Page 75 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

IT AL Y THROUGH THE Y EAR  73

Winter
There are fairs, m arkets and
religious events up and down
the country at this time of year.
Neapolitan Christmas cribs are
famous and nearly every church
has one. The Christmas holiday
itself is low-key; more is made
of other religious events such
as the liquefaction of San
Gennaro’s blood in Naples
and the Carnevale in Venice.
December
Festa di Sant’Ambrogio
(early Dec), Milan. The official Rome during one of its rare snowfalls
opening of La Scala Opera
season (see p197). spirits of the old year and to Public Holidays
Festa della Madonna di Loreto welcome in the new.
(10 Dec), Loreto, Le Marche. La Befana (6 Jan), through out New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
Celebration of the Virgin’s Italy. Children’s holiday with Epiphany (6 Jan)
Holy House. presents and sweets. Easter Sunday & Monday
Mercato della Befana Pitti Immagine Uomo, Pitti Liberation Day (25 Apr)
(mid-Dec–6 Jan), Rome. Well- Immagine Donna, Pitti Imma­ Labour Day (1 May)
known Christmas fair held in gine Bimbo, Fortezza da Basso, Republic Day (2 Jun)
Ferragosto (15 Aug)
Piazza Navona. Florence. Month of inter- All Saints’ Day (1 Nov)
The Miracle of San Gennaro national fashion shows for Immaculate
(16 Dec), Naples. women, men and children. Conception (8 Dec)
See September. Festa di San Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Christmas fair (mid-Dec), Sebastiano Santo Stefano (26 Dec)
Naples. Fair selling crib (Sun nearest 20
figures and decorations. Jan), Dolce acqua,
Fiaccole di Natale Liguria. A laurel Sagra delle Mandorle in
(Christmas Eve), tree cover ed Fiore (first or second week),
Abbadia di San with colourful Agrigento, Sicily. Annual
Salvatore, Tuscany. communion hosts almond blossom celebration.
Features carols and Carnevale, is carried through town. Bacanal del Gnoco (dates vary),
processions in mem ory Viareggio Festa d’o’Cippo di Verona. Traditional masked
of the first shepherds. Sant’Antonio (17 Jan), procession with both inter-
Midnight Mass (24 Dec), at Naples. A procession for national and local allegorical
churches all over the country. St Anthony, protector of animals. floats. Masked balls are held
Christmas Day (25 Dec), Carnevale (a month-long event in the town’s squares.
St Peter’s Square, Rome. finishing Shrove Tue), Viareggio, Carnevale (dates vary),
Public blessing by the pope. Tuscany. A carnival famous for Mamoiada, Sardinia.
its lively, topically themed floats. Processions include
Fair of St Orsa (30 & 31 Jan), mamuthones
Aosta, Valle d’Aosta. Exhibition wearing sinister
of traditional arts and crafts. black masks.
February
Carnevale (last ten days
before Lent, finishing
Shrove Tuesday), Venice.
Pre-Lent festival
meaning “farewell to
La Befana at Piazza Navona, Rome meat”. Events are
organized, but
January anyone can buy a
Capodanno (1 Jan), all over mask and watch
the country. New Year’s Day is the array of
celebrated with fireworks and gorgeous
volleys from hunters firing into costumes
the air to scare off ghosts and on display. Carnevale revellers in Venice

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