Main events in Umbria

• 15th May, Run of the candles of Gubbio
Event organized since the last years of the XII sec, take place every 15 May. Hundreds of “eugubini” (inhabitants of Gubbio) conduct three Candles, that represent the protecting saints of the guilds S. Ubaldo (yellow uniform), St. George (blue uniform), Sant'Antonio (black uniform), in a thrilling run from the city into the Basilica of S. Ubaldo. Rich of emotions and of popular heat it attracts every year thousand of visitors.

• 21st-22nd May, Ritiane celebrations in Cascia
Religious celebration in honor of Saint Rita. They begin the evening of May 21 with a torchlight procession that remembers the death of the Saint and the following morning, there is an historical procession that recalls the most important stages of the Saint Rita’s life, it starts from Roccaporena and it finishs in Cascia.

• 19th-28th June, The market of the “Gaite” in Bevagna
Historical evocation of the medieval life along the roads of Bevagna. The four “Gaite” challenge themselves in the preparation of artisan shops, markets of the epoch and tavern, allowing at the visitors to admire the workmanship of the handicrafts with tools of the epoch.

• 26th June-12th July., “Due Mondi” Festival in Spoleto
Known also as Spoleto Festival 2009, is take place every year between the ends of June and July. Of great interest for the shows of prose, lyric and dance today it is an event of international fame. Festival has seen in the years the presence of famous personality as: Franco Zeffirelli, Dino Buzzati, Pablo Neruda, Indro Montanelli, Eugenj Evtuschenko and Al Pacino.

• 10th-19th July, Umbria Jazz Perugia
It is without doubt one of the most important jazz events of the Europe, ten days during which all day the historical center of Perugia it becomes stage of about ten concerts of every kind of musica. Among the artists that have taken part to this musical review we remember: Sam Rivers, Herbie Hanckok, Enrico Rava, The Coolbone Brass Band of New Orleans, Nicola Arigliano, Miriam Makeba, Renzo Arbore e i suoi Swing Maniacs, Paolo Conte, Vinicio Capossela Sergio Cammariere, Alicia Keys e Michael Boublé.

• Last week of August - First week of September, Festival of the Nations of Città di Castello
It is at the 41° Edition and it is characterized for the choice of a Nation guest of whom is introduced the best of the musical production choosing particularly suggestive natural or architectural location.

• Mid September, National show of the Horse in Città di Castello
Among the most important equestrian demonstrations in Italy has a program rich in events: international competition of class B of the Arabic thoroughbred, auctions of horses, jump to obstacles, competitions of covering western, competitions of jump in liberty and also it is possible the visit of the Saloon of the Equipments, of the Horse Promotion and of the Typical Products.

• 12th-13th June and 12th-13th September, Equestrian competition of Quintana in Foligno
There are documents of 1400 that spoke about this event. It is one of the most thrilling equestrian competition in Italy. Ten riders that represent the quarter, Ammanniti, Badia, Cassero, Castrastagna, Croce Bianca, Giotti, La Mora, Morlupo, Pugilli, Spada, compete in the town stadium. In three return the riders must center with a lance some rings of diameter more and more small, pendants from the arm of a statue of representing wood a warrior of the XVII sec. The preceding evening the competition, a procession of 600 people unthreads for the streets of the city with traditional customs representatives the fashion of the epoch while, in the patrician buildings for a whole week, people can be tasted in the tavern of the neighborhoods the ancient recipes of Foligno.

• 24th-27th September, "First of Italy” in Foligno
National Festival with the objective to valorize the dishes with pasta, rice, soups and polenta. For this event rich in taste, famous Chefs will be challenged cheering the palates of all the participants. The Festival is closed with the awarding of the people "First of Italy”.

• 16th-25th October, Eurochocolate Perugia
The sweetest enogastronomic exhebition, it represents the event more desired by the gluttons of Italy. For nine days from 16 to October 25 th 2009, Perugia becomes the capital of the cocoa and of events as: cooking classes, distribution of kisses perugina, stages, banquets, tastings, parties and much fun.

• 23th-25th October November, Show of the Pure Saffron of Cascia
Gastronomic exhibition rich in appointments turned to the discovery of the secrets of the saffron. During the show the participants can know the various formalities of use of this appreciated spice.