Italy has twelve national holidays plus each city's patron saint day — Milan on 7 December, Rome on 29 June, Florence on 24 June — which closes that city alone.

How people take the days

The ponte is standard practice around Republic Day and Liberation Day, and Ferragosto on 15 August marks the point where much of the country genuinely stops. Small businesses close for a fortnight around it.

If you're visiting

Restaurants, bars and tourist sites open; banks, post offices and most shops close. In August, expect shuttered neighbourhood businesses in the cities and everything open on the coast.

If you live here

Patron saint days are not on the national list but function as full holidays locally, including school closures. Two feasts, 19 March and Ascension, were abolished nationally in 1977 and still appear on outdated calendars.

What these days actually mean

Observance, business closures and transport impact for the next few dates.

St. Francis of Assisi's Day

4 Oct 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

All Saints Day

1 Nov 2026

Public

Observance: Families visit cemeteries with flowers and candles. Quiet and reflective rather than festive.
Business: Banks and most shops closed in Catholic-majority countries; florists do their busiest day of the year.
Transport: Extra services to cemeteries; heavy intercity travel over the weekend.

Immaculate Conception

8 Dec 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Christmas Day

25 Dec 2026

Public

Observance: The central Christian winter feast; in most countries the household gathering matters more than the church service.
Business: Near-total closure of retail, offices and banks. Expect the preceding afternoon to shut early too.
Transport: Skeleton or suspended services in many countries. Book intercity travel well ahead.

ITItaly · 2026

Bridge days worth booking

How the holiday year works in Italy

The calendar

How people take the days

If you're visiting

If you live here

What these days actually mean

St. Francis of Assisi's Day

All Saints Day

Immaculate Conception

Christmas Day

Italy · 2026