26 Jun 2018
ITALIAN EVENTS NEWSLETTER – SUMMER 2018
ART EXIBITIONS
ASCOLI PICENO
COLA OF AMATRICE – ECCENTRIC PAINTER BETWEEN PINTURICCIO AND RAPHAEL
Until 30 Oct 2018
Museo Civico
FLORENCE
STEVE MC CURRY
Until 6 Sep 2018
Villa Bardini
MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ
21 September 2018- 20 January 2019
Palazzo degli Strozzi
www.palazzostrozzi.org/mostre/marina-abramovic/
MILAN
MASTERPIECES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
Until 2 Sep 2018
Palazzo Reale
PAUL KLEE AND THE EUROPEAN PRIMITIVISM
26 Sep 2018- 27 Jan 2019
Mudec – Museum of Cultures
ROME
TRAJAN. BUILDING THE EMPIRE, CREATING EUROPE
Until 16 Sep 2018
Marcati di Traiano
SORRENTO
FRANCIS BACON – FROM THE BARRY JOULE COLLECTION
Until 4 Nov 2018
Villa Fiorentino in Sorrento
VENICE
BIENNALE D'ARTE
Until 26 November 2018
Various locations
HOMO FABER – CRAFTING A MORE HUMAN FUTURE
14-30 Sept. 2018
Fondazione Giorgio Cini
San Giorgio Maggiore Island
www.michelangelofoundation.org/homofaber
NEW MUSEUMS/ ATTRACTIONS/EVENTS
NEW CASANOVA MUSEUM & EXPERIENCE IN VENICE
A new museum, dedicated to the one of Venice's most influential sons, Giacomo Casanova, opened in the city in April. The museum shows various objects belonging to Casanova and recreates ambiences of the golden era of the Serenissima at the time.
NEW KOOLHAAS TORRE FOR THE FONDAZIONE PRADA MUSEUM IN MILAN
The new Torre Bianca of the Fondazione Prada, designed by the Dutch architect Koolhaas has been inaugurated recently in Milan. The tower is 60 metres high, 2000sqms of art spaces spread over 6 floors and it is made of glass and concrete. On show works by Jeff Koons, Walter De Maria, Pino Pascali, Damien Hirst and Carsten Hoeller amongst others. On the top floor there is a restaurant with panoramic views over the city.
RE-OPENING OF THE ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA DI CERRATE IN LECCE, PUGLIA
The Abbazia di Santa Maria di Cerrate in Lecce in Puglia has re-opened after extensive restoration works. The church is a splendid example of Romanic Architecture typical of Puglia with important frescoes dating from the 12th century. A new hotel “Casa del Massaro” where one can stay for a relaxing holiday is due to open soon.
FESTIVALS AND OTHER CULTURAL EVENTS
LA NOTTE ROSA – PINK NIGHT
Adriatic coast of Emilia Romagna and Marche
6 July 2018
For one night the entire Riviera (Romagna and Marche) 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 Senigallia, 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.
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
Venice, 29 Aug – 8 Sept 2018 (programme tbc)
Venice will host the 75th 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.
FESTIVAL DELLA MENTE
Sarzana – Liguria 31 Aug - 2 Sep 2018
Festival della Mente is Europe's first event dedicated to creativity. It brings together Italian and foreign writers, artists, musicians, architects, film and theatre directors as well as scientists and philosophers who investigate the nature of this most fascinating and mysterious human skill.
FESTIVAL LETTERATURA
Mantua – 5-9 Sep. 2018
This year's “Festivaletteratura” builds on tradition, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner will take part to this ever more successful Festival of Literature hosted by the art city of Mantua.
SPORT
MONZA MOTOR GRAND PRIX
31 Aug -2 September 2018, Monza
http://it.motorsport.com/track/monza/
Iconic Formula 1 Motor GP in the Monza race track, an unmissable appointment for all fast cars lovers.
BARCOLANA – SAIL RACE
Trieste – 14 October 2018
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.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTS/FOLKLORE
THE PALIO OF SIENA
Siena – July 2nd/ August 16th 2018
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).
QUINTANA OF ASCOLI PICENO
Ascoli Piceno – 14 Jul and 5 August 2018
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.
FESTIVAL OF THE REDENTORE
Venice – 14- 15 July 2018
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.
PALIO DEI NORMANNI DI PIAZZA ARMERINA
Piazza Armerina, Sicily – 12,13, 14 August 2018
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.
LA TORTA DEI FIESCHI,
Cogorno and Lavagna (Genoa), 13-14 August 2018
On 13th August in San Salvatore di Cogorno takes place the "Addiu du Fantin", a medieval reconstruction of the bachelor party of Count Opizzo Fieschi with dances, antique music, flags games and knights. One day after, 14th August, not far away in Lavagna, takes place the medieval reconstruction of the marriage of Bianca De' Bianchi with Opizzo Fieschi, better known as "Torta dei Fieschi" (Fieschi's Cake): a giant wedding cake, prepared for the occasion by local confectioners, is distributed to all participants in the event.
HISTORICAL REGATTA
Venice – 2 September 2018
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, 2 September 2018
http://www.comune.asti.it/index.php?id_sezione=943
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.
THE MACCHINA DI SANTA ROSA PROCESSION
Viterbo - September 3rd 2018
Each year the Medieval town of Viterbo in Lazio renews the festivities in honour of its Holy Patron Saint. 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.
SAGRA DEL FUOCO – FIRE FESTIVAL
Recco (Genoa) 7-8 Sep 2018
The celebrations in honour of the Our Lady of the Suffragio are known all over Italy, for the grandeur of the firework displays, which explode to illuminate the sky of Recco. It is the 7 quarters of Recco which challenge each other; they avail themselves of the best Italian masters of fireworks displays. During the same time the solemn procession of 8th September takes place through the streets of the town with the Arca Argentea Suffragina and the magnificent wooden Crucifixes of the Ligurian Brotherhoods.
Stefania Gatta
Press and communications Executive
Italian National Tourist Board – London
NB: Information correct at time of publication, Jun 2018
