EVENTS IN MARCH AND APRIL

CASTAGNETO CARDUCCI: CASTAGNETO A TAVOLA.
A tour of the traditional cuisine of Castagneto rich in unusual and delicious dishes gives you the opportunity to try a wide variety of local wine, among the most praised in the world, such as the legendary Sassicaia. Visitors can have dinner in local restaurants, stop at selected wine shops and taste different kinds of wine produced along the Wine Route and go on guided tours to wine cellars. There are also other cultural initiatives like conferences or book presentations. It is a great opportunity to discover the beauty of this ancient village. It is home to the headquarters of the same local authority which also oversees Bolgheri. Bolgheri rises on the green hills close to the woods at a short distance from areas of Mediterranean vegetation which extend to the unpolluted sea which has been awarded the Blue Flag.

SAN VINCENZO: PALIO DELLA COSTA ETRUSCA.
On Easter day and Easter Monday San Vincenzo transforms itself into the Piazza del Campo of Siena. Indeed the very same horses and horse riders that will compete for the famous Palio of Siena contend here for a cloth painted by renowned artists. This horse race, where the participants mount bareback, is particularly atmospheric as it is set on the sandy beach of one of the most popular sea resorts along the coast. The warmth of spring, the blue sea in the background, the bright colours on the horse riders' shirts, each representing a different village along the coast, all make the competition memorable. During the week of the Palio San Vincenzo wears its best clothes, offering lots of other cultural initiatives and folklore.

EVENTS IN MAY

BIBBONA: LONG-DISTANCE BIKE RIDE
From the sea we turn to the land. Here a national mountain-bike competition takes place in the woods of Macchia della Magona at a short distance from the sea. Along a 56 km route the participants in the race and those who choose the "environment-friendly walk" as an alternative have the opportunity to admire an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Macchia della Magona, a biogenetic reserve of C.N.R., includes all kinds of Mediterranean vegetation and is also an exceptional habitat for wild animals like fallow-deer, wild goats, foxes and squirrels. Woods of Mediterranean pinetrees and broad-leaved plants, holm-oaks and corbezzoli, lentiscus and heather, maples and holms give shelter to several species of migratory birds like woodpigeons, buzzards and woodcocks.

EVENTS IN JUNE

CASTAGNETO CARDUCCI: “Paese in musica” – Music in the Village: concerts in the little streets of the village. Literature Park of the poet Goisuè Carducci, trekking excursions.
BOLGHERI: Modern painting contest.

EVENTS IN JULY AND AUGUST

CASTAGNETO CARDUCCI: Literature Park of the poet Goisuè Carducci, trekking excursions, medieval music festival, antique market, Castagneto week with many events in the village, falling stars and wine, art festival in the village square.
BOLGHERI: literature park of Goisuè Carducci, trekking excursions (from June to September), Village festival.

SIENA: The Palio (2nd July and 16th August) training (29th and 30th of June, 1st July, 14th, 15th August) Music Weeks (August).

MASSA MARITTIMA: Festival of the Falconer (second Sunday in August).

EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

CASTAGNETO CARDUCCI: International Music Festival “Kaleidoscope”, Literature Park of Giosuè Carducci, trekking excursions (from June to September), modern painting contest “the village and surroundings of Castagneto Carducci).