The Multicolored Rificolonas come back and enlighten Florence

A traditional and very ancient event of Florence has come back: the Feast of Rificolona!

The Feast of Rificolona is a traditional Florentine event that takes its origins before the 20th century and also this year it will take place in Florence on 6th and 7th September 2010.

The following events are scheduled:

September, Monday 6th:
Rificolona in Arno river. Parade – Papier mâché allegories on boats enlightened by paper lanterns and prize-giving for the most original rificolona.

September, Tuesday 7th:
From Santa Croce Square to SS. Annunziata Square there will be a (more…)

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Venice’s Historical Regatta, this year with a new Initiative

Yes! For all the people who love Venetian traditions this is the right moment for coming in the city of Venice: as a matter of fact, the Historical Regatta of Venice comes back on 5th September 2010 in the lagoon of the so-called Serenissima.

This year there will be new initiatives: 20 seats will be available on the “Machina”, the structure placed on the Canal Grande that will host some great personages personally invited by Venice’s mayor. Such 20 seats will be available only for Venice citizens and will be selected by lot.

We think that’s a really good idea. The initiative has been called “Veneziani in platea” (“Venetians on stalls”) and it is organized in cooperation with the local newspapers (Il Corriere del Veneto, Il Gazzettino, La Nuova Venezia-Mestre) that on 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd August (more…)

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The Cultural Event “Festival della Mente” in Sarzana, Liguria

After the great success of the previous editions, the renowned and very expected “Festival della Mente” comes back in the beautiful Ligurian town of Sarzana, located nearby La Spezia.

A special cultural event for discovering why and how ideas rise. This year the festival scheduled many appointments about creativity, shows, interesting meetings with scientists, artists, literati, historians, authors and philosophers.

Such a cultural event has come to its 7th edition and also this year visitors will find many surprises and brand new initiatives dedicated to adults and children.

The Festival will take place on 3rd, 4th and 5th September 2010 in several venues of Sarzana. As a matter of fact, the initiatives and meetings with important personages will happen in the squares and theatres of the town, with the stunning background of ancient palaces and the typical narrow streets of Sarzana. Among the venues of the event we find: Piazza Matteotti, Piazza Cesare Battisti, (more…)

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Venice Architecture Biennale. The World of Architecture comes back in Venice

From Sunday 29th August, architecture will come back in the Serenissima – the city of Venice, for wondering us and showing new, innovative creations.

We are talking about the 12th International Architecture Exhibition, known also as the biennale, which will take place in Venice in the autumnal season until 21st November 2010.

The 12th International Architecture Exhibition will be held at Palazzo delle Esposizioni of Biennale (Giardini), at the Arsenale (preview August 26, 27 and 28, 2010) and in other venues of Venice historical center.

Such an event will be directed by the architect Kazuyo Sejima, the first woman who will direct the Architecture Biennale.

This year, the exhibition will be entitled (more…)

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Summertime in Rome is covered in Snow. Feast of Our Lady of the Snows

No, we’re not crazy. Each year, the snow comes back in Rome to pay homage to the traditional event in honor of Our Lady of the Snows, on 5th August.

For several years now, the city of Rome has been celebrating this ceremony at Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major Basilica) and the folk custom consists of a rain of white petals falling down on the square in front of the basilica. This because, as the story goes, our Virgin Mary appeared in Pope Liberio’s dreams (352 a.C.) and showed him where he had to build a church, with a miraculous snowfall (although it was summer) on Esquilino (a historic district of Rome) in the night of August 5th 356 a.C.

The day after, the pope traced the perimeter of the church with the (more…)

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The 85th Palio of the Gulf in La Spezia, Liguria

La Spezia, a city located in the Eastern Riviera of Liguria, gets ready for its 85th Palio of the Gulf, which this year will take place on Sunday 1st August 2010.

The ancient Palio of the Gulf is part of the many traditional events taking place in La Spezia, a town surrounded by mountains and the sea, and every year it takes place the 1st Sunday of August in front of the waterfront “Morin”.

The Palio is a challenging rowing race among 13 fishing boats handmade by local craftsmen, with peculiar features for making them faster in water.

Probably, it takes its origins from the challenge among the crews of fishing boats in the waters of the Gulf of La Spezia (or Gulf of the Poets), where there is mussels farming (or “muscoli” as the citizens call them).

