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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week

From planned transport strikes to the last of Italy's Carnival celebrations, here's what people living in Italy can expect this week.

Published: 19 February 2024 09:21 CET
On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week
Visitors have one more weekend to see Viareggio's Carnival celebrations. Photo by FABIO MUZZI / AFP.

Monday

Light rain forecast 

Italy can expect to see some light rainfall on Monday, following a weekend of mostly clear weather.

Areas along the Adriatic coast could see some rain in the evening, following isolated showers in Sardinia, Tuscany, Lazio and Sicily on Sunday, forecasters said.

Temperatures were expected to remain mild across the peninsula, with the country currently experiencing highs typically recorded in April.

Tuesday 

Housing workers strike

Workers under contract with Federcasa, an association of 114 bodies that build and manage social housing in Italy, have said they will strike on Tuesday to demand a contract renewal.

“We ask that, despite the difficulties, there be fewer budget constraints, more economic resources and the right recognition of skills and professionalism,” the Cgil, Csil and Uil unions said in a joint statement. 

Friday

National transport strike

Italy’s Si Cobas union has announced a public and private sector strike on Friday that is expected to affect transport across the country.

READ ALSO: OPINION: Italy’s constant strikes are part of the country’s DNA

As Si Cobas is the only major Italian union backing the walkout it was unclear as of Monday how much disruption would be caused, though Trenord train services in northern regions may be “at risk” according to local media reports.

The union said in a statement it was protesting “against the genocide in Gaza, against the imperialist wars and against the Meloni government”.

A national transport strike is expected to affect train travel in Italy on Friday. Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP.

Weekend

Anti-war demonstrations

Anti-war protesters plan to gather in towns and cities across Italy on Saturday, February 24th, to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The organisers of the protests – Europe for Peace, Assisi Pace Giusta, and the Italian Peace and Disarmament Network – are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine. 

Carnival

Carnival may be over in most of the country, but celebrations continue this weekend in Viareggio, which will have its final masked parade along the Tuscan seafront on Saturday, February 24th.

The Emilia Romagna town of Cento, twinned with Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, will have a parade on Sunday, February 25th.

The carnival in Viareggio, Tuscany is one of Italy’s most popular outside Venice. Photo by FABIO MUZZI / AFP.

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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week

From Labour Day celebrations to free museum openings, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 28 April 2024 09:32 CEST
On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week

Monday

Italy celebrates its patron saint

Italians will celebrate Catherine of Siena – one of the country’s two patron saints together with Francis of Assisi – on Monday, April 29th.

Saint Catherine’s feast day will be a special occasion for many around Italy, particularly for people in the saint’s hometown of Siena, Tuscany, where the observance will be marked by a number of events and religious functions spread over the entire week.

Tuesday

Airbnb bans indoor surveillance cameras

Surveillance cameras will no longer be allowed inside Airbnb rentals from Tuesday, April 30th, under a new company-wide policy that will affect hosts and customers globally, including in Italy.

Until now, Airbnb has allowed hosts to install security cameras in common spaces such as hallways and living rooms provided that they were clearly visible and mentioned in the listing. But reports of guests finding hidden cameras in private spaces has led the company to ban indoor video surveillance altogether. 

Hosts will still be able to install outdoor cameras after Tuesday, but will have to clearly specify where they are stationed.

Wednesday 

Labour Day celebrations

Wednesday, May 1st will mark Italy’s Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro in Italian).

First established in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and trade unions’ achievements, Labour Day is a national public holiday, which means a day off for many around the country. 

People enjoy a sunny day at Rome's Villa Ada park

People enjoy a sunny day at Rome’s Villa Ada park on May 1st 2014. Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP

Offices and schools will be closed on the day, while most state-run museum and archaeological sites will remain open.

READ ALSO: What’s open and what’s closed in Italy on May 1st 2024

Rail and public transport operators tend to operate a number of ‘holiday services’ (servizi or orari festivi) on national holidays, including Labour Day. 

However, these services may experience delays and/or cancellations this year due to a 24-hour general strike that will involve staff from both public and private transport operators around the country.

May 1st concert in Rome

The traditional Labour Day concert (known as concertone, or ‘the big concert’, in Italy) will return to Rome on Wednesday, May 1st.

The event, which is the largest free live music concert in Europe, will take place at the Circus Maximus venue, with performances from some of the most popular Italian artists set to start as early as 3pm.

All acts will be free of charge. No advance booking is required, but access to the square will be denied after full capacity is reached.

Friday 

Nationwide rail maintenance staff strike

Train passengers around the country may experience disruption on Friday, May 3rd as rail maintenance staff at Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), which owns and manages all of Italy’s railway network, plan to strike for 24 hours. 

The protest, which is backed by some of Italy’s largest trade unions, may affect the normal operation of both regional trains and long-distance services operated by Trenitalia and Italo.

Further information about the protest and its impact on rail travel is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout. You can keep up with all the latest updates in our strike news section. 

Saturday

Giro d’Italia gets underway

The 2024 edition of the Giro d’Italia – one of the world’s most prestigious bicycle races – will run from Saturday, May 4th to Sunday, May 26th. 

This year’s Giro will start in Venaria Reale, just north of Turin, and end right by Rome’s iconic Fori Imperiali, passing through cities, lakes and mountain ranges all over northern and southern Italy on the way.

READ ALSO: A quick guide to understanding the Giro d’Italia

French rider Alex Baudin pictured during the 20th stage of the Giro d'Italia race in May 2023

French rider Alex Baudin pictured during the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia race in May 2023. Photo by Luca BETTINI / AFP

If you’re in Genoa on May 8th, Naples on the 12th, Padua on the 23rd, or Rome on the 26th, you’ll have the opportunity to see a leg of the race in person. More information is available here.

Sunday

Free museum openings

People around Italy will be able to visit state-run museums and archaeological sites free of charge on Sunday, May 5th under the popular Domenica al Museo or ‘free museum Sundays’ national scheme.

The initiative applies to hundreds of sites, including world-famous attractions like the Colosseum, Pompeii, Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia, the Reggia di Caserta and Trieste’s Miramare Castle. 

Find more information about how it works in our article.

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