By 101 Holidays newsdesk
If you don’t trust those ‘barbecue summer’ predictions for your 2009 dose of festival fever, the sunny south of Europe has plenty to offer.
Festival Cap Roig
From July 5 to August 15, Catalunya hosts the annual Festival Cap Roig. Artists from the world of dance, world music, opera, jazz and classical music descend on the Botanical Gardens in Calella de Palfrugell. This year’s stellar if eclectic line up includes Michael Bolton, Leonard Cohen, Julio Iglesias, James Taylor, UB40, Anastacia, Jamie Cullum and Chic. Tickets go on sale this week. Vintage Travel offers a range of villas with private pools within easy striking distance. Just 10 minutes away is Sa Blava, with 3 bedrooms, a rural location and more than an acre of gardens and woodland. One week’s rental from July 3 costs £1,495 (for up to 6 sharing) and £1,895 between July 10 and August 21. Return flights and car hire are not included.
Pescara Jazz Festival
The Pescara Jazz festival in Abruzzo, Italy, runs from July 16 to 19. Since 1969, this renowned festival has pulled in top names from Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington to Bob Dylan and James Taylor. Passes costs from €20 to €70 per day; this year’s line up is still to be confirmed but our man on the ground tells us that George Benson, Simply Red (on July 13), Ahmad Jamal, Chick Corea and the Roy Haynes Trio are slated. Long Travel offers 5 nights at the Villa Maria d’Abruzzo, just outside Pescara, from £310 per person bed and breakfast (flights not included).
Ravello Festival
Ravello hosts its own annual festival from June 26 to September 27; this year’s theme is Il Coraggio (courage), with more than 100 events in the fields of orchestral and chamber music, jazz, visual arts, literature, cinema, design and dance. Set in the famous Villa Rufolo in Ravello, many performances are free; tickets for the others cost €35 (gardens) and €50 (box seats). Performers include Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Bermuda Acoustic Trio, the Strasbourg Philharmonic orchestra and Michael Nyman. Click here for the full programme (PDF file). Long Travel offers a week in the 4-star Hotel Giordano in Ravello from £432 per person bed and breakfast (flights not included).
Puccini Festival
Each year, Puccini’s most popular operas are performed in the spectacular lakeside theatre in Torre del Lago, close to Lucca, Puccini’s birthplace. This year’s performances, between July 10 and August 22, include Manon Lescaut, Turandot, Tosca and La Boheme. Kirker Holidays offers 5- and 6-night packages from £1,440 per person, including flights, hotel with breakfast and opera tickets.
