A selection of events in Italy, experiences during your Italy holiday

Italy hosts many events, from small traditional festas to major crowd-pullers. Experience and enjoy them during your holiday or turn it into a weekend trip to Italy!

In Italy, a 'festa' is always being celebrated somewhere, ranging from small village food and folklore festivals to larger events and real (international) crowd-pullers. It makes for a great outing during your vacation, or you can plan your holiday around them – that is of course possible too! There are too many to list them all, so here is a small selection.

Lombardia

Cremona Noga Festival, Stradivarius Festival

The city of Cremona lies on the banks of the River Po. It is a medium-sized city with an atmospheric historic center and numerous beautiful historic buildings, including the cathedral and its famous bell tower, the Torrazzo. Cremona is known for Torrone – nougat, the sweet delicacy made from honey and almonds – and the most precious violin in the world, the Stradivarius.

In november the Nougat Festival, Festa del Torrone, is held every year. A delightful festival with tastings, art, and culture starring Torrone, or nougat. www.festadeltorrone.com

Antonio Stradivari, the world's most famous violin maker, was born in Cremona in 1644 and died there in 1737. His likeness can be seen in various places throughout the city. At the Museo del Violino, you can learn more about Stradivari and his work. The museum is a co-organizer of the Stradivari Music Festival, which in oktober is being organized. A music festival dedicated to violin music with various performances and recitals | www.stradivarifestival.it

Franciacorta Wine Festival

Franciacorta is a region situated between the city of Brescia and Lake Iseo. This beautiful hilly region is best known for the highly popular sparkling wines produced there. Every year in september A wine festival is organized spread over two weekends. During this event, the region's wine producers open their doors to the public. An unmissable event for wine lovers, of course, but also for lovers of good food. You can also take beautiful walks and/or bike rides through the vineyards and enjoy various other activities. www.festivalfranciacorta.wine

The vineyard of Villa Gradoni at Monticelli Brusati, Franciacorta

Sicily

San Vito Lo Capo Couscous Festival

San Vito Lo Capo, located at the extreme northwestern tip of Sicily near Trapani, has one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily. It is a charming seaside resort and therefore highly recommended for beach lovers. San Vito Lo Capo is now also known for the Couscous Festival which in september is held. This festival has since grown into an international cultural festival where couscous and its various preparations foster connection. You will find tastings, a cooking show with international chefs, and musical performances, among other things. www.couscousfest.it

Molise

Scapoli Bagpipe Festival

Molise is located in central Italy, between the regions of Abruzzo and Puglia. It is the second smallest and also one of the least known regions of Italy. If you want to get off the beaten track, a visit to Molise is well worth it. You will find peace, beautiful nature, beaches, small villages, and many traditions. One of these can be found in the town of BachelorsScapoli is known for a traditional musical instrument called the zampogne, a bagpipe. The zampogne is still made by hand by artisans in Scapoli. Since 1975, annually in July the Festa della Zampogna is held. It is an international festival that attracts many bagpipe enthusiasts from all over the world. Scapoli is also known as the international capital of the bagpipe. www.festivaldellazampogna.it/new

Tuscany

Lucca Puccini Festival

The small town of Torre del Lago near Lucca is the setting for the annual Puccini Festival. An opera festival in honor of Giacomo Puccini, composer of famous works such as Tosca, Madame Butterfly, and La Bohème. These works are performed every year in July/August in the specially built open-air theater on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli. There is also a light program featuring more contemporary music. www.puccinifestival.it

Florence Calcio Storico

Piazza Santa Croce in Florence is the battleground for Calcio Storico. A historic sporting event full of tradition and folklore, with preliminary rounds and a final on June 24 every year. Calcio Storico is a combination of football, rugby, and wrestling. The players are dressed in historical costumes. June 24 also marks the celebration of the feast day of Florence's patron saint, John the Baptist (San Giovanni), including a fireworks display.

Volterra Ad 1398 Festival

Immerse yourself in the Middle Ages at the Volterra Ad 1398 Festival, on every 2^e in 3^e Sunday in AugustMeet knights, damsels, peasants, monks, noblemen and enjoy music, workshops, costumes, bird of prey shows and medieval games, among other things. www.volterra1398.it

Umbria

Perugia Umbria Jazz Festival

In Perugia, the capital of the Umbria region, the Umbria Jazz Festival takes place annually in July, having grown into one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe. All the major international stars have performed here; the festival lasts 10 days and is truly a fantastic summer festival for anyone who loves music. There is also a winter edition, which takes place in Orvieto at the end of December. www.umbriajazz.it/en/

Spoleto Festival dei due Mondi

Spoleto, one of the most beautiful cities in Umbria, which certainly belongs on the must-see list when visiting Umbria. The Festival dei due Mondi, Festival of 2 Worlds, takes place here from late June to early July, a special festival for lovers of music, dance, theater, and art, featuring performances by artists from 30 different companies. The name 2 Worlds refers to the festival's original intention to connect American and European culture. There is now even an annual Spoleto festival in America. www.festivaldispoleto.com

Piedmont

Cuneo National Chestnut Fair

The medium-sized city of Cuneo is located in the south of Piedmont. It is a beautiful starting point for exploring the diverse hiking areas in the region. Cuneo is best known for its chestnuts. The National Chestnut Fair takes place annually in Cuneo on the third weekend of October. It is a typical Italian gastronomic festival where products from Piedmont take center stage. It takes place in the historic center of Cuneo, and besides roasted chestnuts, you can also sample other specialties from Piedmont such as ravioli, polenta, fritters, and, of course, wines. There are also exhibitions, shows, and concerts. Should you miss the fair, there is a large market in Cuneo every Tuesday where you can also find all the regional products. http://www.marrone.net/.