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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

From free entry to state-run museums for women to a nationwide general strike, here's what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 4 March 2024 09:22 CET
Rome strike transport
Passengers stand in front of a departure board at Rome's Termini station during a nationwide transport strike. Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Monday

New stint of heavy rain and strong winds

The storms, rain and snow that hit Italy last week are set to continue into Monday, according to weather site 3bmeteo.

The north of the country should experience rain in the morning that clears up by early evening, while the centre-south can expect to see scattered rain and thunderstorms along with stormy gusts from the Tyrrhenian Sea, bringing temperatures down.

End of winter sales 

Businesses in eight Italian regions, including Lombardy and Tuscany, will close their winter sales season on Monday. 

The end dates of Italy’s winter saldi vary from region to region, with shops in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Aosta Valley being the last ones to end discounts on March 31st. You can find the exact end dates of each region’s winter sales here.

During both winter and summer sales, Italian shops apply discounts that generally hover between 20 and 30 percent but can climb as high as 70 percent.

Tuesday

Heavily discounted cinema tickets in Veneto

A number of selected screenings at cinemas around Veneto, northern Italy, will be sold at a discounted price of three euros on Tuesday, March 5th as part of the region’s Martedi’ al Cinema (‘Cinema Tuesdays’) scheme.

A full list of cinemas and screenings involved in the initiative can be found here.

Besides March 5th, the scheme will run on all the remaining Tuesdays in March (March 12th, 19th, 26th) as well as all Tuesdays in May and November. 

Veneto filmgoers will have access to 3 euro screenings on Tuesday, March 5th. Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash

Friday

International Women’s Day 

Friday, March 8th will mark International Women’s Day, or Festa della Donna in Italian.

While the day is not an official national holiday in Italy, it is generally recognised in the form of local celebrations and cultural events all around the country.

For the occasion, entry to Italy’s state-run museums and archaeological sites, including the Colosseum, Pompeii and the Uffizi galleries, will be free of charge for women.

You can expect to see Italian florists work overtime on Friday as, according to a uniquely Italian tradition, men will give the women in their families yellow mimosa flowers.

Nationwide general strike

Airline, rail and public transport passengers around the country may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, March 8th due to a 24-hour general strike backed by four of Italy’s major trade unions. 

This is expected to be one of the most disruptive walkouts of the month as it will involve staff from both public and private transport operators, with local, regional and national services all set to be affected.

READ ALSO: The Italian transport strikes that will hit travel in March 2024

Besides the transport sector, Friday’s protest is expected to impact the normal operation of non-emergency healthcare services at public hospitals and clinics as well as teaching hours and lessons at public schools and universities.

Saturday

Italy take on Scotland in Six Nations Rome fixture

Round 4 of the Six Nations Championship will see Italy’s national rugby team face Scotland at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, March 9th.

The game will be broadcast free of charge on TV8 (channel eight on most TV sets in Italy), with kickoff set for 3.15pm Italian time.

Those wishing to see the game at the stadio can grab their tickets here.

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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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