Spring is one of the best seasons to travel in Italy. And you can make your holiday even more memorable by participating in any of these spring festivals.

1. Your Guide to
Spring Travel in
Italy
ITALY’S 10 BEST
SPRINGTIME
FESTIVALS

2. FLOWERS IN
BLOOM IN
ROME
For a lot of people,
spring is the best
among the four
seasons of the
year.

3. Make your stay even more memorable
by participating in awesome festivals during
the springtime months of
March to May.

4. We’re counting down the list of the top
springtime festivals that Italy has to offer.
Which one of these appeal to you the most?

5. 1. EASTER SUNDAY IN ROME
Photo credit: 123parades.com

6. Easter caps off the annual Holy Week
festivities organized by the Catholic church.
On this day in Rome, the Pope and faithful
attendees embark on the Via Crucis, a
procession of candles that ends at St. Peter’s
Square for an open air mass.

7. People wait for the
Stations of the Cross
chaired by the Pope
Francis I around the
Colosseum on Good
Friday.
GOOD FRIDAY
PROCESSION

8. After the delivery of the Holy Eucharist,
the people of Rome head to pastry shops
where they buy and exchange
Easter eggs.

9. EASTER EGGS
Easter eggs in
Rome carry a nice
twist within. Toys,
silver pieces and
fancy jewelry are
often stuffed inside
the eggs for added
effect.

10. 2. THE FOUNDATION OF ROME

11. Staying in the Eternal City, we’ve got one of
the biggest bashes in the nation each year
over the weekend closest to April 21st
.
The reason? Commemorating the
foundation of Rome by the twins
Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C.

12. BIRTH OF
ROME
FESTIVAL
Participants
dressed as Roman
ladies during the
parade.

13. During the festivities, expect classical and
modern music concerts.
You’ll also see extravagant firework displays,
historical re-enactments, mock gladiator
combat and exhaustive shopping
opportunities all over town.

14. 3. MARRIAGE OF THE TREES
Held every May 8th
in the town of Vetralla in
the region of Lazio, the Marriage of the
Trees festival is a delight for anyone who
enjoys a nice picnic in the locale’s mild
outdoors.

15. The festivities are culminated by the
decoration of a pair of oak trees, offerings of
fresh spring flowers and the planting of new
trees around the “newlyweds.”
It’s pretty simple, but it’s a fun and moving
event to be a part of.

16. 4. TURIN CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

17. Attracting about 750,000 people each year,
the Turin Chocolate Festival is a massive
celebration of the world’s favorite dessert.
Chocolates of every class, shape and variety
can be seen everywhere you look.

18. If you like
chocolates, this
event will look like
paradise to you.
CHOCOLATE
LOVER’S
PARADISE

19. 5. SAGRA DEL PESCE
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

20. If you’re the seafood-loving type,
Sagra del Pesce is the event that you
shouldn’t miss. The name translates to
“Fish Festival” in English and it’s celebrated
every second Sunday of May by residents of
the Camogli village.

21. On the day itself,
the world’s biggest
frying pan (5
meters across with
a 7 meter handle)
is brought out to
cook large
numbers of free
fish all at once.
WORLD’S
LARGEST
FRYING PAN
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

22. In the night before the Fish Festival,
big bonfires light up the beaches as a sign
that the fun is about to begin.
This event, is held in honor of
Saint Fortunato, patron saint of fishermen.

23. 6. VINITALY
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

24. Vinitaly is Italy’s premier wine festival which
happens every April or May.
Local and foreign winemakers gather here
annually to give visitors free wine tasting
sessions, seminars, workshops
and other activities.

25. As of February
2014, the
organizers have
already sold more
than 100,000
square meters of
net exhibition
space, the first in
the event’s history.
MAP OF
VINITALY
2014

26. You can expect to find expensive wines
at discounted prices – perfect if you’re
attending either for business or
pleasure reasons.

27. 7. PROCESSIONE DEI SERPARI
Photo credit: LonelyPlanet.com

28. Want to be in a festival that walks the wild
side? The feast day of St. Domenico is just
what you’re looking for.
It’s celebrated every first Thursday of May in
the town of Cocullo in Abruzzo.

29. Cocullo is a town in
the province of L’
Aquila.
The road sign reads
“The Land of the
Snake-charmers”.
Road sign to Cocullo
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

30. At the end of the day, the reptiles are
released back to the forest.
The event may seem strange and scary, but
don’t worry: the snakes are non-venomous
and their fangs have been removed for extra
safety.

31. 8. SANREMO MUSIC FESTIVAL
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

32. Every year, for five days, new and
established musicians from across the
country perform in this event.
There’s non-stop entertainment brought by
competitive and non-competitive
performances.

33. Past winners in the
festival include
Andrea Bocelli who
won in 1994 with “Il
mare calmo della sera”.
DID YOU KNOW…

34. 9. FEAST OF SAINT MARK

35. April 25th
is the feast day of St. Mark
best known for authoring one of the four
Gospels that chronicle the life of
Jesus Christ.
On this day, Venice is filled with masses,
concerts, special markets and other
festivities.

36. One of the day’s
biggest highlights is
a boat race between
local gondoliers.
GONDOLIERS’ RACE

37. This day commemorates the life of
Jesus Christ’s foster father whom we know in
the United States as St. Joseph.
It’s celebrated all over Italy and it’s the
country’s de facto Father’s Day.
10. FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH

38. In Siena, there’s even
an annual donkey race
that commemorates
Joseph and Mary’s
escape to Bethlehem.
DID YOU KNOW…
Photo credit: Tuscanylla

39. This day commemorates the life of
Jesus Christ’s foster father whom we know in
the United States as St. Joseph.
It’s celebrated all over Italy and it’s the
country’s de facto Father’s Day.

40. Bread is one of the feast’s
themes. Look for zeppole
which you’ll definitely enjoy.
This is Italy’s answer to the
American cream puff and
we guarantee you’ll love it
just as much.
DID YOU KNOW…
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

41. There are a lot of happy events at this time of
the year, but these are the ones that stand
out as far as we’re concerned.
If you’re in the country by the time that one
of these happen, don’t dare miss them or
you’ll be sorry!

42. For more information
about travel to Italy,
visit our website
www.touritalynow.com
or call our travel experts
at 800.955.4418.