Festivals in Italy in August

FERRAGOSTO
On 15th August Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, this national holiday virtually shuts down the country marking the anniversary of the event where Mary was said to have been “taken up and assumed into heaven.”  On this day around the country from North to South includes feasts often of pagan origin.  In Palermo in Sicily it is at it’s most colourful.  Originally a Roman holiday from Feriae Ausgusti (Emperor Augustus) to celebrate the ripening of the harvest fruits in the middle of summer.

August is the summer holidays for Italians and most companies close down for the month of August and everyone heads to the beach. So do not head to the coast in August as the traffic jams are terrible.

VERONA
Opera Festival in the ancient Roman ampitheatre THE ARENA in the heart of Verona. Concerts run regularly into September.

Palio dei Normanni

Sicily’s Norman past is observed during this historic celebration in which locals dress in ancient costumes for parades. Even jousting takes place among the knights in period costumes. They fight against a puppet that represents the dreaded Saracens.