Every year on the first Sunday of September the Palio of the Archers takes place.

For this occasion, in the city takes on a suggestive atmosphere thanks to beautiful streets and squares in the center, adorned with the flags of the four district’s contenders.

The Archers of Ferraia, S. Maria, San Michele and San Francesco will give the best of

themselves to win the Palio.

The tradition has been recently rediscovered, but the origins of the Pescia Palio date back to the first half of the 1300s when the city came under Florentine dominion. After this event, the population decided to celebrate the patron saint of the city, Saint Dorothy, with religious and popular celebrations among which was the Palio dei Berberi that continued up to the beginning of the 1500s. In its modern edition, the competition is no longer done on horseback, but instead with bows and arrows.

MAIN EVENTS

Sunday, August 25: The "Palla al Paniere" Trophy will take place, followed by an apericena with the four districts. The evening will continue at 9:30 PM in Piazza del Grano with the theatrical performance "Trial of Castruccio Castracani."

Starting Monday, August 26: The propitiatory dinners of the districts will begin, starting with the Ferraia district.

Friday, August 30: The archers' blessing will take place at the Church of Santo Stefano, followed by a historical parade.

Saturday, August 31: Piazza Mazzini will host demonstrations of medieval arts and crafts, along with the 23rd "Beauty and Elegance of Women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance" contest.

Sunday, September 1: Piazza Mazzini will be the center of the medieval market, the historical parade, and the archers' competition for the Palio. The day will conclude with the awards for the "Scenographic Challenge" and "Medieval Shop Window" contests.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Tickets and Access:

Friday, August 30: Access to the arena from 9:00 PM – cost €5.00.

Saturday, August 31: Access to the arena from 9:00 PM – cost €5.00.

Sunday, September 1:

Access to the exhibition area in Piazza Mazzini from 10:00 AM – cost €3.00.

Access to the arena with seats in the stands from 3:00 PM – cost €15.00 (ticket includes access to the entire exhibition area).

Pre-sales: Tickets will be available during the main events starting from August 25 and on Friday, August 30, Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1.

Useful Information:

The historical parade, a highlight of the Palio, will start on Sunday, September 1, at 3:00 PM from Via Vittorio Veneto, passing through the city streets to Piazza Mazzini.

For those unable to access the arena, a large screen will be set up in Piazza Mazzini to broadcast the Palio competition.

Participation is open to everyone, with both free and paid events. Access will be regulated by colored wristbands to differentiate the areas.

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.

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 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. 

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.

Historical Description of the Gioco della Palla Grossa

The Gioco della Palla Grossa is a historical tradition dating back to the 16th century, closely tied to the city of Prato in Tuscany. This ancient sport is similar to the more famous Calcio Storico Fiorentino and has its origins in the popular competitions of the Italian Renaissance.

Palla Grossa was primarily played during city festivities, where the neighborhoods of Prato would compete in a game that combined athletic skill, physical strength, and team spirit. The name "Palla Grossa" comes from the large ball used in the game, which had to be pushed into the opponent's goal using both hands and feet, following specific rules that combined elements of soccer, handball, and rugby.

The game was suspended in the 18th century during the period of Lorraine rule but was revived in contemporary times thanks to a movement to rediscover the city's historical traditions.

Today, Palla Grossa has been revived and transformed into a folkloric event that takes place every year in Prato, usually in September. The modern event celebrates the history and local traditions, recreating the atmosphere of ancient Renaissance competitions.

Teams representing Prato's four historic neighborhoods (Santa Trinita, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, and San Marco) compete in a specially prepared field, wearing historical costumes that evoke the original attire from the 16th century. The game retains its physical and spectacular nature, with fiercely contested matches and significant public involvement.

The event is not just a sporting competition but also a cultural celebration that includes historical parades, flag-throwing performances, and other festive moments that engage the entire city. Today, Palla Grossa represents a strong sense of community identity for Prato, bringing together locals and visitors alike in a celebration of tradition and local history.

