Italy in summer offers great opportunities to Italy art & culture lovers to appreciate special events and music concerts. This summer from June to September Italy proposes more than 300 art and music festivals all across the Belpaese to enjoy internationally renowned performing artists and world premieres in beautiful and historic settings. Here please find ItalyTravelista Top 10 Festivals for the 2010 Italy summer.

Latium > Rome > Opera Festival at Caracalla > July 1 to August 10

Teatro dell’Opera in Rome holds its summer opera and ballet season at the stunning settings of the Caracalla’s Baths (Terme di Caracalla), where art lovers enjoy opera and ballets watching the stars in the open air stage. The opera and ballet performances for the 2010 summer season at the Baths of Caracalla feature the orchestra, chorus and the ballet company of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma as well as international stars including an adaptation of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage, Puccini’s Tosca, Bizet’s Carmen, and last but not least Verdi’s Rigoletto and Aida.

Latium > Tivoli > Hadrian’s Villa International Festival > June 15 to July 18

Villa Adriana in Tivoli hosts the 4^th edition of festiVAl – Festival Internazionale di Villa Adriana. The big open air stage housed in the Baths of the Hadrian’s Villa, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, will host art performers from Taiwan and London, from Paris and Tel Aviv, Rome and Brussels on a cultured art festival with dancers like Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and the Vertigo Dance Company, music events featuring Elvis Costello, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Enrico Rava with his Parco della Musica Jazz Lab, exciting live performances by Mimmo Cuticchio and Aurélia Thiérrée.

Veneto > Verona > Arena Opera Festival > June 18 to August 29

One of Europe’s premiere summer festivals, the Verona Opera runs from mid June thru the end of August inside Verona’ stunning Roman amphitheater. This popular summer opera festival brings a staggering 16,000 people to each production. The 88th Edition starts on June 18th with Turandot and continues with Madame Butterfly, Carmen, Aida, and Il Trovatore along with jazz concerts and the Shakespeare Festival, also held in the Teatro Romano.

Tuscany > Fiesole > Estate Fiesolana > June 13 to July 28

The Estate Fiesolana, organized by the Fiesole Town Council, is the oldest open air festival in Italy and a special favorite among Florentines and visitors alike thanks also to its stunning setting in the Roman Amphitheater of Fiesole, just outside Florence. The program for the 2010 edition is even richer than usual with a series of guest stars as well as locally produced performances. Classical music and opera, ballet, theatre and jazz/pop music are highlighted by a series of special events.

If you’re planning to visit Tuscany and would like to learn more about events and festivals visit Tuscany’s official tourism website

Tuscany > Torre del Lago > Puccini Festival 2010 > July 16 to August 22

Torre del Lago, home of the Puccini Festival, lies between the Lake of Massaciuccoli and the Tyrrhenian Sea, 4 kilometers far from the Tuscan Riviera and 18 kilometers from Lucca and Pisa. The Festival welcomes about 40.000 spectators every year to its open-air theatre, just a few steps from the Villa Mausoleum where Giacomo Puccini lived and worked. This year the festival’s open-air theater will feature productions of Turandot, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and La Fanciulla Del West.

Umbria > Perugia > Umbria Jazz 2010 > July 9 to 18

Since 1973 Umbria jazz Festival is one of the most important events dedicated to European jazz with considerable international appeal. The green heart of Umbria becomes for 10 days the Italian official jazz capital in the suggestive environment of the historical centre of Perugia. The 2010 edition of Umbria Jazz offers a vast programme of music and events enriched by some of the best artists and players on the international scene. Ten days of concerts and 220 events staged by 500 musicians.

Sicily > Taormina > Taormina Film Festival 2010 > June 12 to 18

Italy’s principal summer film event, the Taormina Film Fest, celebrates its 56th edition against the stunning backdrop of the Teatro Antico of Taormina, one of Sicily’s most important and well-preserved monuments. On June 13, Robert de Niro will hold a Master Class for festival-goers and, later that night, receive the prestigious Taormina Arte Award on the stage of Taormina’s 2,300-year-old Teatro Antico.

