Cultural events
Umbria Jazz - Perugia, July
It takes place each year in early July, in Perugia. Started in 1973, it is now one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe, and attracts artists from all over the world.
Todi Arte Festival - July
public performances of theatre, dance, visual arts, literary review and numerous other events.
Festival dei due Mondi - Spoleto, July
It takes place each year in the first two weeks of July. It was initiated in 1958 by Giancarlo Menotti. The festival is a very important international cultural event. Essentially, it is a very high quality musical event, including ballet, opera, chamber concerts, orchestral performances, prose and poetry readings, but there are also exhibitions, drama, and film.
Festival delle Nazioni - Città di Castello, August/September
Takes place every year in late August and early September. Dating from 1968, its object is to promote the music and culture of the Upper Tiber Valley. Every year one country is invited to display its own cultural traditions through musical events, including opera and drama.
Christmas in Umbria
At Christmas there are concerts of sacred and choral music in many of the towns and villages in the area. Crèches are in all the churches, and there are also enactments of the nativity. In Gubbio, the lights on the hillside spell out ‘the Biggest Christmas Tree in the World.’
Folkloristic events
La Corsa dei Ceri - Gubbio, May
This takes place on 15th May. Possibly, dating back to pagan times, it happens
on the anniversary of the death of the Saint patron of Gubbio, Sant Ubaldo.
The ceri are three enormous wooden pillars, each weighing some four hundred
kilos, each one having on the top the statue of a saint – Ubaldo,
Giorgio, and Antonio. These are carried by three teams from the lower town
up the hill to the church of Sant Ubaldo, on the top of Monte Ingino.
Calendimaggio - Assisi, May
This takes place for three days in the second week in May. The origin of
today’s festival dates back to 1927 when singers from the various
churches in the city came together to sing songs based on ancient melodies.
The city divides into the Upper and Lower parts which compete for the prize
of a banner. Success depends on the quality of the singers, the costumes,
and success in depicting scenes from the Middle Ages.
L'Infiorata - Spello, June
On the day of Corpus Domini the main streets in Spello are covered by wonderful
floral displays. The designs depict various religious scenes, sometimes
invented, sometimes copied from famous paintings. The ceremony is linked
to the ancient custom of throwing flowers in honor of the statues in religious
processions.
La Giostra della Quintana - Foligno, June/September.
The festival has its origins in an ancient equestrian competition of the
17th century, in which riders competed to display their loyalty to the Prince
or his Lady. In today’s ceremony, ten riders, each representing one
district in the town, compete with each other to insert the point of a lance
in various rings. The festival is proceeded by a procession in traditional
costumes.
Il Mercato delle Gaite - Bevagna, June
It takes place in the second week in June, and takes its origin from the
ancient political division of the town into four ‘gaite’ or
areas. The most important moment of the event is the recreation of the medieval
market in the last few days of the festival.
Gastronomic events
I Primi d'Italia - Foligno, September
The great event I Primi d'Italia is dedicated to the inviting World of First
Course Dishes. It is a unique event all on its own; it promotes the culture
of the World of first courses and does it in a very original way, plunging
the taster in a fascinating universe made of taste and quality, fun, culture
and curiosity.
Will be here also Biologics Products Village, an important event about promotion
of biologic world as model of cultural development.
Eurochocolate - Perugia, October
Perugia seems to be transformed into a gigantic pasticceria, with displays,
tastings, exhibitions, all devoted to chocolate. Other local towns and villages
become involved, and the best of Italian ‘dolci’ are on display.
Mostra del Tartufo - Città di Castello, November
The event is due to be held in the historic town centre to celebrate the
white truffle or "'Trifola" (Tuber Magnatum Pico), one of the
most soughtafter species, which grows in fair quantities in the Upper Tiber
Valley. The white truffle is valued on many accounts, its intense and absolutely
unique aroma, its size and shape which should be as even and rounded as
possible, its peerless flavour which is best brought out when served uncooked,
since it requires neither sauces nor dressing. The many stands in the fair
also display other woodland delicacies besides the truffle, such as mushrooms,
chestnuts, honey, wild-berry jams and also oil, wine and cheeses.
