What’s On in Italy: July

July is the time for music, and there are tons of festivals throughout Italy this month to keep all kinds of music lovers happy. We’ve highlighted some of the best below.

Opera in Verona: If you’ve never seen Verona’s arena, which easily rivals Rome’s Colosseum, now is the perfect time to visit. On July 14, the 85th Annual Verona Opera Festival will feature Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the well-preserved amphitheater. While tickets are no longer available for that night, there are tickets for other July shows, including Aida and La Bohème. Even if opera is not your thing, you can’t deny the cool factor of watching a performance from the seats of this ancient arena.

Music in Rome: The capital city has tons of concerts - both indoors and outdoors - this month. The opera-archeology combo will be in full effect at the Baths of Caracalla, which will stage two operas (Nabucco and Turandot) and one ballet (Swan Lake) in the midst of its ancient ruins. Pop and rock music fans will also be pleased to know that some of the biggest shows of the summer will swing through Rome. They include the Rolling Stones (7/6) and George Michael (7/21) at the Stadio Olimpico; Lou Reed (7/6), John Legend (7/12), Carlinhos Brown (7/16), Scissor Sisters (7/17) and Pink (7/25) at the Auditorium Parco della Musica; and the Roma Rock Festival at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle, featuring acts such as Robert Plant (7/20) and Avril Lavigne (7/18). Of course, summer wouldn’t be summer without a little Latin flavor, which will be provided by Ricky Martin, also at the Ippodromo on July 17 as part of the ongoing series “Fiesta!”. More concert listings are available at www.romaturismo.com.

Italia Wave, Florence: More pop music is in store for visitors to Florence, as the Italia Wave Love Festival rolls into town. From July 17-22, the festival, being held a few miles away in Sesto Fiorentino, will feature musical acts from around the world, including The Good, the Bad and the Queen, Mika, Cassius, Mando Diao, Carmen Consoli and more. What’s cool is that the festival is free to all guests who come to the park before 9pm; tickets are available for purchase after that time. Only one performance will be held within Florence: Indian composer Nitin Sawhney will perform at a free show in Piazzale Michelangelo on July 17.

Puccini Festival, Tuscany: In its 53rd year, the Festival Puccini, held in Torre del Lago, is considered one of Italy’s most refined opera events. It celebrates the works of Tuscan son Giacomo Puccini, and this year (in July and August) will feature performances of I Medici, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, La Bohème, and La Rondine.

Jazz and More in Umbria: We would be remiss if we left out the big musical events in Umbria this month. Umbria Jazz, probably the most important jazz event in Europe, runs from July 6 to 15, and features acts like Al Jarreau, Keith Jarrett, Dionne Warwick, Henri Salvador, Solomon Burke, Sly and the Family Stone (!), Gilberto Gil (!!), and more talent from Italy and abroad. And, as we mentioned last month, Spoleto will be culture central as its Festival Dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) continues until July 15.