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WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

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

The start of peak summer holiday season, a Milan-Nice direct train and free museum openings: here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Published: 28 July 2024 08:12 CEST
Beachgoers pictured at Liguria's Varazze beach, northern Italy
Beachgoers pictured at Liguria's Varazze beach, northern Italy. Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Wednesday

Verona-Vicenza railway line to shut for three weeks 

The railway line connecting the cities of Verona and Vicenza, in Italy’s northern Veneto region, is set to shut for three weeks, from Wednesday, July 31st to August 21st to allow for planned construction work ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina. 

The closure is set to cause route and schedule changes, and longer travel times on a number of regional and long-distance routes, according to a statement from railway infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana.

The Milan-Venice high-speed link is set to be among the affected routes, with longer travel times expected for both Trenitalia and Italo trains running in either direction.

Thursday

Italy’s peak summer holiday season begins 

Thursday, August 1st will mark the start of Italy’s peak holiday month, with millions of people around the country set to leave for their vacation destinations in the following days or weeks.

People living in Italy are strongly advised to try and complete any admin tasks before the calendar flips to August, or by the first weekend of the month at the latest, as the majority of private businesses and public offices will be closed for at least a couple of weeks (but possibly up to four weeks in some cases).

Besides plenty of chiuso per ferie (‘closed for the holidays’) signs, you can also expect Italian motorways and state roads to see intense traffic on multiple occasions from August 1st as thousands of holidaymakers will travel to their destinations by car. 

Albanian migrant reception centres to open

Two Albania-based reception centres intended to host asylum seekers rescued by the Italian coastguard as they await a decision on their claims are scheduled to be operational from Thursday, August 1st.

Located near the northern Albanian port of Shengjin, the Italian-run facilities were initially meant to open on May 20th, but the date was postponed to August 1st due to construction work delays. 

Italian police officers stand guard inside an Italian-run migrant centre near the Albanian port of Shengjin

Italian police officers stand guard inside an Italian-run migrant centre near the Albanian port of Shengjin. Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP

The Italy-Albania migrant deal, which was signed by the leaders of both countries in November 2023 and approved by parliament in January, has sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups, with Amnesty International warning it is “in violation of international law” on migrant rescue operations.

Friday 

44th anniversary of 1980 Bologna bombing 

Friday, August 2nd will mark the 44th anniversary of the 1980 Bologna bombing – one of the deadliest terror attacks in Italian history.

On August 2nd 1980, a powerful explosion tore apart the waiting room of Bologna’s railway station, killing 85 people and injuring 200. 

Five members of far-right terrorist groups were later convicted in relation to the bombing, but suspicions over the alleged involvement of Italian secret service agents remain to this day.

In August 2023, Italy’s parliament voted to declassify secret files on the bombing in a bid to “get to the truth” about the massacre.

Sunday

New direct train linking Milan to French Riviera

A new summer train route connecting Milan to the picturesque city of Nice, on the French Riviera, is set to launch on Sunday, August 4th.

The Espresso Riviera will take passengers from Milan’s Stazione Centrale to Nice’s Ville station via Liguria’s Ventimiglia every Saturday and Sunday morning from August 4th to September 29th, with return journeys the same evening.

A Freccia Rossa high-speed train pictured at Milan's central railway station

A Freccia Rossa high-speed train pictured at Milan’s central railway station. Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP

The Espresso Riviera is one of a number of new tourist-focused services known as Treni Turistici Italiani operated by Italy’s state-owned rail company Ferrovie dello Stato.

Free museum openings

People around Italy will be able to visit state-run museums and archaeological sites free of charge on Sunday, August 4th under the popular Domenica al Museo or ‘free museum Sundays’ national scheme.

The initiative applies to hundreds of sites, including world-famous attractions like the Colosseum, Pompeii, Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia, the Reggia di Caserta and Trieste’s Miramare Castle. 

Find out more about how the scheme works in our article.

Palio del Golfo regatta in La Spezia

The Palio del Golfo – one of the most iconic events in Italy’s summer cultural calendar – will take place in La Spezia, Liguria, on Sunday, August 4th.

Unlike other Pali held around the country over the summer months, including the famed Palio di Siena horse race, this is a strictly nautical affair as it consists of a spectacular rowing race that sees four-man teams from each of the 13 seaside villages lining the Gulf of La Spezia vie for the top of the podium.

