Cultural festivals on your holiday in Italy

 

Le Marche hosts ‘festas’ or outdoor celebrations, games, concerts and dancing most weekends from spring to Christmas. During the summer these also occur on most weekdays as neighbouring villages compete in throwing the best party.  Best way to see what is going on is to register at this website (it's free and you can use google translate to read it in english) and it will give you all the infor for everything happening in the area. www.corrierproposte.it   We do try to keep up on the local happenings but you maybe interested in things we don't think of.
The common theme is a Marche festa that allows the visitor to sample local produce, food and wines. The following are a taste of what is available in some of the towns near to our Villa but, for detailed information on the numerous events please visit the Macerata province tourist site, the Marche tourism site, or buy the Corriere Proposte in the local tabacchi (newsagents).

 

 

Colmurano International Buskers Festival

 

Our town plays host to one of July’s best Le Marche festas, the “Colmurano Buskers Festival“,

hosts a multitude of acoustic music sets being played from a wide range of international

musicians and plenty of street entertainment for all ages. You can see the facebook page for

the 2013 event here  Artistrada

 

 

Macerata Opera at the Sferisterio

 

Macerata is famous for its impressive Opera house the Sferisterio, an enormous open

air theatre buit in 1819 with wonderful neo classical columns. Every year it hosts some of the

best opera stars in Italy for its summer season.

The theme each year is different, for instance the theme for 2009′s Macerata opera season

was “L’inganno” or deceit and includes Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Verdi’s La Traviata,

Mozart’s Don Giovanni and La Malentendu by Albert Camus. Performances take place at

the grand Sferisterio and at the glorious Macerata Teatro Lauri. Usually there is a date when

the stars perform at the Roman Amphitheatre at nearby Urbisaglia. Urbisaglia itself has a short

opera season in the Roman Ruins with its own players which culminates in the final night when

a roman banquet is held. Tickets available from the box office or on-line via Vivaticket

 

Sarnano, Castrum Sarnani

 

During the weeks leading up to 15 August (Ferragosto) the medieval Centro Storico is home 

to Castrum Sarnani a historical festa and pageant where fire eaters, jugglers, belly dancers,

sword fighters, minstrels and artists roam the cobbled streets and piazzas that host theatrical

and musical performances and a number of different bars and tavernas. Ancient cantinas in

the 15th century basements of Sarnano houses are opened to house artisans who recreate

the ancient crafts and traditions of the Marche region.

A mint is set up to produce Sarnano denari the currency in use during the festival, wool is

spun, blacksmiths produce weaponry, oil and bread is produced. In short it is a feast for the

senses and a truly magical experience to bring back from your holiday in Italy.

 

Giostra della Castella’ Caldarola

A medieval Le Marche festa that takes place on the first Sunday of August in Caldarola, where

you can sample local wines and dishes andwatch and join in ancient games including archery,

“giostra deli anello” and “corsa alla papera”.

 

 

Camerino Corsa alla Spada e Palio

A Le Marche Festa set in the late 15th© which takes place between the first and second

weeks of May in lovely Camerino and features food, wine and games. The main events

are the Giostra della Quintana, Corsa all’Anello, Corsa alla spada where competitors race

up the town’s wonderful steep alleys and streets.

 

Corridonia, Contessa della Margutta Festa

This Le Marche festa is set in the middle of the 15th© and takes place in the period between

the end of August and the first week in September. It includes a procession of about 500

people in typical costume and the giostra del saraceno (a jousting game played on

horseback, typical of medieval and renaissance periods, in which knights tried to lance the

puppet of an ugly woman).

 

Matelica Festa del Munidnium Romanu

A costumed Le Marche festa set at the beginning of the Roman Empire (I century AD). It

takes place in Matellica at the end of August and the start of September; it finishes on the

first Sunday of September with processions and pageants including the fascinating Corsa

delle Bighe.

 

Mogliano 1744

This Le Marche festa recreates life in Mogliano in the Macerata province of Marche in the

mid 700′s. The show begins at the end of June and ends on the first Sunday of July, with a

procession of about 300 and the Corsa della Bandiera.

Recanati Palio Storico di San Giovanni

Historic Le Marche Festa depicting life in the late 8th century. It takes place in Porto Recanati

in August and finishes on the third Saturday of August with the procession of the “sciabbegotti 

con Ie coffe”. It features a race in which the competitors carry wicker baskets full of fish from the 

sea to the market as quickly as possible, without dropping so much as a sprat.

