When to come to Umbria?
Our region, “Italy’s green heart,” entices all year round with exciting festivals highlighting every single month of the year.
Join me for an unforgettable guided hill town tour.
I assure you of that.
(And even if your Umbria visit does not coincide with a festival).
Festivals are already animating the Umbria hilltowns….and have been since the start of the New Year.
In JANUARY, St.Anthony Abbot is celebrated with days of festivities – as you can see on my YouTube page here and here as well:
Read about that festa on my blog note here.
Holocaust commerative events take place in Assisi at the end of January. Many articles on the events of Assisi’s January 27th, “Day of Remembrance” – and not only on that day – are on my blog and here is a recent one,
See this video – and this one, too.
Do see my talk on Holocaust salvation in Assisi.
In January, le Pasquarelle warm up Cascia as you can read here.
See my talk on Cascia (and the Valnerina area).
And the roveja bean is celebrated in January in Cascia, with an animated food festival, Festa delle Tradizioni Rurali.
Read about it here.
Perugia celebrates patron saint, San Costanzo with an array of events in January. Read about the celebrations here,
And more on San Costanzo celebrations here.
Do see my talk on all the wonders of Perugia.
In FEBRUARY? In MARCH?
Norcia celebrates truffles this year in late February and festivities continues throughout the beginning of MARCH.
See my talk here on Norcia.
Read here about a Norcia truffles past festival.
In APRIL?
Holy Thursday and Good Friday in both Assisi and Gubbio are not to miss.
Read about – and see! – Holy Thursday in Assisi.
Read about – and see! – the evocative morning Good Friday procession in Assisi.
Read about -and see! – the evening Good Friday procession in Assisi.
Read about Good Friday in Gubbio.
Join me, too, in the Assisi countryside on Holy Saturday for the traditional cheese bread blessings.
Do see my talk on the Easter traditions of the Assisi area.
In Gubbio, April 25th, Liberation Day, is celebrated with exuberant splendor. Read about the glorious celebration here.
Hear my talk on Gubbio wonders.
MAY
It will soon be time for the booking of tickets for Assisi’s splendid medieval festival, Calendimaggio. This year, medieval majesty infuses Assisi May 3 – 6 (soon time to purchase tickets – joinining us?).
Do see my video presentation on Calendimaggio.
….and my blog is replete with notes on the splendor – and here is just one.
And on May 15th, I would not be anywhere except in Gubbio for the Corsa dei Ceri.
Numerous blog notes tell about the excitement, the emotion felt by all in Gubbio.
Here is just one (and do read the links!).
Food festivals draw in the Italians and showcase the best in local goodness.
Let’s join the locals in early May (this year, May 4, 5) for the Fior di Cacio, cheese festival, in the small mountain town of Vallo di Nera.
Read here about a past cheese festival.
Later in the month (May 19-20 this year), porchetta delights visitors of all ages at the Porchettiamo! festival in San Terenziano, not far from Todi.
Do read here about this festival, gathering together many. Join me there – and find out about the many other culinary specialties of Umbria.
During La Corsa dell’Anello (the “Race of the Ring”) in mid-May, Narni once again brings alive its medieval history – and with what passione!
On May 22nd, Cascia celebrates St. Rita, patron saint.
Read here about that celebration.
All over Umbria in late May, wine cellars open to visitors for tastings of top wines – and not only! Wine and food-lovers won’t want to miss the Cantine Aperte festival. (May 27, 28 in 2023).
JUNE
Not to miss in Italy in June?
In Gubbio on June 2nd, the little ones run their Ceri (“candles”) up the mountain.
Read here about that day.
The flowering carpets festival of Spello for the feast of Corpus Domini, the Infiorate, (this year, June 10 and 11).
Do view my talk on Spello and see all the splendors.
Do read about the floral wonders here (and do not miss all the links!)
In nearby Bevagna, the medieval market festival – Mercato delle Gaite – unites all, from children to the elderly, in the re-creation of medieval crafts in June. Read here about the wonders.
