If it sounds like a storybook, you’re imagining it correctly. At the start of November, the whole region transforms into something right out of a classic Christmas card.  

Wooden booths covered in evergreen branches and twinkling lights line major walkways and pedestrian zones. The whole city smells like a freshly cut Christmas tree. These stalls or christmas markets as they are known in Europe,  bring in some of the area’s finest craftsmen, bakers, glass blowers, wood and leather workers to sell trinkets, sweet treats, hand painted Christmas ornaments and artisanal goods. Forget Macy’s, this is the best holiday gift shopping experience you will ever have.

Learn more about the possibilities around the holidays at Villa Ardore.

This is the premiere men’s fashion event of the season. Florence is always the first to reveal upcoming fashions. Before Milan, Paris, Berlin and London, come to Florence to be “in the know” about the next season. Learn the trends and essentials for Fall & Winter 2024 before anyone else does.

If you are coming to Italy to attend Pitti Immagine and are staying at Villa Ardore, we will arrange transportation to and from Firenze and arrange dinners from the traditional Tuscan dinner to a fantastic Michelin star dining event.

The Mille Miglia is a legendary race and awe-inspiring rally of over 400 qualifying cars competing across 1,000 miles from Brescia to Rome and back, passing through some of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Rome, Siena, Modena and Parma to name but a few.

Famous people who have participated in previous Mille Miglia races included: Adrien Brody, Jeremy Irons, Luke Evans, Jay Leno, Jodie Kidd, Amy Macdonald, Brian Johnson, Paloma Picasso, Martin Brundle and Bruno Senna to name but a few.

The Mille Miglia is much more than just a road race; it is a celebration of Italy's rich automotive heritage and a tribute to the golden age of motoring. Participants and spectators alike enjoy the atmosphere of the rally, which is characterized by camaraderie, sportsmanship, and a passion for classic cars.

Whether you're a classic car enthusiast, a motorsports fan, or simply someone who loves Italy, the Mille Miglia is an unforgettable experience. The rally combines the thrill of driving with the beauty of the Italian countryside, making it one of the world's most popular and prestigious classic car events.

Several tour operators sell tour packages to attend this 5 day event. Your Villa Ardore Personal Tuscany Stay Planner can give you more information about the special experiences Villa Ardore can arrange to attend this event.

[Image via https://www.bresciatourism.it/en/things-to-do/mille-miglia-brescia/]

Cavallino Classic is a Concorso d’Eleganza at which the best auto collectors in the world present their freshly restored cars.

Car enthusiasts have the chance to experience the finest automobiles in the unique setting of the Motor Valley where some of the greatest cars were created.

Wonderful Ferraris from different ages proudly sit between world heritage sites such as Modena’s Cathedral, the Ghirlandina Tower and the Piazza Grande. A three-day event where beautiful cars adorn one of the most precious jewels of the Emilia-Romagna Region and center of the Motor Valley: Modena.

Your Villa Ardore Personal Tuscany Stay Planner can give you more information about the special experiences Villa Ardore can arrange to attend and get VIP treatment at this event. Watch here to learn more about the event.

[Image via: https://cavallino.com/cavallino-classic-modena-may-29th-31st-2022/]

Horseback on the Via Francigena like the ancient pilgrims.  Thanks to the writings of the Bishop of Cantebury in the 1980s, the original route of the ancient path the pilgrims took through Tuscany have been identified and recorded.

Tuscany includes 15 stretches of the Via Francigena, for a total of 380 kms of a marked and safe route, dotted with beautiful views, cities, villages and excellent food and wine.  Riding this historic itinerary creates an experience within an experience. It is a slow adventure on dedicated bridleways, where the relationship with the animal built while traditions, historic villages and unexpected landscapes meet.

Let your personal experience curator know if you want to take part in this historic event. Reservations and transportation can be arranged, and all meals provided, over this two-day event. And don’t worry, you can sleep in the comfort of your bed at Villa Ardore. Learn more here.