San Ginesio Palio

A medieval Le Marche festa that takes place in the period of ferragosto (the August bank holiday)

in the perfectly restored medieval setting of San Ginesio. On 13 August, the Palio della Pacca takes

place, followed by the Palio degli Anelli on 15 August.

 

San Severino Palio del Castelli

An historic Le Marche festa or pageant set in 15th century San Severino; which takes place in June

and finishes on the third Saturday of the month with competitions of Tiro alla Fune (tug-of-war),

Corsa dei Sacchi (sack races) and Corsa delle Tom.

 

Tolentino 1815

 

An historic Le Marche Festa with a military pageant recreating the Napoleonic period

(the peace treaty with Napoleon was signed here). The display takes place in Tolentino’s

Castello della Rancia on the first Sunday of May, with processions and military exercises.

Tolentino ‘Dono dei Ceri a San Nicola Set in the 1400′s celebrating the life of Saint Nicolas.

This Le Marche Festa takes place between the last week in August and the first week in

September with games food & wine in the square. At the same time in Tolentino the festa

‘Sul Ponte del Diavolo’ takes place with displays of craft workshops, dance, archery and

jousting on the Roman bridge.

Treia – La Disfida del Bracciale

An ancient game played against the fortified walls of the medieval town by teams of two players,

dressed in medieval garb and armed with spiky wooden bracelets, hit a large leather ball over a

high net, using angles off the wall to good effect. Each year the games and a big le marche festa are

celebrated on the first Sunday of August in Treia, following ten days of celebration that begin on

the Friday preceding the last Sunday of July.

Ascoli Piceno ‘Giostra della Quintana

One of the grandest of the Le Marche Festas, the Giostra della Quintana is Medieval

Jousting based on a 14th© version which took place in honour of Saint Emidio. Six riders

test their horsemanship. It Takes place in Ascoli Piceno on the first Sunday in August.

Loro Piceno, Festa del Vino Cotto

A favourite amongst the Marche festas. It sprawls around the medieval town of

Loro Piceno, celebrating Vino Cotto or cooked wine, which is a speciality of the area and

is fortified, slightly smoky and sweet. The Le Marche festa itself consists of market stalls,

great varieties of food and wines, fireworks and always at least 4 musical stages where

the music ranges from ska to jazz. There always seems to be a party going on at the

uppermost music stage.

La Castagnata, Montemonaco

On the final weekend in October you should try to visit this fantastic Le Marche Festa; a

food festival in Montemonaco in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains of Le Marche. Many

small local food and wine producers have stalls and there’s normally a band playing near

the main piazza where visitors are plied with free, hot spiced wine.

San Severino Blues Festival

The San Severino Blues festival arches the spectrum between jazz, blues and rock and has

some great artists playing fantastic historic venues in San Severino and around Le Marche. 

Recent guests have included Joe Jackson and Patti Smith.

 

Umbria Jazz, Perugia

 

July and Christmas sees Perugia host the Umbria Jazz festivals; which also take in a bit of

indie and some funk or disco. Set in a wonderful medieval town and just over an hour

from the villa, there are normally 4 or 5 stages hosting many bands every night. Held

since 1973 and one of Europe's leading jazz events, the Umbria Jazz Festival takes over

the Renaissance hill city of Perugia for ten days. It has always attracted big names,

including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, together with an

audience of more than 200,000 from around the world. In recent years line-ups have included

Alicia Keys, Joao Gilberto, REM, Editor, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gilberto Gil , Milton Nascimento,

Terence Blanchard, Paolo Conte, Vinicio Capossela, Nicola Arigliano, Miriam Makeba, Renzo

Arbore and its Swing Maniacs, Sergio Cammariere, The Coolbone Brass Band of New Orleans,

Lyle Henderson & Emmanuel Gospel Singers. Along with the always-impressive line up of jazz

musicians, the festival welcomes all musical genres - rock and roll, world music, Cuban salsa and

African tribal music have all been featured here. All this is only a 1 3/4 hrs drive from the house, 

get updates and tickets here...

Castello Della Rancia

The middle of June sees the Marche music festival at Tolentino’s Castello della Rancia.

This Le Marche festa is set in the trees behind the beautifully preserved castle, and serves up

excellent food, wines, bands and DJs every night.