Festival trip guides

Putignano Carnival is a centuries-old festival in Puglia, Italy, known for its long season, satirical poetry, and elaborate floats. Learn about the Propaggini, Thursday rituals, the Farinella mask, and the dramatic burial ceremony.

Carnevale di Putignano is Italy's oldest and longest carnival, running from December 26 to Shrove Tuesday in the heart of Puglia. Known for its history dating back to 1394, the festival features satirical allegorical floats made of cartapesta, the propaggini satirical songs, and a grand finale with the symbolic funeral of Carnevale. Plan your visit with our guide covering history, parades, travel tips, and more.

The Cavalcata Sarda is Sassari's grand secular spring festival, held on the penultimate Sunday of May. This guide covers the parade, equestrian performances, practical viewing tips, where to stay, and what makes it worth the trip.

There is no single annual 'Cinque Terre wine festival' in Manarola, but the village is the heart of the region's wine culture. Taste Cinque Terre DOC whites and Sciacchetrà, meet winemakers at Cantina 5 Terre or Cantina Marinella, and plan your visit around the grape harvest.

Planning a Perugia trip means choosing between the city's two iconic festivals: Umbria Jazz in the summer heat and Eurochocolate in the crisp autumn. Each brings a distinct crowd and atmosphere, so your decision hinges on your tolerance for chaos and your love of music or chocolate. This guide pits them head-to-head and offers strategies for enjoying Perugia before, during, or between the celebrations.

Explore the prized culatello di Zibello DOP and other Parma-area salumi. Learn what makes them unique, how to taste and serve them, and where to find them in Parma and the surrounding Bassa Parmense plain.

Modica, a Baroque town in southeastern Sicily, comes alive during Easter week with processions that lead to the joyous Vasa Vasa on Easter morning. This guide explains the traditions, what to expect, and how to plan your visit.

Eurochocolate is Europe's largest chocolate festival, drawing nearly a million visitors to Perugia each October. This guide covers what to expect at the festival, how to navigate the event and the city, the Perugina factory tour, and the best chocolate experiences beyond the main fair.

Eurochocolate in Perugia is free to enter, but workshops, tastings, and special events may require tickets. Learn what's paid and how to book.

Farinella is the symbolic mask of Putignano Carnival, a figure rooted in local history and legend. From a simple food of toasted chickpea and barley flour to a baker's clever ruse, the character evolved through the design of Mimmo Castellano and the inspiration of Pietro Calisi. Learn about its origins, appearance, and role in the carnival's satire.

The Festa dei Gigli in Nola is a spectacular UNESCO-listed festival featuring towering wooden obelisks carried through the streets. This guide covers its history, the procession, and practical visitor tips.

Every July 2, Matera celebrates its patron saint with a day-long festival that mixes religious procession, folk pageantry, and a dramatic finale. This guide explains the full program—from the morning's shepherdess procession to the evening's destructive 'assalto'—along with the legends, traditions, and practical tips for visiting.