<<AUGUST | OCTOBER>> CITTA' DI CASTELLO Chamber Music Festival of the Nations The festival, first established in 1968, is a chamber music review and each edition is dedicated to a particular European country which presents the best of its music production. during the festival visual arts exhibitions, ballets and plays are also featured and organized in collaboration with the guest country. PERUGIA Perugia International Puppet Festival The Festival Internazionale delle Figure Animate is an experienced show event which also includes experimental activities, laboratory practice, operator training, exhibitions, conferences and workshops. First Sunday in September ASSISI Satriano Cavalcade A reconstruction of Saint Francis' return to Assisi. Several knightsmen go back along the same route the ailing Saint Francis followed, starting from Nocera, through Satriano and Pian della Pieve, and right back to his home town. CITTA' DI CASTELLO National Horse Fair One of Italy's leading horse expos, during which various activities such as the selected race review, the national horse contest, the Arabic thoroughbred international and horse auctions. Races are exciting: hurdles, leaps, cowboy riding and farriery. Breeders and trainers amuse the spectators with horse evolutions. Simultaneously to the latter, there is also the "Farmhouse Pavillion and Local Products". PERUGIA Umbrian Festival of Sacred Music The Sagra Musicale Umbra takes place in Perugia and Umbria's major towns. It was first held and today is one of Umbria's most renowned cultural events. Its schedule is divided into two repertoire sections: sacred music and XX century music. Famous orchestra directors and composers are involved, such as: Karajan, Mitropoulus, Muti; Britten, Hindemiè, Penderecki, Stockhausen. Several premieres are performed on stage. 2nd week in September FOLIGNO Quintain Race The event's second edition features the involvement of the entire town divided in separate districts. GUBBIO Gubbio festival The festival focuses on "musical perfection courses" where worldwide famous masters hold lessons to students proceeding from all over the world. The best teachers and students then go on to participate to a set of concerts held in charming locations of the historical centre. GUALDO TADINO The Gateway Games I Giochi de le Porte is a fair in honour of the Patron Saint Michele Arcangelo and was first held in the XIII century under the name of "Pallium decurrendum". Each year in Gualdo Tadino the tradition is renewed by the rite of "I Giochi", where the town's four gateways challenge each other in various contests: donkey towed barrow races, unsaddled donkey, bow and arrow and slingshot contests. The fair's climaxing event is the burning of the witch "Bastola", the town's foe. During the event, the "Taverne" are really brought to life. FOLIGNO Baroque Traces Festival First started in 1981, the event includes music, stage and cinema shows as well as visual arts exhibitions linked to the Baroque age and its subsequent evolutions, right up to the contemporary (hyper-mannerism). Today it is joined by costume parades, jousts and games. SPOLETO Opera Season of the A. Belli’s Experimental Opera Theatre The event started off during the post-war period and is renowned for its homonymous debut contest, initially on national scale, today it has broadened its horizons towards the entire European Union. The contest is held in January and the winners access and attend a five month course in Rome in collaboration with the Teatro dell'Opera, after which they then go on to the following year's lyrical season in Spoleto. Among some of the artists who made their debut, its is worth the while to cite: Renato Bruson, Ruggero Raimondi, Antonietta Stella and Cesare Valletti. Photo by Riccardo Spinella, Fotovideolab. MONTEFALCO (PG) Oenological week The Settimana Enologica is an expo of the Montefalco D.O.C and D.O.C.G. wines and the local products of the Strada del Sagrantino. It is held in the expo pavilion and in S. Agostino's cloister. It embodies a true and unique occasion for all quality wine lovers: tasting workshops, a stroll through the flavors along the Strada del Sagrantino, mixed essences around the table…there are over a thousand reasons to taste the region's best wines while enjoying the setting. 20-28 settembre CITTA’ DI CASTELLO Stylish Furniture and Antique exhibition (show) The event, promoted by the Consorzio Smai, has become a traditional appointment for stylish furnishing lovers. There are around 80 operators taking part in the pavilions, most of whom from central Italy and operating on different levels of furnishing craft. September 27th - October 4th SANGEMINI Tournament of Arms The Joust, which was first performed in the XIV century, in honor of the patron saint, is an event where the town districts of Rocca and Piazza challenge each other in the "Tornei Cavallereschi", named "Giostra dell'Arme" today. During the whole festival traditional costume parades take place along with farm life evocations, plays, painting and concerts. PERUGIA Perugia Classic Perugia Classico is Italy's most important showcase event focusing on acoustic instruments. During the Perugia Classico days, the entire historical centre lives on traditional instrument notes and sounds. Teatro Morlacchi, Palaces and Church courtyards and almost every location becomes a place where to listen, admire and get to know classic instruments through a number of encounters and activities which, for a week, render Perugia the Italian capital of classic instruments. The exhibition spaces are provided by the Rocca Paolina, the ancient Renaissance fortress which has embraced the old streets and palaces of Medieval Perugia. Far from the pace and the strategies of great industrial production, the event offers a general survey of manufacturing whilst having the chance to acknowledge in-depth each manufacturers own production. It also allows to view, touch and play each single instrument in a perfect and ideal setting. Each edition is enriched by new projects and with absolutely no lack of "classical" appointments: conferences, concerts, worldwide famous musician master classes, contests, and encounters.