From north to south, from the sea to the Dolomite mountains, here are some destinations and events to fill our days and nights in August, waiting for mid-August.
Grado and Aquileia
Grado, foto di Ivan Regolin
We start from northern Italy and the sea. Grado is the ideal destination for those who want to combine the desire for the sea, contact with nature, movement and sport, and even food and wine experiences in their holiday. Also called "Isola del Sole", it can boast the Blue Flag for 32 consecutive years and for 11 years the Green Flag, promoted by European paediatricians, it can offer 40 km of cycle paths, and will also delight you at the table with the local cuisine mainly characterized from fish-based dishes, such as brodetto alla gradese, cuttlefish brodetto, stuffed cuttlefish and pan-fried cuttlefish, to combine with a good glass of typical wine from Friuli, such as Ribolla Gialla or Pinot Grigio (find out about more).
If you choose this destination for your summer holiday or weekend, the nearby Aquileia, in addition to the UNESCO sites of the archaeological area and the Patriarchal Basilica, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August, from 7.00 pm to about 12.00 pm (Info: Tel. 389.12858620 - calicidistelleaquileia@aquileia.org) offers an evening dedicated to the flavors of the Agro Aquileiese and the Friulian wines of the territory thanks to the initiatives organized as part of the national event Calici di Stelle.
Vicenza, among Ville and cellars
Villa Valmarana ai Nani a Vicenza
We move a little further south, still not far from the sea and Venice, but inland. Vicenza is known as the city of Palladio. Because here the famous 16th century architect carried out some of his most significant projects, starting with the Villa "La Rotonda". Thanks to Palladio, the historic center of Vicenza and its villas have also been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It is not signed by Palladio, but in any case among the most important sites in Veneto, it is the Villa Valmarana ai Nani, thanks to the frescoes of the Tiepolo, father and son, for which it is considered the expressive peak of eighteenth-century painting and the highest testimony of genius of the Tiepolos.
A special event is that of 10 August, the night of San Lorenzo, a special opening to admire the frescoes and the rooms of the Palazzina and the Foresteria, and to taste the specialties of the Rretrò food trucks and toast in the bar of the Villa, open for the occasion until 10pm (read more).
Speaking of Palladio, the nearby Bassano del Grappa hosts an exhibition until October that delves into the history of his project of the Bassano Bridge (read more).
Among the wineries, doing wrong to the many others that are not worth less, we suggest a visit, if there is availability, to the Dal Maso cellars, of Selva di Montebello Vicentino (dalmasovini.com), for its red wines of the Doc Colli Berici and the whites of the Doc Gambellara and Lessini Durello, in La Pria di Alonte (lapria.it) for its particular Prosecco Doc, ideal for a summer toast, and Cà Rovere, again in Alonte. (carovere.it) for its splendid classic method sparkling wines. The wines of the three wineries, in their variety, will certainly not disappoint you.
In any case, do not miss to learn more about Tai dei Colli Berici, a red wine of the Grenache family, which has been able to conquer international competitions. Many of the cellars of the Vicenza Doc can also be found in the various appointments scheduled for Calici di Stelle in Veneto.... leggi il resto dell'articolo»
Lonato del Garda and its Rocca
Lonato del Garda is located on the Lombard side of Lake Garda, in the southernmost part, with a short view of the lake itself, bordering Desenzano del Garda. Lonato, as well as for its position, is worth a visit thanks to its Monumental Complex, which includes the Rocca Visconteo Veneta, and the Casa del Podestà. It is precisely the Rocca Visconteo Veneta waiting for us with various attractions, to which an immersive room has been added, from which to wander in a virtual journey on the most fascinating places of this part of the lake and the surrounding hills, and the possibility of visiting with reality augmented, to discover how these places were in ancient times.
For all the details, please read the factsheet of the Rocca di Lonato del Garda and the article "Rocca di Lonato del Garda, a weekend between nature and history".
Once in this area, you cannot miss visiting some Lugana Doc wineries. If you do not know this extraordinary Lombard white wine you can better prepare yourself for some tasting by reading this in-depth analysis.
This wine can best accompany a meal based on typical lake cuisine.
Montefalco and Torgiano
Di Zyance - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 2.5
We dedicated our last post in July to Umbria and its villages, remembering Montefalco, included among "The most beautiful villages in Italy", and its Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, and the splendid "Carapace" cellar, the work of Arnaldo Pomodoro , in the municipal area of nearby Bevagna.
Torgiano, about thirty kilometers north of Montefalco, gives its name to the second DOCG of Umbria, the Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG, a red wine produced with a minimum of 70% Sangiovese grapes.
The two municipalities belong to the Association of Cities of Wine, and will offer all wine tourists a special evening on 10 August. Worthy of mention in Torgiano are the Cantina Lungarotti and his Foundation, promoter of the MUVIT Museo del Vino, and which hosts the work Triple Twist by Beverly Popper, an American sculptor who died in February 2020.
For info on visits to the cellar and the foundation's museums: https://lungarotti.it/ita/
Ascoli Piceno
Another destination in central Italy chosen for this month of August is the beautiful Ascoli Piceno, because this is the month of the "world festival of the Ascolana Dop Olive", in which the ambassador product in the world of the capital of the Marches is celebrated. After a year of forced stopping due to the pandemic emergency, the event returns, which from 2013 to 2019 attracted over 400,000 people from all over Italy and abroad.
