An ancient land, looking toward the future

Glancing at the calendar of events animating the towns of Umbria during the year, one is immediately struck by the number and variety of traditional events along with the most diverse expression of contemporary creativity. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate: for the local communities, each event is a much anticipated occasion for confirming their roots and identity; for the tourist, it becomes an opportunity to participate in the most genuine and heartfelt expressions of Umbrian culture and folklore.

One breathes the exciting, spectacular atmosphere of once-upon-a-time in the events connected with the seasons of nature or religious celebrations, such as those in honor of St. Francis and St. Rita, the Festival of the Palombella in Orvieto, and the Corpus Christi Floral Decorations in Spello.

These are not just commemorations; they are grand events in which collective involvement and passion give authentic vitality to rites of pagan origin mixed with old Christian devotions, to the chivalrous challenges of medieval times, or to the propitiatory ceremonies of rural life.

The arrival of spring is welcomed in the Calendimaggio in Assisi, and summer is celebrated in the Water Festival in Piediluco. Patron saints are honoured with thrilling, centuries-old festivities steeped in religious devotion and medieval mysticism, such as the Ceri Festival in Gubbio, the Ring Race in Narni, and the Benedictine Celebrations in Norcia, while the St.Valentine’s Day celebration is tied to an event from the earliest days of Christianity.

The bowmen of Gubbio have been competing in the Crossbow Palio since the 15th century, while the challenge among the Terzieri of Città della Pieve is from Renaissance times and the contest between the knights of Foligno in the Quintana Tournament goes back to the 1600s.

The vivacity and originality of contemporary culture has been grafted into this fertile land where a love of celebrations has converged with deep-rooted popular traditions and with refined urban society.

The Umbrians’ age-old passion for festivities and entertainment has thus transformed the region into a fascinating stage for musical, theatrical, and film events, festivals, competitions and exhibitions.

Internationally prestigious events include the Spoleto Festival, Umbria Jazz in Perugia, Terni and Orvieto, the Umbrian Festival of Sacred Music in Perugia, and the Chamber Music Festival of the Nations in Città di Castello, alongside other events of great quality and renown such as the Todiarte Festival, the Gubbio Festival and the Classical Plays plays at the Roman theatre in Gubbio, Baroque Traces in Foligno, and many others.

This calendar presents, in chronological order, the popular festivals, fairs, and art and cultural exhibitions and performances chosen for their national or international importance, their historical significance or their spectacularity. Information on all special occasions taking place in Umbria during the year may be requested at the Servizi Turistici Territoriali – IAT (Area Tourist Services).

Events in Autumn and Winter

UMBRIA JAZZ WINTER - ORVIETO
December-January

Since 1993 Umbria Jazz has been offering this winter festival, with concerts being held in the 19th century Luigi Mancinelli Theatre, the halls of the Emilio Greco Museum, the 14th century Palazzo Soliano, the Hall of the Quattrocento in the Palazzo del Popolo, and the Palazzo dei Sette.

True to its own formula, Umbria Jazz Winter offers concerts from noon till late at night, in the atmosphere of a spectacular New Year’s party, with a great feast on New Year’s Eve.

The New Year’s Day gospel concert is held in the magnificent Cathedral.

OPERA SEASON OF THE A. BELLI
EXPERIMENTAL OPERA THEATRE - SPOLETO
September

Founded in 1947, it is linked to a competition which, since 1988, is open also to newcomers from EU countries.

It usually takes place at the beginning of the year and the winners are admitted to a five-month course held at Rome in collaboration with the Teatro dell’Opera.

At the end of the course follows the opera season at Spoleto which marks the winners’ debuts. Among the many singers who have come out here, are: Renato Bruson, Ruggero Raimondi, Antonietta Stella, Cesare Valletti.

MOSTRA MERCATO NAZIONALE DELL’ANTIQUARIATO - TODI
September-October

Allestita per la prima volta nel 1977, si tiene nei Palazzi Comunali e ospita artigiani di tutta Italia.

Particolare spazio è riservato all’artigianato umbro del mobile, con attenzione ai mobili in stile dal ‘400 al ’700, della ceramica, dei gioielli, del ferro battuto, dei tessuti lavorati a mano, dei ricami, del rame e dell‘ottone lavorati.

Ogni anno viene valorizzata la produzione di una regione italiana, con attività artigianale qualificata.

CHRISTMAS IN UMBRIA
December-January

At Christmas-tide solemn rites are celebrated in the churches of Assisi. Concerts of church music and choirs are held in all the places of worship.

There are many artistic crèches of great beauty to be enjoyed, and also living crèches which are enacted in many towns: at Petrignano and Rocca Sant’angelo (Assisi), Attigliano, Giove and Lugnano in Teverina (Amelia), Scanzano and Marcellano (Foligno), Monteleone d’Orvieto, Calvi (Terni), Perugia, Volterrano (Città di Castello) and Città della Pieve (Trasimeno).

Very spectacular and charming indeed are the Christmas Tree of Gubbio (the largest in the world) and the Comet of Miranda (Terni).

SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY. A YEAR OF LOVING - TERNI
14 th February

This event, first held in 1989, awards a yearly prize in recognition of a special act of love.

Past awards include those assigned to Mr. And Mrs. Green, to the memory of Premier Rabin of Israel, and to the Italian association “Telefono Azzurro”.

Included as part of this event are an exhibition of jewelry and a competition for the loveliest jewel created for Saint Valentine’s Day.

Spring and Summer

SPOLETO FESTIVAL
June-July

It was established by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 with the aim of creating an opportunity for Italian, American and European cultures to meet and exchange ideas.

