September Festivals & Events:
| Viterbo Feast of Santa Rosa (Sept. 3rd & 4th)In honour of the town's patron saint, a team of bearers carries a thirty-meter-tall illuminated structure with a statue of Santa Rosa through the streets of Viterbo. |
| Marostica (Vicenza) The Living Chess Game (Sept. 4th-5th-6th)This is a celebrated game of chess played out in the town square, marked as a chessboard, with men from the town costumed as chess figures. |
| (Arezzo) Giostra del Saracino - (Date Varies) Continuation of the challenge that begins in late August. Eight horsemen representing the old districts of the town compete. They must strike the center of a shield of a dummy on a swivel, and must avoid a blow from its whip as it swings around. (The dummy is known as the Saraciano. |
| Carbras (Oristano) Feast of San Salvatore - (Sept. 5th) Continuing a very old tradition, a large number of people run barefoot for twelve kilometers, carrying the statue of San Salvatore. This event recalls an episode that took place during the Saracen invasions, when a group of women hastened to conceal the statue to save from the invaders. |
| Terra Del Sole (Forli) - Palio di Santa Reparata - (Sept. 5th) On the parade ground to the 16th-century Madici castle castle lots are drawn to determine the starting order for a crossbow contest between the towns' two districts. In the afternoon the contest is held at the conclusion of a parade in period costume. |
| Venice - Historical Regatta (Sept. 5th) The most sumptuous gondola race of the year, it takes place on the Grand Canal. Inspired by historical events, it begins with a cortege of beautiful period vessels, the bissone, with people in costume on board representing historical figures. The regatta features a seven-kilometer race along the canal for two-man gondolas. Some three hundred people in costume take part in the pageant. |
| Lanciano (Chieti) - Procession of the Donativi (Sept. 8th)On the Feast of the Madonna del Ponte, the women of the town's various quarters carry characteristic copper vessels on their heads. The vessels are decorated with coloured ribbons and paper flowers, and they contain seasonal products. |
| Noli (Savona) - Historical Regatta (Sept. 11th-12th )A large procession leads to the square in the center of this historical town, precedes the picturesque contest between the four rural districts each one represented by the characteristic liguriam boats known as "gozzi". |
| Borgomanero (Novara) - Palio degli Asini (Sept. 12th) A race in which eight donkeys represent the four quarters of the town. The event includes a parade in the period costume. |
| Castel San Pietro (Bologna) - Braciola Festival (Sept. 12th) Food an wine festival with folk entertainment and various exhibitions. |
| Chiavenna (Sondrio) - Festival of the Crotti (Sept. 12th)Folk songs and dances and a gastronomic festival of local specialties. |
| Foligno (Perugia) - Giostra della Quintana (Sept. 12th)A sumptuous parade in historical costume precedes this contest during which horsemen at a gallop must lance a ring in a dummy's hand. During the month a second contest
is held. |
| Isola Dovarese (Cremona) - Palio (Sept. 12th)A contest between the town's districts, in Renaissance costumes. |
| Sansepolcro (Arezzo) Oalio della Balestra (Sept 12th)This event originated in a dispute in medieval times between the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro and those of Gubbio. The participants are dressed in period costumes, as are the girls who take part in the prize ceremony. |
| Lucca - Feast of Santa Croce (Sept. 13th-14th) Traditional event, with a procession of marchers bearing candles from the basilica of San Frediano to the church of San Martino in honour of the Volto Santo (Holy Countenance), an 11th century crucifix. The next day a fair is held in the Piazza San Michele. |
| Asti Palio (Sept.15th) Some eight hundred participants in period costume open the festivities with a cortege. They are dressed in the colours of the city's districts, and they proceed from the cathedral square to the playing field where jockeys race bareback for the palio or prize. During the month, the wine festival of the douja d'or, an antique wine vessel, isheld. |
| Mirabella Eclano (Avellino) Festival of the Straw Cart (Sept. 15th) A twenty-five-meter-high obelisk made of finely worked straw is drawn through the fields into town on a cart. |
| Naples - Feast of San Gennaro (Sept. 19th) The faithful gather in the cathedral to pray and await the miracle of the liquification of the saint's blood, preserved in an ampule in the chapel dedicated to him. |
| Chambave (Aosta) - Grape Festival (Sept. 24th) Traditional event at which bunches of grapes and good wine are offered to the public. There is also a parade in folk costumes. |
| Gualdo Tadino (Perugia) Festival of the Portals (Sept. 25th-26th) A reenactment of historical events and folklore, with participants in costume. |
| Mezzojuso (Palermo) Connutta (Sept. 27th) Traditional parade of richly caparisoned horses. |
