ITALY: What's On Summer 2018

ART EXHIBITIONS
ASCOLI PICENO

Cola of Amatrice – an eccentric painter between Pinturiccio and Raphael
Until 30 Oct 2018 at Museo Civico
www.comuneap.gov.it
FLORENCE
Steve McCurry
Until 6 Sep 2018at Villa Bardini
www.bardinipeyron.it/

Marina Abramović
21 September 2018- 20 January 2019 at Palazzo degli Strozzi
www.palazzostrozzi.org/mostre/marina-abramovic/
MILAN
Masterpieces from the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Until 2 Sep 2018 at Palazzo Reale
www.palazzorealemilano.it

Paul Klee and European Primitivism
26 Sep 2018- 27 Jan 2019 at Mudec – Museum of Cultures
www.mudec.it
ROME

Trajan. Building the empire, Creating Europe
Until 16 Sep 2018 at Marcati di Traiano
www.mercatiditraiano.it

SORRENTO
Francis Bacon – from the Barry Joule Collection
Until 4 Nov 2018 at Villa Fiorentino in Sorrento
www.sorrentotourism.com

VENICE
Biennale d’Arte

Until 26 November 2018 at various locations
www.labiennale.org

Homo Faber – Crafting a More Human Future
14-30 Sept. 2018 at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore Island
www.michelangelofoundation.org/homofaber

NEW MUSEUMS/ATTRACTIONS/EVENTS
VENICE
New Casanova Museum & Experience

A new museum, dedicated to Giacomo Casanova, opened in April. The museum contains various objects belonging to Casanova and recreates the relaxed ambience of the golden era of the time.
www.casanovamuseum.com
MILAN
New Koolhaas Torre for the fondazione Prada Museum
The new Torre Bianca of the Fondazione Prada, designed by the Dutch architect Koolhaas was
inaugurated recently in Milan. The tower is 60 metres high, has 2000sq.ms of art spaces spread over six floors. On show works by Jeff Koons, Walter De Maria, Pino Pascali, Damien Hirst and Carsten Hoeller . On the top floor there is a restaurant with romantic panoramic views over the city.
Lecce, PULIA
The Abbazia di Santa Maria di Cerrate in Lecce, Puglia has re-opened after extensive restoration. The church an example of Romanic Architecture typical of Puglia has important frescoes dating from the 12th century. A new hotel, The Casa del Massaro is due to open soon.

FESTIVALS AND OTHER CULTURAL EVENTS
La Notte Rosa – Pink Night
Adriatic coast of Emilia Romagna and Marche, 6 July 2018

For just one night the entire Riviera (Romagna and Marche) turns pink.  The whole Riviera becomes an enormous stage where everyonegets a part to play. La Notte Rosa will take place all along the coast, from the Lidos of Comacchio to Senigallia, but the heart of the event is the Riviera of Rimini. It is an event that attracts thousands of Italians to head to the Adriatic coast and is fast becoming an international attraction.
www.lanotterosa.it
Venice Film Festival in Venice, 29 Aug – 8 Sept 2018
Venice hosts the 75th year of one of the oldest and most famous film festivals, Thousands of visitors, dozens of stars and hundreds of projections are crammed into ten days of fabulous festivities and parties. The Festival is hosted at the Lido Island in the Venice Lagoon.
www.labiennale.org
Festival Della Mente in Sarzana – Liguria 31 Aug - 2 Sep 2018
Festival della Mente is committed to creativity, bringing together writers, artists, musicians, architects, film and theatre directors as well as scientists and philosophers to examine the nature of this fascinating and mysterious human gift.
www.festivaldellamente.it
Festival Letteratura in Mantua – 5-9 Sep. 2018
Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners will participate in a Festival of Literature hosted by the art city of Mantua.
www.festivaletteratura.it
SPORT
Monza Motor Grand Prix

31 Aug -2 September 2018 at Monza
Iconic Formula 1 and Motor Grand Prix cars on the famed Monza race track, unmissable for all fast cars lovers.
http://it.motorsport.com/track/monza/
Barcolana – Sail Race