Twelve days of free-entry shows and concerts with restaurants, street food, markets, and rides for children, all taking place in the Arena of Piazza del Mercato, Prato.

In the square, there will be street food stalls open for dinner from 7 PM, offering tortelli, burgers, steaks, pizzas, grilled dishes, fries, skewers, appetizer trays, and many other delicious treats. Additionally, there will be a wide variety of beers and a bar where you can choose the best cocktails.

Schedule of Evening Events from September 4 to 15, 2024

Concerts start at 9:30 PM.

Wednesday, September 4: Indie Power

Thursday, September 5: Metempsicosi

Friday, September 6: Crazy 90s

Saturday, September 7: Rock in Movie. Palla Grossa semifinals at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM.

Sunday, September 8: Baila che ti passa

Monday, September 9: School Rock Show

Tuesday, September 10: Circo Nero

Wednesday, September 11: Metal Society

Thursday, September 12: La combriccola del Blasco

Friday, September 13: Tenax

Saturday, September 14: Cristina d'Avena and Banana Split. Palla Grossa final at 9:00 PM.

Sunday, September 15: Mamamia in Tour

In the historic center of Fucecchio, the medieval festival Salamarzana takes place again this year. Salamarzana is the Latin name of the ancient medieval castle built on Poggio Salamartano.

Streets, squares, courtyards, gardens, and alleys become the ideal setting for a captivating leap into the Middle Ages. It is a historical reinterpretation with a broad and varied program: reenactments of ancient trades, shows and games, and tastings of typical medieval dishes. Dances, costumed figures, armed groups, musicians, wandering knights, and deformed monsters will complete the rich program of the 'Festival.'

On this occasion, guided tours with historical costumed characters will also be organized to major monuments and sites of ancient construction, including: The Towers of the Ancient Castle of Salamarzana (Parco Corsini), the Palazzo Montanelli della Volta, Poggio Salamartano and the adjacent churches, Palazzo Doddoli-Costagli, and others, including some historic artisan workshops still present in the upper part of the town.

The culinary aspect is particularly well-curated with thematic stations offering typical medieval dishes.

Fucecchio

Saturday, September 7, from 6 PM to Midnight

Sunday, September 8, from 5 PM to Midnight

Murabilia, the Market Exhibition of Potted Flowers and Gardening Items, takes place on the City Walls on the San Regolo and La Libertà bulwarks and in the Botanical Garden.

There are over 200 Italian and foreign specialized nurserymen exhibitors with an offer that ranges in all sectors of the plant world with particular or newly introduced plants, old and new cultivars, equipment and furnishings.

A meeting place for enthusiasts and professionals of the sector with the great names of international gardening, it offers visitors a remarkable cultural, botanical and horticultural program, with thematic exhibitions, conferences, editorial news, workshops open to all, as well as the possibility of buying most beautiful plants and the most professional tools for their care.

Exhibition hours:

Friday from 10 am to 7 pm

Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 am 7 pm

Dogs can enter on a leash.

Tickets here

Further information:

☞ www.murabilia.com

FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL CONCERTS

Jazz festival dedicated to female talents, organized by the Lucca Jazz Club with the Municipality of Lucca and the Province of Lucca.

LUCCA JAZZ DONNA 2024 - programm

August 8 – Real Collegio

Alice Innocenti Octet “Nelumbo”

Alice INNOCENTI, vocals – composition – arrangements

Moraldo MARCHESCHI, soprano sax – tenor sax – baritone sax

Michele MARINI, clarinet – alto sax

Tommaso IACOVIELLO, trumpet – flugelhorn

Iacopo FAGIOLI, trombone – Fabio SALVI, piano

Alessandro ANTONINI, double bass – electric bass

Fausto BATISTI, drums

Eva Verde Duo

Eva VERDE, vocals – Danilo TARSO, piano

Record Label: SEGELL MICROSCOPI

Montecatini City Band “Ladies in Jazz”

