CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2010

 

Montelupo in Fiore (Montelupo in Bloom)
March
Historic Center- Montelupo Fiorentino
Exhibition market of plants, flowers, and gardening. Also featuring nature and floral themed arts and crafts.

 

Fatto a mano. (Hand-made)
Artigianato artistico e antichi mestieri. (Artistic and Antique Crafts)
April, hours: 10:00-19:00
Historic Center- Empoli
Exhibition of workshops and antique crafts. Stores open.

 

Celebrazioni Leonardiane
April - July
Vinci
A cultural and folklore festival, in tribute to the anniversary of the birth of Leonardo.

XLIX Lettura Vinciana
Leonardo and his two fathers: New research about the family of the artist and about some of his lesser known and lost works.
Organized by L.A. Waldman.
Biblioteca Leonardiana

Da Icaro a Leonardo- 7 Giornata dell'aria (From Icarus to Leonardo- 7 days of air)
hours: 14:30-19:30
Campo sportivo di Petroio
Festival dedicated to flight with the possibility of flying over Vinci.
Exhibition of model aircrafts.

Cena Rinascimentale (Renaissance Dinner)
Menar mascelle all'or di cena
June, time: 20:00
Piazza del Castello
Themed Renaissance dinner.

 

Il Palio delle Contrade (Historical horse race of the districts)
May, Fucecchio
During the week the proceeds Il Palio delle Contrade, the small city of Fucecchio is animated with the traditional.

Fiera del Palio (fair)
May - Historical Center
Traditional weekly market with stalls from the 12 districts, stores are open, and a crafts and antique market.

Palio delle Contrade
May - Buca del Palio
Costume parade and medieval horse race, representing the 12 districts that contend.

 

Infiorata del Corpus Domini (Flower Festival of Corpus Christ)
June, all day.
Historic center - Cerreto Guidi
Traditional festival of a religious nature with flower petals.

 

Festa Internazionale della Ceramica (International Festival of Ceramics)
June
Historic Center - Montelupo Fiorentino
Festival dedicated to ceramics. Demonstrations, events, and shows about ceramics.

 

Festival Marea (Festival of the tide)
End of June - Beginning of July
Buca del Palio - Fucecchio
Concerts, sports, markets, food stalls, associations.

 

Luci della Citta (Lights of the City)
1-31 July, hours: 21:00 - 24:00
Historic center of Empoli and Monterappoli - Empoli
Summer Festival with shows, festival, and concerts. Museums and stores in the center are open late.

 

Spighe d'oro: la mietitura dei nonni (Golden Harvest of grandparents)
July
Poggio Tempesti - Cerreto Guidi
Traditional festival of peasants with demonstration of early techniques of the harvest.

 

Vinci d'Estate (Vinci in Summer)
July - August -Vinci
Summer festival with cultural and folklore events.

Ad alta voce (Out loud)
July, time: 21:30 - Piazza dei Guidi
Recital in the picturesque scenery of the square, designed by Mimmo Paladino.

Multiscena
July - Casa Natale di Leonardo (the house where Leonardo was born) and historic center
Theater and entertainment review.

Festa dell'Unicorno (Festival of the Unicorn)
July - Historic center
Medieval-Fantasy festival with shows, events, and demonstrations of skill.

Fiera di Luglio (July Fair)
July - Historic center
Evening events and shows in the historical center.

Volo di Cecco Santi (Flight of Cecco Santi)
July, evening - Historic center
Parade in historical costumes, reenactment of the legend of Cecco Santi and fireworks.

Calici di Stelle (Chalice of Stars)
August, starts at 21:00 - Piazza del Castello
Food and wine tasting in the piazza for the night of San Lorenzo.

 

Medicea
July
Historic center - Cerreto Guidi
Market-show of Chianti D.O.C.G. wine with accompanying activities and entertainment.

 

Il Mercatale di Empoli (The Empoli Market)
Every second Saturday of the month (except for August), hours: 9:00 - 13:00
Piazza della Vittoria - Empoli
Market-show of local products.

