Best time to visit Italia

Historic carnival with masks and costumes

The Palio di Siena is a historic bareback horse race held twice each summer in Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the city's contrade (districts) compete in a fierce, centuries-old rivalry amid pageantry and medieval tradition.

Italy's beloved mid-August holiday when the entire country takes a collective summer break, filling beaches, mountains, and historic towns with celebrating Italians. Originally a Roman festival honoring Augustus, Ferragosto is now a national holiday marked by fireworks, outdoor feasting, and community gatherings.