Today it is one of the most prestigious international events and offers public performances of theatre, dance, opera, concerts, and art exhibitions, as well as films with the Spoletocinema film festival.

Also taking place during the festival are Spoletoscienza, with conferences/debates open to the public and the participation of leading person from the world of science, including winners of the Nobel Prize.

COURSE OF CHAMBER MUSIC
THE GERMANLIED - ACQUASPARTA
July

The course, conducted by Maestro Elio Battaglia, was established in 1973, but has only been held in Acquasparta since 1977. During the course the German Lied is studied in its historical, theoretical, technical and interpretative components.

Amongst those who attended in the past are now world-famous names such as Mauro Trombetta, Lucia Rizzi, Jeanne Marie Bima, Nuccia Focile.

Celebrated artists such as Cathy Berberian, Takao Okumura, Graziella Sciutti, Daniela Uccello have sung in the opening and final concerts.

GUBBIO FESTIVAL
July-August

The “Corsi di perfezionamento musicale” (musical specialization courses) are the heart of the event.

These courses are taught by teachers of international fame and are attended by students from all over the world.

At the end of each session teachers, accompanied by their best pupils, become the protagonists of a dense programme of concerts held in the most characteristic corners of the historic centre.

CLASSICAL PLAYS - GUBBIO
July-August

The summer season of classical plays with over 30 editions.

It is held in the monumental and well-preserved Roman theatre, which provides a suggestive setting for performances of plays by classical writers.

UMBRIA JAZZ - PERUGIA
July

Launched in 1973, today it is one of the most important jazz events in Europe. It has in its time hosted the greatest modern jazz musicians.

The event lasts ten full days: a hundred or so concerts take place from morning to night among the ancient building in the historic centre of Perugia.

During this event Perugia becomes a meeting point for tens of thousands of young people from all over Europe and the United States, who come to meet the most famous contemporary jazz artists.

Besides the concerts, the festival includes a two-week seminar held by the teachers from the prestigious “Berklee” in Boston.

PALIO OF THE BOATS - PASSIGNANO SUL TRASIMENO
July

This is the commemoration of the last act of civil war in Perugia, when a small army of the Oddi family had to flee, boats on their shoulders, from the castle in Passignano, chased by the militias of the Baglioni and Della Corgna families.

The “palio” of the boats involves approximately 160 contestants (40 from each district) in a gruelling race in three separate stages: the first stage rowing from the lake to the shore; the second on foot, carrying the boat on the shoulders, through the steep tiny streets and stairs of the historic center; and finally, the third stage with the boat in the water for a last furious effort by the rowers.

The highly spectacular palio is the only one of its kind in the world, and draws enormous crowds each yea.

MONTEFALCO AUGUST FESTIVAL
August

Small ensembles of strings and wind instruments filling the charming streets and squares of the histotic center with melodies, national and foreign representatives meeting in the cloister of San Francesco, shows for kids, and pleasant evenings in the Taverns of the fascinating procession, the crossbow contests, the flag-wavers, and the choreographic “Flight of the Ox”.

After over thirty years, the success of this festival continues to grow.

CORCIANO FESTIVAL
August

The event was organised for the first time in 1965 as a survey of the visual arts devoted to Umbrian artists.

The ensuing editions have been supplemented with plays, concerts, pageants and conferences on the theme of art.

The programme also comprises an international contest for original compositions of band music.

PALIO DEI TERZIERI - CITTA' DELLA PIEVE
August

It’s an old medieval festival: the three boroughs of the town – Borgo Dentro, Casalino and Castello parade through the streets with about 700 personages in costume, inspired by the works of the most famous figure whose birthplace was Città della Pieve – Pietro Vannucci, known as the “Perugino”.

The processioni is made up of acrobats, jugglers, fire-eaters, cannons, catapults and so on.

On arriving at the “campo de li giochi” (playing field), the fights that were the original Palio of Siena, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Nowadays these “hunts” are represented by archery contests using rotating silhouettes of bulls.

COMMEMORATION OF THE AMELIA CHARTERS
AND THE PALIO OF THE DOVES - AMELIA
August

The Amelia charters of 1346 governed the social and political activities of the Commune of Amelia and also guided civil life.

The historic commemoration of the Charters recreates moments and ceremonies of medieval life in the most suggestive corners of the historic center.

The Palio of the Doves traces back to certain provisions of the Charters, by which shooting at pigeons, one of the most popular games at the time, was strictly forbidden.

The Palio is a contest between the crossbowmen and the knights of the five quarters of the town; the object is to free a group of doves enclosed in a dovecote by shooting with a crossbow at a mechanism that opens the cage, without causing harm to the birds.

A sumptuous procession in 14th century costumes closes the festivities.

TODI ART FESTIVAL
August-September

This event is dedicated to music, theatre, the visual arts, ballet, poetry and literature.

Completely renewed and under new artistic direction, the Festival proposes to promote works by talented young Italians and also to bring the works of foreign artists to the attention of the general public.

The Municipal Theatre, churches, cloisters, and squares of Todi provide a splendid setting to the performances.

UMBRIAN FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC - PERUGIA
August-September

First established in 1937, it is one of the most important and prestigious Umbrian cultural events.

In addition to the principal regional town it also involves some other localities. Merit has been given to the festival for promoting, on the one hand, knowledge of sacred music in Italy and, on the other, twentieth century music.

First works and new musical interpretations are presented here.

Among the guests are some very famous names: orchestra conductors like Karajan, Mitropoulos, Muti; contemporary composers such as Britten, Hindemith, Penderecki, Stockhausen.