Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

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.

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)

For those who are looking for opera festivals as visiting Italy in August, we have a couple of events to suggest. These festivals, held in the surroundings of sea resorts, attracts crowds of vacationers who love opera.

The city of Pesaro, on the Adriatic coast of Marches, hosts the Rossini Opera Festival, a summer festival in honour of composer Gioacchino Antonio Rossini — Pesaro is Rossini’s birthplace.
Operas and concerts at various venues in Pesaro are scheduled from August 9 through 23. Programme details at http://www.rossinioperafestival.it.

In the surroundings of Versilia (Northern coast of Tuscany), the town of Torre del Lago, where the composer Puccini lived and worked, hosts in its open-air theatre the Puccini Opera Festival from June 16 up to August 23.
For information on Puccini Opera Festival visit http://www.puccinifestival.it/.

Cortona, Etruscan hilltop town in Tuscany, is hosting in the early of August a number of of prestigious cultural events ranging from music, to art, to cuisine and wine. It’s the annual Tuscan Sun Festival — Festival del Sole.

(photo by John Morton - CC license)

The 2008 Tuscan Sun Festival hosts four Art Exhibits; Sibylle Szaggars, José Cura, J Henry Fair and the 21 Artists of le Forme del Bello.

It starts August 2 and runs through August 10. Full details of the programme at www.tuscansunfestival.com.

The Tuscan Sun Festival has sister festivals in the United States, the Napa Sun Festival – 2008 edition was July 12 - 20, and in Singapore, Singapore Sun Festival – 2008 edition will be held October 17 - 26.

- ViewCortona on the map.
- Find accommodations in Cortona and in Tuscany