What changes in Italy in May 2024
From Labour Day celebrations to the start of tax filing season, here's what people living in Italy can expect this month.
Airbnb bans indoor surveillance cameras
Surveillance cameras will no longer be allowed inside Airbnb rentals from April 30th forward under a new company-wide policy that will affect hosts and customers globally, including in Italy.
Until now, Airbnb has allowed hosts to install security cameras in common spaces such as hallways and living rooms provided that they were clearly visible and mentioned in the listing. But reports of guests finding hidden cameras in private spaces has led the company to ban indoor video surveillance altogether.
Hosts will still be able to install outdoor cameras after April 30th, but will have to clearly specify where they are stationed.
Italy’s Labour Day celebrations
May 1st will mark Italy’s Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro in Italian). Established in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and trade union achievements, Labour Day is a national public holiday, meaning a day off work for many employees.
Offices and schools will be closed on the day, while most state-run museum and archaeological sites will remain open.
READ ALSO: What's open and what's closed in Italy on May 1st 2024
People celebrate Italy's Labour Day in Rome's Piazza San Giovanni on May 1st 2013. Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP
Rail and public transport operators tend to operate a number of ‘holiday services’ (servizi or orari festivi) on national holidays, including Labour Day. However, these services may experience major delays and/or cancellations this year due to a 24-hour general strike that will involve staff from both public and private transport operators around the country.
You can keep up with all the latest updates in our strike news section.
May 1st ‘concertone’ in Rome
The traditional Labour Day concert (known as concertone, or ‘the big concert’ in Italy) will return to Rome on May 1st.
The event, which is the largest free live music concert in Europe, will take place in the central Circus Maximus venue, with performances from some of the most popular Italian artists set to start as early as 3pm.
READ ALSO: Things to do in Rome in May 2024
All acts will be free of charge. No advance booking is required, but access to the square will be denied after full capacity is reached.
Tax filing season starts
May 2nd is the earliest date from which some taxpayers in Italy can begin to submit their yearly income tax returns.
Depending on your tax situation, you'll need to fill out one of Italy's two tax forms, from either May 2nd or May 11th. See more details in a separate article.
Cycling fever
The 2024 edition of the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions, will run from Saturday, May 4th to Sunday, May 26th.
This year’s Giro will start in Venaria Reale, just north of Turin, and end right by Rome’s iconic Fori Imperiali, passing through cities, lakes and mountain ranges all over northern and southern Italy on the way.
As usual, the contest will attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts from all around the world, with fans once again set to crowd narrow mountain roads and camp out in fields just to get a brief glimpse of the riders.
Irish rider Sam Bennett celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the last stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia on May 27th 2018 in Rome. Photo by LUK BENIES / AFP
Free museum openings
People around Italy will be able to visit state-run museums and archaeological sites free of charge on Sunday, May 5th under the popular Domenica al Museo or ‘free museum Sundays’ national scheme.
The initiative applies to hundreds of sites, including world-famous attractions like the Colosseum, Pompeii, Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia, the Reggia di Caserta and Trieste's Miramare Castle.
Find more information about how it works in our article.
Mother’s Day
Italy celebrates Mother’s Day (or Festa della Mamma) on the second Sunday in May, which falls on May 12th this year.
Established in 1956, Italy’s Mother’s Day originally fell on May 8th but the festivity was moved to the second Sunday of May in 2000 to get in line with the American calendar.
Summer tyres deadline
Motorists in Italy have until May 15th to make the switch from winter to summer tyres.
After the window to make the switch closes, drivers breaking the rules will face a fine of up to 1,731 euros 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.
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Airbnb bans indoor surveillance cameras
Surveillance cameras will no longer be allowed inside Airbnb rentals from April 30th forward under a new company-wide policy that will affect hosts and customers globally, including in Italy.
Until now, Airbnb has allowed hosts to install security cameras in common spaces such as hallways and living rooms provided that they were clearly visible and mentioned in the listing. But reports of guests finding hidden cameras in private spaces has led the company to ban indoor video surveillance altogether.
Hosts will still be able to install outdoor cameras after April 30th, but will have to clearly specify where they are stationed.
Italy’s Labour Day celebrations
May 1st will mark Italy’s Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro in Italian). Established in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and trade union achievements, Labour Day is a national public holiday, meaning a day off work for many employees.
Offices and schools will be closed on the day, while most state-run museum and archaeological sites will remain open.
READ ALSO: What's open and what's closed in Italy on May 1st 2024
Rail and public transport operators tend to operate a number of ‘holiday services’ (servizi or orari festivi) on national holidays, including Labour Day. However, these services may experience major delays and/or cancellations this year due to a 24-hour general strike that will involve staff from both public and private transport operators around the country.
You can keep up with all the latest updates in our strike news section.
May 1st ‘concertone’ in Rome
The traditional Labour Day concert (known as concertone, or ‘the big concert’ in Italy) will return to Rome on May 1st.
The event, which is the largest free live music concert in Europe, will take place in the central Circus Maximus venue, with performances from some of the most popular Italian artists set to start as early as 3pm.
READ ALSO: Things to do in Rome in May 2024
All acts will be free of charge. No advance booking is required, but access to the square will be denied after full capacity is reached.
Tax filing season starts
May 2nd is the earliest date from which some taxpayers in Italy can begin to submit their yearly income tax returns.
Depending on your tax situation, you'll need to fill out one of Italy's two tax forms, from either May 2nd or May 11th. See more details in a separate article.
Cycling fever
The 2024 edition of the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling competitions, will run from Saturday, May 4th to Sunday, May 26th.
This year’s Giro will start in Venaria Reale, just north of Turin, and end right by Rome’s iconic Fori Imperiali, passing through cities, lakes and mountain ranges all over northern and southern Italy on the way.
As usual, the contest will attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts from all around the world, with fans once again set to crowd narrow mountain roads and camp out in fields just to get a brief glimpse of the riders.
Free museum openings
People around Italy will be able to visit state-run museums and archaeological sites free of charge on Sunday, May 5th under the popular Domenica al Museo or ‘free museum Sundays’ national scheme.
The initiative applies to hundreds of sites, including world-famous attractions like the Colosseum, Pompeii, Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia, the Reggia di Caserta and Trieste's Miramare Castle.
Find more information about how it works in our article.
Mother’s Day
Italy celebrates Mother’s Day (or Festa della Mamma) on the second Sunday in May, which falls on May 12th this year.
Established in 1956, Italy’s Mother’s Day originally fell on May 8th but the festivity was moved to the second Sunday of May in 2000 to get in line with the American calendar.
Summer tyres deadline
Motorists in Italy have until May 15th to make the switch from winter to summer tyres.
After the window to make the switch closes, drivers breaking the rules will face a fine of up to 1,731 euros 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.
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