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What you need to know about the return of Italy’s summer concerts

Italy’s piazzas are preparing to host long-awaited summer concerts in the coming months, albeit with reduced audiences and social distancing measures.

Published: 29 July 2020 20:38 CEST
What you need to know about the return of Italy’s summer concerts
Illustration photo: AFP
Milan’s annual concert by La Scala’s Filarmonica orchestra, which was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis, has been rescheduled to 13 September.
 
The eighth edition of the “Concerto per Milano”, a free classical concert that transforms Piazza Duomo into an open air stage every summer, has been symbolically renamed “Concerto per l’Italia”.
 
But this year’s edition will also be very different due to the strict security measures that will be put in place. Only 2 thousand attendees (compared to 20 thousand in previous years) will be allowed to sit in the square and will have to book their ticket online. Tickets for the concert are free.
 
The rest will be able to watch the concert live on Rai5 at 8:30pm.
 
In Marsciano, Umbria, the town council is currently making sure security measures can be maintained during a reduced version of the Musica per i Borghi festival that will take on the weekend of 21 August.
 
 
“We have worked with the organisers and are implementing several changes in how the shows are managed, and in how the audience will access the concerts so that we can ensure maximum safety for everyone,” Vincenzo Antognoni, member of the municipal council, told Perugia Today.
 
These changes include a reduced number of shows,that will all take place in a single location of Marsciano (it usually takes place in a number of small Umbrian hill towns); as well as the absence of street food vendors. The biggest concert will be limited to 1 thousand attendees, and the rest of the shows will take place in a large pedestrianised area in the town centre, with closely monitored entry points to limit the amount of people.

“These measures will inevitably reduce the size of the audience,” said Antognoni. “However, it is important at this time marked by the pandemic and the economic crisis, for us to be able to count on cultural events like this one to help boost the region’s socio-economic development.”

Across Italy, people are required to keep a minimum distance of one metre at all times when out of the house. If that’s not possible, wearing masks is mandatory. 

Face masks are a requirement in Italy inside closed spaces, such as shops and public transport, as well as in bars and restaurants except when sitting down. However, due to local legislation, rules vary slightly from one Italian region or city to another.

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CULTURE

Updated: What is Italy’s Palio di Siena and where can you watch it?

Italy's hotly-anticipated Palio di Siena horse race is back - but what exactly is it and where can you watch it?

Published: 16 August 2024 12:10 CEST
Updated: What is Italy's Palio di Siena and where can you watch it?

The renowned Palio di Siena horse race returns on Saturday, August 17th, with jockeys racing it out in Tuscany’s medieval jewel, Siena.

With origins dating back to 1633, the Palio di Siena is Italy’s most famous historic horse race.

The event is a competition between the neighbourhoods of Siena, called contrade, with each contrada having its own coat of arms and patron saints. There are 17 contrade in Siena, but only 10 compete – this year’s competitors are; Chiocciola, Oca, Istrice, Selva, Lupa, Valdimontone, Onda, Nicchio, Leocorno and Civetta.

It occurs twice a year in Siena’s main square, Piazza del Campo. The first race took place this summer on July 2nd. Each Palio lasts a total of four days; three days of celebrations and the final day being the race itself.

The race consists of three laps of Piazza del Campo. The starting point (the mossa), is made up of two ropes in which the 10 participating horses and jockeys must wait in order. The horse, with or without a jockey, which completes the three laps first wins.

The prize is a large silk-painted canvas, known as the drappellone, which is designed and created every year by a different artist.

Over the centuries, the race has only been cancelled a handful of times, including for World War II and the Covid pandemic. 

In recent years the Palio has been the subject of protest from animal rights groups who state that the horses suffer during the competition. Preliminary investigations into a defamation trial began at the start of June this year, after Walter Caporale, the national president of animal rights group Animalisti Italiani (Italian Animalists) was accused of defining the event’s organisers as “sadistic and uncivilised.” The next hearing is set for February 28th 2025. 

The final race this year was supposed to take place on Friday, 16th August but it was cancelled due to heavy rain.

Watch the Palio di Siena live on television or via streaming on Italian channel LA7 from 4.45pm on Saturday.

Are you tuning in to the Palio di Siena? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below.

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