Events in Italy celebrate, religious festivals, local produce, historic legends, boats, music and dance. Many of these summer events are free to attend, and take place in the historic piazzas and medieval streets.
While the month of August can feel very hot during the day, the advantage of an August holiday is the number of events that take place in the evenings. If you don’t want to miss the thrill of a joust, or fireworks display, take a lunchtime siesta and prepare to go out at 9pm.
Even in September, as well as enjoying Italy’s superb cuisine at a restaurant, you might stumble across a festival (Sagre) celebrating local wine and produce, with stalls displaying their products and offering a taste. A tour of a winery is particularly interesting at this time of year, as many grapes are harvested in September. Plus, you should look out for festivals for the towns Patron Saint and markets showcasing typical products of the area.
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Ferragosto events
Ferragosto is a national holiday celebrated throughout the country on the 15th August. On this day many Italians visit family on the coast or in the countryside and have a big lunch, parties, and attend festivals in the evening. Many people take at least the week off work and some businesses close, even estate agents.
It’s Ferragosto time in Italy
Sicily – Parade of the Giants
One such festival that coincides with Ferragosto is in honour of “Our Lady of the Assumption”. In Messina, on 15th August, there is a procession, starring the colossal “Vara”, a pyramid shaped machine built in the 16th century. This amazing structure has moving parts that symbolize the Assumption into the sky of the Madonna, among a group of angels.
In the procession, The Vara is dragged through the streets by devotees, starting at Piazza Castronovo. After making a stop to watch the fireworks at the port, it is then pulled down to the Town Hall, where it is joined by two giants, Mata and Grifone. These huge statues on giant horses then become the highlight of the evening, as the “Passeggiata dei Giganti”, make the journey back to the Cathedral.
Mata and Grifone
One legend tells us that Mata was a girl from Messina and Grifone was a Saracen Giant who led an army dedicated to piracy and violent raids. Around 964 AD, Grifone led an army which conquered the city. He saw Mata and immediately fell in love with her. But, when he asked her father, Cosimo II di Castellaccio, if he could marry her, both Mata and her father refused the proposal.
Grifone’s realized that the only way to win her heart was to repent and change his life. He abandoned his criminal ways and devoted himself to cultivating the land and doing charity work. Mata, taken by this gesture of love, also fell in love with him.
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Religious festivals
Every town and village will have a festival dedicated to the Patron Saint of the town, usually involving a procession, fireworks and music. As Italian towns have several churches, each one will also celebrate their individual saint’s day. Therefore, it can be quite a regular occurrence to see a marching brass band coming down the street and statues carried around the town.
Our local town in Puglia has 18 churches. It is tradition in this area to put up impressive street illuminations, and have a brass band on a bandstand decorated with lights. In addition, there are concerts, fireworks, street entertainers, stalls, children’s games and sports. It is free to attend the events of our local “Festa Patronale”, as it is financed by a combination of the local authority, business sponsors, donations and the sale of raffle tickets.
Florence, Tuscany – The Feast of the Rificolona
One of the oldest September festivals takes place in the beautiful city of Florence on the 7th of September. There are many outdoor events around the town, including a large fair and a procession starting from Piazza Santa Croce, led by the Cardinal of Florence.
Rificolone Lanterns
In the past, farmers and mountain dwellers used to arrive early in the morning to set up their market stalls, before attending the religious services. As it was dark, they would carry paper lanterns, called “rificolone”, attached to a stick. This tradition is still observed today, with lanterns of various unusual designs. Some of the lanterns are made by children at workshops on the day of the festival. As well as the procession there is music, games, and plenty of gelato for the children.
Alghero, Sardinia – Festival of Saint Miquel
On the island of Sardinia, from 14th September to 1st October 2024, you can experience “The Sant Miquel Festival”. While many festivals last up to three days, the celebrations in honour of Saint Michele, the Patron Saint of Alghero, last a couple of weeks. The festival is full of music, cabaret, street theatre, literature and exhibitions.
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Notte Bianca
The Italian expression “Notte Bianca” is literally translated in English as ‘White Night’. This term has been chosen to name an event that runs late into the night. Wherever you go, the Notte Bianca pops up on various dates and with different themes. In some Italian towns, shops and museums open all night long, in others long tables stretch down the street, and people bring food to share and dress all in white.
