Festivals in Tuscany

There’s a reason Tuscany is such a popular tourist destination — fantastic scenery, seemingly endless vineyards, wonderful food and a fascinating history. But if that’s not enough for you, or you fancy some festival-shaped excitement on your travels, then Tuscany is a perfect place to visit. 

Tuscany plays host to numerous festivals throughout the year. However, during the autumn the region is bursting with festivals and events. This is the time of year that coincides with the harvest of the olives and grapes amongst other things – so you’ll find many of Tuscany’s festivals take place in the Autumn and many of these revolve around food. But, there are plenty of other festivals in Tuscany to enjoy too. 

If you’re planning a trip to Tuscany, then it is definitely worth trying to plan your visit so that you’re able to attend one of the many, wonderful festivals that the region has to offer. It’s a great way to experience authentic Italy at its best and to learn and experience some of its rich cultural traditions. So here’s a quick round-up of what you can expect from this fabulous region across the year.

Carneval Viareggio – February 

Tuscany is a region full of festivals. And certainly, one of the most noteworthy of these is the world famous Viareggio Carnival. This is a carnival held in February each year in the Tuscan city of Viareggio. Visitors will be treated to a bright and colourful parade of floats, featuring people in costumes and masks. Often these can depict caricatures of popular figures in Italian culture, including politicians, actors and sportsmen and women.

The carnival was first held in 1873, organised by wealthy middle class gentlemen who wanted to organise a parade of floats adorned with fresh flowers. A number of local citizens then protested and adorned masks in order to show their disgust of the high taxes that they were being forced to pay.

It’s worth browsing the carnival’s official website for more information about the event.

If you fancy a trip to the carnival in the next 12 months, then you should look to book your accommodation soon – it’s an extremely popular event and accommodation will get booked out. Discover our full collection of villas and apartments in Tuscany here.

Chestnut Festivals in Tuscany

Festa della Castagna – Monticello Amiata, October 

While there are a number of festivals celebrating the chestnut harvest in Tuscany, the first of these is in Monticello Amiata. And is held from Friday until Sunday in the second weekend in October. This 3 day festival – Festa della Castagna – celebrates everything about the humble chestnut! You’ll probably smell them even before you see them with large pans (tegliate) positioned throughout the town to roast the chestnuts in. Of course, there are also plenty of opportunities to taste and buy this Autumnal speciality.

Sagra delle Castagne – Marradi, October 

One of the longest celebrations of the chestnut takes place in Marradi at the Sagra delle Castagne with events taking place in the town every weekend in October. Food stalls sell a host of creations made using chestnuts including jams and marmalades, pasta (tortelli di marroni) cakes and puddings (torta di marroni and il castagnaccio), not to mention simple roasted chestnuts.

Festa della Castagna- Caprese Michelangelo, October 

In Caprese Michelangelo across the 3rd and 4th weekends of October, you’ll find another Festa della Castagna. Birthplace of one of the most famous artists in the world, Michelangelo, Caprese Michelangelo is also where you’ll find some of Tuscany’s most delicious chestnuts. The trees here were originally planted in Medieval times by monks and for centuries the chestnut harvest staved off starvation for the towns inhabitants over the harsh Winter months.

Smaller Chestnut Festivals in Tuscany

Palaia also celebrates the humble chestnut on the last Sunday of October each year but they also combine the festivities with a celebration of the white truffle (tartufo bianco) and new wines (vin novo).

Other festivals that revolve around the chestnut include Castagnata d’Autunno in Bagno Vignoni at the end of October, the Bacchereto chestnut festival, the Piancastagnaio chestnut festival and the 2 day Castagnalandia festival. This takes place every year in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina on the third weekend of October. Here you’ll find villagers participating in a parade, plenty of stalls, music and games, some of which date back to Medieval times. And let’s not forget the Festa del Marrone in Campiglia d’Orcia where the streets are filled with colour and the chestnut is celebrated in its many forms.

We think that one of the things that goes perfectly with chestnuts is chocolate! If you agree, then head to Vergaio in mid October for the Passione D’Autunno. This small town just outside Prato in Tuscany has an event not just on chestnuts but also on chocolate. This is chocoholic heaven with handmade artisan chocolate available to try and buy.

Mushroom Festivals in Tuscany

It’s not just chestnuts that Tuscans can’t get enough of  at harvest time. Mushrooms play just as prominent a role in Tuscany’s festivals durign the autumn months.

In the 3rd weekend of October, make your way to Balconevisi to celebrate delicious white truffles and mushrooms at the Sagra del Tartufo Bianco e del Fungo. Eat your way through all the food stalls and take part in the many events that make up this 2 day festival. This includes a competition to uncover the best and biggest truffles.

