DATES FOR THE CALENDAR: ITALIAN HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

If you’re trying to figure out when is a good time to visit Italy, the truth is, in a country with cultural and history as varied in Italy, there’s always something being celebrated!

Each season has its own charms in terms of food and scenery, but the Italians have cultural and food festivals and holidays with processions, presentations and plenty of pomp and circumstance throughout the year as well.

Here’s our month-by-month guide to the many of the most notable events in Italy.

There are, however, truly too many things to list here, so if you’re interested in something particular, like summer opera festivals, get in touch, and I can let you know some picks tailored to your interests.

JANUARY

January 1: New Year’s Day
January 6: Epiphany
January: Pitti Imagine fashion conventions, Florence
January 31–February 17: Carnevale, Venice and Viareggio are notable destinations, but there are celebrations everywhere

FEBRUARY

February 5: Saint Agatha’s Feast Day, celebrated in Catania, Sicily, with the second largest religious procession in the world
February 17: Mardi Gras

MARCH

March 8: La Festa della Donna, women’s day
March 22–25: Vititaly wine festival in Verona

APRIL

April 6: Easter Sunday
April 7: Easter Monday, Pasquetta, a day for picnicking and enjoying spring
April 25: Italian Liberation Day

MAY

May 1: May Day/Labor Day (closures)
May 1: Expo Milano begins
May 1: Feast of Sant Efisio, Sardinia’s most important festival stretching over four days
May 9-November 22: Biennale in Venice
May 24-26: Florence Artisan Gelato Festival Gelato Festival, Florence
May 9-31: Giro d’Italia bike race, Italy’s version of the Tour de France

JUNE

June 2: Festa della Repubblica, major national holiday with large presentations in Rome
June 24: Day of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence

JULY

June–August: Outdoor opera season
July 2: First Siena Palio

AUGUST

August 15: Feast of the Assumption or Ferragosoto, the biggest holiday in Italy when everyone flees the city for the beach
August 16: Second Siena Palio