Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

From transport strikes to a hotly-anticipated Berlusconi docuseries, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 7 April 2024 07:34 CEST
Updated: 8 April 2024 09:18 CEST
On the agenda: What's happening in Italy this week
The 'Giro d'Abruzzo', modelled on the Giro d'Italian, is set to take place from Tuesday-Friday this week. Photo by Dario BELINGHERI / AFP.

Monday

Airport strikes

Some passengers may find their journeys disrupted on Monday as air traffic controllers at Italy’s Brindisi airport in the southern region of Puglia have announced a 24-hour strike on Monday, April 8th.

Air traffic control staff at Bari airport, also in Puglia, have also announced a four-hour walkout from 1pm to 5pm.

Flight staff of the regional airline Air Dolomiti, which operates under Lufthansa, have meanwhile said they will strike during the same 24-hour period.

Cancellations and delays are possible between 10am and 6pm, when flights are not protected under Italian law from strike action.

Early closures on Rome metro line A

Rome’s Metro A line will once again close early from April 8th until December 5th to allow maintenance work to be completed ahead of the Vatican’s Jubilee Year 2025, the city’s transport authority has confirmed.

The entire line will close at 9pm from Sunday to Thursday and passengers will be directed to use a replacement bus service.

On Fridays and Saturdays the line is to remain open until the usual time of 1.30am.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the work was “necessary to address the significant increase in demand for public transport” expected.

Tuesday 

Giro d’Abruzzo begins

The Giro d’Abruzzo – a regional version of the Giro d’Italia cycling championship – is set to kick off on Tuesday, April 9th, ending on Friday, April 12th in L’Aquila, Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2026.

The race will start in the seaside town of Vasto and move on to Chieti, where a number of schools will be closed from lunchtime onwards to make space for the race.

Thursday

Berlusconi docuseries to air on Netflix

A documentary series about the controversial business mogul and former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died last June, is set to stream on Netflix from Thursday, April 11th.

Il Giovane Berlusconi (The Young Berlusconi), consists of three 50-minute episodes covering the politician’s trajectory from entrepreneur in the mid-70s to his entry into Italy’s political arena in 1994, and reportedly features previously unseen archival footage.

Il Giovane Berlusconi covers the period up until the showman leader’s entry into politics in 1994. Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP.

General transport strike

A four-hour general strike called by two of Italy’s largest workers’ unions is set to cause disruption to public transport services on Thursday, April 11th.

The strike, announced by the CGIL and UIL unions to protest for better worker safety conditions and an income tax reform, is expected to shut down some train services between 9am and 1pm. No further details were available at the time of writing.

Staff working for local transport providers, meanwhile, are expected to strike for different four-hour windows from city to city.

Sunday

Genoa half marathon

Genoa’s 21-kilometre half marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 14th, following a circular route that starts and finishes at the Porto Antico and takes in the city’s aquarium and the picturesque fishing village of Boccadasse.

In addition to the main race, there will also be a 4km family run and shorter 13 km run.

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

A key tax date for homeowners, a voter registration deadline for Brits and MPs' vote on a contested electoral reform: here's what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 16 June 2024 08:22 CEST
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.

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

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.

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. 

A view of Italy's upper house of parliament

A view of Italy’s upper house of parliament in November 2023. Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

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. 

SHOW COMMENTS