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!

Tuscany Calendar of Events

Every month brings a unique festival or event in Tuscany. Here is a sampling of the best.

January

Capodanno / New Year's Eve

Celebrate New Year's the Italian way! Be sure to wear new red underwear (a good luck charm) while eating Zampone, a pig sausage served with lentils, said to bring money in the coming year. All throughout the region, the day is celebrated with festivals and parties, so you are bound to find a great time.

PITTI IMMAGINE Fashion Show / Florence

Fashion takes the stage January in Florence, when the world's top designers gather to showcase their new collections for the upcoming seasons. Reserve a front row seat at the catwalk, or sip espresso in a piazza while watching the paparazzi flock to the jet set.

February

Carnival of Viareggio

Pageantry and fun rule the streets of Viareggio, during their multi-week carnival! A weekly parade showcases a different theme in this festival, which dates back to the late 1800’s.  Wickedly elaborate floats and wondrously detailed costumes are just a few of the highlights here.

March

Mostre delle Antiche Camelie della Luccesia (Lucca)

Enjoy a beautiful weekend, touring the villas and gardens of Pieve di Compito and San Andrea di Compito. These small villages, a short distance from Lucca, open their doors to the world for three weekends in March, to showcase the beautiful camellia.

Festival of San Giuseppe/ Festa di San Giuseppe (Siena)

Join the Sienese in celebrating St. Joseph, father of Jesus, in this fun day of parades, festivals, tournaments and donkey races.

April

Explosion of the Cart / Scoppio del Carro (Florence)

On Easter Sunday morning, a pyrotechnic display occurs in the Duomo, in accordance with the wishes of an 11th century crusader, who hoped all would be converted upon seeing the spectacle. A replica of a dove, on a high wire, descends to the high altar, setting off the glittering sparks.

Lucchese Music Festival / Sagra Musicale Lucchese (Lucca)

The churches of Lucca come alive with this sacred music festival. Each day features talented choirs, organists, pianists and soloists performing ethereal pieces by classical artists.

Little Easter / Pasquetta (Siena)

Pasquetta, or little Easter, is a national Italian holiday, celebrated by families picnicking in the countryside. Pack a panini, some torreone and a bottle of wine and enjoy the Tuscan spring!

Kite Festival / Festa degli Aquiloni (San Miniato)

Let's go fly a kite! San Miniato's kite festival is held the first Sunday after Easter on the Prato della Rocca. Watch the professionals perform stunts, or add a splash of color with your own kite.

May

Sacra Cintola (Prato)

Prato's Duomo displays a relic from the Virgin Mary 5 times a year, to celebrate significant Christian holidays. As you gather around the pulpit, designed by Donatello, the bishop holds up the glass encased cloth for all to see. You can participate in this ancient tradition on May 1st, August 15th, September 8th, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

Labour Day / Festa del Lavoro (Tuscany)

May 1st is the day of the worker in Italy, and is celebrated by festivals, speeches, and free rock concerts. Put down your troubles and raise a glass with your fellow laborers!

Musical May / Maggio Musicale (Florence)

Florence bursts with song, dance and art during the city's largest art and music festival! Concerts, chorales, recitals and dance performances are all to be had for your enjoyment, during this several week long event.

Festival of Colored Sawdust Rugs / Tappeti di Segatura colorati (Camaiore)

The main street of Camaiore is paved with "sawdust" carpets during this festival of Corpus Christi. Intricate patterns of multi-colored sawdust are laid down, resembling oriental rugs, and are destroyed by the procession of Corpus Christi.

Balestro Del Girifalco (Massa Marittima)

In late May, marksmen participate in a contest of skill in the city of Massa Marittima. The contestants march through the city streets, before shooting down a mechanical eagle with crossbows.

Cricket Festival / Festa del Grillo (Florence)

In May, sellers gather in the Cascine Park to sell woven cages of chirping crickets. These crickets are then released into the park for good luck.

