When better to experience Tuscany than in all its glory during the summer? There is more sun than at any other time of the year and plenty of events to enjoy. You’ll have the biggest and broadest selection of
Tuscany events to choose from than in any other season. Unfortunately, you can’t attend them all so I’ve created an
events map (below), a
month by month snapshot, and a more detailed
explanation of each event to help you navigate the endless options out there.
Finding clear and reliable information about what’s going on in Tuscany can be challenging. It gives me pleasure to improve that a little and, hopefully, your time “Under The Tuscan Sun”!
Tuscany Events: Summer Snapshot
Tuscany in June:
- Tuscan Food Festivals (All Summer)
- Free Entrance to Florence Museums (Summer; various dates)
- Jazz Wide (Every Saturday from June - September)
- Radda nel Bicchiere (1st & 2nd June 2019)
- White Carrara Downtown (1st - 9th June 2019)
- Florence4Ever (8th June 2019)
- Firenze Rocks (13th June - 16th 2019)
- Luminara di San Ranieri (16th June, every year)
- San Giovanni's Celebrations (24th June, every year)
- La Notte D’Isabella: Historical Reenactment (30th June - 1st July 2019)
Average daytime temperature: 27℃
Tuscany in July:
- Tuscan Food Festivals (All Summer)
- Free Entrance to Florence Museums (Summer; various dates)
- Pistoia Blues (All of July 2019)
- Festival delle Colline (All of July & August; every year)
- San Galgano Festival (July & August; selected dates)
- The Palio di Siena (First race: 2nd July)
- DRINK & RUN (3rd July 2019)
- Monteriggioni di Torri si Corona (4th - 14th July 2019)
- Lucca Summer Festival (28th June - July 27th 2019)
- Valdarno Jazz Summer Festival (21st - 28th July 2019)
- Mercantia: Street theatre festival (10th - 14th July 2019)
- Florence Dance Performing Arts Festival (3rd July - 2nd August)
- mArgine Theatre And Dance Show (15th July 2019)
Average daytime temperature: 31℃
Tuscany in August:
- Tuscan Food Festivals (All Summer)
- Free Entrance to Florence Museums (Summer, various dates)
- Festival delle Colline (All of July & August, every year)
- San Galgano Festival (July & August - selected dates)
- Barga Jazz (All of August 2019)
- Calici di Stelle (10th August, every year)
- Puccini Festival (12th July - 24th August 2019)
- The New Generation Festival (28th - 31st August 2019)
- Festambiente (Second week in August, every year)
- Outdoor Cinema Restaurant (Late June to mid-August, every year)
- Cortona on the Move: Photography Festival (11th July - 29th September 2019)
- The Palio di Siena (Second race: 16th August)
Average daytime temperature: 31℃
Music Concerts & Festivals In Tuscany
Various Genres
Lucca Summer Festival I 28th June - 27th July 2019
Piazza Napoleone, 55100 Lucca
The Lucca Summer festival takes place in the city of Lucca, not far from Pisa and the Tuscan coast. The festival consists of a series of concerts, lasting a month. Lucca’s summer festival has been running since 1998 and, even in their first year, had the likes of Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker playing there. Big names from all genres are guaranteed. Enjoy numerous musical Tuscany events in one place!
Florence4Ever: One Night Only I 8th June 2019
Viale Manfredo Fanti, 4, 50137 Florence
Florence4Ever has partnered with ACF Fiorentina, one of Italy’s biggest football teams. It is one of three major Dream Loud and 4Ever concerts (Sicily4Ever and Orvieto4Ever): all of which have become extremely popular. This year, John Legend and Mariah Carey are the headline acts. Unlike many music concerts, the 4Ever brand is keen to have a strong historical, artistic and cultural connection. They could not have wished for a greater location than Florence: the birthplace of the Renaissance!
Rock Festivals
Firenze Rocks I 13th - 16th June 2019
Viale del Visarno, 14, 50144 Florence
One of many Florence upcoming events, Firenze Rocks is an annual rock music festival, taking place on a racecourse in Parco delle Cascine. You will certainly have a lot of rock to ‘rock out to’. The likes of System of A Down, Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Aerosmith, and Guns N’ Roses have played here. Die-hard rock fans will love Firenze Rocks!
