Verona Italy Annual Events Calendar

Carnival, Wine Expositions, Music, Religious and Food Festivals

Aug 10, 2009

First C. Roman Arena in Piazza Bra, Stillman Rogers Photography

Northern Italy's historic city celebrates its heritage of wine, food, marble, opera and Shakespeare with lively events that welcome tourists.

The year begins with a bang, as Carnevale di Verona officially begins on Epiphany (January 6) with the investiture of the Duca de la Pignata and continues until the end of February. The fantastic carnival wraps the whole city in colorful pageantry, with parades, dancing, costumes, masks and events culminating in late February. But in almost any month Verona has some event travelers can join in.

Winter Events in Verona

January: The Feast of the Epiphany – The festival on January 6 is celebrated with colorful processions.
February: Carnevale di Verona -- Most of the excitement is in February, in the days before Ash Wednesday.
March: Vinitaly Wine and Food Show – Late in March, one of the biggest wine shows in Italy draws with more than 4,000 exhibitors. Reserve hotel rooms early for the last week in March and first week in April.

Spring Events in Verona

April: Liberation Day -- April 25, the anniversary of Italy’s liberation in World War II, is celebrated in and around Piazza Bra.
April: Mondadori Junior Festival -- Children’s activities take place all over town; a play park is set up inside the Arsenale grounds and kids can learn ravioli-making on Piazza Brà.
May: Le Piazze dei Sapori -- For four days in mid-May Piazza Brà hosts a giant food fest in the middle of Piazza Brà, where tents make it look like a medieval market..

Summer Events in Verona

June: Arena di Verona Opera – From mid-June June through August, opera performances are scheduled several times a week in the 2,000-year-old Arena on Piazza Brà.
June: Festival Shakespeariano – The2,000 year old Teatro Romano is the setting for a Shakespeare Festival, with performances in English with Italian subtitles.
July: Verona Vinorum – At the grand exposition of the finest Veronese wines, more than 90 local vintners from Soave to the Valpolicellas offer wine tasting and samples of local food and cheeses at the Palazzo Gran Guardia on Piazza Brà.
August: Ferragosto -- On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption is celebrated throughout the region with a public holiday and festivals in Verona’s parishes.

Fall Events in Verona

September: Juliet’s Birthday -- September 16honors an entirely fictitious character, but it’s a good excuse for romantic Renaissance revelry throughout the city.
October: Marmomacc Exposition -- One of the largest and important marble expositions in the world, it is credited with restoring marble as a major building material, with hundreds of dealers, manufacturers and architects assembling to show off their stone and skills.
October: Maratona di Verona -- Verona’s marathon is run almost entirely within the old city walls.
December: Festa di Santa Lucia -- The feast of Santa Lucia, December 13, is a big day for children and adults alike, as stalls of goodies line Piazza Brà and everyone awaits the arrival of Santa Lucia with her crown of candles.

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