You know, Italy has a total of 11 annual public holidays, plus there are feast days for local patron saints. For example, we celebrate SS. Pietro e Paolo here in Rome on June 29th, and in Milan, they celebrate S. Ambrogio on December 7th.

One thing to keep in mind is that Italy sticks to the calendar date for these holidays every year. So, if a holiday falls on a weekend, there’s no extra day off. That’s just how it goes here.

We have this great system here called taking a ponte or “bridge.” So, if a holiday falls near the start or end of the workweek, we often create a long weekend out of it.

Italian National Holidays | Celebrated across Italy

Just like most countries, we start the year with a public holiday on January 1st for New Year’s Day.

In Italy, we also have public holidays for Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

So, next on our list is Liberation Day, or Festa della Liberazione, on April 25th. This is a big deal here because it marks the end of the Fascist regime and the Nazi occupation during World War II. It’s also a celebration of our Resistance movement, the partigiani. We’ve been marking this as a national holiday since 1946. But I have to tell you, it’s still a bit controversial. Every year, some right-wing politicians stir things up by refusing to celebrate it.

On May 1st, we celebrate Labour Day, known here as the Festa dei Lavoratori or Festa del Lavoro. Over 80 countries observe this day, honoring the labour movement and the achievements of trade unions for workers.Our first Labour Day celebrations go back to the late 19th century. It was cancelled for about 20 years during the Fascist era but was brought back in 1945.

Repubblica Day, or Festa Della Repubblica, is the holiday when we celebrate the formation of Italy’s republic after World War II. It’s observed on June 2nd, marking the anniversary of the 1946 vote where Italians chose to become a republic, getting rid of the monarchy.

Repubblica Day is celebrated all over Italy with festivals, parades, and special events. It’s a public holiday, so schools, government offices, and many businesses are closed on June 2nd.

The biggest celebrations happen right here in Rome. The president of Italy and other important government officials attend. Traditions include a flag-raising ceremony at the Altare della Patria at 9:15 am, a memorial to the unknown soldiers of World War I. During this ceremony, the President lays a laurel wreath at the memorial to honor the fallen soldiers.

One of the most exciting events in Rome is the military parade on Via Dei Fori Imperiali, followed by the amazing Frecce Tricolori aerobatic show. The Frecce Tricolori are a prestigious group of fighter jets in the Italian Air Force. On Repubblica Day, they fly over Piazza Venezia and the national monument of Vittorio Emmanuele II, creating streams of red, green, and white smoke to form the Italian flag.

While there’s no official dish or dessert for Repubblica Day, I recommend celebrating with a fresh Caprese salad. Its ingredients—tomato, mozzarella, and basil—are the same colors as the Italian flag.

Coming up next on our holiday calendar is Ferragosto on August 15th. It’s when we celebrate the feast of the Assumption, which is all about Catholic believes and is a religious day. Now, Ferragosto has some pretty ancient roots—it goes way back to Roman times. Emperor Augustus started the Feriae Augusti back in 18 BC as a chill-out period.

Then, on November 1st, we have a public holiday for All Saints’ Day, also known as Ognissanti or Tutti i Santi. It’s a religious day where Catholics and other Christians pay their respects to all the saints of the church.

Now, let’s talk about the feast of the Immaculate Conception, known as L’Immacolata, which falls on December 8th. This day holds special significance in the Catholic calendar and also kicks off the Christmas shopping frenzy. Here in Rome, it’s a big deal—the Pope himself heads to Piazza Mignanelli near the Spanish Steps to pay his respects to the Virgin Mary.

Wrapping up the holiday season, we have the same last three public holidays as many other places around the world: Christmas Day (Natale) on December 25th, St. Stephen’s Day (S. Stefano) on December 26th, and New Year’s Eve (S. Silvestro) on December 31st.

Local Public Holidays in Italy | Specific to certain cities

In addition to our national holidays, certain cities in Italy have their own special days dedicated to local patron saints. These days are celebrated with local pride and traditions that give each city its unique character.

For example, Rome celebrates the feast of SS. Pietro e Paolo (Saints Peter and Paul) on June 29th. As the city’s patron saints, their day is a big deal here, especially around Vatican City and the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica. Expect to see festivities, special masses, and a few celebratory gatherings around town.

Meanwhile, up in Milan, residents honor S. Ambrogio (Saint Ambrose) on December 7th. Named after Milan’s beloved bishop and patron saint, this day marks the beginning of the Milanese holiday season and coincides with the opening night of La Scala opera season, a huge cultural event. The day is a blend of religious observance and local pride, as well as an exciting kick-off to winter festivities.

These local holidays may not be recognized nationwide, but they offer a wonderful glimpse into each city’s heritage and community spirit. While businesses might close for the day, it’s the perfect time to explore, join the celebrations, and experience Italy’s local traditions.