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Celebrate
around the year in Umbria!
Suckling
pig festivals…strawberry festivals…snail festivals…archery
and wine festivals galore. Here’s just a sampling
of the high spirited celebrations going on in
Umbria--virtually every month of the year.
Olive
and Bruschetta Festival, Cortona. In February
when the new olive oil is ready to be savored,
the town drizzles this nectar over toasted bread
in a feastival accompanied by traditional music…February.
Celebration
of Wild Game, Orvieto. At this festival
the Sunday after Easter, wood pigeon heads the
menu of wild foods from the region’s deep forests.
Calendimaggio, Assisi. The first week in
May, the home of one of the world’s great religious
shrines hearkens back to its pagan past with
singing, dancing, feats of prowess, medieval
costumes, and the crowning of Lady Spring.
Feast
of the candles, Gubbio. As the highlight
of this celebration of Gubbio’s historic victory
over Perugia, teams of burly young men race
three gigantic wooden “candles” representing
Saints Ubaldo, Giorgio and Antonio 1,000 meters
up to the summit of Mt. Ingino. The bawdy symbolism
is evident both in the “candles” or ceri themselves
and the festive crowd’s enthusiastic cheering.
May 15.
Palio
dei Balestri, Gubbio. With many accompanying
festivities, local archers compete with crossbows
against a team from rival town Sansepolcro.
If you miss it, the return match is held in
Sansepolcro in September.
Infiorata, Spello. One the third Sunday
in June,
the streets of this small, exceptionally pretty
hillside town are lined with fresh and dried
flowers forming incredible images and designs.
Feast
of the Dove, Orvieto. On Pentecost Sunday
in August, a live bird along with flares, sets
off the brilliant fireworks in front of the
Duomo. If he survives, he is given to a newly
wed couple to nurture.
Wine
Month, Torgiano. In August, local artists
dip their watercolor brushes in Torgiano wine
instead of water.
Eurochocolate Festival, Perugia. Come to
this multi-faceted cultural center in late October
and enjoy festivities staged by chocolate manufacturers
from all around the world… sample the scraps
from the chocolate carving contest….and take
half-day cooking lessons from visiting chefs.
New
Wine Festivals. In mid-November when the
new wine is first released, free tastings and
cheap bottles are available at street fairs
that seem to spring up everywhere, while fine
restaurants host special dinners accompanied
by a selection of vini novelli.
The
Todi Festival, first half of July, is a
wonderful mix of visual arts, dance, music and
theater. Their program is full of appointments,
with international well known artists as well
as up-and-coming ones. For more information
you can contact todiartefestival@farm.it.
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