The country of pasta, wine and olive oil, beaches and all year sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces, Italy has a lot to offer its visitors. This summer is full of highlights:

The Tuscan Sun Festival celebrates its fifth Year with stars as Sophia Loren, Anna Netrebko and Angelika Kirchschlager

The Tuscan Sun Festival, named one of the "Ten Best Summer Arts Festivals in Europe" by The Independent newspaper in the UK , celebrates its fifth anniversary with its most spectacular artistic line-up to date. Italy 's beloved Sophia Loren will officially open the Festival during a gala concert in honour of her husband, legendary film producer Carlo Ponti, on August 4 th. The open-air symphonic concert will pay tribute to Ponti's life and career and will be conducted by their son, Maestro Carlo Ponti Jr. This year's festival will also feature performances by the Belcea Quartet, Joshua Bell, José Cura, Stéphane Denève, Elïna Garanca, Emmanuelle Haïm, Angelika Kirchschlager, Nina Kotova, Viktoria Mullova, Anna Netrebko, the Takács Quartet, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Nikolaj Znaider.
In addition to its musical programme, the Tuscan Sun Festival will also be celebrating its fifth year with art exhibitions, lectures, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and wellness sessions, which will be taking place in lovely settings and venues inside the town of Cortona.
The Cortona Sun Festival takes place from 4th to 16th of august. For your best accommodations while your festival stay check www.dde-europe.com


Festival dei Due Mondi 2007 - Spoleto

The Spoleto Festival - "The Festival of Two Worlds" is an event unique in its conception, spirit and criteria, embracing all aspects of the performing and figurative arts. It was created in 1958 by Giancarlo Menotti, the most represented living composer in the world, and today, the Festival is organized by his son, Francis. This annual festival includes everything from theatre and ballet to classical music and visual arts, and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
50 years riding high. The magic of the Festival of the Two Worlds has been brought to life each year for the past half century, bringing with it the values of art and music. The organisers are already at work planning the Festival's fiftieth anniversary, which will include celebrations for an increasingly dynamic event. Francis Menotti - son of composer and kermis founder Gian Carlo Menotti - is fine-tuning the Festival schedule, which already includes several important performances for the next edition; the inaugural concert will highlight Gustavo Dudamel's return to the podium in Piazza Duomo and on 17th July a gala will be held, celebrating the Festival's fiftieth anniversary. Guests will include artists such as Placido Domingo, Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma, just to name a few who have made the Festival's history. The Festival will also have the pleasure of welcoming back Cecilia Batoli, who will give an extraordinary concert at the Caio Melisso Theatre. The Festival of the Two Worlds is also the coordinator for two similar events abroad: the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston and the Australian Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Ravello Festival:

Music, theatre, literature and film. Al this in one of the most beautiful places of the world. With a panoramic view all over the Amalfy Coast, this summer at the Ravello Festival you can enjoy a rich selection of high-quality events. For more than 50 years the festival has transformed this small town from Campania into the summer capital of classical music in the name of Wagner, who chose these places as the setting for "Parsifal". The symphony programme - indissolubly tied to the name of Richard Wagner, who visited Ravello in 1880 - is the festival's main event, in which a culturally-demanding international audience enjoys the performances of prestigious artists and ensembles. The Ravello Festival treats visitors to total immersion in an atmosphere that pleasantly soothes the soul. The peaceful scenery, the mild climate, the evocative strength of the monuments and the enjoyable atmosphere at Festival events all contribute to creating this atmosphere. The heart of this international festival is Villa Rufolo, located on a natural terrace approximately 340 m above sea-level and the panorama ofthe Gulf of Salerno. This prestigious stage has hosted the likes of Nurejev, Carla Fracci, Vittorio Gassman, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Uri Caine and Herbie Hancock, to name only a few. Ravello was an important town of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi, an important trading power in the Mediterranean between 839 and around 1200. Ravello was a diocesan town from 1086 to 1603; after that the bishop's see was moved to Scala.
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