Most Important Italian Festivals: What to Expect
Italy has hundreds of festivals. Some are religious, some are historical, and some are just excuses to eat and drink. Here are the five you cannot miss.
1. Carnevale di Venezia (Venice Carnival)
Held in Venice. Takes place in February, the two weeks before Lent. Famous for elaborate masks and costumes.
The entire city becomes a costume party
You can rent or buy masks everywhere
Best event is "Flight of the Angel" (a person ziplines over St. Mark's Square)
Crowds are massive (book hotels one year early)
Expect to spend money on costumes and masks
2. Palio di Siena (Siena Horse Race)
Held in Siena (Tuscany). Takes place July 2nd and August 16th. A bareback horse race between 17 neighborhoods.
Only 10 neighborhoods race each time
The race lasts 90 seconds
Expect pushing, bribery, and tears
The winning neighborhood celebrates for weeks
Book accommodation one year in advance
3. Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)
Held in Florence. Takes place on Easter Sunday morning. A cart full of fireworks explodes in front of the Duomo cathedral.
A cart from 1622 is pulled by white oxen
A rocket shaped like a dove lights the fuse
If it goes perfectly, good harvest arrives
If something goes wrong, bad luck for Florence
Expect loud bangs, smoke, and cheering
4. Festa di San Gennaro (Feast of Saint Januarius)
Held in Naples. Takes place September 19th and again in December and May. A saint's blood liquefies in a glass vial.
The dried blood of Saint Januarius turns to liquid
If it does not liquefy, bad luck for Naples
Millions of people pray inside the cathedral
Expect intense religious devotion
Street fair outside with food, music, and candles
5. Infiorata di Spello (Flower Festival)
Held in Spello (Umbria). Takes place in June, on Corpus Domini Sunday. The streets are carpeted with flower petal mosaics.
Local artists spend all night making art from flower petals
The images are religious scenes
Each petal is placed by hand
The art is destroyed by evening when people walk on it
Expect flowers, beauty, and very sore knees