On July 29 until August 2 the Effetto Venezia is back, the usual kermis has been enlivening the splendid district of Nuova Venezia (or more simply La Venezia) of Livorno since 1986. It is difficult to set out this “hotchpotch” of events that includes theatrical and musical performances of any type, with the guitti (strolling players) trying to draw in the passers-by, exhibitions of artists, some famous, other less, games and many other indoor and outdoor initiatives involving the whole eighteenth-century district (partially destroyed during the Second World War), with its typical canals, open to speedboats, and its “campielli”, the vaulted bridges and palaces, many of which are open to the public for the occasion.

There will be also many markets of antique and modern collectibles, many for charity purposes. It is really impossible to sum up the countless events scheduled. It is also impossible not to find something we like: theatre, street theatre, folklore, classical music, jazz, rock, markets of any type, tasting, sea contests, and fireworks which, the last night, will explode in the stunning setting of the Medicean Port…And if you are not interested in anything of all this, it will be a one-off show to walk and dive into the atmosphere of this little Venice of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which in August seems to celebrate its off-season Carnival….

Further information on

☞ www.effettovenezia.it

The famous Antiques Fair of Arezzo is one of the most important and largest antique fairs in Italy, held every first Sunday of the month and the preceding Saturday.

Pictures and paintings, small jewels, ancient and modern furniture, carpets, clocks, silverware, toys, books and vintage prints, collection stamps, musical instruments, gramophones and radios: it is easy to be charmed and indulge in discovering one of the biggest and oldest Italian Antiques Fairs. 

In 1968 a famous antiquarian and collector of Arezzo, Ivan Bruschi, gave birth to this fair which still today fills with its curious bric-a-brac the old town centre, its streets, yards, Vasari Loggia and wonderful Piazza Grande, every first weekend of the month.

For two days the town changes into a multicolor scenery of treasures waiting to be discovered by tourists and collectors: over five hundreds exhibitors from all over Italy meet here with their furniture and objects of all periods and styles, while antiquarians and restorers have multiplied their business, opening their shops during the fair and showing their best items. Experts of antiques and modern antique collecting find here plenty of particular specializations, such as, for instance, scientific tools, Art-Nouveau stained glass windows, Art Deco furnishing.

🎶 Virtuoso & Belcanto in Lucca: the heart of classical music beats in Tuscany 🎻

In the heart of enchanting Lucca, a city full of wonders, a magical curtain rises every summer: the Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival, where young talents, international masters, and music lovers gather to celebrate the great Italian musical tradition.

🎼 Masterclasses, concerts, cultural events, and top-level improvisations turn historic theatres, churches, and piazzas into places where music is not just heard… it’s felt.

Many concerts are free of charge. Full program here:

https://www.virtuosobelcanto.com

First Sunday of the month: museums free entrance

It is a very important event involving all the State Museums with specials and free tickets access. Therefore, if you plan to visit Florence, Pisa, Lucca or any other Tuscan town our countless masterpieces without spending one Euro!

For instance in Florence you can visit: the Uffizi Gallery, Academy Museum, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum, Medici Chapels, and many other attractions. All of them free of charge!

List of  State Museums in Tuscany HERE. 

The 2026 edition of the "Medieval Dinner" will be held on 3rd August in the enchanted village of Castellina di Serravalle.

The convivial moment will begin at 8 pm, with many dishes taken from original recipes of the time, in a magical setting of games, duels and music ranging from the Middle Ages.

Cost: 30 Euro per person.

Reservation is required at

+39 3295478907

🏹 Palio di San Lodovico 2025: Three Days in the Heart of the Middle Ages

📍 Serravalle Pistoiese – Rocca di Castruccio

📅 August 4, 18, and 19, 2025

One of the most eagerly awaited events of the Tuscan summer returns: the Palio di San Lodovico, now in its 30th edition, ready to bring back the medieval atmosphere in the stunning setting of the Rocca di Castruccio.

An event that blends history, tradition, and a passion for archery, taking the audience on a fascinating journey through time, among ladies, knights, and ancient rivalries.

🗓️ Full Program:

🔸 August 4 – Palio dei Mercenari - in Castellina di Serravalle

A medieval archery competition open to all: a unique opportunity to try your hand at archery and dive into the spirit of the Middle Ages, among vibrant colors, challenges, and fair play.

🔸 August 18 – Palio dei Rioni

The most anticipated event: the battle for the “cencio”, the traditional banner, between the four districts of Serravalle, each supported by its own mercenary. The oldest medieval archery tournament in Tuscany remains a beloved classic, full of historic rivalries, cheering, and excitement.

🔸 August 19 – Historical Parade for San Lodovico

The event ends in style with the historic parade in honor of San Lodovico, the patron saint of Serravalle Pistoiese. A solemn and spectacular moment, featuring dozens of figures in period costumes parading through the streets of the town.

🎯 A journey into the past for the whole family, with shows, emotions, and reenactments that bring the medieval soul of the village back to life.

The Feast of St. Ludovico started in the fourteenth century as eternal gratitude to Louis of Anjou for having saved by a miracle, the garrison of soldiers who had defended properly the castle Serravalle and its populace by a long and exhausting siege of the armies of Lucca.

The Palio dei Rioni of St. Ludovico was begun in 1992 by a group of friends and fans of medieval history and archery. From this passion, also related to the miracle of St. Ludovico, derived the idea of recalling the historical events by challenging the four quarters of Serravalle: Serravalle, Castellina, Masotti, Ponte di Serravalle.

Archers of each district are wearing special clothes with different colours for each district: ones of Serravalle white and black, blue and red Masotti, Ponte di Serravalle green and red and green and brown ones of Castellina.
The race consists of 4 sessions of 3 arrows per archer to shoot each target with the own emblem depicted at a distance of 18 meters. The highest score will be the winner.

For the competition only historical arches are used. The rules require that each district has to have 5 archers, plus a reserve at the discretion of the districts themselves, one of which can be "bought" on the basis of the results of a special Palio, "The Palio of the Mercenary" which takes place on  August 17 at 9.30 pm, the evening before the Palio dei Rioni, which is traditionally held on August 18 at 9.30.

