Page 611 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

ENTER T AINMENT IN IT AL Y  609

Cinema
One of the highlights of the
cinema year is the Venice Film
Festival (see p71), which takes
place from August to September.
The Rome International Festival
of Cinema (see p72) also draws
major film stars. A smaller
International Film Festival (see
p71) is held in Taormina, Sicily,
while Florence has the Festa dei
Popoli (see p72) in winter.
Regional Festivals, A thrilling moment in the Sienese Palio race held in Piazza del Campo
Music and Dance
Every region in Italy has its large cities’ popular squares,
Seasonal festivals are either own ancient music and dance, such as Piazza di Spagna or
religious, relating to patron but the best known is the Piazza Navona in Rome, Piazza
saints, or food-orientated. The tarantella, a lively dance and del Duomo in Milan or Piazza
best known is Carnevale (literally rhythmic song from Puglia (see San Marco in Venice, and you
“farewell to meat”) (see p73), p515). Legends trace the origins will see people of all ages
which celebrates the end of of the name to the tarantula parading around in their best
winter and introduces Lent. spider, since victims of a clothes. This is referred to as la
Venice holds the most tarantula bite would perform a passeggiata, a walk around that
opulent and the oldest frenzied dance in order to becomes a ritual at weekends,
masquerade party, sweat out the poison. along the seafront and lakeside
while Viareggio, promenades in summer and in
in Tuscany, is Culture city and town centres.
famous for its lively Another aspect of daily life is
themed floats. Spectating, whether the aperitivo. This ritual of joining
Another festival at sporting events, friends for an early evening
highlight is the Palio rural festivals or even drink after work or before going
of Siena (see pp71 and grand events, is what on to dinner or to a nightclub is
345), a bareback horse entertainment is all back in fashion. Bars provide
race that takes place An elaborate about. And part of this, abundant finger-food buffets to
twice a year in one of Carnival mask of course, involves that accompany the drinks, which
Italy’s most beautiful very Italian pastime – are generally priced higher than
squares. For further details seeing and being seen. You can at other times of day. This trend
on festivals throughout Italy, witness this in daily life in the has spawned lounge clubs in
see pp70–73. café culture – visit any of the the major cities.
DIRECTORY
Practical Baths of Caracalla Teatro degli Stadio Olimpico
Information Via delle Terme di Caracalla Arcimboldi Viale dei Gladiatori, Rome.
52, Rome. Map 7 A3. ∑ Viale dell’Innovazione 20, Umbria Jazz
Italian State Tourist operaroma.it/caracalla Milan. Tel 075 573 24 32.
Board Tel 02 641 14 22 00. ∑ umbriajazz.com
1 Princes Street, London La Fenice ∑ teatroarcimboldi.it
Campo San Fantin, Venice.
W1B 2AY. Map 7 A2. Tel 041 78 65 Teatro dell’Opera Theatre and
Tel 020 7408 1254. 11. ∑ teatrolafenice.it Piazza B Gigli 7, Rome. Ballet
∑ italiantouristboard. Map 3 C3.
co.uk Maggio Musicale Tel 06 48 16 01. Teatro Carlo Felice
Florence. Tel 055 277 93 09. Passo E Montale 4,
Ticket One ∑ operadifirenze.it ∑ operaroma.it Genoa.
∑ ticketone.it Tel 010 53 811.
Parco della Musica Rock, Jazz and ∑ carlofelicegenova.it
Opera and Viale de Coubertin 30, Contemporary
Music
Classical Music Rome. Tel 06 80 24 12 81. Cinema
∑ auditorium.com Forum di Assago
Arena di Verona Teatro alla Scala Via G Di Vittorio 6, Assago, Venice Film Festival
Tel 041 521 87 11.
Piazza Brà, Verona. Via Filodrammatici 2, Milan. ∑ labiennale.org/en/
Tel 045 800 51 51. Milan. Tel 02 887 91. Tel 02 48 85 71. cinema
∑ arena.it ∑ teatroallascala.org ∑ mediolanumforum.it

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