Local Events & Festivals In Tuscany

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience some of the festivals and wonderful local events that Tuscany has to offer. Tuscany is home to many historic towns and charismatic cities, both of which hold exciting and fascinating events throughout the year.

Attending a local festival or event will give you a true feel for the real Tuscany and enable you to immerse yourself in the local culture. You will learn more about the history and culture of this artistic and visually stunning region.

Tuscany hosts a wide variety of different events to suit every taste. Attend events such as local markets, food and wine festivals, theatre shows, carnivals, live music concerts and colourful parades.

We have put together a selection of some of the best events in Tuscany that are a stone's throw away from our luxurious private villas. Browse through the events below or check the Italian tourist board for more information.

What is a Sagra?
A Sagra is a village festival which is basically an open air restaurant. There is generally music and depending on the village there may be also a few stalls with products made by the villagers. The food is good and cheap,it is a very country atmosphere and you will be surrounded by loud Italians.
Every sagra is for a specific type of food. There will be starters, first courses and second courses all made with the specific item. There are also desserts and wine and water.
When you arrive at the sagra (you will find it easily from all the cars that are parked in the area of the village where the festival is held) you must order what you want from a little booth where you will need your elbows and Italian dictionary (the menus are only in Italian). After you have paid you will be given a form with what you ordered. Find a place to sit and give the form to one of the waiters who will then bring you your food.

What is a Fiera?
A fiera can be an exhibition, fair, or village festival. Depending on where it is held you can tell what sort of event it is. If it is held in a small village it is a village festival, while if it is held in a fortress or stadium in a town then it is an exhibition or fair, often you are also able to buy the goods on exhibit.


What is a Mostra?
A mostra is an exhibition, usually of art. In Tuscany there are many exhibitions of art during the year.

If you would like to know more about which exhibitions are on during the period of your stay please contact informazioni@to-tuscany.com.

Tuscany isn't known for beer, however there is an ever increasing microbrewing community to the extent that a yearly beer festival is held in Bibbiano, near Buonconvento in the province of Siena. It's only about a 30 minute drive from Siena.

The event provides something for everyone, including various beer masters, beer tasting with the possibility to buy the products, a choice of food stalls, live music and open spaces for the little ones to play in. A wide range of beer producers are invited annually. They come not only from Italy but also other European countries and the USA, enabling visitors to taste an interesting selection of beers.

While for a story about a first hand experience of the event, visit our blog, written by a To Tuscany staff member who went to the event.


Web: www.villaggiodellabirra.com

First Sunday after January 17th
Palio di Butti
Traditional horse race that starts at 14.30
Location: Buti (Pisa)


Web: https://www.paliodibuti.eu/

The three Sundays before Ash Wednesday

Carnevale a San Gimignano
A parade of carneval floats through this medieval town finishing in the main square. This is a popular carneval to visit. The parade takes place at 15.30
Location: San Gimignano

Carnevale a Montepulciano
A parade of carnival floats through this medieval town finishing in the main square.
Location: Montepulciano

Carnival Sunday and Fat Tuesday
Carnevale Bientinese
Canival parade
Location: Bientina (Pisa)

The Sunday before the 19 March
Fiera di San Giuseppe
A spring fair and sagra with the typical sweet rice dumplings in honour of San Giuseppe
Location: Chiesanuova, Chiesina Uzzanese (Pistoia)

Sunday after the San Giuseppe festival
Palio dei Somari
A traditional event. It is a race with donkeys accompanied by flag bearers and drummers. The race will be held at 16.00. If there is rain it will be postponed to the following Sunday.
Location: Torrita di Siena

Palm Sunday
Sagra delle frittelle
Rice dumpling festival
Location: Montespertoli (Florence)

Good Friday
Processione via Crucis
An Easter procession which starts at the cathedral (Il Duomo) and ends at the Church of San Martino (Chiesa di San Martino). The participants of the procession are all in historic costumes.
Location: Siena centre