More Info: 

www.prolocoserravallepistoiese.it 

In the heart of Florence, the historic spaces of Palazzo Medici Riccardi host an exhibition that brings back the elegance and creative energy of the 1920s.

“Firenze Déco. Atmosfere degli anni Venti” (Florence Déco. Atmospheres of the 1920s) is an exhibition that highlights the central role of the city in the spread of Art Déco in Italy and across Europe. Promoted by the Metropolitan City of Florence and organized by Fondazione MUS.E, curated by Lucia Mannini, the exhibition tells the story of an extraordinary decade in which Florence established itself as a refined center for applied arts, fashion, design, and theatre.

The exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through ceramics, glass, furniture, jewelry, textiles, garments, and posters, recreating the cultural atmosphere of the 1920s and the dialogue between tradition and international avant-garde.

Among the featured figures are Gio Ponti, Galileo Chini and Thayaht, alongside refined creations loved by high society and objects that reflect the cosmopolitan taste of the era.

🕒 Practical Information

📅 Until: August 25, 2026

📍 Location: Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

⏰ Opening hours: daily 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed on Wednesdays)

The exhibition, hosted in the rooms of Palazzo delle Papesse, a Renaissance residence once belonging to Caterina Piccolomini, sister of Pope Pius II, documents the flourishing production of domestic art that developed in Siena between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Through more than eighty works, furnishings such as marriage chests, wall panels, daybeds, headboards, textile artefacts and household objects will take centre stage in an exhibition route designed to reveal the richness and variety of a figurative culture intended to decorate domestic interiors.

Opening hours: every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Thursday from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm.

The Vasari Corridor opens in the evening: sunset visits above Florence from 3 July to 20 November

Florence offers a new special opportunity to experience one of its most fascinating places at a truly evocative time of day: the Vasari Corridor will be open in the evening, at sunset, every Friday from 3 July to 20 November.

An event to mark in your diary if you love art, history and authentic experiences in the heart of the city.

A suspended route between art, history and views

The Vasari Corridor is one of the most famous elevated walkways in the world. It connects the Uffizi Galleries to Palazzo Pitti, crossing the historic centre of Florence and passing over Ponte Vecchio.

It was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1565 at the request of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, with the aim of allowing the grand ducal family to move safely and privately between their private residence at Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio.

Today, this extraordinary route is part of the Uffizi Galleries museum complex and has reopened to visitors after major works to improve safety and accessibility.

Evening visits at sunset

From 3 July to 20 November, there will be 21 evening appointments, every Friday, with guided visits from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

The experience offers the chance to discover the Vasari Corridor in a different atmosphere, when daylight gives way to the warm colours of sunset and Florence reveals itself from a unique perspective: from above, suspended over the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.

Along the route, visitors will be able to admire not only the historic structure of the corridor, but also views over the city and the more than fifty Roman busts that now enrich the display.

Useful information

Visits are by reservation only and are organised in groups of up to 25 people.

Period: from 3 July to 20 November

Day: every Friday

Time: from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Last admission: 9:50 pm

Meeting point: Uffizi square, Loggia dei Lanzi side

Recommended arrival: at least 10 minutes before the scheduled visit time

Book here

This wonderful Mountain Garden hosts botanical and forestry species typical of the Alto Appennino Pistoiese region: coloured mountain flowers, carnivore and medicinal plants, majestic trees, to be admired accompanied by the gentle murmuring of the Sestaione stream.

Due to the low temperatures and specific micro-climate of the area, this Botanical Garden also includes several Alpine species which have established, in this Apennine section, their southernmost growing limit; an example of this is the red fir (Picea abies), a relic of the last glaciation, which continues to reproduce spontaneously in the nearby Riserva di Campolino.

OPENING HOURS 2026

ABETONE – Forest Botanical Garden

From 27 June to 6 September

Open from Tuesday to Sunday:

9:30 am–12:30 pm and 3:00 pm–6:00 pm

Guided tours:

9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm

Closed in cas of bad weather

Montecarlo Summer Evenings 2026

Event Schedule 

An opportunity to enjoy the magic of summer evenings together, surrounded by art, emotion and shared experiences in the heart of Montecarlo.

📍 Montecarlo (Lucca).

🗓️ From June to August.

🎟️ Free admission, unless otherwise specified.

ℹ️ For information:

📞 +39 0583 229725

Open-air cinema in Pistoia at the Porta al Borgo arena, via delle Pentole 4. Begin at 9:30 PM, costs 6 euros (full price) or 5 euros (reduced price, for children aged 3 to 14 and adults over 65).

Program in the picture. Movies in Italian.

Open-air cinema in Monsummano in the Parc of Villa Renatico Martini, Via Gragnano 349, Monsummano Terme.

Begin at 9.30 pm

Programm in the picture

This year, open-air cinema returns to the Castello dell'Imperatore in Prato with reduced ticket prices of 3.5 euros for Italian and European films, while the cost for non-European films is 6.5 euros. Screenings start at 9:45 PM. There are 200 numbered seats available, and tickets can be purchased at the box office starting one hour before the film begins, but it is recommended to buy tickets online on the this website. The presale allows you to book and choose your seat.

Program - Movies in Italian in the pictures

San Lorenzo and Midsummer Concert in Pistoia

On Saturday, August 8 at 9:30 PM, the beautiful Piazza del Duomo in Pistoia will host one of the most anticipated events of the summer: the traditional San Lorenzo and Ferragosto Concert, part of the Estate in Musica festival.

The evening will feature the Filarmonica Borgognoni, one of the most vibrant and beloved musical ensembles in the area, conducted by the ever-passionate Maestro Cini. More than thirty musicians will take the stage to lead the audience on a musical journey through iconic songs by Italian and international singer-songwriters, with a special focus on light music – the kind that makes us sing, remember, and feel, with simplicity and beauty.

