A trip to Italy is always a good idea. But it’s especially a good one in May: great weather, the tourist season has just begun, and you can visit an opening of the Art Biennale in Venice, the most important wine festival and the Night of Museums! Moreover, in Italy till the end of May you can use mobile Internet for the price of a cup of coffee — 1 euro per 1 GB (learn more). And we have some ideas about what to see, what to eat and where to go in Italy in May.
What to see
The most well-known international exhibition of contemporary art — the 58th Venice Biennale, titled “May You Live In Interesting Times”, will be open to the public from 11 May. It is curated by Ralph Rugoff, the director of London’s Hayward Gallery. He chose 79 artists and art groups from all over the world, whose works were “multivalent, richly ambiguous, which could deal with paradox and contradictions, that generated many, many associations”. Also, 90 countries will present art works in their national pavilions. Don’t miss the Lithuanian pavilion with an opera/performance piece titled ‘Sun and Sea (Marina)’. The work takes place on an ad hoc beach (with real sand!), where the performers sing as they sunbathe. You can learn more about Ralph Rugoff’s vision of the Biennale here.
May-June in Italy is the time for flower festivals or Infiorata. One of the most spectacular festivals takes place every third weekend of May in the Sicilian city of Noto (May 17-19, Infiorata di Noto). During Infiorata, its central streets are literally covered with petals – local artists create ‘flower tapestries’ and ‘paintings’ from natural materials that will last a maximum of two days. On Monday, these temporary works of art will be destroyed by local children, who will be allowed to run through installations.
In the town of Gubbio, near to Perugia, the ‘Candle Race’ (Corsa dei Ceri) takes place in May, a tradition that has remained unchanged since 1160. In the celebration dedicated to the patrons of the city – saints Ubaldo, Giorgio and Antonio, the whole city takes part. The high point of the festivities is the race between three teams that carry huge wooden ‘candles’ with statues of saints on their shoulders. The weight of each ‘candle’ is under 300 kg; the height reaches five meters. The complexity of this race is in race speed, constant climbs upwards and in changes of the carriers — while running, men change from time to time on the go.
And for those who can’t be happy without music — in the city of Vicenza, which is famous for the masterpieces of Renaissance architect Antonio Palladio, a jazz festival will take place. Don’t blow the opportunity to listen to jazz in the unique Olimpico Theater, the last creation of Palladio (Vicenza Jazz, May 9-19).
And do not forget about traditional May treat: Night of Museums (Notte dei Musei)! On May 18, many museums will open their doors for free from 20:00 to 02:00. In Rome, the Capitoline Museum, Centrale Montemartini, Museo dell’Ara Pacis ant others will take part in the Night with performances and special events.
What to eat and drink
Italy is famous for its wines (and ranks first in the world for their production). And “Open Cellars” or Cantine Aperte is the main event of wine tourism in Italy. Italian winemakers open up their facilities to the public for tastings during last weekend of May, and this simplifies logistics for wine lovers. In Italy, most wineries are “by appointment only,” and it is necessary to arrange a visit in advance. On the days of Cantine Aperte, you can just drop in and check out a local vineyard for a free guided tour and wine tasting.
If you like food more than wine, don’t miss regional food festivals — Sagre. They happen in different regions of Italy from spring to autumn. Food is the main theme of sagre, be it a local product or a particular dish. In May, La Sagra del Pesce (Fish Festival) awaits you in Camogli, near Genoa. The Festival is dedicated to St. Fortunato, patron saint of fishermen, and it is held every year on the second Sunday of May. On this day, local cooks fry about 30,000 servings of anchovies. The fish is offered to the public, and all the funds raised are donated to charity. You can choose your sagre here.
Where to climb
From the mountain trails of Northern Italy to the volcano climbs in Sicily, Italy is the coolest destination for hiking. And the best seasons for hiking in Italy are spring and early autumn. Many routes do not require special skills or equipment and will take from two hours to one day. For example, be sure to try out the trails in the Dolomites, where year-round cable cars operate, or the 10-kilometer Greenway along the shores of Lake Como. Traveling south, the “Path of the Gods” on the Amalfi coast is waiting for you. It is a breathtaking mountain path over the sea that takes you from the village of Bomerano to Positano.
If you doubt your abilities, choose the Val d’Orcia valley in Tuscany for walks. The most canonical Tuscany landscape is here for you — wide verdant hills dotted with cypress trees. Add wine and food to the picture and get a concentrate of everything that we love so passionately about Italy.