Italia Quality Blog

Venice, Florence, Siena and Naples: are just some of the most beautiful Italian locations ready to offer different special events to make your stay more interesting, among festivals, cultural exhibitions and folkloristic appointments!
The marvellous lagoon of Venice proposes the San Bartolomeo Festival in Mirano, an event organized to celebrate the patron saint of the town, usually in the third week of the month of August, between art and tradition.
And now Tuscany which, with its fantastic cities, offers various occasions absolutely to take part in. Florence, on 21st August, presents the Commemoration of the Opposition to the Spanish in 1529 in Vicchio, whereas on 26th, in Rufina there will be At the Court of the Earls Bishops, another historic commemoration which confirms Florence and the whole Tuscany as places full of history and tradition. The last Sunday of August, then, Cerreto Guidi celebrates the Palio del Cerro which sees the participation of four districts and a historic procession in costume of the XVI century.
In Livorno, the Palio of San Agabito in Marciana, from 18th to 19th August, proposes a Holy Mass, a procession, a show of flagmen, medieval games and banquets to celebrate Donna Paola Colonna. The amazing frame of Elba Island is, instead, the location on 7th August of the Festa Patronale di San Gaetano, whereas on 12th, in Marciana Marina there will take place the Festa Patronale di Santa Chiara with music, food  and wine tastings, and historic commemorations.
The marvellous Siena is glad to offer the Giostra di Simone, on 9th August, in San Giovanni d’Asso, following the tradition of the games between the knights, such as the Giostra del Saracino, in Sarteano on 15th August, with historic procession in medieval costume. And more, the Palio delle Contrade, from 17th to 18th August in Pianacastagnaio, which on 14th August will be the location also of the colour Tappeto Floreale, the Floral Carpet, where some religious scenes dedicated to the Holy Mary are elaborated in occasion of the Feast of the Assumption on 15th August.
Arezzo, instead, is glad to invite you to the tasty festival Sagra del Tortello alla Lastra, in Corezzo from 14th to 16th August, whereas from 20th to 21st there will be the Palio dei Castelli in Badia Tedalda, where are expected a lot of historic events to commemorate the period of the knights. And always in the sign of taste, Lucca presents the Fish and Chips Festival, till 17th August in Barga, with live music, the festival Sagra delle crisciolette in Molazzana, till 3rd August, and the Gastronomic Festival of Contrada Ponte, in the amazing Marina di Pietrasanta from 8th to 21st August, where you can taste many typical products of the area.
It couldn’t miss, obviously, the gaiety of Naples which on 26th August, in Ischia, in occasion of the Feast of Saint Alessandro, offers a wonderful show of a historic procession in costume, with the flagmen’s performance, the Holy Mass in the church of Saint Alessandro, and the tasting of typical products. From 27th to 30th August, instead, in Brusciano, it is expected the Gigli Feast, with the “gigli”, special feast machines made of wood and brought by people, accompanied by a band playing music. The celebration usually takes place on the last Sunday of August from 1875, when Saint Antonio from Padova made the miracle. The parade of the “gigli” is on the Thursday and the Friday before the Sunday.

And so, the Italian Summer is totally in the sign of culture and tradition, to admire the beauties of the most famous cities in Belpaese, thanks to Italia Quality, with its luxury relais, hotels, b&b, castles and agrotourisms, in the most picturesque locations of Italy, glad to give you only the best of the events expected for August 2009!

Starting from March 2009, are expected in several areas of the boot shape peninsula a lot of special events to give all the tourists joyful and amazing moments, making the stay more pleasant and interesting.

In the fantastic frame of Venice lagoon, on 15th March will take place the concert by the Orchestra and the Choir of La Fenice Theatre, with the soft sound of the white voices and organ on the notes of Missa pro defunctis, the poems by Wilfred Ower and the War Requiem, to taste the big emotions of music in one of the most famous theatres of the world.

For all who want to relax in the so loved landscapes of Tuscany, the city of Siena offers the delicious market Artists in Boroughs, from 15th to 16th March, located in the boroughs and in the squares of the historic centre of Torrita di Siena. The event expects the attendance of different artists and producers of various items who will show the objects due to the celebrations for the Donkeys’ Palio. In addition, there will be also the Historic Parade, whereas for all who want to taste the typical recipes of Valdichiana such as pasta, cakes and wine, the characteristic taverns will be open to the public by 7 pm. The town of Rigomagno proposes, instead, from 28th to 30th March, the delicious Sagra del Ciambellino, an event to taste the authentic product of this medieval borough in the Senese country, according to the ancient tradition. In addition, in Pienza it will be possible to enter into Piccolomini Palace to visit the exhibition Pio II and the Arts, for a rich cultural day.

Florence, the city of Ponte Vecchio, offers the public events able to satisfy every taste. For the lovers of the Arts, it is possible to visit the construction site of Basilica Santa Croce, to admire the frescos by Agnolo Gaddi dated 1380 in the Maggiore Chapel, thanks to the auto guided path in 5 languages.
The art of cinema is, instead, the main character of the exhibition A prince called Totò, set up from 10th to 30th March in the Sala Oro of La Pergola Theatre, where it will be possible to admire the objects and the movies of the wonderful actor who made the history of the cinema in the world.

