ITALIAN EVENTS NEWSLETTER SUMMER- 2012

25 May 2012

ART EXIBITIONS
AMERICANS IN FLORENCE: SARGENT AND THE AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISTS
Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
Until 15 Jul 2012
www.palazzostrozzi.org
The exhibition explores the American impressionists'
relationship with Italy, and with Florence in
particular, in the decades spanning the close of the
19th and dawn of the 20th centuries. There was a
marked upswing in the number of American artists
travelling to Europe after the Civil War ended in 1865, and the trend continued on into the early 20th
century. For the first time since recent exhibitions in France and England explored these American artists'
relationship with those two countries, this exhibition will be hosting the work of American painters who
embraced the artistic vocabulary of Impressionism and spent time in Italy.
THE IDEAL CITY, THE UTOPIA OF THE RENAISSANCE, in Urbino, Marche
Galleria Nazionale delle Marche – Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
Until 8 July 2012
www.mostracittaideale.it
The painted panel of The Ideal City in the Galleria
Nazionale delle Marche is one of the most
fascinating enigmas of the Italian Renaissance. We
do know neither why is was painted nor by whom,
yet it is a compendium of art, science and philosophic speculation, one of the highest achievements of the
civilization that flourished at Urbino in the second half of the fifteenth century, at the court of Duke
Federico da Montefeltro.
Alongside this panel, many other works are on display, about 50 in all, including paintings, sculptures,
wood inlays, drawings, medals, illuminated manuscripts and architectural treatises, which give us a global
picture of one of the high points in the history of this small capital city, set in the mountains and hills of
Montefeltro. There are works by Jacopo de Barbari, Piero della Francesca, Luca Signorelli, Fra’ Carnevale,
Domenico Veneziano, Sassetta, Mantegna, Perugino, Bramante and finally Raphael, who, having learnt his
art in the cultural climate of Urbino, was to become one of the great architects of 1500s.
LUX IN ARCANA. THE VATICAN ARCHIVE REVEALED
Capitoline Museum, Rome
Until 9 Sept 2012
www.museicapitolini.org
A hundred original and extremely precious documents dating from the 8th century BC to the 20th century of
the Vatican Secret Archive.
CANOVA AND THE DANCE, in Possagno near Treviso
Museo Canova, Possagno
Until 30 September 2012
www.marcatreviso.it
The Gipsoteca (The Plaster Cast Gallery) Museo Canova situated in Possagno houses the
charming exhibition of dancers.
You will get the chance to see the original plaster cast of the "Danzatrice con i cembali"
(the Dancer with cymbals), made for the Russian Ambassador Andrei Razumovslij.
CITY CARDS
TRAPANI WELCOME CARD
The Trapani Welcome card has been introduced to help the visitor to discover the Sicilian city of Trapani
and its territory. It costs €9.50 and offers a free ride on the cable car from Trapani to the delightful Unesco
town of Erice, unlimited public transport in Trapani for 3 days, 10% on the Ustica Lines ferries to visit the
nearby Egadi Islands, free entry to the Castle of Venus in Erice and further discounts on museum entries
and the Trapani music festival in July.
FESTIVALS, MUSIC AND OTHER EVENTS
RAVELLO CONCERTS, in Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Villa Rufolo, Ravello – April 4th / October 31st 2012
www.ravelloarts.org
In Spring and Autumn, far from the Summer’s crowds, Ravello
becomes the favourite destination for those who love the silence of its
Villas and its medieval churches. In that time, an audience of music
lovers meet every year to listen to the concerts held in the gardens and
the rooms of Villa Rufolo, famous for having inspired Wagner for the
setting of his Parsifal.
STRESA FESTIVAL
Stresa – June - September 2012
www.stresafestival.eu
Stresa Festival opens its doors to the public one more time with three themed events, held in
a number of venues on different dates.
ARENA DI VERONA
Verona – June 22nd / September 2nd 2012
www.arena.it
This will be the 90th edition of the International Opera
Festival. The 2012 calendar offers six operas: Tosca, Aida,
Turandot, Romeo et Juliet, Carmen, Don Giovanni which
welcomes once again artists and public in its magnificent
setting.
BOLZANO DANZA
Bolzano – 16-28 July 2012
www.tanzbozen.it
The charming setting of Castel Firmiano hosts the Festival Bolzano Danza. The calendar includes opening
shows and side events alike.
58th PUCCINI FESTIVAL
Torre del Lago – July 20th / August 24th 2012
www.puccinifestival.it
Torre del Lago hosts the Festival Puccini, created by Puccini himself, since 1930. The outdoor theatre,
close to Villa Mausoleo where the Master’s remains lie, is an amazing setting to enjoy the music of one of
the most outstanding and esteemed Italian artists worldwide. Operas on show in 2012 are: Tosca, La
Boheme, Madama Butterfly among others.
