Events in Italy. The best opera houses and festivals in Italy Puccini Opera Festival Festival Puccini, Torre del lago

Known for her opera singers and works. If you love opera, try to attend at least one performance (buy tickets in advance). The opera season usually lasts from October to April, and in the summer you can attend various outdoor performances.

The best opera houses Italy and a couple of summer opera festivals:

La Scala Theater - Teatro Alla Scala

Address: Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, 10, 43011 Busseto Parma

Teatro Verdi in Pisa - Teatro Verdi di Pisa

Address: Piazza Beniamino Gigli, 7, 00187 Roma

Buy tickets online (Italian)

Arena di Verona - Arena di Verona

Although not a theatre, the Verona Amphitheater is a fantastic venue for opera performances. The season starts in June.

Address: Piazza Bra, 1, 37121 Verona

Buy tickets online

Festival Puccini - Festival Pucciniano

This opera festival is held in Torre del Lago Puccini in Tuscany, home of the famous opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Festival time: July-August.

Address: Via delle Torbiere, 55049 Viareggio Lucca

Buy tickets online (English, German or Italian)

Sferisterio Opera Festival in Macerata - Sferisterio - Macerata Opera Festival

The Sferitério opera festival is held outdoors in an arena in the town of Macerata in the Marche region. Performances take place in July and August.

Address: Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 10, 62100 Macerata

Buy tickets online (English or Italian)

In Italy, something is constantly happening, and it is simply impossible to keep track of all the movement. This is not about political events with figurines of the Milan Cathedral flying to meet the smiling face of the Prime Minister. Not about foreign ships with dark-skinned desperate sailors who once again landed on the shores of Calabria. And not even about earthquakes. This is about more cheerful events, namely holidays, festivals and other entertainment events throughout Italy. Events will be indicated as large-scale, like Carnival in Venice, and completely insignificant, but personally interesting to me - like hiking for chestnuts in the forests above Lake Como with a group of like-minded people. I hope to visit some of them personally, others you may be able to visit. The list will be constantly updated and provided in chronological order. Some events will be linked to our Italy tours and day trips from Milan, which you can find out more about on the relevant pages.

Please note that EVENT DATES MAY CHANGE, so before organizing a visit, I advise you to check all the information on the official website or contact yours directly.

Events in Italy in March 2019

March 1-10, 2019 V Agrigento vintage planned Almond Festival. The festival is dedicated mainly to competitions of international folklore ensembles, but almonds themselves will not be left without attention - dishes with nuts will be served in all their regional diversity in all restaurants in the city.

April 9-14, 2019 V Milan the main event of the furniture industry will take place, i Saloni. During the week, the backstreets of Milan will be a haven for budding designers, while in the main exhibition center In the city of Rho Fiera, huge pavilions will be occupied by the world's most famous manufacturers of interior items, textiles, ceramics and sanitary ware.

May 15-18, 2019 owners of historical cars can take part in the legendary Italian motor rally Brescia-Rome-Brescia. A limited number of cars from all over the world manufactured between 1927 and 1957 are allowed to participate. Those who have not yet been able to purchase a vintage car can simply enjoy the unusual spectacle.

May 17-19, 2019 Milan immerse yourself in music. Concerts will be organized as part of the annual Pianocity festival piano music in quiet private courtyards, in museums, book libraries, on the streets and even in musicians’ homes. All the most interesting things, as usual, are by appointment.

May 17-19, 2019 in the town But that on Sicily annual infiorata planned – flower festival, during which Nicolaci Street is decorated with a mosaic of colorful petals. Intoxicating smells, concerts and performances are also included in the “menu”.

Oh, how I love May! Events throughout Italy so much that you want to burst. May 25-26, 2019, for example, preferably into 20 parts at once - one mini-Katya to each region to send to open house days. After all, when else will it be possible to look into residential private houses full of architectural and design highlights?..

Order in advance to avoid tiring waiting in lines. Is everything right? Are you planning to attend the opera, for which Italy is so famous, or concerts, the program of which in the summer is sometimes very rich and varied? We present to your attention list of the bestsummer music festivals that you can enjoy on fresh air , under the moonlight, in ancient, fascinating places in Italy. So, after visiting the museums and attractions, get out your best outfits (men - dark suit, ladies - evening dress) and join music lovers from all over the world!

1. Roman Opera House - Baths of Caracalla

The final touch of your trip should be a visit to a performance on its summer playground among the majestic ruins of the ancient baths of Caracalla. The Romans call them main stage“estate romana” (Roman summer), which has long been famous for its varied and vibrant program.

The baths got their name in honor of the Roman emperor Antonino Caracalla, who during his reign (211-217 AD) managed to create a monumental structure - the second largest public baths. Using modern vocabulary, this ancient Roman complex can be called a sports and entertainment center.

