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        May Festivals & Events:

        Cagliari - Procession of Sant'Efisio (May 1st)
        During this celebration the statue of the saint is borne to Pula, where he was martyred. Groups from all over Sardinia take part in the procession, dressed in traditional local costumes. There are also "traccas" (ox-carts decorated with flowers and lace), a large group of horsemen from the Campidano plain and another of red-jacketed on horseback.
        Bari - Feast of San Nicola -(May 1st-2nd)
        In the evening a procession of some three hundred persons in the costumes of the Norman era leaves the Swabian castle to reach the church of San Nicola. There they reenact the delivery of San Nicola's bones to the Dominican friars, recalling the events of 1087, when some merchants of Bari managed to steal the saint's relics from their resting place in Myra. On Sunday the saint's statue has a place of honour in a procession of boats that makes its way along the coast.
        Lula (Nuoro) - Feast of San Francesco - (May 1st-10th)
        It is celebrated in the sanctuary of San Francesco in the countryside near Mount Albo. In keeping with the ancient custom, the faithful fulfill their vows to the saint, reaching the sanctuary on foot and offering votive candles. The prior welcomes them with bowls of filindeu, a homemade soup made with cheese and meat.
        Asti - "Offering of the Palio" - (May 3rd)
        The ceremony opens the annual celebration in honour of Asti's patron saint, an event that has been repeated without interruption for seven centuries. Representatives of all the town's quarters participate, dressed in historical costume. The ceremony recalls the end of a local conflict between civil and religious authority, a truce that was sealed by the offering of a banner called the "palio," to the church named for the town's patron. The flagtossers of the palio of Asti perform in the Piazza San Secondo.
        Sonnino (Latina) - "Festival of Torches" - (May 4th)
        The town limits are retracted by the light of torches in a night-time ritual of ancient origin.
        Cocullo (L'Aquila) - "Procession of the Separi" - (May 6th)
        At a procession in honour of San Domenico, the saint's statue is draped with snakes, and many more are handled by the "serpari."
        Pretono (Chieti) - Procession of the Serpari" - (May 6th)
        On the feast of San Domenico, who is invoked against snakebite, the saint's statue is draped with snakes and is carried in a procession, accompanied by "serpari," or snake-handlers. Celebrations end with a pantomime of the fable of the wolf who was tamed by San Domenico.
        Taranto - "Feast of San Cataldo" - (May 8th-10th)
        The feast day of the town's patron saint is celebrated with a sea-borne procession in the evening.
        Camogli (Genoa)- Fish Festival - (May 9th)
        In honour of San Fortunato, patron saint of fishermen, great quantities of fish are fried in a gigantic frying pan at the port and offered to the public.
        Zuglio (Udine) - Cross-kissing Ceremony - (May 9th)
        Crosses from all the churches of the valley are adorned with multicolored ribbon and are carried in a lengthy procession to the church of St. Peter, where they are borne in front of the cross of St. Peter, which the faithful kiss in devotion.
        "Camerino (Macerata)-Sword Race and Palio" - (May 9th-16th-23rd)
        History and folklore are the basis of festivities in 15th-century costumes.
        Ortona (Chieti) - Feast of Pardon - (May 11th-13th)
        An event featuring elements of religion and folklore, with a sea-borne procession.
        Crotone (Catanzaro) - Feast of the Madonna di Capocolonna
        (May 14th-21st)
        The town's patroness is celebrated with pilgrimages, sea-borne processions and a fish festival.
        Gubbio (Perugia)) - Race of the Ceri - (May 15th)
        In this breakneck race, twenty men called "ceraioli" carry enormous wooden constructions called "ceri" on their shoulders up to the top of a hill and the basilica of the town's patron, Sant'Ubaldo.
