Tuscany Festivals

A visit to Tuscany would not be complete without immersing yourself to the fascinating festivals if Tuscany, Italy. Three festivals a tourist must not miss are Giostro del Saracino Arezzo, Palio Di Siena, and Maggio Musicale Florentino.

Giostro del Saracino Arezzo
This patriotic event - reminiscent of the Saracene and Crusade raids - takes place in Piazza Grande of Arezzo City. It is a figurative play of horseback competition with soldiers representing different cities or contrades hit an effigy of a Saracene King. Whoever scores most points wins the golden lance.

Today, the event celebrates the place's patron saint, San Donato. Every year, 4 local residents are assigned as contrades. Each contrades will have the following name: Porta di Santo Spirito, Porta Sant Andrea, Porta del Foro, and Quartierre Porta Crucifera.

Being an observer of this age-old event will make tourists appreciate ancient charm that the city has managed to preserve all these years.

Palio di Siena
Palio di Siena is an energetic horse racing event that has been a part of Tuscan people's tradition for many years now. The event of emotionally packed as the horse participants run to the finish line in mud crammed lanes. The crowd shouts in anticipation for their bets as the consecutive banging if bells and drums successfully enliven the place.

Before the grand race, different contrades are paraded to embody the history and culture of past Tuscans. The parade is complete with cheering crowds and musical accompaniment. It is really a good prelude to the excitement of the race.

If you want to be a spectator of this wonderful event though, you must buy the tickets months before actual affair. The tickets are -not surprisingly- sold out by then.

Maggio Musicale Florentino
Music lovers especially of Opera will feel giddy of the yearly Maggio Musicale Florentino. This event is frequented by prominent musicians and conductors such as Maria Callas, Zubin Mehta, Vittorio Gui, Richard Strauss, and Pietro Mascagani. It is the oldest festival to feature true-blooded Tuscany music.

The goodness of the music is teamed up with an elaborate set design and a lavish art direction with famous people like Gustav Grundgens, Max Reindhart, and Bob Wilson to do the job. The festival brings both visual and auditory orgasm in one take.

The Tuscany Festivals embody the rich culture and patriotic strength of Italians. Tourists who witness these events can't help but join in the emotion of Tuscany residents on the visual symbolism of activities.


Mariella is the owner of Dimora Altea, luxury Bed and Breakfast in Florence , located in the center of the city, but she also can help to find a room for dormire a Lucca for travellers visiting Tuscany all around.