If you visit Milan in May, you will have plenty of company. It’s a busy month in the city, when the late-spring weather is warm and sunny, without the high temperatures, or the crowds, from June to August. Milan is a city known for its culture and May is a great month for visitors to try its offerings.
The following are some of the main festivals and events that take place each May in Milan.
Labor Day – May 1
May 1 is Labor Day, also called Primo Maggio or Festa dei Lavoratori in Italian, it is a national holiday. Banks, businesses, and even many restaurants, shops, and museums will be closed. Many Milanese leave the city for a long weekend, and Lake Como is a popular destination.
Arte sul Naviglio Grande – Early to mid-May
More than 300 artists from across Italy created an open-air gallery along the southern Naviglio Grande for this annual juried show. Many vendors offer to send great works of art, making this event a great place to search for a unique souvenir. Plus, it’s a lovely walk and look at works of art along the canals of Milan’s Navigli district. Check the Navigli Grande website for more information.
Horticulture in the Public Gardens – Mediados de mayo
The Giardini Pubblici, the Public Gardens of Milan, are a fantastic place to spend a spring day, especially when the Orticola (display of plants and flowers) takes place. Technicolor displays of native and exotic plants and flowers are a perfect antidote to the stress of the big city. More information is available on the Orticola website.
Cortilli Aperti – End of May
While its proper name is a mouthful, Giornate Nazionali l’ADSI, the event informally known as Cortilli Aperti grants visitors access to courtyards (cortile), gardens, and interiors of private palaces and grand houses, most of which are typically closed to the public.
Milano Food City / Food Week – early May
This fun program features food stands, tastings, cooking demonstrations, and pop-up classes throughout the city, with an emphasis on local cuisine, sustainability, and the fight against hunger and homelessness. Find more information on the Milano Food Week website.
Piano City Milan
This cultural program presents 50 hours of 24-hour piano concerts in Milan’s squares and concert halls, and even on metro and ferry platforms. Most of the events are free and you can walk and listen. See the Piano City Milano website for more information.
Flea & Antique Markets – Every weekend
For most of the year, the former Fiera di Sinigaglia runs every Saturday on the Ripa di Porta Ticinese in the Navigli district, offering well-curated vintage clothing, household items, and bric-a-brac.
Every Sunday morning, a stamp, coin and printed goods market, one of the largest in Europe, runs on Via Armorari, not far from the Duomo.
Performances at La Scala – All year
Milan’s historic Teatro alla Scala, or La Scala, is one of the leading opera houses in Europe, and seeing a performance there is a delight at any time of the year. In May, there are opera and classical music newspapers, including some adapted for children. Visit the La Scala website for more information.
Melanie Renzulli contributed to this article.
