Things to Do in Tuscany Italy - Travel Guide & Information

This description page of Tuscany, Region Of Italy, will guide you in planning your trip to Italy and help you to find useful travel information about the Things to Do in this Italian Region.

The entire world knows Florence, Siena, Pisa, and even tiny San Gimignano!  With its 13 medieval towers, scenic beauty, artistic, cultural and historic treasures, Tuscany is the region that attracts the greatest number of tourists.  Tiny hilltop towns, sun-drenched hillsides, a rolling countryside and enchanting little hamlets hidden along ancient streets and pathways, Tuscany is an adventure into the past of castles, fortresses, walled towns,   ancient olive groves and vineyards and traditions that are honored from generation to generation.

Tuscany offers an array of coastal experiences to suit many moods -- beaches like Versilia, known for lazy summer lounging and socializing, beaches to experience the power of the Mediterranean and the wind whistling to the shore, coves for diving and marshland area for nature watching.  The Etruscan coast is popular for its mild climate, clean sea, vast stretches of natural coast and its well appointed.bathing establishments that include every amenity a beach lover could want during holiday from umbrella’s to showers and comfortable beachside restaurants. Toscana is a region that blends the ancient past with the new century.  It is a celebration of gala festivals honoring fabulous wines, incredible foods, high fashion, the arts and saints revered for thousands of years.  It is in every way enchanting!

Events calendar of Tuscany

The following are events and festivals that take place in Tuscany.

January

New Ye's Eve / Day (Capodanno)

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Fashion Shows (Florence)

Held throughout January, the prestigious events feature leading Italian designers presenting their spring and summer collections

February

Viareggio Carnival

One of Ita's biggest carnivals, lasting for almost three weeks in February. Elaborate floats are paraded every Sunday

March

Feast of San Giuseppe (Siena)

This festival includes donkey races, floats and tournaments

April

Explosion of the Cart / Scoppio del Carro (Florence)

Easter Sunday, at noon a dove descends on a wire from the high altar of the cathedral and starts a large firework display from a cart

Exposition of the Virg's Girdle (Prato)

This precious relic is displayed from Donatel's pulpit in the facade of the cathedral on several occasions during the year - Easter Sunday, 1st May, 15th August, 8th September and Christmas day

Festa degli Aquiloni - Kite Festival (San Miniato)

First Sunday after Easter, kite lovers perform aerial acrobatics on the Prato della Rocca, the grassy common above San Miniato

Sagra Musicale Lucchese (Lucca)

This extensive festival of sacred music is held in the ci's numerous Romanesque churches

Mostra Mercato Internazionale de'Artigianato / Exhibition of Crafts (Florence)

Last week in April, this important European exhibition displays work of artists and artisans in the Fortezza da Basso

May

Festa del Grillo / Cricket Festival (Florence)

This festival takes place on the Sunday after Ascension day in the Cascine Park and stallholders sell crickets in tiny woven straw cages, which are traditionally released by their new owners in the park for good luck.

Maggio Musicale (Florence)

The ci's major arts festival lasting until early June, with concerts by the Orchestra Regionale Toscano and dance, including ballet performances

Balestro del Girifalco / Falcon Contest (Massa Marittima)

First Sunday after 22nd May, preceded by a long procession throughout the streets, marksmen try to shoot a mechanical falcon on a wire with their crossbows. Also held again in August

Palio della Balestra / Crossbow Contest (Sansepolcro)

Last Sunday, this contest originated in a dispute between the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro (in Toscana) and those of Gubbio (in Umbria). The participants all dress in period costume

June

Gioco del Ponte / Game of the Bridge (Pisa)

This game involves two groups of people, representing the two halves of the city, one on each side of the river Arno, trying to push a seven tonne cart on rails to the opposite side

Calcio in Costume / Football in Costume (Florence)

Mid to late June, usually held in the Piazza di Santa Croce, this ancient game is a combination of football and rugby

Estate Fiesolana / Fiesole Summer (Florence)

Mid-June to the end of August, this is a festival of music, arts, drama, dance and film

Regata di San Ranieri (Pisa)

Held 17th June, boat races in costume and stunning processions of colourfully decorated boats are held on the River Arno

July

Corsa del Palio (Siena)

Held the 2nd July and 16th August, this is one of Tosca's most famous events in the Campo. It is a bareback horse race watched by thousands of people and was first recorded in 1283

Feast on San Paolino (Lucca)

A torchlight parade in period costume held in honour of the ci's patron saint. There is also a crossbow contest

Joust of the Bear (Pisa)

12 riders, three from each quarter of the city, gallop with a lance and attempt to spear two targets in the form of bears

Pistoia Blues (Pistoia)

Early July, this famous international festival of blues music takes place in the Piazza del Duomo

August

Festival Pucciniano (Puccini)

Throughout August, performances of the compos's operas in an open-air theatre by the lake (Torre del Lago) where he once lived

Rodeo (Albrese)

Throughout August, cowboys of the Maremma demonstrate horse training and cattle herding

Cantiere Internazionale'Arte (Montepulciano)

First half of August, this is an important festival of new work by leading composers, dramatists and coreographers

Festa della Bistecca (Cortona)

Held the 15th August, this is the festival of beefsteak, a local speciality

Il Baccanala (Montepulciano)

Penultimate Saturday, this is a feast of wine and food, celebrating the local Vino Nobile

September

Giostra del Saraceno / Joust of the Saracen (Arezzo)

First Sunday in September and throughout the summer, this medieval-style joust begins with a colourful parade of locals in period costume who proceed to the Piazza Grande

Festa della Rificolona (Florence)

Held 7th September, children from all over the area converge at the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, carrying candlelit paper lanterns to honour the eve of the birth of the Virgin

Feast of Santa Croce (Lucca)

Held 13th September, another torchlight parade in honor of the Volto Santo or “Holy Face” wooden crucifix figure, which is usually kept in the cathedral, but on this day is paraded around by torchlight.

Palio della Balestra / Crossbow Contest (Sansepolcro)

Held the second Sunday, this contest originated in a dispute between the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro (in Toscana) and those of Gubbio (in Umbria). The participants all dress in period costume

Rassegna del Chianti Classico (Chianti)

Held the second week, this is the biggest Tuscan celebration of local wines

Mostra Mercato Internazionale de'Antiquariato (Florence)

September to October, a major biennial antiques fair

October

Amici della Musica (Florence)

October to April, th'Friends of Mus' concert season

Sagra del Tordo / Festival of the Thrush (Montalcino)

Held the last Sunday, this archery contest is set in the grounds of the 14th-century Fortezza (castle)

November

Feast of Santa Cecilia (Siena)

A varied programme of concerts takes place in honour of the patron saint of music

Festival dei Popoli (Florence)

November to December, this is Tosca's most important film festival and is open to everyone, showing films in their original languages with Italian subtitles, at the Piazza dei Congressi

December

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Bagni di Lucca)

Held 8th December, this important feast day is celebrated by a fair in the Fornoli quarter

Burning of the Tree (Camporgiano, near Lucca)

Held 24th December, an immense bonfire of evergreen branches burns, accompanied by the great bell of San Giacomo

Feast of San Stefano (Prato)

Held 26th December, a feast celebrating the patron saint, St. Stephan

Feast of San Lucia (Siena)

Ceremonies in the church of Santa Lucia are followed by an outdoor poetry and ceramic fair

New Ye's Eve

31st December, masses are celebrated in churches and there are also many parties and general celebrations

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