Easter Sunday
Easter Mass
Held in the cathedral of Siena (Il Duomo). It starts at 11.00, bring some warm cloths as the cathedral will be cold even during the day, there is no heating inside.
Location: Siena cathedral (Il Duomo)

Easter Monday
Mercatino delle cose del pasato
Festival with typical dumplings, sandwiches, wine and vin santo
Location: Greve in Chianti

Second to last Saturday of April to the first Sunday of May
Sagra del Cinghiale
Wild boar festival and sagra
Location: Chiocchio, Greve in Chianti

Radda nel Bicchiere (Radda in a Glass)
Wine tasting along the street through the town of Radda in Chianti. The town offers its wine tourists and ethnographers an opportunity to discover its wines. https://www.raddanelbicchiere.net/
Location: Radda in Chianti

All May
Maggio Musicale
A series of classical concerts and ballet held in Florence. For more information visit their website.
Location: Florence

All May
Concerto Classico
Sacred music, pieces from Italian Operas and songs from Naples.
Held every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 18.00. There is an entry fee. For more info http://www.concertoclassico.info
Location: Chiesa Anglicana di St. Peter's - Via Garibaldi 32, Siena

First Sunday of May
Mercatino dei prodotti della Val d'Orcia
A market of products from the Val d'Orcia valley.
Location: Pienza

Second Saturday of May
Cantine in Festa
The wine cellars of Cerreto Guidi are open for wine tastings
Location: Cerretto Guidi (Florence)

Second Sunday of May
Sagre e mostre dell'affettatrici e delle bilance storiche
A delicatessan festival where you can try locally produced cold meats and view the antique slicing machinery and weigh scales on display.
Location: Greve in Chianti

Last Sunday of May
Sagra dei Pici
A festival where you can taste local products including the pici pasta which are typical of the area.
Location: S. Casciano dei Bagni (South of Siena)

Cantine aperte (A feast of wines)
The famous wine cellars of the province of Siena open their doors to the public for a day of wine tasting. You can not only taste but also buy some of the most well-known wines of the Chianti, San Gimignano, Montalcino and Montepulciano. On this day there will also be other events occuring such as a tour of vintage cars from Florence to Castello di Brolio and a cycling itinerary. You will also be able to taste various typical products at some of the farms in the region.
For more info click here (only in Italian)

Last Sunday of May
L'estrazione per il Palio del 2 Luglio
In piazza del Campo the selection of the contradas that will race in the 2nd of July Palio takes place. The event occurs between 19:00 and 20:00. The 7 contradas who did not race the preceding year will definitely race. The last 3 places are selected out of the remaining 10 contradas by a draw.
Location: Piazza del Campo - Siena

1000 Miglia
This is a famous gathering of vintage cars which originally raced for 1000 miles through Italy. The cars are driven by well-known drivers and other VIPs. They will be passing through Tuscany on the way back to Brescia. You can see them along the SS 2 road departing from  Siena about midday on Saturday passing the Chianti area.
For accommodation near the race route Villa Sornano (12people) and Vecchio Fienile (2 to 6 people)
For more information including dates visit https://1000miglia.it/

Pentecoste
This is a festival completely dedicated to wine. The wine growers of Castellina will present their products which include wines, olive oils, cheeses and cold meats. You can buy a glass and then proceed to taste the various wines. On the 29th and 30th there are also small musical events and other small shows.
Location: Castellina in Chianti

June
Sagra della pastaciuta (Pasta festival)
At this sagra there are many types of pasta with different sauces that you can try. A good idea would be to take a 'Tris' where you can choose 3 different types to try in one portion.
Location: Volte basse (South of Siena)

Fourth Sunday of June
Palio della rana
A traditional frog race which includes a parade in historical costume.
Location: Laterina (near Arezzo)

From Thursday to Sunday of the last week of June
Sagra degli strozzapreti
Typical cuisine of the Maremma area of Tuscany accompanied by music, dance and exhibitions. There is also a small amusement park for children.
Location: Roccastrada (Grosseto)

