Archive for 'Concerts & Festivals'

Lots of places the world over have carnival celebrations and Italy has plentiful options when it comes to wanting to enjoy this crazy annual party. However, if you find a vacation rental in Sardinia you will find that the island's most vibrant carnival celebration might just be the only one in the country to be seen at on Shrove Tuesday.

Taking place in the town of Tempio Pausania over the course of several days around Shrove Tuesday, the carnival celebrations in the town date back to around 800AD and are deeply rooted in local history and tradition. It is an especially colourful iteration of the festival, due to the incredible parade and floats that were first conceived and added around 60 years ago. Locals eagerly await and participate in the event, taking over the whole town and flooding the streets with people in incredible costumes and elaborate masks, music, sound, and excitement.

The Fattoria del Toce is a farm with an agricultural park that is dedicated to education and knowledge. Officially recognised and supported by the governing bodies of the Piedmont region, the farm was founded in 2002 and introduces visitors to local plant varieties such as camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as trees like maples and ancient olive trees, and, of course, some adorable farm animals such as the 43 different breeds of rabbits, various breeds of poultry and some endangered creatures, too. Popular throughout the year for families, schools and tourists, it is especially wonderful over the Christmas period and is a wonderful place to spend a day if you and your family have found a vacation rental in Piedmont and are looking for some festive fun!

Paying a visit Santa is a must for kids in the run up to Christmas and, if you have found a vacation rental in the Lake Maggiore area, you will be presented with the unique opportunity to see him on his very own boat!

According to local legend, Santa Claus has arrived in Milan at the end of November each year since 1400 to deliver toys and gifts to each child in the city. Next, he is said to hop on his boat, leave the city, and head up the Navigli and Ticino River to make his way to Lake Maggiore. He visits all of the lakeside towns before stopping and settling in the village of Intra until Christmas.

The Flaiano Prizes are often simply referred to as a film festival. However, this incredible series of events that take place annually in Pescara, Abruzzo is that and so much more. The Flaiano Prizes, or Premi Flaiano, are a set of Italian international awards in various fields including creative writing, cinema, theater and radio-television.

Established in honour of the Italian author and screenwriter Ennio Flaiano in 1973, the awards have been given out at the Teatro Monumentale Gabriele D'Annunzio in Pescara since 1974. The actual event itself is comprised of exhibitions, conferences, shows and more, culminating in an awards ceremony in June and July each year.

If you are looking to plan a trip to the Renaissance centre of Tuscany and find a luxury villa in Florence, you might consider heading in September in order to make it to the annual Rificolona festival.

This festival celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary who, according to Christian tradition, was born on September 8th in an unknown year, somewhere near Nazareth. The large basilica of Santissima Annunziata is dedicated to her worship and her birthday is a day of celebration that involves religious ceremonies, paper lanterns...and spit wads?

It all began in the 17th century and became a tradition wherein hundreds of peasants and farmers from the surroundings would come to the city to celebrate, bringing their wares with them; cheeses, honey, fruit and vegetables and handmade crafts.