Festivals in Tuscany

National Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day
6th January - Epiphany
Early April - Easter Monday
25th April - Liberation Day and St. Mark's Feast Day
1st May - Labour Day
29th June - Local Feast Day
15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st November - All Saints' Day
8th December - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day

Tuscany Events in February

Viareggio Carnival (Vareggio)- one of Italy's biggest carnivals, lasting for almost three weeks in February. Elaborate floats are paraded every Sunday

Fa Volare  (Siena) mid-February, a series of children's shows are staged by theatre companies every Saturday over several weeks, ending in March. These are aimed at children aged from 3 to 11 years

Tuscany Events in March

Feast of San Giuseppe (Siena) - a traditional festival in March, which celebrates the feast of St Joseph. Stalls are set up in Siena's Contrada dell'Onda and there are donkey races, floats and tournaments

Tuscany Events in April

Explosion of the Cart / Scoppio del Carro (Florence)- Easter Sunday, at noon a dove descends on a wire from the high altar of the cathedral and starts a large firework display from a cart

Exposition of the Virgin's Girdle (Prato)- this precious relic is displayed from Donatello's pulpit in the facade of the cathedral on several occasions during the year - Easter Sunday, 1st May, 15th August, 8th September and Christmas day

Festa degli Aquiloni - Kite Festival (San Miniato)- first Sunday after Easter, kite lovers perform aerial acrobatics on the Prato della Rocca, the grassy common above San Miniato

Sagra Musicale Lucchese (Lucca)- this extensive festival of sacred music is held in the city's numerous Romanesque churches

Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Artigianato/Exhibition of Crafts (Florence)- last week in April, this important European exhibition displays work of artists and artisans in the Fortezza da Basso

Tuscany Events in May

Festa del Grillo / Cricket Festival (Florence) - this festival takes place on the Sunday after Ascension day in Cascine Park and stallholders sell crickets in tiny woven straw cages, which are traditionally released by their new owners in the park for good luck

Maggio Musicale (Florence) - the city's major arts festival lasting until early June, with concerts by the Orchestra Regionale Toscano and dance, including ballet performances

Balestro del Girifalco / Falcon Contest (Masso Marittima)- first Sunday after 22nd May, preceded by a long procession throughout the streets, marksmen try to shoot a mechanical falcon on a wire with their crossbows. Also held again in August

Tuscany Events in June

Gioco del Ponte / Game of the Bridge (Pisa)- this game involves two groups of people, representing the two halves of the city, one on each side of the river Arno, trying to push a seven tonne cart on rails to the opposite side

Calcio in Costume / Football in Costume (Florence)- mid to late June, usually held in the Piazza di Santa Croce, this ancient game is a combination of football and rugby

Estate Fiesolana / Fiesole Summer (Florence)- mid-June to the end of August, this is a festival of music, arts, drama, dance and film

Regata di San Ranieri (Pisa)- 17th June, boat races in costume and stunning processions of colourfully decorated boats are held on the River Arno

Siena Jazz Festival (Siena)- held in June and carrying through to July, a series of jazz sessions and concerts are held in locations throughout Siena, including the Logge del Papa

Tuscany Events in July

Corsa del Palio (Siena)- 2nd July and 16th August, this is one of Tuscany's most famous events in the Campo. It is a bareback horse race watched by thousands of people and was first recorded in 1283

Il Palio (Siena)- held on 2nd July each year, Il Palio is a major event on the city's calendar. The Palio is an unusual race involving bareback riders dressed in 15th-century costume. Each rider represents one of Siena's 17 contrade, or city districts. The riders and horses process through the streets, ending at Piazza del Campo where thousands wait to watch the race. The event is held again in August

Estate Musicale Chigiana (Siena)- music concerts are staged in churches, palaces and theatres throughout Siena for two months every summer

Feast on San Paolino (Lucca)- a torchlight parade in period costume held in honour of the city's patron saint. There is also a crossbow contest

Joust of the Bear (Pisa) - 12 riders, three from each quarter of the city, gallop with a lance and attempt to spear two targets in the form of bears

Pistoia Blues (Pistoia)- early July, this famous international festival of blues music takes place in the Piazza del Duomo

Palio de San Paolino (Lucca)- July 12 - A medieval celebration of Lucca's patron saint Paolino. Costume parades, flag throwing, and crossbow shooting.

