The city of Trapani, on the west coast of the Italian island of Sicily, is famous for the “Processione dei Misteri di Trapani.” Believed to have started in the early 17th Century, the “Misteri di Trapani” is a 16-24 hour long procession on Good Friday of 20 floats with actors depicting scenes from the passion of Christ with lifelike sculptures made of wood, canvas and glue. The Procession is one of the oldest continuously running religious events in Europe. Click Here to Listen to Teresa describe this festival. (23:49)
Beyond its rich and historic architectural features, Matera is famous for its yearly festival, “Festa di Maria Santissima della Bruna.” This week-long July festival, held since 1389, celebrates the city’s patron Madonna Della Bruna. Continue Reading.
If you are visiting Rome in June or July I strongly suggest you take time to enjoy their famous summer festival named Lungo il Tevere, which translates into “Along the Tiber” in Italian. It is a summer–long festival… continue reading.
If you happen to be in Montepulciano the last Sunday of August, the Tuscan town hosts its famous race of the Barrels called “Bravìo delle Botti,” that pits eight local neighborhoods, or “Contradas” against each other to win a painted cloth banner of the town patron, St. John the Baptist, whose feast is August 29th. Continue Reading.
Luminaria di San Domenico – Praiano, Italy. Held every year this amazing festival of fire celebrates the feast of St. Dominick in early August.
Fiera del Tartufo – Alba White Truffle Festival, Piedmont Region of Italy. Get out your special truffle hunting license and your truffle sniffing dog and head to Piedmont. Misplaced your license & dog? Then head to the truffle hunting festival instead – held every year in November.
Photos: Shutterstock/gianni31 joker, AM113, Marco Lissoni, Emily Marie Wilson
The Expo del Chianti Classico is a celebration of the famous Tuscan Chianti wine. Put on by the Municipality of Greve in early September each year, over 64 wineries of the Chianti Classico area take part in providing wine tasting to guests, along with art, music, and parades. Guided wine and oil tastings by experts add to your knowledge of these wonderful local products.