The following weekend, if you haven’t sampled enough mushrooms to satisfy your appetite, then head to the Vivo d’Orcia mushroom festival in Castiglione d’Orcia.

Truffle Festivals in Tuscany

Held in the first weekend of October each year, the International White Truffle Fair and Market in Corazzano is the perfect opportunity to try the famous white truffles for yourself.

At the other end of the month and crossing into the start of November, Volterragusto in beautiful Volterra is also a celebration of the delicious white truffle. Whilst the white truffle may take centre stage, it will be accompanied by other local foodstuffs including wine, oil, cheese and salami.

Olive Oil Festivals in Tuscany

Festa dell’ Olio – Trequanda, November

There are several events each year in Tuscany which celebrate the new olive oil harvest but the first is the Festa dell’ Olio in Trequanda. Held in a beautifully preserved medieval village in the hills between the Crete Senesi and Val d’Asso, this festival highlights the deep connection between land, tradition, and sustainable farming. Not only is there plenty of delicious olive oil to taste but also tours of mills and groves along with demonstrations of how the traditional methods of farming and oil production have been passed through countless generations. What’s more there’s also a farmer’s market so you can also try handmade, pasta, cheese and honey along with some of the finest wine in Tuscany. And in the evening the piazza is filled with live musicians as locals join to dance the night away.

Rassegna dell’ olio extra vergine di oliva – Regello, November 

As the name suggests, extra virgin olive oil is the focal point of this festival with tastings, tours and other events to be enjoyed over 3 days. This i s a big events and is one of the most respected olive oil festivals in Tuscany. Farmers and oil producers form across the region coem to the event to showcase showcase single-estate and organic oil – specially from the prized Laudemio oil consortium.

As well as plenty of tasting opportunities, there are also competitions, dozens of food stalls and musical performances. There is also a chance to join the ‘walk of the oil’  which is a hiking route taking visitors on a trail through the groves and mills with tastings along the route. If you’re looking for an olive oil festival in Tuscany to visit with children then this is a good option. There are plenty on interactive experiences but also a really lovely children’s theatre with plenty of shows and performances.

Festa dell’Olio – Castelmuzio, November

Perhaps one of the most authentic olive oil festivals in Tuscany, this otion is perfect for a more intimate local experience. Tucked between the Val d’Orcia and the Crete Senesi hills, Castelmuzio is home to just a few hundred people and the whole town joins in to celebrate the olive harvest. This is an opportunity to join this wonderfully welcoming community in celebration of the harvest. Visitors are welcomed to join farmers in the groves to take part in the harvest themselves and also visit the antique mill where there are demonstrations of the oil making process. Finally, as evening draws in, be sure to join the local crowd for music and dancing along with a wonderful community meal. 

Other Food Festivals in Tuscany

Festa Pic – Camaiore, October

If you’re into spice, then head to Festa Pic in Camaiore in October. PIC stands for ‘piccante‘ and you’ll find varieties of chilli peppers from around the world at this annual festival. This two day event hosts chefs from all over Italy who hold demonstrations and classes on how to incorporate the beloved peperoncino into every kind of meal from fresh pasta to desserts! This fiery celebration also brings art, music and plenty of chilli themed entertainment to this picturesque corner of Tuscany. 

Centogusti dell’ Appennino – Anghiari, October & November

If you’re looking for a food festival that incorporates a plethora of different foods, head to Centogusti dell’ Appennino. Marking the start of Autumn in Anghiari which is one of the ‘borghi piu belli d’Italia‘, Centogusti dell’ Appennino means ‘100 flavours of the Apennines’. And is the perfect title to an event that is dedicated to the production of food and drink by local farmers, growers and producers. At the end of October and beginning of November each year, local shops and stalls in the village offer the opportunity to taste and purchase numerous products from chocolate to wine, from sweet treats to vegetables and from meats to milk. You’ll also find plenty of food demonstrations, culinary workshops and the popular ‘walk of the hundred tastes’ which starts from the outer walls of the town and leads all the way through its charming narrow streets.

Festa d’Autunno – Abbadia San Salvatore, October

Head to the Festa d’Autunno in Abbadia San Salvatore, for a celebration of everything wonderful about the Autumn produce and harvest. You’ll find ancient recipes recreated using the freshest seasonal produce. Or try out Gustatus in Orbetello. At the end of October and very beginning of November, Gustatus is when Orbetello’s residents come together to showcase the very best of the local food and wine grown and produced within the region. Restaurants and farmers alike set up stalls that showcase the best food and wine grown and produced within the region, including the much-coveted spaghetti alla bottarga.

