From Labour Day festivities to special museum openings and new flight routes to European and North American destinations, here’s what people living in Italy can expect this month.
Labour Day celebrations
May 1st will mark Italy’s Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro in Italian). Established in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and trade union achievements, Labour Day is a national public holiday, meaning a day off work for many employees.
Offices and schools will be closed on the day, while most state-run museum and archaeological sites will remain open.
Rail and public transport providers tend to operate a number of ‘holiday services’ (servizi or orari festivi) on national holidays, including Labour Day.
These services are expected to go ahead as usual this year despite a planned general strike that is set to involve staff from other sectors across Italy, including healthcare and education.
Concertone
Italy’s traditional Labour Day concert known as il concertone or ‘the big concert’ will return to Rome on May 1st.
The event, which brands itself as the largest free live music concert in Europe, will be held in Piazza San Giovanni, with performances from some of the most popular Italian artists set to start at 3pm.
Giro d’Italia
The 2025 edition of the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions, will run from Friday, May 9th to Sunday, June 1st.
This year’s event will start in Durrës, Albania and end for the third consecutive year in Rome, passing through cities, lakes and mountain ranges all over northern and southern Italy on the way and this year also taking in Slovenia and Vatican City.
As usual, the contest will attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts from all around the world, with fans once again set to crowd narrow mountain roads and camp out in fields just to get a brief glimpse of the riders.
The 20th stage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia cycling race between Alpago and Bassano del Grappa on May 25, 2024. Photo by Luca Bettini / AFP.
Mother’s Day
Italy celebrates Mother’s Day (or Festa della Mamma) on the second Sunday in May, which falls on May 11th this year.
Advertisement
Established in 1956, Italy’s Mother’s Day originally fell on May 8th but the festivity was moved to the second Sunday of May in 2000 to get in line with the American calendar.
Summer tyre change deadline
Motorists in Italy have until May 15th to make the switch from winter to summer tyres.
After the window to make the switch closes, drivers breaking the rules will face a fine of up to €1,731 plus the requirement to undergo a revisione (the Italian equivalent of a UK MOT test or a vehicle inspection in the US).
It’s important to note that Italy’s summer tyre requirement doesn’t apply to all vehicles; see our article on the topic to find out whether or not it applies to you.
European Night of Museums
On Saturday, May 17th many museums will keep their doors open past midnight and into the early hours as part of the “European Night of Museums”.
Advertisement
State-owned museums across Italy will be participating (check their websites for details). Some organize special events or open buildings usually off-limits to the public, and many offer entry completely free of charge or for a nominal fee.
New flight routes
There will be several new flights to and from Italy starting in May, as holiday-makers prepare for the high summer travel season.
British Airways, Easyjet, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, Air Canada and Wizz Air are among the carriers launching new flight routes between various Italian destinations and cities across North America and Europe this May.