Maestro Gabriele BUONACCORSI

Associazione Luna

August 16 – Real Collegio

Christianne Neves – Solo Piano – Michela Lombardi vocals “Abertura das Águas”

Christianne NEVES, piano – iPad – pandeiro

Michela LOMBARDI, vocals

Ileana Mottola Duo

Ileana MOTTOLA, vocals – Joel HOLMES, piano

Francesco PUGLISI, double bass

Alessandro D’ANNA, drums

Tallini – Spalletta Quartet

Stefania TALLINI, piano

Daniela SPALLETTA, vocals

Record Label: ALFA MUSIC

Unicef Committee Lucca

August 22 – Real Collegio

Lara Ferrari Quartet – “Amy’s Box”, a jazz tribute to Amy Winehouse

Lara FERRARI, vocals – Michele CORCELLA, guitar

Alfonso DEIDDA, alto sax – flute – piano

Stefano SENNI, double bass – Enrico SMIDERLE, drums

Lucia Ianniello 4tet “Keep Left and Go Straight South”

Lucia IANNIELLO, trumpet – vocals

Paolo TOMBOLESI, piano – keyboards

Roberto CERVI, guitars – Alessandro FORTE, drums

Record Label: FILIBUSTA

Ilaria Biagini Trio “The Art of Kissing”

Ilaria BIAGINI, piano – vocals – flute – sax – accordion

Pablo GIGLIOTTI, bass – guitar

Leonardo BADIALI, drums

August 29 – Real Collegio

Carlotta Vettori – Silvia Bolognesi Quartet

Carlotta VETTORI, flutes – Silvia BOLOGNESI, double bass

Nicolò Francesco FARAGLIA, guitar – Andrea MELANI, drums

Record Label: FONTEROSSA Records

Paola Arnesano Duo “Swingando”

Paola ARNESANO, vocals – Bruno MONTRONE, piano

Record Label: Dodici Lune

Lisa Manara 4et “Cape Verde Sings the Encounter”

Lisa MANARA, vocals

Federico SQUASSABIA, keyboard – synth bass

Fabio MAZZINI, guitar – Diana PAIVA CRUZ, drums

Associazione DON BARONI

September 5 – Real Collegio

Opening with the Jazz Group from “Passaglia” High School

Ottavia Rinaldi Trio “Harpbeat Trio”

Ottavia RINALDI, vocals – harp – Carlo BAVETTA, double bass

Andrea VAROLO, drums

Record Label: ALFA MUSIC

Cettina Donato & Zoe Pia “Mito”

Cettina DONATO, piano

Zoe Pia, clarinet – launeddas

Associazione CENTRO AFFIDI LUCCA

September 22 – Church of St. Francis

Teresa and the Students of the High School

Teresa MORICI, vocals – Group from ex Passaglia

Karima 5tet “Bacharach Forever”

KARIMA, vocals – Piero FRASSI, piano

Francesco PONTICELLI, electric bass – double bass

Andrea BENINATI, drums

Rita Marcotulli 4tet “Walking in My Shadow”

Rita MARCOTULLI, piano – Giovanni TOMMASO, double bass

Javer GIROTTO, saxophone – flute – Alessandro PATERNESI, drums

Anffas Lucca

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 May to October 2024 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.

From Tuesday 4 June, and throughout the summer, until 26 September, the Gallery extends its opening hours for two days a week. Every Tuesday the Gallery will remain open until 10.00pm (last admission 9.30pm) and every Thursday until 9.00pm (last admission 8.30pm). As always, it is possible to book the visit directly from the site of the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/visita

or by calling  Firenze Musei: Tel +39 055 294883.

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 2024: June 27th - July 31st; August 18th - October 16th.

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.

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! 

