Local activities Shows and Events
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SHOWS AND EVENTS
May Assisi – Calendimaggio The festival of Calendimaggio is without doubt the most important event of the year for the inhabitants of Assisi. The origins of the festival lie far in the past, but the way it is celebrated in Assisi is entirely new and original. The festival took place for the first time in 1927: singers representing the different town “chapels” united under the direction of band masters to sing serenades, taking as their theme the customs of times past.
May Gubbio – La festa dei Ceri The Festival of the Candles is one of the most thrilling and unique traditions in Europe and takes place in the city of Gubbio on the 15th of May every year. The Ceri are 3 decorated wooden structures in the shape of octagonal prisms. Weighing in at approximately four hundred kilograms, they are triumphantly carried on the backs of the “candle-carriers” in honor of Saint Ubaldo, patron of the city. The Festival originated in the very remote past: some scholars link them to pagan ceremonies in honor of the Umbrian or Roman divinities (Cerfus or Ceres). Other scholars link them to celebrations following Gubbio’s victory against 11 allied cities.
May SPELLO – L’infiorata. The “flower decorations” event has its roots in the remote past. A few centuries ago this original and artistic initiative was transformed into an event in honor of the “Corpus domini”, in which the path taken by the religious procession was adorned with flowers. The inhabitants of Spello, however, were not entirely satisfied by this modest homage, and at the beginning of the last century began to confer a particular characteristic on their infiorata which, with the passing of the years, has evolved into a true form of art. While previously loose flowers were strewn over the Roman and medieval paving, it became customary to use only petals and evergreen leaves, creating beautiful carpets of Spanish broom and wild fennel embellished with cornflowers, daisies, velvety petals and roses.
June FOLIGNO – La giostra della Quintana Like other knightly tournaments, watching the joust of the Quintana is obligatory for the inhabitants of Foligno and for those visiting Umbria. This joust is probably the most important event in the territory precisely because it opens the summer season, the period in Umbria of festivals and celebrations: the Gaite market in Bevagna, the flight of the cattle in Montefalco, etc.
BEVAGNA – Le Gaite A faithful commemoration of the middle ages that will definitely thrill the visitor. Along the streets and in the most atmospheric corners of medieval Bevagna, the people of the four Gaite, a Lombard appellation, compete in decking out taverns, markets and artisan workshops in medieval style. During the final two days, the event is enriched by an actual medieval market whose unique products give it significant cultural value.
June-July SPOLETO – Il festival dei due mondi Conceived in 1958 by Gian Carlo Menotti, the Festival of the Two Worlds is an event made up of poetry readings, opera, dance, concerts, art exhibitions and film shows which annually draws an audience of enthusiasts and attracts the attention of the entire world.
July PERUGIA – Umbria Jazz This musical event has taken place in Perugia for years, and features the greatest international artists of jazz, who can be heard both in the piazzas and in various organized events and shows.
August-September CITTA’ DI CASTELLO – Festival delle nazioni The Festival of Nations has been held every year in Città di Castello since 1968, to the aim to diffuse music culture and taste and highlight the artistic heritage of the Upper Valley of the Tiber. It has occupied and continues to occupy a prestigious and high-quality position among the cultural events of Italy and Europe.
November PERUGIA – Umbria Libri The Umbrian edition of the publishing exhibition-market takes place in the month of November. The book festival occupies the most evocative sites of Perugia’s historic town center with publishing novelties, meetings with authors, debates, conventions, musical aperitifs and literary desserts.
Food and wine, art and cultural festivals and events
June Per borghi e fattorie Touring villages and farms is an initiative promoted by the regional agri-tourism associations in collaboration with the associations of commerce and handicraft. A journey through the region where the delicious cuisine, uncontaminated landscapes and countless masterpieces discovered one by one while walking through the villages of Umbria coalesce into a single work of art. Along this atmospheric pathway you will be welcomed inside rural structures in which, amidst medieval villages and stone farmhouses, you can taste the typical genuine products of Umbria. http://www.perborghiefattorie.it
September FOLIGNO – I primi di’Italia The “first courses of Italy” is the national festival in honor of high-quality first courses such as pasta, rice, soups and polenta, that is held every year in the historic town centre of Foligno. The Festival includes numerous initiatives: besides conventions and debates, cooking courses and taste-tests of first courses elaborated and demonstrated by great chefs, market-displays and performances.
October PERUGIA – Eurochocolate This celebration of what can be considered one of the tastiest and most beloved of foods, it is held in mid-October, and transforms the city of Perugia into a meeting-place for the most famous confectioner companies.
October ORVIETO – Orvieto con gusto “Orvieto with taste” is a national food-and-wine festival to promote awareness of our traditions and good cuisine. In its ninth edition, it is organized by the municipality of Orvieto in collaboration with the Slow Food Association and the Trasimeno-Orvietano GAL. The program, with its different versions every year, presents conventions, meetings and initiatives sponsored by the Slow Cities, an association of “good living” cities that have formed an international network.
November Frantoi aperti An annual event held in November. The entire region of Umbria is the protagonist of one of the most important events devoted to olive oil, that rare and precious product of Umbria. |