Jazz Festivals
Barga Jazz I All of August 2019
Viale Giovanni Pascoli, 10, 55051 Barga
Barga jazz festival has been running for more than thirty years. This is a jazz festival in its truest sense. Major international artists take to the stage every year, but there’s so much more than simply music to enjoy. There are masterclasses on offer, places to jam, as well as a dining and jazz experience. Set in the small, beautiful and medieval Italian town of Barga, hidden within the Serchio Valley. The Barga jazz festival is roughly an hour north of
Lucca, Tuscany’s best-kept secret! Could this be jazz heaven?
Valdarno Jazz Summer Festival I 21st - 28th July 2019
Arezzo, Toscana 52100 Italia
Although the dates are officially 21st - 28th July 2019, there are also previews on the 19th and 20th, as well. That makes nine days of great jazz. Every year you’ll find this festival draw artists from all over the world! Homegrown musicians like Roberto Gatto and Spanish musicians such as the great Perico Sambeat have made appearances. There’s also a strong African jazz influence here. Best of all, admission to the Valdarno Jazz Summer Festival is free!
Jazz Wide: Summer in Pisa I Every Saturday from June - September
The Arno River, Pisa
Beside the Arno river in Pisa, you’ll find jazz music filling the air. If you’re in Pisa over the summer, don’t miss this relaxed but high-quality venue!
Blues Festivals
Pistoia Blues I All of July 2019
Piazza del Duomo, Florence
Pistoia Blues festival runs throughout July every year. It has always attracted notable headliners: Jimmy Page, BB King and Rory Gallagher to name a few. The festival has spread beyond the Piazza del Duomo and now runs city-wide. While you’re in the area, make sure you climb the
Duomo cathedral, the views from the top are breathtaking! Piazza della Sala, Loggiato San Leone and Piccolo Teatro Mauro are just a few other venues to look for as well!
Opera
San Galgano Abbey Ruins
San Galgano Festival I July & August, selected dates
Strada Comunale di S. Galgano, 53012 Chiusdino SI
The 13th Century, Gothic style, San Galgano Abbey, between the towns of Chiusdino and Monticiano, was once a Cistercian monastery. Now, its ruins have become the perfect, ominous setting for operas such as Fidelio and The Barber of Seville. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
Puccini Festival I 12th July - 24th August 2019
Gran Teatro all'Aperto Giacomo Puccini, Torre del Lago, 55049
Dedicated to the legendary Tuscan opera composer Giacomo Puccini, the Puccini Festival takes place in an open-air theatre on the Massaciuccoli lakefront. You’ll find some of the best-known and most loved operas from La Bohème and Madame Butterfly to La Fanciulla del West and Rigoletto. Brilliant opera and a beautiful location! Bellissimo!
The New Generation Festival: Music, Opera & Theatre Festival I 28th - 31st August 2019
Via della Scala, 115, 50123 Florence
There are plenty of Tuscany events for opera lovers! Make time for a trip to Florence in late summer. The New Generation Festival takes place in the gardens of Palazzo Corsini, a palace belonging to one of the oldest families in Florence. This remarkable, Renaissance setting brings together lovers of music, opera and theatre, under the banner, “Great music is great music”!
Family-Friendly Festivals: Tuscany In Summer
Tuscan Food Festivals I All Summer
Tuscany, Various Locations
Family-friendly festivals are rife during the Tuscan summer. While the word “festivals” in some countries may conjure up images of loud music and teenagers caked in mud trying to find their tents, in Italy, it has a broad definition. Food, for example, is at the very center of many Tuscan festivals. Try the Sagra della Pizza (pizza festival) in Cerreto Guidi. Meat lovers can flock to the Sagra della Bistecca or pack some mints and head to the Sagra della Cipolla (an onion festival) in Certaldo!
Festambiente: Eco Festival in the Maremma I Second week in August, every year
Via della Riforma, 58100 E.n.a.o.l.i. GR
All the food you’ll find here is organic and conscientiously sourced. There are debates in the evening about the environment and many of the bands who play have come to support the message Festambiente is sharing. The festival has a host of activities to enjoy including yoga, shiatsu, trekking and canoeing. Children under 12 are free!