In addition to tastings of DOP Ascoli olives and other traditional dishes, there will be meetings and workshops from 14 to 23 August.
Since the event scheduled for 8 August, Tipicità & Archeologia in Monte Rinaldo, is also worth mentioning, on the occasion of which from 10 to 12 and from 16 to 19, it will be possible to visit the archaeological area of Monte Rinaldo for free.
In the land of Mirto
We are in the province of Sassari, in Sardinia, in the municipality of Telti, a small town about 15 km from Olbia, in the hinterland. The first weekend of August is dedicated to a long tradition festival, having now reached its 26th edition. Myrtle, a typical plant of this area, whose berries are used to produce the famous Sardinian liqueur, is not the only ingredient of this village festival, which provides a rich musical entertainment every evening, from 6 to 8 August. which ranges between different genres. For those who are on the island for the holidays in this first week of August, in a season that still sees many events canceled due to the pandemic situation, it can be a great opportunity to experience a festive atmosphere (read more).
Destination Dolomites: Land Art in Val Badia
Xinge Zhang & Jiaqi Qiu, “Fragile as a Rainbow”, 2021, installazione ambientale, location Chi Jus
We still come into contact with a site included in the UNESCO list, as part of the World Heritage Site, moving to high altitudes, in Val Badia, the Ladin valley of South Tyrol.
Lovers of the mountains and unspoiled nature cannot miss the opportunity offered by the SMACH.2021 art biennial. We are talking about a particular artistic discipline, such as Land Art, a type of art that fits into or transforms a natural territory. A special opportunity to get to know or rediscover one of the most beautiful mountain resorts, Val Badia, and organize excursions to the protected areas of the Puez Odle and Fanes / Senes / Braies Natural Parks. There are also organized packages with overnight stays in a refuge (read more).
To make up for the efforts and to taste the mountain wines of South Tyrol, but always in the open air, we recommend the "Vins alaleria" initiative. Several dates, starting from 13 August, to taste some of the best wines of South Tyrol accompanied by a young somelier (maximum 6 people per date).
All the details on altabadia.org
Manduria and the "Notte tra i Musei"
If you are even just a little passionate about wine, the name "Manduria" will immediately bring you back to Primitivo wine, the Primitivo di Manduria in fact, one of the best known and most appreciated Apulian wines, produced in the areas surrounding the municipality of the province of Taranto. Manduria has an equidistant position between the three cities of Lecce, Taranto and Brindisi, so it will be easily accessible by those who have planned a holiday in Puglia for this week, as well as for residents of the three provinces. During the Night among the Museums, scheduled for Saturday 7 August, the museums of Manduria will become spaces of sociality, as well as culture, between music, wellness and food and wine.
The initiative organized by the Spirito Salentino cooperative, with the patronage of the Municipality of Manduria, will focus the spotlight on the Civic Museum of the World Wars and the Museum of the Primitivo Wine Civilization, which will exceptionally host free guided tours from evening until night (at 9 pm : 00, 22:00 and 23:00, in compliance with the anti-gathering rules), with the addition of other kinds of events and experiences. On the same evening, Calici di Stelle will also be held at the Manduria Producers company. More information on the event web page..
Also in the month of August, on the evenings of 8, 12, 25 and 28, the initiatives of the REMOTE festival will also meet in Manduria. Beyond the past, an exhibition that brings art, events, music, history, crafts and tales to the two symbolic places of culture in Manduria: the Archaeological Park of the Messapic Walls and the Civic Museum of the World Wars. Double appointment on Sunday 8 August: at 20:00, with Mito-Follia!, A special theatrical guided tour of the Archaeological Park, and at 22:00 you can attend the concert of the Ensemble Concentus. All the info on the event info page.
Brisighella, Borgo diVino
Brisighella, another town included among the most beautiful villages in Italy, in the province of Ravenna, in the evenings between 6 and 8 August gives you an appointment with "Borgo diVino in tour", to take you on a journey of discovery of typical wines such as Romagna DOC Sangiovese and Albana di Romagna DOCG, as well as other excellences on the national scene. From 18:00 until midnight for all 3 days it will be possible to have wine tastings at the stands of the participating wineries (more info).
In addition to the food and wine event, on Fridays of 6, 13 and 20 August, the historic center of Brisighella, from 7 pm, is animated by the traditional market in the streets of the medieval center with Brisighella an Art Village, Art Market Exhibition, Antiquities and Brocantage.
Brisighella is located in the center of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park on the slopes of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, and can boast numerous typical products, real excellences at national level, among which the most famous is the extra virgin olive oil of olives, such as the Moretto Artichoke, the Mora Romagnola cured meats, the Marzolino truffle, and the Spoja Lorda.
Castiglione in Teverina, Degustiamo il Borgo
We have dealt with the province of Viterbo and Alta Tuscia in a recent post dedicated to the villages and parks of Tuscia. This time we stop in the small town of Castiglione in Teverina for an event that will lead the participants on an itinerant food and wine tour along the labyrinth of alleys and squares of the ancient and charming medieval village.
For the occasion, the Borgo, once densely inhabited, relives by candlelight, enlivened by background music, a dreamy atmosphere to be rediscovered, tasting the wines and typical products it offers (more info).
To conclude, wishing everyone an August full of joy and fulfilling experiences, we remind you that starting from August 6, many events will require the Green Pass or a certificate of healing or a negative swab to allow access. We invite everyone to inquire directly with the organizers for any doubts in this regard.
By the editorial staff - August 4, 2021
