Many of you will be traveling to Italy in the coming months and I would like to share the festivals and events that are happening in Italy. I have compiled a list of fun festivals for May for those of you who may travel abroad. Beth Cope.
Ring Race and Procession, re-enactments of 14th century contests and parades, continues in Narni in the Umbria region through May 12 (starts near the end of April).
Calendimaggio is celebrated in early May in Assisi, Umbria. The festival is recommended by Manuela of Italian Ceramicswho says – It is a spectacular evocation of Medieval and Renaissance costumes and life. The two ancient medieval wards, the “Parte di Sopra” and the “Parte di Sotto”, engage in a spectacular challenge which takes the form of theatre shows, concerts, songs and choruses, dances, processions, archery, crossbow and flag-waving displays. The districts compete in a singing contest among the spectacular floral decorations, flags, torches and candles. 2009 dates are May 7-9.
The Risotto Festival Sessame is a huge feast of a special rice dish dating back to the 13th century.
The Snake Handlers’ Procession is the first Thursday in May in Cocullo in theAbruzzo region. A statue of St. Dominic, the town’s patron saint, is carried through town covered with live serpents.
The Wedding of the Trees, Sposalizio dell’Albero, takes place May 8 in the northern Lazio town of Vetralla. A couple of oak trees are decorated with garlands, horsemen offer bouquets of the first spring flowers and new trees are planted while everyone enjoys a free picnic lunch. The ceremony revives Vetralla’s sovereignty over the forests and continues the right of each citizen to a cubic meter of firewood annually.
Giro d’Italia, Italy’s big bike race similar to the Tour d’France, starts in early May and lasts most of the month. The race takes in scenic countryside and it’s fine to watch a leg or two. 2010 Giro d’Italia interactive map
La Palombella, in Orvieto, is a festival representing the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The festival is held on Pentecost Sunday in the piazza in front of the duomo and ends with a fireworks display. The 2010 date is May 23. Orvieto Travel Guide
The Fish festival of Saint Fortunato, patron saint of fishermen, is celebrated in the beautiful fishing village of Camogli, south of Genoa, the second Sunday in May. Saturday night there is a huge fireworks display and bonfire competition followed by free fried fish on Sunday. Camogli Pictures and Information
Polenta Festival, also the second Sunday in May, is celebrated in the main square of the Piedmont town of Avigliana.
La Barabbata is celebrated May 14 in Marta on the shores of Lake Bolsena. In this procession, men wear costumes representing the old trades and carry their tools while white buffalo pull floats carrying the fruits of the trades.
The Festa dei Ceri, a candle race and costumed parade in Gubbio takes place May 15 and is followed by a Historical Cross-Bow Exhibition on the last Sunday of May. Festa dei Ceri on Italian Notebook
St. Rita’s Procession and Candle Festivalis May 21-22 in Cascia in Umbria.
Infiorata di Noto, a huge festival with flower petal art displays and a parade, takes place in Noto, Sicily, the third weekend of May. Read more about the Infiorata di Noto on Europe Travel.
The Flower Festival of Bucchianico in the Abruzzo includes a re-enactment of a 13th-century military stratagem with a parade, the third Sunday in May.
Pinocchio’s Birthdayis celebrated May 25 in the Tuscan town of Pescia. Pictures of Pinocchio Park in the village of Collodi, near Pescia.
Il Palio di Ferrara, a historical horse race dating from 1279, is run the last Sunday in May. There are parades, events, or competitions every weekend in May including a historical procession to the castle with over 1000 people in Renaissance costumes on the Saturday night of the weekend before the race. Ferrara Travel Guide | Palio di Ferrara information
Cantine Aperte, open cantinas, is a big wine celebration throughout Italy the last weekend of May. Many cantine or wineries are open to guests and have special events. Cantine Aperte site (in Italian).
Roman Fest is a 3-day re-enactment of a typical ancient Roman festival in the Piedmont town of Alesandria, the last weekend of May. The festival includes parades, feasts, staged gladiator combat and chariot races.
The Chianti Wine Festival<, the last Sunday in May and first Sunday in June, takes place in Montespertoli in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany.
Medieval Parade and Jousting Tournament in the Emilia Romagna regionGrazzano Visconti is the last Sunday in May.
The Daffodil Festival in the Abruzzo town of Rocca di Mezzo celebrates spring with folk dancing and a parade the last Sunday in May.