Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

72  INTRODUCING IT AL Y

Wine festivals (first week),
Autumn
Castelli Romani, Lazio.
Autumn is a slow, gentle season Sagra del Tordo (last Sun)
in Italy, but that doesn’t mean Montalcino, Tuscany.
there are fewer festivals and Celebration of the thrush;
fairs. In addition to the various costumed archery contests.
religious events at this time Festa dell’Uva (dates vary),
of year, gastronomic festivals Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige.
are especially popular, Grape festival with live music
commemorating such The widely cultivated olive tree and a costumed procession
delectables as chestnuts, featuring allegoric carts.
local cheeses, sausages and Rassegna del Chianti Classico International Festival of
mushrooms. Autumn is the (second week), Chianti, Tuscany. Cinema (dates vary), Rome.
season of the vendemmia, the Celebration of the local wines. A week of screenings, high-
grape harvest, which is often Auditorium Parco della Musica profile events and celebrity
used as an excuse for village Season (Sep–Jul), Rome. The spotting in the capital.
fest ivities at which the latest wide program includes classical,
local wines flow freely. jazz and rock music, as well as a
The climate (see pp76–7) in circus and a popular modern
late autumn is often cold and dance festival.
wet in the north. The south, The Miracle of San
however, can be quite warm Gennaro (19 Sep), Naples.
right through October. Re- enactment of the
liquefaction of the saint’s
blood, in a lively Mass at
the Duomo.
Palio (third Sun), Asti,
Piedmont. Includes a cost-
umed medieval procession
and bareback horse racing.
October A roast chestnut stall in autumn
Amici della Musica (Oct–Apr),
Florence, Tuscany. The popular November
“Friends of Music” concert Festa dei Popoli (Nov), Florence,
season begins. Tuscany. Film festival showing
Fiera del Tartufo (Oct–Nov), documentary films in their
Alba, Piedmont. A variety of original languages with
events centred around the Italian subtitles.
Advertisement for the September Palio locally grown white truffle. Festa della Salute (21 Nov),
in Asti, Piedmont Festa di San Francesco Venice. Cherished by Ven etian
(4 Oct), Assisi, Umbria. Feast locals, this feast gives thanks
September in honour of one of Italy’s to the Virgin Mary in memory
Festa di Santa Lucia (first Sun), patron saints. of a 1630 plague.
Lodè, Sardinia. Includes a
contest where competitors
improvise short poems.
Procession of the Macchina
di Santa Rosa (3 Sep), Viterbo,
Lazio. Commemoration of the
saint’s body being transported to
the Church of Santa Rosa in 1258.
Giostra del Saracino (first Sun),
Arezzo, Umbria. Joust of the
Saracen and knights, dating
from the 13th century.
Regata Storica (first Sun), Venice.
A procession of historic boats plus
a colourful gondola race.
Human chess game (second
week), Marostica, near Vicenza.
A popular costumed game
held in the main square every
even year. The human chess game in the town square of Marostica

072-073_EW_Italy.indd 72 20/03/15 10:58 am