Penultimate Saturday of June
La Giostra del Saracino (The Saracino Joust)
The four doors of Arezzo divide the city centre into 4 parts. Each zone has its own colours and competes against the others in this traditional event that has its origins in 1200.
The event lasts the whole day but the joust itself occurs at about 17.00. From 15.30 there is a parade of all the participants and their horses.
For tickets contact: giostradelsaracino@comune.arezzo.it
Location: Arezzo

Third weekend of June
Giostra dei Bastoni
The remaking of an historical event. It takes place in the streets of San Gimignano where there will also be stands with various items of medieval times. During the event there will be a historical procession and a tornamento held on horseback. There is an entrance fee. For more information contact prolocsg@tin.it
Location: San Gimignano

Calcio Storico (historic soccer)
This is a brutal traditional game of Florence. The 4 teams play to win a 'Palio' and a white heifer. Each team represents a zone of the city. This is a no rules game and everything is allowed, there is a large feast in the winning part of the city after the game. This is the second game and begins at 17.00 in Piazza Santa Croce. For more information click here.
Location: Florence

The Palio preparations
For more information click here.

Calcio Storico (historic soccer)
This is a brutal traditional game of Florence. The 4 teams play to win a 'Palio' and a white heifer. Each team represents a zone of the city. This is a no rules game and everything is allowed, there is a large feast in the winning part of the city after the game. This is the final game and begins at 17.00 in Piazza Santa Croce.
Location: Florence

Chianti Festival
This is an excellent musical festival which takes place in the various Chianti towns. For the program click here.  If you would like to go to some concerts yet can't access the link to the program please contact us and we can let you know what events are happening where.
Location: various Chianti towns

2 July
Il Palio
The world famous horse race of Siena. This is an event not to be missed. If you are planning to watch it from the square, where entrance is free, make sure you bring lots to drink as it gets extremely hot and there are lots of people which causes it to be even hotter. For full information on the Palio click here.
Location: Siena

Monteriggioni medieval festival
This is a beautiful festival to see, there are not only various stalls where you can get something to eat and wine to drink but there are also several replays of how the people lived in the medieval days. Every day there is also several special events which range from concerts to a falcon demonstration.
There is an entry fee to the festival. Click here for the website which is only in Italian.
Location: Monteriggioni

Umbria Jazz
This a world famous Jazz festival that lasts for 10 days. The streets of the old centre of Perugia are filled with musicians and street artists from morning to late night. In the evenings there are concerts that often host some of the biggest Jazz names.
This is an event that is not to be missed. It is best to go late week and the weekend as this is when the best concerts are on. During this period Perugia is alive with the music and people, the atmosphere is something that you never forget.
Click here for their website
Location: Perugia

Arezzo Wave
This event takes place at the stadium of Arezzo, which is filled with music, stalls selling all sorts of items and food stalls. This is a festival for young people as it is basically a concert with various stalls around. It is not a traditional event but an event to which many young locals go in order to pass an evening.
For more information: http://www.arezzowave.com/
Location: Arezzo stadium

Pistoia Blues
A blues festival in the streets and clubs of Pistoia.On one of the nights Ike Turner and his band will perform. For full information click here to visit the official website.
Location: Pistoia 

Puccini festival
An opera festival in honor of Giacomo Puccini. Ideal to combine with a visit to the beautiful city of Lucca. For more information, including the program and ticket information visit the site www.puccinifestival.it
Location: Lucca

Lucca Summer festival
Throughout July there is a selection of concerts that take place in Piazza Napoleone inside the city walls. Lucca has a selection of car parks, some are free and some paid. The town council operates a shuttle bus service from the car parks outside the walls into the centre. For more information and tickets visit the website
Location: Lucca

Wednesdays and Fridays of July
Sere d'Estate
Summer evenings with shops open after hours, street stalls of handmade products and local produce.
Location: Fucecchio (near Florence)

