Festival trip guides

Discover the historic Bravio delle Botti in Montepulciano, where eight contrade push heavy barrels up a steep 1.6km route every August. Learn about its 14th-century origins, the contrade identities, race-day pageantry, and how to plan your visit, including pairing the race with Vino Nobile tastings. Always check the official program for current details.

The Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte is a unique multidisciplinary festival founded in 1976 by composer Hans Werner Henze. Blending opera, music, theater, and dance, it brings together established artists and young talents across Montepulciano and the Valdichiana Senese. This guide covers its history, mission, venues, and practical advice for planning your visit.

For decades, Rome's summer opera festival transformed the ancient Baths of Caracalla into an open-air stage under the stars. In 2026, the festival moves to the Circo Massimo while the Baths undergo restoration, promising a season of opera, dance, and music from 29 June to 31 July. This guide explains the festival's history, its unique venue, how to buy tickets, and practical tips for enjoying a performance.

The Carnevale di Putignano is Italy's oldest carnival, and its allegorical float parades are the highlight. Learn the exact parade route from Corso Umberto I to Largo Porta Nuova, when the parades happen, and how to secure a good viewing spot amid the crowds.

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.