Two different versions of the Arena’s top opera Aida will be performed: the “crystal” production created by Stefano Poda will be performed between 19 June and 24 July. And, for seven evenings between 30 July and 10 September, the Franco Zeffirelli production.

Stefano Poda’s 2025 production of Verdi’s lyrical drama Nabucco will also return to the Arena for 10 performances in 2026, between 26 June and 9 September.

The production of La Bohème directed by Alfonso Signorini for the 2024 edition of the Festival will also return to the stage for four nights between 3 and 25 July. Celebrating its 100th birthday, Puccini’s masterpiece Turandot will return for six evening performances of Zeffirelli’s magical production (a box-office record holder at the Arena) between 7 August and 11 September.

Anyone planning to be in Italy next year might be interested to take a look at the programme. If you are joining our Austria and the Dolomites tour in July 2026, then the day the tour ends in Verona there is a performance of Aida that same evening at 9.15pm. Seeing a production in the spectacular setting of the Roman amphitheatre is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we would highly recommend it. For more details, take a look at the Arena website.

The post Verona Opera 2026 appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

The post Join Italy’s Festivals appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

Marta’s Christmas

“I grew up in Dolo, near Venice in the Veneto region. We more or less had the same Christmas menu each year, which was tortellini in chicken broth and lasagne with minced beef and chicken and oven roasted potatoes. For dessert we had pandoro and panettone cakes, with mascarpone and torrone (nougat). I think our menu was typical of the north of Italy. We would drink Prosecco to start with, and then red wine, and a sweet wine (spumante) with the dessert.

We always had (and still do) a Christmas tree that we decorate on the 8th of December and also a presepe which is a traditional nativity scene made from small figurines. Sometimes we would put Christmas ceramic vases or decorations around the house, and we used special Christmas mugs for breakfast from the 1st of Decemeber.

Nowadays we live in Palazzuolo sul Senio in Tuscany. My dad, since he became a Nonno, always dresses up as Santa Claus for his grandchildren. We write the Santa Claus letter which we leave under the tree on Christmas Eve with a glass of milk and biscuits, and then we open up our presents on Christmas morning.”

Cinzia’s Christmas

“When I was young, my parents were always incredibly busy in the hardware shop in Valtournenche, Valle d’Aosta. We never really had a fixed Christmas menu but I remember we always ate well, like two or three antipasti and a main, and probably some ravioli of some sort. We definitely had some panettone for dessert on Christmas Day, and perhaps even some days before as my dad adores it. Nowadays we have more time, so for starters we have insalata russa, anchovies in green sauce, cured meats, olives, smoked salmon and something hot like a puff pastry tart with seasonal vegetables. As a “primo” Piemontese Ravioli del Plin and maybe a beef roast cooked in barolo wine. Dessert will be panettone, of course!!

I believe the menu reflected our alpine region. Mocetta (cured and salted beef from Valle d’Aosta) and Fontina cheese were always present. I believe sometimes we had beef Bourguignon or Raclette cheese on the night of the 24th, as it was a festive dish which didn’t require a lot of time to prepare. As for the drinks we always enjoyed Prosecco di Valdobbiadene to start with and Moscato d’Asti DOCG to finish with the panettone.

We put garlands and baubles on the door jambs and we already had a synthetic (environmental friendly!) Christmas tree in the hallway which my cat enjoyed very much to tip over. We always opened our presents on the 24th of December at or just after midnight.”

Anthony’s Christmas

“My parents were from Calabria and, although I did not grow up there, we always returned for holidays and Christmas. I remember that the menu was usually very similar every year, and was mostly of regional dishes. We always had an antipasti, primo, main and lots of different sides to go with, and then dessert which was nearly always panettone. Some of the typical Calabrian dishes were eggplant Parmigiana, frittelle di zucchini (courgette fritters), Zeppole with anchovies (a kind of fried ball of pizza dough with an anchovy inside) and braciole di patate, which are like fried croquette potatoes. Sometimes we also had lasagne or gnocchi, and mainly pork or lamb as the main.

