My husband and I are planning a day trip to Assisi during this celebration. Does anyone have experience attending this 4 day event at the end of the first week of May? Not sure what events need tickets and do we need to buy ahead of time.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted by
Milan, Italy
308 posts
Hi,
You do need tickets to get into the square where the event is held or you won't see much. Here is the link to buy tickets, it's in Italian http://ticketitalia.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=81
There is an email listed as well where you can send inquiries.
Here is the program schedule http://www.calendimaggiodiassisi.com/programma
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1883 posts
We went 2 years ago...it's was totally worth it. You do have to buy tickets, and can do so in the square, there is a ticket office. Don't expect to get great seats, they get snapped up early by locals. You do need to buy them ahead for the different days, events.
There is grand stand seating, and assigned seating areas as well.
Loved watching the competitions, the singing, the drumming and flag throwing....
I have TONS of photos, the costumes are just amazing, as is the beauty of the people participating. I'd do this again in a heartbeat!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
That is indeed the official ticket site that jackie gives. I was in Assisi last year for the two weeks leading up to and including Calendimaggio. One thing that's hard to decipher from the website is that the events start about a week before the official start date listed. In other words, even though the first day listed is May 4, 2016, there are events and parades that will start around Thursday, April 28. (Photo of one of those parades) The entire festival centers around a long competition between the two parts of the town, called (I kid you not) the Upper Part and the Lower Part. The conclusion of the festival is when the winner is declared.
One of the cool events that should take place on Tuesday, May 3 of this year is the "Scene all'aperto" or similar name. It's basically an outdoor traveling play acted out in the streets of Assisi. It's free to attend and starts fairly late, around 9 pm, and the crowd follows the actors through the streets. It can be very difficult to hear the dialogue and it's in Italian (of course). The play is set in the 1300s (roughly) and the basic plot is that the "grand marshal" has died unexpectedly and the citizens of the town are wondering if the festival will still go on, and if so, who will lead it. Throw in a Romeo/Juliet love story with the boy being from the Upper Part and the girl (whose father is one of the men who want to be the new grand marshal) from the Lower Part. (Here's a photo of their balcony scene.) I have to say that watching/following this play was one of the highlights of all five trips I've made to Italy.
The only events you need tickets for are indeed the ones in the main square (Piazza del Comune). There is another event that's free but I was not able to see it because you have to be in medieval costume or they won't let you in. Similar to the play, this is the "Rievocazioni di Vita Medioevale" or "Recreation of Medieval Life." The two parts compete to see who can best recreate the middle ages.
As you can imagine, it's a photographer's dream. Here's a slew of photos that I took.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
The Calendimaggio festival is going on right now in Assisi, and there's a wonderful webcam (with audio) that lets you watch a lot of the festivities. Check it out:
http://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/umbria/perugia/piazza-del-comune-assisi.html
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon, USA
100 posts
Love Assisi. Thanks for the link.