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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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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

From patron saint celebrations in Florence and Rome to an income tax deadline, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

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

Monday

Patron saint celebrations in Florence

Tuscany’s capital will celebrate its patron saint, John the Baptist, on Monday, June 24th.

The Festa di San Giovanni is a local holiday in Florence, meaning that many around the city will get the day off.

As is tradition, a number of cultural events and religious ceremonies will mark the festival, with the highlights of the day including a historical costume parade winding its way through the city centre, a live music concert on the Zecca Vecchia bank of the Arno river and a 40-minute firework show at 10pm.

Italy takes on Croatia in decisive Euro 2024 match

The Italian national football team will face Croatia in its last group stage match of Euro 2024 on Monday, June 24th.

After beating Albania 2-1 in their opening game, the Azzurri lost 1-0 to a dominant Spain side on Thursday and will now have to avoid defeat against Croatia to qualify for the knockout stage as group runners-up.

Players from Italy's national football team pictured during an international friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Players from Italy’s national football team pictured during an international friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in June 2024. Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP

The game will be held at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, with kickoff set for 9pm Italian time. For details on how to watch Euro 2024 matches in Italy, see our guide.

Wednesday

Deadline to apply for proxy vote in UK election

British nationals living outside the UK, including in Italy, have until 5pm British Summer Time on Wednesday, June 26th to apply to vote by proxy in the July 4th general election. 

In order to complete your application you’ll need your National Insurance number or any other identity document, address and contact details of your proxy, and a photo of your handwritten signature.

Find further details on applying for a proxy vote on the UK government’s website.

24-hour public transport strike in Milan

Commuters in Milan may face delays and or cancellations on Wednesday, June 26th as staff at public transport operator ATM plan to strike for 24 hours.

The walkout is set to affect the normal operation of buses, trams and underground trains, but shouldn’t impact long-distance trains and taxi services.

READ ALSO: Key dates: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in summer 2024

A tram rides past a junction in downtown Milan

A tram rides past a junction in downtown Milan. Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP

ATM is expected to guarantee the operation of a number of minimum services (or servizi minimi) at peak commute hours on Wednesday. Details on these should become available closer to the date of the strike. 

Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

Friday

Two Worlds Festival in Spoleto

The popular Festival dei Due Mondi (or Two Worlds Festival) – a 17-day event featuring a full programme of music, opera and theatre performances – will return to Spoleto, in the central Umbria region, on Friday, June 28th. 

The festival was founded by Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti in 1958 and was originally twinned with the Spoleto Festival USA held in Charleston, South Carolina, with the intention of marrying the ‘two worlds’ of American and European culture.

READ ALSO: Nine unmissable events in Italy in summer 2024

For further info on all of this year’s scheduled events, see the festival’s website.

Saturday

Rome celebrates Saints Peter and Paul

Rome residents will celebrate local patron saints Peter and Paul on Saturday, June 29th.

Though the annual Festa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo is a local holiday in the capital, it won’t give residents an extra day off this year as it falls on a non-working day.

That said, the day will be marked by the usual mix of religious and secular celebrations, which will culminate in the traditional firework display over the Pincian Hill, in the northeastern quadrant of the city centre, in the evening.

Sunday

Irpef income tax deadline

The deadline for paying the first instalment of Italy’s personal income tax Irpef falls on Sunday, June 30th this year. 

Payment must be made through modello F24 (form F24). The Italian tax office offers guidance on how to fill out and submit the form, though this is currently only available in Italian.

The deadline for making the second payment falls on November 30th.

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