As part of Archaeological Nights, the region's museums and archaeological sites will be open late and there will be guided tours of museum collections. Tours of new archaeological sites will be organised, as well as presentations of the latest archaeological research, conferences chaired by experts, exhibitions and a series of  workshops for children and teenagers organised by local museums.  

The list of places taking part in Archaeological Nights includes: Villa Medicea in Cerreto Guidi; the Etruscan ingots from the Padule di Fucecchio; the Museum of Palaeontology in Badia Settimo near Scandicci where visitors can find out about the ancient abysses of the Pliocene sea in Tuscany; the National Archaeological Museum in Florence.

The theme of this year's festival is 'The Water of the Ancients'. This theme will be expanded at a convention organised by the Tuscan Archaeological Museums Association (AMAT) on 22nd July at Chianciano Terme and will also be discussed at a series of other events and conferences thoughout the festival.

Archaeological Nights also features a series of plays and musicals staged in some of the region's most beautiful locations.

The theatrical review Archeologia Narrante, created by the Florence National Archaeological Museum and the Tuscany Performance Foundation, will be touring ancient towns, villages and archaeological sites with performances taken from classical literature. The calendar of performances includes among other shows Vox Feminae. Sibilla, Diotima, Alcesti, Pentesilea on 21st and 22nd July in Florence.  The performance begins at 9.15pm and is free.

To find out more about all of the events and initiatives being organised at the region's many museums and archaeological parks, go online and download the brochure which has a full list of events for the Archaeological Nights festival. Alternatively call the freephone number 800860070.

(Source: www.intoscana.it )