Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno holds a medieval jousting tournament , la Quintana , on the rst Sunday in August . A highlight of the festival is the procession prior to the tournament with people dressed in medieval costume . Following the tournament , there ' s a procession celebrating the winner and festivities that last late into the night . Ascoli Piceno is in central Italy ' s Marche region .
L ' ardia Di San Costantino
5th Team ITALY MENTOR TEACHERS : MIRELA AND REJHANA
Carnevale , Venice , February
From January 27 to February 13 , the oating city of Venice is transformed into an extravagant masked ball . The festival , which is believed to have originated in the 12th century , celebrates the anticipation of Lent ( a time when Christians abstain from revelry and eating meat ). While the opulent masquerade balls require invitations with steep ticket prices , the candlelit parade of boats , concerts and street performances are free and open to the public
Battle of the Oranges , Ivrea , February
This famous ‘ battle ’ reenacts a 12th-century skirmish with citrus fruit in what is one of Europe ’ s biggest food ghts . Participants either run through the streets or hurl oranges from one of the ‘ battle buses ’ which patrol Ivrea . Each year in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday , the townspeople of Ivrea
Festa Della Madonna Bruna
The Madonna Bruna festival , on July 2 in Matera , is one of the most interesting processions we ' ve ever seen . The procession has a surprise ending , and , late at night before heading to your cave hotel , there ' s a spectacular reworks display over the Sassi of Matera . It ' s a really beautiful sight .
The Regatta
The Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics is a historic boat race in boats called gozzi , each rowed by a team of eight rowers from one of the four maritime republics : Amal , Genoa , Pisa , and Venice . Before the regatta , there ' s a colorful procession with participants from each republic dressed in traditional medieval costume . The festival location rotates each year .
L ' ardia Di San Costantino is one of the biggest festivals in Sardinia . Taking place in July , this exciting horse race commemorates Constantine ' s victory at the Mulvian Bridge in 312 . It ' s really more than a race , and it has an interesting spiritual twist . Besides watching the races , the large array of food stands makes it a great festival for eating .
Carnevale , Viareggio , February
Every February , the people of Northern Italy go a little crazy . They head to the seaside town of Viareggio in their thousands to unleash their inner jester and bring some light to the dark and dreary winter months . The highlight of this 150-year-old celebration is undoubtedly the giant parade of papier -mâché oats , some several stories high , that weave their way through the streets playing music .
THE GAME OF THE BRIDGE
The game of the bridge is a historic event in Pisa , and It take places annually on the last Sunday of June . The highlight is a historic parade along the Arno promenade , with more than 700 participants .
After the historic parade the two opposing teams “ Tramontana ” and “ Mezzogiorno ” meet to a power struggle at the Ponte di Mezzo ( a bridge that cross the Arno river in Pisa ). In the middle of the bridge there is a 12 meter long car on rails . Every team gathers at the two ends of the car . From here , the men try to push the car on the opposing side the more than possible . The victory goes to the team , which has managed to place the car on the opponent ’ s territory . The battle is long just one night , but the preparations for the event continue all Year !
Ceppo and Zampogne .
Most everyone in Italy decorates a tree and hangs socks , although , of course , traditions vary and change . The old Tuscan tradition of the stump - a Christmas log , a huge piece of wood chosen and dried especially to burn in the replace on Christmas night , around which the family gathered and shared simple gifts of tangerines , dried fruits and pastries - it is slowly fading as modern houses no longer house the replaces of yesteryear . But the communal meeting points of the holiday remain important for everyone . In some Sicilian cities , res are lit in the squares on Christmas Eve to prepare for the arrival of Jesus , and people gather to share gifts . In some cities there are