Looking for spring or fall festivals in Italy? Here are our recommendations
Carnevale celebrants in Venice on a boat dock in Campo di Sant’Agnese
Some travelers might dismiss festivals as attractions staged for tourists, but especially outside the major tourist centers, traditional local celebrations offer a glimpse into Italy's rich cultural heritage, traditions, art, music and culinary delights.
While we skip the summer festivals in Italy due to the crowds, travel prices and heat, we can recommend a variety of culturally significant festivals in spring and fall. Also, they’re just fun!
Each event provides a unique experience, reflecting the local customs and history of the regions in which they are celebrated.
Here are some of the best festivals during these seasons:
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What are the best spring festivals in Italy?
Carnevale (February/March) - Carnevale typically falls in February. Everyone knows about the most famous celebration in Venice, but other places stage festivals as well, such as Viareggio and Ivrea, where the festival staged in January and February becomes a giant food fight known as the Battle of the Oranges.
Festa di San Giuseppe (March 19) - This festival honors Saint Joseph and is generally celebrated across Italy, though Sicily and other regions of Southern Italy organize particularly vibrant celebrations, with lots of food and traditional processions. Sicilians prepare special altars, known as "tavolate di San Giuseppe," filled with an array of traditional foods, breads, and pastries. In Naples, the day is celebrated with religious processions and special church services.
Infiorata (May/June) - This festival of flowers marks the Corpus Domini feast. Towns like Genzano, Noto, and Spello will showcase intricate flower petal patterns depicting religious and artistic scenes.
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (April/May) - It’s one of the oldest and most prestigious music festivals in Italy, naturally held in the historical artistic center of Italy, Florence. Enjoy opera, concerts, and dance performances.
Giro d'Italia (May) - You don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy one of the world’s most famous cycling races, passing through various regions of Italy. You can join the festivities and excitement in towns along the route.
What are the best fall festivals in Italy?
Festa della Vendemmia (September/October) - Not so much a single event as the center of attention of all Italians each fall, the grape harvest in Italy's wine regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto will be celebrated with wine tastings, grape stomping, and local harvest events.
Alba White Truffle Festival (October/November) - Alba, Piedmont hosts this festival celebrating the prized white truffle. You may be able to join in truffle hunting as well as enjoy tastings and a related market.
Eurochocolate (October) - You’ve seen the Perugia label in chocolate. This Umbrian festival is a must-visit for chocolate lovers, featuring chocolate sculptures, tastings, and workshops.
All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (November 1 and 2) - They’re not the same, but they’re both much more somber than other events. Celebrated throughout Italy with religious processions, you will see offerings of flowers on graves of departed loved ones, and can attend special masses. People across Italy visit cemeteries and pay homage to the departed on All Souls’ Day. All Saints Day is a public holiday, and the Pope delivers a special mass.
Of course, there’s much more. While our trips don’t focus on major festivals or national holidays in Italy, we’ll make sure you connect to local traditions and enjoy the most authentic experiences. Thanks for reading our recommendations.