Lignano Sabbiadoro is one of the most renowned beaches of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It's no surprise that its second name literally means “golden sand”... And, just to confirm that, on August 8 the city was assigned the “Bandiera Blu” or “Blue Flag” (see cover photo above) an award given yearly by the Foundation for Environmental Education (Fee): it attests beaches' cleanliness and the quality of services for visitors, and this year it's been awarded to 210 beaches all over Italy.
Facing the Adriatic Sea, Lignano Sabbiadoro is a very dear holiday spot to many tourists, from Italy and abroad (especially from Austria and Germany) and every year the municipality manages to organize a special program of summer events to keep all of them entertained. 

Like the “Notti di Mezza Estate” (Midsummer Nights) at the 15th century St. Mary of the Sea Church (Chiesetta di S. Maria del Mare), five cultural meetings ending on August 11 with author, director and actor Moni Ovadia (free entry, 9 pm). 
​Plus the art exhibit at the city library “Occhi a spasso” (Wandering eyes): up to August 31, visitors will enjoy the creative itinerary set up by Massimiliano Tappari, photographer and writer, and Chiara Carminati, writer and poetess, made of postcards, pictures, rhymed stories, objects and book pages. Free entry, opening times: Monday-Friday 2.30 pm – 10.30 pm, Saturday 9.30 am – 7 pm.
On August 27 will be handed the Award “Scerbanenco@Lignano” for the best noir or thriller tale. The literary competition, now running for the 8th year, is devoted to the memory of Italian noir author and journalist Giorgio Scerbanenco, of Ukranian origin (1911-1969) and is organized in collaboration with his daughters Germana and Cecilia (who's also president of the jury), local newspaper Messaggero Veneto and Mondadori publishing house.
And on August 15, a holiday known in Italy as "Ferragosto", there'll be the traditional fireworks show on the sea.

Theatre for children with “Pupi&Pini”
For children and for all those who enjoy a good show, Lignano's municipality set up “Pupi & Pini” (Puppets & Pines), a program of live, open air theatre both with actors and puppets, at Parco Hemingway (Hemingway Park), in Lignano Pineta. Entry is free, all shows begin at 9 pm.
August 10 – “Ravanellina” (Rapunzel revisited) by Nata Teatro
August 17 – “Con viva voce. La storia di Ivan e il lupo grigio” (The story of Ivan and the grey wolf) by La Baracca
August 24 – “Pollicino Pop” (Pop Tom Thumb) by Teatro Invito
August 31 – “Azzurra balena” (Azzura the Whale) by Habanera Teatro

Summer Show Events – Live music & book meetings
Up to August 15, live music will brighten up almost every summer night in Lignano Sabbiadoro. Here are all the details of the remaining shows.
August 10 – Arriva la banda (The band is coming)
Concert by Musical Association “L. Garzoni” at Parco San Giovanni Bosco, 9 pm

August 10 – Lignano Summer Live Festival
Concert by Paolo Belli & Big Band at Beach Arena Village – ufficio spiaggia 6/7, 9.15 pm (free entry)

August 11 – Meeting with the author and wine
Journalist Toni Capuozzo presenting his book “Balcania” at PalaPineta, in Lignano Pineta, 6.30 pm

August 11 – Lignano for... Music: 25th Concert Season 
Musicians from Concervatory “Tomadini”, Udine: Eleonora Pittis (piano) at Sala Darsena (viale Italia 50), 9 pm

August 12 – Frammenti d'Infinito 2022 (Infinite's fragments) 
Concert “A lume di musica”: Beatrice and Eleonora Dallagnese (piano) at S. Giovanni Bosco Church, 9.15 pm 

August 12 – La lirica ad Aprilia: Gershwin Brothers
Concert by Anna Viola (soprano), Raffaele Prestinenzi (tenor), Alessandro Cortello (tenor), Rudi Fantin (piano) 
at Piazzetta dell'Imbarcadero in Aprilia Marittima, Latisana, 9.15 pm

August 12 – Lignano Summer Live Festival
Concert by Irene Grandi at Piazza Marcello D'Olivo, 9.15 pm (free entry)

August 13 – Lignano Summer Live Festival
Concert “Ennio Morricone, the Music, the Cinema” at Beach Arena Village – ufficio spiaggia 6/7, 9.15 pm (free entry)

August 14 – A book, a coffee
Renzo Brollo presenting his book “Prima che Lignano cancelli i nostri passi” (Before Lignano deletes our footprints)
at restaurant “Alla Vecchia Finanza”, Lignano Riviera, 11 am.