First Sunday of July
Sagra del Cinghiale
A sagra of wild boar
Location: Cantagallo (near Prato)

Second weekend of July
Aspettando la battaglia
A reinaction of the events before the historical battle of Cascina between Pisa and Florence in 1364
Location: Cascina

Fourth Sunday of July
Sagra della bistecca
A sagra based on the fiorentine steak
Location: Levane, Montevarchi

14 August *
The Palio preparations
For more information on the Palio click here
Location: Piazza del Campo - Siena

Puccini festival
An opera festival in honor of Giacomo Puccini. Ideal to combine with a visit to the beautiful city of Lucca. For more information, including the program and ticket information visit the site www.puccinifestival.it
Location: Lucca

Tuscan Sun Festival
A music and arts festival that brings world-class musicians to Cortona, as well as presenting local delicacies, wines, art exhibits, literary and cooking events and wellness sessions
For more info visit https://www.facebook.com/people/Tuscan-Sun-Festival/100062688894064/
Location: Cortona

2 August
Luminaria
A procession of illuminated fishing boats in honour of the patron saint.
Location: Porto Santo Stefano

First Sunday
Sagra dei crostini
Crostini are toasted sliced bread with various toppings, typically they are eaten as a starter. This is a small sagra but the crostini are excellent and you choose from many different types. There are also first and second courses available but you can fill up easily on all the crostini available. At this sagra you help yourself and pay for what you take.
Location: Ruffolo, Siena

13 August
Tratta e prima prova del Palio di Siena
The horses that will run in the Palio are assigned to the contradas in the morning and at 19.15 the first trial run takes place.
Location: Piazza del Campo, Siena

10 August
San Lorenzo
A regata on special wooden boats between the young of port of Giglio
Location: Isola del Giglio

15 August*
Palio marinaro
This traditional boat race is preceeded by a procession in costume.
Location: Porto Santo Stefano

15 August*
Palio marinaro
A boat race recently introduced as a tourist attraction.
Location: Castiglione della Pescaia

15 August*
Palio preprarations
9.30 Second trial run
19.30 Third trial run
Location: Piazza del Campo - Siena

16 August*
Il Palio
The world famous horse race of Siena. This is an event not to be missed. If you are planning to watch it from the square, where entrance is free, make sure you bring lots to drink as it gets extremely hot and there are lots of people which causes it to be even hotter.
Location: Siena

17 August*
Procession of victory
The contrada who wins the Palio parades through the city in celebration showing off the Palio which was won. There are drummers and flag bearers who accompany the Palio.
Location: Siena

Bravio delle Botti
At 9.00 the starting order and the allocation of the barrels is done. At 15.00 there is a historical procession through the city.  At 19.30 the race takes place after which there is a dinner in all the contradas of the city.
Location: Montepulciano

Last weekend
Feast of Forgiveness
In the evenings in the town live music and dance, food stands and pizza, crafts market, with fireworks on the last evening.
Location: Radda in Chianti

First Sunday of September
La Giostra del Saracino (The Saracino Joust)
The four doors of Arezzo divide the city centre into 4 parts. Each zone has its own colours and competes against the others in this traditional event that has its origins in 1200.
The event lasts the whole day but the joust itself occurs at about 17.00. From 15.30 there is a parade of all the participants and their horses.
For tickets contact: giostradelsaracino@comune.arezzo.it
Location: Arezzo

First Sunday of September
Fiera del settembre Rapolanese
A september local village festival
Location: Rapolano Terme (Siena province)

Second Friday in September
Rievocazione storica
The little hamlet is transformed into how life was in the 1500s with various well know people from the De' Medici court during 1570.
Location: Cerreto Guidi (Florence province)

Palio dei ciuchi
A local fair with a traditional donkey race and parade in historical costume.
Location: Campagnatico (Grosetto province)

