Festival dei Due Mondi, Festival of two Worlds, is one of Italy's most famous performing arts festivals, attended by some of the world's top artists, and features concerts, operas, ballets, films, and art. The festival was first started in 1958 by composer Gian Carlo Menotti with the intention of bringing together the old and new worlds of Europe and America. It's in Spoleto in central Italy's Umbria region. Information
The Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia is one of the larger music festivals, drawing performers from around the world. Besides the ticketed performances, there is lots of music on the streets of Perugia during the days of the festival. Umbria Jazz Festival information.
Estate Romana is a festival of music and performing arts with events throughout Rome during the summer. Look for information in the tourist office or on posters in Rome or check the web site for updates.
Verona Opera is one of the most popular summer opera series. Operas are performed open-air in the stunning Roman amphitheater of Verona, a city between Milan and Tuscany. Map and Verona Travel Guide | Verona Opera web site
Puccini Festival is held at the open-air theater in Torre del Lago Puccini, 5 km from Viareggio and 25 km from both Pisa and Lucca. Performances in July and August include several operas. Other concerts and dance performances are sometimes held in the theater, too. Torre del Lago Travel Guide | Puccini Festival information
Tuscia Opera Festival, held in Viterbo in the Lazio region north of Rome, is a great chance to experience opera in a historic outdoor venue without paying a huge price. Tuscia Opera Festival information.
Soundscape is an exchange of music, ideas, and culture. Soundscape events and performances will be held in Pavia, south of Milan.
Cortona Contemporary Music Festival is in mid-July in the beautiful Tuscan hill town of Cortona. See the Cortona Contemporary Music web site for details.
Incontri in Terra di Siena - Cultural Encounters in Southern Tuscany hosts a series of four concerts, usually in late July, at the beautiful La Foce Estate (where you can also rent weekly apartments) in the Val d'Orcia south of Siena. There are also summer art exhibits. Incontri in Terra di Siena dates and information.
Soundlabs Festival, July 25-26, is small, "hand-made" independent music festival with major international independent music acts from the UK, US and Italy. It's held in Roseto degli Abruzzi, about two hours from Rome in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. The Abruzzo is a very scenic region that sees fewer tourists than some of Italy's other regions. Roseto degli Abruzzi is near Pescara airport. See Soundlabs site for details. (More about the Abruzzo Region)
Pescara, on the Adriatic coast, holds an international jazz festival in July.
Opera fans won't want to miss the chance to see opera in a beautiful outdoor setting. Rome and Verona are two of the best places for summer opera. See our Top Italian Opera Houses for details.
Page 1: July Festivals in Italy.