Sicily > Taormina > Taormina Arte 2010 > July 22 to August 22

The summer season of Taormina Art 2010 opens its world class program on July 22nd with the Royal Ballet of London and continues with the Russian Ballet, the National Academic Bolshoi, the Compania Espanola de Baile Flamenco and Argentinean tango with Compania Astor Piazzolla

Lombardy > Milan > Milano Jazz Festival 2010 > July 12 to August 2

The 4th edition of Milano Jazzin’ Festival is a an amazing opportunity for jazz lovers to enjoy one of the best jazz festivals in Italy. Elisa, Mark Knopfler, Crosby Stills e Nash, Zappa plays Zappa, Norah Jones, Paolo Nutini and many more Italian and international artists will participate at MJF10.

If you’re planning to visit Milan and would like to learn more about events and festivals visit Milan’s official tourism website

Abruzzo > Pesaro > Rossini Opera Festival 2010 > August 9 to 22

Established in 1980, the festival at the birthplace of the Rossini features performances of his works. This 2010 edition features Sigismondo and Stabat Mater, and from August 1 to 10 Cenerentola (Cinderella) directed by Luca Ronconi.

Very interesting Italy summer festivals are also found in Venice, Spoleto, Martina Franca, Mantova, Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna, Fies, and the Dolomites.

What is your favorite summer event in Italy? Please write us your comment and we’ll be happy to post it!

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

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© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

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Orvieto Day Trip from Rome | Orvieto Cathedral

Orvieto is probably one of the most beautiful hill top towns in Italy very close to Rome nestled in the heart of Umbria between rolling hills, Etruscan landscapes and views to dream about. A memorable Rome day tour excursion from Rome well suited for Rome’s independent travelers, families visiting Rome with kids and teens, and Rome layover cruise passengers. The countryside that surrounds Orvieto is just stunning. It is a shame that Rome visitors don’t seem to want to explore more of it, focusing instead on some of Tuscany’s better-known areas. Leave the Eternal City behind for a day on your family holiday to Rome and visit Orvieto with a relaxing day trip from Rome.

A Rome day trip of Orvieto highlights includes Orvieto’s most beautiful 14th-century Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture, sightseeing Orvieto underground tour, 15th century Saint Patrick’s well, Orvieto Papal Palaces, Orvieto impressive medieval buildings, shopping in the Orvieto historical centre famous for hand crafted ceramics and pottery, and a tour of Orvieto restaurants and Orvieto food and wines. In the surrounding landscape that rolls around Orvieto visitors can find very special wines, EVO oils, honey and delicious salami!

Orvieto Restaurants and Wine bars

La Grotta > Via Signorelli 5 > E.35
La Palomba > Via Manente 16 > E.35
Trattoria dell’Orso > Via della Misericordia 18 > E.35

NOTE: Entrance to churches requires appropriate attire and persons wearing shorts, miniskirts or short sleeves will NOT be admitted. It is also advisable to wear comfortable shoes.

How to reach Orvieto

Orvieto is situated in Umbria (central Italy), halfway between Florence and Rome. It is very easy to reach either by car or train.

By Car > From the Autostrada del Sole A1 turnpike, exit at Orvieto. Orvieto is 120 Km (75 miles) north of Rome, 160 Km (100 miles) south of Florence.

By Train > Orvieto is on the main Italian Railway link: Milano-Roma. Trains leave Rome every 2 hours during the day.

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

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© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in private family oriented Rome and Vatican tours and Rome day trips led by friendly and entertaining official native Italian tour guides designed to satisfy the curiosity and attention spans of the whole family visiting Rome, Italy.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Tour Italy at Your Own Pace with Nancy Aiello Tours

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2. Rome Shopping Guide between Art and History | Tour Rome