Archive for 'Events'

Pisa has quite the calendar of incredible events and festivals that are steeped in local history and rich in Tuscan culture, which take place at various points throughout the year. One of the biggest of these events is the Luminara Festival, which takes place in June and is celebrated in honour of San Ranieri, the patron saint of the city. This sees the city get lit up magically by tens of thousands of candles upon nightfall and is a truly majestic thing to behold. The day after, however, there is another fascinating celebration: a historical regatta takes place on the same waters that were illuminated the night before, and the Arno plays host to an exciting boat race. To experience this exciting and colourful festival as a whole, just find a vacation rental in Pisa and plan a trip for the middle of June!

Dating back to 1688, the festival traces its origins to when the Grand Duke of Tuscany ordered that San Ranieri’s ashes be transferred from the simple urn that had thus far contained them to a more decorative and modern urn. As they were being moved from one urn to the other, a procession of pilgrims with candles walked alongside it as a mark of respect and the festival that continues to this day recreates these events in honour of their beloved patron saint.     Read More

Tuscany is a magical place full of incredible works of art, delicious dishes waiting to be eaten, pretty towns, wonderful views, a rich cultural and historical heritage, lots to see and do, and much more besides. However, it is also, oftentimes, quite a strange place with things you might not expect like Torture Museums, intestine sandwiches, dinosaur bones in church walls, swords stuck in stones, and other bizarre and unique places, attractions, and surprises. It is, furthermore, home to quite a few unique traditions and festivals that are must-sees for those looking to get off the beaten tourist path and experience a different, less-talked-about, side of Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are looking for more unique and impossibly memorable experiences of the region, then check out this list of some of the most unusual and special events in Tuscany…

Watermelon Festival, Castellina in Chianti

For those planning on renting a holiday rental in Chianti at the end of August, you should aim to head the charming town of Castellina in Chianti for the Watermelon Festival, or Sagra del Cocomero. Like most festivals in Italy there is lots of foods and music but the main star of the show is the watermelon. So, if a whole festival dedicated to watermelons sounds good to you, then there could be no better fit! The best way to cool down during the hottest month of the year in Tuscany.     Read More

Tuscany is home to lots of unique traditions and interesting local festivals that take place throughout the region. These are wonderful, colourful events, that combine history, tradition, elaborate costumes, delicious food, live music, performances, parades, and much more. One particularly fascinating festival that takes place each summer is the Battle of the Bridge in Pisa. Held annually on the last Saturday of June, just after the San Ranieri festival celebrations, the Battle of the Bridge brings the whole city alive in a unique way and is a must for those who have found a vacation rental in Pisa.

Taking place on the Ponte di Mezzo bridge, one of several that cross the Arno in Pisa, the event sees the neighbourhoods of the city divide into two teams – the Mezzogiorno for districts south of the Arno and the Tramontana for those north of the Arno – to try and take over the side of the bridge occupied by the other team. This is done by trying to place an iron cart on their side of the bridge and while it sounds a little silly, it is actually a wonderful traditional event that locals adore and really get involved with.     Read More

Updated 16/6/22.

Italy has a lot of unique traditions that continue to this day; races with frogs, jousting tournaments, extreme historic soccer games, elaborate costumed parades, a witch that does Santa's job, and much more besides. This connection to the past and embracing of what makes Italy unique greatly enriches any trip to Italy and, for those interested in really getting to know a place and to understand the local culture and tradition, these types of events are key. If you are thinking about finding a vacation rental in Montepulciano and planning a trip and want to really engage with the history and legacy of this city in Tuscany, then you should aim to visit in the last couple of weeks of August. On the final Sunday of the month, you will be able to witness the curious spectacle that is the Bravio delle Botti.

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