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BENEDICTINE CELEBRATIONS
Norcia)
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With the arrival of spring comes
one of the most important and deeply felt festivals; the Feast
of St. Benedict, the Patron Saint of Norcia and of Europe.
On the evening of March 20th, a torch coming from one of the
capitals of Europe arrives in Norcia and is welcomed by the
ambassadors of the European nations. The following day the town
lives for a day under the banner of its glorious medieval past.
This historical commemoration involves the entire town in a
marvelous display of colors, sounds and flags, with a competition
between the “guaite” , the six districts of the town,
in a crossbow tournament. |
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SPOLETO FESTIVAL
(Spoleto)
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It was established by Gian Carlo
Menotti in 1958 with the aim of creating an opportunity for
Italian, American and European cultures to meet and exchange
ideas.
Today it is one of the most prestigious international events
and offers public performances of theatre, dance, opera, concerts,
and art exhibitions, as well as films with the Spoletocinema
film festival. Also taking place during the festival are Spoletoscienza,
with conferences/debates open to the public and the participation
of leading person from the world of science, including winners
of the Nobel Prize. |
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COURSE OF CHAMBER MUSIC -
THE GERMANLIED
(Acquasparta)
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The course, conducted by Maestro
Elio Battaglia, was established in 1973, but has only been held
in Acquasparta since 1977. During the course the German Lied
is studied in its historical, theoretical, technical and interpretative
components. Amongst those who attended in the past are now world-famous
names such as Mauro Trombetta, Lucia Rizzi, Jeanne Marie Bima,
Nuccia Focile.
Celebrated artists such as Cathy Berberian, Takao Okumura, Graziella
Sciutti, Daniela Uccello have sung in the opening and final
concerts. |
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UMBRIA JAZZ
(Perugia)
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Launched in 1973, today it is one
of the most important jazz events in Europe. It has in its time
hosted the greatest modern jazz musicians.The event lasts ten
full days: a hundred or so concerts take place from morning
to night among the ancient building in the historic centre of
Perugia.During this event Perugia becomes a meeting point for
tens of thousands of young people from all over Europe and the
United States, who come to meet the most famous contemporary
jazz artists. Besides the concerts, the festival includes a
two-week seminar held by the teachers from the prestigious “Berklee”
in Boston. |
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PALIO OF THE BOATS
(Passignano sul Trasimeno)
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This is the commemoration of the
last act of civil war in Perugia, when a small army of the Oddi
family had to flee, boats on their shoulders, from the castle
in Passignano, chased by the militias of the Baglioni and Della
Corgna families.
The “palio” of the boats involves approximately 160
contestants (40 from each district) in a gruelling race in three
separate stages: the first stage rowing from the lake to the
shore; the second on foot, carrying the boat on the shoulders,
through the steep tiny streets and stairs of the historic center;
and finally, the third stage with the boat in the water for
a last furious effort by the rowers. The highly spectacular
palio is the only one of its kind in the world, and draws enormous
crowds each year. |
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GUBBIO FESTIVAL
(Gubbio)
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The “Corsi di perfezionamento
musicale” (musical specialization courses) are the heart
of the event. These courses are taught by teachers of international
fame and are attended by students from all over the world. At
the end of each session teachers, accompanied by their best
pupils, become the protagonists of a dense programme of concerts
held in the most characteristic corners of the historic centre. |
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CLASSICAL PLAYS
(Gubbio)
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The summer season of classical plays
with over 30 editions. It is held in the monumental and well-preserved
Roman theatre, which provides a suggestive setting for performances
of plays by classical writers. |
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COMMEMORATION OF THE AMELIA
CHARTERS AND THE PALIO OF THE DOVES
(Amelia)
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The Amelia charters of 1346 governed
the social and political activities of the Commune of Amelia
and also guided civil life. The historic commemoration of the
Charters recreates moments and ceremonies of medieval life in
the most suggestive corners of the historic center. The Palio
of the Doves traces back to certain provisions of the Charters,
by which shooting at pigeons, one of the most popular games
at the time, was strictly forbidden. The Palio is a contest
between the crossbowmen and the knights of the five quarters
of the town; the object is to free a group of doves enclosed
in a dovecote by shooting with a crossbow at a mechanism that
opens the cage, without causing harm to the birds.
