Great Events
End of December/beginning of January

Umbria Jazz Winter – Orvieto
Prestigious winter festival of Jazz music held in various historical locations, in the Cathedral and in the streets of the city centre. Begun in 1992, it offers a week of great attraction with the participation of world-famous artists of the jazz panorama. Orvieto’s artistic treasures and music live in a continuous and exalting symbiosis.

Information:
Associazione Umbria Jazz
piazza Danti 28 - Perugia
tel. 075.5732432
Web Site: www.umbriajazz.com
e-mail: info@umbriajazz.com


Historical pageants

Easter

Ovo pinto – Civitella del Lago
National egg-decorating contest

May

“Arzata” del Maggio – Castelgiorgio
In the honour of Saint Pancrazio a “May pole” is erected up which contestants have to climb.

I Pugnaloni – Allerona
I Pugnaloni (the daggers) were poles on which offers to St. Isidoro were hung. Today they are allegorical floats that symbolise moments of peasant life.

May-June

Palio dell’Oca – Orvieto (Goose Palio)
The fair is held in Piazza del Popolo (People’s square) the day before the feast of Pentecost. It originated from a medieval joust in which knights tested one another in the capture of geese strung up on a pole and whose head they had to remove: over the last few years – naturally without the geese – it takes place between the two “Cava” and “Piastrella” neighbourhoods of Orvieto.

Information:
Palio dell'Oca Comittee- c/o Comune
piazza della Repubblica - Orvieto
tel. 0763.3061 - fax 0763.344433
e-mail: info@iat.orvieto.tr.it


Corpus Domini
The Corpus Domini festivity was started in 1264 by Urbano IV, after the miracle of Bolsena, with the Bull “Transiturus” which promulgated the Corpus Domini celebration in the Catholic world. The procession began in 1337. The celebrations are held on the day of Corpus Domini and include religious manifestations and historical commemorations. After exhibition of the reliquiem of the “Sacro Lino” (Sacred Linen) and solemn mass, a sumptuous procession is accompanied by a magnificent historical parade.

Information:
Ass. Orvieto e Medioevo - c/o Comune
via Garibaldi 8 - Orvieto
tel. 0763.3061 - fax 0763.343622

Feast of the Wooden Pigeon – Orvieto
Historical-religious commemoration born in the 15th century on the wishes of the Monaldeschi family. It is celebrated on the day of Pentecost. It consists of the representation of the Holy Ghost who descends to the Apostles: a wood pigeon propelled by small rockets, is made to slide down a cable from the top of the church of Saint Francis to the Cathedral square where the Last Supper with the Madonna, and the Apostles, on whose head a flame is lit, is represented. In the past, the result of the wood-pigeon’s descent predicted the outcome of harvests.

Information:
Opera del Duomo - piazza Duomo 26
tel. 0763.342477 - fax 0763.340336
Web Site: www.opsm.it
e-mail: opsm@opsm.it

August

Palio del Giglio – Monteleone of Orvieto (Lily Palio)
The historical commemoration of events of the 14th century which saw the Houses of Montemarte and Marsciano oppose each other; on the 16th August, it foresees a joust among the knights of the city neighbourhoods (Torre, Porta, San Rocco and Borgo) for the conquest of a palio (prize). It is accompanied by an historical parade of about 350 characters. The manifestation takes place on occasion of the “Rimpatriata”, a fair in the honour of emigrants who have returned home.

Information:
Palio del Giglio - Ente Corteo Storico Castrum Montis Leonis - c/o Pro Loco
corso V. Emanuele II 48
Monteleone of Orvieto
tel. 0763.834062 - fax 0763.834280

August in the Middle Ages – Rotecastello
Medieval Historical Commemoration

Musical Events

January

Festival Freedans – Orvieto
The zip session
Improvised music and dance exhibition

February and July

Cittàslow Dinner Music – Orvieto and Lake Corbara
Fair, music, feasting, musical-gastronomical appointments

July

International Festival of classic guitar – Orvieto


August

Orvieto Music Space – Orvieto
International perfectioning Workshops

Various times of the year

Orvieto in music – Orvieto

International Workshops in chamber music