Activities
The first 15 days of August are the heart of summer in Italy. It means more people everywhere, but also every little village coming alive with its own calendar of events, festivals, music, lights, and celebrations.
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For those of you who would like to stay a bit longer and turn the trip into a vacation, we’ll be happy to help you discover Basilicata, a lesser-known and wilder region of Italy, by putting together a few group activities in the area. Being right next door, Puglia is also very easy to explore, and we’ll gladly share ideas and suggestions there as well.
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And of course, if you’re planning a longer road trip and flying into Rome, Naples, or anywhere else, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’d be more than happy to share recommendations, routes, and favorite stops to help you make the most of your time in Italy.
Below is a first glimpse of how the days around the wedding might look. A few key moments are already set, while others are simply ideas for now and will take shape depending on who is around and what everyone feels like doing. We’ll share more details as we get closer.
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To give you a sense of what summer in the area feels like, here are a few examples of local events and simple things that usually happen around Nova Siri and near where the wedding will take place. The dates below are from 2025 and are only meant as a reference — in 2026 they will most likely fall around the same period.
A few examples of events near Nova Siri and the wedding area (2025 references)
• Teatro dei Calanchi ((August, various evenings))​
Not far from where we’ll be celebrating, the calanchi — the striking clay badlands shaped over centuries by wind and rain — become a natural open-air theatre during the summer. Performances take place at sunset and into the night, with the landscape itself as the stage. Even if the plays are in Italian, the setting alone makes it a very special experience.
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• Notte dei Briganti ((Nova Siri, mid-August))​
A festive evening in the old part of Nova Siri with food stands, music, and people gathering in the streets. The name comes from the briganti, 19th-century outlaws who lived in the inland mountains and became part of southern folklore. Today it’s simply a very local night that brings the community together.
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• Sagra u’ Pastizz r’tunnar ((Rotondella, August))​
Rotondella is a small hilltop village nearby, and once a year it celebrates its traditional pastizz, a crescent-shaped baked calzone filled with meat, eggs, cheese, herbs, and spices and cooked in a wood-fired oven. The festival unfolds through the streets at night, with tastings, music, and the chance to wander through the village.
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• Notte di San Lorenzo ((10 August))​
Known as the night of shooting stars, linked to the Perseids meteor shower. Along the coast, people often stay on the beach until late or even until sunrise, watching the sky and making wishes when a star passes.
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• Peperone Crusco celebrations ((Senise, August))​
In Senise, a nearby village known for its IGP peppers, August often brings small festivals dedicated to the peperone crusco. These peppers are dried and quickly fried until they become crisp. They’re eaten on their own as a snack or crushed over pasta and other dishes to add flavor and crunch — simple, but very typical of the region.
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• Sogno di una notte a “Quel Paese” ((Colobraro, several evenings in August))​
A roaming theatre experience through the old streets of a village that locals often avoid naming directly. Instead of calling it by its real name, many refer to it as “that village”, because of old superstitions and stories. The play moves through alleys and small squares, with actors appearing in different corners, mixing folklore, mystery, and humor.​
• Sagra dei Ricchitell ((Orecchiette Festival, Nova Siri Marina, early August))​
A classic summer food festival where large pots of orecchiette (the little ear-shaped pasta typical of southern Italy) are cooked and served in the square. Very simple, very local, and usually accompanied by music and people gathering to eat together late into the evening.
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• Matera​
A stop in Matera is a must. The city is famous for its Sassi, ancient cave dwellings carved into the rock and inhabited for thousands of years. Walking through it, especially in the evening when the lights come on, feels almost unreal. It’s one of the most unique places in Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and we’d love to share it with you.
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• Rocca Imperiale ((just next door, in Calabria))​
Only a short drive from Nova Siri, but already in another region. Visiting the old hilltop town, the castle, or going for dinner by the sea can easily turn into a beautiful afternoon or evening together. The area is also known for its citrus groves, especially lemons used in desserts and homemade limoncello.
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• Polifonie Festival ((Rivello, early August))​
Up in the hills, in the more mountainous part of Basilicata, this music festival takes place in a stone village setting. It’s a beautiful way to discover another side of the region and an excuse to spend some time inland before heading toward Maratea and the Tyrrhenian coast, a completely different sea from the Ionian one.
The simple things that make summer here
Beyond specific events, summer in this part of Italy is mostly about everyday life and small rituals that we’d love to share with you.
• Going to the beach​
The Ionian coast is just minutes away. Many days naturally revolve around the sea, early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the heat softens. Long swims, slow afternoons, and doing very little together.
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• Discovering local food​
From a quick pizza after the beach to a cold granita on a hot day, food is everywhere and always part of the experience. Small family-run places, simple bars, and spontaneous stops are often the best discoveries.
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• Fun group moments​
We’ll try to organize a few relaxed activities for whoever feels like joining, whether it’s something simple like yoga on the beach, a walk together, or just time spent by the sea.​
• Lemons, citrus and limoncello ​
In nearby Rocca Imperiale, citrus groves are part of the landscape. Lemons are everywhere, and often turned into homemade limoncello. It’s a lovely place to wander through and enjoy a slow afternoon or evening.
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• Tomato sauce season​
August is when families prepare tomato sauce for the rest of the year. You’ll see crates of tomatoes, big pots, and people working together in courtyards and gardens. It’s a real summer ritual — and who knows, if curiosity leads the way, we might even find a grandmother happy to show how it’s done.
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There is so much more we could share, but it’s impossible to capture everything in words. Summer here is made of small moments, unexpected encounters, and simple rituals that only make sense when you live them. You’ll have to come and experience it for yourselves to truly feel the magic.