Festa del Nocciolo – Panzano, August

An annual street feast held on August 14th every year, this event precedes one of the most important days on the Italian calendar (Assumption Day). Local dishes and delicacies are served at outdoor tables and accompanies by plenty of wine. There are all kinds of treats to sample all in celebration of the much loved hazelnut along with plenty of entertainment for all of the family to enjoy. 

Fritelle Festival, Montefioralle, March

Held on St Joseph’s day, this festival celebrated the joy of fried rice cakes. The local delicacy are prepared in a huge cauldron of oil — it’s well-worth a trip to Montefioralle to sample them. This is a very unique and authentic festival in Tuscany and one you certainly mustn’t miss if you’re in the area in March. 

Wine Festivals in Tuscany

With all these festivals devoted to food, you’ll need something to wash it all down with so check out Tuscany’s October festivals devoted to wine.

Cantine Aperte – across Tuscany, May

May is a great time for wine lovers to visit Tuscany. This is when Cantine Aperte (open cellars) begins. This is a much-loved region-wide event in which wineries across Tuscany open their doors for visitors to enjoy tours and tastings and to also meet the winemakers themselves. Most tastings also include a spread of traditional Tuscan antipasti to pair with the wine. It’s not unusual to have meats and cheeses all sourced from the same farm. One of our favourite field to fork (and glass!) experiences in Tuscany. What’s more, this is the perfect opportunity to pick up a few tasty treats to take home. 

Bravio delle Botti – Montepulciano, August

Held annually on the last weekend of August, this is a wine festival in Tuscany where arguably the wine is not the main event. While you can enjoy some of the world-famous wine which this Tuscan town is renowned for, and of course taste plenty of Italian food too. However the main event is not actually a teat for the tastebuds. Instead, visitors can spectate one of the most unique races in Italy. Locals take the huge wine barrels and race through the ancient alleys of Montepulciano. It’s most entertaining to watch and of course culminates with a a toast of delicious red wine!

Sagra del Vino – Montescudaio, October

Held in the first weekend of October is the Sagra del Vino wine festival in Montescudaio. With the castle serving as a backdrop to proceedings, visitors can sample the many wines from the cellars of the Montescudaio DOC producers along with the opportunity to pair these tastings with traditional foodstuffs of the region. Music adds to the atmosphere and the event culminates in an evening of fireworks on the Sunday.

The Festa dell’ Uva – Cinigiano, October

The Festa dell’ Uva in Cinigiano is a wine festival that has been running since the mid 1960s. Locals use the festival as an opportunity to share the passion they have for their fantastic quality wine. The town’s wine cellars are open to the public so that they can enjoy wine tastings galore frequently paired with complimentary local food tastings. You’ll also find talks by expert sommeliers, competitions, music, market stalls and posh dinners. There is genuinely so much to see and do here, you’ll find a day is not enough to do it justice! Whatever you do, don’t leave until you’ve witnessed the parade that closes the festival. With gigantic papier mache floats and participants dressed head to toe in colourful costumes, it’s a wonderful spectacle.

And let’s not forget the small village of Cascio whose central fountain spews out wine rather than water during their annual wine festival!

Tuscany’s Palios

Palio del Papero – Balconevis, October 

Whilst Tuscany’s most famous palio is certainly that held each Summer in Siena, there can be no disputing the fact that the duck palio in Balconevisi – Palio del Papero – is certainly the most unusual! The competing birds from four neighbouring towns – Formacino, Il Borgo, Buecchio and Fondo di Scesa – must race over 150 metres encouraged by their owners voices but their unpredictability makes for quite an entertaining spectacle!

Palio dei Caci – Volterra, Ocober

If you thought a duck palio was quirky, then wait until you hear about the Palio dei Caci in Volterra! Best described as a cheese rolling competition, participants have to roll a circular shaped cheese through the streets of the town to see who can reach the finishing line first, all cheered on by avid spectators of course!!

Siena Palio, July and August.

Quite possibly the most famous festival in Tuscany, and certainly one of its oldest, the Siena palio takes place not once but twice a year! On both the 2nd July and 16th August. The palio in July is the Palio of Provenzano, is in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano.

Essentially, this is a competition between ten of the seventeen contrade in Siena. The contrade are wards – every resident of Siena will belong to a contrada. There was once 59, however today there are only seventeen remaining. But, just ten actually compete in the palio. Of these, seven take part by right and the remaining three gain their place by being the lucky winners to be drawn from lot (tratta). 

A spectacular parade of flag wearing in medieval costumes kicks-off the Palio as part of the grand pageant – the Corteo Storico. Each flag displays the unique emblem and colour of the contrada they represent. As you pass through the city, flags of the contrade are ptoudly displayed on buildings throughout Siena. So you can always be sure as to which contrada you’re passing through.

