EVENTS IN TUSCANY, JULY

SIENA - THE PALIO, JULY 2ND

Famous (infamous?) the world over, the annual palio is held twice - July 2nd and August 16th. Put simply, it is a bareback horse race with various areas of the city competing in the main square in honour of the Virgin Mary.
There are 17 different areas of Siena - contrade - 10 of which compete in the race. Nothing, but nothing is as important as winning. To come second is a disgrace. Each area has a fierce rival and it is vital that your opponent does not win - money and old allegiances are bought into play to bring about all sorts of jostling and manoeuvring come the main event. The Piazza del Campo can hold 25,000 people, but to be sure of seeing the parades, costumes, flags and the race itself you'll need to be there early - the main race is held at around 7.30 in the evening, but the preparations and trial runs begin several days beforehand.

PISTOIA BLUES - 2ND WEEKEND OF JULY

Calling it a blues festival nowadays is stretching things a touch, although there will always be at least one Delta Blues grandee alongside the likes of Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Patti Smith, Van Morrison and Ry Cooder. Held in the main square of Pistoia, a city that should be visited by more people than it is. Link here.

MONTHLY MARKETS/FAIRS

LUCCA has a large antiques market (centred around Piazza San Giusto and Piazza Antelminelli) on the third Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month. There is also a craft fair, again in and around Piazza San Giusto, on the last Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month.

AREZZO has an enormous antiques market on the first Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month, centred around Piazza Grande and Piazza Vasari.

FLORENCE has its antique market on the last Sunday of every month in Piazza dei Ciompi.

JULY & AUGUST, OPEN AIR PUCCINI FESTIVAL

The 46th annual Puccini festival is again hosted in the open air (Teatro all'aperto) at Torre del Lago Puccini near Viareggio. The timing of most shows is for an early evening start. Take a jumper and some industrial strength mosquito repellent - the theatre is situated on the shores of lake Massaciuccoli. Site here.

OPERA BARGA - LATE JULY & EARLY AUGUST

Revived in recent years, the Opera Barga festival begun in 1967 with the aim of using the operas as a learning experience for young singers and musicians with the intent of putting on smaller, lesser known operas of the baroque period together with more modern and even contemporary compositions.

LUCCA 'SUMMER FESTIVAL' - JULY

Series of open air concerts, mainly taking place in the Piazza Napoleone (AKA Piazza Verde) throughout July. This event has grown in popularity in a very short time and now attracts some big names on the European summer tour circuit. Site here.

LUCCA, 3RD SUNDAY OF MONTH

The festival of San Paolino sees mediaeval costumes, torchlit parades and a traditional crossbow contest. Centred around the San Paolino area in the centre of Lucca.