In 2000 the Rimini Dixieland Jazz Band organized a traditional jazz-concert at the end of the summer-season: this event is considered the establishment of the International Traditional and Swing Jazz Festival, the event that takes  place every year in Rimini.

Many of the finest bands and musicians have taken part at this festival.
The big stage, placed in the square dedicated at Federico Fellini, will house the ninth edition of the Rimini Jazz International Festival.

Rimini Jazz 2009 will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of June, with big names of the traditional Jazz and Swing as actors coming from Italy, USA and the Netherlands.
Big sized orchestras, small Jazz combos, All-Star line-ups and Marching Band in the true tradition of New Orleans, ready to start the coming summer season events of the Romagna shore.

The “Museums Open Night” is an European initiative that will take place on 16 May.
Rome is the city with the highest number of museums partaking in this initiative. The Italian capital offers a wide range of events, including musical entertainment, and will open museums free of charge from sunset until two o’clock in the morning.

As regards other events, at Milan the Sforza Castle will offer guided visits to its secret passageand an exhibition of painting techniques, while Florence’s Oblate Gallery hosts “The poetry night”, a poetry reading given by both notable and emerging actors.

Each year, on Labour Day there is a huge free concert in San Giovanni in Laterano square in Rome.
More than 700 artists line up the 1st of May for a turn on that stage.
This year Vasco Rossi, Giorgia, Caparezza, Nomadi, Bandabardò, Edoardo Bennato and a lot of other Italian artists will perform for free on that stage

In 2007 there were approximately 700.000 people attending the event.
The First of May concert (Concerto del Primomaggio) began in 1989 and quickly became a popular event, heavily covered by TV and the press. To get a good view of the stage you have to arrive early in San Giovanni Square.

An unforgettable holiday in one of the most beautiful Italian place? In the heart of the amazing Tuscany countryside there is a Luxury Villa for rent for the organization of meeting, weddings, anniversaries and events, Villa Belsole.

In Villa Belsole you can relax enjoying the beautiful hills scenery, and the many facilities offered, such as the pool and the sun beds or you can participate to the various activities that are organized on demand and according with the customer wishes.
In Villa Belsole you can have Italian cooking courses and grape harvest, in the Chianti hills. This is a beautiful location for the perfect organization of events and a perfect choice to pass a luxury and relaxing holiday in Italy.
Near to Florence, Pisa and Siena, in the Chianti hills, Villa Belsole is a luxury accommodation with 18 sleeps in 9 rooms perfectly furnished in the Tuscany style and with the most modern facilities.
Your holiday will be perfect and unforgettable, have a look to the Villa Belsole website and discover the beauty of this luxury accommodation in a Tuscany Villa to rent.

Versione italiana

Great projects, great displays and great crowds will provide the basic ingredients for the key event par excellence at global level in the home furnishing sector: the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (International furniture exhibition).

An unmissable event: from 22 to 27 April 2009 at Fieramilano in Milan.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile is at its 48th edition. Together with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition and Euroluce, the International Lighting Exhibition, presents a wide range of proposals showing 360° of domestic furnishing solutions both in terms of typology and of style, not to mention the trend setters of tomorrow.

Also the SaloneSatellite will be held again this year, with its line-up of creative young talent at the service of businesses.

Everyone will have the chance to visit the exhibitions on Sunday 26th of April.

Sources: Cosmit and Fieramilano

The Handicrafts Trade Fair will take place in Florence (at Fortezza da Basso) from April 25th to May 3rd 2009.  This fair is about the art of making and has reached its 73th edition.

It is an event that can’t be missed by who loves Arts and crafts: it has become one of the most prestigious shop-window of high quality artistic handicraft, both on a national and international level.

There will be a lot of products and sectors, as “fashion and precious scenarios from the world”, “territories and interiors scenes” or “heart, Ricliclarte, Artmotion”.

The fair is open from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm: there you can walk, take a look, buy and also eat!
Enjoy the creativeness of artisans from all over the world, while discovering Florence’s history and traditions inside the wonderful Fortezza da Basso.

