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Festivals, Special Events, and Holidays in Italy

Attending a festival is a great way to experience Italy's culture. We have information about some of the festivals in Italy.
Winter Holidays in Italy
Italy celebrates several holidays with special events and festivals during winter. Here are major Italian winter holidays.
Halloween in Italy
Halloween celebrations in Italy. Urban Trekking in Italian cities for Halloween. All Saints Eve in Italy.
Festivals in Italy
Here's a sampling of top festivals in Italy. Many Italian festivals are based on historic events and often include processions with people dressed in period costume or historic re-enactments.
Festivals, Holidays, and Special Events by Month
Italy has interesting festivals every month of the year. Here is information about popular and unusual festivals in Italy listed by month as well as Italian holidays, annual special events, and music festivals.
Medieval Jousting Festival in Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Information about the Quintana or medieval jousting festival in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
Medieval Procession Pictures - Maritime Republics Festival in Pisa
Pictures of the procession, with people dressed in medieval costume, before the Ancient Maritime Republics Regatta in Pisa.
Siena Palio Festival
The palio of Siena is one of Italy's most popular and well-known festivals. Siena's palio competition is a historic horse race around Siena's main piazza but there's much more to it.
Easter in Italy - Festivals and Events for Easter Week
Easter is celebrated in Italy with processions, religous festivals, and special dinners. Easter Monday, also a holiday in Italy, is a time for fun and games. Florence, Panicale, and other Italian cities have some unusual ways of celebrating Easter.
2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy
Information about 2009 Mediterranean Games in Italy. Information about where the games are held in Italy. Find out more about the mediterranean games. Italy hosts the mediterranean games or giochi del mediterraneo in summer, 2009.
Infiorata - Flower Art Festivals in Italy
Infiorata or flower art festivals are held for Corpus Domini. Here is information about Infiorata events in Noto and elsewhere in Italy.
International Film Festivals in Italy
The Venice film festival is Italy's most important film festival but several other international film festivals are held in Italy, too. Here are Italy's major international film festivals.
Italian American Festivals in the United States
Here are top Italian festivals in the United States, from May through October.
Italian Film Festivals Outside Italy
Italian movies are very popular and Italian film festivals are held all over the world. Here are some of the biggest annual film festivals showcasing award-winning Italian films outside of Italy including festivals in the United States, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Many movie events sell out so be sure to buy tickets ahead of time.
Italian New Year's Eve and Day Celebrations
Where and how to celebrate Italian New Year's Eve - La Festa di San Silvestro - and New Year's Day - Il Capodanno - in Italy.
La Befana and Epiphany in Italy
Epiphany is celebrated January 6. In Italy Epiphany is celebrated with the tradition of La Befana bringing presents to children. Read more about Italian Epiphany celebrations.
June Olive Oil Festival in Lecce, Italy
Find out about the Lecce olive oil festival in Lecce, Italy. The Contadino, The Cook and the Extra Virgin is a June festival in Lecce, Italy. Details of the Lecce olive festival at awaiting table cooking school in southern Italy.
Maschera di Ferro festival in Pinerolo, Italy
A festival recreating the man in the iron mask, Maschera di Ferro, takes place in the Piemonte town of Pinerolo the first weekend of October.
Truffle Festivals in Italy
Top fall truffle festivals and top white truffle fairs in Italy. White truffle fairs are held in fall in Italy. Find out where to go to a truffle festival in Italy.
L'Ardia di San Costantino
L'Ardia di San Costantino in Sardinia is one of the most interesting Italian horse race and festivals I've ever attended.
Festa della Madonna Bruna in Matera, Italy
Matera's Festa della Madonna Bruna is a fascinating festival held in July in southern Italy.
Noto Flower Festival - Infiorata di Noto
The infiorata in Noto, Sicily, is one of the best.
Patron Saints - How Patron Saints are Chosen
About.com's Catholicism guide explains the history of patron saints and how they're chosen. Patron saints play a big part in Italian festivals and celebrations.
Valentine's Day - Italian Style Celebrations
You can make your Valentine's Day an Italian celebration with special Italian Valentine's Day food and Italian language phrases.
Sagra Posters and Food Festivals in Italy
Learn how to find a sagra or food festival in rural Italy on Wandering Italy's illustrated guide.
Italian Holidays, Festivals, and Street Parties
Dan Hostetler whipped up this fabulous resource for Italian festivals, searchable in many ways.
Il Palio di Siena
The official site for information on Il Palio di Siena. Siena's palio is probably the most famous festival and horse race in all of Italy.
Slow Travel Italy - Festivals and Harvests
A rather general introduction to festivals from Slow Travel Italy.
Umbria Jazz Festival - Perugia
Perugia hosts a huge international jazz festival each July.
Winter Olympics 2006 in Torino - Information and Resources
Information and resources for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
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