September marks harvest season for olives with the first press coming on its heels in October.  This festival is dedicated to the new extra-virgin olive oil of the season. But it promises to be so much more. 

For cycling enthusiasts, rent a cycle or mountain bike and bike your way through the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Val d’Orcia.  Another winning mix, beautiful scenery, a quaint hamlet, great wine and biking - don't miss the fun and excitement in Val d'Orcia where the mountain bikes follow an itinerary on the panoramic roads and dirt paths in the valley.  Tell your personal experience curator you want to participate in this event and he can arrange your rental, transportation and all of your other needs for this can’t miss event.

[Image via https://www.granfondo.it/granfondo/granfondo-del-brunello-della-val-dorcia/]

Chocolate and chestnuts. What could be better? An entire festival dedicated to them, that’s what.  Come and check out handmade, artisan chocolate, in addition to other traditional food products. 

This organic and artisan market is a can’t miss. Piazza Matteotti is filled with locals who feature goods from their gardens, their kitchens, and their workshops. Often you will find not only great bargains but music and opportunities to do some taste testing. 

[Image via https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=556254883209193&set=a.556254859875862]

Autumn marks not only the harvest, but the beginning of chestnut season when the air is filled with the smell of roasted chestnuts on the fire. This late October annual festival is steeped in ancient tradition and is one of the most authentic and spectacular wine festivals in Tuscany. From very early morning the town’s band begins to play, marching from farmhouse to farmhouse and waking people up. During the day everyone enjoys local snacks and a delicious glass of wine. The day is then spent at the park at the town’s highest point, where the town enjoys a picnic on the grass while the band goes on playing until nighttime.

A can’t miss event for cycling enthusiasts. Start at 9 AM from the sports facilities of Santa Lucia in the UNESCO World Heritage site of San Gimignano and take one of two routes (91 kms or 118 kms) that will include the traditional climb to Castellina in Chianti and winding through the Val d’Elsa Senese and Fiorentina landscapes that only Tuscany can give you.  The day before, there will be a gravel road event on routes throughout the area. And if you want a real challenge, on April 15-16 there will be a Randonneè World Heritage Grand Tour in Terre di Sienna with two routes, one of 400 km starting on Saturday and one of 200 kms on Sunday.  Tell your personal experience curator you want to participate in this event and he can arrange your rental, transportation and all of your other needs for this can’t miss event.

While the dates have not been confirmed, since 1993, vineyards all over Tuscany have opened their cellars on the last weekend in May, encouraging direct contact with wine lovers. Open Cellars (Cantine Aperte) is one of those rare tourist events in Tuscany where you will find just as many (if not more) Italian speaking participants as foreign partakers. It is the wine producer’s response to making their life’s work, the passion that propels them into pursuing an enological career and its end result, more accessible to those curious enough to venture out and explore. And honestly, who wouldn’t be up to touring the Italian countryside and visiting wine cellars and tasting reds, whites, bubbles and more?

The hills of San Miniato mark one of the most important areas for white truffles. This annual market promises a full schedule of events in and around the historic center of San Miniato where you can taste and buy white truffles.  The market and exhibition are preceded by many festivals and celebrations in the hamlets around San Miniato.  Ask your personal experience curator about these celebrations as well. 

[Image via https://www.firenzemadeintuscany.com/en/article/national-exhibition-white-truffle-san-miniato/]

You may know the famous chianti wine in the bulbous bottles set in a straw wrapping.  This is wine from Rufina. Rufina has always been the wine territory “par excellence” producing prestigious wines due to its ideal climate and location. One of the things that makes this area enjoyable to visit is its adherence and homage to its old winemaking traditions with the “Bacco Artigiano” event, a celebration throughout the entire town. Historically during the days of the Florentine republic farmers used to fill the Carro Motto (“Crazy Wagon”) with new wine to deliver to Florence.  Today this ritual is revived, and a steady pyramid of 1500 well-organized wine bottles is set up on the float. Apart from the opportunity of following the wagon procession, the visitors can also enjoy music, workshops, concerts, and of course wine and food delicacies of the region.

