People who ask “What’s the best time to go to Italy?” are asking a question that’s impossible to answer. After all, there are many festivals and events all year round in the country, whether up in the mountains of the north or down in the sunny south. The festivals of Italy are among the best in the world…

With so many festivities going on, we’ve selected one per month for you—so you’d know when to book with us:

January

Venice Carnival
January 23 to February 9, 2016 in Venice

It’s arguably the biggest event in the area. The Venice Carnival, which was first held in the 11^th century, is a grand series of parties for locals and travelers alike. With various live performances, formal balls, and banquets every night, it’s the best time of the year to don a mask, dress up, and have fun.

February

Battle of the Oranges
February 6 to 9, 2016 in Ivrea

Move over, La Tomatina. The Battle of the Oranges, Italy’s biggest food fight, is just as fun and as messy. The festival recounts an incident in the 12^th century, when a miller’s daughter killed a feudal lord in self-defense after the tyrant tried to rape her. After that tyrant’s death, the people were liberated. As such, the Battle begins when the carriage of the “lord” is driven around the town; townsfolk take turns throwing oranges to drive the carriage away.

March

Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)
Easter Sunday – March 27, 2016 in Florence

This festival literally ends with a bang. The Scoppio del Caro is a parade that to celebrate the return of the crusader Pazzino de Pazzi to the city. He had bought back with him three flints from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, and these flints were traditionally used to create “holy fire” to celebrate Easter. Eventually, the tradition evolved. That fire that was paraded through the city streets became the elaborate fireworks that fire from the parade’s main Cart at the end of the event.

April

Palio della Rana (Frog’s Race)
First Sunday after Easter – April 3, 2016 in Fermignano

Leave it to the Italians to think of a wacky race—and pass it down as a tradition through the years. The Palio Della Rana, or the Frog’s Race, literally has frogs carried on carts. These pushcarts are then raced down a 170-meter stretch by the townsfolk; the challenge lies in making sure the frog stays inside the cart while it’s running down at high speed. Of course, once the race ends, you can enjoy other activities at the fair such as food booths and performances by street artists.

May

Cocullo Snake Festival
First Thursday of May in Cocullo, Abruzzo

Fascinated by scaly, legless reptiles? Then going to the Cocullo Snake Festival is a must. Originally a pagan festival, it has evolved to be a celebration of the feast day of Saint Dominic. As such, a statue of the saint is paraded around town, with lots of live snakes draped on it. Some snakes are also passed around by the crowd, so it’s the best way to conquer your fear of these reptiles.

June

Il Gioco del Ponte (Battle of the Bridge)
Last Sunday of June in Pisa

This epic reenactment of sixteenth-century military games on a bridge across the Arno River is a popular yearly tradition in Pisa. Originating from the “mazzascudo,” or a training battle, the reenactment today has groups of men in full uniform pushing a large iron cart on rails. A group must be able to push over the heavy cart into enemy territory on the other side of the bridge to win the battle. With various groups participating every year,

July

Festa della Madonna Bruna
July 2, 2016 in Matera

This majestic procession around the city of Matera has its roots in several legends, first of which is an apparition of the Virgin Mary in a cart. As such, the well-attended procession features the centuries-old painting of the Madonna on a majestic cart, guarded by costumed knights. After the procession, that cart is then destroyed—recounting how a dummy cart and painting was destroyed to save the original painting from the Saracens—and the pieces are given away to spectators.

August

Cavalcata dei Giganti (Parade of Giants)
August 13 and 14, 2016 in Messina

Another interesting parade is the Cavalcata Dei Giganti, where two giant papier-mache figures of the founders of Messina are paraded around town. This stems from the legend that the city was founded by giants, associated with the mythological titans Kronos and Rhea.

September

Festa dell’Uva Gattinara
September 9 to 11, 2016 in Gattinara, Vercelli

Since good food is served best with great wine, it’s not surprising that Italy is also home to a number of wine festivals. One of them is the Festa dell’Uva Gattinara, which has been running for 32 years and counting. Other than a series of wine tastings, the festival also features a flea market, various performances from local artists, and a parade.

October

Alba International White Truffle Fair
Exact date to be announced

Fall is high time for mushrooms in Italy, and especially for truffles—those rare mushrooms that cost thousands of dollars per pound. If you’ve ever wanted to taste them, then there’s no other venue but the Alba International White Truffle Fair. One of the oldest fairs of its kind in the world, the Alba fair is known for its invite-only live auction that’s only open to top names in the culinary world. But even without an invite, it’s still worth a visit. Other than its expansive market, there are various activities at the fair, such as wine tastings, cooking workshops, a medieval parade, and even a donkey race.

November

Fieracavalli International Horse Show
November 3 to 6, 2016 in Verona

One of the oldest horse shows in the world, the Fieracavalli festival is a great introduction to the equestrian world. While the show’s biggest attraction is its Arabian Horse show and its jumping competitions, there are also a variety of activities for young and old here. These include country Western dances to a baptism of the saddle for children.

December

Festa di Sant’ Ambrogio (Feast of Saint Ambrogio)
December 7, 2016 in Milan

While there are a lot of events in Italy for Christmas, one of the most popular ones is the Festa di Sant’ Ambrogio or the Feast of Saint Ambrogio, patron saint of Milan. Hence, it’s also the date when most Yuletide festivities in the area begin, such as the start of the city’s centuries-old traditional street market and the official opening of the opera season.

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