READ ALSO: What’s on: 9 unmissable events taking place around Italy in August 2024

As by tradition, the race will be held in the waters facing La Spezia’s Morin promenade, and will be followed by a firework show.

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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN ITALY

What changes about life in Italy in October 2024

From the government’s 2025 budget plan to an income tax declaration deadline and a host of food festivals, here's what you can expect in Italy next month.

Published: 18 September 2024 16:10 CEST
What changes about life in Italy in October 2024

2025 budget plan

Italy’s government is currently busy working on its 2025 budget law, with the first draft due to be submitted to the EU by October 15th and then to the Italian parliament by October 20th.

That said, the initial draft is likely to be far from the final version as Italy’s lower house and senate have until the end of the year to revise its text.

The ruling coalition said in a joint statement in early September that the 2025 budget bill will “continue along the path of a serious, balanced budgetary policy,” concentrating the available resources on “families, businesses, young people and the birth rate”.

New ‘tourist trains’ link Rome with Assisi and Alba

Two new tourist-focused rail routes linking Rome with the mediaeval hill town of Assisi, in the central Umbria region, and Alba, a small town in the northern Piedmont region famous for its truffles, are set to launch in early October.

The two upcoming rail links are part of Italy’s Treni Turistici Italiani (‘Italian Tourist Trains’) – a series of new services intended by state-owned operator Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) as a way to boost train travel to popular holiday destinations, as well as lesser-known parts of the peninsula. You can see further details about the new routes here.

Autumn cultural heritage days

Hundreds of cultural sites across Italy will open their doors to the public on Saturday, October 12th, and Sunday, October 13th, under the popular Giornate FAI d’Autunno, or ‘FAI Autumn days’ – an event organised by cultural heritage society Fondo Ambiente Italiano (the Italian equivalent of the UK’s National Trust).

Many of the participating sites, including villas, castles, churches, abbeys, parks, and theatres, are not usually open to the public or are otherwise difficult to visit.

For details on the list of sites that will be included in this year’s Autumn Days, keep an eye on FAI’s website, which is due to be updated in the first week of October. 

Window to switch from summer to winter tyres opens

Under the Italian Highway Code, motorists are required to equip their vehicles with winter tires (or, alternatively, have snow chains on board) during the cold season.

The window to make the switch opens on October 15th, but the requirement and penalties for not following it only come into force on November 15th.

After the one-month window closes, drivers breaking the rules face hefty fines plus the requirement to undergo a revisione (the Italian equivalent of a UK MOT test).

Italy’s winter tyres requirement is a frequent source of confusion as it doesn’t apply to all vehicles. See our article to find out whether or not it applies to you.

Transport strikes

Italian trade unions have announced multiple protests for the first half of October, starting with a 24-hour nationwide public transport strike on October 5th. 

You can see a list of all planned walkouts in our autumn strike calendar. 

Local food festivals 

October is by far the month with the most sagre – harvest festivals or fairs centred around one particular food item local to the town hosting it.

A sagra has a fairly broad definition: it could last for several weeks or one day, and might consist of anything from lively celebrations with music and dancing to relaxed tasting experiences. All festivals however are centred on eating (or drinking) fresh local produce.

We rounded up some of the best sagre you can stop by next month here.

Clocks go back

Clocks will go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 27th, as Italy and all other EU member states switch from daylight savings time to standard time.

This means you’ll get an extra hour in bed on Sunday, but the evenings will feel a lot darker after the time change.

Digital clocks on computers or phones should update automatically, but get ready to frantically search for the manual to your oven so you can figure out how to change its display on the 27th.

Income tax declaration deadline 

The window to file the modello persone fisiche (or modello PF) – Italy’s main income tax return form for self-employed individuals and foreign residents – will close on October 31st.

Taxpayers who are required to file the modello PF are strongly advised to keep the October deadline in mind as the Italian taxman shows little in the way of leniency when it comes to late filing and failure to file.

The main tax dates for the remainder of 2024 can be found in our calendar.

Halloween celebrations

Halloween is not as big in Italy as it is elsewhere – Italians traditionally celebrate All Saints (Ognissanti) on November 1st instead – but you can still expect to see kids dressed up in creepy costumes roam the neighbourhood on October 31st.

And, while the practice is not as ubiquitous as it is in the US, you may find you get a few mini ghouls or witches knocking on your door shouting “dolcetto o scherzetto!” (trick or treat).

Do you know about any other events or activities happening in October that you think we should feature? Let us know in the comments section below or via email at news@thelocal.it

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