I remember that we drank local red wine and maybe Prosecco. My grandparents had a Christmas Tree and the traditional nativity scene and we always opened our presents on Christmas morning.”

The post An Italian Christmas appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

The Palio della Balestra is a crossbow competition between Gubbio and its Tuscan neighbour Sansepolcro, a town which we also visit at the start of the tour. In Gubbio the pageant takes place in May and in Sansepolcro the return match is always held on the second Sunday of September. Each town plays to honour their own patron saint – Saint Ubaldo for Gubbio and Saint Egidio for Sansepolcro.

The aim of the competition is to hit the target which is placed at a distance of 36 metres, from a fixed crossbow, and the event is played out in the Piazza Grande, directly in front of the hotel where we stay. The winners take home a “Palio” or fine piece of cloth which is designed each year by a celebrated local artist.

After the competition the residents process through the streets of the town in full medieval costumes, at the same time displaying their ancient and awe-inspiring talents in the art of flag-throwing.

Back in the 15th century residents were encouraged to develop their archery skills as an aid to defending the city from attack but, in time, the use of the crossbow as a weapon obviously went into decline. However, these civilian recreational competitions remained part of the fabric of life in Gubbio and Sansepolcro.  In these two municipalities the skills have been preserved and the contests played out every year for centuries, with the exception of a few years during the great world wars.

It is a real experience and a unique chance to soak up the history and ancient culture of this beautiful Umbrian town. The tour runs in 2025 from May 19-26 and starts and finishes in Arezzo. We have just one single spot to fill in 2025 so contact us now to snap it up!

The post Il Palio della Balestra appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

You can read the full article here.

The post Italy’s Greatest Palios appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

Stage 1

Florence to Rimini: 206 km described as hilly terrain.  As the peloton leaves Florence, the riders will pass the birthplace of celebrated Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, who was born in Tuscany in 1914.  He was the Tour de France winner in 1938 and again in 1948, and still holds the record for the longest gap between victories. There is today a cycling museum dedicated to Gino Bartali in Via Chiantigiana, near Ponte a Ema, on the outskirts of Florence.

Stage 2

Cesenatico to Bologna: 200 km of hilly terrain.  This leg starts on the Adriatic Coast in Cesenatico which was the hometown of Italian cycling star Marco Pantani. In fact it is also his burial place as he died young at the age of only 34 from drug poisoning.  He was a great climbing specialist and was the winner of both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in 1998. This leg also passes through Ravenna and Brisighella, which we explore on our Northern Tuscany and Ravenna tour.  The area of the Mugello was the birthplace of another Italian cycling superstar Gastone Nencini – winner of the Tour de France in 1960. He died just shy of his 50th birthday, and there is a bronze plaque dedicated to his memory on the Futa pass where we start our walk on the first day.

Stage 3

Piacenza to Turin: 229 km of relatively flat terrain.  This stage passes through Tortona, the hometown of Fausto Coppi.  Coppi was twice the winner of the Tour de France in 1949 and 1952, as well as five times winner of the Giro d’Italia.  The route on this day crosses the UNESCO world heritage landscape of the Langhe region in Piedmont, and includes Alba, home to the famous white truffles which we hunt for on our Jewels of Piedmont tour.

Also of interest to us are the 19th and 20th stages, which pass through the Maritime Alps at Isola 2000 and Saint-Martin-Vesubie.  We visit both places on our France and the Maritime Alps tour. The race finishes this year in Nice for the first time, on 21st July. It has always previously finished in Paris, but the city this year is preparing for the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games only a few days later.

If you would like to know more about this year’s race, you can visit the official Tour de France website.

