In Santa Croce square there is a typical Christmas village decorated with decorations and lights that sparkle on the stands of about fifty exhibitors. An interesting path between objects for the nativity scene and Christmas decorations, gift ideas and gastronomic temptations, for a journey into taste and traditions in the round. The house of Santa Claus is dedicated to the children, with a post office for the letters.
Experience Category: Art & Culture
Lumière
The city, the Duomo, the alleys and the squares will be illuminated with colors and images that will tell stories and dreams, visions and suggestions of artists who, with their creations, the games of light and shadow, will give life to this Christmas show. Free admission.
Festa della Castagna
Located in the green hills of Valdera, the medieval village of Orciatico has been the scene for over 40 years of an event that traditionally takes place on the third Sunday of October.
During the day there are various attractions such as the craft markets in the streets of the village, musical entertainment and various shows.
Maximum importance is obviously given to the gastronomic aspect of the festival. In the food stands, open for lunch and dinner, people can taste some of the typical specialties of Tuscan cuisine. Throughout the day it will also be possible to taste chestnuts, pancakes, migliacci and sweet wine.
Food and Wine Festival
A journey of the taste to the rediscovery of typical products and ancient recipes of the Tuscan territory.
Festa dell
For over half a century, the Grape and Wine Festival has been part of Terriciola’s history which has always been associated with wine thanks to the composition of the soil, rich with sand and fossil deposits, that have produced an ideal microclimate for the cultivation of grapes. The strong ties with wine making traditions (Terricciola is a Wine City) has characterised this event, that falls during the grape harvest season. Three days with the participation of the local and neighbouring wine producers.
Festa Medievale (Montopoli Val d’Arno)
The charming village of Montopoli in Val d’Arno recalls its ancient splendor with the medieval festival where you can attend a parade in historical clothes, performances by street artists, mediaeval market and the famous archery challenge among the inhabitants of the various districts of the village.
Festa Medievale (Volterra)
Volterra AD 1398 is one of the most entertaining and admired Italian re-enactment festivals. The festival takes place in the pulsing heart of medieval Volterra and in the singular “Parco di Castello” (town’s public garden), overlooked by the imposing Medici’s Fortress.
The town centre is animated by the ever-present past and the visitors are taken, as if by magic, back in time. Fiery steeds, bold knights, noblemen, craftsmen and merchants, peasants and farmers, flag-flyers, crossbowmen and soldiers, jugglers, musicians and jesters bring back to life the mysterious Middle Ages of Volterra. The gist of the festival is the “Feast Day of 1398 AD” that takes place on the second and third Sunday of August. On that occasion, from sunrise to sunset, the medieval town of 1398 lives again with shows, events, markets, craftsmen, musicians, jugglers, peasants and noblemen: a unique occasion to dive into the magic atmosphere of the Middle Ages, in one of the finest cities in Tuscany.
Palio di Siena
The Palio is the most important event in Siena, taking place on July 2 and August 16 every year.
In the Palio, the various Sienese “contrade”, or areas in which the city is divided, challenge each other in a passionate horse race in the heart of the city in the Piazza del Campo.
Originally, there were about fifty-nine “Contrade”; now only seventeen remain, ten of which take part in the historical pageant and in the race at each Palio (seven by right and three drawn by lots).
The 17 Contrade which still exist today are: the Eagle, Snail, Wave, Panther, Forest, Tortoise, Owl, Unicorn, Shell, Tower, Ram, Caterpillar, Dragon, Giraffe, Porcupine, She-Wolf and the Goose.
Each Contrada has its own unique emblem and colors and represents an area of the city. As one walks through the streets of Siena it is easy to know in which Contrada you currently are in by observing the flags and emblems displayed along the street. Much like street signs, corners often designate the entrance into a different Contrada with signs as the ones in the picture below.
Andrea Bocelli in concert
Andrea Bocelli, OMRI, OMDSM (born 22 September 1958) is an Italian singer, songwriter, and record producer. Celine Dion has said that “if God would have a singing voice, he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli,” and David Foster, a record producer, often describes Bocelli’s voice as the most beautiful in the world.
Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 90 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts.
He was born with poor eyesight and became completely blind at age 12, following a football accident.
Andrea Bocelli will hold his concert in the splendid setting of the open air theater called “Teatro del Silenzio” immersed in the Tuscan hills of his native town Lajatico.
Luminara di San Ranieri
Ever year on the lungarni in Pisa, at dusk on June 16th, that magic of the Luminara of San Ranieri comes to life. The Pisani have traditionally celebrated the feast day of their patron saint on June 17th with this unique light display.
About 70,000 wax candles are carefully placed in transparent glasses and hung on wooden frames painted white (known as “linen” in local slang), which are shaped to highlight the contours of the palaces, bridges, churches and towers along the riverbanks.
The only exception to this event is the Leaning Tower, illuminated by oil lamps, which are also placed on the battlements of the city walls encircling piazza dei Miracoli.
Floating candles are also put into the Arno and swept away by the flow of the river.