Seven of the most exciting Tuscany festivals of 2019
Palio di Siena
You can’t spend summer in Tuscany without seeing the Palio di Siena, a famous horse race which takes place on 2 July and 16 August every year. The jockeys ride their horses bareback, each wearing traditional colours that represent the different districts and city wards of Siena. It’s colourful, adrenaline-pumping, and it always draws a big crowd.
Pistoia Blues Festival
Pistoia is a small and charming Italian town, which once a year sees thousands of music fans descend upon it for five days of fun. It’s back this July (5-10th), and some of the headliners include Jared Leto’s band Thirty Seconds to Mars, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. They’re not all strictly “blues” musically, but many of the smaller acts are.
Puccini Festival
From 12th July to 24th August, the open-air theatre along the lake of Massaciuccoli of Torre del Lago Puccini will host a wide range of classical acts and opera renditions, bringing some high culture to the Tuscany festivals of 2019. You can see Italian operas and classics such as Madame Butterfly, Aida, La Bohème, Le Villi, and La Fanciulla del West.
Calici di Stelle
Calici di Stelle is a romantic annual wine festival, scheduled to correlate with the sight of shooting stars. While it’s uncertain how the Tuscans came to associate astrology with drinking wine, why question a good thing? This year’s Calici di Stelle is taking place from the 2nd to the 11th of August, so prepare for multiple taverns and wineries around the region to be offering tempting wine-tasting events.
Barga Jazz Festival
Do you like your music a little more freeform than most? Then you’ll love the Barga Jazz Festival, which takes place in the small town of Barga every year. 2019’s event takes place throughout August, showcasing some of the best jazz trios, quartets, and big bands from Italy and overseas, so why not add it to your list of things to do this summer in Tuscany?
Mercantia in Certaldo
Certaldo is a picturesque little Tuscan town which is severely underrated by the majority of holidaymakers. Every summer, they hold the unique Mercantia event, a “fourth theatre” event which focuses on street performance. From 10-14th July, you’ll find the bustling cobbled streets filled with colourful dancing, acting, and musical performances. If you want an avant-garde twist to your summer in Tuscany, this is a great place for it.
Lucca Summer Festival
Taking place in the town of Lucca, the Lucca Summer Festival attracts some of the world’s biggest music icons, as well as Italy’s own homegrown musical talent. Most of the performances are staged in the town’s piazza Napoleone, a dramatic town square. This year’s lineup includes legends such as Take That, Elton John, Toto, and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame. It’s taking place from the 28th June to the 27th July, so be sure to book your trip ASAP to get tickets.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best events and Tuscany festivals in 2019. This is just a small selection of the full entertainment that’s on offer, with Tuscany offering some of the most diverse and culturally enriching festivals in the world.