Info: Centro informazioni ed accoglienza turistica di Lignano – Via Latisana 42
tel. +39 0431.71821, info.lignano@promoturismo.fvg.it

Lignano Pineta – Via dei Pini 53: tel. +39 0431.422169 / 422616, info.lignanopineta@promoturismo.fvg.it

Comune Città di Lignano Sabbiadoro – Ufficio Turismo e Sport, Viale Europa 26: tel. +39 0431.409111

​Cover photo taken from: Lignano Sabbiadoro Municipality's official Facebook account . Photo by Davide Carbone 

Classical music and local wine tastings in Friulian wineries. It's the perfect formula to enhance Friuli Venezia Giulia's territory and its wines, and for the second year in a row it'll be at the core of the “Festival Vini Gusti in Musica” (Wines and Flavours in Music Festival). After its genesis in 2021, thanks to the collaboration between Città del Vino – FVG section and two artists, Alfredo Blessano and Paola Camponovo, the festival is back with seven live concerts in just as many renowned winemaking facilities in Friuli Venezia Giulia – all of them in seven “Wine Cities” adhering to the Città del Vino national network. 

It's a musical journey combined with tastings of local Friulian wines, leading visitors, wine tourists and wine lovers through a multi-sensory experience in special locations all around the region from August 9 to September 3. And, thanks to the support of regional and local administrations, all concerts are free: that's why reservation is strongly recommended, as seats are limited, and must be submitted by mail at fvginmusica@gmail.com.

Concerts at wineries' – Festival Vini Gusti in Musica's full program
All concerts start at 8.30 pm, entry is free, for reservations write to: fvginmusica@gmail.com.
At the end of each concert, there'll be a toast with the hosting winery's own wines for everyone attending the event.

August 9 – Le Pics Ensemble
Opening concert for Duino Aurisina — Devin Nabrežina as Italian City of Wine 2022 
Giulia Carlutti (flute), Irene Paglietti (oboe), Hilary Sdrigotti (clarinet)
at Agriturismo La Mezzaluna in Malchina – Mavhinje (Trieste)

August 10 – Per una voce e un'arpa (A voice and a harp)
Paola Camponovo (soprano), Jelena Engelhardt (harp)
at Cantina Modeano's Villa Bertuzzi-Ferrari in Palazzolo dello Stella (Udine)

August 17 – Dedica a PPP (Dedication to PPP)
Paola Camponovo (soprano), Alfredo Blessano (piano), Serena Di Blasio (voice) 
Première of “Casarsa – Quattro brevi Lieder per voce e pianoforte”, a composition by Orazio Sciortino for the centenary of Italian influential intellectual Pier Paolo Pasolini's birth
at Casa Colussi – Centro Studi Pasolini in Casarsa della Delizia (Pordenone) 

August 18 – Piano Recital 
Orazio Sciortino (piano) 
at Cantine Ca’ Tullio in Aquileia (UD)

August 30 – Incontro d'ance (A meeting of reeds)
Andrea Mocci (sax), Ezio Ghibaudo (accordion)
at “Tal cûr di Buri” restaurant &“Buri in Mont” winery in Buttrio (UD)

September 1 – Quartetto di Brescia (Brescia's Quartet)
Stefano Belotti, Fabio De Cataldo, Alberto Pedretti, Antonio Mascherpa (trombones)
at Piazza Chiodi in Manzano (UD)

September 3 – Guitar Recital 
Eugenio Della Chiara (guitar)
​at Tenuta Fernanda Cappello in Sequals (PN)

