Italy in August

August festivals in Italy include the second race for the palio in Siena, the Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, and the Palio del Golfo in the Gulf of La Spezia. In August, you'll also find medieval festivals with people dressed in medieval costume like La Quintana, a historic jousting event in Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche region.

August 15, Ferragosto (Assumption Day), is a national holiday. Although most shops will be closed, there will be festivals and celebrations all over Italy. Nancy Parode, Senior Travel guide, warns tourists to watch out for Il sciopero on days around Ferragosto.

Chiuso per ferie, closed for vacation, is a sign you'll see often in August as many Italians go on vacation. Along the coast, however, everything is likely to be open as Italians and tourists head to the beach to escape the heat. You're likely to run across local festivals or outdoor concerts along the coast, too.

_{Medieval costume picture © 2006 by James Martin, Europe Travel}