Destination Guides: Milan, Italy - Events & Entertainment

Early March:  Carnivale. Milan follows the Ambrosian calendar, in which Lent begins later than in the rest of the world. Therefore, Carnivale is celebrated the Saturday following Fat Tuesday. A parade winds through the streets of the city, ending at Piazza Duomo, where children in costume go for the festival. Phone 02-7252-4301.

Early-Mid March:  Musical. Teatro Ventaglio Nazionale presents a series of popular international and Italian musicals. Piazza Piemonte 12. For information, call 02-4800-7700. For tickets, call 02-4399-0381 or 02-843-9580.

Mid April:  Mercato di Fiori. Large holiday fair held the day after Easter. Because it is held in the spring, it features plants and flowers. Food, clothing, housewares and other gift items are also for sale. On the streets stretching from the Brera to Piazza Repubblica. Phone 02-7252-4301.

Mid-Late May:  Milano Cortili Aperti. Historic private homes, palaces, courtyards and gardens that are normally closed to the public open their doors for tours one day in the spring. Sponsored by the Association of Historic Dwellings. For information, call 02-763-18634 or 06-6830-7426.

Early-Mid May:  Soccer. Inter Milano plays home games at Giuseppe Meazza stadium, known to all as San Siro, Via Piccolomini 5. For information, call 02-77151. Tickets are available at the stadium and at branches of Banca Popolare di Milano. Or call 02-2953-6577, 02-600-8547 or 02-392-261. Season concludes mid May

Early-Late June:  Itinera Festival. This classical-music festival presents symphonic, chamber, choral and pops concerts. Teatro dal Verme, Via San Giovanni Sul Muro 2. For information, call 02-314-199. Continues through late July

Early June:  Festa di Navigli. Music, torchlight parades, dancing, fireworks, crafts and food in the Navigli (Canals) area of the city. Phone 02-7252-4301.

Mid-Late June:  Latino Americando. This annual celebration of Latin American culture showcases ethnic and folk dance, and music ensembles from around the world. FilaForum Assago, Via G. Di Vittorio. For information, call 02-488-571. Continues through mid August

Mid-Late June:  Teatri dello Sport. This annual festival combines sports and theater. Twelve shows over two weeks feature tributes to famous athletes and sports disciplines ranging from boxing and cycling to Senegalese martial arts. Arena Civica Gianni Brera and Teatro Studio. For information, call 02-4810-2248.

Early-Mid July:  Performance. Teatro alla Scala's world-renowned program of ballet, opera and classical music is performed in the renovated Piermarini building. Via Filodrammatici 2. For information and tickets, call 02-88791. Concludes mid July

Early December:  Milan Marathon. Nearly 5,000 runners race along a flat course beginning at the Milan Central Railway station on Vittor Pisani and ending at Piazza Duomo. For information, call 02-7252-4301.

Early December:  O Bei, O Bei. To celebrate the feast of the town's patron saint, St. Ambrogio (St. Ambrose), the Milanese throw a large street festival that has been held since medieval times.