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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.

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.

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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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