Luminara di San Ranieri: Pisa By Candlelight I 16th June, every year
Pisa, Various Locations
At sunset, every June 16th in Pisa, about 70,000 candles are set alight on Pisa’s bridges, houses, windows, and doors; some are even sent down the river Arno. This is an enchanting evening for the family or, alternatively, a romantic evening for two. Some Tuscany events seem more like fairy tales!
The Arts: Events & Festivals In Tuscany
Film & Photography
Music & Film: Festival delle Colline I All of July & August, every year
Prato, Various Locations
Imagine a DJ with music on one turntable and film (somehow playing) on the other. The result? Festival delle Colline. For over 40 years this Tuscan festival has celebrated music and film together in various locations in and around Prato (a 45-minute drive north of Florence). Neither music nor film is limited here. From well known short films to experimental new music, this is a hub of musical and film freedom and creativity.
Apriti: Outdoor Cinema Restaurant I Late June to mid-August, every year
Uffizi Square, 50122 Florence
Everyone loves watching a film with food from time to time. Now try it in Piazzale degli Uffizi in Florence. The colonnade of the
Uffizi Gallery frames the big screen. The film starts and your food arrives. You could find yourself thinking ‘life is really rather good’!
Cortona on the Move: Photography Festival I 11th July - 29th September 2019
Associazione Culturale ONTHEMOVE, Via Dardano 52044 Cortona
Cortona on the Move was founded in 2011. It aims to bring promising new photographers to the forefront and to compare and share new ideas between them. It’s not just for professional photographers, however, amateurs are also welcome to take part in the experience. The Etruscan hilltop town of Cortona plays host to the photography festival. An unusual and beautiful setting for unusual and beautiful photography!
Art & Dance
Mercantia: Street Theatre Festival I 10th - 14th July 2019
Certaldo, Various Locations
Mercantia has been going strong for over thirty years and it has become the most celebrated street theatre festival in Italy. Locals and tourists alike keep returning to see the incredible performances, costumes, stalls and the energy that erupts over these days. The programme is huge, there are over 80 shows a day; the festival completely takes over the town of Certaldo. “All the world’s a stage”!
Florence Dance Performing Arts Festival I 3rd July - 2nd August 2019
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Florence
For those who appreciate the art of dance, this is certainly a festival to be aware of. The quality of dance is very high and there’s a broad spectrum, from traditional and contemporary to a mix of the two. It’s very accessible, being in Florence and the church, “Santa Maria Novella”, is worth visiting alone.
mArgine: Theatre and Dance Show I 15th July 2019
Florence, Various Locations
Dance and theatre may conjure up ideas of row and aisle numbers, grand theatres and your partner falling asleep. Not here. Seats become saddles and stages become streets. You will have a guided cycling tour around the lesser known parts of Florence. Dancers will perform at various junctures along your cycle path. The dances build on to the overall narrative of your tour. If you’re not feeling up to cycling, you can watch the dances separately on foot!
Sports
Football
San Giovanni's Celebrations I June 24th, every year
Piazza di Santa Croce, 50122 Florence
June 24th is the saint’s day of Florence’s patron saint: San Giovanni (Saint John). The morning kicks off with processions throughout the city, beginning at Piazza Signoria and ending at the Florence Baptistery (of St John). After a mass, the games begin! The Piazza Santa Croce hosts the Calcio Storico Fiorentino: a mixture of rugby, football and wrestling. It is played in Renaissance costumes and retells the struggles between the four historical Florentine neighbourhoods. Finally, head to the promenades of the Arno river to watch the San Giovanni firework display!
Horse Racing
The Palio di Siena: Horse Racing I First race: 2nd July; Second race: 16th August
Il Campo, 53100 Siena
The Palio di Siena is possibly the most famous Italian horse race and, therefore, one of the biggest Tuscany events in summer. The “Piazza del Campo” horse race itself is over before you know it but the full event lasts four days. It’s a real spectacle as the otherwise peaceful town of Siena divides into its seventeen districts and competition reigns supreme. If you’re planning a summer trip to Tuscany, why not see for yourself
what’s so wild about Italy’s most insane festival!