Walking through the vineyards with a wine glass in your hand, full of Merlot or Schiopettino, while gazing up to the stars... It's just the perfect scene that comes into mind when thinking about Calici di Stelle 2022! The annual edition of the summer events devoted to wine tastings under the stars, promoted by Città del Vino – Cities of Wine and by Movimento Turismo del Vino – Wine Tourism Organization (and their regional counterparts in Friuli) are back in all Italian regions. And Friuli Venezia Giulia will do its part, of course, wil many events throughout the region starting from July 29 up to August 15. 
Locations will include, as usual, stunning historic city centres, ancient mansions and parks, and also local winemakers' facilities and vineyards. A full program for wine lovers and wine tourists who'll be able to enjoy Friulian wines and food, as well as Friuli Venezia Giulia's beautiful landscapes and picturesque hamlets. Local wines tastings will be at the centre of each events, many of which will be matched with open-air dinner or local delicacies' tastings. Plus many wineries too will open up for special night tastings for Calici di Stelle in Cantina: click here for the full list of wineries in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

«Calici di Stelle 2022 is a further step towards wine tourism's full recovery – said in a joint statement Angelo Radica, Città del Vino's President and Nicola D’Auria, Movimento Turismo del Vino's President – The pandemic forced us to many restrictions, and this year it'll be easier to claim back those evocative locations to cheer and taste the best of our typical wines and food. Together we'll send out an important message of support to our local economies and wine industries. The wine territories deserve our attention, we must make our best to support this production chain who generates wealth and values». A string of events not to ne missed by real wine lovers!

Calici di Stelle 2022 in Friuli Venezia Giulia – All the events!

​Capriva del Friuli (Gorizia) – July 29-30, August 5-6
Tra Collio italiano e sloveno – In the Italian and Slovenian Collio. From 6 pm to midnight, at Parco Laghetti Rossi in July and at Budignac's in August. For info: tel (+39) 348.2225447

Palazzolo dello Stella (Udine) – July 30
In the park of Villa Volpares, ten local winemakers will introduce their wines along local producers' food, a suitable match to promote the whole territory. Live music and an art exhibit inside the Villa will top off the event, promoted by the municipality and the local proloco ProPalazzolo. 

San Giovanni al Natisone (UD) – August 3
Local winemakers and their wines will be the stars of the evening, set at Villa de Brandis' park. The local proloco Pro San Giovanni will welcome visitors with local food specialties, with a live music background. Art historian Luca Geroni will take visitors on tour guides inside Villa de Brandis for “Benvignûts in Ville” (Welcome to Villa), an event designed to enhance this 18th century mansion's art collections. Reservations is recommended for tour guides: tel. (+39) 0432.939590,  biblioteca@comune.sangiovannialnatisone.ud.it. 

Camino al Tagliamento (UD) – August 4 
From 8 pm up to midnight, at Casa Liani in via Chiesa, wine tastings of local winemakers: Ferrin, Forchir, Sbaiz, Vendrame and Sergio Scarbolo. Wines will be paired with special dishes by restaurant “Al Volt di Sede”. Live music. For info: tel. (+39) 0432.919000, info@caminoaltagliamento.org.

Premariacco (UD) – August 4 
An oper-air museum will welcome visitors at the sculpture park “Braida Copetti”, along with live music and wine&food tastings. From 9 pm up to 1 am. For info: tel. (+399 346.2790793, elenaosgnach@gmail.com.

Manzano (UD) – August 5
Local wines and food tastings in the astonishing Abbey of Rosazzo's cloister, from 7.30 pm up to midnight. Plus a concert at 9 pm in the Abbey's church: for the festival “Nei Suoni Dei Luoghi”, pianist Gloria Campaner, Elia Zulli (clarinet) and Rachel Blueberger (cello) will play music by Schumann, Franck and Brahms. For info: tel. (+39) 0432.179 9010

San Giorgio della Richinvelda (Pordenone) – August 5
Live jazz music and local wineries with their wines' tastings will welcome visitors at the Lake Colonia Park from 7 pm up to midnight. For info: tel. (+39) 349.3992992, leradicidelvino@gmail.com – www.leradicidelvino.com

Sequals (PN) – August 5
At winemaker Albino Armani's estate, from 7 pm up to midnight an evening full of wine and food tastings. For info: tel. (+39) 340.4067052, segreteria@comune.sequals.pn.it.