June

Regatta of Saint Rainieri / Regata di San Rainieri (Pisa)

June 17th is the day of the boats in Pisa, as processions and races are held on the river Arno. Costumes and decorations abound as your eyes feast on the day.

Lighting of Saint Rainieri / Luminaria di San Rainieri (Pisa)

On June 16th, Pisa lights up for the world to see. Palazzos, castles, and churches lining the river Arno bedeck themselves in over 50,000 candles and torches, providing a magical touch to the scenery.

Historical Soccer / Calcio Storico (Florence)

Mayhem is the order of the day, in this traditional game of wrestling, rugby and soccer. Four teams engage in no holds barred war for the honor of eating a calf in the after party.

Game of the Bridge / Gioco del Ponte (Pisa)

Pisan civic pride is at stake in this contest of strength. 12 City regions send out their strongest to represent their district as a 7 ton trolley is pushed to opposing sides of the bridge.

Fiesole Summer / Estate Fiesolana (Fiesole - Florence)

For most of the summer, this art, music and cinema festival continues through Florence. Enjoy a taste of Hollywood as top named actors, directors and producers show off their art house fare amongst the concerts and exhibitions.

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

Medieval Festival / Festa Medievale (Monteriggioni)

Bring out the armor and court dresses! The first weekend in July is home to one of the best costume festivals in Italy. You don’t have to dress up to enjoy the food, concerts, tradesmen and atmosphere of this entertaining weekend.

Festival of San Paolino/ Festa di San Paolino (Lucca)

Join the costumed citizens of Lucca as they process down the streets of the city at night, illuminated by torchlight. During the day, they have various activities and celebrations, including a crossbow contest.

Pistoia Blues Festival / Pistoia Blues (Pistoia)

Not quite the blues anymore, this festival showcases folk, rock and delta blues in the second weekend of July.

Carousel of the Bear / Giostra dell' Orso(Pistoia)

A touch of the Chivalric age returns in the jousting tournament on July 25th. 12 knights vie for supremacy against bear shaped targets, while drums beat and horns squeal fanfare.

August

Tuscan Sun Festival / Festa del Sole Toscano (Cortona)

Enjoy a sampling of the arts, literature, stage and music, while tasting the best foods that Tuscany has to offer. Hollywood stars, world class soloists and bestselling authors share their talents with you, in the historic backdrop of Cortona.

Opera Barga (Barga)

This opera festival was created in 1967, as a means to expose the world to lesser known and new works. Enjoy the young and upcoming opera singers as they learn their trade.

Festival Pucciniano (Torre Del Lago Puccini)

Enjoy the works of opera composer Puccini under the stars at this great festival. Starting in late July and going through August, a different work is performed each weekend.

Hazelnut Festival / Festa del Nocciolo (Panzano in Chianti)

Taste the regional flavors at the Hazelnut festival in Panzano in Chianti, when this humble nut is turned into many delicious dishes. The streets are lined with tables, and people stroll down them, sampling the wares, turning August 14^th into a delight.

Steak Festival / Festa della Bistecca (Cortona)

Where’s the beef? You’ll find plenty of it here, on August 15^th, in this festival dedicated to the thick cut slabs of meat on your plate. Other delicacies will be here for the tasting, and historical offerings about Hannibal’s victory over Rome.

Volterra AD 1398 (Volterra)

Let’s do the Time Warp again, and spend a week in mediaeval Italy! In the last week of August, one of the best Mediaeval fairs in Italy runs Sunday to Saturday, and showcases, jousting, swordplay, costumes and food.

September

Grape Harwest / Vendemmia (Tuscany)

September is grape harvesting month in Tuscany, and an all encompassing affair, with everyone pitching in to pick by hand. Once the hard work is over, it’s time to celebrate with feasts, parties and festivals. Some popular ones are held in Impruneta, Greve in Chianti and Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Cacio al Fuso (Pienza)

Come join the citizens of Pienza as they celebrate their most famous cheese. Pecorino tastings and a cheese rolling contest are just a few of the highlights of the first Sunday in September.