📍 Free concert, Friday, August 8 – 9:30 PM – Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia

🎺 Filarmonica Borgognoni – Conductor: M° Cini

Lucca – “E lucevan le stelle”, August 10, 2026

On August 10, the night of San Lorenzo, music will take center stage in Lucca. Starting at 9:15 PM, the Lucca city walls will become a truly exceptional stage, hosting a series of small concerts, primarily classical music.

The bastions between San Paolino and the Baluardo della Libertà will feature musical performances, with dedicated spaces for musicians and seating available for the audience. The casermette (guardhouses) will be open, animated by costumed historical reenactors.

Additionally, Guinigi Tower and Torre delle Ore will be exceptionally open in the evening: visits can be made by purchasing a ticket on-site or booking through the Summae online platform.

Free admission. A magical night of music and history, under the stars of Lucca.

From 11 June 2026 until August, a new edition of Ville & Giardini Incantati will take place: the festival that, on summer evenings, brings the great classical music of the ORT to the Medici Villas of the area.

Now in its 10th edition, Ville e Giardini Incantati in Florence is a project by Fondazione ORT, in collaboration with the Ville and Monumental Residences of Florence, directed by architect Federica Bergamini.

The 2026 edition of Ville e Giardini Incantati features 15 concerts in 10 enchanting locations in the Florentine area and beyond — places that come back to life through sound, creating a wonderful encounter between architecture, landscape and music.

The venues of the 2026 edition

Seven Medici Villas and Gardens will host the concerts: Villa della Petraia, Villa di Poggio a Caiano, Villa di Cerreto Guidi, Villa La Magia in Quarrata, Parco di Pratolino, and, making a welcome return this year, the Giardino di Castello and Villa La Ferdinanda in Artimino.

Also included are Forte di Belvedere, Cava Barghetti at Palazzo Mediceo in Seravezza, and, new for 2026, Villa di Poggio Reale in Rufina.

Concert calendar of Ville e Giardini Incantati 2026 in Florence and the surrounding area

Thursday, 11 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 12 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, 13 June 2026 – Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, Vaglia, 6:30 p.m.

Diego Ceretta, conductor

Orchestra della Toscana

Mendelssohn – The Hebrides, overture op. 26

Schubert – Symphony No. 4 D 417, “Tragic”

Opening the programme is Diego Ceretta, principal conductor of the ORT, with a programme that immediately creates a dialogue between nature and form.

Mendelssohn’s overture The Hebrides was born from a direct impression of the Scottish landscape, transformed into sound through a clear and fluid orchestral gesture.

Alongside it, Schubert’s Fourth Symphony, “Tragic”, reveals another kind of tension — more inward-looking — built on sharp contrasts and on writing that already looks beyond Classicism.

Wednesday, 17 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Ferdinanda, Artimino, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, 18 June 2026 – Forte di Belvedere, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 19 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, 20 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Sieva Borzak, conductor

Enrico Ruberti, double bass

Orchestra della Toscana

Beethoven – The Creatures of Prometheus, overture

Hoffmeister – Concerto for double bass and orchestra No. 1

Haydn – Symphony No. 86

The second programme introduces a less usual presence at the centre of the stage: the double bass.

With Sieva Borzak on the podium and Enrico Ruberti as soloist, Hoffmeister’s Concerto restores to the instrument a brilliant and virtuosic dimension, far removed from its usual supporting role.

Around it are two works focused on movement and energy: the overture from Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus and Haydn’s Symphony No. 86, a mature example of balance between formal structure and invention.

Saturday, 27 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi, 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 – Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, 9:30 p.m.

Julio Garcia Vico, conductor

Donato De Sena, trumpet

Orchestra della Toscana

Mendelssohn – Das Märchen von der schönen Melusine, overture

Neruda – Concerto for trumpet and orchestra, transcribed from the horn

Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 4 op. 90, “Italian”

With Julio Garcia Vico, the musical journey moves towards a more narrative and theatrical dimension.

Mendelssohn returns with the overture The Fair Melusine, a musical tale suspended between legend and transformation, while the Trumpet Concerto attributed to Neruda — here entrusted to Donato De Sena — highlights an unexpected vocal quality of the instrument, capable of singing with lightness and momentum.

The programme closes with the “Italian” Symphony, a bright and rhythmic work that conveys a luminous and dynamic idea of travel.

Saturday, 4 July 2026 – Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza, Cava Barghetti, 7:00 p.m.

Semplicemente Ornella

The ORT Brass & Rhythm Section

Lucia Sargenti, voice

Music by Ornella Vanoni

Arrangements by Demetrio Bonvecchio

Alongside the symphonic programmes, the festival also maintains a distinctive space for more cross-disciplinary projects.

Semplicemente Ornella brings to the Villas a different repertoire, linked to Italian singer-songwriter tradition: Lucia Sargenti’s voice moves through the arrangements of the ORT Brass, supported by a rhythm section made up of piano, electric bass and drums, evoking with elegance a sound world of nuance, memory and storytelling.

Sunday, 12 July 2026 – Garden of the Villa Medicea di Castello, 6:30 p.m.

Sextours Concertants

ORT Sextet

Mozart – Grand Concertante Sextet for string sextet from the Sinfonia Concertante K 364, anonymous 1808 transcription

Tchaikovsky – Souvenir de Florence op. 70, for string sextet

The chamber-music dimension finds a compact form in Sextuors Concertants, where the dialogue between instruments becomes the true centre of the musical discourse.

The sextet transcription of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante focuses the listener’s attention on a close and transparent interweaving of lines, while Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence broadens the expressive palette, alternating lyrical momentum with structural tension.

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 – Villa Medicea La Magia, Quarrata, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 17 July 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

The ORT Strings

Giacomo Bianchi, violin and concertmaster

Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Tchaikovsky – Serenade for Strings op. 48

On one side, the almost nocturnal lightness of Eine kleine Nachtmusik; on the other, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, which transforms writing for strings into dense and singable material, capable of combining formal elegance with emotional intensity.