        Acquapendente (Viterbo) - Exhibition of the Pugnaloni - (May 16th)
        Highlights of festivities in honour of the Madonna del Fiore is the exhibition of the pugnaloni, large decorative panels made of flower petals, grass, moss and lichens. They recall a miracle - the sudden flowering of a cherry tree that was a good omen for the town's revolt against Frederick Barbarossa in 1176.
        Bucchianico (Chieti) - Festival of the Banderesi - (May 16th)
        Historic pageant in honour of sant'Urbano, with the conferring of the rings, investiture of the "sergentiere," and awarding of prizes for the best floats.
        Massa Marittima (Grosseto) - Crossbow of the Girifalco - (May 16th)
        An imposing parade in historical costume precedes a competition between crossbowmen representing the three districts of the town (Cittanova, Cittavecchia, and Borgo).
        Sassari - Sardinian Cavalcade - (May 16th)
        This event recalls a victory over the Saracens in the year 100. More than three hundred individuals and one hundred groups of islanders in their typical costumes take part in the cavalcade, which lasts from early morning til noon.
        Marta (Viterbo) - Barabbata - (May 21st)
        The feast of the ancient guilds, with a propitiatory ceremony at which offerings of products are made.
        Cervia (Ravenna) - Feast of the Ascension (May 23rd)
        On this occasion the ceremony of the "Wedding of the Sea" is held, as it has been since the mid 1400's.
        Florence - Cricket Festival - (May 23rd)
        This festival is held at the Cascine Park and undoubtedly had its origins in the extermination of crickets, considered harmful insects by farmers. A number of floats are paraded through the park and vendors sell crickets in pretty little cages. It is customary to free the insects in the park.
        Legnano (Milan) - Carroccio Festival & Palio delle Contrade
        (May 23rd)
        The occasion recalls the victory of the Lombard League over Barbarossa's troops in 1176. In the afternoon hundreds of people in medieval costumes lead a parade, followed by the Carroccio, a cart drawn by three teams of oxen. After the historical pageant, a horse race is held, and the winner is awarded the Cross of Ariberto.
        Querceta (Lucca) - Palio del Micci - (May 23rd)
        Elements of history and folklore are present in this event, with a parade in period costume and an amusing donkey race. Before the race, members of the eight town districts which compete in the event act out historical and legendary episodes in the story of the versilis area.
        Venice - Wedding of the Sea - (May 23rd)
        The feast of the Ascension is the occasion of the ceremony recalling the "Wedding of the Sea " performed by Venice's Doge, who cast his ring into the sea from the ceremonial ship known as the "Bucintoro," to symbolize eternal domination.
        Potenza - "Parade of the Turks" (May 29th-30th)
        A picturesque parade of figures in Saracen costumes winds its way through the town as part of the celebrations in honour of San Gerardo.
        Ferrara - Palio of San Giorgio (May 30th)
        This event dates back to the 13th century and features about eight hundred particpants in costumes representing the eight city districts. After a parade, various contests are held in the afternoon, among them a horse race, a donkey race, and children's races.
        Gubbio (Perugia) - Palio of the Crossbow> (May 30th)
        A crossbow contest using antique weapons is held in the Piazza della Signoria. The event includes a flag-tossing exhibition and a historical pageant with marchers in costumes.
        Monterubbiano (Ascoli Piceno)- Festival of the Piceni - (May 30th)
        The region's ancient origins inspire this event, held on the day of Pentecost, which mingles elements of history and folklore and features participants in costume.
        Orvieto (Terni) - Feast of the Palombellan - (May 30th)
        This event takes place in the Piazza del Duomo on Pentecost and is followed by the "palio della" Palombella, a traditional horse race.


