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🔔 The Italian Almanac

May in the almanac

One day at a time: the stories, the month's festivals and the villages that tell them.

The days of May 0

Days with a story are highlighted; on the others you still find the towns celebrating and the village of the day.

🎉 Festivals in May

Festival 📍 Catania

Etna Comics

📅 Every year between late May and early June

Catania's international festival of comics, gaming and pop culture takes over the Le Ciminiere exhibition centre every year — in 2026 from 30 May to 2 June, with guests including Yoichi Takahashi, Leo Ortolani and Caparezza.

Patron saint festival In 186 days 📍 Canosa Sannita

Feast of Saints Philip and James

📅 Every year, on 1 May

On 1 May Canosa Sannita, a municipality of 1,441 inhabitants in the province of Chieti, celebrates its patrons Saints Philip and James, to whom the town's church is dedicated.

Patron saint festival In 186 days 📍 Valmozzola

Feast of San Giuseppe

📅 Every year, on 1 May

On 1 May Valmozzola, a municipality of 567 inhabitants in the province of Parma, celebrates its patron San Giuseppe.

Patron saint festival In 186 days 📍 Nemi

Feast of the Holy Apostles Philip and James

📅 Every year, on 1 May

On 1 May Nemi, a municipality of 1,925 inhabitants in the province of Rome, celebrates its patrons the holy apostles Philip and James with a solemn procession; the town is famous for its Strawberry Festival.

The full Italian year →

This month in Italy

Race of the Ceri

On 15 May, three teams race uphill carrying four-hundred-kilo wooden "candles" on their shoulders.

📍 Gubbio →

Calendimaggio

The two historic factions compete with processions and songs, returning the town to the Middle Ages.

📍 Assisi →

Fish Festival

On the second Sunday, tons of fish fried in a record-breaking giant pan (since 1952).

📍 Camogli →

Noto Flower Festival

On the third Sunday, Via Nicolaci is carpeted with designs made of petals.

📍 Noto →

Feast of the Sensa

The "marriage of the sea": the water procession renews the Serenissima's thousand-year rite.

📍 Venezia →