Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

The gorgeous scenery of Lake Como is the setting for a medieval festival that remembers a battle dating back to 1159.

The Palio del Baradello, held in the city of Como, Aug. 23 - Sep. 14, recalls Emperor Barbarossa’s visit to his allies in Como after defeating the city of Milan during a battle in 1159.

It’s the major historic festival held in the Lake Como area.
Historic dances, parades, music, games and tournaments take place from Aug. 23 through Sep. 14 in Como.
For full details and programme, visit http://www.paliodelbaradello.it.

Late August and early September you can enjoy classical music and theatre in the countryside surrounding Florence.

The town of Rignano sull’Arno, on a hill 22 km away from Florence, hosts “The Sound and Colours Festival“, an event offering concerts and performances held at venues including churches, villas and farms in the local countryside.

The festival starts August 28 and runs through September 12. Here the full programme.

View Rignano sull Arno on the map.

On August 31, the coastal town of Amalfi — Amalfi Coast, celebrates the Byzantine New Year’s Eve.

It’s the celebration of the former Byzantine New Year, the beginning of the New Year according to the old civil calendar of the Byzantine Empire.

Piazza Duomo is the venue for most of the celebrations, including costumed parades, medieval tournaments and the proclamation of the Duke of Amalfi on September 1st.

When: August 31 (annual);
Where: Amalfi - Amalfi Coast.

The hilltop town of Montepulciano, Tuscany, well-known as the home of the famous Nobile wine, hosts a singular festival last Sunday of August.  

It’s  the “Bravìo delle Botti“, a contest where the Contradas, districts into which the town of  Montepulciano is divided, compete by rolling 80 kg barrels which in an uphill race along the main street of the town.

Montepulciano lies in the heart of one of the most important wine-making areas of Tuscany. Nobile wine is being produced there. The festival offers a chance to taste one of the most excellent wines of Tuscany, paired with the many local specialties.
- View (Montepulciano (Tuscany) on the interactive map).

The tradition of Palio di Siena, the most popular and spectacular historic horse race, is kept alive through its two annual editions, taking place on July 2 — aka “Palio di Provenzano” and August 16 — aka “Palio dell’Assunta“.

Those who are new to Palio di Siena could find helpful a short description of the Contradas.
The Contradas are districts into which the town of Siena is divided. In the ancient times they were institutions each having their own government, coat of arms, emblems, official representatives, and patron Saints.
Nowdays, of the seventeen contradas, ten — seven by right and three drawn, take part in the historical pageant and in the race at each Palio. Their names: Eagle, Snail, Wave, Panther, Forest, Tortoise, Owl, Unicorn, Shell, Tower, Ram, Caterpillar, Dragon, Giraffe, Porcupine, She-Wolf, Goose.

There are huge rivalries among the contradas. And during the race, taking place in the main Siena’s square — Piazza del Campo, all is allowed, from crashing into a rival’s horse to hitting other horses with a whip.

Below a video of a past edition of Palio.

(via YouTube)