Every year on May 1, Labor Day in Italy, Rome celebrates this important festa with a large music festival, Concerto del Primo Maggio (May 1 Concert).
Taking place since 1990, the event, organized by Italy’s major unions, CGIL, CISL and UIL, is held at Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano and attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over Italy. It features both Italian and international artists.
Among those who will be performing this year, the concert’s 25th anniversary, are Alex Britti, Irene Grandi, J-Ax, Bluvertigo, Noemi, Enrico Ruggeri and many more, offering a mix of rock, folk, pop, rap, indie, reggae, metal and electronic music. The concert will be hosted by former MTV vj Camila Raznovich.
The event is scheduled to begin at 3 pm. If you plan to attend, consider that the area will be extremely crowded. Some bus routes may be subject to change. The best way to reach the piazza is by metro line A, stops Manzoni or Piazza Re di Roma. For more information, click here.
The concert will also be broadcast live on Rai Tre.
*In recent years, the town of Taranto in Puglia has also been hosting a large concert on May 1. 2015 will be its third edition. The event is held at Parco Archeologico delle Mura Greche, it's free of charge and begins at 2 pm.
The first Labor Day celebration in Italy took place in 1890. It began as a way to celebrate workers and their struggles for their rights and better social and economic conditions. It was abolished under the Fascist Regime and restored right after World War II.