Running
DRINK & RUN: Fun Run In Florence I 3rd July 2019
Lungarno del Tempio 3, 50121, Florence
“Drink” does refer to alcohol! This might sound a bit silly but that’s sort of the point. This 8km run is not trying to promote alcohol (“drink responsibly” is part of their motto), it’s trying to encourage people to run together, not alone. The 8km run passes some of Florence’s most significant landmarks: Piazzale Michelangelo ai Lungarni, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio are a few. Enjoy the beauty of Florence in comradery, not competition!
Wine Barrel Rolling
Montepulciano
Bravio delle Botti: A Tuscan Tradition I The last Sunday of August, every year
The famous wine barrel rolling festival is held in Montepulciano to determine a winner per district and an individual winner. It may sound like it was made up last year by some drunk students but, in fact, the competition is over 600 years old (although for much of that time it was contested by a horse race). Three hundred participants from the eight competing districts fight for the title. This should be an Olympic sport!
Tuscany Wine Events
Chianti, Tuscany
White Carrara Downtown: Art, Culture, Food & Wine Experience I 1st - 9th June
Via del Mercato, 2, 54033 Carrara
If you’re looking for an Italian food and wine festival, look no further than White Carrara Downtown! Enjoy a wine tasting, speak to the winemakers and listen to the various wine experts give talks. The event takes place near a marble quarry where Michelangelo spent two years training to become a master carver. While the
wine experience is enough reason to come here, there’s plenty more on offer: art is undoubtedly the linking theme, however.
Calici di Stelle: Wine Under The Stars I 10th August, every year
Tuscany, Various Locations
Wine under the stars; it says it all really! Tuscany in the summer: the heat of the day is fading and the stars are opening their eyes. You and that ‘special someone’ are gazing up with the cherry notes from your Tuscan wine filling the air between you. I’m sure you can imagine it! “Calci di Stelle”, which literally means “goblet of stars”, is a night in which wine organizations and vineyards come together to create wine and star-filled events all across Italy.
Here are some places you can enjoy the “Calci di Stelle” in Tuscany: Capalbio, Castellina in Chianti, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Suvereto, Vinci, the list goes on. Salute!
Radda nel Bicchiere: Wine-tasting in Chianti I 1st & 2nd June 2019
City centre, Siena
Perhaps the most famous of all the wine regions in Italy, Chianti guarantees to quench your thirst for great wine. The Radda nel Bicchiere is one of the oldest wine festivals in Chianti. This event takes places in the stunning town of Radda, about 15 kilometres north of Siena and 35 kilometres southeast of Florence. The popular festival draws some of the best winemakers in the region.
Siena Wine Tour of Montalcino, Pienza & Montepulciano from Siena
Historical Reenactments
Monteriggioni di Torri si Corona: Medieval Reenactment I 4th - 14th July 2019
Piazza Roma, 23, 53035 Monteriggioni
What better setting for a Medieval reenactment than the Medieval castle, “Monteriggioni”, built in 1213 AD? Here, lovers of history, costume and role play gather under the Tuscan sun to act out famous medieval battles. The whole town turns back the clock! It has a medieval banquet, medieval music, street artists, concerts and entertainment for children.
La Notte D’Isabella: Historical Reenactment I 30th June - 1st July 2019
Cerreto Guidi, Various Locations
Thirty kilometres west of Florence lies the quintessentially Italian town of Cerreto Guidi. Where better to travel back in time than a place seemingly unaffected by time. For two days every July, Cerreto Guidi recreates life as it was in 1576, with performances centred around Isabella de’ Medici, including La Notte D’Isabella (the night of Isabella) and culminating with her death. A fascinating story, told in a fun way, in a fabulous setting!
Museums: Tuscany In Summer
Free Entrance to Florence Museums I Summer, various dates
While there has been much debate recently in Italian parliament about reducing the number of ‘free entry days’ to
Florence museums, they’ve ended up increasing them. It turns out some great Tuscany events take place in Parliament too! This applies to museums all over Italy (which must now offer free entry for twenty days of the year). If you’re planning a trip to Florence this summer, for example, it might save you money to know the
Uffizi Gallery will offer free entrance on August 11th. The
Pitti Palace and the
Boboli Gardens will give free access on August 4th and August 27th. In addition, both the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace will offer free entrance on June 23rd.
Florence Uffizi Gallery Tickets with Fast Track Access