between concerts in the square, festivals and guided tours

A day of celebration but also an opportunity to remember and reflect. May 1st is Labor Day (for those who have it, one might say). A date that must however be celebrated so as not to forget those who fought, and continue to fight, for workers’ rights.

Without wanting to forget the noble reasons that make May Day a national holiday, it is a holiday and as such, many of us are already thinking about how to organize ourselves to spend it as best as possible.

Among the moments of commemoration, such as those that traditionally take place in Portella della Ginestra, concerts in the square, festivals and guided tours of cultural places: there is no shortage of things to do.

We have created a guide for you with events not to be missed on May 1st in Palermo and Sicily.

AT PORTELLA DELLA GINESTRA
Like every year, May Day in Portella della Ginestra to commemorate the massacre of May 1st 1947 in which 11 people were murdered, including labourers, farmers, women and children.

Adv

“Peace. Constitution. Rights” is the title of this year’s event, organized by CGIL Palermo and FP Cgl.

At 8.30 am the commemoration will be held at the Piana degli Albanesi cemetery, with the laying of a wreath of flowers. At 9.30, the gathering at the Casa del Popolo in Piana.

Following the procession, preceded by the Mezzojuso “Giuseppe Petta” band, which leaves around 10.00 to reach the Portella plateau, memorial of the massacre.

The ceremony takes place at Sasso di Barbato, introduced by a minute’s silence and the reading of the names of the victims, with memories and speeches.

FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS
The events of the 398th edition of the event continue in Monreale feast of the Most Holy Crucifix.

Many events are planned including music, dance exhibitions and cabaret (the complete program is in our article).

In particular, the May Day program is even richer. The gathering begins at 10.00 am and the parades of Sicilian floats follow throughout the morning, with performances by musical bands and folk groups.

In the evening, from 8.00 pm, the “Ricominciamo tutto” concert by the Negramaro Tribute band. Followed by the show of the acrobatic company “SONICS in TOREN”. At the end, the fireworks show and DJ set on the terraces of the former Hotel Savoia.

A May Day full of colors and scents, great music and fun for the whole family, is what you can spend in Acirealewhere the usual appointment with the joyful “Flower Festival” returns.

Grand finale, May 1st, with the “Concertone”: 12 hours of non-stop music (from noon to midnight) with local artists and the extraordinary participation of Bandabardò & Cisco.

TO Valledolmo instead the “Agriculture Days”.

The fair – which runs until May 1st – brings together dozens of exhibitors and local excellences in the municipality on the outskirts of the Madonie. There are many events this year (read the complete program here) which range from photographic exhibitions, sports competitions, equestrian performances and musical shows.

There is also no shortage of tastings of typical local products, conferences, workshops and guided tours.

VISITS AND EXCURSIONS
May Day can be an opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful places in Palermo with the guided tours organized by CoopCulture.

From the Salinas Museum to the Botanical Garden, from the Cloister of Monreale to the Steri it is possible to visit these places discovering new and fascinating points of view.

To the Salinas Museum you can for example participate in the visit “Salinas in Greece and the Acropolis Museum in Palermo”, focused on interculturality always linked to the Mediterranean Sea and our island.

While at Steri you can admire the Sala Magna with its majestic painted wooden roof, walk through the rooms of the inquisition prisons with the evocative graffiti and finally see the famous canvas by Renato Guttuso “La Vucciria”.

Again, an educational visit among the plants and flowers in the magical spring atmosphere ofBotanical Garden and the visit route to Cloister of Monrealefocused on the narrative of what remains of the ancient monastic complex of the Benedictine monks.

EXPERIENCES
A different May Day than usual. In a “magical” place where you can get lost among the deceptions of the mind, optical illusions and games of perspective.

Even Liberation Day can be the right opportunity to go to the “City of Illusions”, in Palermo, the new museum that combines the passion for the science of optics with curiosity and fun, through games of illusions, visual perceptions, installations and rooms where it seems to be in “Wonderland”.

The new space welcomes adults and children into the magical world of optical illusions.

A journey made up of attractions and installations but also of works of art and games that deceive the human eye into perceiving something that is not real or is different from reality.

ART EXHIBITIONS
For those who want to “binge on culture”, you can visit the interactive and cross-media exhibition, which offers a real journey through time to discover the Palermo of the Belle Époque.

Bonocore Palace is ready to recover its memory using the most modern technologies thanks to the “Palermo Felicissima” exhibition, which can be visited until 30 September.

Another major exhibition, again in Palermo, offers an in-depth look at the spiritual aspect of the Royal Palace, that is, a journey through a large corpus of the famous Treasury of the Palatine Chapel.

Thesaurus, open until September 30th makes a “secret” heritage shine again, until now known to few.

Moving outside Palermo, the “Elyma” exhibition leads to the rediscovery of Archaeological temple of Segesta.

Plant installations and sound sculptures trace a path that leads to the heart of the Doric Temple, which can be visited from the inside after twenty years. The exhibition, curated by art historian Lori Adragna and by the director of the Park, Luigi Biondo, is organized by MondoMostre for the archaeological park.

If you still don’t have enough you can consult the Balarm calendar with all the events not to be missed on May 1st in Sicily.