EVENTS IN TUSCANY, MAY

FLORENCE, 1ST SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION (40 DAYS AFTER EASTER)

The 'Festival of the Cricket' - not the sport - is held in the Cascine Park, Florence, and sees hundreds of picnicking families amidst the stalls and vendors selling crickets in small wooden cages, which are then released by the children. There is an increasing campaign against this custom and the mistreatment of the crickets, not all of which survive to be released.

MONTHLY MARKETS/FAIRS

LUCCA has a large antiques market (centred around Piazza San Giusto and Piazza Antelminelli) on the third Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month. There is also a craft fair, again in and around Piazza San Giusto, on the last Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month.

AREZZO has an enormous antiques market on the first Sunday (and preceding Saturday) of every month, centred around Piazza Grande and Piazza Vasari.

FLORENCE has its antique market on the last Sunday of every month in Piazza dei Ciompi.

MAY 1ST - FESTA DEL LAVORO

May day - day of the worker. National holiday, many speeches and marches by Unions and the Reformed Communists. Local celebrations and, in recent years, enormous (free) rock concerts with big national and international names.

MOTHERS DAY - 1ST SUNDAY AFTER MAY 8TH

No last minute cheesy card and hastily grabbed box of chocolates here. The ties that bind mother and son are well-nigh unbreakable and today le mamme are feted with flowers, special meals and even more attention than usual.

MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO

The undisputed highlight of Florence's cultural diary, the festival has seen Florence become host to one Europe's foremost festivals of opera and classical music. The concerts actually begin in late April and run into July. Click here for a dedicated website.

CANTINE APERTE

Always on a Sunday at the end of May, Cantine Aperte is an initiative that has gone from strength to strength with every year. Across Tuscany/Italy, wineries open their doors and cellars to all comers, with free tastings, tours, offers and local delicacies to try. Most wine shops and tourist offices should have details well in advance.

CAMAIORE, NEAR LUCCA - SAWDUST CARPETS

Perhaps losing something in translation the 'tappeti di segatura colorata' are an absolutely wonderful sight. The long central street of Camaiore is bedecked with dozens of incredibly detailed designs fabricated entirely from 'sprinkled' coloured sawdust. Work starts the evening before and continues all night long, with the procession of Corpus Domini passing over (and destroying) them the next day.
The Sunday of Corpus Domini and the Saturday night beforehand.