Trieste – 14 October 2018
Every year more than two thousand sails meet in the Gulf of Trieste on a 16 mile nautical route, Europe’s biggest sailing event and the only regatta in the world to set a single start line for so many yachts.
www.barcolana.it
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTS/FOLKLORE
The Palio of Siena
July 2 -August 16 2018
 Every year Siena celebrates a most ancient and sacred ritual when horses and riders
representing ten of Siena’s seventeen contrade or districts race around the ring of tufo rock - volcanic rock at the Piazza del Campo. On 2 July and 16 August the afternoon begins in the heart of each contrada - district with the blessing of the horses, followed by the historical parade to the piazza. Then there is the race itself, the victorious district carries the banner triumphantly to the Provenzano Basilica for the te deum - thanksgiving to the Madonna on June 2 or to the Madonna Assunta on August 16.
www.comune.siena.it
Quintana of Ascoli Piceno
14 Jul and 5 August 2018

Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, each year hosts the historical Quintana, a re-enactment of medieval practices. The participants dressed in medieval costumes walk in procession along the streets of each city quarter,  complete with flag bearers and archers.
www.quintanadiascoli.it
Festival of the Redentore in Venice – 14- 15 July 2018
Celebrated each year on the third Sunday of July, this festival dates back to the year 1576 and is named after the church Redentore that was designed by Palladio on the island of Guidecca. Venice was suffering from a terrible plague and the Republic's senate voted to build a temple on the Guidecca Island to honour Christ the Redeemer. When the plague ended, Venetians promised to givr thanks there every year thereafter. Traditionally, the day entails having dinner on a Saturday night while watching an huge display of fireworks lighting the skies over Venice.
www.veneziaunica.it
Palio dei Normanni di Piazza Armerina
Piazza Armerina, Sicily – 12,13, 14 August 2018
Plutia (the old Piazza Armerina) is the scene for one the most ancient medieval event in Southern Italy and takes place every year from August 12-14 in honour of Madonna Maria SS. Delle Vittorie. The event is a re-enactment of Sicily being conquered in 1060 by the Normans, led by Ruggero of Altavilla. The end of the event the whole procession parades through the main streets.
www.feditgiochistorici.it
La Torta dei Fieschi

Cogorno and Lavagna (Genoa), 13-14 August 2018
On  August 13 in San Salvatore di Cogorno, the "Addiu du Fantin"a medieval reconstruction of the bachelor party of Count Opizzo Fieschi takes place with dances, traditional music, flags games
and knights. One day after August 14 in nearby Lavagna, the medieval reconstruction of the marriage of Bianca De’ Bianchi takes place with Opizzo Fieschi, also known as "Torta dei Fieschi" (Fieschi’s Cake).  This is a giant wedding cake prepared by local bakers. It is distributed to all who take part in the event.
www.tortadeifieschi.it
Historical Regatta

Venice – 2 September 2018
The Grand Canal every year during the first Sunday of September becomes a theatre for  the Historical Regatta which dates back to 1315 under the rule of doge Giovanni Soranzo. It begins with a colourful procession on water, formed by the Bissone, the Bucintoro and the boats of the Venetian rowing clubs. Also there is the women’s race on Mascarete and that of the youngsters at Pupperini.
www.regatastoricavenezia.it
Palio di Asti, Piedmont 2 September 2018
One of the oldest Palio’s in Italy this colourful event sees 21 contestants relive the ancient tradition of the Palio in the historic centre of this Piedmont town, famous for the Asti Spumante - sparkling wine.
www.comune.asti.it/index.php?id_sezione=943
The Macchina di Santa Rosa Procession
Viterbo - September 3rd 2018
Each year the medieval town of Viterbo in Lazio renews the festivities in honour of its Holy Patron
Saint. The Trasporto della Macchina di Santa Rosa  procession takes place in the evening of
September 3 to commemorate the relocation of the body of Saint Rosa from the Church of Santa
Maria del Poggio to the church of San Damiano (the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa). The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a gigantic structure, nearly 30 metres high, which is carried through the streets by a large team of strong local men.
www.facchinidisantarosa.it
Sagra del Fuoco – Fire Festival
Recco (Genoa) 7-8 Sep 2018

Celebrations in honour of the Our Lady of the Suffragio are known all over Italy for grand firework displays. To illuminate the sky of Recco the towns seven districts challenge each other for the best fireworks displays. At the same time the solemn procession of September 8 takes place through the streets with the Arca Argentea Suffragina and the huge wooden crucifixes of the Ligurian Brotherhoods.