Torre del Lago and its ‘genius loci’, Giacomo Puccini that today and since that distant 1891, when the musician moved there, are the perfect representation of how a place can merge with the soul and spirit of those who have lived there, in the corner of Tuscany, which the musician defined as “Eden” and from which he could not break away for a long period of time, so as not to suffer from strong “torrelaghite" (strongly homesick), is where Puccini lived and composed. Life was marked by the silence of the charming landscape and the sound vibrations of the lake that allowed him to cultivate his passions, music, hunting, painting and friends. Puccini and his music permeate Torre del Lago, Viareggio and all of Versilia, which every year in summer celebrate their ‘genius’, who lived there for thirty years. A celebration of music, of his music, which has, as if a frame, the same atmosphere, colors and fragrances that seduced the musician. A few steps from his home, now converted into a museum full of documents and memorabilia, is the outdoor Gran Teatro entitled to the master, and that, since 1930 has been host the Festival Puccini. 

Here is the complete calendar of the Puccini Festival 2024:

From 12 July to 7 September 2024 Torre del Lago

July 12 and 19

- LeWillis

- Edgar

July 13 / August 2

- Manon Lescaut

July 20 and 27 / August 8 and 22

- La Bohème

July 26 / August 9, 18, and 24

- Tosca

August 3, 10, 17, and 23

- Turandot

August 31 / September 7

- Madama Butterfly (celebrating the 120th anniversary of its premiere)

July 17

- Roberto Bolle and Friends

August 5

- Il Volo

All for One - Masterpiece

Purchase tickets per email: ticketoffice@puccinifestival.it

or on the official website: https://www.puccinifestival.it/en/ticket-purchase/

The feast of the Rificolona is one of the  traditional old feasts of Florence that is celebrated in Piazza Santissima Annunziata on 7th September, the day before the religious feast of the Nativity of the Madonna; to reach Florence for the 8th, in fact, the farmers and mountain dwellers set out a few days before with torches and lanterns of all shapes and sizes, with which they lit the mountain and country roads at night, and when they got to Florence, also the dark streets of the city...there was no electricity at that time. The arrival of these people was an unusual sight for Florence and was an occasion for merriment and scorn by the bourgeois (and haughty) Florentine citizens towards the country folk due to their awkward clothing. And so, while the women from the Florentine countryside wandered around amazed at the sight of the Florentine marvels, the youths called them „ferucolone“ or „fieruculone“ ("culona" stays also for large bottom), not so much because they had come to a „fierucuola“ (a not excessively important fair), but rather for their large and prosperous bottoms. 

In the Fifties, picturesque boats fitted out by master Florentine craftsmen sailed along the Arno: hundreds of small paper-lamps were accompanied by orchestras playing romantic ballads.

To this day, children still walk around the city holding coloured paper lanterns to commemorate the tradition.

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. 

At present the display of the Sacred Belt takes place at Christmas, at Easter, on 1st May, on 15th August and on 8th September with the historical parade and the ancient fair.

Where: Prato - Pulpit of Santo Stefano Cathedral - Piazza Duomo

🔴 FRIDAY, AUGUST 6th (free admission) 

5:00 PM - Conference “The Siege of Serravalle” by Dr. Antonio Lo Conte 

6:00 PM - Conference “Serravalle and the Guelph Party” by Professor Marco Crisci 

7:15 PM - Medieval Banquet (reservation required at the link: https://www.ticketsms.it/.../Assedio-Alla-Rocca-Piazza... ) — in Serravalle Pistoiese, Tuscany. 

