Hello. My husband and I hope to vacation in Italy next spring. April 27 to May 13, 2017. Are there any special events or occasions we should be aware of at this time? We are planning to fly into Rome and spend a night there before catching a train to Cortona the next day. We have rented an apartment there.
Thanks for any advice.
Posted by
5 posts
Hi,
May 1 is Labor Day. I understand a lot of sites will be closed, and there might be reduced transportation options on that day.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Go a week earlier and spend Easter in Florence. They do a crazy Scoppio del Carro (google it). But during your time period is the Calendimaggio held over in Assisi. I haven't been yet but it was one I came across in 2015 while doing a whole trip just of festivals. It didn't fit my timeline that trip. Here is some info:
http://www.assisi-info.com/assisi_calendimaggio.htm#.WBzr5vkrJhE
http://www.amoitaly.com/assisi/calendimaggio.html
You can easily reach Assisi by Train with a little help from the bus or taxi from Cortona. The train station isn't in Cortona but a few KM down the road in Camucia (aka Camucia-Cortona on the train site). You can take the bus or taxi between Cortona and Camucia. There is trains between there and Assisi without connections (and a few more with connections but don't take that).
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
I was in Assisi for two weeks that included Calendimaggio in 2015. It was a highlight of my trip because I could wander around taking photos of the various activities and didn't have to get in any "regular" sightseeing of the main attractions in Assisi. I would think it would be challenging to be a tourist arriving in Assisi when Calendimaggio was at its peak. Many parts of the town are closed off for hours at a time and everything is a bit chaotic. Plus, you have to buy a fairly expensive ticket if you want to see the main highlights of the event in the main square.
Posted by
Washington DC
27236 posts
Arezzo has a major antique market the first Sunday of each month and the preceding Saturday.
Posted by
OP
69 posts
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Easter next year I believe is April 16th so we will be missing that regardless as we will either leave April 21st or April 27th. I am finding that flights are a bit cheaper if we fly out on a Thursday as opposed to a Friday. We could then spend one night in Rome and take the train the next day into Cortona. Or we could take the train into Cortona the day we arrive and spend a night there in Cortona prior to booking into our apartment on the Saturday.