Italy's Festa della Repubblica on June 2 is a national holiday. The Feast of Corpus Christi or Corpus Domini, 60 days after Easter, and the Feast Day of San Giovanni (St. John the Baptist), June 24, are two June holidays that will be celebrated in many parts of Italy.
Corpus Domini - Here are some good places to go for Corpus Domini festivals.
- Castelrotto in the Trentino-Alto Adige region has a big festival.
- Orvieto has a costumed procession of over 400 people and streets are decorated with flowers.
- Infiorata, spectacular flower petal art displays, are held in many Italian towns the Sunday after Corpus Domini. Infiorata guide - more about the infiorata and where to go to see one.
Luminara of Saint Ranieri is celebrated June 16, the eve of feast day of Saint Ranieri, Pisa's patron saint. The Arno River, buildings lining the river, and bridges are illuminated with the flames of over 70,000 lumini, small glass candle holders.
The Historic Regatta of Saint Ranieri is the next day, June 17th, in Pisa. Four boats, one from each of Pisa's districts, row against the Arno River's current. When a boat arrives at the finish line, one man climbs up a 25-foot rope to reach the victory flag. Pisa Travel Guide
The Contadino, The Cook and the Extra Virgin is a week long festival in June celebrating olives, olive oil, and cooking. The festival is held in the southern Puglia region in Spongano, 44 km south of Lecce, in the heel of Italy's boot. Read more and get information about the festival - June Olive Oil Festival in Lecce, Italy.
Sagra di Saint Giovanni is the oldest historic event on Lake Como. Hundreds of tiny lamps float in the lake and there's a big fireworks display the evening. The following morning brings a boat parade with traditional boats decorated with flowers followed by folk dancing and flag throwing competitions. Events are held the weekend closest to St. John's Day, June 24.
San Giovanni Feast Day is celebrated in Florence the Sunday following June 24 with a medieval tournament followed by music, drinking, and feasting. In the evening on the Arno River, there is a palio of rowboats carrying lit candles followed by fireworks.
Festival of St. John is also celebrated in Turin, Genoa, and Gressoney-Saint-Jean in the Val D'Aosta.
International Ceramics Festival comes to Montelupo in Tuscany the last week of June. see International Ceramic Festival for more information.
A Medieval Festival is recreated in the Umbrian town of Bevagna the last week of June.
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. It features concerts, operas, ballets, films, and art from late June through mid-July. 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
SS Pietro and Paulo day is celebrated on June 29 in Rome.
