ITALIAN EVENTS NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2015

MILAN EXPO 2015 – 1 May – 31 October 2015

From 1st May to 31st October 2015 Milan is hosting 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' pavilions will arise on an area of around one million square meters, along the axis of Rho-Fiera and Malpensa. The Expo site is located 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 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
For events all over Italy during the Expo period check: www.verybelloit

ART EXHIBITIONS

MILAN

GIOTTO
Palazzo Reale
From 2 September 2015 to 10 Jan 2016
http://www.artpalazzoreale.it/INDE_M263.html

TURIN

RAFFAELLO AND THE ARTS

26 Sep2015 – 24 Jan 2016
Reggia di Venaria Reale
www.lavenaria.it

ROME

IMPERIAL ROME - THE AGE OF ANXIETY – FROM COMMODUS TO DIOCLETIAN
Musei Capitolini
Until 4 October 2015
www.museicapitolini.org

FLORENCE

ANTHONY GORMLEY AT THE FORTE BELVEDERE

Until 27 September 2015
Forte Belvedere
http://www.musefirenze.it/en/antony-gormley-human-2/

PIERO DI COSIMO
Uffizi Gallery
From 22 June to 27 Sept. 2015
www.unannoadarte.it

BELLEZZA DIVINA. SACRED ART FROM GAUGIN TO FONTANA
Palazzo Strozzi
From 26 September 2015 to 24 January 2016
http://www.palazzostrozzi.org/

LAPISLAZZULI, BLUE MAGIC

Museo degli argenti
Until 11 Oct 2015
First ever exhibition dedicated to this fascinating stone, particularly popular in artistic production of ornaments in Florence throughout the centuries.
http://uffizi.firenze.it/musei/?m=argenti

NEW MUSEUMS/RE-OPENINGS/ SPECIAL EVENTS

THE QUIRINALE NOW OPEN 5 DAYS A WEEK – NEW ADDITIONS -Rome

The Quirinale Palace, the residence of the President of the Italian Republic, can now be visited 5 days a week, new areas have been opened to the public such as the Carriages and Livery Museum, the Ceramic Collection, the Gardens, the Napoleon Apartments and more.
http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/palazzo/Visita/visite-a.htm

THE BIGGEST LABYRINTH IN THE WORLD OPENS IN FONTANELLATO – Parma

On 1 June the Fontanellato Labirinto della Masone has opened to the public after 6 years of works headed by Italian art expert and publisher Franco Maria Ricci. The Masone Labyrinth spreads over 8 hectars of land, is made of 200.000 bamboo plants and it is 3 Km long. There is also a library and an exhibition area with 500 works of art, paintings and sculptures from 16th to 21st century. http://www.labirintodifrancomariaricci.it/?lang=en

RE-OPENING OF THE ESTENSE GALLERY IN MODENA –Emilia Romagna
The Galleria Estense in Modena has been re-opened on 31 May 2015 after three years of closure due to restoration work after the earthquake in Emilia Romagna in 2012. The Galleria houses paintings and sculptures by Velasquez, Bernini, Cosme' Tura, Dosso Dossi, Correggio among others. www.galleriaestense.org

NEW JEWELLERY MUSEUM IN VICENZA (Veneto)

This museum is the first in Italy and one of the few worldwide to be dedicated exclusively to jewellery.
The Jewellery Museum, a permanent museum space of 410 square metres inside the Palladian Basilica and it has opened at the beginning of the year.
The new Museum, offers an original, varied aesthetic and educational jewellery experience, enhancing items with ancient origins, deeply rooted in human culture.The top floor of the museum has a brand new layout with nine exhibition rooms, curated by international experts: Symbol, Magic, Function, Beauty, Art, Fashion, Design, Icons, Future.
www.museodelgioiello.it

LUCIANO PAVAROTTI'S HOUSE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC IN MODENA
www.casamuseolucianopavarotti.it

Luciano Pavarotti's house is now open to the public for everybody to enjoy close contact with his iconic style. The villa has been designed following the instructions and drawings that the tenor gave to the architects and engineers who have supervised the construction. Many artifacts have been made by blacksmiths, carpenters, carvers, decorators from all over Italy who have created unique products. Even today his home reflected in every detail his personality. The house keeps personal items that he loved and contains the memories of his days spent in the company of family, friends and young students. To be especially enjoyed are the costumes so dear to him, pictures and videos that have marked his great artistic career, the countless awards of a career that spans over forty years in opera houses around the world.