ROSSINI OPERA FESTIVAL
Pesaro, 10th August / 23rd August 2012
www.rossinioperafestival.it
This festival is entirely dedicated to the music and operas of Goacchino Rossini, who
was born in the Le Marche city of Pesaro. This year will be the 33rd edition of the
festival and two new productions will be presented: “Ciro in Babilonia” and “Il Signor
Bruschino”, “Viaggio a Reims”, “Tancredi” “ Matilde di Shabran”.
SFERISTERIO OPERA FESTIVAL
Macerata 20 July – 12 August 2012
www.sferisterio.it
The Opera Festival is hosted almost entirely in the magnificent theatre-shaped Sferisterio, unique in its
architectural genre. Designed in 1823 by architect Ireneo Aleandri, it derives its name and its halfcircumference
shaped plan from the name of the game played inside: the “armband ball” or Pallone col
bracciale. This year the operas La Traviata, La Boheme and Carmen will be performed.
MUSICA RIVA FESTIVAL
Riva del Garda (TN) – 17 July – 4 August 2012
www.musicarivafestival.com
This is a music festival of the highest level entertaining the audience with performances and events and
which represent a fundamental meeting point for young musicians from around the world. The event puts in
the spotlight artists of diverse origins from classical music to dance and includes an opera competition
dedicated to the musician Riccardo Zandonai.
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
Venice, 28 August – 8 Sept 2012
www.labiennale.org
Venice will hosts the 68th Edition of this film festival, one of the oldest and most famous. Thousands of
visitors, dozens of stars and hundreds of projections are crammed into ten days of fabulous festivities and
parties. The Festival is hosted at the Lido island in the Venice Lagoon.
FESTIVAL OF THE MIND
Sarzana. August 31st / September 2nd 2012
www.festivaldellamente.it
The first European festival that explores the theme of creativity and dynamic processes created by it in the
tireless research for understanding and growth, and takes place in the beautiful Medieval village of Sarzana
in Liguria. During the event there are meetings with artists, scientists and intellectuals to explain how the
processes of creative research can influence and change paths of life and thought.
TANOTANGO FESTIVAL IN NAPLES
3-9 September 2012
www.tanotango.it
This festival deeply links Naples and Buenos Aires, the
Neapolitan song and the Tango. The Tanotango Festival
includes photos and painting exhibitions, conventions,
workshops, shows, performances, concerts and dancing
nights. Some of the most celebrated Argentinian tango artists
together with Neapolitan artists will perform with the
backdrop of the city of Naples: castles, wonderful terraces
on the sea, old palazzos, monumental villas and dance halls will provide the scenery for this extraordinary
event.
MITO SETTEMBRE MUSICA
Turin and Milan
September 2012 – various locations (programme tbc)
www.mitosettembremusica.it
6th year of this major festival developed from the thirty years experience of Settembre Musica which
connects Turin and Milan, in a programme of refined and stirring concerts: the world’s best orchestras,
baroque opera, medieval music, the great maestros of contemporary music and the music from the most
distant places; jazz, open-air shows, night-time concerts...
FESTIVALETTERATURA
Mantova –September 5th / 9th 2012
www.festivaletteratura.it
This will be the 16th edition of the Festival of Literature and offers
cultural events, readings, shows, concerts, all full of fun and originality.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORICAL EVENTS
THE “BATTAGLIA DEI FIORI”
Ventimiglia, Liguria – June 18th/19th 2012
www.battagliadifiori.com
Parade of floats covered with flowers, accompanied by bands and folkloristic groups. The cultural roots of
the Battaglia dei Fiori are buried in the traditional rites dedicated to the awakening of nature and in the
carnival parades of the Italian Riviera and of the Provence of the 18th century. Ventimiglia, as from the
very first post war years, progressively personalized its parade, until reaching the modern version. Floats of
considerable dimensions (up to 8 m x 4 m), with three-dimensional subjects pertaining the year’s theme,
are decorated with flowers petals, fixed one by one to the structure, with the technique of the mosaic. In a
surface of one square metre, up to 1000 flowers find a place and for an entire float one needs about 120.000
petals! During the festival, a proper battle takes place between the public and the walk-ons on the floats, by
the mutual launch of uncountable flowers. This is a bloodless and colourful fight, which is made even more
festive by the folkloristic bands, which accompany the floats.
LUMINARA AND RACE OF SAN RANIERI
Lungarno – Pisa - June 16th/17th 2012
http://www.comune.pisa.it/manifestazioni-storiche/
On the occasion of the Feast of San Ranieri, Patron Saint of Pisa, celebrated
annually on 17 June, the enchantment of the illuminations of Saint Ranieri is
renewed on the streets running along the river Arno (the so-called Lungarni).