A sumptuous procession in 14th – century costumes closes
the festivities. |
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MONTEFALCO AUGUST FESTIVAL
(Montefalco)
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Small ensembles of strings and wind
instruments filling the charming streets and squares of the
histotic center with melodies, national and foreign representatives
meeting in the cloister of San Francesco, shows for kids, and
pleasant evenings in the Taverns of the fascinating procession,
the crossbow contests, the flag-wavers, and the choreographic
“Flight of the Ox”. After over thirty years, the success
of this festival continues to grow. |
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CORCIANO FESTIVAL
(Corciano)
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The event was organised for the first
time in 1965 as a survey of the visual arts devoted to Umbrian
artists. The ensuing editions have been supplemented with plays,
concerts, pageants and conferences on the theme of art. The
programme also comprises an international contest for original
compositions of band music. |
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PALIO DEI TERZIERI
(Città della Pieve)
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It’s an old medieval festival:
the three boroughs of the town – Borgo Dentro, Casalino
and Castello parade through the streets with about 700 personages
in costume, inspired by the works of the most famous figure
whose birthplace was Città della Pieve – Pietro
Vannucci, known as the “Perugino”. The processioni
is made up of acrobats, jugglers, fire-eaters, cannons, catapults
and so on. On arriving at the “campo de li giochi”
(playing field), the fights that were the original Palio of
Siena, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Nowadays
these “hunts” are represented by archery contests
using rotating silhouettes of bulls. |
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UMBRIAN FESTIVAL OF SACRED
MUSIC
(Perugia)
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First established in 1937, it is
one of the most important and prestigious Umbrian cultural events.
In addition to the principal regional town it also involves
some other localities. Merit has been given to the festival
for promoting, on the one hand, knowledge of sacred music in
Italy and, on the other, twentieth century music. First works
and new musical interpretations are presented here. Among the
guests are some very famous names: orchestra conductors like
Karajan, Mitropoulos, Muti; contemporary composers such as Britten,
Hindemith, Penderecki, Stockhausen. |
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INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS COMPETITION
AND EXHIBITION
(Gualdo Tadino)
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It dates back to 1959 and is attended
by well-know ceramicists and exhibitors of widely differing
artistic trends.
The exhibition is an opportunity for artists and artisans to
meet and compare their work. This exchange of cultural experiences
from different environments is designed to stimulate artistic
renewal. |
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CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL OF
THE NATIONS
(Città di Castello)
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Established in 1968, the Festival
of the Nations is one of the most important musical events in
Italy. Now in its 33rd year, the Festival features a guest nation
each year, which presents internationally prestigious musical
groups through a rigorous selection of the highest artistic
quality, in a musicological search that gives precedence to
rare performances and first works, remaining alert to contemporary
music so as to favor its production and publication with the
awareness of its importance as an artistic expression of our
time. While keeping music as its core, the Festival is moving
in other artistic directions as well, with a variety of events
including dance, theatre, and the visual arts, for best representing
the personality of the guest nation. |
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TODIARTE FESTIVAL
(Todi)
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This event is dedicated to music,
theatre, the visual arts, ballet, poetry and literature. Completely
renewed and under new artistic direction, the Festival proposes
to promote works by talented young Italians and also to bring
the works of foreign artists to the attention of the general
public. The Municipal Theatre, churches, cloisters, and squares
of Todi provide a splendid setting to the performances. |
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OPERA SEASON OF THE A. BELLI
EXPERIMENTAL OPERA THEATRE
(Spoleto)
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Founded in 1947, it is linked to
a competition which, since 1988, is open also to newcomers from
EU countries.