FESTIVALS, MUSIC AND OTHER EVENTS

LIVE PASSION PLAY IN SORDEVOLO, Piedmont
6 June – 27 September 2015 (various dates)
www.passionedicristo.org

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.

VIAREGGIO SUMMER CARNIVAL
14-15-16 August 2015
This is a special edition of the Viareggio's carnival (it normally takes place Feb-Mar each year) on the occasion of Expo Milan. Processions of allegoric floats will take place in the evening on 14-15-16 August 2015 along the Lungomare. www.ilcarnevale.com

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
Venice, 26 August – 5 Sep 2015 (programme tbc)
www.labiennale.org

Venice will host the 72nd edition of this film festival, one of the oldest and most famous. Thousands of visitors, dozens of stars and hundreds of projections are crammed into ten days of fabulous festivities and parties. The Festival is hosted at the Lido Island in the Venice Lagoon.

FESTIVALETTERATURA
Mantova – 9-13 September 2015
www.festivaletteratura.it

This will be the 19th edition of the Festival of Literature and offers cultural events, readings, shows, concerts, all full of fun and originality.

FOLKLORE AND HISTORICAL EVENTS

FESTIVAL OF THE REDENTORE
Venice – 18-19 July 2015
www.veneziamarketingeventi.it

One of the most popular events in Venice is celebrated each year on the third Sunday of July. The festival itself dates back to the year 1576, and is named after the church Redentore that was designed by Palladio and resides on the island of Guidecca. Venice was suffering from a terrible plague, and the Republic's senate voted to build a temple on the Guidecca Island in honour of Christ the Redeemer, and the Venetians promised to go there every year on the third Sunday of July, if the plague stopped. Traditionally, the Venetians celebrate this day by having dinner on the Saturday night while watching an incredible display of fireworks that light up the skies over Venice for an hour or more.

QUINTANA OF ASCOLI PICENO
Ascoli Piceno – 6 August 2015
www.quintanadiascoli.it

Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region, hosts each year the historical Quintana, a re-enactment of Medieval customs and practices. The participants are dressed in Medieval costumes and walk in procession along the streets of the city in each “sestiere” (city quarter), followed by flag bearers and archers. In the restaurants of the city one can taste typical food and wine and the festivities culminate with the blessing of the knights participanting to the Palio by the city's Bishop and the Palio itself.

THE PALIO OF SIENA
Siena – July 2nd/ August 16th 2015
www.comune.siena.it

Everyday life grinds to a halt as Siena celebrates its most ancient and sacred ritual: horses and riders representing ten of Siena's seventeen contrade, or districts, race around the ring of tufo rock that covers the Piazza del Campo. On 2 July and 16 August the long afternoon begins in the heart of each contrada with the blessing of the horses, followed by the historical parade to the piazza. Finally, there is the race itself: the victorious contrada bears the banner triumphantly to the Provenzano Basilica for the “te deum” thanksgiving to the Madonna ( 2 June) or to the Madonna Assunta (16 August).

PALIO DEI NORMANNI DI PIAZZA ARMERINA
Piazza Armerina, Sicily – 12,13, 14 August 2015
www.feditgiochistorici.it

Plutia (the old Piazza Armerina) is home to the most ancient medieval event in Southern Italy which takes place every year from August 12-14 in honour of Madonna Maria SS. Delle Vittorie. The event is a re-enactment of Sicily being conquered in 1060 by the Normans, led by Ruggero of Altavilla. At the end of the event, the whole procession parades through the main streets, triumphantly displaying the city flag along with its winners.

