4 things to do to celebrate May Day 2023 in Italy

Among the unique and memorable experiences to enjoy in Italy in spring - as well as an ideal destination for the May Day holiday - are some excursions to the Sibillini Mountains. In fact, at just over 90 minutes by car from Perugia, on the border between Umbria and the Marche, you can discover the flowering of lentils in Castelluccio di Norcia.

Castelluccio lentils are famous and appreciated all over the world. Their flowering is a spectacle between May and July that an increasing number of people attend.

The lentil, however, is not the only flowering that can win over visitors: in May we suggest a visit to the Plains of Ragnolo, the plateau overlooking Sarnano, to find yourself surrounded by colourful, freshly bloomed orchids . A unique chance to discover the great Sibillini Mountain Park, with walks and picnics surrounded by nature.

If you want to enjoy a May Day in nature, between sea and mountains, delightful paths and seaside villages, yet still with a dash of adventure and a hop back in time, the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park is for you.

The vast park extends throughout the province of Salerno from the Tyrrhenian coast to the foot of the Campano-Lucano Apennines, and includes wonders like the remains of the Greek colonies of Elea/Velia, the beautiful Paestum with its ancient temples that have been passed on to us in excellent condition, the elegant Castle of Rocca Cilento, the splendid Charterhouse of Padula and so much nature.

For a day of trekking in Cilento discovering Campania, a few miles from Naples, you can choose between routes for the whole family or more challenging paths. In any case, we suggest you try the Cilento zip line in Volo which reaches 70 mph, alone or as a couple.

In the lower Piedmont, between the provinces of Alessandria, Asti and Cuneo, a weekend can be spent in peaceful hills covered with vineyards and small villages surrounded by fields, letting yourself be won over by the scents and smells of this land.

The scenic routes abound and with varying degrees of difficulty, from routes for the whole family to more intense paths, but if you wish to have a unique adventure and get a view from above the vineyards of the Langhe, you can clamber aboard a hot-air balloon and float through the skies of Barolo.

Alternatively, why not explore the Langhe by bike? Choose from different itineraries: for wine, castles or literary landscapes. We recommend the itinerary that crosses the lands of Barbaresco between Treiso, Barbaresco, Neive and Alba, where on 1 May 2023, the final day of the Vinum event will take place . What better opportunity to discover the many types of wines produced in this area?

For the long weekend of May Day, if you're planning to get to Sicily and are looking for some ideas, here you go!

Choose to explore Val di Noto with its elegant UNESCO World Heritage cities: Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli.

A unique opportunity to discover Baroque Sicily among monuments of rare beauty, such as the Cathedral of Catania, the Church of the Holy Souls of Purgatory in Ragusa, the church of St Matthew in Scicli and the majestic Cathedral of Noto.

If you are wondering what to see in Val di Noto besides these beautiful cities, prepare for plenty of nature, from the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area to the Pachino marshes, as well as the wildlife oasis of Vendicari and the Neviere di Buccheri. The May Day long weekend for 2023 promises to be a good one. You choose the destination, because - between itineraries, concerts and excursions - Italy takes care of the rest.