May Festivals in Italy

May Italian Holiday: May 1 is an Italian holiday so if you're vacationing in Italy you'll find banks and many stores closed but you might come across some festivals and special events, too.

During May you'll find many Italian spring festivals. Attending a local festival is often great free entertainment and a good way to experience Italian culture. Many festivals have historic origins such as the ring race and procession in Narni in Umbria, a race with contestants carrying giant candles in Gubbio, and the 3-day Roman fest in the Piedmont region. You'll find some odd ones like the Snake Handlers parade and the Wedding of the Trees. Pinocchio's birthday is celebrated in May, too.

Food festivals for May include risotto, polenta, and fish. And wine lovers won't want to miss Cantine Aperte, open cantinas, at the end of May. Read about these festivals and more in our May Italian Festivals.

More Italian Festivals

^{Bacchus and friends in Bologna picture ©2006 by James Martin, licensed to About.}