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Events and celebrations:

In today’s Umbria, a land with age-old and strong traditions and where cultural phenomena are still alive, folk festivals take place over the whole year and they alternate with artistic and cultural celebrations that have recent origin. These are for Umbria another way of showing two faces of its reality: its old-aged soul and modern creativeness. This calendar of the great celebrations that take place in the municipal lands of Orvieto, Todi, Amelia and Spoleto, is a guide that allows the Italian and foreign visitors to find his way about the greatest folk celebrations and artistic performances and exhibitions of national and international importance that takes place in this region all year long.

  In AUTUMN and WINTER
Opera Season in A. Belli experimental theatre: September
  • SPOLETO (PERUGIA)
 This theatre was founded in 1947 an is associated with a contest, that since 1988 has been extended to also to the novices of the EU countries. Usually the contest takes place at the beginning of the year, and the winners are admitted to a course that lasts five months, and that takes place in Rome in collaboration with the Teatro dell’Opera. At the end of the course follows the opera season in Spoleto that marks the debut of the winners. Among many artists that made their debut in it we remember: Renato Bruson, Ruggero Raimondi, Antonietta Stella, Cesare Valletti.
National Antique Fair: From 18 September to 17 October
  • TODI (PERUGIA)
 This fair was organised for the first time in 1977, it takes place in the Palazzi Comunali and receives artisans from all the Italy. A particular attention is showed for the Umbrian handicraft of the pieces of furniture, and in particular for the reproductions from 400 to 700, of the ceramics, jewels, wrought iron, hang-woven materials, the embroidery,  the hand-made brass and copper. Every year the production of an Italian region, that has a skilled handicraft, is brought out.
Umbria Jazz Winter Orvieto: From 30 December to 5 January
  • ORVIETO (TERNI)
 Since 1993 Umbria Jazz offers this winter review that takes place in the glamorous nineteenth-century theatre Luigi Mancinelli and in  the halls of the Emilio Greco Museum in the fourteenth-century Soliano Palace. Faithful to its line, the festival offers concerts from midday late into the night in the treat atmosphere of the end of the year with the great spectacularity of the New Year’s Eve dinner. The closing concert takes place in the Duomo.
Christmas in Umbria: From 24 December to 6 January
  • PERUGIA and TERNI
 During the Christmas very important artistic and living crisps can be admired in many towns: Armenzano and Petrignano (Assisi), Attigliano, Giove e Lugnano in Teverina (Amelia), Scanzano e Marcellano (Foligno), Calvi dell’Umbria (Terni), and Perugia. The Christmas Tree that is dressed in Gubbio, the biggest in the world, and the Comet in Miranda are really spectacular and charming.
S. Valentine a year of love: 14 February
  • TERNI
 The celebration, that the first time took place in 1989, awards a prize every year to someone who distinguished himself for a particular act of love. In 1995 was awarded to Mr and Mrs Green, in 1996 in memory of Israeli Premier Rabin, in 1997 to the “Telefono Azzurro”. Among the several activities we can remember a goldsmith’s art exhibition and a contest that gives a prize to the most beautiful jewel made for Saint Valentine.
  In SPRING and SUMMER

Italian antique dealers’ exhibition: From 27 March to 18 April

  • TODI (PERUGIA)

 It takes place in the thirteenth century splendid halls of the Palazzi Comunali, that stand in the heart of the historic centre. It receives the most important names of the Italian antique dealing. Unique and very precious pieces can be admired in the furniture, paintings, carpets, bronzes, and ceramics.
Corsa dell’anello: From 23 April to 9 May
  • NARNI (TERNI)
 It dates back to 1300 and takes place during the festival of the patron Saint Giovenale. It’s an ability test that the young of the old Terzieri (Fraporta, Mezule, e Santa Maria) made dressed with the traditional costumes trying to run a lance through a ring that is held by two strings suspended between the houses at the beginning of Via Maggiore. On the eve of the run a great parade in period costume files down the street of the city, which are dressed with flags and lighted by torches. Exhibitions, shows and concerts frames this festival.

Cantamaggio: Terni From 27 April to 16 May

  • TERNI

 It’s a folk festival that celebrate the return of spring and the reawakening of the nature from the winter sleep. It dates back to the end of 1800 and has farm origins. In the city districts and in some small towns nearby some groups that prepares floats, destined to parade in the street of the city, have been organised.
Festa della Palombella: 23 May
  • ORVIETO (TERNI)
 This festival was initiated in the XV century for the initiative of Monaldeschi household. The Whit Day a shrine that represents the Empyrean, in which there is a tied dove, is placed on the base of the S. Francesco Church’s cupola, in front of the Duomo; on the Duomo’s flight of steps is placed a gothic tabernacle which represents Last Supper. At midday fireworks leave from the Empyrean, while the dove descend towards the tabernacle along an iron cable. The performance of the ceremony is a prophetic omen for the year.
Corpus Christi: 6 June
  • ORVIETO (TERNI)
 The procession celebrate the miracle that occurred in 1264 in near Bolsena, when a Bohemian priest, who was saying Mass near the tomb of Santa Cristina, saw blood gushing that stained his corporal and his liturgical linen. Since then the old and precious relic has been carried all over the city. Followed by an historical parade, composed by 400 walks-on, recalls for the variety and richness of its costumes the time when Orvieto was a wonderful pontifical seat: in fact, 33 popes lived here. The festival eve is honoured by a parade of ladies, musicians and flag-wavers in fourteenth-century costume.
Festival dei due mondi: From 19 June to 11 July
  • SPOLETO (PERUGIA)
 It was initiated by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 in order to create a point of contact and exchange among the Italian, American and European culture. Nowadays is one of the most prestigious festival at international level and offers exhibition of prose, ballet, shows and films within the review Spoletocinema.
Festa delle Acque: From 1 July to 4 July
  • PIEDILUCO  (TERNI)
 It’s a celebration with a very old tradition. In fact, since very far-off times the summer solstice was celebrated with rites, lustration, fires, passing of allegoric ships on the waters. This festival, that has maintained its original characteristics over the time, has been constantly enriched by new activities, and nowadays it presents a night passing of decorated and lighted ships, pyrotechnic fireworks, shows and plays and a series of classical music concerts.
Umbria Jazz: Perugia, Terni, Cortona From 9 July to 18 July
  • PERUGIA and TERNI
 It one of the most important and known jazz review of the world. At any time of the day and until late at night the most important American, European and Italian jazzmen play with their bands in every place of the city in exciting and involving concert.
Todi Festival: From 26 August to 5 September
  • TODI (PERUGIA)
 It’s a review of prose, music, ballets, and cultural meetings. The festival, that was initiated in 1987, aims at increasing the value of the works of the talented young men and at bringing the works of famous artists to the public knowledge. Foreign artists with their works will take part in it as guests. Cloisters, churches and theatre in the historic centre will be the splendid and attracting background of these performances.