Throughout the regions there are food festivals celebrated in small villages, mountain towns, cities. Everywhere. Think Gelato Festival in Tuscany, Porchetta Festival in Monte San Savino in Umbria, Fish Festival in Camogli in Liguria, Meatball Festival in Avetrana in Puglia, Chili Pepper Festival in Diamante in Calabria. In spring there’s the Pecorino Festival in Tuscany, Salted Anchovy Festival in Monterosso al Mare in Liguria and a tiny town called Ladispoli just outside Rome goes all out with the Roman Artichoke Festival. Not a fan of artichokes? You will be if you eat them in the Jewish Ghetto in Rome in the spring! Which we do.

Seriously, I could write an entire newsletter about food festivals. Instead, let’s look at the cultural events and holidays that occur during the spring, as the dates all coincide with the Ciao Italy spring tours.

Legend tells us that Rome was founded in 753 BC on the 21st of April. This year the Eternal City will be 2,779 years old, although the area has been inhabited for much longer. The city will be buzzing with a full programme of events from gladiator performances at the Circus Maximus to an impressive parade from Circus Maximus to Piazza Venezia, crossing the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

The 25th of April is a national public holiday to celebrate the end of the Fascist Regime and the Nazi occupation during World War II, as well as the victory of Italy’s Resistance movement of partisans who opposed the regime. Formed in 1943, the partigiani comprised a network of anti-Fascist activists from diverse backgrounds, including workers, farmers, students and intellectuals across Italy.

The annual event marks the day in 1945 when a nationwide radio broadcast calling for an uprising and general strike against the Nazi occupation and Fascist Regime resulted in the capture and death of Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, who was shot three days later.

Italy Labour Day is a time honoured national holiday celebrated on 1st May every year. It is a vibrant celebration that brings communities together in recognition of the contributions of workers and the values of social justice and equality.

Every year on 2nd June Italy celebrates Festa della Repubblica. The day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, republic or monarchy, following World War II and the fall of Fascism.

Italians chose to become a Republic with 12,717,923 votes versus 10,719,284 votes for the monarchy. As a result, the male descendants of the House of Savoy were sent into exile.

Most of the celebrations take place in Rome, including a military parade and a flyover by Italy’s Frecce Tricolori air force unit. Last year we were walking the streets in the midst of all this happening and it was truly spectacular.

This beautiful festival falls at the peak of spring, when flowers are at their most colourful. The Infiorata di Noto, scheduled for 15th to 19th May is one of the most celebrated in all of Italy. It features intricate floral carpets created by skilled artisans and volunteers, transforming the streets of Noto into vibrant displays of colour and fragrance. It is truly remarkable.

Other spectacular infiorate include those in Rome, Spello in the region of Umbria and Genzano, not far from Rome.

The Giro d’Italia is one of the world’s premier cycling competitions and one of the biggest events in the Italian sports calendar. This year, the race concludes in Rome on 31st May. The race began in 1909, preceded only by the world famous Tour de France.

Like that competition, the Giro was started to drum up subscriptions for a newspaper, the Gazzetta dello Sport, whose pink pages inspired the colour of the jersey worn by the race leader. It has been held continuously since then, breaking only for the First and Second World War.

The gruelling event runs from 8th to 31st May, featuring a 3,459 kilometre route starting in Nessebar, Bulgaria.

Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.

Deb