BRAVIO DELLE BOTTI
Montepulciano, Siena
Last Sunday of August , 30 August 2015www.braviodellebotti.com

The eight contrade, or districts, of Montepulciano compete to win a painted banner by rolling 80 kg barrels uphill along a 1,800 metre route. The route is chosen in advance, and there are eight starting points, set out in two rows. Each contrada's barrel is placed in the position assigned to it by the lot that is drawn on the morning of the race. As the bell tolls in the Town Hall bell tower the umpire gives the signal for the race to start. Two men, the “pushers”, roll the barrels along the competition route, winding up through the evocative streets of the old town centre of Montepulciano to the Cathedral churchyard in the Piazza Grande. In the days leading up to the race Montepulciano celebrates the traditional Candle Procession, with a parade though the beautiful city streets in period costume, illuminated only by torchlight.

THE MACCHINA DI SANTA ROSA PROCESSION
Viterbo - 3 September 2015
www.facchinidisantarosa.it

Each year the Medieval town of Viterbo in Lazio renews the festivities in honour of its Holy Patron. The Trasporto della Macchina di Santa Rosa, a procession which takes place in the evening of September 3rd to commemorate the relocation of the body of Saint Rosa from the Church of Santa Maria del Poggio to the church of San Damiano (the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa). The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a gigantic structure, nearly 30 metres high, which is carried through the streets by a large team of strong local men. Contests are held to select designs for the Macchina, which is replaced every five years.

ARCO ASBURGICA (HABSBURG ARCO)
Arco in Trentino
6-12 September 2015
www.arcoasburgica.it

Arco is a delightful town in Trentino and every year it revives the enchanting atmosphere of past times, when the Empress Sissi of Habsburg used to holiday here with her court. Girls dressed as dames and men as gentlemen in typical Habsburg costumes fill the streets of the town, music, dances and finally a Habsburg afternoon tea will entertain the visitors.

HISTORICAL REGATTA
Venice – 6 September 2015
www.regatastoricavenezia.it

The Grand Canal every year during the first Sunday of September becomes a theatre for one of the greatest of Venetian events, the Historical Regatta, dating back to 1315 under the rule of doge Giovanni Soranzo. The Historical Regatta starts out with the colourful procession on water, formed by the Bissone, the Bucintoro and the boats of the Venetian rowing clubs, but also the women's race on Mascarete and that of the youngsters Pupperini.

PALIO DI ASTI in Asti, Piedmont
Asti, 17-20 September 2015
www.palio.asti.it

One of the oldest Palio's in Italy this colourful event sees 21 contestants relive the ancient tradition of the Palio in the historic centre of this charming Piedmont town, famous for its sparkling wine, the Asti spumante. In the days preceding the race, visitors can enjoy many collateral and preparatory events: the Palio of the Flag-wavers, the colourful flea market, the trials of the jockeys on the field. The Palio itself is a difficult challenge requiring all the participants' strength and skill, passion and courage as only one of them will win possession of the crimson banner with the coat of arms of the city and the image of its Patron Saint.

SPORT

90th EDITION OF THE PALIO DEL GOLFO
2 August 2015, La Spezia
www.paliodelgolfo.it
The thirteen hamlets of the Gulf compete to win the Palio aboard handmade boats built by local craftsmen, with special characteristics that make them agile and fast. The sport competition is preceded by parades, events, shows and meetings, which liven up the entire town for days; it finishes late in the evening on the first Sunday of August, with fireworks displays.

BARCOLANA – SAIL RACE
Trieste – 11 October 2015
www.barcolana.it

Every year more than two thousand sails meet in the Gulf of Trieste. The 16 mile nautical route, Europe's biggest sailing event and the only regatta in the world to set a single start line for so many yachts.

Stefania Gatta
Press and communications
Italian National Tourist Board
For the UK and Ireland

NB: information correct at time of publication

June 2015