The post The Tour de France in Florence appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

Built in the 1st century AD for gladiatorial games and chariot races, Verona’s Arena fell into disrepair during the decline of the Roman Empire and was pillaged for stone during the middle ages. However, many restoration projects from the 16th century onwards mean that today the Arena is exceptionally well preserved, with seating for up to 15,000 people (do take a cushion!) and wonderful acoustics. 

Many argue that Aida is perhaps the pinnacle of the Verona opera experience because of its vast sets which bring to life the splendour of Imperial Egypt, staging which would be impossible in even the largest traditional opera houses. It’s a tragic tale of forbidden love, following the struggle of Ethiopian princess, Aida, and young Egyptian warrior, Radamès, as they try to navigate between their love for each other and loyalty to their own countries.

Despite the vast seating area, tickets sell out quickly and it is worth booking well in advance.  Our Austria and Dolomites hike in 2023 finishes on July 16th in Verona, one of the nights when a performance of Aida is on at the Arena.  We would highly recommend anyone in the city on that occasion to take the chance to see the opera and enjoy the historic and evocative amphitheatre in all its glory. Tickets range from around €32 to €330.

To find out more visit the website here or watch the video for a taste of what you could be enjoying next year!

The post One Hundred Years of Opera appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

The post National Geographic Traveller Food Festival appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

It’s not a tourist event – it means everything if you are a resident of the city
In fact it’s the biggest event in a Sienese year. Over 50,000 people attend Siena’s civic hub, Piazza del Campo, on race day to witness the spectacle. 

The race is the apex of months of preparation
It’s the culmination of on-going rivalry and competition between Siena’s seventeen districts or ‘contrade.’ A palio can take many different forms but is generally a contest fought in traditional dress and can involve horse racing, archery and jousting amongst other activities. The Palio horse race in Siena is a particularly fierce competition with the sacred honour of a contrada riding on each race.

The event dates back centuries
The competition dates back before the 17th Century and the race is held on a sand track in the centre of Siena’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town. Exploring the city on foot is the best ways to soak up the history and atmosphere. 

The full festivities last four days
The Palio race takes place twice a year, on 2nd July and 16th August, but we want our guests to experience the full 4-day build up to the event. Pre-Palio traditions include la tratta (the selection of the horses) and six horse trials that take place from the evening of la tratta day to the morning of Palio day. Each contrada also holds an open-air dinner in the streets on the evening before the race which we get to enjoy, along with a visit to a Contrada museum and the private art collection of the Monte di Paschi, the oldest bank in the world.

   
                   
The pageant before the race is equally unforgettable
The race is preceded by a spectacular historical parade of traditionally dressed Sienese. The medieval display includes flag-wavers and a squad of sword-wielding Carabinieri. Jockeys also wear the bright colours of the contrada they represent. To really get into the spirit we always think it’s fun for our guests to pick a contrada and cheer them on by waving the appropriately coloured scarf. 

Horses are blessed in church before the race 
Each contrada brings its horse into its official chapel on race day for a special blessing to obtain divine favour. It’s considered good luck if the horse drops some manure in the church. 

The race itself is over in a flash
Well, just over a minute. On average the bareback horserace takes a thundering 60-90 seconds. It’s a white-knuckle display of brightly costumed racers riding full tilt through treacherous twists and turns and clinging on for dear life while roars of applause and cheers crescendo in the packed piazza.

The horse wins the race
The Palio is won by the horse who represents his contrada and not by the jockey. The winner is the first horse to cross the finish line with or without its rider (it’s not unusual to see a riderless horse finish the race). No pure bred horses are allowed and much emphasis is placed on the selection and blessing of the horses. The loser in the race is considered to be the contrada whose horse came second, not last.

   
   
The aim is not just to win, but to prevent your rivals from winning
Part of the challenge is to prevent a rival contrada from winning and, when a contrada fails to win, its historical enemy will celebrate as merrily as if they were victorious. With Sienese pride at stake the competition is fierce and the atmosphere electric. 

