Everyone knows the so-called “Indian Summer”, a meteorological phenomenon that takes place in Autumn.

It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost. Everywhere in the US, this period is more commonly known as the “dog days”.

In former times in Europe, “Indian summer” was called “Saint Martin’s Summer”, referring to St. Martin’s day, November 11th, when it was supposed to end.

The phrase ‘Saint Martin’s Summer’ comes from France where it is still widely used. In Italy, St Martin’s summer (Estate di San Martino) was expected and celebrated as a rural tradition with ancient origins, and

Halloween night is coming!

Get ready for the most frightful night in the year in the best way. Many Italian cities are planning to give parties and masked balls for 31st October to remind macabre atmospheres of ghosts wandering on earth.

This typically American party has become popular in Italy in the last years, with a bigger success every year. Don’t lose the chance to spend this night at best. There are lots of opportunities to spend a mysterious and frightful night both for adults and children, let’s see some!

Milan gets ready for the “witches’ night”

From 28th October to 1st November 2011, the Lucca Comics & Games 2011 will be held in the Tuscan city of Lucca, the international fair of comics.

This year the edition will welcome guests like David Llyoid, Manuele Fior, Davide Reviati and the Japanese Jiro Taniguchi.

Scott Farrar wil be the special guest of this edition, one of the greatest artist and special effects maker (in his career he took part in 40 Holliwood films,

The 6th edition of the International Rome Film Festival will be held in Rome from October, 27th to November, 4th 2011, at Auditorium Parco della Musica, the spectacular arts complex designed by the world-famous architect Renzo Piano.

The festival will be occupying the five theatres of the complex: Santa Cecilia, Sinopoli, Petrassi, Teatro Studio

Countdown for Roma Europa Festival 2011 has just begun. The festival will put on display 39 different appointments from October, 7th to November, 3rd.

Contemporary arts and languages come back in all their glory: dance, music, theatre. An explosive mix among sounds, colours, movements, images and emotions. The themes

From 3rd to 22nd September 2011, the Festival hosting great Italian and international artists comes back in Milan and Turin: MiTo Torino Milano Festival Internazionale della Musica (International Music Festival).

MiTo, one of the greatest cultural events in Europe, presents over 200 concerts of classical, contemporary, jazz, pop, rock, regional and ethnic music, with free admission or “low-cost” tickets.

Since 2007, Milan and Turin have become open-air theatre and music

Once again, the 68th edition of Venice Film Festival will be organized by Venice Biennale and will take place at Lido in Venice from August, 31st to September, 10th 2011.

The Festival wants to encourage the knowledge and the diffusion of international cinema through all the shapes of art, show and industry, following the spirit of freedom and tolerance. In addition, the festival will include exhibitions to pay homage to important personages, as a contribute to a better awareness

From Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th August 2011, the most expected summer event in Imperia will come back: Filmcaravan, the International Travelling Shorts Fest.

After the official presentation of Filmcaravan in Montecarlo on the observation platform of NI BOX, the event will begin as usual during the first week of August in the striking Piazza dei Corallini in Cervo (province of Imperia, Liguria Region).

The festival will start on 3rd August at 9.30 p.m. with the out-of-competition documentary film entitled Kawalek Lata, created by the Polish director Marta Minorowicz who won the great prize

The 32nd edition of Versiliana Festival has just begun for a month but will keep on entertaining spectators until 31st August 2011.

Versiliana Festival, the most important event of Versilia’s cultural summer, keeps on presenting its magical theater performances, ballets, concerts and the shows of the best Italian comedians in the city of Pietrasanta placed on the Versilia Coast (Tuscany).

The next appointment at the great open-air theater of Parco della Versiliana will be with the performance “I Masnadieri” going on stage on 29th and 30th July 2011.

On 31st July, the Italian comedian

On 24th and 25th July 2011, the great celebrations come back in the beautiful city of Levanto, in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region): the 43rd edition of the Festival of the Sea.

The event is celebrated every year in honor of St Giacomo, the protector saint of the seafaring community. Initially, the event had a purely religious character, but soon it was integrated with the medieval birth of the Municipality of Levanto in 1230.

The most spectacular parts of the festival take place on 24th and 25th July (St Giacomo’s day), with historical processions, medieval tournaments, and the procession of the crucifixes and the statue of the Saint.

At nightfall the gulf sea is illuminated with ten thousand large candles with fireworks