Are you traveling in Italy? Do it in a stylish way…

You should rent a limousine with driver that takes you around.
Rome limousine touring is specialized in Limousine services, providing luxurious private cars and vans, with English speaking drivers, guides and tour escort.

Drivers and guides will bring you in historical and cultural excursions of Rome, Florence and Amalfi Coast… and any other area.

They take care of you from the airport and plan with you the travel you want to do: the service is available for small groups, individuals or couples.

Rome limousine touring also gives special care to those that need a car service with a driver, such as ceremonies, conventions and meetings.

For further info visit their website.

Italian version.

| Shore excursions in Rome | Private shore excursions in Rome | Limousine tours in Rome | Limousine service in Rome | Excursions in Rome |

If you are part of a chorus you should think about a cultural exchange.
Almost every nation organizes festivals and events for international choruses, it’s a great opportunity to discover new techniques and points of view while visiting a beautiful place.

In Italy, for example, I found Lago di garda Music Festival and Cantus Angeli International Festival of Choirs, one at the North and one at the South.

The first one will take place on Lake Garda (14 to 18 October 2010) and it’s an International festival of music for choirs and orchestras. The lake offers a spectacle of natural brightness and colors, which makes this place a unique destination.
The conditions of participation are: performance of a free program 30-45 min and minimum 25 persons (incl. participants and attendants).

The second one uses locations such as the wonderful countries of the “Amalfitana Coast” and will take place from 21 to 25 October 2009. Cantus Angeli suggests participation in concerts and performances in theaters, churches and amphitheaters, places chosen for the particular acoustic characteristics or to enhance the repertoire of each band. The wonderful “Cilento” and “Vallo di Diano” will be the privileged places for performances of the groups.
The Festival is open to all vocal, choral and musical bands without restriction of age, repertoire, style, or genre, with or without accompanying instruments. Te performance of some typical composition of the country of origin is always welcome.

Sources: Lago di Garda Music Festival and  Cantus Angeli

I found this article on goitaly.

What is Carnevale?

Carnevale, also known as carnival or mardi gras, is celebrated in Italy and many places around the world 40 days before Easter, a final party before Ash Wednesday and the restrictions of Lent.

How is Carnival Celebrated in Italy?

Carnevale in Italy is a huge winter festival celebrated with parades, masquerade balls, entertainment, music, and parties. Children throw confetti at each other. Mischief and pranks are also common during Carnevale, hence the saying A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale, anything goes at carnival.

Carnevale has roots in pagan festivals and traditions and as is often the case with traditional festivals was adapted to fit into the Catholic rituals. Although carnival is actually one date, in Venice and some other places in Italy the carnival celebrations and parties may begin a couple weeks before.

Masks, maschere, are an important part of the carnevale festival and Venice is the best city for traditional carnival masks. Carnival masks are sold year round and can be found in many shops in Venice, ranging from cheap masks to elaborate and expensive masks. Walking through the streets of Venice, it’s a pleasure to view the variety of masks on display in shop windows. People also wear elaborate costumes for the festival and there are costume or masquerade balls, both private and public.

Carnevale date

The 2009 date for carnevale is February 24 but celebrations in Venice and many parts of Italy will run from February 14 (or even earlier) through February 24, 2009.

The Carnival of Venice is famous all over the world for the beauty of its masks and stock characters. It’s full of colours and joyful atmospheres.
This year you will have the chance to feel it also without using your eyes…
These info are taken from the Venice Carnival website:

This very special Carnival Party is held totally in the dark to intensify all the senses, especially touch. Based on the “Dialogo nel buio” exhibition that is currently breaking attendance records all around the world, Carnevale al Buio is a unique sensorial experience involving expert sightless guides leading visitors round a special sense-hieghtening circuit, totally in the dark.

The new Carnival edition of Dialogo nel Buio offers fresh surprises and a completely new “in the dark” experience. In collaboration with the Milan Institute for the Blind, for Sensation 2009 the installation will be located at Corderie dell’Arsenale, in the Castello “Touch” district in Venice. Fragrances installation by Oikos Fragrances.

Italian version.