Giro d'Italia
SportItaly's Grand Tour — three weeks of professional cycling across the country. Free to watch from the roadside (arrive 2 hours early for mountain stages). The atmosphere in small towns as the peloton passes is electric.
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
MusicArtFlorence's prestigious music and opera festival, running since 1933. Opera, concerts, and ballet at the Teatro del Maggio. Italy's oldest and most respected performing arts festival.
Infiorata Festivals
ArtFreeStreets carpeted with elaborate flower petal artworks — Noto's Infiorata creates 16 enormous floral mosaics on the main street. Spello and Genzano have equally stunning displays. Free, beautiful, and utterly unique.
Festa dei Ceri, Gubbio
FestivalThree teams race giant wooden candle-structures (ceri) through the streets and up Mount Ingino. One of Italy's most intense and ancient festivals — 800+ years of tradition. The evening race is pure adrenaline.
Plan around
The Giro d'Italia for sports fans. Infiorata in Noto for beauty. May is the Goldilocks month — everything is just right.