Umbria Jazz Winter
Umbria Jazz Winter is one of the most important music events of the festive season which takes place every year in Orvieto from December 28th to January 1st. As well as lots of fine music, there is also the hospitality of one of Umbria’s most beautiful city, the opportunity to visit places that bear witness to an ancient civilisation and also excellent food and wine.
Il Nero Norcia: Mostra Mercato del Tartufo
Nero Norcia is one of the most important gastronomic events in Umbria region and it is dedicated to the famous and precious Black Truffle from Norcia and to other typical products. This festival includes meetings, tastings, show cooking, artists exhibitions, music, entertainment for children in addition to the tasting of truffle and local products.
Benedictine celebrations – Norcia
The solemn Benedictine Celebrations take place every year on March 20-21st, the day when all the Benedictine Communities commemorate the death of their founder, St. Benedict
Cantamaggio
The Cantamaggio is a festival that takes place in Terni every year on April 30th to May 1st and celebrates the return of spring and the waking up of nature from the winter sleep. The actual Cantamaggio has its roots in an antique city habit: groups of “maggioaioli”(also called “maggianti”) which means “holders of May” who were going from house to house singing “stornelli” and love songs and they were often receiving in exchange money or food and they were planting the twig in land to wish good luck and fecundity. Today some groups are formed that decorate thematic carriages and make evening parades on the streets of Terni from April 30th until May 1st included. During the days before the parade and the successive ones, the organizers, in collaboration with the cultural associations and the theatre groups, make representations, exhibitions and performances of all kind in addition to the traditional singing competition of dialectic songs.
Le processioni del Venerdì Santo
Coloriamo i cieli – Castiglione del Lago
A colorful kite festival which includes various interesting activities and exhibitions for adults and kids
Cantine Aperte
Il Calendimaggio – Assisi
http://www.montesubasio.it/en/assisi-calendimaggio/
Il Calendimaggio of Assisi is the event that takes place every year on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday after the 1st of May to celebrate the return of spring and the renewal of the life cycle, popular in the ancient Umbrian people. Three days of celebration by the people of Assisi, including a costumed re-enactment of medieval stories and friendly due between local residents in the higher and lower part of city. The Noble Parte de Sopra rivals against Magnificent Parte de Sotto (he rivalry between Nepis (Guelph) and Fiumi (Ghibellines), the two factions vying for power in Assisi between the fourteen and sixteenth centuries) in the performance of the recited medieval scenes.
La corsa dei Ceri – Gubbio
Since 1160 and every year on May 15th three guilds challenge each other to carry towering candlesticks on their shoulders up to the basilica of Sant’Ubaldo
Palio della Balestra – Gubbio
Last Sunday of May in Piazza della Signoria, the crossbowmen of Gubbio and Sansepolcro challenge each other in a Palio
Festa di Santa Rita – Cascia
Every year on May 21-22st a torchlit procession towards the Santa Rita basilica, then a historical procession with the saint’s remains and the staging of scenes from her life
JUNE
Giostra della Quintana 1° Edition – Foligno
The Giostra della Quintana is one of the most important events in Umbria. It is the historical commemoration of the Giostra that was completed during the Carnival of 1613 “to decide whether it was more appropriate for a knight of honour to show loyalty to his prince or to his beautiful and gentle lady”. To clear up all doubt it was necessary to use genteel arms, so 5 descendants of 5 noble families challenged each other in Piazza Grande. The tournament is exciting and it delights thousands of spectators. Ten knights belonging to ten quarters compete for the Palio. The Quintana is not only a competition. The night before the Giostra, there is a parade through the streets of the town centre. There are 800 characters dressed in beautiful baroque costumes that depict the style of the historical period.
La Fiorita – The Flowering of Castelluccio di Norcia
Castelluccio di Norcia is located in the heart of Valnerina, in the Mounts Sibillini National Park. Castelluccio di Norcia is more than a simple typical little Umbrian town. It is a magic place where man and nature blend themselves and find their harmony. Between the end of May and the beginning of July, the plains change their face and become a triumph of multicoloured shades, thanks to the spectacle of nature. Thousand of flowers bloom the plateau, bursting with amazing colours.
L’infiorata di Spello
Spello to adorn the path of the procession of Corpus Christi hosts this breathtaking event. The transformation from simple distributed flowers on the pavement in real “carpet” and floral paintings took place around the nineteen century. However, the true artistic evolution can be traced back to 1930, when a woman drew a simple figure on the street with brooms and fennel flowers. The work obtained immediately the applause of the inhabitants of the town, where they wanted to imitate her, launching a positive challenge for the realization of ever more beautiful works.
