Italy’s diversity is a big part of what makes it attractive to visitors. Loud, lively Naples; the gently rolling hills of Tuscany; the Renaissance treasures of Florence – the country has an irresistible allure. And let’s not forget Italian cuisine!

The region of Marche, between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea, is a mountainous area full of rivers and small, fertile plains. The mountainous regioni (administrative districts) of Abruzzo border Marche to the north. Molise, located south of Abruzzo, borders Puglia to the south. Lazio and Campania are situated on the Tyrrhenian Sea and comprise the western border. Umbria, the “green heart of Italy,” is full of hills and expansive plains.

Southern Italy extends from Baia Domizia to the Gulf of Naples. Campania is hilly, with flat coastal regions. The southern Italian Apennines are lower than the northern mountains, and the Appennino Neapolitano gently merges into the softly rolling hills surrounding Sorrento. The islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida in the Tyrrhenian Sea also belong to Campania. In Puglia, volcanic hills and secluded moors characterize the landscape. And there are still active volcanoes in southern Italy: Mount Vesuvius to the east of Naples is one of the largest volcanoes in Europe. Calabria, the “toe” of Italy’s “boot,” is sparsely populated and heavily forested.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two round-pin type.

2020

Capodanno (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2020
Epifania (Epiphany): 6 January 2020
Pasqua (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Lunedì dell’Angelo (Easter Monday): 13 April 2020
Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day): 25 April 2020
Festa del Lavoro (Labour Day): 1 May 2020
Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day): 2 June 2020
Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Assumption): 15 August 2020
Tutti i santi (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2020
Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2020
Natale (Christmas Day): 25 December 2020
Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day): 26 December 2020

All information subject to change.

Gigantic, brightly painted papier mâché figures float through the streets of Tempio Pausania, less than an hour’s drive from Olbia, in this magnificent carnival parade. The star is King Giorgio, who sits on his throne for six days before being burnt at the stake at dusk on Shrove Tuesday.

Olbia celebrates Easter with sombre, elaborate processions beginning on Palm Sunday. A highlight for many is the Good Friday procession, remembering Christ’s descent from the cross; a statue of Jesus and the cross is wrapped up and carried aloft through the streets with his mother Mary.

Horses hurtle along a road-turned-dusty-racetrack in this competition featuring riders from 26 towns in the province. The aim is to grab a star with a spear. Riders also carry out daring stunts, including standing on top of their galloping steeds. The competition takes place during the San Simplicio Festival.

The highlight of this important religious festival honouring the town’s patron saint is a solemn procession on 15 May, when an icon of San Simplicio is carried through town accompanied by priests and residents dressed in traditional costume. Other festivities include a mussel festival, live concerts and sporting events.

Film fans hop on little ferries to Tavolara Island to enjoy a magical week of open-air cinema each July. Screenings take place beside the sea and beneath the stars, with the emphasis on Italian films, in particular movies shot by young directors or set in Sardinia.

Summer sees a whole host of jazz stars arriving in the pretty seaside town of Cala Gonone, an hour and a half’s drive south of Olbia. Jazz aficionados can enjoy first-class performances in traditional concert venues, open-air stages and the magnificent Grotta del Bue Marino (Cave of the Sea Cow).

Leading reggae acts from Sardinia, Europe and Jamaica draw huge crowds to this popular festival in Cargeghe, a little over an hour’s drive west of Olbia. On the go since 2008, this event is fast growing into one of Sardinia’s must-do music festivals.

Traditional folk dancing, live bands, sweet treats and copious amounts of beer are the order of the day at this lively summer festival on Sardinia’s northwest coast. It’s well worth the day trip from Olbia to Trinità d’Agultu, just over an hour’s drive away.

For two decades, the Lorenzo Perosi choir has been organising this annual sacred music festival. Classical music fans are treated to a terrific programme of choral works performed by both the choir itself and a carefully selected line-up of invited choirs from across Europe.