Saturday, 1 August 2026 – Villa di Poggio Reale, Rufina, 9:30 p.m.

Michaël Cousteau, conductor

Letizia Bertoldi, trumpet

Orchestra della Toscana

Mozart – La finta giardiniera, overture K 196

Mozart – “Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio” K 418

Pasquale Anfossi – Il curioso indiscreto, overture

Mozart – “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from The Magic Flute

Mozart – Symphony No. 36 K 425, “Linz”

In Rufina, at Villa di Poggio Reale, the journey ends with a programme focused on the musical theatre of Mozart and his contemporaries.

Michaël Cousteau conducts the Orchestra della Toscana together with soprano Letizia Bertoldi, moving through overtures and arias that create a dialogue between orchestral brilliance and vocal virtuosity: from the theatrical lightness of La finta giardiniera to the dramatic tension of The Magic Flute.

Information and tickets

Concerts begin at 9:30 p.m.

Parco Mediceo di Pratolino and the Garden of Villa Medicea di Castello: 6:30 p.m.

Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza – Cava Barghetti: 7:00 p.m.

Concert duration: approximately 60 minutes, with no interval.

Single-seat ticket: €15.00; €12.00 for Unicoop Firenze members, plus any booking fees depending on the purchase channel.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office of Teatro Verdi, Via Ghibellina 97, tel. 055 212320; at Box Office – Ticketone sales points; online on Ticketone; and at the venue before the concert only if not sold out in advance.

For concerts at the Villas of Quarrata, Seravezza and at Forte di Belvedere, admission is free with reservation.

For Forte di Belvedere and Seravezza, reservations are available from 6 June online via Eventbrite or by phone at 055 0681726.

For Quarrata, reservations are available from 1 July by phone at 0573 771500, Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

The Cathedral of Siena contains numerous masterpieces from every epoch. A work that in many respects is exceptional, is the floor, "the most beautiful ... largest and most magnificent ... that ever was made" in the words of Giorgio Vasari, the fruit of a plan that took on concrete form through the centuries, from the XIV century up to the XVIII century. 

The techniques employed to transfer the ideas of the various artists onto the floor are marble intarsia and graffito: the procedure was initially quite simple but gradually attained a surprising degree of perfection: the first depictions were scratched onto slabs of white marble using a chisel and a drill, and the signs then filled with black stucco. This technique is known as "graffito". Then, coloured marble was employed in much the same manner as wood inlaying. This technique is called "marble intarsia".

The 56 intarsia of the floor are still largely in its original condition. As these artworks are quite sensitive, the entire floor is shown only a few weeks a year. Otherwise, the ground is covered and only a few works are visible for the many tourists that visit the Cathedral of Siena. 

Floor uncovering period in 2026: 27 June – 31 July; 18 August – 15 November 2026.

FREE ENTRY TO ALL CONCERTS

LUCCA JAZZ DONNA 2026

📍 Venue: Cloister of Santa Caterina at Real Collegio | Time: 9:15 PM | Admission: free

Five evenings dedicated to women in jazz, featuring performers, composers and musicians from a wide range of artistic backgrounds. The programme moves from a cappella singing to contemporary jazz, from Italian songwriting to Mediterranean and Sephardic sounds, with touches of pop, Brazilian music and musical theatre.

Thursday 6 August – Real Collegio

The opening evening is mainly devoted to the voice and its many expressive possibilities.

Il Quinto Elemento is an all-female vocal quintet performing a cappella, without instrumental accompaniment. The five voices intertwine through refined harmonies, rhythms and arrangements, becoming a true musical ensemble.

In Song of Life, Silvia Benesperi’s voice meets the piano of Piero Frassi and the clarinet and saxophone of special guest Nico Gori. The project offers melodic and elegant jazz, in which singing enters into dialogue with instrumental improvisation.

The evening concludes with Heartsongs, a vocal ensemble accompanied by piano and enriched by the presence of Emanuele Marsico on vocals and trumpet. The concert brings together jazz sensitivity, vocal harmonies and intimate, emotional atmospheres.

Thursday 13 August – Real Collegio

An evening characterised by the meeting of different cultures, repertoires and musical languages.

Arabesque – Trame intrecciate, da Turandot a Chiquinha Gonzaga offers a musical journey connecting seemingly distant worlds. The project explores operatic influences, jazz, South American rhythms and Brazilian music, with an ensemble featuring piano, electric bass, drums, saxophone and bass clarinet.

This is followed by Canzoni raccolte, an intimate and sophisticated repertoire led by Paola Bivona on vocals and ukulele. Guitar, trumpet, double bass and drums accompany a selection of songs reinterpreted with light, refined acoustic sounds, blending jazz, singer-songwriter music and folk influences.

Thursday 20 August – Real Collegio

The third evening explores instrumental jazz and the musical traditions of the Mediterranean.

Quarta Fase brings together tenor saxophone, piano, electric bass and drums. The group performs energetic contemporary jazz, in which written sections alternate with improvisation and dialogue between the instruments. Roberta Brighi’s voice adds a further expressive dimension to the quartet’s sound.

With La Reina – Nawawi Sepharad, singer and composer Tiziana Nauaui takes the audience on a journey inspired by Sephardic culture. Voice, piano, double bass and drums reinterpret melodies and influences from the Spanish-Jewish tradition through contemporary arrangements, Mediterranean atmospheres and musical languages close to jazz and world music.

Thursday 27 August – Real Collegio

Three different projects shape an evening devoted to voice, musical composition and storytelling.

Per Elisa is an intimate performance for voice and piano by Giulia Vazzoler. It is a personal and reflective concert in which singer-songwriter traditions meet jazz influences and piano arrangements.

Dannate Salvatrici brings together the voice of Martina Lupi, the accordion and piano of Manuel Petti, and the guitars of Mattia Lotini. The project has a strongly narrative and theatrical character and tells the stories of intense, unconventional female figures. Its sound ranges from Italian songwriting to folk music, with jazz and Mediterranean nuances.

