Italy has an abundance of festivals celebrating all sorts of things, from religion to food and art. Many Italian festivals are based on historical events and can include processions with people dressed in period costumes, contests between neighbourhoods of the town, flag-throwers, food, and fireworks. Summer is the height of the festival season, as you travel in Italy, look for posters advertising a festa or sagra. Here is but a small selection of the most important and interesting events.

• Carnevale: From January 27 to February 13, the floating city of Venice is transformed into an extravagant masked ball. The festival, which is believed to have originated in the 12th century, celebrates the anticipation of Lent (a time when Christians abstain from revelry and eating meat). While the opulent masquerade balls require invitations with steep ticket prices, the candlelit parade of boats, concerts, and street performances are free and open to the public. Venice has one of the top carnival festivals in the world, but Carnevale is celebrated in many Italian towns. Viareggio, on the coast of Tuscany, is known for its elaborate floats, and parades are held on several weekends.

• Battle of the Oranges: Each year in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, the townspeople of Ivrea divide into nine squads and spend the next three days having Italy’s biggest food fight. This famous ‘battle’ reenacts a 12th-century skirmish with citrus fruit in what is one of Europe’s biggest food fights. Participants either run through the streets or hurl oranges from one of the ‘battle buses’ which patrol Ivrea.

• Marriage of the Seal: During the last weekend of May, Venice celebrates its nautical prowess with a huge procession of rowboats from St Mark’s to the Port of St Nicoló. Thousands line the waterways to watch the drama unfold and catch one of the races that see small teams compete in river sprints. Festa della Sensa culminates at the church of St Nicolò and a market is held in the nearby square.

• L'ardia Di San Costantino: Taking place in July, this is one of the biggest festivals in Sardinia when an exhilarating horse race commemorates Constantine's victory at the Mulvian Bridge in 312. It's much more than a race, and it has an interesting spiritual twist. Besides watching the races, the large array of food stands makes it a great festival for eating.

• Festa della Madonna Bruna: On July 2 each year, the people of Matera commemorate a medieval miracle first celebrated in 1389. For the Festa della Bruna, a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried slowly through the streets on a grand chariot pulled by mules and escorted by the columns of ‘knights’ on horseback. The colourful procession, accompanied by a marching band, church, and state dignitaries, ends with a huge fireworks display.

• Verona Opera Festival: Each summer in late June to early September, Verona’s Roman amphitheatre opens its doors for a series of classical performances. The famous venue, unchanged for thousands of years, is one of the best places to see live music in Italy.

  
  

• Calcio Storico: The Calcio Storico Fiorentino is held during June in Florence. It resembles a combination of soccer, rugby, and wrestling which originated during the 6th. Teams of 27 players compete to try to get a ball to each other’s end but, unlike football, opposing players can tackle using punches, kicks, and elbows. The official rules were written in 1580 by Count Giovanni de Bardi and even today cannon fire still signals the start of the match.