Historic Festivals in Tuscany

Sagra del Tordo – Montalcino, October

The Sagra del Tordo in Montalcino has taken place on the last Sunday of October since 1958. Translated as the ‘song thrush festival’ which is a nod to the long tradition of hunting in this area due to bird migration, this festival is held over 2 days during which participants from each of the four districts of Montalcino compete in an archery competition. The start is announced by the town crier who also frees a number of thrushes whilst hundreds of residents will add to the atmosphere by dressing up in Medieval costumes and parading through the streets. And, of course, it goes without saying that the traditional dishes of the area also feature prominently. These include wild boar pappardelle, pinci pasta and tomato sauce, roasted quail and much, much more.

Sagra del Galletto – Montalcino Camigliano, October

The Italians have a canny way of bringing food into pretty much every celebration and festival and this is again true of the annual Festival of the Rooster in Montalcino Camigliano. The Sagra del Galletto is steeped in history, reminiscent as it is of the feasts that have been held in the Camigliano Castle in honour of Montalcino’s Signori since the 14th century. Visitors will find dozens of spit roasted chickens covered in litres of local wine to feast on whilst there are also lots of Medieval style games and festivities to enjoy including the Medieval game of La Druzzola.

Finally, the Festa di San Luca in Impruneta just outside Florence also has origins steeped in history. First mentioned in the 1600s, today’s event is an opportunity to enjoy fairground rides, eat at the food stands and play on the many games.

Giostra del Saracino, Arezzo, June and September

Although not strictly a festival, this jousting event is held twice in the year — a night version in June and day version in September. Dating back to the early 16th Century, the tournament is followed by a colourful procession and the main event involving costumed knights charging at a wooden representation of the Saracen. Tickets are required for the individual tournaments, so book in advance

Ferie delle Messi and the Giostra dei Bastoni, San Gimignano

Over the third weekend in June, San Gimignano hosts a medieval-inspired festival festival with costumed knights, parades, jousting tournaments, fireworks, acrobats, much and a food and craft market.

Festa Medieval, Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni also hosts its very own medieval festival, in mid-July. It’s a bit more immersive than the San Gimignano one — with demonstrations of medieval trades and crafts, and contemporary food stalls too.

Sporting Festivals in Tuscany

L’Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti is an annual non competitive cycling event that has been running since 1997. Cyclists that take part are all dressed in vintage cycling outfits or ride historical bikes as they make their way along long stretches of gravel tracks. With five different routes to choose from, stretching from the longest route which is over 200 km long to a shorter route around 50 km long.

Cycling also features in mid October in the Gran Fondo del Brunello which combines mountain biking with the great wines of the Val d’Orcia region.

For those who prefer to stay on foot, Gustatrekking in Massa Marittima is a great opportunity to discover the Tuscan Maremma on foot through a series of walks across October, November and December. Discover the beautiful scenery and foodstuffs of the region at the same time as you walk through fields, vineyards and forests, celebrating the seasonal harvest.

Other Festivals in Tuscany

Lucca Comics & Games – Lucca, October

For a break from the food festivals and for something really different, head to the Comic and Games festival in Lucca at the end of October and start of November. The event has been held annually since 1966 and is now the largest games festival in Europe and the second biggest globally. Celebrating everything about cartoons, comics and gaming, it’s a very modern event with a very traditional backdrop.

La Notte Nera – Borgo a Mozzano, Halloween

It’s perhaps not surprising that one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in Tuscany takes place in Borgo a Mozzano, home to the Devil’s Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo). La Notte Nera (The Black Night) is essentially a fantastically imaginative interactive game where groups of 2-5 people become a Vampire Family who have to solve a mystery. Characters will interact with the public to help them solve the riddle… whilst of course also testing their courage and nerve on this scariest of nights. Not surprisingly, the event attracts thousands of families each year.

Festa della Rificolona – Florence, September

The ‘festival of the lanterns’ is one of the city’s oldest festivals. Each year, as evening falls on the 7th September, children (and adults) proceed through the streets with brightly coloured paper lanterns, attached to the end of poles. The festival’s roots are in religious pilgrimage from the 17th century. Mountain dweller and farmers would make the journey to Piazza Santissima Annunziata to celebrate the the feast of the Virgin Mary. This pilgrimage would take place at night and pilgrims would use rificolone – paper lanterns – to guide their way. Today, this a wonderful evening of celebration which along with lanterns includes street parties, theatrical performances and festive markets.

Accommodation for Festivals in Tuscany

Looking for somewhere to stay in Tuscany? Here at Bookings For You we have decades of experience in planning holidays to Tuscany and have some stunning villas and apartments all over the region. From city centre apartments to luxury country villas and everything in between, visit Bookings For You or contact us to help you find your perfect place in Tuscany.