Your Guide to Spring Travel in Italy

ITALY’S 10 BEST SPRINGTIME

FESTIVALS

FLOWERS IN BLOOM IN ROME

For a lot of people, spring is the best among the four seasons of the year.

Make your stay even more memorable

by participating in awesome festivals during

the springtime months of

March to May.

We’re counting down the list of the top

springtime festivals that Italy has to offer.

Which one of these appeal to you the most?

1. EASTER SUNDAY IN ROME

Photo credit: 123parades.com

Easter caps off the annual Holy Week

festivities organized by the Catholic church.

On this day in Rome, the Pope and faithful

attendees embark on the Via Crucis, a

procession of candles that ends at St. Peter’s

Square for an open air mass.

People wait for the Stations of the Cross chaired by the Pope Francis I around the Colosseum on Good Friday.

GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSION

After the delivery of the Holy Eucharist,

the people of Rome head to pastry shops

where they buy and exchange

Easter eggs.

EASTER EGGS

Easter eggs in Rome carry a nice twist within. Toys, silver pieces and fancy jewelry are often stuffed inside the eggs for added effect.

2. THE FOUNDATION OF ROME

Staying in the Eternal City, we’ve got one of

the biggest bashes in the nation each year

over the weekend closest to April 21st.

The reason? Commemorating the

foundation of Rome by the twins

Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C.

BIRTH OF ROME FESTIVAL

Participants dressed as Roman ladies during the parade.

During the festivities, expect classical and

modern music concerts.

You’ll also see extravagant firework displays,

historical re-enactments, mock gladiator

combat and exhaustive shopping

opportunities all over town.

3. MARRIAGE OF THE TREES

Held every May 8th in the town of Vetralla in

the region of Lazio, the Marriage of the

Trees festival is a delight for anyone who

enjoys a nice picnic in the locale’s mild

outdoors.

The festivities are culminated by the

decoration of a pair of oak trees, offerings of

fresh spring flowers and the planting of new

trees around the “newlyweds.”

It’s pretty simple, but it’s a fun and moving

event to be a part of.

4. TURIN CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

Attracting about 750,000 people each year,

the Turin Chocolate Festival is a massive

celebration of the world’s favorite dessert.

Chocolates of every class, shape and variety

can be seen everywhere you look.

If you like chocolates, this event will look like paradise to you.

CHOCOLATE LOVER’S PARADISE

5. SAGRA DEL PESCE

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

If you’re the seafood-loving type,

Sagra del Pesce is the event that you

shouldn’t miss. The name translates to

“Fish Festival” in English and it’s celebrated

every second Sunday of May by residents of

the Camogli village.

On the day itself, the world’s biggest frying pan (5 meters across with a 7 meter handle) is brought out to cook large numbers of free fish all at once.

WORLD’S LARGEST FRYING PAN

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the night before the Fish Festival,

big bonfires light up the beaches as a sign

that the fun is about to begin.

This event, is held in honor of

Saint Fortunato, patron saint of fishermen.

6. VINITALY

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Vinitaly is Italy’s premier wine festival which

happens every April or May.

Local and foreign winemakers gather here

annually to give visitors free wine tasting

sessions, seminars, workshops

and other activities.

As of February 2014, the organizers have already sold more than 100,000 square meters of net exhibition space, the first in the event’s history.

MAP OF VINITALY 2014

You can expect to find expensive wines

at discounted prices – perfect if you’re

attending either for business or

pleasure reasons.

7. PROCESSIONE DEI SERPARI

Photo credit: LonelyPlanet.com

Want to be in a festival that walks the wild

side? The feast day of St. Domenico is just

what you’re looking for.

It’s celebrated every first Thursday of May in

the town of Cocullo in Abruzzo.

Cocullo is a town in

the province of L’

Aquila.

The road sign reads

“The Land of the

Snake-charmers”.

Road sign to Cocullo

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

At the end of the day, the reptiles are

released back to the forest.

The event may seem strange and scary, but

don’t worry: the snakes are non-venomous

and their fangs have been removed for extra

safety.

8. SANREMO MUSIC FESTIVAL

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Every year, for five days, new and

established musicians from across the

country perform in this event.

There’s non-stop entertainment brought by

competitive and non-competitive

performances.

Past winners in the

festival include

Andrea Bocelli who

won in 1994 with “Il

mare calmo della sera”.

DID YOU KNOW…

9. FEAST OF SAINT MARK

April 25th is the feast day of St. Mark

best known for authoring one of the four

Gospels that chronicle the life of

Jesus Christ.

On this day, Venice is filled with masses,

concerts, special markets and other

festivities.

One of the day’s

biggest highlights is

a boat race between

local gondoliers.

GONDOLIERS’ RACE

This day commemorates the life of

Jesus Christ’s foster father whom we know in

the United States as St. Joseph.

It’s celebrated all over Italy and it’s the

country’s de facto Father’s Day.

10. FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH

In Siena, there’s even

an annual donkey race

that commemorates

Joseph and Mary’s

escape to Bethlehem.

DID YOU KNOW…

Photo credit: Tuscanylla

This day commemorates the life of

Jesus Christ’s foster father whom we know in

the United States as St. Joseph.

It’s celebrated all over Italy and it’s the

country’s de facto Father’s Day.

Bread is one of the feast’s

themes. Look for zeppole

which you’ll definitely enjoy.

This is Italy’s answer to the

American cream puff and

we guarantee you’ll love it

just as much.

DID YOU KNOW…

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

There are a lot of happy events at this time of

the year, but these are the ones that stand

out as far as we’re concerned.

If you’re in the country by the time that one

of these happen, don’t dare miss them or

you’ll be sorry!

For more information

about travel to Italy,

visit our website

www.touritalynow.com

or call our travel experts

at 800.955.4418.