Italy Guide
Public holidays
Whereas it can be fun to stumble across a local festival, it's best to know when the national holidays are as almost everything will shut down. In August, particularly during the weeks either side of Ferragosto (Aug 15), when most of the country flees to the coast and mountains, many towns are left half-deserted, with shops, bars and restaurants closed and a reduced public transport service. Local religious holidays don't necessarily close down shops and businesses, but they do mean that accommodation space may be tight. The country's official national holidays, on the other hand, close everything down except bars and restaurants. A recent initiative has been to open national museums and monuments on public holidays to encourage Italians to make the most of their national heritage, although it's still best to check beforehand if you are planning a trip around one particular sight.
January 1 Primo dell'anno New Year's Day
January 6 Epifania Epiphany
Pasquetta, Easter Monday
April 25 Giorno della Liberazione Liberation Day
May 1 Festa dei Lavoratori Labour Day
June 2 Festa della Repubblica Republic Day
August 15 Ferragosto Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1 Ognissanti All Souls Day
December 8 Immacolata Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 25 Natale Christmas
December 26 Santo Stefano St Stephen's Day