Festival trip guides

Milan follows the Ambrosian rite, so its carnival peaks on Sabato Grasso, four days after the rest of Italy has stopped. What that means for a trip.

Around 700 costumed riders cross Florence every 6 January, in dress copied from Gozzoli's Medici frescoes. Route, timings, and where to stand. Free.

Siena's summer classical festival runs July to early September from Palazzo Chigi Saracini. What the festival and its summer academy actually offer.

Italy's biggest comics festival runs four days across late April at the Mostra d'Oltremare — 480+ guests, 650+ events. How to plan and where to stay.

Naples visits the sepolcri on Holy Thursday; Procida carries 40-60 tableaux through the streets at dawn on Good Friday. How Campania does Easter.

How Holy Week works in Rome: which papal ceremonies need free Vatican tickets, which do not, where the Via Crucis happens, and what closes over Easter.

Milan programmes the Castello Sforzesco's courtyard from June to September — theatre, concerts, dance and open-air cinema. What runs, and what else is on.

Estate Fiorentina spreads concerts, cinema and theatre across Florence's gardens and cloisters from June to September. What it covers and how to find it.

Estate Romana turns Rome's ruins and riverbanks into venues from June to October. What the programme covers, what is free, and how to find the schedule.

Rome's oldest neighbourhood feast runs two weeks each July in Trastevere. The processions, the free events, the recurrence rule and what to expect.

The Rome Film Fest runs 14-25 October 2026 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. How public tickets work, what the red carpet involves, and where to stay.

Florence's lantern procession fills Piazza Santissima Annunziata every 7 September. The route, the timings, and the odd tradition of shooting the lanterns.