2019 CALENDAR OF ITALIAN EVENTS Major events include: special celebrations, festivals and events, art exhibitions, sport events, historical re- enactments, folklore events, Carnivals, new museums and art spaces and more…. NB: information correct at time of publication, January 2019 NEW MUSEUMS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ANNIVERSARIES MATERA – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019 The city of Matera in the southern region of Basilicata is European Capital of Culture for 2019, the city famous for its cave dwellings and art will host a series of celebrations and special events. Check them out on www.matera-basilicata2019.it LEONARDO DA VINCI’S ANNIVERSARY – 500TH YEAR FROM HIS DEATH The great Leonardo da Vinci will be celebrated throughout the year on the 500th anniversary of his death. Celebrations will centre mainly in Tuscany and in Milan and Lombardy. Check them out on: www.visittuscany.com www.in-Lombardia.it www.turismo.milano.it PORTO DI CLASSE MUSEUM opens to the public Recognised in English as the ‘Ancient Port of Classe’, the Porto di Classe Museum will open on 1 December 2019, enabling visitors to explore and learn about this fascinating archaeological park and its ancient history and discovery. Founded by the Roman Emperor Augusto, Porto di Classe was known for being prosperous during the Roman Empire, Theodoric’s Empire and the Byzantine Period. The archaeological area is located 4km from the centre of Ravenna, a region that throughout this period was known for being politically and economically strong, and during this time the port served incredible importance as a commercial harbour. Today, visitors can follow an illustrated route or take a guided tour where they can relive the streets and buildings around the dock, which date back to the 5th Century. www.parcoarcheologicodiclasse.it/en NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF AQUILEIA 136 years after its opening, the National Archaeological Museum (MAN) of Aquileia in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region has been completely restored with themed rooms, new installations, more accessible spaces and a more complete and accessible history. The new setup focuses on the rediscovery and enhancement of the ancient city of Aquileia and its relationship with the region http://www.museoarcheologicoaquileia.beniculturali.it/en/1/home EXHIBITIONS MILAN PALAZZO REALE http://www.palazzorealemilano.it/wps/portal/luogo/palazzorealeEN Antonello da Messina 21 Feb – 2 Jun.2019 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres 9 Mar – 23 Jun.2019 Pre-Raphaelites and Italy 19 Jun – 6 Oct.2019 Giorgio de Chirico 25 Sep. 2019 – 19 Jan.2020 Thannhauser Collection of the Guggenheim Museum Oct.2019 – Feb. 2020 Federico Fellini Dec 2019 – Feb 2020 MUSEO DEL NOVECENTO Filippo de Pisis 4 Oct.2019 – 1 Mar.2020 http://www.museodelnovecento.org/it/ FLORENCE Verrocchio, Leonardo’s master 8 mar- 14 Jul 2019 Palazzo Strozzi www.palazzostrozzi.org The origins of Genius – Leonardo 15 Apr – 15 Oct 2019 Vinci, Leonardo’s birth place Museo Leonardiano www.museoleonardiano.it 500th anniversary of the birth of Cosimo de’ Medici (court life, army, artworks from the time of Cosimo Medici) 6 June – 29 Sept. 2019 www.uffizi.it Bronze sculpture in the Florence of the last Medicis 19 Sep 2019 – 12 Jan 2020 Palazzo Pitti www.uffizi.it Florence Biennale 18-27 Oct 2019 Fortezza da Basso www.florencebiennale.org FERRARA Boldrini and fashion February 16 – June 2, 2019 Palazzo dei Diamanti, Ferrara: www.palazzodiamanti.it PRATO Leonardo da Vinci, the genius and the cloth manifacturing Until 26 May 2019 Prato, Museo del Tessuto http://www.museodeltessuto.it/leonardo/ SYRACUSE, SICILY Archimede a Siracusa Until 21 Dec 2019 Syracuse, Galleria Civica Montevergini https://www.mostraarchimede.it/ FORLI’ 19th century. Italian art from Hayes to Segantini 09 Feb 2019 – 16 Jun 2019 Forlì, Musei San Domenico www.mostraottocento.com VENICE Arshile Gorky 1904-1948 8 May – 22 Sep. 2019 Ca’ Pesaro, Modern Art Museum http://capesaro.visitmuve.it/ CARNIVALS CARNIVAL OF VENICE Venice (Veneto); 16 Feb. - 5 Mar. 2019 www.carnevale.venezia.it The Venice Carnival is a vibrant and colourful fortnight of costumes and masks. During the Carnival celebrations, Venice turns into an even more magical place. Every corner of this fabled city on the water flourishes with shows, music and parades. As in the past, private parties and masquerade balls still happen inside the Serenissima’s grand noble palaces. However, the most spectacular moments of the Venetian carnival - such as the “Flight of the Angel” and the “Festa delle Marie” – will take place at the St Mark’s Square, which becomes the centre of an amazing, open-air party. CARNIVAL OF VIAREGGIO Viareggio (Tuscany); 9, 17, 23 Feb. – 3, 5 Mar. 2019 www.carnevale-viareggio.it Among Italy’s most flamboyant events in Italy, particular mention goes to the Carnival of Viareggio. The floats made in papier-mâché are the stars of this