What’s happening in Italy this week

From Easter celebrations and a new UK-Italy flight route to the return of Venice’s contested entry fee system, here’s what to expect in Italy this week.

Tuesday

Window to switch to summer tyres opens

Motorists in Italy have from Tuesday, April 15th to Thursday, May 15th to switch from winter to summer tyres.

After the window to make the switch closes, drivers caught breaking the rules will face a fine of up to €1,731 plus the requirement to undergo a revisione (the Italian equivalent of a UK MOT test or a vehicle inspection in the US).

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

Wednesday

EasyJet launches new London-Rimini route

British budget airline EasyJet will launch a new direct link between London Gatwick and Rimini’s Federico Fellini Airport on Wednesday, April 16th.

Flights in either direction will have a twice-weekly frequency (Wednesdays and Sundays), with a travel time of around two hours and 15 minutes.

Located in Italy’s northeastern Emilia-Romagna region, Rimini is a popular seaside resort known for its beaches and vibrant nightlife.

Thursday

Italian PM Meloni meets Trump in Washington

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Washington on Thursday, April 17th for tariff talks with US President Donald Trump.

Meloni will be the first European leader to meet Trump after he announced punishing 20-percent tariffs on EU imports.

Tariffs on European goods came into effect on Wednesday but were suspended later that day as part of a 90-day pause on duties imposed on all countries except China.

Despite previously criticising the new tariffs as “wrong” and warning that an EU-US trade war “would inevitably weaken the West to the advantage of other global players”, Meloni has maintained close ties with Trump and her government has pitched itself as a mediator between Washington and Brussels.

“The Italian government has good relations with the Trump administration and our work could be useful in convincing the Americans to reach a positive solution,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday.

Friday

Good Friday

Good Friday isn’t a public holiday in Italy, which means that work will go on as usual and most businesses will operate according to their normal opening hours on April 18th.

It might seem strange that Good Friday is excluded from the list of Italy’s national holidays, especially when it’s a day off even in non-Catholic countries including the UK, Germany and Sweden.

People in Italy don’t get a day off work on Venerdì Santo because it’s a celebration; it’s a day of mourning, marking the day that Jesus died on the cross according to Christian tradition.

Via Crucis (‘Way of the Cross’) processions will be held in cities and towns around the country on Friday, with the most famous one taking place in Rome.

Rome’s Via Crucis procession is usually led by the pope, but there is growing speculation that Francis may not take part in this year’s ceremony as he’s still recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia.

Venice brings back contested entry fee scheme

Venice is set to reintroduce a contested entry fee system for day-trippers on Friday, April 18th, after the scheme underwent its first trial phase in 2024.

The entry fee, which is aimed at managing tourist numbers amid efforts to preserve the city’s fragile artistic heritage, will be operative on a total of 54 dates in 2025 – up from 29 days in 2024.

The charge will also double for ‘late’ bookings this year. Visitors who book their tickets at least four days in advance will pay an entry fee of €5, whereas those who book within three days of their visit will face a €10 charge.

You can see a full list of this year’s dates and further details about the Venice entry fee HERE.

Sunday

Easter Sunday

Unlike Good Friday, la Domenica di Pasqua is a national public holiday in Italy, which means that you’ll get a day off for it if you’d normally be working on a Sunday.

For many Italians, Easter Sunday celebrations involve attending Mass in the morning and then having a big lunch with their family members and more immediate relatives.

Several cities and towns around the country will hold traditional events on Easter Sunday.

For instance, Florence will stage its iconic scoppio del carro (literally, ‘explosion of the cart’) on Sunday morning, with a dove-shaped rocket (the so-called colombina) igniting a two-story wagon packed full of fireworks in front of the city’s Duomo cathedral.

The event, which is thought to date as far back as the early 12th century, is attended by hundreds of residents and visitors every year.

What’s happening in Italy this week

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