Sampling Italy's Summer Festivals

If you're traveling in Italy by car, you might enjoy a local food festa. Last night we went to the sagra delle anguille, eel festival, one of several local feste in our area. Festivals centered around food are common in small towns and villages throughout Italy. During the summer you'll find them every weekend. Look for a colorful sign (like the one on the left) with the word sagra or festa followed by the name of a food. Don't worry, if you don't like eels for example, there are usually other local food choices available. These small festivals are definitely not set up just for tourists, here you'll find families, couples, teenagers, and elderly people all enjoying dinner together. Food and wine are reasonably priced and sometimes there'll be music, games, or vendors selling things like candy, toys, or jewelry. Feste and sagre are a good way to mingle with the locals and sample Italian life.

Tonight we're heading to Fivazzano, in the Lunigiana region of northern Tuscany, for the Disfida, a reenactment of a medieval archery competition amongst the 5 neighborhoods, contrade, of the town. The evening also includes a parade in medieval costume,  flag throwers performing all kinds of amazing acts with their flags, and fireworks. You'll find historic reenactments and competitions, like Siena's famous Palio, in many places in Italy, too.

You'll also find outdoor music of all kinds in Italy during the summer, in big cities and small towns and even in the countryside. Next Sunday we'll enjoy an evening of outdoor music, Jazz on a Tuscan Summer Evening, Respite Italia's 2006 summer fund raiser. If you're interested in a rural bed and breakfast or agriturismo stay in Tuscany or neighboring Umbria, take a look at their vacation properties.

Festivals in Italy: July Festivals | July Music Festivals
Italian Festivals | Medieval Festival Costume Pictures

^{Picture of Italy Sagra Sign © Martha Bakerjian, licensed to about.com}
_{Picture of Fivizzano Festival  © James Martin, Europe for Visitors, licensed to about.com}