[Image via https://www.winetourism.com/best-wine-festivals-in-tuscany-2022/]

One of the region’s most famous feasts is definitely Festa dell'Uva in Impruneta, dating back to 1926 and maintaining its rural character. It has always attracted many Italian and foreign visitors during the autumn season of wine festivals in Tuscany.
The float parade is the most important part of the feast, in which the four quarters of the town take part: Fornaci, Pallò Sant'Antonio, and Sante Marie.  In addition, many folkloristic dances, shows, tastings of the local products, and local craft exhibitions take place during the feast.
Tickets are required for the parade. Let your experience curator know you want to go and he can arrange the tickets and transportation.

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[Image via https://allwinesofeurope.com/festa-delluva-the-grape-festival-celebrated-in-tuscany/]

During this grape festival, wine and local food producers gather.  Visitors are offered tastings in the traditional cellars, at the tasting points, and in the shops of the town.  As a part of this great experience, guests can try the most typical, original, and appetizing dishes, attend shows and musical entertainment, and make connections with the local community.

During this grape festival, wine and local food producers gather.  Visitors are offered tastings in the traditional cellars, at the tasting points, and in the shops of the town.  As a part of this great experience, guests can try the most typical, original, and appetizing dishes, attend shows and musical entertainment, and make connections with the local community.

One of the most interesting events among Tuscany wine festivals, the Bravìo delle Botti, is the challenging barrel race between eight districts: Cagnano, Collazzi, Le Coste, Gracciano, Poggiolo, San Donato, Talosa and Voltaia, all located along the historic city center. Athletes compete for a painted cloth by rolling barrels of about 80 kg each, along an uphill path through the picturesque streets of the historic center of the city of Poliziana until the arrival, located in the churchyard of the Duomo in Piazza Grande over a kilometer away. It’s one of the most spectacular wine events in Tuscany.

Flash is a festival for those seeking boundless freedom and simple, rich pleasures.  It’s a heavenly taste of Tuscany savoured over three days of eating, drinking and dancing in a safe, intimate space for all.  

Prime your ears for Italo, house and disco sounds synched expertly with the beating Italian sun. This is an ultimate escape of euphoric classics and feel-good party starters. Make pasta with a Nonna, participate in workshops and wine-tasting masterclasses and a wellbeing program to help you recharge between dancing.

FLASH showcases why Italian hospitality is known the world over. The festival’s mini village is packed with a tiny pizzeria, osteria, pasteria and gelateria, serving up authentic local classics made with love. Pair your choice with a negroni, amaro or limoncello or a cascade of natural wine flowing around the table, passed around by your new friends.

Less than an hour from Villa Ardore, you can find Prato’s alternative music festival of the Summer. It is four days of music and many parallel events that take over the indoor and outdoor areas of the Cantieri Culturali degli Ex Macelli in Prato. Off tune is the project curated by A-live, Santa Valve Records and Ass. South Park, with the collaboration and contribution of the Municipality of Prato and Officina Giovani.

[Image via Off Tune Festival Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=557514555834219&set=pcb.557514752500866]

Firenze Rocks is with no doubt one of the biggest music events of the summer in Tuscany and in Italy. Next June 2023, for the fifth time in a row, the Visarno Arena of Florence will host this great festival of rock music that in the past editions attracted thousands of fans coming from all over the country. 

[Image via Firenze Rocks at http://firenzerocks.it]

Lucca Summer Festival is one of the most important music festivals in Italy, held every year in Lucca, usually during the months of June and July, since 1998.  The concerts are usually held within the historic walls of Lucca, in Piazza Napoleone, Piazza San Martino or Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.  Sometimes, when the audience is very large, it is preferred to use the Porta Elisa soccer stadium in Lucca or the Pini stadium in Viareggio. Some of the biggest names in music play this festival. Less than an hour and half from Lucca, about the same time it takes to travel from the center of Florence to Lucca, Villa Ardore is a convenient location from which to travel to attend the festival.