Lucca’s Notte Bianca Event
In 2024, The White Night in Lucca is dedicated to dance. On 31st August 2024 the event will take place in front of the Liceo Artistico in Piazza Grande (Piazza Napoleone). This year Lucca will welcome special guest Carolyn Smith, from the Italian TV programme “Ballando con le stelle” (Dancing with the stars).
Now if you think Carolyn’s name doesn’t sound very Italian, you’d be right. In fact, Carolyn was born in Scotland. After taking part in European and World championships in Latin American dance, she moved to Padua, Italy. Here she set up a dance academy, and since 2007 she has been president of the jury on Dancing with the Stars (Italy’s equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing).
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Wine Tasting Events
In just the period from January to April 2024, Italian wine exports exceeded €2.5 billion (7% more than the same period last year). With over 37,000 wineries across the country, there are many opportunities to taste wine in Italy, from Open Cellars and wine tours, to big wine tasting events.
Expo Chianti Classico
One of the most famous events takes place in Greve in Chianti (one hour drive from Florence). The Expo del Chianti Classico runs from 5th to 8th September 2024. This prestigious wine event includes music, lessons on how to taste wine, food sampling and, most importantly, wine tasting. Expo Chianti Classico offers the opportunity to get to know Chianti Classico wine in its unique production area, among the vineyards of Tuscany.
Historic Events
With so many medieval villages in Italy, you can also expect to find events illustrating their history and prominent characters from it.
Marche – La Quintana di Ascoli Piceno
La Quintana takes place the first weekend of August and is considered one of the best festivals in the region. It is a typical Medieval jousting tournament which starts with a large parade. Participants dress in 15th century medieval costumes, and there are flag wavers, drummers and trumpeters.
Tuscany – La Giostra di Simone, Montisi
Held around 5th of August, the festival includes a parade in traditional costumes which is followed by a knights’ tournament between the four districts. Montisi is a hamlet of the Italian comune of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, in Tuscany.
Puglia – Palio di Oria
On Saturday 11th August there is a procession and stage performance with people dressed in period costume. The event is a tribute to Federico II di Swabia, one of the most illustrious rulers of the Middle Ages. The castle in Oria was built by decree of Federico II, and is located just 30 minutes drive from the port town of Brindisi.
On Sunday 11th August the four districts of Oria compete in a tournament. The King and his courtiers are there, plus flag wavers, musicians, and dancers. Historical reenactors and knights on horseback, battle it out in front of the King. Then a team of young men from each district race across obstacles that test their agility.
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Events on the Water
Italy has a 7500km coastline, 450 islands and 1,500 lakes. In the summer months these bodies of water are a big draw to tourists and locals alike. You can relax on a beach, swim, enjoy water sports, buy fish, watch dolphins, or attend boat racing and cliff diving events. Towns and villages by the sea or lake, may also hold festivals partly on the water.
Venice – Regata Storica
Regata Storica di Venezia is one of the most important September festivals in Italy. On 1st September 2024, a colourful procession of historic boats will make its way along the Grand Canal in Venice, with their crews dressed in traditional costumes.
Lake Como, Lombardy – Illuminated Boat Competition with Fireworks.
The 78th Illuminated Boat Competition and Grand Fireworks Display will take place in Gravedona ed Uniti on the 14th and 15th of August 2024. Located on the north side of lake Como, Gravedona ed Uniti is a small lakeside village with a little over 4,000 inhabitants. Local people spend months creating artistic boats, in the way that other towns might build carnival floats in the winter.
The first parade took place, after the war, in 1946, originating from the desire for peace and serenity. Since then, groups of young and old build allegorical boats each year. In addition, there is a spectacular firework display, dining opportunities on the Lakeside, street food and dancing.
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Genoa Boat Show
For those sea enthusiasts that are really keen on boats, there is the International Boat Show in Genoa. Taking place from 19th – 24th September 2024, at Genoa’s stunning Waterfront Marina, the show offers the opportunity for both industry experts and enthusiasts to view over 200,000 square metres of display space, on land and water. You may even spot the perfect boat to moor up near your new home in Italy.