9:00 PM - Juggling and entertainment show “The Hunchback of Cicignano” 

10:30 PM - Fire show by “The Gladiators of the Middle Ages” 

10:30 PM - Concert by Apua Folk Band 

12:00 AM - Event closure and last shuttle

🔵 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th 

3:00 PM - Opening of the Event 

4:00 PM - Treasure Hunt (reservation required at 3661154832 or via email: info@assedioallarocca.it) 

4:00 PM - Presentation of the book “Cosimo I de Medici” by the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani 

5:00 PM - Show by the Florentine Jester

5:00 PM - The Wheel of Misfortune (Feudalism and Liberty) 

5:00 PM - Arrow Drawing (by the association Sole e Acciaio) 

5:30 PM - Falconry show by the falconer of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany 

6:30 PM - Battle, first act: the siege begins 7:15 PM - Conference “Metal and the Middle Ages” by Lorenzo Becciani 

7:15 PM - The Historical Quiz (Feudalism and Liberty) 

7:30 PM - Show by the Florentine Jester 

9:30 PM - Fire show by Vassago 

10:30 PM - Battle, second act: the castle is set on fire 

12:00 AM - Event closure and last shuttle

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th 

11:00 AM - Opening of the Event 

11:15 AM - Guided Tours (reservation required: 0573917308 or turismo@comune.serravalle-pistoiese.pt.it) 

12:30 PM - Forest walk and medieval lunch at Agriturismo I Pitti (reservation required - 3890164963 / 3299633341) 

3:00 PM - Little archaeologists under siege, archaeology workshop (reservation required: 0573917308 or turismo@comune.serravalle-pistoiese.pt.it) 

3:30 PM - Conference “The Sumptuary Laws of Pistoia” by Professor Paolo Peri 

3:30 PM - Show by the Florentine Jester 

4:00 PM - Medieval Fencing Tournament 

4:00 PM - Throughout the town: The Beasts of Bacchus 

4:45 PM - Historical Trial reenactment, a blend of history and comedy by “The Processed” 5:45 PM - Show by the Florentine Jester 

6:00 PM - Conference “The Holy Empire - The Reign of Frederick Barbarossa between Myth and Reality” by Dr. Pietro Pinna Pintor of Virtù Nascente 

6:00 PM - The Wheel of Misfortune (Feudalism and Liberty) 

6:30 PM - Falconry show by the falconer of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany 

7:15 PM - Battle, final act: Serravalle is lost. 8:15 PM - The Historical Quiz (Feudalism and Liberty) 

9:00 PM - Music and Fire Show by the Beasts of Bacchus 

10:00 PM - Event closure and last shuttle

The event dedicated to music, art and street theater Oltre la Rocca will transform the charming village of Montecatini Alto into a fairy tale. The program is full of moments not to be missed: shows, fantastic performances and surprises, thanks to the presence of artists of international level. The Oltre La Rocca Festival will transport you to the imagination, dreams, beauty and magic of art. In every corner of the town you will be surprised, meet new characters, discover glimpses of the ancient village.

For the occasion, the Montecatini Alto Funicular will also double the rides to the Castle. Around the streets of the village you will meet acrobats, jugglers, actors looking out the windows, clowns, musicians, narrating voices from balconies, aerial dancers, parades on stilts and much more, will suddenly appear to amaze, surprise. 

https://www.oltrelarocca.it

Monthly appointment with Collecting in Florence, where the monthly market of all that is collectible takes place outdoors on the banks of the Arno in the Tuscany Hall car park in Florence. Among the various stands, enthusiasts will be able to find books, jewellery, small pieces of furniture, plates, candlesticks, clocks, chandeliers, dolls, porcelain, coins, records, DVDs, etc.

TUSCANY HALL Parking area Via Fabrizio De Andrè

Open from 10.00 to 19.00 in the parking area of the Theater.

FREE ENTRY.

Antiques market, vintage clothing, collectibles, crafts and home accessories. 

9 am - 8 pm 

Piazza S. Maria delle Carceri

Info: +39 3483396638

In Pistoia, the second Saturday and Sunday of the month an antique fair is held which attracts  many dealers from all over Tuscany. Here you can find very valuable antiques: furniture, majolica, porcelain, jewelery, clocks, coins, old lacework, crystal goblets and profane and religious period paintings.

On the stalls you can find clothing, utensils and ethnic products, as well as magazines, comics, used garments and other items from the past. 

