Food -inspired feste are more low-key affairs than the religious events, but no less enjoyable for it, usually celebrating the local specialty of the region to the accompaniment of dancing, music from a local brass band and noisy fireworks at the end of the evening.

There are literally hundreds of food festivals, sometimes advertised as sagre, and every region has them - look in the local papers or ask at the tourist office during summer and autumn and you're bound to find something going on.

Most are modest affairs, meant for the locals and little publicized - but there are a few exceptions.

In Tivoli , near Rome, the town's fountains run with wine on the second Sunday in October; the same happens in Città della Pieve in Umbria, in April, during the Festa delle Fontane, and at nearby Panicale. Other notable events are Orvieto 's wine festival each June, Bolzano 's in the second half of March or the beginning of April, and the truffle fair and Palio in Alba on the first Sunday in October.

Generally though, the smaller events are better, giving you a chance to join in the dancing and sample the cooking.

Festivals:
Ø Religious, traditional
Ø Diary festivals
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Ø Arts Festivals
Ø Ferragosto

Italy food and drink
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Ø Italian pizza
Ø Lunch and dinner
Ø Drinking

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