SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

What changes in Italy in December 2023

From public holidays and Christmas displays to an important deadline for second-home owners, here's what to expect this month in Italy.

Christmas tree, Rome
A heavily decorated Christmas tree in Rome's Piazza Venezia in December 2022. Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Milan celebrates Saint Ambrose

Many of Milan’s residents will get a day off work on Thursday, December 7th, as that’s when the city commemorates Saint Ambrose, its beloved patron saint.

The annual Festa di Sant’Ambrogio is one of Milan’s most anticipated local festivals as it gives people in the northern metropolis a chance to catch up with family and friends, and unofficially kicks off the festive season in the city.

READ ALSO: Why do Milan residents get a day off on December 7th?

It’s also an opportunity to sample some home-made ambrosiani; traditional shortbread biscuits made to mark the occasion.

National public holiday (and a long weekend)

December 8th is a public holiday in Italy as residents celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Festa dell’Immacolata Concezione).

Conveniently, the holiday falls on a Friday this year, which means a three-day weekend (or a four-day one for some lucky Milanese).

The December 8th holiday unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas period nationwide, with most towns putting up their Christmas lights in the days right before or after the date and pretty much everything in the country – especially administration-related procedures – noticeably slowing down from this point on.

A word of advice: you might want to get any important paperwork done before December 8th – or else it may have to wait until January 6th when the Italian holidays unofficially end.

Italy, holidays

A traditional Christmas tree in Rome’s Piazza Venezia in December 2017. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Public transport strike

A major nationwide strike affecting public transport in cities across Italy was pushed back to Friday, December 15th after Italy’s transport minister moved to limit its duration on the original date of from Monday, November 27th

The rescheduled protest is set to affect bus, subway and tram services, with timing and severity varying in Rome, Milan and other cities across Italy, at the start of one of the busiest travel and shopping weekends of the year just 10 days before Christmas.

READ ALSO: The strikes affecting travel in Italy in December 2023

As this is a local public transport strike, it is not expected to impact flights or long-distance and interregional rail services.

New Rome-Cortina rail route

Rome residents will have an easier way of getting to the famous slopes of the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort this winter as a new sleeper train taking passengers from Roma Termini to the Calalzo station in the Dolomites in just over 10 hours is set to be launched on Friday, December 15th.   

READ ALSO: Where Italy’s new ‘tourist trains’ can take you in 2024

The upcoming Espresso Cadore (‘Cadore Express’) will only be the first in a series of new tourism-focused routes planned by Italy’s state railway company employing ‘luxury’ trains and vintage locomotives on some of the most popular lines as well as some lesser-known itineraries.

Property tax on second homes

The second instalment of Italy’s property tax on second homes – officially known as Imposta Municipale Unica (or IMU) – is due by Saturday, December 16th.

The tax is owed by all owners of a second home in Italy regardless of their nationality or residency status, but also applies to primary residences (prime case) in some rare cases

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

The deadline for the first instalment was June 16th.

Tuscany, house, snow

A photo taken in February 2012 shows a house near San Quirico, Tuscany after heavy snowfall. Photo by FABIO MUZZI / AFP

Shortest day of the year

Friday, December 22nd will be the shortest day of the year in the Earth’s northern hemisphere, with people in Italy only getting between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of daylight depending on location.

The phenomenon, known as winter solstice (or solstizio d’inverno in Italian), marks the moment when the earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted the furthest away from the sun, which also coincides with the official beginning of astronomical winter.

Christmas displays and markets

While it may not always be the first country that comes to mind when thinking of winter magic, there’s no denying that Italy goes all out for Christmas, as dozens of spectacular Christmas displays, including giant nativity sets and dazzling light shows, pop up all around the country in the lead up to the holidays. 

READ ALSO: Italy’s Christmas markets: Where and when to visit in 2023

But December is also the month when some pretty impressive Christmas markets spring up in the piazzas of several towns across the country, giving residents and visitors alike a chance to buy artisanal food products as well as feast on mulled wine and pretzels.

Milan Christmas market

A view of Milan’s Christmas market in December 2021. Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP

Christmas holidays 

Contrary to what some may think, December 24th (Christmas Eve) is not an official public holiday in Italy. 

However, as the day falls on a Sunday this year, most people around the country will still get the vigilia off.

Unlike December 24th, December 25th (Christmas Day) and December 26th (known as St Stephen’s Day in Italy and Boxing Day in English-speaking countries) are both public holidays.

New Year’s Eve celebrations

This year, we’ll be ringing in the New Year on a Sunday.

As always, people in Italy will celebrate the occasion with the usual mix of raucous revelries, ‘good luck’ foods and slightly questionable traditions, including the utterly unfathomable habit of throwing old crockery out of the windows.

But don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of time to recover from the razzle-dazzle of capodanno on Monday as New Year’s Day is a national public holiday in the country. 

Deadline for UK driving licence holders

Under a post-Brexit agreement reached at the end of 2022, UK driving licence holders who were legally resident in Italy on December 31st 2022 will have until December 31st 2023 to exchange their licence for an Italian one.

The deal between the UK and Italy means that the exchange process does not require drivers to retake the test. However, the swap involves some paperwork: find out what you’ll need to do in our step-by-step guide.

Budget law deadline

Italy’s parliament will have until December 31st to approve the 2024 budget.

READ ALSO: How will Italy’s 2024 budget affect your finances?

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
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.

SHOW COMMENTS