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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

From a Meloni-Biden White House summit to free B&B stays and free museum openings, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 26 February 2024 08:58 CET
Roman statue, Pompeii
A Roman sculpture at the Antiquarium museum, part of the Pompeii archaeological site. Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Monday 

Italian farmers’ associations to stage demo in Brussels

Representatives from a number of Italian farmers’ associations, including Coldiretti and Confagricoltura, are expected to stage a demonstration in Brussels on Monday, February 26th. 

The demo, which should unfold at the same time as a planned EU agriculture ministers summit, will follow a series of Europe-wide marches and road blockades held in protest against farming policies and high taxation across the bloc.

Earlier this month Italian PM Giorgia Meloni reinstated an income tax break for farmers on low incomes following a protest by Rome’s Colosseum, but Coldiretti president Ettore Prandini said shortly afterwards that protests will continue until Italian producers get “exhaustive answers” to their needs.

Italy unveils 5-euro collector coin

A special 5-euro collector coin dedicated to the city of Pesaro, Marche, will be officially unveiled in the Pesaro Ducal Palace on Monday.

The coin, which celebrates Pesaro’s status as Italy’s 2024 Culture Capital, was designed by renowned Italian medalist Uliana Pernazza, and pictures the city’s iconic Rocca Costanza fortress on the obverse and the city’s Ducal Palace on the reverse.

The piece is already available for purchase on the Italian Mint website.

Friday

PM Meloni to meet US President Biden

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is set to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday, March 1st in what will be her second official visit to the States since she first took office in October 2022.

Meloni and Biden, 2023

US President Joe Biden and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni engaged in conversation at the White House in July 2023. Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a note last Friday that the two leaders will discuss “shared approaches to address global challenges”, including their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, the delivery of aid to people in Gaza and relations with China and African partners. 

Following her meeting with Biden, Meloni will fly to Toronto, where she’s scheduled to meet Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Saturday.

ITA Airways reopens Rome-Tel Aviv route

Italy’s flag carrier ITA Airways will resume services between Rome Fiumicino and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Friday after temporarily shutting the route in early October following the outbreak of war in Gaza.

Services to and from Tel Aviv will run three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) for a total of six weekly flights (three headed for Rome, three bound for Tel Aviv).

Other major airlines have restored services to Israel in recent weeks, including Lufthansa and Air France. UK carrier British Airways plans to resume flights from April.

Saturday

Free B&B stays

Dozens of bed and breakfast structures around the country will offer free accommodation on Saturday, March 2nd as part of the 2024 edition of Italy’s B&B day – an annual event celebrating the B&B sector organised by booking platform Bed-and-Breakfast.it.

The offer will apply to stays of at least two days in any of the B&Bs taking part in the event.

Sunday

Free museum openings

People around Italy will be able to visit state-run museums and archaeological sites free of charge on Sunday, March 3rd 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 out more about how it works in our article.

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For members

BREAKING

Everything that changes in Italy in May 2024

From Labour Day celebrations to the start of tax filing season and a summer tyres deadline, here's what people living in Italy can expect next month.

Published: 26 April 2024 11:12 CEST
Everything that changes in Italy in May 2024

Airbnb bans indoor surveillance cameras

Surveillance cameras will no longer be allowed inside Airbnb rentals from April 30th forward 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 April 30th, but will have to clearly specify where they are stationed.

Italy’s Labour Day celebrations

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, meaning a day off work for many around Italy. 

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

People celebrate Italy's Labour Day in Rome's Piazza San Giovanni

People celebrate Italy’s Labour Day in Rome’s Piazza San Giovanni on May 1st 2013. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP

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 major 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.

You can keep up with all the latest updates in our strike news section.

May 1st ‘concertone’ in Rome

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

The event, which is the largest free live music concert in Europe, will take place in the central 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.

Tax filing season starts

May 2nd is the earliest date from which some taxpayers in Italy can begin to submit their yearly income tax returns.

There are two types of income tax declaration form in Italy: generally speaking, employees and retirees use form 730 (modello 730), whereas the self-employed, people with sources of income other than employment or pension, and taxpayers who are not legally resident in Italy use the ‘natural persons’ income form‘ (modello redditi persone fisiche).

READ ALSO: When are the deadlines for filing your Italian income tax return?

Taxpayers can submit the modello redditi persone fisiche in paper form at their local post office from May 2nd, whereas May 11th is the earliest date from which taxpayers can begin to submit the modello 730 on the Italian tax office’s website.

Cycling fever

The 2024 edition of the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions, 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.

Irish rider Sam Bennett celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the last stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia

Irish rider Sam Bennett celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the last stage of the 101st Giro d’Italia on May 27th 2018 in Rome. Photo by LUK BENIES / AFP

As usual, the contest will attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts from all around the world, with fans once again expected to crowd narrow mountain roads and camp out in fields just to get a brief glimpse of the riders. 

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.

Mother’s Day

Italy celebrates Mother’s Day (or Festa della Mamma) on the second Sunday in May, which falls on May 12th this year. 

First established in 1956, Italy’s Mother’s Day originally fell on May 8th but the festivity was moved to the second Sunday of May in 2000 to get in line with the American calendar.

Summer tyres deadline 

Motorists in Italy have until May 15th to make the switch from winter to summer tyres.

After the window to make the switch closes, drivers breaking the rules will face a fine of up to 1,731 euros plus the requirement to undergo a revisione (the Italian equivalent of a UK MOT test or a vehicle inspection in the US).

Italy’s summer tyres requirement is a frequent source of confusion as it doesn’t apply to all vehicles. See our article on the topic to find out whether or not it applies to you.

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