Gorgeous sunny days and cool nights: Summer is finally here! The ultimate season to enjoy Viterbo as its lovely medieval center becomes the main stage for lots of different events that suite every taste and pocket: culture is the keyword but also entertainment and fun for kids and adults alike!
Variety is the word
If you are a bookworm interested in contemporary Italian literature or – more generally speaking – a culture lover, there are a couple of weeks that you should seriously take into consideration upon booking your holiday in town. Between the end of June and the beginning of July, in fact, the famous Caffeina Festival takes place. Now in its 11th edition, Caffeina Festival brings about 400 national and international writers, journalists, actors, musicians and artists to Viterbo. The program of the Festival is indeed so rich that you may find yourself wondering why you do not have the gift of ubiquity as the temptation to follow different events happening at the same time in two different squares is always rather strong.
Another event that is having a lot of success during the Summer nights in Viterbo is the Ombre Festival. Much younger than Caffeina – as it was launched only two years ago – this Festival usually starts a few days after Caffeina ends. Organized and run by the Associazione Mariano Romiti – an association of policemen – the aim of the Festival is the shed some light on events that would have otherwise been overshadowed, to openly talk about them with the support of and being inspired by books written not to forget: hence the name of the event itself, as ombre in Italian means shadows.
The Summer in Viterbo is not all about the books, though. The internationally famous Tuscia Film Fest – currently in its 14th edition – deals with cinema: in mid July, thanks to this festival, the beautiful Piazza San Lorenzo becomes an open air cinema where many different kinds of movies can be enjoyed under a starry sky in a very special location.
Then there is Ludika 1243, the ultimate medieval festival already well known to those who love this historical period. Viterbo’s city center is the perfect setting for this very popular festival that has been taking place here since 2001: it lasts for five days and it literally fills with street artists and ancient games for kids each and every single square of the medieval quarter, bringing it back to life with masquerades, street parades and the opening of medieval taverns where food and drinks are served in a very original way. On its last day, Ludika 1243 moves to Valle Faul where the historical reenactment of the siege laid by Frederick II to Viterbo in 1243 takes place: watching the final pitched battle is great fun for kids and adults alike!
Should you have not read this article in time, just mark your favourite event on you diary and plan for next year: the Summer is indeed a very special time to be in Viterbo.