Grandstand tickets are the way to go
Thousands of people stand in the piazza on race day but we want our offer our guests maximum enjoyment of the event, so we have Grandstand seats which have the very best views.  

Our exclusive tour which follows this event, along with gentle walks in the Tuscan countryside, a cooking class of Tuscan classics and dinners in some of the city’s best restaurants runs each year from 12 – 18 August.  We have a few spots available for August 2022  so if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience you’re looking for this year, then get in touch now!

The post 10 things to know about Siena’s famous Palio appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.

Each year in October the small city of Parma marks the anniversary of the birth of one of it’s most famous sons, composer Giuseppe Verdi.  A series of performances of selections of his work are organised at the town’s Teatro Regio, and the Verdi Festival has become an important annual event in the musical calendar of Italy.   Verdi came from humble origins, born in the nearby village of Le Roncole, but went on to become one of the most celebrated Italian composers of the 19th century.

His most famous operas include La Traviata, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, Aida and Nabucco.  During the festival each year Parma runs various events to honour the life of “Il Maestro” such as talks by artists and writers, and screenings of films and documentaries about the man and his work.  The Portici del Grano, the porticoed town hall, becomes a key venue hosting concerts, performances and live projections from the opera house.  There is an official website and you can follow their news here. 

Parma is a beautiful city to visit, and not just for its musical festival.  It has given the world two of its greatest culinary inventions, Parma ham and Parmesan cheese and, strolling through its elegant streets and piazzas, you have the perfect opportunity to admire the shop windows displaying mouth-watering local produce. It can be easily reached by train from Bologna or Milan and is well worth a visit if you have not been before. Our Parma, Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea tour does not directly coincide with the Verdi festival but we always recommend taking an extra day to explore the city’s many charms. 

The Puccini Festival – Torre del Lago

The Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago takes place every summer during the months of July and August and since it’s inception in 1930 has become increasingly prestigious, attracting tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world. Torre del Lago is near Viareggio, close to the Mediterranean on the Tuscan coast.  Born in the nearby city of Lucca, Puccini moved in his 30s to a villa out at Torre del Lago on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli, then a tranquil spot where he found peace and isolation. This is the site today of the modern 3,400 seater open-air amphitheatre which is where the Puccini festival takes place.

Some of Puccini’s greatest works include Manon Lescaut, La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. Puccini died in 1924 leaving his final opera Turandot unfinished.   The gorgeous walled city of Lucca has a small museum in the house where he was born and, on our Lucca, Volterra and Elba tour which stays in the town, we have the chance to hear a selection of his best-loved arias at an evening concert in the church of San Giovanni.  Lucca is easily accessible from Pisa by train or bus and, like Parma, is a little gem of a city to explore on foot.

There is a Festival website and you can keep an eye on it here.  Ticket prices range from €30 to €170.  

The Opera Festival – Verona

The first Opera Festival in Verona took place in 1913, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi and every year since (except for two short breaks during the two World Wars) the Roman amphitheatre has been transformed into the world’s largest open-air opera theatre.  

The original amphitheatre dates back to AD 30 and could seat more than 30,000 spectators in ancient times. The round facade of the building was originally covered in white and pink limestone from Valpolicella until a major earthquake in 1117 almost completely destroyed the structure’s outer ring. It remains however a unique space for performances and owing to the structure’s outstanding acoustics and evocative atmosphere, musical experiences here are truly unforgettable.

The programme of events is usually published well in advance and can be seen via this link , running from mid-June through to early September.  Productions of Aida, Nabucco, Carmen and La Traviata are always popular, with ticket prices ranging from €26 to € 300, but if you are starting to make plans for being in Italy next year, this might be something for your bucket list. Our July Austria and the Dolomites tour finishes in Verona and many hikers extend their stays in this charming city in order to experience one of these unmissable Nights at the Opera!

The post Three of the Best Music Festivals in Italy appeared first on Hedonistic Hiking.