And more, in the cheerful area of Viareggio, in province of Lucca, will take place on 6th March The charming legend of King Arthur, a ballet between past, present and future, centred on the adventures of the knights of the Round Table, by the Florence Dance Company. If, instead, you are looking for moments of relax and entertainment in the sign of glamour, the Aperitif in Art and Music is expected in Viareggio on 11th March, with Art, Jazz and a lot of taste. The city of Lucca is still the main character of the special events in Tuscany with the Trout of the Serchio Valley, from 10th to 20th March in Gallicano, to taste the characteristic gastronomic products of the area, which you can find also in the sweet feast of chocolate Cioccolatando, from 31st March to 1st April in Seravezza.

Going towards the South, Naples is the frame of interesting appointments such as Tiziano and the Portrait of Court from Raffaello to Caracci, exhibition from 25th March to 4th April at the Capodimonte Museum, and Leonardo, the Engineer of the Renaissance, which from 25th January to 25th March will show 9 full size models of machines designed by the great artist.

And for all who want a romantic stay in the marvellous Amalfi Coast, from 7th March will start The Chamber Music on the Amalfi Coast 2009, with the wonderful classic sinfonies which will accompany you with the sound of soft notes.

So, Italia Quality, luxury hotel relais, bed & breakfast, boroughs and castles, country houses, villas and palaces in Italy, is proud to point out the most interesting special events of the peninsula, to make your stay more pleasant and characteristic, in the sign of comfort, entertainment and class absolutely inimitable.

Italia Quality
The most beautiful events for a luxury stay

In the wonderful scenery of Italy, there are expected a lot of different events to celebrate Christmas and the New Year’s Day 2009. From North to South, all the best of special appointments among fairs, exhibitions and the characteristic Presepe, to taste all the beauty and tradition of Bel Paese..

The enchanting city of Venice is glad to offer the already famous Christmas in lagoon, from 1 to 23 December, with the typical market in Campo Santo Stefano, which proposes a huge amount of items such as the Murano’s glass and the tasteful gastronomic products from several Italian regions. In addition, the island of Murano is the frame of another important event, The Christmas of Glass, from 5 December to 6 January, offering a lot of amazing sculptures made of glass.
For all the Lovers of Trentino Alto Adige, in the nice view of Merano, from 28 November to 6 January, will take place the characteristic Christmas markets in a friendly and warm atmosphere. The stands will offer a lot of typical products, from the gastronomy to the craftsmanship, so that you can also see the craftmen at work and taste the delicious food of the region.
The city of Genova is the location of Genova Presepe Vivente, a living crib which points out all the Italian tradition. The event is expected on 5 January 2009 following the ancient custom of the XVII century, whereas in the near town of Sestri Levante is possible to admire the unusual crib located 12 metres under the sea, called Crib of Dolphins and made of 5 statues showing the Nativity.
The amazing and so loved scenery of Tuscany proposes a lot of appointments to celebrate Christmas.
The city of Lucca is the location of a Live Crib on 23 December, with characters in typical costumes, such as the close town of Fibbiano where a Live Crib is expected on 26 December, with more that 100 figures taking part on it, besides the tasting of special products such as cakes and regional recipes.
The city of Siena proposes the small Christmas market Artists in the boroughs, on 15 and 16 December, in the historic centre, with games and stands full of representative products.
In Florence the celebrations will start on 7 December with the ceremony of the big Christmas three and the Gospel choir of San Marco’s Basilica, carrying on with the amazing 1000 Cribs for Palazzuolo, with a map which will guide the tourists in the most beautiful places of Palazzuolo on the Senio, to discover several kinds of Presepe, from 6 December to 6 January. And to celebrate the New Year’s Day, Florence proposes Mezzinverno 2008, a game of fantasy medieval theme to attend in costume on 30 and 31 December at the Antico Spedale del Bigallo in  Bagno Ripolo, whereas Grosseto organizes, on 30 December, the classic torchlight procession in Santa Fiora in the wonderful frame of Amiata Mountain.

Also the cheerful Naples is glad to offer a lot of Christmas events such as the white night Follow the Comet on 15 December, in the sign of culture, taste and arts, whereas the traditional Exhibition of Handmade Crib will take place from 18 December to 13 January, made of the typical regional products, to discover again all the characteristics of this so famous city. In addition, from 8 December to 2 February, the Artistic Crib of Gragnano will be one of the main attractions of the Campania region, full of  Christmas celebrations, besides the Big Feast of Chocolate which will make so glad your stay in Sorrento, on 16 and 17 December..

And so, among a huge amount of events to celebrate Christmas and the New Year’s Day 2008, Italia Quality is glad to offer all its clients the best of luxury and fabulous hotels, resorts of Italy. Among castles, luxury relais and hotels, all the history, tradition and tastes of Italy, in the sign of comfort and elegance, for a stay absolutely unforgettable also during the best period of the year!