FESTIVALS SPRING & SUMMER ATTRACTIONS

This is a list of some of the major festivals in Tuscany throughout the Spring & Summer months.

These are the Festival attractions for the beautiful springtime in Tuscany.

March - Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the carriage) Easter Sunday Piazza del Duomo, Florence.

Festa degli Aquiloni - 1st Sunday after Easter - San Miniato, Prato della Rocca. Aerial acrobatics and kite flying.

April - Sagra Musicale Lucchese (April - July) Lucca. Sacred music held throughout Lucca’s numerous churches. Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell’Artigianato - Fortezza da Basso, Florence - European exhibits of artists. An exhibition of crafts.

May - Maggio Musicale - Florence. May - June. Orchestra Regionale Toscana and other performances including dance. Festa del Grillo - Le Cascine, Florence. Balesto del Girifalco (Falcon Contest) - Massa Marittima.

As summer approaches there are many celebrations. The best way we found out about some of them was walking through the towns and seeing posters.

June - Estate Fiesolana, Florence - San Miniato al Monte - Music, arts, drama, dance and film. Regata di San Ranieri - Pisa - Boat races that are so colorful and beautifully decorated. At night time the shoreline is illuminated by thousands of torches. Gioco del Ponte - Pisa - A ritual battle. Arezzo - June & September - Giostra del Saraceno - costume Joust.

July - Corsa del Palio - Siena - Every year on July 2 and August 16 horse races, The Palio, are held. The 17 neighborhoods compete against each other. The July 2 race selects the entrants for the main August 16th race. There are no rules so the fast race can be very interesting. It begins three days before with lots of celebrations and traditions. Our understanding was that the Piazza is turned into a racetrack and seating is available but goes quickly a few months in advance. But the entire center is free for spectators and you need to show up early to get a spot.For 2 weeks they also host a series of classical music concerts. Settimane Musicali Senesi. These are held in the churches and courtyards. You can contact Accademia Musicale Chigiana www.chigiana.it to find when and where. Pistoia Blues - Piazza del Suomo, Pistoia - A wonderful festival of blues music. Tuscan Sun - Cortona

August - Pucciniano - Torre del Lago Puccini - Operas at the open-air theatre by the lake. Rodeo della rosa - Alberese - cowboys of the Maremma. Canoes, beaches wildlife and picnic areas. Cantiere Internazional d’Arte - Montepulciano - wine, food and music. Festa dell Bistecca - Cortona - Festivals of the Beefsteak. Tuscan Sun - Cortona