The main events of tourist importance in the municipality of Torrita di Siena. A year of culture, emotions and passion.
Torrita Biodiversità
21-22 september 2024
Torrita Biodiversità – Fiera dell’Agricoltura (Torrita Biodiversity – Agriculture Fair) is the event dedicated to spreading knowledge of the products and species, both animal and vegetable, on which local farming and breeding activities are based. Two days of initiatives, exhibitions and meetings to rediscover the values linked to the consumption of food from short supply chains and the safeguarding of biodiversity for sustainable development.
National Painting Prize ‘City of Torrita’
28/29 september 2024
The ‘Città di Torrita’ National Painting Prize competition was established in 1987; after an initial annual cadence in the following years and up to 2007, it took place every two years.
Since the very first editions, the competition has always been characterised by a large participation of artists, coming from the regions of central Italy but, thanks to the formula of the collection centres, it has expanded to almost all regions of Italy.
The competition involves the creation of extemporaneous works.
The competition is open to Italian and foreign artists, regardless of their techniques and stylistic orientation.
You can find the complete regulations at the following link.
The exhibition of the works realised will be held in Sala Fedra Farolfi from 29 September to 13 October.
The “Palio dei Somari”
Sunday after 19 March 2025
The ‘Palio dei Somari’ is the festival of excellence in Torrita di Siena, which in 1966 wanted to create a popular feast in honour of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters (a professional category that is particularly active in this village). The festival, dedicated as much to the working saint as to the humble and docile animal, was born precisely with the intention of exalting two fundamental components of man’s work: toil and simplicity. Thus, ever since the first edition – disputed precisely on the feast day of St Joseph – it is he who is depicted in every palio.
Competing for the palio, that is, according to Sienese tradition, a painted banner, are the eight contrade of Torrita di Siena: Porta a Pago, Porta a Sole, Porta Gavina, Porta Nova, Le Fonti, Stazione, Refenero and Cavone. Each of these has its own colour, its own coat of arms, and its own impeccable period clothing, inspired by the mid-15th century.
The event itself is part of a calendar of events that enliven the week before the Sunday of the race. On the weekend preceding the race, the Taverne, characteristic banquets within the walls of Torrita’s medieval castle, open to the public, where legend is combined with the unique flavours of local food and wine. Two days coloured by theatrical performances in full medieval atmosphere, where the draw and pairing of the competition batteries takes place in the presence of the Mayor and the Presidents of the contrade. And then a succession of conventions, themed exhibitions, popular games, the propitiatory dinners in the contrade headquarters (on the Friday before the race), the competition between flag-wavers and drummers (on the Saturday evening) and, finally, the Palio.
Since 2014, the Palio dei Somari has been included in the list compiled by the Committee for the Enhancement of Associations and Events of Historical Re-enactment and Reconstruction of the Region of Tuscany.
Would you like a drop of Vin Santo?
Spring 2025
In December, the village of Montefollonico celebrates Vin Santo with a series of events dedicated to this characteristic Tuscan wine, renewing one of the oldest gestures of Tuscan hospitality with the ritual phrase with which local elders used to welcome visitors in the past. During the days of the festival there will be tastings, shows and thematic debates. Do not miss the tastings of Vin Santo and typical products at the restaurants and the short supply chain markets set up in the centre.
“Would you like a drop of Vin Santo?” is an event organised by the Municipality of Torrita di Siena and the Pro Loco di Montefollonico, in collaboration with other local institutions.
Giulio Neri International Opera Singing Competition
Spring 2025
The Giulio Neri International Opera Singing Competition is held in Torrita di Siena every year in the springtime when for three days the atmosphere of the historic centre is coloured by voices from all over the world. The event is promoted by the municipality of Torrita di Siena and realised by the Fondazione Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte. The competition has established itself on the national scene for its broad participation and the prestige of the judging panel. For three days, the Teatro degli Oscuri hosts performances by artists, often young talents from the music scene, who compete with the great classical and contemporary operatic repertoire. All vocal registers are admitted, arriving from Italy as well as from Asia, in addition of course to considerable European and Eastern European representation.
The jury includes authoritative personalities from national and international music culture, linked to accredited institutions as well as influential independent figures.
In addition to the top three winners, the competition also includes a special audience prize awarded by the preferences of the spectators present at the final, as well as a special prize for young talent and a special prize named after Giulio Neri and awarded to the best bass voice.
The event was in fact created with the intention of paying tribute to the bass singer Giulio Neri, an illustrious Torritese citizen who made a name for himself all over the world, from Covent Garden in London to the Liceu in Barcelona for the artistic depth of his interpretations, among which La calunnia from Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and the title role in Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele have remained famous.
The Village of Books
Spring 2025
An exhibition-market of antique and modern books along the streets of the historic centre of Torrita di Siena. Piazza Matteotti is transformed into a literary salon enriched by conferences, concerts, exhibitions, and book and culinary excellence.
Torrita Blues Festival
June 2025
“Torrita Blues Festival” is one of the longest-running Blues festivals in the world, traditionally opening Italian summer festivals since 1989. Every year it brings many fans of this musical genre from all over Italy and Europe to the village of Torrita. The notoriety and fame of the artists hosted places Torrita Blues as one of the most important and appreciated festivals on the music scene.
Among the many international and national artists (over 300) who have been guests of the Festival in the past, we can mention: Peter Green, Taj Mahal, John Mayall, Robben Ford, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Randolph, Duke Robillard, Roy Rogers, Bettye Lavette, Popa Chubby, The Animals, Canned Heat, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Lurrie Bell, Ford Blues Band, Carey Bell, Phil Guy, Tom Principato, Magic Slim, Joe Louis Walker, Bob Margolin, Rick Estrin, Dana Fuchs, Jerry Portnoy, Lucky Peterson, Shemekia Copeland, Billy Branch, Kenny Neal, Sugar Blue, R. L Burnside, Frank Frost, Honeyboy Edwards, Fabio Treves, Roberto Ciotti, Aida Cooper, Linda Valori, Tolo Marton, Nick Becattini, Fabrizio Poggi, Marco Pandolfi, Mike Sponza, Max Lazzarin.
The latest great recognition for Torrita Blues, certainly the most important in its ten-year history, is the one obtained on 14 March 2015 in Brussels where the board of the European Blues Union awarded Torrita di Siena the location to host the 6th edition of the EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE 2016. Torrita Blues was twinned with New Orleans in 2006 and has been a member of the Blues Foundation based in Memphis since 2005 (The book with the history of Torrita Blues is in the Blues Hall of Fame).
It is also a sustaining member of the Italian Blues Union of which it (with its president) holds the presidency from 2019. Torrita di Siena is also currently the venue for the Italian Blues Union finals.