Il Mercato delle Gaite – Bevagna
For ten days, at the end of June, the small town of Bevagna hosts the medieval festival called “Mercato delle Gaite” (Gaite Market). The name Gaite comes from the Longobardic Watha which means “guard”, the word used to name the four districts of the town during the Middle Ages. The event recreates the daily life of Bevagna between the 13th and the 14th century. The four Gaite are involved in special contests consisting of four different sessions: the market competition, the crafts competition, the gastronomic competition and the competition of archery. During the festival the town gets populated by people dressed in carefully reproduced medieval costumes, many medieval workshops take life and open their doors to show ancient working techniques to visitors and tourists coming every year to experience the special atmosphere.
Umbria Jazz
First held in 1973, Umbria Jazz is Europe’s top jazz festival which takes place in Perugia every year from 11 to 20 July, and enjoys a fame and success. Concerts take place in different venues of the city: from fields and open-air sites (where events are generally free) to Pavone and Morlacchi theaters as well as some restaurants where one could enjoy listening to live music while having such or dinner or just a glass of wine. Umbria Jazz has been hosting every year the legends from the world of jazz, funk and great pianists.
Festival dei due Mondi – Spoletto
A major international event also known as Spoleto Festival dedicated to music, art, dance and show takes place every year in Spoleto since 1958. The town fills its historic theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with performances by renowned artists as well as emerging performers in opera, theater, dance, symphonic and choral music.
Trasimeno Blues
Castiglione del Lago, Città della Pieve, Magione, Paciano, Panicale, Passignano sul Trasimeno and Tuoro sul Trasimeno, charming medieval towns in the province of Perugia that overlook the Lake Trasimeno, receive Blues and its soul, afro, black, funk, rhythm’n’Rlues, jazz, folk and rock contaminations waves and vibrations with Trasimeno Blues.
AUGUST
Agosto Montefalchese – Montefalco
Montefalco’s August is based on the reenactment of the Renaissance history of the town, where the 4 districts (rioni) St. Augustine, St. Bartholomew, St. Francis and San Fortunato will compete in 4 races to win the Golden Hawk (Falco d’Oro) and the Palio of the Bull (Palio del Toro). The festival also includes concerts, dance, theatre and shows.
Palio dei Terzieri – Citta Della Pieve
Archery competition and all manner of street entertainment, including acrobats and procession featuring costumes derived from the works of Perugino.
SEPTEMBER
Giostra della Quintana 2° Edition – Foligno
The Giostra della Quintana is one of the most important events in Umbria. It is the historical commemoration of the Giostra that was competed during the Carnival of 1613 “to decide whether it was more appropriate for a knight of honor to show loyalty to his prince or to his beautiful and gentle lady”. To clear up all doubt it was necessary to use genteel arms, so 5 descendants of 5 noble families challenged each other in Piazza Grande. The tournament is exciting and it delights thousands of spectators. Ten knights belonging to ten quarters compete for the Palio. The Quintana is not only a competition. The night before the Giostra, there is a parade through the streets of the town centre. There are 800 characters dressed in beautiful baroque costumes that depict the style of the historical period.
Giochi delle Porte – Gualdo Tadino
This even takes place every year last week of September and includes archery and catapult competitions, donkey and donkey cart races all around the town and historical re-enactments.
OCTOBER
Eurochocolate
This event is fully dedicated to the Italian and international chocolate traditions. The historic centre of Perugia fills its streets and squares with laboratories and food stands of chocolate producers that are set up during the manifestation; moreover, for each edition, many themed events, tasting tours, shows, cultural events.
NOVEMBER
Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco
The National Truffle and Typical Products Market Fair is her every year on the last two weekends in November. In addition to a wide variety of stands displaying truffles this event offers a series of activities, including guided tours of truffle experts, tastings with delicious combinations of the famous trifola (white) truffle with olive oil and wine and culinary “all truffles” menus.
DECEMBER
World’s largest Christmas Tree – Gubbio
From December the 7th, every year, lights transform Monte Ingino into a giant Christmas Tree.
Living Nativity and Christmas Markets
Attigliano, Alviano, Acquasparta, Calvi, Giove, Monteleone, Petrignano, Lugnano in Teverina, Perugia and Rocca Sant’Angelo.