        June Festivals & Events:

        Cagliari - "Pizzighettone (Cremona)" (June 2nd)
        This events recalls the imprisonment of Francois I and features a cortege in historical costumes, a flag-tossing exhibition and antique music and dance.
        Milan - Navigli Festival - (June 4th)
        The navigli, two canals that flow through the Ticino quarter of the city, are visited by hundreds of people. The festival includes swimming meets and water games.
        Monza (Milan) - Feast of San Gerardo (June 6th)
        Celebrations of the feast day of Monza's patron saint, recall according to legend, rescued hospital patients during a flood by casting his mantle on the water and transformed it in to a raft on which he carried the sick to safety.
        Venice - Historical Regatta of the four "Repubbliche Marinare"
        (June 6th)
        Every year is renewed the secular rite of the competition between the four old sea-side Italian towns: Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. A suggestive historical procession precedes the competition of the traditional ships.
        Senales, Schnals (Bolzano/Bozen) - Migration of the Flocks - (June 12th)
        The traditional migration of the flocks of sheep across the glaciers of the Giogo Alto and Giogo Basso.
        Macomer (Nuoro) - Feast of Sant-Antonio (June 12th-14th)
        Characteristic events for three days in the beautiful nature preserve of Sant'Antonio.
        Assisi (Perugia) - Corpus Domini (June 13th)
        "Infiorate," colorful and decorative designs made of flower petals, are laid out along the streets over which the traditional procession passes.
        Bolsena (Viterbo)- "Infiorata" - (June 13th)
        For the feast of Corpus Domini, decorative designs made of flower petals adorn the length of the street leading to the church of Santa Cristina, where the miracle of Corpus Domini took place in 1263.
        Brindisi - "Procession of the Caparisoned Horse+ - (June 13th)
        A spendidly caparisoned white horse bears the Tabernacle in a procession.
        Camaiore (Lucca) - Corpus Domini - (June 13th)
        The procession moves over streets paved with designs made of sawdust, according to a very old tradition.
        Campobasso - Corpus Domini - (June 13th)
        A procession accompanies the "parade of the "Misteri" which are twelve tableaux of scenes from the Old and New Testament; they are posed by live particpants on large litters that are carried through the town by bearers.
        Genzano (Rome) - "Infiorata" - (June 13th)
        For the feast of Corpus Domini, a street is laid with a floral carpet of elaborate motifs representing coats of arms and other designs; some reproduce artworks. They are laid within a few hours, but they are the result of lengthy and painstaking preparation. For two weeks before the feast day baskets of flowers are picked over and divided by colour; the petals are then separated from the stems, which are ground up to make the frames of the panels.
        Grosio (Sondrio) - "Corpus Domini" -
        (June 13th)
        The streets of the town are hung with tapestries and precious silks on the occasion of a solemn procession, with music provided by the local band.
        Nemoli (Potenza) - "Corpus Domini" -
        (June 13th)
        A procession passes through streets decorated with flowers and broom.
        Nizza Monferrato (Asti) - "Joust of Nizza's Quarters"
        (June 13th)
        There are parades of the various quarters, with marchers in historical costume, and bareback horse races. Up to the day of the joust, each quarter stages a programme of events, dances and food festivals.
        Orvieto (Terni) - "Corpus Domini" -
        (June 13th)
        The procession recalls the miracle which took place in 1246, when a priest who was celebrating mass in the church of Santa Cristina saw blood drip from the host.
        Padua - "Feast of Sant'Antonio"
        - (June 13th)
        In the afternoon there is a procession of the saint's relics, and in the evening a torchlight procession follows the course of the Bacchiglione River.
        Premana (Como) - "Feast of Corpus Domini"
        (June 13th)
        Celebrations in Premana include a procession of people in costume along streets decorated with draperies, flowers and shrines.
        Spello (Perugia) - "Feast of Corpus Domini"
        (June 13th)
        For this occasion a mile-long stretch of pavement is decorated with flowers in colorful designs.
        Mascalucia (Catania) - "Feast of San Vito"
        (June 15th)
        Festivities honoring Mascalucia's patron saint include a traditional mass at which the faithful invokes the saint, waving white hankerchiefs while his image is slowly unveiled.
        Pisa: San Ranieri
        - (June 16th-17th) /FONT>
        In the evening the banks of the River Arno are illuminated by torches, and thousands of lighted candles float downstream on corks. The next day the historical "Regatta of San Ranieri" is held on the river; it is a rowing contest, with eight oarsmen in 16th-century costume on each boat, representing the city's various quarters.
        Faenza (Ravenna) - The Oath of the Cavalieri and Flag-Tossing Contest
        (June 19th-20tht)
        Each horseman, or "cavaliere," swears before a magistrate that he will take part in the palio del Niballo (June 27th), according to the chivalric code of honour and loyalty. A contest between flag-tossers representing the town's five districts follows.
        Ossuccio (Como) - "Feast of San Giovanni"
        (June 19th-20th)
        This is the oldest of Lake Como's traditional events. In the evening an island facing the town is illuminated, then fireworks are set off to give the illusion of the destruction of the island in a burning lake. The next day a procession of boats sail to the island of Comacina, and folk music, band concerts and flag-tossing exhibitions follow.
        Nola (Naples) - "Feast of the Lilies"
        (June 20th)
        This event recalls the homecoming of the Bishop Paolino in 394, after long imprisonment in Africa. The people welcomed him, waving large bunches of lilies. Today the lilies are 25-meter-tall structures carried by bearers through the streets.
        Aci Trezza (Catania) - Pantomime of the Fish at Sea
        (June 24th)
        This is a comic version of the hunt for swordfish. It takes place following a procession with the statue of San Giovanni through the town, which is decorated with arches of colored lights in the form of flowers and animals.
        Turin - "Feast of San Giovanni" -
        (June 24th)
        Parade in historical costumes and fireworks over the Po river.
        Cava De'Tirreni (Salerno) - "Challenge of the Trombonieri"
        (June 26th-27th)
        It recalls a battle won over the Angevins thanks to the "tromboni," - heavy ancient firearms. The participants wear period costumes, and the challenge consists of a contest in marksmanship between various groups firing arquabuses.
        Faenza (Ravenna) - "Palio del Niballo"
        (June 27th)
        This event begins with a cortege in historical costume from the main square to the city stadium, where five horsemen representing the town's districts gallop, two at a time, to strike a target in the hand of a dummy called the "Niballo."
        Pisa - "Game of the Bridge"
        (June 27th)
        Two groups contend for the Ponte di Mezzo, a bridge over the Arno. Each tries to push a heavy cart to the rivals' side, overcoming their resistence.
        Isernia - "Fair of San Pietro of the Onions"
        (June 27th-29th)
        This is the most important fair in the area and was mentioned in a document signed by Count Ruggero del Celano in 1254.







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        The above information is from:

        Italia ENIT - An Italian Year 1993"



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