25 Mar 2015
MILAN EXPO 2015 – 1 May – 31 October 2015
From 1st May to 31st October 2015 Milan will host the Universal Exposition. The theme chosen is “Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life”. Expo Milano 2015 wants to face the pressing food problems: nowadays over one billion people in the world go hungry or suffer from obesity; and in 2050 the Earth will host more than 9 billion people. Experts from all over the world will work together to develop the theme from different points of view: economic, scientific, cultural and social ones.
The Countries which will take part in the event will suggest concrete solutions to important challenges: how to give all people the right to food safe, secure and sufficient, how to guarantee environmental, economic and social sustainability of the food chain, how to preserve taste and food culture. The aim of the World Expo of Milan is to give the world the guidelines, both reasoned and shared, to win these challenges.
Expo Milano 2015 will leave a material inheritance: the Expo site will become a Smart city, a district where technology and energy are used in a clever and sustainable way.
The Countries' pavilions will arise on an area of around one million square meters, along the axis of Rho-Fiera and Malpensa. The Expo site will be built in a strategic area, rich in infrastructures: it is near two highways, next to Linate and Malpensa airports, linked to Milan and the hinterland by the high-speed train and the underground.
During the six-months exhibition, more than 20 million visitors and over 130 Countries, corporates and international organizations will reach Milan and the hinterland to participate to the World Exposition and to the thousands events (cultural shows and concerts) on schedule. www.expo2015.org
ART EXIBITIONS
BERGAMO
PALMA IL VECCHIO – GAZING AT BEAUTY – AT THE RE-OPENED ACCADEMIA CARRARA
Accademia Carrara
Until 21 June 2015
MILAN
LEONARDO
Palazzo Reale
From 15 April to 19 July 2015
http://www.artpalazzoreale.it/INDE_M262.html#
ROME
BIMILLENIAL OF THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS – THE SPLENDORS AND THE CALENDARS IN ANCIENT TIMES
Museo Nazionale Romano in Palazzo Massimo
Until 2 June 2015
http://www.turismoroma.it/cosa-fare/bimillenario-di-augusto?lang=en
IMPERIAL ROME - THE AGE OF ANXIETY – FROM COMMODUS TO DIOCLETIAN
Musei Capitolini
Until 4 October 2015
GIORGIO MORANDI, PAINTER
Complesso del Vittoriano
Until 21 June 2015
http://www.060608.it/en/print/eventi-e-spettacoli/mostre/giorgio-morandi-1890-1964.html
FLORENCE
POWER AND PATHOS. BRONZE OF THE HELLENISTI WORLD
Palazzo Strozzi
From Until 21 June 2015
http://www.palazzostrozzi.org/
PIERO DI COSIMO
Uffizi Gallery
From 22 June to 27 Sept. 2015
RAVENNA
IL BEL PAESE, THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY
ITALY FROM THE RISORGIMENTO TO THE GREAT WAR, FROM THE MACCHIAIOLI TO THE FUTURISTS
Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna
Until 14 June 2015
http://www.mar.ra.it/eng/Mostra/Il-Bel-Paese
TURIN
CLAUDE MONET
From March to June 2015
GAM – Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
RAFFAELLO AND THE ARTS
From March to September 2015
Reggia di Venaria Reale
FERRARA
LA ROSA DI FUOCO. BARCELONA OF PICASSO AND GAUDI'
Palazzo dei Diamanti
From 19April to 19 July 2015
http://www.palazzodiamanti.it/895/palazzo-dei-diamanti
FORLI' (Emilia Romagna)
BOLDINI , THE ENCHANTMENT OF MODERNITY FROM MACCHIAIOLI PAINTERS TO PARIS
Musei di San Domenico
Until 14 June 2015
REGGIO EMILIA (Emilia Romagna)
PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA – Drawings between art and science
Palazzo Magnani
Until 14 Jun 2015
NEW MUSEUMS/RE-OPENINGS/ SPECIAL EVENTS
DOMUS OF THE MYSTERIES RE-OPENS IN POMPEII
The magnificent Villa dei Misteri (Domus of the Mysteries) has been re-opened to the public after careful restoration which lasted almost two years by the Culture Minister, Dario Franceschini. The exquisite frescoes depicting convivial scenes in ancient Rome are now fully restored and the visitors can admire them in the more than 70 rooms of the house.
NEW MUSEO DEL NOVECENTO IN FLORENCE
http://www.museonovecento.it/en/museo/
Dedicated to the Italian art of the 20th century, the NovecentoMuseum offers a selection of around 300 works located in 15 exhibition areas, in addition to a study room, a cabinet for drawings and prints and a room for conferences and projections. A journey backwards from the Nineties to the first decades of the Twentieth century retraces the unique artistic season that saw Florence as one of the most vital centres through paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and documents.
