Historic rental house in Umbria Italy

This is a very small listing of events in Umbria (as well as nearby Le Marche and Tuscany) that would make good day trips from Porta San Donato.  After the place name, the distance from Gualdo Tadino is given in parentheses.  If there is more than one event for a place in a month, the events are listed chronologically.

If you would like a more complete listing for a certain time period, as well as more information about those events listed here, please email us, and we will do our best to find out about events in the area for that period.

Also, although we try to be thorough in our research, we cannot guarantee that events will be as listed, or that they will not be cancelled altogether.

January

All over Italy: Epiphany and La Befana - January 5th & 6th

Gualdo Tadino: Fioritura del Biancospino.  On January 15th Gualdo celebrates its patron saint, the Beato Angelo.  It is tradition that even in averse weather conditions the hawthorn will burst into flower on that day.

Jesi (42 mi., 68 km.); Teatro G.B. Pergolesi - Symphony Season.  http://www.fondazionepergolesispontini.com/inglese/content/view/963/952/lang,it/

February  

All over Italy:

• Carnival
• St. Valentine's Day - National Holiday

Spello (23 mi., 38 km.):  Olive and bruschetta festivals - 3rd Sunday in February

Cannara (30 mi., 48 km.): Gold Medal Run.  Feb. 1

Spoleto (37 mi., 60 km.): February 7 & 14, 182nd Carnival of Spoleto.  Procession, with allegorical floats, groups of masked paraders, and musicians.

Jesi (42 mi., 68 km.); Teatro G.B. Pergolesi - Symphony Season.  http://www.fondazionepergolesispontini.com/inglese/content/view/963/952/lang,it/

March

All over Italy:

• Festa della Donna.  March 8.  Women's Day.  Men all over Italy present bunches of mimosa to the special woman in their life.
• Feast of San Giuseppe (Italy's Father's Day) - March 19

Central Italy: Tirreno Adriatico (Race of the Two Seas) - March 10-16, 2010.  Elite cycling tour that takes place in central Italy between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Coasts. 

Jesi (42 mi., 68 km.); Teatro G.B. Pergolesi - Symphony Season.  http://www.fondazionepergolesispontini.com/inglese/content/view/963/952/lang,it/

April

All over Italy:

• Pasqua (Easter) - April 4, 2010.  Most cities have special celebrations.  The day following Easter is also a holiday.
• Festa della Resistenza - Liberation Day - National Holiday, April 25.  The Italian version of the American Fourth of July.

Gualdo Tadino:  Processione di Venerdi Santo (Holy Friday procession and passion play), April 2, 2010.

San Pellegrino (4 mi., 6 km.): Maggio Festival, 30 April - May 1

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.): Taste of Italy Market, Arconi del Palazzo dei Consoli and Centro Servizi S. Spirito

Fermignano, Le Marche (46 mi., 74 km.): Sunday after Easter, Palio della Rana (Golden Frog Race).  Contestants race with frogs in tiny wheelbarrows. The day before there is usually a pageant in historical costume and a fireworks show.

May

All over Italy:

• May Day (Day of the Worker), May 1st - National Holiday
• Mother's Day - 1st Sunday after the 8th of May - National Holiday

Gualdo Tadino:

• Festa dell'Ascensione
• Processione del Corpus Domini

San Pellegrino (4 mi., 6 km.): Maggio Festival - 30 April - May 1

Fossato di Vico (6 mi., 9 km.): La Festa degli Statuti - medieval costumes and markets, offering foods and recipes no longer used or known, 2nd Sunday in May

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.):

• Descent of the Ceri - 1st Sunday in May
• Ceri Race Festival - May 15
• Race of the Medium Ceri - 2nd to last Sunday in May
  
• Palio della Balestra (Racing Silk of the Crossbow) medieval festival in the Piazza Grande, last Sunday in May

Assisi (31 mi., 50 km.): Calendimaggio (medieval festival) - 6-8 May 2010.

Camerino (37 mi., 60 km.): Camerino Corsa all Spada e Palio.  A La Marche Festa set in the late 15th century, which takes place between the first and second weeks of May

June

All over Italy: June 2, Founding of the Republic, National Holiday

Grello (5 mi., 8 km.): June 23, The Night of the Fire and Guazza of St. Giovanni

Fabriano (15 mi., 24 km.): Palio di San Giovanni Battista - starting mid-June, a nine-day medieval festival

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.): Race of the Small Ceri, June 2

Spello (23 mi., 38 km.):  Infiorata del Corpus Domini (Corpus Christi flower festival), 5-6 June, 2010

Foligno (23 mi., 38 km.): Joust of the Quintana - the challenge

Bevagna (26 mi., 42 km.): Mercato delle Gaite, 18-28 June, 2009

July

Rigali (2 mi, 3 km.) 29 July, 2010.  Barrel Race.

Costacciaro (11 mi., 18 km.):  Music Under the Stars - every Friday in July, 9:30 p.m.

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.): Gubbio Festival (July - August)

Perugia (29 mi., 47 km.): Umbria Jazz Festival.  www.umbriajazz.com, 9-18 July, 2010

Spoleto (37 mi., 60 km.): Festival of the Two Worlds, 1-17 July, 2009

August

Gualdo Tadino: International Ceramics Competition and Exhibition - mid August through end of September

Nocera Umbra (9 mi., 14 km.): Palio dei Quartieri (medieval competition and festival); first week in August

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.): Gubbio Festival, 20 July - 8 August, 2009 (International Classical Music Festival)

Trevi (28 mi., 45 km.): Trevi in Piazza. Concerts in the square almost every night.

