'Spectacular events' in Italy

The state tourist board of Italy has published a list of the "spectacular events" that visitors to the country will be able to experience this year.

Venice will be one of the first Italian cities to get into the party mood when it hosts its annual carnival between February 13th and 24th.

This event will offer an insight into the history of Venice by presenting a number of community occasions, parties and balls with a retrospective theme.

Another carnival with a historic theme will be held between February 8th and March 1st in the Tuscany towns of Lucca and Viarregio, which are easily accessed by taking flights to Florence.

Rugby fans will be heading to Rome this year for the Six Nations, with Italy playing home matches against Ireland on February 15th, Wales on March 14th and France on March 21st.

Another popular, and unusual, sporting occasion will be held in Florence in June in the form of the Calcio Storico.

This event sees four teams of 27 young men from the four Florentine quarters – San Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito and Santa Croce – go head to head in a tournament that combines football with competitive fighting.

Posted by Carrie, 07 January 2009 13:42

News tags

• Florence
• Rome