In the past, such races were very important because the winner could have the priority in discharging goods and fish, rising in this way their profit.

And still nowadays, this challenge is very expected and beloved by all the citizens of (more…)

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Music, Jazz and Concerts: Summer 2010 in Siena

Summer 2010 in Siena seems to be entirely dedicated to the music, full of important initiatives, events, concerts and brand new elements.

The 78th edition of the event “Estate Musicale Chigiana” has begun on Sunday 18th July with a concert of Sofia Festival Orchestra, and the next appointment is scheduled for Saturday 24th July with the cello Antonio Meneses, followed by Joaquin Achucarro at the piano on Tuesday 27th.

Also in August, the appointments will be many: from 4th to 25th, several concerts are scheduled, having has protagonists instruments such as viola, violin, cello, piano, double bass, clarinet and some of the greatest international artists.

But the summer dedicated to the music in Siena continues. As a matter of fact, the great Siena Jazz Festival 2010 comes back to wonder spectators with great guests from all over the world.

From Friday 23rd July until 7th August 2010, the Fondazione Siena Jazz, the institution for high quality jazz training, once again organizes this great musical event, with the presence of great artists coming from America and Europe.

Where is Siena Jazz Festival 2010? Obviously in the most charming and striking places of the city! Jam sessions and extraordinary live performance will wait for you.

This year, visitors will find on the stage great international names such as John Taylor, Aaron Goldberg, Michael Blake, Jim Snidero, John Riley, Kenny Werner, Bobby Watson, Avishai Cohen, Glenn Ferris, Seamus Blake, Drew Gress, Ferenc Nemeth, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Anders Jormin, Peter Bernstein, Ben Monder, Kenny Wheeler, Joel Frahm, Scott Colley, Omar Avital and Jeremy Pelt.

In addition, also many Italian artists will be present, such as Riccardo Del Fra, Stefano Battaglia, Bruno Tommaso, Furio Di Castri, Pietro Leveratto, Massimo Manzi and many others. On Saturday 24th July, Seminari Estivi (Summer Courses) of Siena Jazz will begin with the Orchestra InJam and the guest Gless Ferris.

The last two appointments are scheduled for 5th, 6th and 7th August at Enoteca Italiana (at 9.45 pm - free entrance) with many bands and jazz artists.

Finally, we remind you another appointment with music in Siena: the 35th edition of Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte in Montepulciano (a small ancient village located near Siena). The event, which was created by the composer Hans Werner Henze, began on 15th July and will continue until 1st August 2010, offering its audience its main feature: the interaction between professional, famous artists and young talents.

Once again, among the green rolling Tuscan hills and the charming Renaissance’ buildings, operas and performances created by famous contemporary authors will be put on the stage for the first time.

This year, the event aims to experimentation and innovation through studies and workshops about techniques for composing and performances.

Tomorrow, on Thursday 22nd July, Recital per violino e pianoforte is scheduled for 6 pm with the violin Eva Thorarinsdottir, and Malcom Forbes and Peckham at the piano, whereas the Concert of Contemporary Music “Ensemble 2 Agosto” is scheduled for 9.30 pm, with an absolute premiere of contemporary music.

This and much more wait for you in the medieval city of Siena, for a summer in the pursuit of music, rich in concerts, live performances and musical courses.

For further information about events in Siena, please visit our online tourist guide to Siena: www.aboutsiena.com.

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Roma Vintage, the Very Best of 60s, 70s and 80s

The sparkling nights of Roma Vintage come back with its 2nd edition in the squares of the Italian capital, with the legendary atmospheres and rhythm of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

A not-to-be-missed appointment taking place in Parco San Sebastiano in Rome, which began on the last 11th June and will continue with several events until 15th August 2010.

Parco di San Sebastiano, placed in Via di Porta San Sebastiano, will host this great event for all the lovers of this world, with a revival of the best years of dance music, offering any kind of initiative…cinema, music, theater performances, exhibition stands.

Roma Vintage edition 2010 is a world apart that schedules several appointments: live performances for enjoying dance music hits of those years again, Jazz’n Blues, sport events, cinema reviews and exhibitions. There’s everything for the lovers of 60s, 70s and 80s!

