FESTIVALS ITALY OCTOBER

TUSCANY

Montalcino
La Sagra del Tordo - Festival of the Thrush. This celebrated on the last Sun in Oct to mark the successful end of the hunting season.

SARDEGNA

Bonorva

Festa di Santa Barbara – In this lovely town near Sassari the locals dress in the island’s traditional costumes for a religious procession which is followed by a firework display and a huge bonfire in the town with music played on traditional instruments.

PIEMONTE

Truffle Fairs
From October to December, ideal excursions throughout the province include the Truffle Fairs in celebration of this unusual delight that is worth more than gold.

There are also many other events during the year: guided tours to castles from May to October; antique markets at Asti, Nizza Monferrato, Canelli, and Moncalvo; winter theatrical events, not only in the towns but also in small provincial theatres; musical events in many churches, often providing the opportunity to discover hidden artistic gems.

SICILY

Maritime Festival (Porticello Santa Flavia, Palermo) - 1st Sun
This festival takes place every year at a little fishing portto the east of Palermo. Sporting competition include boat races among the fishermen. There's also a village festival dedicated to fish, a mainstay of the port's economy, especially the harvesting of anchovies and sardines. At night, there's a parade of boats illuminated with flaming torches, and an image of Maria is hauled to the water to be blessed. Naturally, stalls sell all the fish dishes you can consume.

UMBRIA

Perugia Eurochocolate Festival - 3rd week in October.

For 10 days the Umbrian chief town transforms itself for the occasion in a huge open-air pastry-shop for the delight of all the greedy persons and the slaves of cacao. Dozens of big events concentrated on the "food of the gods" with exhibitions, laboratories, internships, cooking classes, tasting, expositions, banquets, celebrations and the final prizes: Eurochocolate Awards.

VENEZIA

Venice Marathon - The Venice marathon is the most important international sport competition taking place in Venice. One of the most famous marathons of the world offers the charm of a wonderful environment with the arrival close to Piazza San Marco.