In fact, following the ancient tradition the Pisans celebrate their Patron Saint
on the following day. There are about seventy-thousand wax candles which at every edition are
meticulously set in smooth and white glasses and fixed then onto wooden white-painted frames, modelled
in such a way as to exalt the outline of the palaces, of the bridges, of the churches and of the towers
reflecting the river.
FESTIVAL OF THE REDENTORE
Venezia – July 14th/15th 2012
www.comune.venezia.it
Events and Festivals section
One of the most popular events in Venice is celebrated each year on the third Sunday of July. The festival
itself dates back to the year 1576, and is named after the church Redentore that was designed by Palladio
and resides on the island of Guidecca. Venice was suffering from a terrible plague, and the Republic's
senate voted to build a temple on the Guidecca Island in honour of Christ the Redeemer, and the Venetians
promised to go there every year on the third Sunday of July, if the plague stopped. Traditionally, the
Venetians celebrate this day by having dinner on the Saturday night while watching an incredible display of
fireworks that light up the skies over Venice for an hour or more.
HISTORICAL REGATTA
Venezia – September 2nd 2012
www.comune.venezia.it
Events section
The Grand Canal every year during the first Sunday of September becomes a theatre for one of the greatest
of Venetian events, the Historical Regatta, dating back to 1315 under the rule of doge Giovanni Soranzo.
The Historical Regatta starts out with the colourful procession on water, formed by the Bissone, the
Bucintoro and the boats of the Venetian rowing clubs, but also the women’s race on Mascarete and that of
the youngsters Pupperini.
QUINTANA OF FOLIGNO
Foligno – June and September 2012
www.quintana.it
It is considered by tradition the 'centre of the world'. Foligno, in the heart of
Umbria and Italy, is famous worldwide for the Quintana, the jousting
tournament which in June and September renews the challenge among the
knights of its ten wards. An exciting challenge where each knight, riding his
own galloping horse, has to catch a series of rings (which gradually become
smaller and smaller) hanging from a wooden statue called "Quintana". It is a
great feast of people, colours and passions, but also an accurate historical,
scenic, iconographic and gastronomic reconstruction of the Italian Baroque.
THE PALIO OF SIENA
Siena – July 2nd/ August 16th 2012
www.ilpalio.org
The Palio of Siena is the most famous popular Italian events. It takes place every year on July 2 and
August 16. The Palio is run to celebrate the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary near the old houses
that belonged to Provenzano Salvani. The holy apparition was therefore called "Madonna di Provenzano"
in whose honour the very first Palio was run on August 16, 1656.
CAVALCATA DELL’ASSUNTA in FERMO (Marche)
Fermo – Le Marche - August 15th 2012
www.cavalcatadellassunta.it
The ten “Contradas” (quarters) of the medieval town of Fermo participate with 650 men and women in
historical costumes to a horse race every year on 15 August (Ferragosto) in the centre of town. Flag
bearers, side shows and food and wine will entertain the visitors.
PALIO DEI NORMANNI DI PIAZZA ARMERINA
Piazza Armerina, Sicily - August 12th/14th 2012
www.feditgiochistorici.it
Plutia (the old Piazza Armerina) is home to the most ancient medieval event in
Southern Italy which takes place every year from August 12-14 in honour of
Madonna Maria SS. Delle Vittorie. The event is a re-enactment of Sicily being
conquered in 1060 by the Normans, led by Ruggero of Altavilla. At the end of the
event, the whole procession parades through the main streets, triumphantly
displaying the city flag along with its winners.
TRANSPORTATION AND THE MACHINE OF SANTA ROSA
Viterbo - September 3rd 2012
www.facchinidisantarosa.it
Each year Viterbo renews the festivities in honour of its Holy Patron. The Trasporto della Macchina di
Santa Rosa, a procession which takes place in the evening of September 3rd to commemorate the relocation
of the body of Saint Rosa from the Church of Santa Maria del Poggio to the church of San Damiano (the
Sanctuary of Santa Rosa). The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a gigantic structure, nearly 30 metres high, which
is carried through the streets by a large team of strong local men. Contests are held to select designs for the
Macchina, which is replaced every five years.
PALIO DI ASTI in Asti, Piedmont
Asti, September 16th 2012
www.palio.asti.it
One of the oldest Palio’s in Italy this colourful event sees 21 contestants
relive the ancient tradition of the Palio in the historic centre of this
charming Piedmont town, famous for its sparkling wine, the Asti
spumante. In the days preceding the race, visitors can enjoy many
collateral and preparatory events: the Palio of the Flag-wavers, the
colourful flea market, the trials of the jockeys on the field. The Palio
itself is a difficult challenge requiring all the participants’ strength and
skill, passion and courage as only one of them will win possession of the crimson banner with the coat of
arms of the city and the image of its Patron Saint.
Stefania Gatta
Press and communications
Italian State Tourist Board

» www.enit.it » Back