Six of the best events taking place in Italy this spring:
Race of the Candles (Festa dei Ceri)
- What: A ceremonial parade
- When: May 15
- City: Gubbio
- Location: Through the town
The streets of Gubbio are jam-packed with people as three huge wooden “candles” (23 feet high) are paraded through the town. Dating back to 1160, the ceremony is a tribute of devotion to a former Bishop. To carry one of the ceros (candles) is a huge honor for a member of the community, and the spirit and passion of the whole crowd reflects this.
- What: Open viewing of normally restricted public and private buildings
- When: May 4-5
- City: Rome
- Location: 170 spaces across the capital
Rome is revered for its architecture. For one weekend each year the public is invited to explore the city’s finest long-established and recently conceived examples. Access is free. Building visits are enriched with talks and tours run by experts.
Spring in Prosecco
- What: Wine festival celebrating the sparkling wine produced in the Prosecco region
- When: Until June 9
- City: Treviso and surrounding areas
- Location: Treviso, Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, Cartizze
Every spring, many of Prosecco’s vineyards open their doors, inviting visitors to learn about the wine production process.
Mille Miglia
- What: Classic car race
- When: May 16-19
- City: Departs from Brescia
- Location: Lake Garda, Padua, Ferrara, Terni, Rome and then back to Brescia via Siena, Florence, Modena and Cremona
From 1927 to 1957 the Mille Miglia was a competitive open-road endurance race. Today, it’s the world’s most prestigious classic car parade and tour. Only cars that took place in the original races between 1927 and 1957 can enter the event these days. This stipulation sees an entry list filled with ultra rare sports cars, many of which hold multi-million dollar values.
Borderline: Artists Between Normality and Madness
- What: Art exhibition
- When: Until June 16
- City: Ravenna
- Location: Museo d’Arte della città di Ravenna
This exhibition examines the link between psychological abnormalities and art, a subject that has often fascinated art critics and psychologists alike. The Art Brut features prominently. Works on show are by artists including Bosch, Dali’, Goya, Basquiat and Ligabue.
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival
- What: Classical music and dance festival
- When: May 2 through June 24
- City: Florence
- Location: Various venues in the city
The Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina was born in 1928 and in 1933 it organized its first festival. Today, the event enjoys international notoriety. The Festival has its own Ballet Company called Maggio Dance. The program this year includes Don Carlo, Macbeth, The Rape of Lucretia, and various concerts directed by Claudo Abbado and Daniel Baremboim.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: jonrawlinson)