My theatrical life The baths were found in 1937. The summer music seasons attracted the world's best performers here. Voices sounded within the ancient walls Maria Callas And Beniamino Gigli, the famous tenor trio shone here Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras And Luciano Pavarotti.

In 1993 concert hall in ancient ruins was closed for seven years of restoration, and in 2001 summer seasons in the Baths of Caracalla resumed.

An opera or ballet performance in ancient ruins will undoubtedly make an indelible impression on you.

Performances:

You should hurry up and purchase tickets - they sell out very quickly.

Where: The Baths of Caracalla are located on via delleTermediCaracalla, 52, 15 minutes walk from Circus Maximus.

2. Arena di Verona

Rate the opera at at its best! The ancient Roman amphitheater, built in Verona around 30 AD, is the third largest building of its type in Italy and is world famous as the largest concert hall. Under open air can accommodate up to 14,000 opera gourmets.

Before the performance, be sure to take a trip, don’t forget to include Juliet’s house in your itinerary, enjoy a glass of wine in one of the many restaurants on Piazza Bra and get ready to meet the beautiful!

Performances:

Where: Arena di Verona is located in Piazza Bra, in the heart of the city center

3. Puccini Opera Festival

The Puccini Festival, which is a summer event in the town of Torre del Lago (Tuscany), is held in honor of the famous Italian composer and his operas. Giacomo Puccini was born 18 km from here in the city of Lucca, and in Torre del Lago itself there is a memorial villa where the composer wrote operas such as La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. The festival was first held in 1930, 6 years after Puccini's death, and has since attracted approximately 40,000 spectators annually. Performances take place in an outdoor amphitheater that seats more than 3,300 people.

Performances:

Where: Torre del Lago - west of Lucca and south of Viareggio. Easily accessible from Lucca, Pisa and Florence.

4. Opera festival Sferisterio

The open-air arena where this annual opera festival takes place was conceived in 1819 as a ball court. But by the 1900s, opera had taken over, with Bellini's Norma in 1914. Today, the Sferisterio Theater is one of the best European venues for opera performances.

Performances:

Where: scenic area of ​​Macerata in the region.

5. Music festival in Ravello

Since 1953, the city of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast has hosted the International Music Festival, also known as the Wagner Festival. It was here at Villa Rufolo that Wagner wrote fragments of his opera Parsifal. Performances are usually held at Villa Rufolo, but in the summer, if the weather is good, you can enjoy outdoor concerts.

Performances and concerts:

– you can see the schedule

Where: The Ravello Concert Society holds indoor and outdoor concerts in various locations around the city.

Have you ever been to these music festivals? Tell us!

We have chosen the most interesting festivals in Italy and have compiled a calendar of Italian holidays so you can plan an unforgettable vacation at any time of the year. Whatever holidays and events you visit in Italy, it will definitely be beautiful, tasty and soulful.

The most interesting holidays in Italy in January

Photo: Simone Zucchelli, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

On the eve of Catholic Epiphany, the old witch Befana has been looking for the baby Jesus for two thousand years so that she can finally give him her gift. Since there are many children in Italy, the witch leaves gifts for everyone so as not to miss. And on January 6, carnivals are held in Italian cities with the burning of an effigy of Befana. Buy there an embroidered sock and multi-colored carbonis - candies symbolizing coals, which are given to naughty children instead of gifts. And also take a funny figurine of a witch as a souvenir, which will guard your home all year long.

The most interesting carnivals in Italy in February

January 6 – March 1, 2017 Carnival and orange fights Ivrea, Piedmont region, 60 km from Turin airport

Photo: Cristiano Gatti, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Noisy and fragrant orange fights in the town of Ivrea are held annually in honor of the brave daughter of a miller, who half a thousand years ago rebelled against the right of the first night and cut off the head of the local tyrant. The carnival itself lasts almost two months, and this year the orange battles will take place from February 26 to 28. If you want to participate in a battle between teams of commoners and guards, think about your equipment, because a blow from an orange can even knock you down. In addition to the battles, do not miss the tasting of traditional carnival dishes in Piazza Ottinetti on February 12th. The menu includes “fat beans” fagioli grassi and polenta with hake.

Half a million visitors come to Venice every February. The carnival starts 12 days before Ash Wednesday, one of the main Catholic holidays in Italy. In 2017 big discovery Carnival is scheduled for 18:00 on February 11 in the Cannaregio area. On February 12 at 12:00 do not miss the boat procession, and on February 18 and 19 there will be a competition for the best mask and Festa delle Marie – ancient holiday liberation of Venetian girls kidnapped by pirates from Istria.

Photo: Edisonblus, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Amusing races on stubborn donkeys in Tuscany annually attract tens of thousands of tourists, and for residents of the town of Torrita di Siena this is the main event of the year. Between competitions, you will have time to take part in a costume parade, watch medieval falconry and buy local souvenirs at the fair - cantucci cookies, painted ceramics and a flag with the symbols of the region you support.