Cantiano (28 mi., 45 km.):

• Sagra del polentone alla carbonara - 1st Sunday. Polenta festival - over the grill - taste of local food & products starting at 4pm.
• Torneo della balestra "Le Rocche" - 3rd Sunday. Le Rocche crossbow tournament, gastronomic stands starting in the afternoon in the old center.

Perugia (29 mi., 47 km.):

• Feast of St. Lawrence, Patron Saint of Perugia, August 10
• International Puppet Festival

Montefalco (30 miles, 48 km.):

• August in Montefalco (three weeks of historical, musical, and traditional events.)
• Wine week

Assisi (31 mi., 50 km.):

• Feast of the Pardon. 1-2 August. Regional costumes. Night vigil performs at Santa Maria degli Angeli.
• Crossbow Palio of St. Rufino. Late August. An interesting archery competition between the three Terzieri factions of Assisi as crossbowmen celebrate the Palio of San Rufino. There is a colourful procession in medieval costume and the winning Terzieri is presented with a Drappo painted by a local artist.

Foligno (23 mi., 37 km.): Baroque Traces Festival, end of August through middle of September

September

Gualdo Tadino:

• International Ceramics Competition and Exhibition - mid August through end of September
• I Giochi de le Porte (The Games of the Gates) - medieval competition and festival, last Friday, Saturday, Sunday in September

Nocera Umbra (9 mi., 14 km.): Cavalcata di Satriano (horse ride of Satriano)

Valtopina (13 mi., 21 km.): Hand Embroidery Market Exhibition (usually around Sept. 5)

Foligno (23 mi., 37 km.):

• Joust of the Quintana - the return match
• Primi d'Italia (First Courses of Italy)
• Baroque Traces Festival, end of August throught middle of September

Serra Sant'Abbondio (27 mi., 44 km.):

• Palio della Rocca - weekend before the 16th
• Feast of Saint Abbondio - September 16th

Trevi (28 mi., 45 km.): Autumn's Appointments: end of September through end of October

Perugia (29 mi., 47 km.):

• Festival of Sacred Music in Umbria
• Perugia Science Fest
• Perugia Classico - Festival of Classical Music

October

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.):

• Altrocioccolato - mid October
• The National Exhibition Market - end of Octoberf to beginning of November

Foligno (23 mi., 37 km.):  Primi d'Ialia (First Courses of Italy)

Trevi (28 mi., 45 km.):

• Ottobre Trevano (Cultural Festival Trevi) - end of September through end of October
• The Palio of the Terzieri - 1st Sunday of October
• Black Celery Festival - 3rd Sunday of October
• Medieval Life Scenes - 4th Saturday and Sunday
• Festivol  - Folklore Festival Trevi - end of October to beginning of November

Perugia (29 mi., 47 km.): Eurochocolate  - October 17 - 25, 2009

Montefalco (30 mi., 48 km.): Sagrantino Wine Festival

Assisi (31 mi., 50 km.): Celebrations in honor of St. Francis: 3rd - 4th October

November

All over Italy: All Saints Day - Nov. 1

Valtopina (13 mi., 21 km.): Valtopina Truffle Festival - last two weekends in November

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.): The National Exhibition Market - end of October to beginning of November

Trevi (28 mi., 45 km.): Festivol (Folklore Festival Trevi) - end of October to beginning of November

Perugia (29 mi., 47 km.):

• Antique Trade Fair - 28th October to 5th November
• Batik Film Festival

Citta di Castello (45 mi., 73 km.): Truffle and Forest Products Fair, weekend starting on first Friday in November

December

Christmas in Umbria (through January 6).  At Christmastide solemn rites are celebrated in all the churches.  There are many artistic creches of great beauty to be enjoyed and also living creches which are enacted in many towns.  Winter in Umbria means log fires, crisp days, bright sunshine, wood smoke, and snow!  Hearty Umbrian food and red wine help the winter days pass.  On New Year's Eve the main square in each village and town will be packed with people dancing to a live band to see the New Year in!

Rigali (2 mi., 3.5 km.): Father Christmas arrives in Rigali

Nocera Umbra (9 mi., 14 km.): Christmas Village in Nocera Umbra: Dec. 21 - 26

Valfabbrica (15 mi., 24 km.):  The Living Crib of Casacastalda is enacted through the streets of the old town centre on Christmas Day from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Gubbio (16 mi., 26 km.):

• The lighting of "The Biggest Christmas tree in the world" December 7 
• New Year's Eve in Gubbio - December 31st 11 p.m. on: Gubbio celebrates the arrival of the new year with open air partying and a fireworks display

Foligno (24 mi., 38 km.): Christmas in Foligno.  Foligno schedules a host of events and attractions to liven up the Christmas season, from November 29th to February 2nd.  Besides the Christmas lights that infuse the old town centre with a festive glow, there is also an ice skating rink in Piazza Matteotti and a merry-go-round for children in Piazza Piermarini.  From December 13th to 24th the atrium of Palazzo Trinci houses a market for those in need of ideas for presents.

Perugia (29 mi. 47 km.): Christmas market, with crafts, movies, music, family shows, food.