AQUAE VENICE, in cooperation with Milan EXPO 2015
AQUAE VENICE 2015 is the international exhibition dedicated to the water that will take place in Venice from May to October 2015. AQUAE is promoted by Expo Venice and is a side show of EXPO MILANO 2015 who is also the sponsor. AQUAE is located in an area very close to the historic centre of Venice. Heart of the exhibition is a new building of 14,000 square meters designed by the architect Michele De Lucchi. Moreover, Aquae is official reseller of Expo Milano 2015.
SACRA SINDONE in Turin
Sacra Sindone – Ostension of the Holy Shroud 19 april – 24 june 2015 Duomo of Torino
NEW EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN TURIN
Grand opening on 1 April 2015
The culmination of a major development project, the new layout will be
opened to the public at the EgyptianMuseum in Turin, second only in importance
to that of Cairo.
LA PORTA DEL CIELO (DOOR TO THE SKY) RE-OPENS AT SIENA'S CATHEDRAL
Until 31 October 2015
A walkway under the roof of the Duomo di Siena has re-opened for the summer season, under the roof of the Cathedral one can admire the inside of the Duomo with its magnificent tiled floors and the outside. It is a unique chance to see this work of art in a different light.
FESTIVALS, MUSIC AND OTHER EVENTS
PRIMAVERA DEL PROSECCO, Prosecco's Spring in Treviso and surrounding areas
March - June 2015
Treviso, Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, Cartizze
This exciting annual event takes place in the heart of the Prosecco wine area and will lead the visitors in a journey of discovery of all aspects of this delicious wine production process. Special packages are on offer which would include stay in hotels, agriturismi and B&Bs of the area, restaurants and visit to wineries. Special events such as shows, exhibitions and visits to historic villas of the area have also been organized.
LIVE PASSION PLAY IN SORDEVOLO, Piedmont
6 June – 27 September 2015 (various dates)
This re-enactment of the Passion of Christ is staged live every 5 years since 1850 in the village of Sordevolo near Biella in Piedmont, with more than 400 actors and 40 performances. It is a spectacular event which although not as famous as the one in Oberhammergau in Germany has, over the years, gained international importance. The area around Sordevolo, rich in medieval towns and breathtaking views of the Alps serves as an appropriate background to the live Passion Play.
MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO FESTIVAL
Teatro Comunale – Florence – 30 April – 27 June 2015
This is one of the oldest traditional cultural events in Florence. The Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina was born in 1928 and in 1933 it organized the first edition of the Festival, which, over the years grew to international fame. The Festival has its own Ballet Company called Maggio Dance.
ARENA DI VERONA
Verona – 19 June - 6 September 2015
Born 102 years ago, the International Opera Festival presents a rich calendar of events. The operas to be performed this year are: Aida, Romeo et Juliet, Nabucco, Tosca, Don Giovanni, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Carmina Burana. Arena di Verona welcomes once again artists and public in its magnificent setting.
RAVELLO CONCERTS, in Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Villa Rufolo, Ravello – 3 April - 30 October 2015
In Spring and Autumn, far from the Summer's crowds, Ravello becomes the favourite destination for those who love the silence of its Villas and its medieval churches. In that time, an audience of music lovers meet every year to listen to the concerts held in the gardens and the rooms of Villa Rufolo, famous for having inspired Wagner for the setting of his Parsifal.
CLASSICAL GREEK THEATRE FESTIVAL IN SIRACUSA
Siracusa, Sicily
15 May – 28 June 2015
Classical Greek theatrical representation in the magical atmosphere of the Greek Theatre in Siracusa, this year's programme includes: Le Supplici by Aeschylus, Medea by Seneca and Ifigenia in Aulide by Euripides..
LA NOTTE ROSA – PINK NIGHT
Adriatic coast of Emilia Romagna
4-5 July 2015
For one night the entire Riviera turns pink. There will be shows, events, theatre sets, and scenery. Each resort will interpret the theme in a creative and original way. The whole Riviera will become an enormous stage where everyone has a part to play. La Notte Rosa will take place all along the coast, from the Lidos of Comacchio to Cattolica, but the heart of the event is the Riviera of Rimini. It is an event that attracts thousands of Italians to head to the Adriatic coast and is fast becoming an international attraction.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORICAL EVENTS
THE EXPLOSION OF THE CART
Florence - Easter Sunday – 5 April 2015
Tradition says that during the first Crusade of 1096 the Florentine knight Pazzo de 'Pazzi was the first man who planted the banner of the Cross on battlements of Jerusalem and as a gift he received some fragments of the Holy Sepulchre. Upon his return to Florence the stones were used to start the Sacred Fire of Holy Saturday, and were paraded through the city as homage to it in a richly decorated chariot. Nowadays, on Easter Sunday a large wagon is pulled by white oxen in a procession in the streets of the centre of Florence to the front of the cathedral.