The market takes place in the so called Cattedrale - not to confuse with the real Cathedral - (Via Pertini) - eccept July and August.

There are about 100 exhibitors who animate the historic city center with various kinds of antiques every second Saturday and Sunday of the month except July and August.

You will find ceramics, glassware and cutlery for a romantic table setting and a very good range of embroidered linen (perhaps an untouched trousseau from a failed marriage). Also sepia paintings, watercolours, vintage  postcards (full of insight into how we lived in the past and complete with shaky handwriting), out-of-print books for the attentive book collector, silver and gold coins from every corner of the globe and much, much more.

Where: Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Piazza Garibaldi

A long procession along the streets of the historical centre, from the church of San Frediano to the Cathedral, following a line of suffused light from thousands of candles placed on the windows of the buildings situated along the route. This is the „Luminara di Santa Croce“, a particularly suggestive event that takes place every year, on 13th September, on the eve of the fair bearing the same name. This moment of collective devotion signals the cult of the Holy Face, an element that lies at the heart of the religious events of Lucca throughout September. The Holy Face is a 2 and a half metre high crucifix located in an isolated chapel in the left-hand nave of the Cathedral. It was made by Matteo Civitali in 1482. Legend has it that the crucifix was sculpted by Nicodemus, helped by divine grace, in order to hand down the likeness of Christ to future generations. Hidden until the 8th century, it was discovered by Bishop Gualfredo thanks to a dream. The Crucifix was put on a boat at Joppe - now the port of Jaffa - in the Holy Land and sailed without a crew in the Mediterranean, escaping the assaults of pirates. It entered the port of Luni and was taken to the city by the Bishop of Lucca, Giovanni I, in 782. The Holy Face has been venerated since the middle of the eleventh century and has made Lucca a destination for pilgrims from all over Europe. According to the deacon, Leobino, in the hollow behind the crucifix there were some relics of the Passion - including two ampoules with the Precious Blood of Christ. One is kept in the Cathedral of Sarzana while the other is in the Basilica of S. Frediano in Lucca. 

The Procession of the Holy Cross will conclude at the Cathedral of San Martino with the Blessing and the performance of the traditional Motet by the Santa Cecilia Music Chapel.

As tradition dictates, on the evening of September 13th, the fireworks display of the Holy Cross will take place, with colorful fireworks visible from the City Walls starting at 11:30 PM.

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, September 14, 21 and 28

from 7:00 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

There are about 100 exhibitors who animate the historic city center with various kinds of antiques every second Saturday and Sunday of the month except July and August.

You will find ceramics, glassware and cutlery for a romantic table setting and a very good range of embroidered linen (perhaps an untouched trousseau from a failed marriage). Also sepia paintings, watercolours, vintage  postcards (full of insight into how we lived in the past and complete with shaky handwriting), out-of-print books for the attentive book collector, silver and gold coins from every corner of the globe and much, much more.

Where: Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Piazza Garibaldi

Florence - 30th Exhibition ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO in the Corsini Gardens Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September 2024 

The gardens of Palazzo Corsini are exceptionally open to the public for this occasion. The Exhibition presents over 100 master craftsmen from Italy and from all over the world. During the three days of Artigianato e Palazzo the many artisans and craftsmen will do practical demonstrations of how they achieve their high quality products in the crafting of iron, glass, wood, textiles, precious stones and metals.

ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO 

Giardino Corsini 

Via della Scala, 115

Via Il Prato 58

Florence

Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September 2024

From 10 am to 7 pm 

Emntrance € 10,00 

Children up to 12 free entrance 
 

Further Information:

 ☞ www.artigianatoepalazzo.it

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! 

Every year, on the third weekend of September, Poggio a Caiano and its Villa commemorate the Grand Duchess Giovanna d’Austria who, during a stay, waiting to get married with Francesco I de’ Medici, to show satisfaction with the good welcome given to her by the local people,

ordered a free distribution of wine from the fountain of Mascherone, positioned on the perimeter wall of the Medici villa. The three days of celebrations re-propose this event

with the distribution of wine, performances and installations from the Renaissance period and a full program of cultural and gastronomic events. 

