugust · PugliaMelpignano, the great pizzica concert.
• Valle d'Itria FestivalJuly and August · PugliaMartina Franca, opera.
• Fair of Sant'OronzoAugust · PugliaLecce.
• Volo dell'AngeloSummer · BasilicataPietrapertosa and Castelmezzano.
• Peperone crusco festivalAugust · BasilicataSenise.
• PalearizaAugust · CalabriaMusic in the Greek-speaking villages.
• Varia di PalmiAugust · CalabriaA festival on UNESCO's Intangible Heritage list.
• Candelieri14 August · SardiniaThe giant wooden candles carried on shoulders in Sassari.
• RedentoreLate August · SardiniaCostume parade in Nuoro.

September

• DésarpaSeptember–October · Aosta ValleyThe herds come down from the summer pastures.
• Palio of AstiPiedmontSeptember.
• CheeseSeptember in odd-numbered years · PiedmontBra.
• Genoa Boat ShowSeptember · LiguriaGenoa.
• FestivaletteraturaSeptember · LombardyMantua.
• TranshumanceSeptember · Trentino-South TyrolThe herds return from the summer pastures.
• Regata StoricaFirst Sunday of September · VenetoVenice.
• Arena Opera FestivalJune–September · VenetoVerona.
• Living chess gameSeptember of even-numbered years · VenetoMarostica.
• Verdi FestivalSeptember–October · Emilia-RomagnaParma and Busseto.
• Giostra del SaracinoJune and September · TuscanyArezzo, in Piazza Grande.
• Macchina di Santa Rosa3 September · LazioViterbo, UNESCO-listed.
• Miracle of San GennaroSaturday before the first Sunday of May, 19 September and 16 December · CampaniaNaples.
• Chilli Pepper FestivalSeptember · CalabriaDiamante.
• Madonna di PolsiEarly September · CalabriaAspromonte.

October

• Bataille de reinesSpring–October · Aosta ValleyBloodless contests between 'queen' cows.
• DésarpaSeptember–October · Aosta ValleyThe herds come down from the summer pastures.
• Marché au FortOctober · Aosta ValleyBard, market of local produce.
• White Truffle FairOctober–November · PiedmontAlba.
• Grape FestivalOctober · Trentino-South TyrolMerano.
• TörggelenOctober–November · Trentino-South TyrolIn South Tyrol's farmsteads.
• BarcolanaSecond Sunday of October · Friuli Venezia GiuliaTrieste, one of the largest regattas in the world.
• Verdi FestivalSeptember–October · Emilia-RomagnaParma and Busseto.
• White Truffle FairOctober–November · MarcheAcqualagna.
• Grape FestivalOctober · LazioMarino, with fountains pouring wine.
• Saffron FestivalLate October · AbruzzoNavelli.

November

• White Truffle FairOctober–November · PiedmontAlba.
• Torrone FestivalNovember · LombardyCremona.
• Christmas marketsLate November–December · Trentino-South TyrolBolzano, Merano, Trento, Bressanone.
• TörggelenOctober–November · Trentino-South TyrolIn South Tyrol's farmsteads.
• San Martino FairNovember · Emilia-RomagnaSantarcangelo.
• White Truffle FairOctober–November · MarcheAcqualagna.
• Feast of Sant'Andrea27 June and 30 November · CampaniaAmalfi, the saint's statue carried at a run up the cathedral steps.
• Nativity scenes of San Gregorio ArmenoNovember–December · CampaniaNaples.

December

• Sant'Ambrogio and Oh bej! Oh bej!7 December · LombardyMilan.
• Christmas marketsLate November–December · Trentino-South TyrolBolzano, Merano, Trento, Bressanone.
• 'Ndocciata24 December · MoliseAgnone, a procession of huge torches.
• Miracle of San GennaroSaturday before the first Sunday of May, 19 September and 16 December · CampaniaNaples.
• Nativity scenes of San Gregorio ArmenoNovember–December · CampaniaNaples.

The dates of festivals tied to Easter, Carnival and Corpus Christi change every year: you'll find them under the months in which they usually fall. Always check programmes and exact dates on the websites of the town councils and the organising associations.