JUNE

Palombella (Orvieto)

The festival of the "Palombella" is now centuries old and is celebrated annually in Orvieto at Pentecost. It began at the beginning of the 15th century when the noblewoman, Giovanna Monaldeschi from Cervara, established it with with a bequest that the celebration represented the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and the Virgin Mary.

During the festival there are many stalls offering samples of typical products or the region. Not to be missed is the parade of townspeople in medieval costume.

Palio dell’Oca (“Horserace” of the Goose - Orvieto)

The "horserace of the goose" happens each year according to a traditional medieval game of skill. The competition takes place in the piazza with the opposing factions of "Cavaroli" and "Pistrellesi". There are two points of contest for the competition: the Palio di Contrada (a silk banner) that requires the rider to take the banner ahead of the others in order to win the race for his team, and the Paliotto that is awarded to the individual rider who is judged outright winner of the contest for skill.

The festival begins with the blessing of the horses and of the respective knights of the opposing teams, it continues with the parade of the cortege of nobles, the Archers and Crossbowmen of Orvieto, and the popular procession through Orvieto of the flag-wavers and musicians, finishing with the contests and the presentation to the winners of the silk banner.

Corpus Domini (Orvieto)

The Corpus Domini (the Latin expression means Body of the Master) is a significant and solemn event in the Christian liturgical calendar. It was instigated on the 8th September 1264 by Pope Urban IV following the miracle of Bolsena. The story of the miracle relates an account of the Bohemian priest, Pietro of Prague who, on his way from Prague to Rome in 1263, had been experiencing some doubts about the truth of the transubstantiation. While celebrating mass at the tomb of the Holy Martyr, Cristina, in Bolsena, blood dripped from the consecrated host, bathing the host or corporale and the liturgical linens. Since then, every year in Orvieto, on the Sunday following the feast of the Corpus Domini, the remains of the sacred host from the Miracle of Bolsena, contained in a precious reliquary, is carried in a procession through the streets, following a route that passes through all of the districts and all of the most significant places of the town. The religious procession marches together with an historical parade where all the magistrates, captains, standard-bearers and knights of the communal period are represented, as well as the Coats of Arms and the banners of the noble Orvietan families. The two processions come together in an extremely evocative and unforgettable spectacle.

Throughout the celebrations there are many medieval banquets held in and around the historical centre. Restaurant and service staff don traditional costumes and assume the customs and mannerisms of the fourteenth-century. The banquets begin at nine in the evening under candle-light, entertained by music and shows. The menu is organized according to the strict dictates of the medieval table.

JULY

Umbria Jazz (Perugia)

This world-reknowned event is dedicated to Jazz and has taken place in Perugia since 1973. For more than thirty years, Umbria Jazz has played host to some of the most significant jazz artists such as, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam Rivers, Herbie Hanckok, Enrico Rava, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton and, more recently, Gilberto Gil , Milton Nascimento, Terence Blanchard, Paolo Conte, Vinicio Capossela, Nicola Arigliano, Miriam Makeba, the Coolbone Brass Band of New Orleans, Lyle Henderson and the Emmanuel Gospel Singers.

The event takes place over 10 days in July in the historical center of Perugia. Dozens of free concerts are held from morning to night over the 10 days of the festival.

SUMMER FESTIVALS – all over Umbria

The Umbrian summer is rich in festivals offering tastings of regional specialities: from truffles to gnocchi, from asparagus to mushrooms, and from roast pig to baked geese . . .amongst a thousand other delicacies! Ask us for our booking lists for festivals in 2007.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

The Vendemmia or Grape Harvest (in the countrysides of Orvieto and Todi)

September is the month for harvesting grapes.
Forget the stress of modern-day living and get in touch with nature. Through the gathering and crushing of the grapes rediscover the ancient values of the peasant life. Our proposals for this activity include various samplings or tastings along with visits to the cellars and to all associated activities of wine making, staying in agriturismi and farms.

OCTOBER

Slow Food (Orvieto)

This very pleasurable gastronomic event is organized annually in Orvieto and is dedicated to the culture of good food and good living. It is organized by the Commune of Orvieto in collaboration with the “Slow Food” movement to highlight the many regional specialities in cooking and ingredients.

The historical districts of Orvieto become a theatre of samplings and tastings where you meet the producers and sellers of all the most excellent gastronomic products, together with the very special products of the territory such as oil, wine and meats.

Chestnut Festival (Morre, 15 km from Todi)

The charming countryside of Morre, situated 15 km from Todi, is a well-known locality for growing chestnuts of an especially high quality. This beautiful fruit that is both big and tasty has received numerous international accolades.

The many market stalls set up to exhibit the harvest also present to the visitor all the various extracts made from the chestnuts, as well as other typical products of the region. It is posible to taste these wonderful products, accompanied by the very special local wine, immersed in the magical autumnal atmosphere of a small Umbrian village.

NOVEMBER

Olive Harvesting (countrysides of Orvieto and Todi)

In growing olives, Umbria has the very special climatic conditions and soil composition and chemistry that allows a deeper root penetration with respect to other zones across the same latitude. This allows for a slow maturation of the fruit and, for this reason, Umbrian oil is one of the best in Italy. The gathering of the olives happens before the fruit is fully mature and traditional harvesting methods called, brucatura (manual collection with a rake), are used across the region. The olives are left in boxes only for a short time to maintain the freshness and integrity of the fruit until it reaches the oil press. These are important considerations in ensuring the special qualities are transferred to the final product.

Our proposal for this activity is to include various samplings or tastings along with visits to an oil press and to all associated activities of oil making, staying in agriturismi and farms.

DECEMBER

Umbria Jazz Winter (Orvieto)

For 15 years now this smaller sister of the Perugia Jazz Festival has taken place in Orvieto over the New Year period. Over 5 days, Orvieto plays host to excellent music while the city is embued with a magical atmosphere that attracts and fascinates tourists from all over Italy and the world. The festivities conclude with a traditional Gospel concert in the Cathedral on January 1st.

Nativity Scenes (Massa Martana, 15 km from Todi)

Every year over the Christmas period Mass Martana, a small and gracious medieval town just 15 km from Todi, calls on artists from all over Italy for its special exhibition "Presipi d' Italy" - National Show of the Artistic Nativity. The Nativity, depicting the birth of Jesus, is one of the most ancient Italian traditions going back to the time of Saint Francis of Assis in 1223, when Greccio (a small village in the Province of Rieti, Lazio) displayed the first living representation of the Nativity.

These very special displays in Massa Martana are spread across the streets of the city, in 18 different shops.

The Living Nativity (Marcellano, 18 km from Todi)

In Marcellano, a picturesque town 18 km from Todi, from the 25th-26th December and then the 1st, 2nd and 6th of January, more than one hundred characters animate the story of the Nativity and present “from life” scenes from ancient Palestine.

When night falls, torches are ignited and a star appears in the night sky, illuminating the grotto where Joseph and Mary found lodging and where the baby Jesus was born.