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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

What changes about life in Italy in June 2023

From an airport strike to museum ticket price hikes, ​​here’s what to expect in Italy over the coming month.

What changes about life in Italy in June 2023
The bronze statue of Perseus holding up the bloody head of Medusa is pictured on Piazza della Signoria in Florence. There will be two opportunities to visit Italian museums for free in June - before ticket prices go up for the rest of summer. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

June 2nd – National public holiday and start of the long weekend

Italy’s Republic Day (or Festa della Repubblica) is a national public holiday, which commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic as we have it today.

On this date in 1946, Italians voted in a referendum to abolish the then 85-year-old monarchy, which had fallen out of favour due to its close alignment with Mussolini’s fascist regime.

READ ALSO: What to expect in Italy on Republic Day 2023

Conveniently, this year’s Republic Day falls on a Friday, which means many people in Italy will enjoy a three-day weekend (unlike in some countries, Italy’s public holidays can fall on any day of the week.)

All public offices (banks, post offices, town halls, etc.) and schools will be closed on the day, though some shops and restaurants, especially in big cities, may remain open. 

Public transport services around the country will operate on a reduced timetable (usually referred to as orario festivo) on June 2nd, while heavier-than-normal traffic can be expected on Italian roads over the weekend. Read more about what to expect here.

Frecce Tricolori jets fly over Rome

The acrobatic unit of Italy’s Air Force, known as ‘Frecce Tricolori’, will fly over Rome on Friday, June 2nd as part of the country’s Republic Day celebrations. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

June 2nd and 4th – Free museum entry

You can visit Italy’s famous attractions free of charge not once cut twice this coming holiday weekend with two special free opening dates on the calendar.

Italy opens the doors of state-run museums and archaeological sites for free every first Sunday of the month under the Domenica al museo or ‘free museum Sundays‘ scheme.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Italy’s free museum Sundays

Plus many of the same sites will offer free access to mark the public holiday, Republic Day, on Friday, June 2nd.

Free museum openings on Republic Day and two other “symbolic” dates were announced by Italy’s culture minister in March in addition to the free Sundays offer.

Participating venues on June 2nd include Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia, Bologna’s Pinacoteca Nazionale, the royal palace of Caserta, and the Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome.

See a full list on the culture ministry’s website here.

June 4th – Airport staff strike

Airline passengers travelling to or from Italy are set to face disruption on Sunday, June 4th as airport handling staff around the country are set to take part in a 24-hour walkout. 

As at least four of Italy’s largest transport workers’ unions are involved in the strike, the protest is expected to cause at least some level of disruption at all of Italy’s major airports, especially at check-in desks and in baggage collection areas.

See the latest information about Sunday’s airport strikes in our article here.

Empty check-in desks at an airport

Airline passengers may face delays or cancellations on Sunday, June 4th due to a national airport handling staff strike. Photo by Andre PAIN / AFP
 
June 7th – Start of school summer holidays

Italian schools all start their summer break in June, with kids on holiday until September.

However, the dates for the end of the 2022-2023 school year vary from region to region. 

Here are the end of term dates by region: 

  • June 7th: Emilia Romagna
  • June 8th: Lombardy and Lazio
  • June 9th: Trentino
  • June 10th: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Liguria, Piedmont, Marche, Tuscany, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria, Abruzzo, Umbria, Sicily, Sardinia
  • June 15th: Aosta Valley
  • June 16th: Autonomous province of Bolzano

Children diving into the sea in Italy

Children at Italian schools will all go on their summer breaks in June, though the exact dates vary from region to region. Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

June 7th and 10th – Major football events

Two major European football finals will take place in June, with an Italian team pitted against an English side in both contests.

Florence’s football team Fiorentina will take on West Ham in the UEFA Conference League epilogue on Wednesday, June 7th, while Inter Milan will face Manchester City in a battle for the UEFA Champions League title on Saturday, June 10th. 

Florence and Milan residents should expect city-wide celebrations and late-night parties if their local team wins.

June 15th – Museum ticket prices increase

Ticket prices will go up by €1 across all of Italy’s state-run museums this summer in what the government says is a temporary hike to help fund the restoration of cultural heritage sites damaged by flooding.
 
The price increase will be in place from June 15th to September 15th this year, according to reports.
 
The measure was announced as part of an aid package worth €2 billion for the north-eastern Emilia-Romagna region, where floods in mid-May killed at least 14 people and caused severe damage to buildings.
 
Money raised by the measure will go towards restoration work on museums, libraries and monuments damaged by flooding in the region, the government said.

June 16th – The start of tax season

We’re sure you’ll be thrilled to hear that this month brings the first Italian tax deadlines of the year.

READ ALSO: The Italian tax calendar for 2023: Which taxes are due when?

Tax season begins with the IMU property tax deadline on June 16th for those who own a second home in the country.

Find out more about paying this tax here.