 

Palio di San Lorenzo (Historical horse race of San Lorenzo)
July, time - 21:00
Capraia and Limite
Crews of women from the four quarters of the city (Di sopra, Di sotto, La Punta, La Castellino) compete in an exciting row boat race at night on "gozzi" (type of boat).

 

Settembre Cerretese
September
Historic center - Cerreto Guidi
The September Cerretese festival begins Friday evening with a Renaissance dinner, theater, craft market, and a costume renaissance parade.

Palio del Cerro (Historical horse race of Cerro)
September - Historic center
The battle of the 4 quarters of the city in five exciting races.

Festa di Santa Liberata (Festival of Santa Liberata)
September - Historic center
A large market is set up within the context of a village fair; the festival ends with the traditional procession and fireworks.

 

Fiera di Limite (Fair of Limite)
September, hours: 20:00 - 24:00
Limite sull'Arno - Capraia and Limite
Mercatino delle cose cosi (Little market of nick-nacks), entertainment in the city center streets of Limite sull'Arno, with magic and fire shows. Concludes with fireworks over the Arno river.

 

Il Palio con la Montata
September - Capraia and Limite
Reenactment of contestants of the historical 4 quarters of the city.

Sfilata dei Rioni (Parade of the City Quarters)
September, hours: 21:00 - 24:00
The citizens from the 4 city quarters parade with allegorical carts, reenacting historical moments of everyday life in Limite; arts and crafts of an ancient time.

Palio con la Montata
September, hourse: 16:00 - 19:00
A boat race on the Arno river in the traditional "gozzi" boats during which the crews of the 4 quarters of the city compete for "il palio" with strokes of their ores. In the end, each team has a member of their crew, the "montatore" climb up a rope out of the water.

 

Fucecchio riscopre... Antichi Sapori (Fucecchio...Discover old flavors)
October
Historic Center alto - Fucecchio
Market of books, art show of local artist, exposition of old fashioned radios and equipment, food tasting of traditional sweets from Fucecchio and of wine and infused tea.

 

Montelupo Artigianato (Montelupo Crafts)
October
Historic Center - Montelupo Fiorentino
Market of crafts and local products.

 

Sapori d' Autunno (Flavors of Autumn)
November - December
Ponte a Cappiano - Fucecchio
Tasting of extra vergine olive oil and local production, and of other autumn products tied to the Fucecchio tradition: salami, chestnut cakes, wine and sweet wine.

 

Sapori e colori del Montalbano - Festa del vino novella e dell'olio nuovo
(Flavors and colors of Montalbano - Festival of new wine and olive oil)
November, hours: 10:00 - 20:00
Via Giovanni XXXIII e Via Roma - Vinci
Market-show of typical products and crafts with themed amusements.

 

LE SAGRE
During the summer months, the communities in the "Land of the Renaissance" are full of festivals dedicated to gastronomy. Among these fests, the best are the "Sagre" where tasting takes place in the open air, with the climate of a village fair and typical dishes from the Tuscan cuisine.

Sagra del Ranocchio (frog)
June
Circolo Arci di Marcignana - Empoli

 

Sagra della Chiocciola (chocolate)
June- July
Spicchio - Vinci

 

Sant'Amato a Tavola (dinner)
Last week of July, starting at 19:00
S.Amato - Vinci

 

Sagra del Papero (duck)
July
Circolo Arci - Cerreto Guidi

 

Sagra di Contadino (farmer)
July, hours: 19:00 - 24:00
Circolo MCL di Martignana - Empoli

 

Sagra della Zuppa (soup)
Second and third week of July
Massarella - Fucecchio

 

Sagra della Bistecca (beef steak)
August
Galleno - Fucecchio

 

Sagra della Pizza
August - September
Circolo Arci di Lazzeretto - Cerreto Guidi

 

Sagra della Zuppa di Pane (bread soup)
September
Fucecchio