MARKETS, FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Markets
Orvieto has a large market in the Piazza del Popolo on Thursday and Saturday mornings. The range of goods on sale is considerable. Fruit, vegetables, cheese, fish, clothes, shoes, hats, kitchenware, plants and many other things. The markets are held in the Piazza del Popolo from 9 a.m. until 12:30.
There is a small market on Fridays in Fabro and a more extensive market once a month.
There are also weekly markets in nearby Citta della Pieve and Tavernelle.
These markets are very good value - especially for clothes, dress materials and bed and table linen.
Festivals, Concerts and other events
The Umbrian region has a web site in English of current events click here.
April
Easter is a special time in Italy. On Easter Monday all Italy goes into the country for a picnic. The churches have special services and there are special meals and sweetmeats that testify to the strength of local rural traditions.
May
"Cantine aperte" or winery open day is held in most of Umbria. Local wineries hold a special open day for tastings of their new wines. Wine and food is provided all day and usually a small charge is made to raise funds for charity. See also - Wine
June.
The Corpus Domini procession in Orvieto.
Corpus Domini is a celebrated in Orvieto in June with a spectacular procession through the streets. There are many other events organised to celebrate the festival.
July
Summer events get started. Many concerts and local feste are held. Posters and local newspapers carry information about when and where and how to buy tickets.
August
The summer festa (festival) season now in full swing! Every village and town has a festa for a few days celebrating something or just for fun! Even the tiny borgo of Castel di Fiori is humming.
The Orvieto opera season usually starts (www.teatromancinelli.it) at the end of July and continues through August. Many other towns and village have concerts and opera performances.
More photos of the 2006 Opera in the piazza of Castel di Fiori
September
The frantic pace winds down a little but there are still many festivals in towns around and about celebrating medieval events and local produce.
October and November
There are still special fairs held to celebrate the tartufo (truffles) harvest at Fabro, the chestnut harvest at Piegaro and various other seasonal crops.
December
Big jazz festival in Orvieto. Christmas is particularly attractive. There are Christmas crib scenes in churches - the live procession in Citta della Pieve is particularly famous. Christmas trees and illuminations are not only in the towns and villages but also on the outside of private homes. Shopping is excellent during this period.
January
January 6 is the festival of Befana - the good witch who brings presents to children who have been good and coal to those who have been naughty. There are many rituals associated with Befana and representations of Befana are seen everywhere.
January/February
This is the season of Carnival or, in Italian, Carnivale - the period of enjoyment before Lent. Every town, village and city has a procession to celebrate Carnivale. Children and teenagers come out in magnificent costumes (many of which can be bought in the supermarkets beforehand) and masks are worn and confetti thrown. Procession days are shown on posters and in some local newspapers.