Flag wavers, historical groups, street artists, falconers, jesters, juggling shows, music and dance, game camps and Renaissance market will perform.

More information:

☞ https://www.facebook.com/proloco.poggioacaiano?locale=it_IT

An event that brings together multiple generations in the atmospheres of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, will take place on Friday, September 20, in Piazzale Vittorio Emanuele, in front of Caffè delle Mura, as a celebration to mark the end of summer.

This is an event that will engage the whole city and promises numerous surprises.

DJs Marco Lazzaroni and Franco Baldaccini, key figures in the most important clubs in Lucca, who have made all the people of Lucca dance and have fun, will present a playlist that faithfully retraces the most significant milestones of pop music from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. A night designed to relive the unique atmosphere of those moments and to introduce young people to the music that has marked the time, dreams, and lives of at least two generations.

The event is free of charge and will begin at 10:00 PM.

From September 21st to 29th, the Lucca Film Festival offers an incredible journey through modern and international cinema. From India to Chile, passing through Japan and the United States, films that have participated in some of the world's most important festivals, including the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, and Shanghai International Film Festival, will be showcased.

Directors, actors, and cinephiles from around the globe will gather for a celebration of the big screen that goes beyond simple screenings, offering retrospectives, meetings with authors, masterclasses, and a variety of special events.

Full program available at

www.luccafilmfestival.it

Camps, exhibitions, games, tastings of local producers, and much more await you on Saturday, September 21st and 22nd in Piazza del Duomo in Pistoia! Flag-wavers, musicians, dancers, jesters, and actors, but also falconry performances and historical reenactments with encampments and activities for children. The program for the sixth edition of the event is extensive and designed as a true immersion into the Middle Ages in all its aspects, where you can directly experience history. The event is free of charge.

Complete program: https://www.pistoiamedioevo.it/

The European Heritage Days are an initiative promoted by the Council of Europe and the European Union to celebrate the richness and diversity of European cultural heritage. Every year, in September, thousands of historical sites, monuments, and museums across Europe open their doors to the public, offering guided tours, special events, and educational activities. The goal is to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of protecting cultural heritage and to promote intercultural dialogue, making culture accessible to everyone.

On this occasion, on Saturday, September 28, some state museums will be open in the evening for an entrance fee of €1.00. During the two days, guided tours and initiatives will be organized in both state-owned and private museums and cultural venues, under the theme “Heritage on the Move”.

State museums exceptionally open in the evening (no booking available):

Uffizi Gallery: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Accademia Gallery: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

San Marco Museum: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Bargello Museum: 7:00 PM - 9:50 PM

Palazzo Davanzati: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Archaeological Museum: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Opificio delle Pietre Dure: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (free)

Museums exceptionally open in the afternoon:

• San Marco Museum: 8:15 AM - 6:00 PM (paid admission)
• Archaeological Museum: 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM (paid admission)
• Cenacolo di Andrea del Sarto: 8:15 AM - 9:00 PM (free)
• Chiostro dello Scalzo: 8:15 AM - 6:00 PM (free)

Guided tours and special events in museums (paid admission):