See the festival and the treasures of Bevagna in my talk.
All over Umbria, wine cellars and vineyards welcome guests for wine-tastings during the festival, Cantine Aperte (“Open Cellars”).
Read here about a past Cantine Aperte festival.
Lavender draws visitors to the Festa della Lavanda near Assisi in late June. News here.
In Gubbio, World War II history comes to life at the end of June when Gubbio remembers the town’s 40 martyrs, Read more here.
In Spoleto, the famous Festival dei Due Mondi starts on June 23 in 2023 and lasts for about 2 weeks. Read about it here.
See one of my illustrated Spoleto talks.
Do see my other talk on Spoleto.
JULY
You’ll want to take in Umbria Jazz in Perugia if here in July.
Read about – and see! – Umbria Jazz in Perugia.
All over Umbria in JULY and AUGUST (June and September, too!), local food festivals, the sagre, animate small towns and villages.
Adults volunteer to cook up local culinary specialties and teens, as well as children, volunteer to serve up the goodness.
Here is just one of countless blog notes on the sagre.
….and in SEPTEMBER?
Sagre continue all over Umbria.
In FOLIGNO, “First Courses” take the stage in the culinary festival, I PRIMI D’ITALIA.
See my talk on Foligno wonders.
Read about I Primi Piatti.
La Quintana, too, gathers together all in euphoria in September (and in June) in Foligno.
See the Baroque splendor here:
OCTOBER
You simply can’t miss celebrating Italy’s patron saint, San Francesco di Assisi, with the locals.
On October 4th, all unite in procession and October 3rd and October 5th events add to the festivities.
Read here about October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis in Assisi.
In Trevi, this small hill town celebrates their famous “black celery” throughout most of October – with an array of events.
Read here about the October Trevi celebrations.
In October, wines are celebrated all over Umbria and especially in Montefalco.
See my illustrated talk on Montefalco
Read here about the Montefalco wine celebrations.
Enjoy my illustrated talk on wine in art and culture.
Todi, too, is not to miss in October.
Do see both of my illustrated talks on Todi.
The tuderti celebrate their patron saint, San Fortunato, with splendid events in October. This blog note gives you an idea of the festivities.
NOVEMBER
We’re picking our olives in November, for this is the month of the olive harvests all over Umbria.
Do enjoy my illustrated talk on olive oil, Part I.
Do enjoy my illiustrated talk on olive oil, Part II.
Olive oil is feted in many a festival, like the UNTO olive oil festival in Assisi.
Frantoi Aperti (“Open Olive Oil Mills”) events entice many for tastings of just-pressed olive oil.
And you might wish to purchase Umbria’s “green gold” for yourselves or as a gift. Read more here.
Cemeteries are replete with floral splendor throughout Umbria in early November – and all during the month. Read here about highlights in the Assisi cimitero.
Another reason to visit the Assisi cemetery (at any time of year!)? To pay tribute to Don Aldo Brunacci who assisted in hiding 300 Jewish refugees in Assisi, 1943-1944.
DECEMBER
Enjoy my illustrated talk on Italy’s holiday artistic tradtions and folklore.
In early December, the assisani gather together around the huge bonfire up at the hilltop fortress. Join us on December 7th in Assisi for the Focaraccio.
Little ones to the elderly dress up to participate in “living creche scenes” – presepi viventi – In the Assisi area and in Greccio on Christmas Eve, and not only.
Read here about a presepe vivente near Assisi.
Read here about Greccio and the presepe vivente.
Orvieto draws many in late December to Umbria Jazz Winter.
Do view my illustrated talk on Orvieto splendors.
Read about that jazz festival here.
Pino and I never miss it. Many blog notes on that festival and here’s one.
When to come to Umbria? As soon as you can. Start planning.
I hope the above notes tempt!
Countless wonders entice. Do join me in memorable tours.