Italian Revenue Agency office

June 24th – Aid concert for Emilia Romagna

Italy’s culture ministry has announced a concert to raise funds for the northeastern region of Emilia-Romagna, after it was left devastated by severe flooding in mid-May.

The ‘Italia loves Romagna’ concert will be held at the Campovolo venue in Reggio Emilia on Saturday, June 24th, and tickets are on sale via Vivaticket, TicketOne and Ticketmaster.

It will feature Italian acts including Blanco, Elisa, Luciano Ligabue, Fiorella Mannoia, Gianni Morandi, Negramaro, Laura Pausini, Salmo, Zucchero, and more.

Culture undersecretary Gianmarco Mazzi said the concert aimed to raise as much money as possible for those affected by the floods, and also to encourage people to visit the region this summer to help it recover.

The even comes 11 years after a similar concert was held to raise funds to support the Emilia Romagna region’s recovery from two earthquakes which left 27 dead.

June 30th – Income tax payment due

For those who pay income tax in Italy, the first instalments of Italy’s personal (Irpef) and corporate (Ires and Irap) income taxes is due by Friday, June 30th. 

The second instalment of income tax will be due by November 30th.

Find out more about the deadlines for paying these taxes here.

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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

A key tax date for homeowners and a parliamentary vote on controversial electoral reform: here's what to expect in Italy this week.

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

Monday

Italy’s property tax deadline

Homeowners will have until the end of Monday, June 17th, to pay the first instalment of Italy’s property tax IMU (Imposta Municipale Unica, or Unified Municipal Tax). 

The first IMU deadline normally falls on June 16th but it was moved to June 17th this year as June 16th is a Sunday.

IMU, whose exact amount varies by the type, value and location of a property, is not owed by all homeowners in Italy. To see whether or not the tax applies to you, see our article

Tax return deadline for Americans living abroad

US nationals living outside the States, including in Italy, must file their annual federal income tax return by Monday, June 17th this year.

The standard deadline for American taxpayers living in the States is April 15th, but foreign residents are granted an automatic two-month extension to June 15th. As June 15th fell on a Saturday this year, the deadline was moved to the nearest following working day: June 17th.

READ ALSO: Do US nationals in Italy have to pay taxes twice?

Foreign residents who are unable to file their tax return by the automatic extension date can request an additional extension to October 15th.

A closeup of an American 1040 income tax form

A closeup of an American 1040 income tax form. Photo by JOE RAEDLE / Getty Images via AFP

Tuesday

Voter registration deadline for Brits 

British nationals anywhere in the world have until 11.59pm British Summer Time on Tuesday, June 18th, to register to vote in the July 4th general election. 

Most voters can register online, with the process taking around 5 minutes. If you previously were disbarred from voting due to the 15-year rule, you should register here.

READ ALSO: How Brits living in Europe can register to vote for UK election

If you live outside the UK, you’ll also have to choose how you want to vote after registering. There are two options: a postal vote, where you’re sent a ballot paper that will need to reach the polls by polling day, or a proxy vote, where a UK-based voter you trust can vote on your behalf.

The deadlines to choose your voting option can be found here.

Senate to vote on contested electoral reform bill

Italy’s upper house of parliament will vote on a controversial electoral reform bill on Tuesday after senators approved one of its key articles last Wednesday.

The reform, which proposes an overhaul of the current electoral system by allowing voters to directly elect the prime minister, is seen as necessary for Italy’s political stability by PM Giorgia Meloni. 

But critics have said that the proposed system isn’t found in any other democratic nation in the world and would dangerously deplete the President of the Republic’s powers.

A constitutional reform in Italy must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, or else be put to a referendum. Meloni’s coalition currently lacks such a majority in both houses.

Opposition parties to stage Rome protest after parliament brawl

Italy’s opposition parties will stage a protest in Rome on Tuesday after a brawl in the lower house of parliament last Wednesday resulted in a Five-Star Movement MP being injured and needing medical attention.

The rally, which is backed by the Five-Star Movement, the Democratic Party, the Green-Left Alliance and More Europe, was called in response to “a climate of continuous intimidation” enforced by the ruling majority. 

The protest was scheduled to take place in Rome’s Piazza Santissimi Apostoli at 5.30pm.

Thursday

Italy takes on Spain in second Euro 2024 match

The Italian national football team will face Spain in its second group stage match of the 2024 European Championship on Thursday, June 20th.

The game will be held at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, with kickoff set for 9pm Italian time.

For details on how to watch Euro 2024 matches in Italy, see our guide.

Saturday

Venice Art Night

Venice will put on a full programme of cultural events and special evening openings on Saturday, June 22nd, as part of the 13th edition of the popular Art Night scheme.

From museums and galleries to palaces and art foundations, some 150 institutions around the city will keep their doors open to the public until late, with many offering free admission. 

Tickets at select cinemas around the city will also be sold at a discounted price of 3 euros.

For more information on this year’s programme, see the Venice Art Night website

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