The evening concludes with A due voci, a project led by singer, songwriter and composer Lucia Filaci together with saxophonist Vittorio Cuculo. Voice and saxophone become the central figures in a musical dialogue supported by piano, keyboards, double bass, electric bass and drums. The result is modern, lyrical and dynamic jazz, in which composition and improvisation meet.

Sunday 20 September – Church of San Francesco

The final concert takes place in the evocative setting of the Church of San Francesco.

The first part of the evening features Katia Karen & Safyre, an ensemble consisting of vocals, guitar, bass and drums. The group presents a repertoire combining jazz, soul, pop and contemporary sounds, enhanced by the distinctive vocal personality of Katia Karen Piacentini.

This is followed by Dialoghi immaginari – Gaber e De André: dilemmi, anomalie e illogiche allegrie, an original tribute to two great figures of Italian songwriting. Maria Laura Baccarini’s voice is accompanied by piano, accordion, string instruments, cello, drums and percussion.

The songs of Giorgio Gaber and Fabrizio De André are reinterpreted as an imaginary dialogue combining irony, poetry, social commitment and reflections on the human condition. More than a traditional concert, the performance takes the form of a musical and theatrical narrative, alternating profound moments, evocative atmospheres and passages of subtle lightness.

Opera concerts in which at least 2 singers alternate among the most beautiful voices of the national opera scene accompanied on the piano. The most famous opera arias from the repertoire of Italian and international opera are scheduled, as well as the most famous classic Neapolitan songs.

90 minutes of live music with a break during which guests can enjoy a typical sweet of the city.

The concerts will take place every Wednesday from April to October  in the Music Hall of the Grand Hotel Croce di Malta in Montecatini Terme in Via IV Novembre, 18 at 9.15 pm.

Tickets can be booked by calling +39 3518066988 or by sending an email to info@operaconcerto.it even on the day of the concert.

Further information is available on the website

www.thebestofopera.com.

Villa Reale di Marlia – Le Rinascenze, August 5 ad 6, 2026

The art festival “Le Rinascenze” returns in its night edition, set among the enchanting gardens of Villa Reale di Marlia on San Lorenzo weekend.

From 6:00 PM to midnight on Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10, the park will come alive with theatre, performances, art exhibitions, cultural talks, and much more.

Numerous artists will bring the gardens to life with shows and performances: dancers, painters, actors, photographers, improvisers, singers, sculptors, and jugglers, ready to amaze audiences of all ages.

As always, the performances will be rich and varied: theatre, choral concerts, classical and pop music, fire shows, bubble art, acrobatics, comedy, ethnic and oriental dances, plus the unmissable “luminous butterflies.”

For children: puppet shows, storytellers, magicians, and magic tricks.

The night will once again be lit by video-mapping shows, projecting geometry, color, and light to create an enchanting spectacle of luminous effects.

Also unmissable is the art salon, featuring cultural encounters including a special talk in collaboration with the Capannori Astronomical Observatory, perfect for stargazing on the Night of San Lorenzo.

✨ New for this year: an arts and crafts market will line the avenue leading from the entrance to Villa Reale.

📄 Full program available here>

Abetone Blueberry Festival

From Friday 7 to Wednesday 12 August 2026, the village of Abetone will be dressed for celebration as it hosts the traditional Blueberry Festival, an event dedicated to one of the most precious fruits of the mountain summer.

For six days, the town centre will become a showcase for the finest products of the Apennines, with authentic flavours, local specialities, handicrafts made from woodland materials, and an atmosphere that reflects the traditions of mountain life.

The festival will also feature games, shows, music and entertainment for adults and children alike, creating a lively atmosphere of celebration, togetherness and tradition.

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, August 8, 22 and 29,

from 7:30 PM to midnight

For an evening of pure relaxation, pamper yourself with a soothing bath under the stars in the thermal pool with rejuvenating whirlpools and

reinvigorate yourself with a steam bath in Europe's largest thermal cave at 34°C.

Includes:

Steam bath in natural thermal cave at 34°C (20 minutes)

Bathing under the stars in the 750 sqm thermal pool at 34°C with underwater whirlpools

Bathing in the Bioaquam thermal path at 34°C with rejuvenating whirlpools

Access to the Thermarium area

Access to the "Bioaquam Pavilion" the new covered and heated relaxation area of 310 m2

Lounge music

€35.00 by reservation

Bioaquam Café poolside open with à la carte menu

(payment upon consumption)

For more information, call 

+39 0572/9077992 or email terme@grottagiustispa.com

https://terme.grottagiustispa.com

On Sunday 9 and 16 August the Etruscan town from dawn to sunset will suddenly take a trip back in time with the „Feast Day in Anno Domini 1398“.

On these two days, the medieval town of 1398 will be recreated in the historical centre with markets, craftsmen, musicians, jugglers, townsfolk and nobles. It‘s a great chance to plunge into the magical atmosphere of the Middle Ages in one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany. On this occasion, the „Grosso Volterrano“, the coin used in the town during the Middle Ages, will be minted again and will be the only currency in circulation during „Feast Dayin Anno Domini 1398“. Craft products, food, wine and many other things can only be purchased with this coin which is available at the bureaux de change. Any unused coins can be later converted back into Euro at the Tourist Office. 

