What’s On in Italy: May

It’s May, which means that the calendar is full of food and flower festivals, new museum exhibits, and outdoor concerts. There’s really too much to list, but we’ll note some hightlights:

Corsa dei Ceri: Gubbio’s running of the “Ceri,” or candles, is one of Umbria’s biggest events of the year. It takes place on May 15, and features the medieval ceri race, a crossbow tournament, food fairs, and more.

Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics: Yet another medieval-era event. The Palio pits the four ancient Italian maritime powers - Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice - in a yearly boat race at one of the four sites. This year’s Palio is in Venice on May 27, and it features boat races around the city’s many lagoons.

Noto Infiorata: If you like the Parade of Roses, you’ll love the Infiorata. May 18-20, Noto, Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be carpeted in flowers of all colors and varieties. What better way is there to welcome summer?

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino: Classical music, dance, and theater are highlighted at this month-long arts festival in Florence. See www.maggiofiorentino.com for details and schedule.

Cantine Aperte: May is a great opportunity to sample some of Tuscany’s finest vintages. On May 27 (the month’s last Sunday) more than 900 winemakers throughout Italy open their doors to oenophiles with inexpensive (or free) flights of wine, plus information on winemaking techniques, proper storage, and food pairings. See the Movimento Turismo di Vino website for more info.

For more information on upcoming events, check out www.italiantourism.com or www.prodottitipici.com, the latter (in Italian) being a very helpful site for finding smaller food fairs and religious festivals throughout Italy.

Also, don’t forget that May 12 through 20 is Culture Week in Italy. It’s a great time to check out the country’s fantastic museums - for free!