carnival; huge, majestic, and thought-provoking, they are inspired by Italian and international politics and other current events, often represented in satire form, most times with a lot of irreverence. These parades draw thousands of visitors of all ages, who come to participate in the festive air that can be breathed in the town on the days of the masquerade processions. Events include big parties, sports events, slang theatre show and food stalls. CARNIVAL OF CENTO Cento (Emilia-Romagna); 10, 17, 24 Feb. – 3, 10 Mar. 2019 www.carnevalecento.com The Carnival of Cento is one of the most extravagant festivals in Europe, twinned with the Brazilian Carnival for the style of its allegorical floats, the beautiful costumes and for the riotous fun. It involves the whole city of Cento – located in Emilia-Romagna Region, near Ferrara – and it is dedicated to the arts, crafts and traditions of the area. Every year the Carnival hosts many famous guest stars for the world of culture, sport, entertainment, as well as beautiful floats made in papier-mâché. HISTORIC CARNIVAL OF IVREA Ivrea (Piedmont); 2 – 5 Mar. 2019 www.storicocarnevaleivrea.it The Carnival of Ivrea is one of the oldest and most particular festivals in Italy. Every year its world-renowned “Battle of the Oranges” (Battaglia delle arance) is opened by the traditional sounds of pipe and drum bands. The battle - which involves some thousands of townspeople who throw oranges at each other - represents the fight for liberty and has become the symbol of the Carnival of Ivrea; an incredible cultural and goliardic heritage that make this Carnival an “Italian Event of International Importance”. CARNIVAL OF FANO Fano (Marche); 17, 24 Feb. – 3 Mar. 2019 www.carnevaledifano.com The Carnival of Fano is one of the oldest Carnival in Italy and the biggest in the Marche Region. Allegorical floats and masks, masquerades, shows and fireworks all form part of it. However, what really makes this Carnival special is the launch of tons of sweets from the floats to the crowds of spectators, as well as the particular music that accompany the Carnival - the Arabita - which is played with both musical instruments and different other objects. FESTIVALS AND OTHER CULTURAL EVENTS THE SANREMO “FESTIVAL DELLA CANZONE ITALIANA” Sanremo (Liguria); 5-9 Feb. 2019 www.sanremo.rai.it The Italian Song Festival of Sanremo (also known as Festival di Sanremo) is the most important musical event of the Italian art scene and a major media event on Italian television. It was broadcast on the radio in 1951, a few years after the end of World War II; nowadays, it is held annually in the Ariston Theatre of Sanremo, the famous city of flowers and music in Italy. The Festival sees unreleased songs composed by Italian authors with Italian lyrics compete; the winner, voted by a jury and by popular vote, represents Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. VERONA IN LOVE Verona (Veneto); 11 - 14 February 2019 www.veronainlove.it Held on Valentine’s Day, plus a few days before and after, Verona in Love is the event dedicated to Love and to Lovers. In these days, red hart lanterns and hundreds of love notes fill the streets, while live concerts, tastings and markets take place in the main squares of the city. The festival is a tribute to San Valentine and to the Shakespearian tragedy of Romeo and Juliet; therefore, tourists can visit Juliet’s house for a special price. RAVELLO FESTIVAL Villa Rufolo, Ravello (Amalfi Coast, Campania); 1 Apr. – 1 Nov. 2019 www.ravelloarts.org Music, theatre, opera, dance and arts – these are the main components of Ravello Festival, the event that, over time, has earned this small town on the Amalfi Coast the nickname of the “City of Music”. From spring to autumn, Ravello becomes the perfect destination for the music lovers who, far from the city crowds, can meet and listen to the concerts in the gardens and the rooms of Villa Rufolo, the place that inspired Wagner for the setting of his Parsifal. CILIEGI IN FIORE – BLOOMING CHERRY TREES FESTIVAL IN VIGNOLA Vigona (Emilia Romagna); 23 Mar. - 14 Apr. 2019 www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com Located in the province of Modena, at the beginning of the so-called “Food and Wine Trail”, Vignola is a Renaissance town that has been celebrating the production of outstanding cherry trees for 40 years. During the Ciliegi in Fiore Festival the entire town blooms with cherry trees, events, concerts, exhibitions, special restaurant menus, tasting sessions and related activities to enjoy. The “blossoming chariots” parade is a real celebration of blossoming of cherry trees. CLASSICAL GREEK THEATRE FESTIVAL IN SIRACUSA Siracusa (Sicily) 9 May – 6 July 2019 www.indafondazione.org Theatrical Classical Greek representations in the magical atmosphere of the Greek Theatre in Siracusa. This year’s programme includes plays by Euripides and Aristophanes. ARENA DI VERONA Verona (Veneto); www.arena.it The International Opera Festival presents a rich calendar of events.