Second Sunday
Corsa delle ranocchie - Frog race
A festival where the participants have to run around the square pushing  a small cart with 3 frogs. If the frogs jump off the participant must stop, collect his frog and continue. The event is entertaining as the frogs do not always cooperate and hop into the crowds, with their owner trying to catch them.
Location: Paganico

Second Sunday in September
Sagra della bruschetta
Bruschetta is toasted bread with various toppings, favorite ones are chopped tomatoes or olive oil and garlic.
Location: Monti in Chianti (near Gaiole)

Second week in September
Rassegna del Chianti Classico
A festival for the Chianti Classico. Friday from 17.00 - 22.00 and Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 - 22.00
Location: Greve in Chianti

Second and third weekends of September
Sagra della polenta e dei porcini
A polenta and porcini mushroom sagra
Location: Poggio alla Malva (Near Carmingnano in Pistoia province)

Third weekend of September
Panzano Wine Festival
Location: Panzano

Third Sunday of September
Festa medioevale
A medieval festival with typical and traditional local products
Location: Palaia (Pisa province)

The two weekends of the second half of September
Festa della vendemmia
A grape harvest festival
Location: San Casciano al di pesa  (Florence province)

Eurochocolate
Never mind waiting until Christmas to immerse yourself in one of life's sweetest pleasures. Chocolate-lovers looking to satisfy their cravings can book a week-long trip with To Tuscany Villas to Perugia's Eurochocolate Festival in October.
Perugia's Eurochocolate Festival is Europe's most famous festival of its kind and is set to fill the streets of Umbria's capital city mid October with a celebration of all things chocolaty. Featuring chocolate from all over Europe, visitors will be able to delight in free sample tastings, visit related exhibitions and demonstrations, sample some of the latest chocolate-based beauty treatments and even marvel at huge chocolate sculptures carved in the Piazza IV Novembre. Wandering through the medieval streets, they will find the main piazzas and streets are scattered with stalls selling chocolate in its pure form or blended into ice creams, cakes, pastries and even savoury dishes. For those looking to brush up on their culinary skills, there are chocolate cooking classes, while informative seminars will educate people in the nutritional and dietary benefits of the tasty treat.
The chocolate festival is of course also the perfect excuse to visit the medieval city of Perugia, known as 'The Green Heart of Italy'. Special guided tours of the city, a wealth of architecture and surrounding countryside to explore and an abundance of chocolate will all make for a delicious week away.
Location: Perugia
See the website http://www.eurochocolate.com/

Mini Eroica
A bicycle trip from Gaiole to Castello di Meleto which is an event ideal for families. There will also be vintage bicycles involved in this historical event. To participate you must register at least 1 week before by emailing eroica@parcociclisticodelchianti.it, registration is free. For more information visit their website www.parcociclisticodelchianti.it.
Location: Gaiole in Chianti

First Sunday of October
Festa dell'uva
A grape festival.
Location: Cinigiano (Grosseto province)

First and Second Sunday of October
Sagra delle lepre
A village sagra based on hare, however there are other products to eat
Location: Terricciola (Pisa province)

Second and third Sunday of October
Festa dei marroni
A marron fair where you can buy various local products. There is also a market.
Location: Vicchio (Florence province)

Treno natura
A special steam train that goes from Siena to San Giovanni d'Asso. Allowing you to enjoy the truffle festival at San Giovanni. Tickets must be booked. For more information contact https://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazionefs/en/itineraries.html?region=toscana
Location: Departure from Siena station

Mercatino di Natale - Christmas market
A small Christmas market held in the town of Buonconvento. Often interesting just to browse.
Location: Buonconvento

Mostra di Presepi - Exhibition of Nativity Scenes
This is an interesting exhibition of different nativity se made by the people of the town. It is facinating for the young and old. The exhibition lasts the whole of December.
Location: Bettolle center

24 December
Messa di Natale - Christmas mass
Location:  The Cathedral of Siena

25 December
Messa di Natale - Christmas mass
Location:  The Cathedral of Siena