[Image via Lucca Summer Festival Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LuccaSummer/]

Rock and blues concerts to the rhythm of some of the most famous singers in the world. Concerts are usually held in the marvelous Piazza del Duomo, with the Cathedral as spectacular backdrop and the tiny streets located all around crowded with typical food stands and handicrafts products.

Towards Livorno, on the coast of Tuscany, BirraFest (Oktoberfest) has brought Bavarian culture and gastronomy to Tuscany. As you enjoy the delights of a Bavarian styled restaurant, sipping a beer mug, you can enjoy a bit of the magic of the Oktoberfest tradition: every night Bavarian music alternates with international music, a typical German original orchestra will perform at the Beer Festival and will entertain you with cheerful Bavarian music and fun gags.

Memoriae et historiae de' Semifonte, the annual medieval festival in the historical center of Barberino Val D'Elsa is 21 kms from Villa Ardore. The festival is based on continuous research and reconstruction of the medieval setting by local historical associations. Watch shows recreating daily life from the 13th century, eat food inspired by medieval recipes, and learn what life was like in Barberino Val D'Elsa in the 13th century.  This medieval festival has been gaining in popularity and has become one of the region's most famous in recent years.  Less than 30 minutes by car from Villa Ardore, if you are staying at the villa during this time of year, it's a must see for historians and Ren Faire folk alike.

[Image by Summofonte via https://summofonte.org/festa-medievale-barberino-val-delsa-memoriae-et-historiae-de-semifonte/#:~:text=Sabato%2010%20e%20domenica%2011,Altre%20Storie%20di%20Francesco%20Mattonai]

The Arezzo Antiques Fair was founded on June 2, 1968, by a local antiques dealer and collector. For over 50 years, the Antiques Fair has been attracting exhibitors, visitors and collectors to Arezzo to experience an extraordinary date with the past and its wonders. An opportunity for travel and discovery, the result of its founder’s love of antiques, art, and this beautiful, vibrant city. The history of the Antiques Fair lives on in its lively stalls, hard-working shops, and the many, many items on display.

Set up Feb 4-5, March 4-5, April 1-2, and May 6-8, this is one of the most famous antiques markets in the region. Walk the medieval streets of Arezzo. Find an 18th century treasure among the many street vendors and antiques shops. Haggle prices like a native.  Stop for lunch at one of the city’s restaurants.  And head back to the villa and take stock of your procurements with a glass of red wine before relaxing in the hot tub. 

This is a wine festival not to miss.  Local producers will have bottles to sample with the purchase of a souvenir glass, you can then stroll through the small town with the stands showcasing their finished products and inhaling the atmosphere of Greve in Chianti and the vendemmia (grape harvest). Stop at one of Greve’s many excellent restaurants for lunch or dinner.

Castellina is 15 minutes by car from Villa Ardore and smack in the middle of one of the world's top wine areas, Chianti Classico, so it's hardly surprising that there is the occasional wine-fest. One of the best is the Pentecostal Wine Fair, held (not surprisingly) over the Pentecost weekend. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings during the festival, you can go along, buy a glass (usually around €10) and move from stand to stand in the vaulted gallery under the old town walls. There are usually around 50-100 exhibitors, each with between 3 and 10 wines, so its not likely you can try them all. But you can have a great deal of fun trying, and then ask the growers of the wines you really like you like to ship you a case. Some of these vineyards only produce a few 1000 bottles a year, so you can find some spectacular wines you would never have a chance of discovering otherwise.  If you are staying at Villa Ardore during this event, be sure to ask your travel curator about this event.  Tickets are available for those in the know to attend la cena sotto le volte to kick off this event with a spectacular dinner of local Tuscan fair and some of the area’s best wines flowing continuously.

