The Undiscovered Festival You Can’t Miss in Tuscany

by Lucie Řezáčková

If you’re planning a summer vacation under the warm Tuscan sun and want to experience a piece of authentic Italian culture, look no further! The medieval festival in Monteriggioni lasts for two weekends in a row and will overwhelm you with its unique atmosphere. This hidden place is only about an hour’s drive from Florence and the crowd is about 90% local Italians, so you can avoid mass tourism and truly feel the genuine culture. Welcome to the Middle Ages!

Monteriggioni is a fascinating ancient town which is actually a castle. Its historic walls and scenic watchtowers immediately make you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. At their annual Medieval Festival, people dress up in period costumes and around every corner, you’ll find performances, activities, and food. You can even exchange your cash to a local “medieval” currency!

Accompanied by a group of drummers, these noble ladies dancing in their beautiful gowns will leave you in awe. Look at the colors and embroideries!

There are countless live performances to enjoy throughout the day ranging from funny jesters that surprisingly succeed at making you laugh, to witches on stilts, alluring belly dancers, knights, imminent warriors, and frightening fire breathers, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Or how about watching them all?!

Don’t forget to come hungry! You can find stands with tables and tables full of mouth-watering local food and wine at every corner. It would be a pity not to enjoy all the Italian flavors. We opted for the veggie plate, and let me tell you, it was delish!

When your belly is full and you need some rest, watch some artisans hand-crafting traditional Italian products and creating art. You can use this stop to buy some souvenirs from your trip. A piece of handmade jewelry would be a great gift!

The festival takes place from July 10 – 19 in 2020. Visit this beautiful historic town and experience the unique atmosphere of one of the oldest, if not the oldest medieval festivals in Italy!

Want more? Check out our Live Facebook video of the 2019 festival!

Creative Edge Travel offers small group and custom trips to the lesser-known areas of Italy. Visit our Upcoming Trips page to see where we’re headed next!

#authenticitaly #italiantradition #tuscany #ItalianCulture #authentictravel #Medievalfestival