The Local (Italy)

The Local provides independent, daily updates from across Europe, offering insights into diverse cultures. Daily news plays a vital role in connecting communities and highlighting the topics that matter to us. We share stories that reflect our identities and those of others, helping to break down barriers and foster understanding. With a captivating mix of news, business, and features, The Local has grown to become the largest English-language news network in Europe, attracting five million readers each month.

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Florence to clamp down on short-term holiday rentals amid housing crisis

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The new rules, due to come into force on May 21st, involve the creation of a municipal register of tourist rentals. Under the act, which aims to put the brakes on the rapidly expanding number of tourist rentals and make more homes available for locals amid a severe housing crisis, the council would issue permits to registered holiday lets. These permits would have a five-year validity period and be tied to both the property and the owner, meaning they would become void in the event of a sale.
CALENDAR: When the beaches open in each Italian region in 2025

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

As much of Italy prepares for a wet May, beach-lovers across the peninsula will be dreaming of the moment when they finally can put on their costumi and ciabatte and dip their toes in the ocean. But before you can pick up your bucket and spade and head off to the seaside, it's worth knowing that there are rules and regulations governing when the summer beach season can officially start, with dates varying by region.
Music, parades and picnics: How Italy celebrates Labour Day on May 1st

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

A public holiday Labour Day has been recognised as a public holiday in Italy since shortly after the fall of Fascism in the mid-1940s – more on that below. The fact that Labour Day falls on a Thursday this year means many Italians will take the opportunity to fare il ponte and give themselves a long weekend break by taking the Friday off as well.
How to avoid being scammed when looking for a property to rent in Italy

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

With Italy in the grip of a severe housing crisis, competition for property is fierce, and people are finding it more and more difficult to find a place to rent - particularly in major cities like Milan, Rome and Florence. Against this backdrop, rental scams have taken off over the past couple of years, with scammers known to target foreign nationals who may not be familiar with the Italian property market or common cons.
Labour Day: What's open and what's closed in Italy on May 1st 2025

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

First established back in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and the achievements made by Italian trade unions, Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro) is a national public holiday in Italy, meaning a day off for many around the country. Generally speaking, much of Italy tends to grind to a halt on public holidays, and Labour Day is no exception, with some services set to be significantly limited or even unavailable on the day. So what exactly can you expect to find open – or closed – on Thursday?
EXPLAINED: How much time can parents in Italy take off for sick children?

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Luca Rufo

In Italy, this type of time off is called "congedo per la malattia del figlio"—literally, leave for a child’s illness. It allows parents to stay home and care for a sick child without facing penalties at work. How much leave you’re entitled to depends largely on how old your child is. If your child is under the age of three, you can take as many days off as needed to care for them when they’re sick—there’s no official limit. But once your child turns three, the rules become more restrictive.
Italian towns clamp down on Liberation Day celebrations amid political tensions

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Luca Rufo

In Romano di Lombardia, a town near Bergamo, officials have prohibited the singing of Bella Ciao, a historic anthem of the Italian Resistance. A note from the city council president, Paolo Patelli of the hard right-wing League party, stated that no musical performances - except for solemn pieces like Silenzio and Attenti - would be permitted during the opening segment of the Liberation Day procession.
Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Pope Francis's tomb to open to mourners from Sunday morning The public will be able to start visiting Pope Francis's tomb at the Roman basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore "as early as Sunday morning", Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni announced on Thursday. The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, will take place at the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica before his coffin is transferred to Santa Maria Maggiore later in the day.
KEY DATES: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in May 2025

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Luca Rufo

Transport strikes are something of a regular occurrence in Italy, with at least two or three nationwide walkouts called each month. Conveniently though, most protests are planned and announced well in advance, with the Italian Transport Ministry listing them on a handy online calendar (available in Italian). This usually gives commuters and international visitors some time to arrange alternative methods of transportation or, when possible, reschedule their journeys.
Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Rome goes into lockdown mode for Pope Francis's funeral Italy and the Vatican are rolling out a massive security plan as royals, presidents and hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful head to Rome in advance of Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday. "We've been on alert since Monday," when the 88-year-old Francis died, a member of the Swiss Guard, the army responsible for the pope's security, told AFP.