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ASSISI
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CALENDIMAGGIO |
May Day
It reminds the traditions of ancient people and the medieval Kalende of
May, when merry parties of young “gaudentes” used to welcome the return
of the spring with songs, dances and love serenades, in the town’s
streets and squares. |
ORVIETO
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PALIO DELL'OCA |
Goose Palio
The game of skills on a horse is played every year,
on the first Sunday after Pentecost, in Piazza del Popolo, on a dirt
track, when the two ancient quarters contend for the Palio di Contrada
and the Paliotto, awarded to the best rider of the game. |
SPOLETO |
FESTIVAL
DEI DUE MONDI |
Festival dei
Due Mondi
It takes places every year, between the end of June and the middle of
July, in the heart of Umbria. After the first edition, inagurated by
G.Carlo Menotti in 1958, the Spoleto Festival becomes a center of
progressive interest for dance, drama and opera performances, and today
it is a worldwide attraction, which gives the Umbrian town an
international renown. |
TERNI |
CANTAMAGGIO |
May Songs
It celebrates the return of the spring and the awakening of nature from
winter sleep; the origin of the celebration may be traced back to pagan
and tribe rites, linked with rural practices aimed at welcoming the
return of the nice season and, in a way, at getting into the Gods’ good
graces, to get an abundant summer harvest. |
ORVIETO |
FESTA DELLA
PALOMBELLA |
Festa della
Palombella
It has taken place, quite ceaselessly, since 1404, when it was started
by the ancient and noble Monaldeschi family on Whit Sunday, and
represents the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. The “Palombella”,
a white dove, tied with red silk ribbons, with the wings opened, goes
down the Cenacle. When it gets there, at noon, some small flames are
lighted on the Apostles’ heads, as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s descent,
accompanied by loud cracks of fireworks. |
BETTONA |
SAGRA DELL'OCA |
Goose Festival
A gastronomic and popular festival meant to keep and rediscover, by
traditional dishes, ancient flavours. Started in the late 70’s, it was
an instant success. Roast goose is the main dish, cooked as some years
ago, when geese were kept in farmers’ barnyards, to be enjoyed for the
most important events. |
PERUGIA |
EUROCHOCOLATE |
Eurochocolate
The event, which takes place in October, is dedicated to the
culture of chocolate and hails Perugia as the European capital of
chocolate. During nine days, the Umbrian capital is turned into a huge
open air confectioner’s, for gluttons’ and cocoa victims’ joy. |
FOLIGNO |
GIOSTRA DELLA
QUINTANA |
Quintain Joust
It is an equestrian competition in the period costume, which takes place
in May-June, inspired by a horseshow dating from the 17th century,
which was meant to determine the knights’ order of priority for their
loyalty to the prince or the loved lady. Ten knights, representing the
town’s quarters, meet at the local stadium, for a race of great tension
and spectacularity. |
PERUGIA |
UMBRIA JAZZ |
Umbria Jazz Festival
Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz events in the
world. It lasts ten days (in July), during which, uninterruptedly all
day long, in the historic centre of Perugia, tens of concerts take
place, with any sort of music, in order to meet a heterogeneous public. |
GUBBIO |
MOSTRA DEL TARTUFO |
Truffle Show
The National White Truffle Show (in October-November) is an event not to
be missed for the extraordinary quality of the local white truffle and
the delicacies desplayed on the stands (cheese, selected meat, olive
oil, honey, typical cakes). |
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