If you are an avid cyclist, this is the Tuscan cycling event that cannot be missed.  L’Eroica and all Eroica Events invite cyclists to rediscover the beauty of fatigue and the thrill of conquest.  L'Eroica was born in 1997 in Gaiole in Chianti, a small village in the province of Siena, where creator Giancarlo Brocci, together with 92 hunters of feelings and emotions - as he called them - started the first edition of a magical cycling event; an event combining challenging routes, magnificent landscapes and unforgettable refreshments in a unique way.  L’Eroica was also launched as a foundation for the protection and preservation of the last gravel roads in Tuscany. Today Eroica values continue to grow with events for both classic and modern bicycles.

Scoppio del Carro, the Explosion of the Cart, is one of the most spectacular annual events of Tuscany held each Easter Sunday in front of the Duomo in Florence. The ceremony dates back to the First Crusade to free Jerusalem when, in 1099, a Florentine soldier named Pazzino climbed the walls of the holy city to place a Christian flag of liberation. Pazzino was gifted three fragments of the Holy Sepulcher for his valor and upon returning to Florence was welcomed with solemn honors. A first weekly commemoration saw citizens carrying a torch flame of purity through the city by horse cart. In later years the celebration evolved from that simple torch flame to a dramatic explosion of fireworks from a now enormous and artfully adorned horse cart. The lighting ceremony is preceded by a parade of the cart being pulled by oxen through the streets of Florence which is accompanied by costumed soldiers, period musicians and citizens donned in medieval dress.

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The Palio is Italy’s heart-thumping horserace held in the Piazza del Campo in the center of Siena, just 35 minutes from Villa Ardore. Ten riders compete as champion for their contrada, or neighborhood, pridefully sporting racing silks in the colors of their home tribe. With roots dating back to medieval times, the festival atmosphere is palpable throughout the city. There are plenty of costumed party-goers adding to the mood and colorful flags draping from window ledges that define each neighborhood as its own contrada. Thousands of locals and visitors alike cram the piazza for the 1000-meter, 2-minute challenge to catch a glimpse of who secures the victory flag . Visiting during Palio provides a unique insight into the rich heritage of Tuscany.

The Palio is Italy’s heart-thumping horserace held in the Piazza del Campo in the center of Siena, just 35 minutes from Villa Ardore. Ten riders compete as champion for their contrada, or neighborhood, pridefully sporting racing silks in the colors of their home tribe. With roots dating back to medieval times, the festival atmosphere is palpable throughout the city. There are plenty of costumed party-goers adding to the mood and colorful flags draping from window ledges that define each neighborhood as its own contrada. Thousands of locals and visitors alike cram the piazza for the 1000-meter, 2-minute challenge to catch a glimpse of who secures the victory flag . Visiting during Palio provides a unique insight into the rich heritage of Tuscany.

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Los Angelenos are familiar with Outfest. This is Italy’s version of Outfest.  See queer cinema from all over the world in this weeklong spectacular.  The Florence Queer Festival is the most important Tuscan event dedicated to Queer culture, organized by Ireos of Florence.

If you are coming to Italy to attend this festival and are staying at Villa Ardore, we can arrange transportation to and from the events and parties and arrange dinners from the traditional Tuscan dinner to a fantastic Michelin star dining event before the parties begin and an extraordinary night out once the parties are over. 

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This is the premiere men’s fashion event of the season. Florence is always the first to reveal upcoming fashions. Before Milan, Paris, Berlin and London, come to Florence to be “in the know” about the next season. Learn the trends and essentials for Fall & Winter 2024 before anyone else does.

If you are coming to Italy to attend Pitti Immagine and are staying at Villa Ardore, we will arrange transportation to and from Firenze and arrange dinners from the traditional Tuscan dinner to a fantastic Michelin star dining event.