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Monday
Gran Sasso tunnel undergoes structural checks
Alternating one-way traffic will be enforced in Abruzzo’s Gran Sasso tunnel for 45 days from Monday, October 14th, to allow for authorities to carry out structural checks.
A meeting chaired by L’Aquila’s prefect Giancarlo Di Vincenzo on September 27th highlighted the need for urgent geological assessment ahead of planned maintenance works.
Motorists who usually use the tunnel, which is part of the A24 motorway connecting Rome with Teramo, may face congestion during the 45-day period.
G7 inclusion and disability meeting
A G7 inclusion and disability meeting is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 14th, in the Umbrian towns Assisi and Solfagnano and run until Wednesday, October 16th.
G7 ministers are expected to discuss strategies aimed at granting people with disabilities full rights to participate in civil, political and social life.
Representatives of some non-G7 states, such as ministers from Chile, Kenya, Tunisia, South Africa and Vietnam have also been invited to attend.
Tuesday
Window to switch from summer to winter tyres opens
Under the Italian Highway Code, motorists are required to equip their vehicles with winter tires (or, alternatively, have snow chains on board) during the cold season.
The window to make the switch opens on October 15th, but the requirement and penalties for not following it only come into force on November 15th.
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After the one-month window closes, drivers breaking the rules face hefty fines plus the requirement to undergo a revisione (the Italian equivalent of a UK MOT test).
Italy’s winter tyres requirement is a frequent source of confusion as it doesn’t apply to all vehicles. See our article to find out whether or not it applies to you.
Wednesday
Rome Film Fest kicks off
The 19th edition of the Rome Film Fest will get underway on Wednesday, October 16th, at the Parco della Musica Auditorium, in Rome’s Parioli district.
The festival will kick off with Berlinguer – La Grande Ambizione, starring Italian actor Elio Germano as Enrico Berlinguer, who led the Italian Communist Party from 1972 until his death in 1984.
This year’s edition will also pay homage to deceased actor Marcello Mastroianni, who starred in the classic 1960 film La Dolce Vita.
The event, which will see the likes of Hollywood stars Viggo Mortensen and Johnny Depp walk the red carpet, will end on Sunday, October 27th.
Tickets and the programme can be found on festival’s official site.
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Friday
24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, October 18th, as staff at operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours.
As is often the case with public transport walkouts in Italy, the level of disruption faced by passengers should vary from city to city depending on the number of transport workers participating in the protest.
Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi minimi) during staff strikes. Further information on such services is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout.
G7 defence ministers’ meeting
A G7 defence meeting is set to start on Friday, October 18th, in Naples and run up until Sunday, October 20th.
G7 defence ministers are scheduled to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, dynamics in the Indo-Pacific area and strategies aimed at supporting democracy in African countries.
Representatives of non-G7 states will not be present.
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Sunday
Rome Half Marathon
The first edition of the WizzAir Rome Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 20th.
Runners will go along a 21-kilometre route through Rome’s city centre, passing by iconic landmarks such as the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla and Piazza Navona.
The race will start at the Circo Massimo at 8.30am. More information on the event can be found on the official website.