More info https://volterra1398.it/

The Sacred Belt of the Prato Cathedral is a thin strip of green fabric with gold brocades and a green tassel and band at the ends. As told in an ancient oriental apocryphal text after the Blessed Virgin's death St. Thomas was carried by angels to the mount of Olives; there he contemplated the Virgin while she was taken up into the Heaven, and received the gift of the belt in proof of the event. According to Prato medieval tradition the sacred belt was then entrusted to a priest and preserved by his descendants. After the first crusade, a Prato pilgrim of modest origins called Michele, fell in love with Maria, the daughter of an oriental priest and married her in secret, against her father's wish and received as dowry the "Sacred Belt" in a small basket made of rushes. After returning to Prato around 1141, Michele spoke to no one about the holy relic and only on his death bed (1172), he donated it to the provost of the nearby church of St. Stephen. The sacred Belt furthermore was considered the most valuable treasure of the entire city, so much so that its public display was established by the bylaws of Commune which still today has in custody a set of the keys required to take it out of the altar. Up to the end of 13th century the holy relic was kept close to the high altar but in 1346 it moved to the left of the main entrance of the ancient church and later Cathedral where in 1386-90  was built, on a project by Lorenzo di Filippo, the chapel that stores the holy relic. The chapel is decorated with frescoes of Stories of the Virgin and of the belt (1392-95), a series of amazing figurative unity painted by Agnolo Gaddi with a faultless technique and luminous colors. On the corner of the façade is the amazing pulpit by Donatello and Michelozzo which was finished in 1438 and created for the display of the Sacred Belt in order to show it to the congregation gathered in the Cathedral square. 

Second among the antique-dealers' market places of Tuscany for the number of its exhibitors and length of life, the Antique market of Lucca can boast of a solid tradition of quality and reliability thanks to professional antiquarians of high prestige who have always been an important presence in town. 

At the third weekend of each month (on Saturday and Sunday), from 8 am to 7 pm, Lucca opens its gates for a joyful event involving a large portion of the historical centre: from Piazza S. Martino, Piazza Antelminelli and Via Del Battistero - the historical antique dealers' street- ‚ to Piazza San Giusto, and Piazza S. Giovanni up to Piazza Bernardini. It is a gorgeous display of colorful stalls offering not only past vestiges of remarkable artistic value, but also traces of souvenirs impressed on a post-card, on a book, on a knick-knack or on an ornament. 

Furniture, clothes, fabrics, paintings, rare components of old instruments, lamps and chandeliers, old working tools, records..... a wide pattern of old or antique objects‚ patiently gathered and collected after explorations which

are getting more and more difficult. All these things speak to both the tourist and the lover, of a world, which has gone, but not willing to be forgotten yet.

Two unforgettable days around the most charming

streets of the town. It is Art facing Art, History meeting History. A really unique occasion to know Lucca better and taste the pleasure of peeping through the stalls in search of something beautiful to take home and - why not?- probably also making a good bargain! 

The Palio of Siena is not a horse race. It is not a historical reenactment, nor a sporting competition in the modern sense. It is a dramatic representation of life itself, a concentration of raw, primal emotions: love and hate, joy and disappointment, madness, strategy, violence and luck. A world of its own, centuries old, that has resisted modern change and remains intact.

Twice a year – on July 2nd and August 16th – Siena transforms. Piazza del Campo is covered in tufo, flags wave from windows, and the contrade prepare like armies heading into battle. But here the battle is real, though ritualized, and the enemy is not symbolic. In Siena, hatred is very real. And no one is ashamed of it. The Palio is perhaps the only place where hatred is accepted – even dignified. Rivalries between districts are ancient and passed down from generation to generation. Every contradaiolo knows that their goal is not just to win, but to make sure their enemy loses. In today’s world of political correctness, this seems almost subversive.

The contrade are not just neighborhoods. They are tight-knit, deeply rooted communities that organize the social lives of their members: cultural events, after-school help, social assistance, volunteer groups. You're born into a contrada and remain in it for life. It’s not a choice. And within that bond, powerful relationships form – alliances, betrayals, and shared secrets.

Women, until recently, played a marginal role. Some contrade only gave them full participation rights after 2010. In the Palio’s historic parades, women walk in the back – after men and children. Siena’s traditions make no concessions. Inclusion is not proclaimed; it is negotiated, slowly and with difficulty.

In the Palio, everything has a price: jockeys are hired, alliances are bought, large sums are raised to hinder rival contrade. But unlike the hidden corruption of the outside world, here it’s all in the open. Deals are made under everyone's eyes, even those of the mayor or police. And no one is shocked – it’s part of the game.

What’s most surprising is the importance of luck. The horses, the true game-changers, are drawn by lottery. So is the starting order. It’s not about wealth or power – it’s about chance. And in Siena, luck is not a taboo word – it's celebrated.

Then, there’s the violence – not brutal or chaotic, but ritualized and honorable. Brawls between rival contradaioli – the so-called "fronteggiamenti" – are part of the myth. Everyone joins in: workers, doctors, students, professors. If someone loses a wedding ring during the fight, everything stops to find it – then resumes as before.

In the end, only victory matters. There’s no honor in second place. The loser gets the "purga", a sarcastic humiliation that fuels a burning desire for revenge.

The Palio of Siena is all of this: a celebration of identity, passion, and rivalry. A world frozen in time that forces us to confront the deepest parts of ourselves. And one that reminds us just how alive our ancestral instincts still are, despite the rules of the modern world.

It is possible to attend the Palio free of charge from inside the Piazza del Campo. We suggest you to reach the Piazza around at least 4.30 pm (unless you want to find a place at the columns, at the border of the track of tuff, which are usually occupied from the morning, especially those close to the Mossa – where the race starts - and Fonte Gaia – the fountain).
Inside of the square you can buy drinks to cool off, but there are no public toilets. We strongly suggest you to provide water and drinks and take at least a hat to protect yourself from the sun. For the large crowd that will reach the square and the heat, we do not recommend  to bring small children to attend the Palio in the Piazza del Campo.
There are also more convenient locations to see the Palio, with entrance fee. To purchase tickets for the tribune or balconies overlooking the square, try contacting the local Tourist Office.

The Palio of Siena is not a horse race. It is not a historical reenactment, nor a sporting competition in the modern sense. It is a dramatic representation of life itself, a concentration of raw, primal emotions: love and hate, joy and disappointment, madness, strategy, violence and luck. A world of its own, centuries old, that has resisted modern change and remains intact.

