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Practical & Seasonal

Festa Calendar

Italy has national holidays, regional celebrations, and thousands of local patron saint festivals. Knowing what's coming up helps you plan: some holidays mean everything closes, some are spectacular experiences worth timing your trip around.

What this solves

You arrive in Naples on December 8 (Immacolata) expecting a normal tourist day. Half the shops are closed; the city feels subdued. That's because it's a national holiday. Italian holidays affect everything from shops to transport. This tool tells you what's coming up.

Check

Italian national holidays (fixed)

DateHolidayImpact
January 1Capodanno (New Year)Major — most things closed
January 6EpifaniaMajor — most things closed; La Befana tradition
Easter Sunday + MondayPasquaMajor — most things closed
April 25Liberation DayMajor — shops closed, museums often free
May 1Festa del LavoroMajor — most things closed; strike risk
June 2Festa della RepubblicaMajor — most things closed; military parade in Rome
August 15FerragostoMajor — most things closed
November 1Ognissanti (All Saints)Major — most things closed
December 8ImmacolataMajor — most things closed; Christmas season begins
December 25Natale (Christmas)Major — most things closed
December 26Santo StefanoMajor — most things closed

Major regional festivals by month

February: Carnevale (Viareggio, Venice, Acireale). 2-3 weeks of parades and masks before Lent.
March: Festa di San Giuseppe (father's day, Sicily). Sagra del Carciofo (Lazio).
April: Settimana Santa (Holy Week). Processions in many southern towns.
May: Palio di Siena (July 2 + Aug 16). Infiorate di Spello (flower festival).
June: Calcio Storico Fiorentino (Florence, June). Festa di San Giovanni (Turin).
July: Festa del Redentore (Venice, third Sunday).花火 (fireworks over the lagoon).
August: Ferragosto (Aug 15 everywhere). Palio di Siena (Aug 16).
September: Venice Film Festival (late Aug - early Sep). Regata Storica (Venice, first Sunday).
October: Alba White Truffle Festival (weekends). Sagre del fungo (porcini festivals).
November: Sagre del cinghiale (wild boar). Festa dell'olio nuovo (new olive oil).
December: Christmas markets (Trentino, Alto Adige). Christmas masses at the Vatican.

How to read the result

  1. The national holidays are nationwide.
  2. The regional events are specific to cities/regions.
  3. The impact tells you whether to expect closures, crowds, or just a festive vibe.

Limitations

  • Festival dates change yearly. Easter is variable. Verify on the specific city's website.
  • Local patron saint days are per-town; thousands exist. Major ones are listed here; local ones are not.
  • Many regional festivals happen on the same day every year; others vary with the bishop's calendar.

FAQ

What is a sagra?

A sagra is a small-town food festival dedicated to one ingredient. Truffles, porcini, chestnuts, lamb. They happen on weekends spring-autumn. Eat at long communal tables with locals. €10-20 gets you a full meal with wine.

Are museums open on national holidays?

Major museums (Uffizi, Vatican, Colosseum, Accademia) are usually open on Italian holidays. They often have free entry on specific holidays (April 25, June 2). Smaller museums may close.

Sources

Italian government holidays; eventiitaliani.info regional festival listings 2024-2026.