Carousel of the Saracen / Giostra del Saracino (Arezzo)

On the first Sunday of September, modern day knights joust against a Saracen replica, in hopes of obtaining a Golden Lance.

Festa della Rificolona (Florence)

Held on the evening before the Virgin Mary’s birthday, children parade through the streets holding paper lanterns, or rificolona, as the peasants did so many centuries ago. You’ll also find parties, street performers and special markets to celebrate September 7^th.

Lightning Feast of the Saint Cross / Festa della Esaltazione della Santa Croce (Lucca)

Lucca finds itself illuminated once again on September 13, this time in honor of the Volto Santo, a crucifix said to have been carved by Nicodemus, follower of Christ. The crucifix is processed through out the town, before being returned to the Duomo.

October

Fair of Saint Luke / Fiera di San Luca (Impruneta)

This is one of the oldest livestock fairs in Europe, combing religion, farming and folk art for the entertainment of all. Each day has a special focus, with a fireworks display to close the festival.

Festival of the Butcher/ Festa dei Macellai (Panzano in Chianti)

This new Butcher’s festival has turned out to be quite popular with locals and tourists alike. With your entrance fee, you enjoy all the samples you can stand of Tuscan meats, cheeses, wines, and sweets, with all the profits going to charity.

Feast of the Mashroom and of the Chestnut / Sagra del Fungo e della Castagna (Vivo D'Orcia)

Enjoy the entertainment as the town splits into two teams, and competes in a unique race. One half of the team builds a dining set from logs, while the other half prepares a meal. Whichever team finishes first, wins! There are also nature walks, explaining the species of wild mushrooms, and countless dishes made from the local species.

Chestnut and Wine in the Square / Castagne e Vino in Piazza (Radicondoli)

Join the townsfolk in this rambunctious celebration of food, wine and fun! This festival of roasted chestnuts and wine is off the beaten path, but worth it for an authentic Tuscan experience that most tourists will never enjoy.

Feast of Thrush / Fiera del Tordo (Montalcino)

The last weekend of October is transformed into pomp and pageantry, with feasts, parades and archery contests inside a 14^th century castle.

Lucca Comics / Lucca Comics (Lucca)

Lucca hosts an international comic book fair the last weekend of October, where you can meet the artists, listen to panels about upcoming series and movies, and enjoy gaming with fellow collectors.

November

Olive Harvest/ Raccolta delle Olive (Tuscany)

The month of November is time to harvest olives. You’ll hear the sounds of canes hitting the trees to loosen the gem like fruit from the branches, and see nets spread around to catch the olives picked by hand. Fresh olive oil, pressed in mills, has a unique flavor and you’ll want to try some from the many little farms that dot the landscape.

Truffle Festival / Festa del Tartufo (San Giovanni D'Asso)

This small town hosts a truffle festival for the first two weekends of November, where the pungent fungus takes center stage. Dishes highlight its unique flavor, and you may even be able to go on a truffle hunting excursion with a professional

Festival of the Civics / Festa dei Popoli (Florence)

This international documentary film festival highlights the works of directors from around the world. Enjoy seeing the films in a beautifully restored theater, or in one of the smaller screens.

December

Nativity / Presepio  (Tuscany)

Italian towns take great pride in the construction of elaborate Nativity scenes in the town square, using great creativity and craftsmanship. As you tour the region, be on a look out for these displays, and the corresponding artisan shops.

Procession of Loreto's Madonna / La processione della Madonna di Loreto (Anghiari)

The Bible comes to life, as a statue of the Virgin Mary is paraded past scenes from the Old and New Testament. Townspeople dress the parts and stand like statues, providing a snapshot of the ancient stories.

Christmass Torches / Le Fiaccole di Natale (Abbadia San Salvatore)

The night is lit up with a bonfires and torch processions in this small town on Christmas Eve. Called natalecci, these bonfires have been lit for centuries.

New Year Eve/ Capo D' Anno (Tuscany and Italy)

Throughout the region, masses are held throughout the day, in anticipation of the night’s festivities.

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