Tuscany Events in August

Il Palio (Siena)- held on 16th August. Once again, the Piazza del Campo echoes to the sound of people cheering as they watch the second round of Il Palio. The first race is held in July

The Aromatic City (Siena) - a summer festival featuring rock, jazz, ethnic music and dance

Festival Pucciniano (Puccini)- throughout August, performances of the composer's operas in an open-air theatre by the lake (Torre del Lago) where he once lived

Rodeo (Albrese)- throughout August, cowboys of the Maremma demonstrate horse training and cattle herding

Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte (Montepulciano)- first half of August, this is an important festival of new work by leading composers, dramatists and coreographers

Festa della Bistecca (Cortona)- 15th August, this is the festival of beefsteak, a local speciality

Il Baccanala (Montepulciano)- penultimate Saturday, this is a feast of wine and food, celebrating the local Vino Nobile

Tuscany Events in September

Giostra del Saraceno/Joust of the Saracen (Arezzo)- first Sunday in September and throughout the summer, this medieval-style joust begins with a colourful parade of locals in period costume who proceed to the Piazza Grande

Festa della Rificolona (Florence)- 7th September, children from all over the area converge at the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, carrying candlelit paper lanterns to honour the eve of the birth of the Virgin

Feast of Santa Croce (Lucca)- 13th September, another torchlight parade in honour of the Volto Santo or 'Holy Face' wooden crucifix figure, which is usually kept in the cathedral, but on this day is paraded around by torchlight

Palio della Balestra/Crossbow Contest (Sansepolcro)- second Sunday, this contest originated in a dispute between the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro (in Tuscany) and those of Gubbio (in Umbria). The participants all dress in period costume

Rassegna del Chianti Classico (Chianti)- second week, this is the biggest Tuscan celebration of local wines

Monstra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato (Florence)- September to October, a major biennial antiques fair

Siena Film Festival- a festival of Italian and foreign films held in a variety of locations throughout the city

Tuscany Events in October

 Amici della Musica (Florence)- October to April, the Friends of Music concert season

 Sagra del Tordo/Festival of the Thrush (Montalcino)- Last Sunday, this archery contest is set in the grounds of the 14th-century Fortezza (castle)

Antiques Market (Siena) - an annual October antiques fair held at the Fortezza in Medicea

Treno Natura(Siena) - a chance to travel the rural line between Asciano and Monte Antico in specially restored carriages. The Nature Train, as it's known, departs from Siena

Tuscany Events in November

Feast of Santa Cecilia (Siena) - a varied programme of concerts takes place in honour of the patron saint of music

Festival dei Popoli (Florence) - November to December, this is Tuscany's most important film festival and is open to everyone, showing films in their original languages with Italian subtitles, at the Piazza dei Congressi

Siena International Short Film Festival - a programme of innovative short films and animations by filmmakers from all over the world, with a special focus on young talent in the film industry. As well as screenings, there are also exhibitions and prizes awarded in various categories

Settimana Musicale Sienese/Siena Music Week (Siena)- a music festival staged each November by the Accademia Musicale Senese

Feast of Santa Cecilia (Siena)- a varied programme of concerts, staged in honour of the patron saint of music

Tuscany Events in December

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Bagni di Lucca) - 8th December, this important feast day is celebrated by a fair in the Fornoli quarter

Festa dell'Olio/Olive Oil Festival (Siena)- held in mid-December. This traditional festival celebrates olive oil produced from the first crop of the season harvested earlier in the month. As well as olive oil tastings, there's plenty of music and dancing to keep everyone entertained

Burning of the Tree (Camporgiano, near Lucca) - 24th December, an immense bonfire of evergreen branches burns, accompanied by the great bell of San Giacomo

Feast of San Stefano (Prato) - 26th December, a feast celebrating the patron saint, St. Stephan

Feast of San Lucia (Siena) - ceremonies in the church of Santa Lucia are followed by an outdoor poetry and ceramic fair

New Year's Eve - 31st December, masses are celebrated in churches and there are also many parties and general celebrations throughout Italy