PLANNER'S AGENDA
 

PARMA: A YEAR OF VERDI
Commemoration of the centenary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi begins on 27th January with a performance of the Requiem in Parma cathedral. The programme continues with the composer's most famous operas, including Il Trovatore and Macbeth. Parma will also host a series of other celebrations, including conferences and exhibitions. See the complete programme at www.giuseppeverdi.org.

 

PISA: LIGHTS ALONG THE ARNO
The celebrations in honour of Pisa's patron saint open on 16th June with the Luminaria a cera dei Lungarni, a festival of lights along the river Arno. The festivities continue on 17th June with the historic San Ranieri regatta. On the last Sunday of June, the town holds the Gioco del ponte, where townspeople in period costume challenge each other in tournaments

 

GUBBIO: RACING WITH THE SAINTS
On 15th May the Umbrian town of Gubbio holds its traditional Corsa dei ceri, a race where three huge wooden contraptions holding the statues of saints are carried around the town by costumed bearers. The race begins in the afternoon, finishing at the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo on top of Mount Igino.

 

RAVELLO: THE GARDEN OF MUSIC
The Ravello music festival begins on 10th March with the Oberman Duo of violin and piano, who will be playing Beethoven's Sonata Opera 47 and Ravel's posthumous sonatas. The programme concludes on 3rd November 2001 with music from Pulenc, Mihaud and Fauré. Concerts are held in the Villa Rufolo gardens, overlooking the sea.

 

PADUA: THE WORLD OF GIOTTO
The influential 14th-century painter Giotto is celebrated in the exhibition Giotto e il suo tempo, which runs from 26th November 2000 to 29th April 2001 at the Museo Civico agli Eremitani in Padua. In addition to the exhibition at the museum, the city is also planning guided tours.

 

TAORMINA: CULTURE BY THE SEA
The Festival di Taormina, from 22nd June to 6th August, includes a film festival, theatre, music and ballet events. The festival is famous for its new productions, many of which continue on to great success on the Italian and international stages. Last year's shows included performances by the Israeli Batsheva Dance Company.

 
 

THE ETRUSCANS IN VENICE
The Palazzo Grassi museum in Venice is hosting an exhibition devoted entirely to Etruscan civilisation. The event will continue until 1st July 2001, displaying more than 700 pieces from all over Italy - the most important artefacts of this extraordinary civilisation, from its birth to the height of its power, and then to its final decline following the Roman conquest.

 

ROME: ANYONE FOR TENNIS?
The Italian Open championships will begin on 5th May at the tennis stadium in Rome's Foro Italico, with the big names in the sport meeting on the hard court to compete for the men's and women's titles, which last year went to Magnus Norman and Monica Seles. The men's finals will take place on 13th May, while the women's will be held on the 20th.

 
 

SPOLETO: ALL-IN-ONE FESTIVAL
The Festival dei due mondi of Spoleto is one of Europe's richest and most varied summer festivals. This year it runs from 28th June to 15th July and will host a wide range of entertainment including opera and jazz, classical ballet and contemporary dance, puppet shows and acrobatic performances. Shows will be held in the city's Roman amphitheatre, theatres and squares.