1 Saddle up! May is the month of the legendary GIRO D’ITALIA. This globally renowned cycle race takes places over the course of three weeks and will follow a route from Bologna to Verona. Check out the website to see if you can make it to any of this year’s locations to cheer on the riders as they zoom past. 11 May – 2 June, www.giroditalia.it
Image © RCS Sport/LaPresse
2 The FESTA DEI CERI and CORSA DEI CERI (The Festival and Race of the Candles) is a lively event that takes place in May each year in Gubbio, Umbria, and dates back to the 12th century. Statues of St Ubaldo, St George and St Anthony the Abbot are placed on three wooden pedestals that represent candles. The race sees the ceraioli (the pedestal bearers) carry the ceri on their shoulders down the city streets, then up to the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo on Monte Ingino. 15 May, www.ceri.it