CULINARY HOLIDAYS
Gourmet festivals are less prominent than religious celebrations, but no less recommendable. They are usually devoted to individual regional specialties; food is accompanied by dances, concerts of the local brass band and. at the end of the evening, noisy fireworks displays.
There are literally hundreds of such holidays in every region, just browse the local press or ask at the tourist office. In summer and autumn there will certainly be something noteworthy (often these holidays are called sagre). Most of them are intended for locals and are not advertised, but there are exceptions to this rule.
In Tivoli near Rome, on the second Sunday of October, the water in the city fountains becomes wine. The same thing happens at the Citta della Pieve in Umbria during the Festa della Fontane in April, and in nearby Panicale.
It is also worth mentioning the wine festival held in June in Orneto, and in Bolzano in the second half of March, and the truffle market accompanying Palio in Alba on the first Sunday of October.
Overall,, the smaller the scale of a given holiday, the better, because it is easier to join the dances and try local specialties.
ART FESTIVALS
Local pride, which underlies many of these culinary festivals is also expressed in art festivals, organized throughout Italy (especially central). They often take place in ancient amphitheaters or other ruins and often last up to a whole month..
The most prestigious of them is the Venice Film Festival held in August and September.. The Festival dei Due Mondi also became famous (Festival of two worlds) organized in the summer in Spoleto. Two-month classical music festival, Movie, Ballet, street theatre, Painting, sculptures, etc.. take place in the open air in different corners of this walled historic city. Music can be heard in two other equally beautiful places: Sleristerio in Macerata (Marches) and in the Roman arena of Verona.
Also in the ruins of Pompeii, in the last week of August, the Panatenee Pompeiane music festival takes place. The summer festival in Bologna has a slightly different face: music bands play in the medieval palace courtyards, and soap operas, as well as ambitious films, are shown in various unexpected places. Other festivals are dedicated to individual composers: Puccini's music can be heard in Torre del Lago (near Viareggio) from late July to mid-August, and Rossini in Pesaro from mid-August to early September.
Also worth knowing, that the Italian opera season begins in December and lasts until May or June. The main opera stages are La Scala in Milan, Teatro dell'Opera in Rome. La Fenice in Venice. Teatro Comunale in Florence and Teatro San Carlo in Naples. There are also other smaller operas, which regularly stage performances during the season.