May 2008
Painting the Skies Festival
Colourful international kite festival which showcases free flying events for both beginners and experts and includes other activities and spectacles, from mountain biking to hot-air balloons.
30 April - 1 May, CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO
Primo Maggio Music Festival
Rome welcomes the spring with an enormous, free music festival in Piazza San Giovanni, with musicians from all over the world.
1 May, ROME
Iris competition
Giardino dell'Iris opens its gates to the public and hosts the annual international iris competition. Individual blooms are judges on the basis of their colour, shape, aroma and resistance to various diseases.
1-4 May, FLORENCE
European marathon
Attracting thousands of runners from around the world, this scenic race is divided into events for both pro and amateur athletes.
4 May, TRIESTE
Telecom Italian Open Golf
Featuring some of the biggest stars of world golf competing at the Castello di Tolcinasco course in Milan.
8-11 May, MILAN
Mille Miglia Car Race
Italy's most famous car race stretching over a 1,000 mile from Brescia to Rome is now more of a leisurely classic car run, but still a great sight.
10-22 May, BRESCIA - ROME
World Festival on the Beach
A celebration of beach sports, extreme and otherwise, combining windsurfing, jazz, beach volleyball, skydiving, kite surfing and more.
10-18 May, PALERMO
Festa Dei Ceri
Here's a chance to witness the incredible sight of three teams of 18-20 men race while carrying five-metre tall, 400kg statues through the city streets of Gubbio to the cathedral on Monte Ingino.
15 May, GUBBIO
Florentine Genius
Conceived as a celebration of genius, this series of events is dedicated to historic figures such as Boccaccio, Dante and Leonardo da Vinci.
15-25 May, FLORENCE
Artisans and the Palace
This three-day fair at Palazzo Corsini features traditional artisans from around the world displaying their wares, including pottery, straw and willow baskets, glass cutting and tapestry.
16-18 May, FLORENCE