The Cine Vintage and the area “Disco e Performances” are located in the Piazzetta Vintage, the center of the event, and here it is also possible to find wine and food stands.

The area reserved for the cinema wants to promote and give value to the cinematographic culture through many thematic reviews. The area dedicated to the dance music will make visitors feel and live the emotions of those years.

Remember, magical summer nights await you at Parco di San Sebastiano in Rome until 15th August 2010, with the presence of the greatest music of 60s, 70s and 80s, and many exhibitions every day! In addition, we remind you the FREE ENTRANCE.

For further information about events in Rome please visit the online tourist guide to Rome: www.aboutroma.com

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Versilia Coast celebrates Summer 2010 with the Festival Puccini in Torre del Lago

Summer has just begun, and the Versilia Coast brings notes, songs and the greatest emotions in its nights with the famous Festival Puccini, which comes back with its 56th edition taking place from 16th July to 22nd August 2010 in Torre del Lago.

Once again, the open-air Gran Teatro Giacomo Puccini will host great guests and breathtaking operas, for a summer rich in music.

As usual, the programme schedules the celebration of eternal melodies composed by the master Giacomo Puccini and wonderful evenings of lyric music will begin, dedicated to one of the most important composers of opera in the world, who was born in the city of Lucca in 1858.

The Festival Puccini 2010 will be inaugurated by La Fanciulla del West (on 16th and 23rd July and 7th August), Puccini’s masterpiece, 100 years after its first premier at Metropolitan Opera in New York, on 10th December 1910.

Later on, there will be other three titles on the playbill:

Madama Butterfly (17th and 25th July – 1st, 14th, 22nd August)

Tosca (24th, 30th July – 8th, 13th, 21st August)

Turandot (31st July – 6th, 12th, 20th August)

We remind you also that the Festival Puccini is not just Opera.

The Festival’s spectators in fact, will have the chance to marvel at (more…)

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Fireworks and Events in Venice: Festivity of Redentore 2010

Every third Sunday of July, the city of Venice celebrates the Festivity of Redentore, which it is both a religious and a profane event that is very appreciated by Venetians.

This year the event will take place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2010, in the charming background of the Lagoon of Venice. On Saturday night, the scenery of San Marco dock will turn into a world of wonderful fireworks, which every year gather thousands visitors.

You will marvel at colors and light plays moving through spires, domes and bell towers of the city. The fireworks will begin at 11.30 pm and will continue until 12 pm and longer.

And as tradition says, at dusk enlightened boats decorated with colored air-balloons come in the San Marco dock and in the Giudecca Channel.

The traditional Festivity of Redentore dates back to 1577, a year reminding the end of a terrible disease, which was celebrated with the construction of the basilica of Palladio on the Giudecca Isle, where visitors nowadays can go and visit by crossing a 330 m long bridge made up of boats. Celebrations include also a religious procession.

Finally, the week-end ends up with the final regatta of gondolas.

Here are the events scheduled for the Festivity of Redentore 2010 in Venice:

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
7.00 pm Celebratory opening of the Thanksgiving Bridge, connecting the Zattere to the Church of the Redentore on the island of Giudecca

11.30 pm Fireworks in St. Mark’s Bay

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
Redentore Regattas, organized by the Municipality of Venice
4.00 pm A children’s twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta
4.45 pm Twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta
5.30 pm Twin-oared gondola regatta

7.00 pm
Thanksgiving Mass at the Church of the Redentore on the Giudecca presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Angelo Scola, with the city authorities in attendance

Other Events

FRIDAY, JULY 16th
9.00 pm Concert “Mottetti per il Santissimo Redentore” by the Ensamble Barocco Il Sistro, music by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Castello and others - Church of San Salvador (San Marco 4835)

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
9.30 pm Concert by Banda Musicale di Tessera C.C.R.T., traditional venetian music - Fondamenta Zattere (Chiesa dei Gesuati)

8.00 pm Redentore at Forte Gazzera
8.30 pm Fireworks

9.00 pm Redentore in the arena of Piazza Mercato in Marghera

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
11.30 am Marinaressa Gardens opening ceremony, Riva Sette Martiri

Further information about the city of Venice and events in Venice are available on the website www.abouvenice.org

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