FESTA DEI CERI (RACE OF THE CANDLES)
Gubbio – 15th May 2015
The Festa Dei Ceri is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Italian folklore display The festival aisa solemn act of devotion on the part of the Eugubini towards their Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini which started in 1160, the year of his death. Since then, every 15 May, the eve of the day of mourning, the devotional offering to the patron Saint is a fixed appointment for the people of Gubbio who take part in a great mystical procession, carrying candles all around the town and up Mount Ingino (where since 11 September 1194 the body of Saint Ubaldo lies, in the church which bears his name).
THE PALIO OF FERRARA
Ferrara – 2 – 31 May 2015
The Palio of Ferrara is the most ancient event of its kind is the world dating back to 1279. It is peculiar for its kind of ride that is joyful and so different from other warlike palii. This is a very important moment for the city: all the Contrade participate wearing dress of different colours to gain the “palio”, but also and overall it is a festivity to remember the Renaissance, a period during which Ferrara was really a capital. The Palio is run on Sunday 31 May.
GIOSTRA DELL'ARCHIDADO
Cortona, 14 June 2015
The Archidado Joust traces its origins back to the Middle Ages and was officially created in 1397 to celebrate the wedding of Francesco Casali, the Lord of Cortona, and Antonia Salimbeni, a noble woman from Siena. In the city of Cortona, this historical event is recalled every year on the second Sunday of June, when people are lead back to the ancient medieval splendour of the city. The streets are decorated in medieval style, ladies, knights, flag flyers, crossbow shooters, soldiers, pages, civil and religious authorities, all dressed with fine costumes, liven up the city center, which is rich in history and artistic beauties of every time.
PALIO DEL NIBALLO
Faenza, Emilia Romagna
28 June 2015
Seeing the Palio del Niballo is like living and enjoying a day in 14th-century Faenza. Flag-wavers, knights, and drummers dressed in the colours of the town's five contending “rioni” (i.e. quarters) - White, Yellow, Black, Red and Green - flood the most charming parts of the old town centre, accompanied by the pounding of drums. The palio consists in hitting a revolving dummy with a spear. The dummy is fashioned as a Saracen warrior (called the “Niballo”) and the idea is to get your horse to run past faster than the Niballo turns. In June, before the palio, the rioni warm up with flag-waving and music competitions and the Bigorda d'Oro (a palio for younger racers).
LUMINARA AND RACE OF SAN RANIERI
Lungarno – Pisa - June 16th/17th 2015
http://www.pisaunicaterra.it/en/villages-and-cities-of-art/pisa-en.html
On the occasion of the Feast of San Ranieri, Patron Saint of Pisa, celebrated annually on 16-17 June, the enchantment of the illuminations of Saint Ranieri is renewed on the streets running along the river Arno (the so-called Lungarni). In fact, following the ancient tradition the Pisans celebrate their Patron Saint on the following day with the historical Regatta of San Ranieri (Palio). There are more than a hundred thousand wax candles which at every edition are meticulously set in smooth and white glasses and fixed then onto wooden white-painted frames, modelled in such a way as to highlight the outline of the palaces, of the bridges, of the churches and of the towers reflecting the river.
SPORT
BIKE FESTIVAL GARDA TRENTINO
Riva del Garda, Trentino
1 – 3 May 2015
This now classic appointment with the Bike Festival Garda Trentino is back in spring: a season opening for bikers, who will find themselves next to stars of the mountain bike international scene. The program includes exhibitions, shows, competitions, performances and stunts, testing of the industry novelties and lots of fun.
GIRO D' ITALIA
Starts on 9 May 2015 in San Lorenzo al Mare in Liguria, ends in Milan on 31 May
The most important bicycle race in Italy, the Giro d'Italia, dates back to May 1909. This year the Giro will start in Liguria and end with the classic final race from Turin to Milan.
MILLE MIGLIA
14-17 May 2015
The most beautiful vintage cars in the world chosen to participate in the race each year are selected under rigorous guidelines. The 2015 edition plans a departure from Brescia, journeying through Lake Garda, Padua, Ferrara, Republic of San Marino, Ascoli Piceno to Rome and then back to Brescia via Siena, Pisa, Parma, and Bergamo.
IL BURCHIELLO - RIVER TRIPS ALONG THE RIVIERA DEL BRENTA
From 15 March to 2 November, the river cruises along the Riviera del Brenta (from Padua to Venice) will operate every day. The vessel used is the Burchiello, once a typical Venetian wooden boat, and now a modern and comfortable boat equipped with all the latest facilities. The trips from Padua to Venice and viceversa take a whole day and along the route the passengers stop and visit Palladian Villas (Villa Foscari, La Malcontenta, Villa Widmann in Mira and Villa Pisani in Stra), stop for lunch in the Il Burchiello Restaurant in Oriago and can admire the beautiful views along the river. www.ilburchiello.it
Stefania Gatta
Press and communications
Italian National Tourist Board
For the UK and Ireland
NB: information correct at time of publication
March 2015
