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Monday
National Unity Day celebrations (and free admission to state-run museums)
Monday, November 4th will be Italy’s National Unity Day, or Giornata dell’Unità Nazionale e delle Forze Armate.
The event commemorates the end of World War I for Italy, celebrating the armistice that put a stop to the fighting between Italian forces and the Austro-Hungarian Army in November 1918.
Unlike last week’s All Saints’ Day, or Ognissanti, this is not a public holiday, so you won’t get a day off work for it. But there’s still a lot to look forward to on Monday.
Celebrations marking the day will be held in all major cities across the country, especially in Rome, where the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori aerial display team will perform a fly-past over Piazza Venezia.
In the capital, President Sergio Mattarella will place a wreath at the Vittorio Emanuele II monument in honour of fallen Italian soldiers, while armed forces will put on military displays and parades at the Circo Massimo.
State-run museums and cultural sites around the country, including Rome’s Pantheon and Castel Sant’Angelo, Florence’s Museo del Bargello and the Ercolano archaeological park in Campania, will open for free on Monday as part of nationwide Unity Day celebrations.
A full list of sites can be found here.
Tuesday
US presidential election
The 2024 US presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5th.
Americans in Italy have several options to follow the vote on Tuesday night.
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Journalist Bianca Berlinguer will host an election night special on Rete4 (channel four on Italian TV sets), running from 9.30pm on Tuesday until 6am on Wednesday.
La7 (channel seven) will also offer live coverage of the election via a “TV marathon” (maratona televisiva) hosted by presenter Enrico Mentana. The show’s exact start and end times haven’t been confirmed yet.
News agency Italpress will cover the vote with non-stop live broadcast from 3am to 7.30am on Wednesday. The show will be available on their online multimedia channel.
Due to the time difference between Italy and the US, there’ll be little in the way of overnight watch parties.
Democrats Abroad will throw a pre-election party at Rome’s Rosso restaurant on Tuesday evening, followed by a virtual Election Night Pyjama Party. Republicans Overseas haven’t advertised any planned events in Italy so far.
Staff at Florence museums strike over contract dispute
Around 200 people working in ticket offices, security, and reception at the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Polo Museale Toscana and the Opificio Pietre Dure in Florence will walk out on Tuesday, November 5th, in protest against long-standing contract disputes with museum management.
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The strike was announced by unions Filcams Cgil, Uiltucs and Rsu Opera after Uffizi Gallery director Simone Verde “disavowed the document signed by former director Eike Schmidt” aimed at “protecting all workers during management changes for all the museums in question,” they said.
Normal opening hours at any of the above-mentioned museums may be subject to changes as a result of the strike.
The Uffizi Gallery said in a statement that only the following cultural venues will be open on Tuesday:
- Gallery of Statues and Paintings: from 1.30pm to 6.30pm, with last entry at 5.30pm
- Boboli Garden: from 8.15am to 4.30pm, with last entry at 3.30pm
A special evening opening of the Gallery of Statues and Paintings scheduled for the same date had been cancelled, the statement said.
Former Liguria president goes on trial for alleged corruption
The trial of Giovanni Toti, the former centre-right president of Italy’s northwestern Liguria region, will start in Genoa on Tuesday, November 5th.
Toti was placed under house arrest in May as part of a sweeping anti-corruption probe involving Genoa port and beach operations.
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He was accused by prosecutors of receiving over 70,000 euros in funds for his election campaign from two prominent local businessmen in return for various favours, including efforts to privatise a public beach.
Once a close ally of late prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, Toti tried to remain in office, repeatedly calling for the house arrest measure to be lifted, but his allies gradually abandoned him and he eventually resigned in late July.
Friday
24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Commuters may face delays and cancellations on Friday, November 8th, as public transport operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours.
The walkout, which is backed by five of Italy’s major transport unions, is set to affect all types of local public transport, from surface services (buses, trams, commuter trains and ferries) to underground metro lines, but shouldn’t affect long-distance rail services and taxis.
READ ALSO: Key dates: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in November 2024
As it’s often the case with public transport strikes in Italy, the level of disruption caused by the protest will vary from city to city.
According to the latest media reports, operators around the country will not provide essential services (servizi minimi) during the walkout despite national strike laws requiring them to do so.
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Sherbeth gelato festival in Palermo
The 2024 edition of Palermo’s Sherbeth Festival – one of Italy’s most famous gelato festivals – will run from Friday, November 8th, to Monday, November 11th, attracting fans of the icy delight from all corners of the country.
Participants can expect a fierce contest to crown the top gelataio, as well as plenty of opportunities for gelato tasting, cooking shows, and workshops.
Further information about the event can be found here.
Sunday
Delayed EES introduction
The EU’s new border check system (Entry/Exit System, or EES) was set to be launched on Sunday, November 10th, but the start date was put off again last month amid fears of travel chaos due to unfinished infrastructure.
The new official launch date hasn’t been announced yet, but it likely won’t be in November.
With reporting from Alexa Ahern.