Latisana (UD) – August 5 and 10
Latisana municipality and local proloco Pro Latisana promote two evenings in collaboration with local restaurants and food producers, taking visitors on a ride through local delicacies and, of course, local wines bearing the trademark Friuli Latisana Doc. from 7 pm up to midnight, on August 5 at Piazzetta Imbarcadero in Aprilia Marittima, wine and food tastings with a romantic view on the lagoon, and on August 10 in Piazza Indipendenza, in the historical city centre of Latisana. For info: tel. (+39) 0431.521550, info@prolatisana.it

“The Unexpected”: nothing could define more vividly the historical moment we're living in. And that's the theme the Artistic Director Giacomo Pedini chose for the 31st edition of Mittelfest “Imprevisti”, the international festival of the arts taking place in Cividale del Friuli (Udine) from July 22nd to July 31st. 28 artistic projects from 15 countries, among which 20 are world or national premières, will feature varying performing arts: dance, music, theatre and a brand-new entry, circus.
«With The Unexpected – Pedini explains – Mittelfest will tell the story of the relationship between what makes us safe and what surprises us, it will narrate what happens around the unexpected, the unknown that we discover every day. Unexpected events happen all the time, but one in particular has been the protagonist of our lives in the last two years: the pandemic has undermined a series of certainties, or presumed certainties, and has changed habits and social rules on a global level, revealing many of our frailties».

​Mittelfest 2022 will open officially on July 21 by bestowing the special Lifetime Achievement Award “Adelaide Ristori” to actress Ariella Reggio at S. Francis Church in Cividale. Ariella Reggio, a Trieste-born actress, spent her first juvenile years working in London for the BBC, and there she got acquainted with the city's international theatre and big acting names. She then went on being part of the Teatro Stabile FVG and then was the co-founder of the popular theatre company “La Contrada”. The award was established in 1998 by Soroptimist International Italy.
​
​The closing act of Mittelfest 2022, on July 31, will be the concert of Italian pop sensation La Rappresentante di Lista (pictured here on the left) together with “Arcangelo Corelli” Orchestra. 
For the full program of events, click here.

A triumph for Italian wines, Friulian wines and... our business partners' too! At the Decanter World Wine Awards 2022, one of the most renowned wine contest in the world held by the famous British wine magazine and wine media brand Decanter, Europe led the way with a record number of entries and of prizes: 459 gold medals, 116 platinum medals, 30 “Best in Show” medals, with Italy as its most outstanding country by a long shot. Some of our business partners and established Friulian winemakers contributed to this huge success, too, by bringing home a few medals themselves: they're Cantina Rauscedo, Cantina Produttori di Cormòns and Sancin.

Italian wines were awarded more medals than any other country at the 2022 competition: 9 Best in Show (following France who received 10), 24 Platinum and 114 Gold medals, with Central and Southern Italy gaining ground. Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige and Val d’Aosta stood out with top awards highly exceeding 2021 results.
Sardinia and Sicily saw success with Best in Show wins, though it was Tuscany, once again, to be awarded the majority of Italy’s Best in Show results, its best performance to date with 4 four Best in Show medals. Good performances for other Central and Southern regions as Marche with 2 Platinum and 3 Gold medals, Campania with one Best in Show, 2 Platinum and 3 Gold, Abruzzo who won its second-ever Platinum medal, and Emilia Romagna with a surprising 3 Platinum medals for the first time.

​This year's Decanter World Wine Awards topped again a record-breaking total of wines tasted, with 18,244 wines judged from 54 countries. Across two weeks, almost 250 international wine experts, including 41 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers, awarded 50 Best in Show, 163 Platinum, 678 Gold, 5,900 Silver and 8,074 Bronze medals. «The Decanter World Wine Awards is something really special – said Sarah Jane Evans, Master of Wine and judge, about the results – We pay huge attention to the wines we have, each one we approach like one of the family in the sense that we really care for it, study it and then rate it as it is now. You know that what you're doing is having a big discussion about who's going to enjoy it later».

