Ah! Spring in Rome…the sun is out one second, then behind weeping clouds the next. Everyone walking around is still in their winter coats and yet no one is sure if they are hot or cold. Regardless, they stick to the sunny side of the street. Come March, a sleepy city starts to wake…but it is not a calm waking.  Rome does not leisurely get out of bed and make itself some coffee.  Instead it always feels more like it opens it eyes, sees the sun, and starts jumping on the bed and then right out the window.  Besides better weather, there is a lot more to look forward to in Italy during the Spring.Italy Spring Festivals

What we get the most excited about is the spring festivals!  Here are some annual spring festivals worth knowing about…

La Festa della Donna | March 8th
March 8 celebrates International Women’s Day. This day celebrates all women, and is not the same as European Mother’s Day which comes a week after.  Everyone who appreciates women will gift pretty yellow mimosas on this day (the flowers, not the drink).

Torino Chocolate Fest | First two weekends of March
First two weekends of March. Man oh man, do I wish I made it up there this year!  It’s the “Euro chocolate” fair in Torino. Over 40,000 kilos of chocolate are sold during this time!

Commemoration of Julius Caesar |  March 15th
March 15, “beware the Ides of March”. Festivities happen all around Rome in commemoration of the day of the assassination of Ancient History’s beloved dictator.Rome Marathon

Rome Marathon: | 3rd Sunday of March.
This annual 42 km run weaves through Rome’s  beautiful city center, around the Vatican and finishes at the Colosseum. Join the celebration and cheer the runners on, even if you are not a marathoner yourself.

San Giuseppe Day | March 19.
This day is in celebration of Joseph and is similar to Father’s Day.

Marriage of Venice to the Sea | March 25th
This important festival originates from the days of the Doge.  Originally it was celebrated with a ceremonial boat ride out into the port. The Doge would throw a gold ring into the sea as a marriage rite. Today, the mayor of Venice honors this tradition by taking a boat from St. Mark’s Square to the Port of San Nicolo and…yup, you guessed it: throws a gold ring into the sea!

Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter | Late March or early April.
Holy Week and Easter see huge celebrations all over Italy.  There are numerous processions and celebrations on Friday and/or Saturday before Easter.

  •  Enna in Sicily has one of the largest processions usually with as many as 2,000 friars dressed up for the occasion.
  • In Chieti, the procession includes 100 violins playing Selecchi’s Miserere.
  • In Rome, the Pope has a procession to the Colosseum on Good Friday and does Easter mass at St. Peter’s on Easter Sunday.
  • In Florence, a decorated wagon is pulled through the city by white oxen.  When it reaches Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) the Arch-bishop ignites the cart which is filled with fireworks.

Easter Monday or “Pasquetta” is also a national holiday and  free public events  are held throughout Italy.

Rome’s Birthday | April 21st
April 21, 753 BC is the official birth of the city of Rome. Every year on this day the city of Rome celebrates another year with concerts, fireworks, and special events.

May Day | May 1st.
May Day is Italy’s ‘Labor Day’ and is a major public holiday throughout Italy. Please note that most businesses are closed.

The Sagra di Sant Elfisio | May 1-4th
In Sardinia in Cagliari, this day is a celebration of their Patron Saint. A statue is paraded through the town with a massive celebration and feast held after.

Snake Handlers’ Procession | First Thursday of May.
Believe it or not, in the city of Cocullo (Abruzzo) a statue of St. Dominic is carried through the city covered in live snakes.

Fish Festival of St. Fortunato | Second Sunday of May.
Near Genoa, the fishing city of Camogli has fireworks and loads of fried fish in honor of the patron saint of fishermen .

Pinocchio’s Birthday | May 25th
Everyone’s favourite puppet-come-to-life celebrates his birthday in Pescia, Tuscany. If you have not read the original Pinocchio, this is an excellent excuse to brush up on your classics.

The Chianti Festival | End of May
A celebration of Chianti wine in Italy’s Chianti Region (in Tuscany). Delicious!

Leave a Reply