Festival trip guides

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.

Each 12 March, San Gimignano honors its patron saint, Santa Fina, with religious celebrations in the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and a traditional fair in the central squares. Learn about the young saint's remarkable story, the legend of the gillyflowers, and how to experience this deeply local feast with respect.

Every July, Palermo honors its patron saint with the Festino di Santa Rosalia—a spectacular mix of devotion, street theater, and fireworks. This guide covers the history, the two distinct processions on July 14 and 15, the monumental float, the festival week leading up to it, the pilgrimage to Monte Pellegrino, and practical tips on food, viewing spots, transport, and crowds. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning pilgrim, here's how to experience the Festino like a local.

Each December 26, Putignano honors Santo Stefano, the first Christian martyr, with dialect poetry in the church and the symbolic start of Europe’s oldest Carnival. This guide covers the saint’s story, local traditions, and what travelers can expect when visiting over the holiday.

The Festa di San Simplicio, known as 'Sa Festa Manna de Mesu Maju', is Olbia's most heartfelt celebration. Around May 15 each year, the city honors its patron saint with fireworks over the sea, religious processions, folk groups, the Palio della Stella horse race, and stalls serving local specialties like mussels and roasted meats. This guide explains what to expect and how to plan your visit.

Marsala, Sicily, rewards visitors with a year-round calendar of festivals, from solemn Holy Week processions to summer theatre in the Stagnone salt pans. Discover the wine events, local markets, and the Marsala Marathon that shape the rhythm of this historic port city.

Fuorisalone turns Milan into an open-air design festival with hundreds of free events, exhibitions, and installations across the city's design districts. This guide explains how to navigate the districts, plan your route, and make the most of Milan Design Week without a Salone del Mobile ticket.

Gallura, in northeast Sardinia, offers a rich tapestry of food and wine festivals. From the elegant Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival to the village sagre of Santa Teresa Gallura, discover where to taste Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, seafood, and traditional Gallurese dishes. This guide helps you plan your culinary trip, with practical tips on timing and what to expect.

The Notte della Taranta Concertone in Melpignano is Salento's biggest music night, but getting there takes planning: the town has no railway station. This guide covers the nearest airports (Brindisi and Bari), train connections via Lecce and Maglie, dedicated festival buses, driving routes and official parking, plus what to know about entry rules and getting home after the concert.