All the DWWA 2022 medals awarded to our business partners
As to the top credits, Friuli Venezia Giulia's winemakers took home an overall 3 platinum medals and 8 golden ones, 125 silver medals and 94 bronze ones.
Our business partners performed very well. Among those who submitted their wines for judgement at the DWWA 2022, Cantina Rauscedo was by far the most successful. They won a silver medal (with a 92 points score) for their red wine “Villamanin” 2016, a blend of Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso (60%) and Merlot (40%). They also won 3 bronze medals: for their white wine “Sauvignon” 2020 Venezia Giulia (with a 88 points score, a 100% Sauvignon Blanc), for their white wine “Aromatico Traminer” 2020 Tre Venezie (with a 87 points score, a 100% Traminer) and for their rosé Prosecco “Rosé Brut” 2020 (with a 87 points score, a blend of 85% Prosecco and 15% Pinot Nero).
Cantina Produttori di Cormòns went silver too, with their sweet white wine “Harmo Malvasia” 2019, scoring 92 points for a wine that's 100% Malvasia Istriana, a native vine variety. And, last but not least, Sancin brought home a bronze medal for their white wine “Granpensiero” 2019, scoring 88 points for a pure 100% Chardonnay.

It's one of the most outstanding historical buildings in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Its peculiar architecture, its surrounding huge park and its history, linked to the local economy and agriculture, make of Villa Manin a must-see spot for tourists. The monumental compound in Passariano (near Udine), once the summer residence of the last doge of Venice, Lodovico Giovanni Manin (1726-1802), now belongs to the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government and is the perfect location for arts and music events. 
​The whole body of Villa Manin (buildings, the park, archives, library) is managed by ERPAC – Ente Regionale per il Patrimonio Culturale del Friuli Venezia Giulia, who organizes all the cultural events, such as Villa Manin Estate. Starting from July, open-air live concerts, theatre performances and kids' workshops will brighten up Villa Manin's summer nights up to September, with a full program of varied events appealing to all kind of visitors. All the details here!

Live music in Villa Manin – All the concerts 
July 8-10 Notre Dame de Paris
The original Italian cast will be performing on stage the successful musical, with music by famed Italian musician and composer Riccardo Cocciante, celebrating the 20th anniversary since its debut in Italy
July 12 – Irama in concert
July 15 – Blanco in concert
This young Italian act won the singing competition Sanremo Festival this year, along with Mahmood, and both went on to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest
July 17 – Dargen D'Amico in concert
July 23 – Micah P. Hinson & The Leading Guy in concert
Texas-based Hinson, with his eccentric style, will duet with The Leading Guy for a unique show
July 30 – Giorgio Poi in concert
August 11 – Ditonellapiaga in concert

Avventure nel parco – Adventures in The Park full program 
Avventure nel Parco, theatrical performances and kids' workshops, will bring visitors throughout the summer into the heart of the lush Villa Manin's park, to enjoy both the surrounding nature and the artistic acts.
Free entry for theatre shows. For kids' workshops (5€), reservations is needed at the following contacts: bookshop@villamanin.it, tel. (+39) 0432.821258. 

July 8 – 6 pm Theatre
“Diavoli e Fiori” – Devils and Flowers by Teatro della Sete, Udine

July 9, August 6, September 3 – 10 am Kids' workshop (6/10 years old)
Il Mistero della Villa – The Villa's Mistery. Little detectives on the hunt will discover the story of Villa Manin

July 15 – 6 pm Theatre
“Attenti al bebè... Piange bene chi piange ultimo!” – Beware of the baby... He who cries last, cries best by Officine Duende, Castelguelfo di Bologna

July 16 – 10 am Kids' workshop (6/10 years old)
Animali Fantastici e Fate nel Leggendario Parco del Doge – Fantastic Animals and Fairies in The Legendary Doge's ParK. In search of unicorns and fairies in the park, discovering its trees and statues

July 22 – 6 pm Theatre
“I Musicanti di Brema” – The Bremen Town Musicians by Kosmocomico Teatro, Milan

July 23, September 11 – 10 am Kids' workshop (7/12 years old)
Kamishibai nel Parco – Kamishibai in The Park. Ideating and creating a story with the Japanese technique of Kamishibai, the “paper theatre”

July 29 – 6 pm Theatre
“Nido” – Nest by Teatro Telaio, Brescia

July 30, August 27, September 17 – 10 am Kids' workshop (6/10 years old)
Botanica a Colori – Botany in Colours. Playing with chromatic hues while getting to learn the +1,600 species of plants in the Villa's park

August 5 – 6 pm Theatre
“L'omino dei sogni” – The Little Dream Man by Il Cerchio Tondo, Mandello sul Lario (LC)

September 10 – 10 am Kids' workshop (4/6 & 7/9 years old)
Letture espressive nel parco – Animated storytelling in the park