Twice a year – on July 2nd and August 16th – Siena transforms. Piazza del Campo is covered in tufo, flags wave from windows, and the contrade prepare like armies heading into battle. But here the battle is real, though ritualized, and the enemy is not symbolic. In Siena, hatred is very real. And no one is ashamed of it. The Palio is perhaps the only place where hatred is accepted – even dignified. Rivalries between districts are ancient and passed down from generation to generation. Every contradaiolo knows that their goal is not just to win, but to make sure their enemy loses. In today’s world of political correctness, this seems almost subversive.

The contrade are not just neighborhoods. They are tight-knit, deeply rooted communities that organize the social lives of their members: cultural events, after-school help, social assistance, volunteer groups. You're born into a contrada and remain in it for life. It’s not a choice. And within that bond, powerful relationships form – alliances, betrayals, and shared secrets.

Women, until recently, played a marginal role. Some contrade only gave them full participation rights after 2010. In the Palio’s historic parades, women walk in the back – after men and children. Siena’s traditions make no concessions. Inclusion is not proclaimed; it is negotiated, slowly and with difficulty.

In the Palio, everything has a price: jockeys are hired, alliances are bought, large sums are raised to hinder rival contrade. But unlike the hidden corruption of the outside world, here it’s all in the open. Deals are made under everyone's eyes, even those of the mayor or police. And no one is shocked – it’s part of the game.

What’s most surprising is the importance of luck. The horses, the true game-changers, are drawn by lottery. So is the starting order. It’s not about wealth or power – it’s about chance. And in Siena, luck is not a taboo word – it's celebrated.

Then, there’s the violence – not brutal or chaotic, but ritualized and honorable. Brawls between rival contradaioli – the so-called "fronteggiamenti" – are part of the myth. Everyone joins in: workers, doctors, students, professors. If someone loses a wedding ring during the fight, everything stops to find it – then resumes as before.

In the end, only victory matters. There’s no honor in second place. The loser gets the "purga", a sarcastic humiliation that fuels a burning desire for revenge.

The Palio of Siena is all of this: a celebration of identity, passion, and rivalry. A world frozen in time that forces us to confront the deepest parts of ourselves. And one that reminds us just how alive our ancestral instincts still are, despite the rules of the modern world.

The Festival is devoted to classical music and opera fans, its main purpose is to highlight the town’s musical  tradition, especially the great operas. 

This  season’s program, from April to October, presents 19 events, set in the most attractive thermal building of  Montecatini Terme, the Terme Tettuccio, which welcomes everybody as in a warm hug and where you can still hear the musical echo of the great composers  who have made Italian classic music famous all over the world.

Puccini Festival 2026 – Torre del Lago

From 10 July to 5 September 2026

The 72nd edition of the Puccini Festival offers operas, concerts and special events in the evocative Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini, overlooking Lake Massaciuccoli.

The programme includes Puccini’s great masterpieces: Turandot, Tosca, La Bohème, Madama Butterfly and La Fanciulla del West, together with special evenings featuring Jonas Kaufmann, Eleonora Abbagnato and Plácido Domingo.

Here is the 2026 programme of the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, taking place at the Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini and in other venues within the festival complex.

The main programme runs from July to September 2026.

Programme 2026

10 July 2026

Turandot, the Princess with the Heart of Ice

Screening of the documentary film by Alessandro Tofanelli

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

11 July 2026

Rota and Morricone – Cinema in Music

Concert dedicated to great film music

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

12 July 2026

Concert by the Italian Navy Band

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Operas

Turandot

New production for the centenary of the opera

Dates: 17 July, 24 July, 1 August, 9 August 2026

Tosca

Dates: 18 July, 31 July, 8 August, 21 August 2026

La Bohème

Dates: 25 July, 6 August, 28 August 2026

Madama Butterfly

Dates: 7 August, 22 August, 4 September 2026

La Fanciulla del West

Dates: 29 August, 5 September 2026

The main operas are all scheduled at the Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini.

Special events

19 July 2026

Puccini’s Maid

Prose with music

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

22 July 2026

Opera Gala – Tribute to Puccini with Jonas Kaufmann

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

27 July 2026

Eleonora Abbagnato – Puccini

Dance performance

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

11 August 2026

Puccini, Before God

Prose with music

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

30 August 2026

Grand Gala with Plácido Domingo

Zarzuela, Spanish melodies and Neapolitan songs

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

"Without threads", the Pinocchio Festival starts

From Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August in Collodi there is "Senza Fili Pinocchio Street Festival", lots of performances of music, theater and circus art in the hamlet of the most famous puppet in the world. The events take place in the Historic Garden of Villa Garzoni, in the Pinocchio Parc, and in the small squares of the hamlet in Collodi. The shows begin at 9pm. Admission with free offer.

Complete Programm: ☞ http://www.senza-fili.it

Serravalle Jazz 2026: four days of music in the heart of Tuscany

From 23 to 26 August 2026.

Serravalle Jazz returns, one of the most eagerly awaited music events of the Pistoia summer. Now in its 25th edition, the festival will bring the medieval village of Serravalle Pistoiese to life with concerts, meetings, book presentations and cultural events dedicated to jazz.

The main setting will once again be the evocative Rocca di Castruccio, the symbolic venue of the festival and a natural stage overlooking the Tuscan landscape. Alongside the Rocca, the programme will also involve the Former Oratory of the Vergine Assunta and the Torre del Barbarossa, making the event a special opportunity to experience the village at different times of the day.

The programme of Serravalle Jazz 2026

The 2026 edition opens on Sunday 23 August with a tribute to Stevie Wonder: on the stage of the Rocca di Castruccio, the BargaJazz Orchestra, conducted by Mario Raja, will perform the project Wonder in Jazz with special guest Gregoire Maret. In the afternoon, at the Former Oratory of the Vergine Assunta, there will be a presentation of the book Una domenica di giugno. Bill Evans al Village Vanguard nel 1961 e altre storie fiorentine di jazz by Andrea Giuntini.

Monday 24 August will be dedicated to Enrico Pieranunzi, performing with the quintet Chet Remembered, a project devoted to Chet Baker. On the same day, the 11th Renato Sellani Award will be presented to Enrico Pieranunzi and Tommaso Mannelli. At 6:15 p.m., the meeting A Love Supreme will focus on John Coltrane’s masterpiece and its artistic and spiritual connection with Alice Coltrane.

