What’s On in Italy: September

Thanks to a long (U.S.) holiday weekend, we’re a little late in posting the September events. Here goes…

La Notte Bianca, Rome: Profiled recently in the NY Times, Rome’s Notte Bianca on September 8 will be an all-night celebration of music, dancing, cinema, dining, and art. Events start at 8pm and go all night until 8am. Almost every gallery, park, theater, and shopping center will be participating in the insomnia, so there really will be something for every taste. For more information, check out the schedule at www.lanottebianca.it.

Milan Fashion Week: Though it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get an invitation, Milan Fashion Week takes place this month, September 22-29. If you plan to be in Italy’s fashion capital this time, be prepared to find crowded hotels and lots of well-dressed gawkers.

Settembre Dantesco, Ravenna: On a more academic note, the beautiful city of Ravenna (famous for its Byzantine mosaics) will host a month-long festival dedicated to the poet Dante. Indeed, the poet is associated more with the city of Florence, but it was the city of Ravenna that hosted him when Florence exiled him and it was there that he died. In fact, Dante’s real tomb is in Ravenna (his tomb in Florence’s Sante Croce church is empty). While Settembre Dantesco includes programs geared towards fluent Italian speakers, it is still a good time to visit Ravenna and learn about one of Italy’s greatest literary exports.

Unveiling of Duomo Pavements, Siena: Among the many things you should do before you die, seeing the exquisite pavimenti in Siena’s Duomo ranks quite high. Through October 27, the complete marble floor, which contains designs by some of Tuscany’s great artists - Domenico Beccafumi, Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Sassetta, Pinturrichio - will be on view to the public. See www.operaduomo.siena.it for more info.