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Open-air cinema Festivals
What better way to spend a balmy summer nights than watching movies on the big screen with a picnic beneath the stars. Alfresco cinemas are springing up all over Europe, one of the most picturesque locations has to be in Geneva at Port Noir with views of the lake, Cinelac (7 July – 20 August, www..orangecinema.ch). Also in Rome in June and August the scenic Tiberina Island on the Tevere River plays host to L’Isola del Cinema (24 June – 28 August, www.isoladelcinema.com), an entire alfresco cinema festival showing everything from blockbusters to classics. The island is taken over not just by giant screens but also fashion shows, art, music and dance – you may even spot a few movie stars. Valencians are treated to the stunning location of the Palau de Musica in the Turia Park for their open-air viewing in August at Filmoteca d’Estiu (www.ivaclafilmoteca.es). In Germany they love open air cinema, there’s even an entire website devoted to various programmes – www.kinoopenair.de, although it is in German! In Berlin there’s no shortage of open-air cinemas, although the majority of the films are shown in German.
Venues that regularly show films in English are Volkspark Friedrichshain (17 May – 10 September, www.freiluftkinoberlin.de/start.php, which shows the best films from the Berlinale as well as box office hits and classic in lush green and hilly surroundings and Freiluftkino Kreuzberg (19 May – 14 July, www..freiluftkino-kreuzberg.de). The stalls of Hamburg’s open air market the Rathausmarkt are cleared away for screenings in July and August, but be warned as it gets very busy (tel: +49 40 30 05 13 00). In Munich you can view movies alfresco in the remarkable surroundings of a neo-classical square Königsplatz, the Westpark (6 July – 31 August) or the groovy Ungererbad lido (July-August, www.kinoampool.de). Whether the films are shown in your language or not, it’s reel fun!
Festivals
As the days grow longer and the evenings warmer we all like to party, hit these festivals around Europe and you’re sure to have a good time. Spain is full of fiestas at this time of year, but there are other Virgin Express destinations where you’ll find music, dance, food, wine and song. Brussels’s annual Fiesta Latina (21 August, www.chatelain.be) is always fun with a true carnival spirit fuelling this Latin American celebration, join the party at Place du Châtelain. Fêtes de Geneva (3-13 August, www.fetes-de-geneve.ch, www.geneve-tourisme.ch) attracted two million people last year who flocked to enjoy the fun fairs, shows, food stalls and general merry atmosphere. Copenhagen Carnival (2-4 June, www..karneval.dk) has a Latin theme and takes place in Fælledparken. In June Lisbon comes alive with celebrations, the Festas dos Santos Populares (12-30 June, www.localfestivities.com) honours three popular saints and the streets and squares fill with events and revellers (particulary in the historic Alfama district) the highlight is the 13 June when Lisboetas remember São António of Padua. And let’s not forget, possibly the silliest festival of all: La Tomatina (30 August, www..spain.info) when around 30,000 people descend upon Buñol, around 38km outside Valencia to paint the town red by throwing around 45 tons of squashed tomatoes for two hours. Messy but fun.
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