• Accademia Gallery: Guided tours and musical performances by students from the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory of Music in Florence, on September 28, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
• Medici Chapels: On Saturday, September 28, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici meets visitors. On Sunday, September 29, there will be workshops for children aged 9 to 12 at 10:00 AM and 11:15 AM. Reservation required by September 27 at mn-bar.didattica@cultura.gov.it.
• Bargello Museum: On Sunday, September 29, during the museum's opening hours, the Compagnia delle Seggiole will perform theatrical actions in the museum's rooms.
• Archaeological Museum: On Saturday, September 28, the museum's monumental garden will be exceptionally open with two guided tours lasting about an hour. Reservation required by calling +39 055 2357715 or emailing claudia.noferi@cultura.gov.it.
• Opificio delle Pietre Dure: On Saturday, September 28, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, extraordinary visits to the restoration workshops at the Fortezza da Basso site (Piazza Strozzi 1). The visits are free, with mandatory reservations for groups of 15 people, available until seats are filled. Reservations only on: Eventbrite.
• Orsanmichele Complex: Guided tours by museum staff on Saturday, September 28, at 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM (approx. 40 minutes). Reservations at the church until places are filled.
• Casa Martelli: Free guided tours on Saturday, September 28, at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM for groups of up to 10 people. No reservation needed.
• Medicean Laurentian Library: Saturday, September 28, three guided tours by reservation at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 12:30 PM for groups of up to 20 people. Reservations at +39 055 2937911 during library opening hours.
• Museum of the Science and Technology Foundation: Guided tour on Saturday, September 28, at 11:00 AM. For information and reservations: +39 055 2343723 or planetario@operalaboratori.com.
• Museum of the Medici: Two days of tours of the monumental areas of the former Camaldolese Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Information and reservations: +39 335 292438.

More information on the website  ☞  https://cultura.gov.it/giornate-europee-del-patrimonio-2024

In the prestigious rooms and halls of Palazzo Corsini, a splendid seventeenth-century residence overlooking the Arno, the market exhibition of absolute reference for great Italian art returns after three years. Masterpieces ranging from the Florentine Renaissance to the Italian and international twentieth century Art will be exhibited, but also Etruscan, Roman, Medieval sculptures and finds, alongside examples of Italian and international design that have shaped the taste of the last century. The great international merchants will bring the best of sculptures, paintings, drawings, furnishings, jewels and ceramics from every era.

More information on the website ☞ www.biaf.it.

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.

On the 29th of September is the feast of the Patron Saint of Carmignano and also the culmination of the feast that for three days sees the town divided into four distinct districts: that of the Archangel (Light Blue), that of Art (Green), that of the Lion (Yellow) and that of the Tower (White), which

challenge each other with allegorical floats. During the festival there is also the Donkey Race whose outcome, together with the score received for the parade, determines the final winner. 

After the hottest months have boiled away, summer is beginning to hand over the baton to autumn, and around here autumn means grape harvest, perhaps the most anticipated event for the farming world. Festivals and fairs are popular throughout Tuscany, but the most famous and ancient remains the Grape Festival at Impruneta. Since 1930, the town above Florence has celebrated this occasion, interrupted only by wartime and the Covid pandemic. Throughout the month of September, Impruneta teems with activities, and the cool hillside air only adds that extra touch of pleasure to an almost bucolic atmosphere; during this period various events and wine tastings take place, and locally crafted products are also exhibited.

The main protagonists are the four districts of Impruneta: The Fornace district, The Sante Marie district, the Pallò district, and the Sant’Antonio district, which dedicate themselves to the creation of allegorical floats. During this phase, everyone can participate in the work (mainly carried out in the evenings) accompanied by joyful dinners prepared by the women of the district. But beware, everything must be ready for the last Sunday of the month (this year on September 29th), the day of the float parade in Piazza Buondelmonti.

"The Fornace District" (red color) owes its name to the places where terracotta processing is carried out. "The Sante Marie District" (celestial blue color) takes its name from the homonymous mountain located in the center of the district's territory. "The Pallò District" (green color) derives its name from the existence in ancient times of a flat area used for playing bowls: the "pallaio". It is for this reason that three red bowls appear on the district's coat of arms above a silver vine leaf. Lastly, "The Sant’Antonio District" (white color) refers to Mount S. Antonio, a wooded hill that almost touches the beautiful square of Impruneta, where there is a chapel dedicated to the saint.

Each district will prepare at least three floats, supported by hundreds of extras, dances, and beautiful accompanying performances.