It usually takes place at the beginning of the year and the
winners are admitted to a five-month course held at Rome in
collaboration with the Teatro dell’Opera. At the end of
the course follows the opera season at Spoleto which marks the
winners’ debuts.
Among the many singers who have come out here, are: Renato Bruson,
Ruggero Raimondi, Antonietta Stella, Cesare Valletti. |
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BAROQUE TRACES FESTIVAL
(Foligno)
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Established in 1981, it comprises
musical, theatrical and cinematographic events and exhibition
which have in some way a baroque quality.
The search for this style of art is not confined to the seventeenth
century alone but includes its later influences and revivals.
The event is accompanied by costume parties, tournaments and
games. |
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NATIONAL HORSE FAIR
(Città di Castello)
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One of the most important equestrian
events in Italy, it offers a vast program: exhibitions of selected
breeds, an international class B Arab thoroughbred competition,
horse auctions, a national horse show, and various equestrian
performances. Steeplechases, Western-style riding and work-style
riding contests, free jumping contests, horseshoeing contests
and, starting last year, “Ippofestival”, a review
of riding shows in which breeders and trainers of all breeds
of horses may participate. Plus, the Exhibition also includes
a Show of Equipment and Horse Promotion, as well as a Show of
Farm Holidays and of Typical Specialities, offering to all persons
interested in horses a complete picture of the major aspects
of the world of horses: breeding, trade, and performances. |
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QUINTANA TOURNAMENT
(Foligno)
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The celebration, revived in 1946,
is inspired by a horseback contest that dates back to the seventeenth
century, to determine the order of priority for an honourable
knights, representing the ten districts of Foligno, test their
skill by attempting, at a gallop, to transfix on their lances
a series of rings which gradually become smaller and smaller.
This contest is highly spectacular.
On the eve of the competition, which is held in the town stadium,
a procession of 600 people in costume parades through the streets. |
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PERUGIA CLASSICO
(Perugia)
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“Perugia Classico” is the
most important exhibition of acoustic musical instruments in
Italy, and is a key event for those involved in this field as
well as for the vast public of music lovers. In the enchanting
setting of the Rocca Paolina, Italian and foreign instrument
makers exhibit works of the highest craftsmanship. The exhibition,
which is supported by a wide variety of conferences and instructional
activities, is spreading to the theatres and historical locales
of the city, with concerts and master classes by woeld-famous
musicians, an international chamber music competition and historic
exhibitions. For the year 2000 this event will feature the World
Piano Symposium. |
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THE GAMES OF THE GATES
(Gualdo Tadino)
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This event is inspired by the “Pallium
decurrendum” that took place (probably beginning in the
13th century) on September 29, the Feast of the Archangel Michael.
Preceded by a historic procession, this event revives the contest
between the “Four Gates” of the town, which challenge
each other in races with carts drawn by donkeys and riding donkeys
bareback, an archery contest, and a sling-shooting contest.
The winning Gate carries off the prize and also has the right
to set fire to the “Bastola”, the atavistic witch
that is enermy to Gualdo Tadino. During the Games there are
also the characteristic “Taverns”, for meeting friends
and sampling area specialities. |
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TOURNAMENT OF ARMS
(San Gemini)
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A historical-folkloristic event taken
from the 14th-century communal “Charters”, which mention
the “Knights Tournament” in honor of the patron saint
of the town. The leading roles are played by the two quarters
– “Rocca” and “Piazza” – which
spark off a number of events, including a parade in 14th century
costumes, the staging of moments from the town’s medieval
history, and the portraying of rural and family life. The high
point of the event is the Tournament of Arms, a knightly contest
between the town quarters. Taverns are opened for the entire
period where one can enjoy typical dishes from the country tradition.
Painting exhibitions and concerts will also be held. |
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