On Tuesday 25 August, the festival will offer a double evening event: at 7:30 p.m., Javier Girotto will perform at the Torre del Barbarossa, while at 9:00 p.m. at the Rocca di Castruccio, Giulia Impache, Andrea Marazzi and Jacopo Acquafresca will take the stage, followed by Omar Sosa. In the afternoon, there will also be a presentation of the book Brad Mehldau. Ritratto di un pianista eclettico.

The closing evening, on Wednesday 26 August, will feature Tommaso Mannelli with My Worlds, an original production created during an artistic residency, and Nico Gori with Music Around the Clarinet. At 6:15 p.m., at the Former Oratory of the Vergine Assunta, Francesco Martinelli will lead the meeting Le percezioni extrasensoriali di Miles Davis.

Tickets and useful information

Evening concerts at the Rocca di Castruccio require a €5 ticket, while a festival pass is available for €12. Afternoon meetings and the concert at the Torre del Barbarossa are free admission, subject to availability.

Complete Programm here:

https://www.serravallejazz.it/

This traditional celebration in honor of St. Bartholomew dates back to the 15th century when on the day of the patron saint of children, was custom to anoint the foreheads of children to protect them from the snares of spirits. Even today in the church of S. Bartolomeo in Pistoia, on August 24, liturgical celebrations and blessings are held throughout the day: children and adults are "anointed" by priests who mark their foreheads with blessed oil by saying an ancient prayer to invoke the protection of the saint. 

The origins of this feast are lost in the age-old memory of crucial moments in infant mortality and the human condition in general, exposed to the risks of numerous epidemics.

St. Bartholomew is also the patron saint of the sick in the Christian world, and a protective function is generally attributed to the anointing, which is apparent from the formulation of the wording: "Through the intercession of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, the Lord will free you from all evil.”

By extension, in the common language of the people of Pistoia, overly lively children who are at risk of ending up "peeled" like the saint, are called “sambartolomei,”.

Stalls of toys and sweets are set up in the square in front of the church and in the surrounding streets. A typical specialty of this festival is a rosary-shaped crown made of roundish shortcrust pastry sweets decorated with chocolates and candied almonds, which is placed around the neck of the children, all children, including the “sambartolomei."

Montecatini Terme is preparing to welcome one of the most eagerly awaited musical events of the summer: the Festival of Youth Orchestras, proudly reaching its 27th edition. This extraordinary event attracts enthusiasts from all over Italy and abroad every year and takes place in the evocative setting of the Terme Tettuccio, a symbol of the city and the perfect backdrop for evenings dedicated to great music.

The festival, which has become a regular fixture of the Tuscan summer, brings young talents from all over the world to the stage.

The concerts of the Festival of Youth Orchestras will enliven the evenings in Montecatini until 27 August, offering performances of the highest level with free admission. A unique opportunity for residents and tourists to immerse themselves in an unforgettable cultural experience, dedicated to music and beauty.

The concerts start at 9:00 p.m.

2026 Programme

Tuesday, 7 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Cork Youth Orchestra

Wednesday, 8 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Orchestre Symphonique des étudiants de Louvain, OSEL

Thursday, 9 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Zhongzheng Junior High School Wind Orchestra

Monday, 13 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit Harelbeke

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Pittsburg Youth Philarmonic Orchestra

Wednesday, 22 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Sonora Jounior Sax

Thursday, 30 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Joven Orquesta Filarmónica “Campos Andaluces”

Thursday, 27 August 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Jugendsinfonieorchester der Musikschule Bochum

The programme may be subject to change. For confirmation of dates, times and access arrangements, it is advisable to consult the official website of the organisation here.

🌙 White Night in Lucca: Magic Under the Stars on August 30

📍 Historic center of Lucca

🎉 Free admission

On Saturday, August 30, Lucca lights up with magic: the White Night returns, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the Tuscan summer, and the historic center will transform into a large open-air stage where culture, music, art, and entertainment come together to offer emotions for all ages.

✨ A rich program for every taste

From the first light of sunset until late at night, the city comes alive with an unmissable schedule of events:

Museums open at night, to discover Lucca’s hidden treasures in a new and suggestive light.

Guided tours, dance performances, and inclusive theatrical shows in the city's most beautiful squares.

Live music in the venues, opera concerts, street performances, and plenty of fun for everyone.

“Miwa e i suoi Componenti” Street Band, a cartoon cover band that will have both kids and adults dancing through the city streets.

Activities for children and families, games, entertainment, and attractions in Piazza Guidiccioni starting at 6:00 PM.

Note in Rosa in Piazza Cittadella, a unique concert featuring an artist performing suspended three meters above the ground.

And of course, restaurants and shops will stay open all evening, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the city with shopping, tastings, and dinners under the stars.

🎆 The midnight main event

The most anticipated moment? The drone show in Piazzale Arrigoni, right behind the Cathedral of San Martino, in the heart of the historic center.

Starting at midnight, 100 luminous drones – thanks to the artistic direction of Drone Show Italy – will draw iconic images of the city of Lucca in the sky, accompanied by an emotional musical soundtrack. A breathtaking visual experience, free and open to everyone, that promises to amaze both young and old.

Arti e Mestieri is an arts and crafts market in the historic center of Lucca, with a big number of exhibitors that meet every last weekend of the month in Piazza San Giusto, Piazza Cittadella and Piazza XX Settembre with many traditional and original products from Tuscany.

At Arti e Mestieri there are ceramists, painters, sculptors, leather, glass and papier-mâché artisans, weavers, jewelers, cabinet makers, seamstresses and embroiderers, knitting and crochet experts. The artisans-artists offer their exclusive products in a colorful market: bijoux in silver, ceramic and crochet, natural products for body care, fountain pens worked on the lathe, bags, belts and leather bracelets, painted stones, scented lavender, splendid paintings and sculptures.