The most interesting events in Italy in April

The 51st edition will take place in Verona at the beginning of April. International exhibition wines and spirits Vinitaly - 2017. This is the world's largest fair, where wineries from all regions of Italy are represented. There will be both well-promoted ones, like the wine houses of Marchesi di Barolo or Poggio di Sotto, and tiny ones, whose wine can only be tasted in the vicinity of the village where it is produced, and here at this exhibition. A one-day ticket with unlimited tasting costs 50 €.

The holiday in honor of Saint Efisio is worth a trip to Sardinia during the May holidays in 2017. You will take part in a grand solemn procession and, together with the pilgrims, will transfer the statue of the saint from the Church of Cagliari to the Cathedral of Nora. The townspeople will shower you with petals, you will admire the horsemen in historical costumes and listen to live music performed by the best bands in the province. You will also try strange Sardinian delicacies: casu marzu - sheep cheese with jumping worms and bottarga - dried mullet caviar.

Photo: Raquelalva, CC BY-SA 3.0 and GFDL via Wikimedia Commons

The evening of the first day of the Feast of the patron saint of Pisa, Saint Ranieri, ends with Luminara - a festival of lights, during which locals decorate the Arno embankment with lamps. Having hung more than a hundred thousand lanterns, another couple of hundred thousand candles are launched along the river. The spectacle is literally fire! The next day, all residents and guests go to cheer for the teams of the city districts at the sailing Regatta di San Ranieri.

July 7-16, 2017 Umbria Jazz Festival Perugia, Umbria region, 163 km from Florence airport

One of the world's most stellar jazz festivals has been taking place in Perugia since 1973. IN different years BB King, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Elton John, Bobby McFerrin and even Lady Gaga performed here. The entire city becomes the festival site: in the historical center you will hear live music in the 4th of November Square, at the Santa Giuliana Stadium, at the Pavone Theater and even in local pizzerias and just on the streets.

The most interesting events in Italy in August

These noisy races are held twice a year: July 2 and August 16. Teams from the districts of Siena, the Contrad, traditionally compete in competitions for bareback riders. At the show, you will plunge headlong into the atmosphere of a medieval holiday: contrade standards flutter in the wind, ladies in embroidered dresses fan themselves with fans, and a crowd of fans with truly Italian temperament chants the names of the favorites. The Siena races end with a feast for the whole world. Each contrada offers treats in its area, so don’t miss the chance to try the Siena pici pasta with aromatic herbs, salami from Cinta Senese pigs, as well as the local Pecorino delle Crete Senesi and Marzolino cheeses.

The future takes to the catwalks at Milan Fashion Week. You will see what fashionistas will be wearing in the spring and summer of 2018 at the end of September 2017 at the shows of Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Moschino, Gucci, Prada and Alberta Ferretti. Invitations to events are personalized, and getting them is not so easy. Even if you don’t make it to the Fashion Show Center on Gattamelata Street, you won’t miss the most interesting thing: these days, huge screens are placed on the streets of the city and broadcast pictures from the catwalks.

The most interesting festivals in Italy in October

October 7 – November 26, 2017 International White Truffle Festival Alba, Piedmont, 93 km from Turin airport

Photo: Chris Pople, CC BY-ND 2.0

Gourmets from all over the world flock to Alba in the fall for one of the world's largest and oldest white truffle fairs. Just a couple of slices of the world's most expensive mushroom will turn a plate of spaghetti into a haute cuisine dish. One kilogram of Italian trifola d'Alba Madonna– truffles of the Tuber magnatum species – costs about 2,500 euros. At the festival you can also enjoy Piedmontese and Ligurian sausages and drink young wine. And if you get to Alba on October 23, look at the solemn procession of jugglers with flags.

Second half of November exact dates for 2017 not yet announced Oli Oliva Imperia Oneglia, Liguria, 112 km from Genoa airport

On the weekend in the second half of November, the town of Imperia Oneglia in Liguria celebrates “Italian gold” - olive oil. At the Oli-Oliva festival you will taste oil from different regions and find out if it’s true that it tastes different. At the fair, buy local wine "Pigato", goat cheeses "della Brigasca", farinata - chickpea flatbread and michetta - bread in the shape of a rose. And here you must definitely try strosha - a crumbly Ligurian pie - and olive oil ice cream.

The most interesting holidays in Italy in December

Meet Catholic Christmas The most interesting thing is in the very heart of Catholicism - the Vatican. The solemn mass here begins on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 21:30, in St. Peter's Basilica. If you don't have time to get a free ticket to the temple, take a chair in St. Peter's Square and meet pilgrims from all over the world. Admire the Christmas tree - many countries and cities compete for the right to present it to the Vatican. In 2016, this honor went to the Italian city of Trento. View a traditional nativity scene with figures larger than life, and the next day listen to the Pope himself address the believers.