Monday, August 24th
A strike-free week for trains, flights and local transport
Italy's franchigia estiva (summer strike exemption period) means transport services are protected until September 3rd for rail and September 5th for flights and local public transport, so no strikes are scheduled this week.
The next round lands in early September, including a 24-hour nationwide rail strike on September 7th-8th.
READ ALSO: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this September
Wednesday, August 26th
Ferrara Buskers Festival
Street musicians and performers from 27 countries take over Ferrara's historic centre from Wednesday through Sunday for Italy's largest busking festival, themed this year “Aspettati l’inaspettato” (expect the unexpected). There will be free daytime performances across the city, plus late-night concerts and DJ sets in the Cortile del Castello Estense.
Friday, August 28th
Serie A matches
Serie A's second round of fixtures runs from Friday to Monday, with kick-offs moved to 6.30pm and 8.45pm to avoid the worst of the late-summer heat.
Milan hosts Venezia on Friday night, Juventus faces Parma and Napoli takes on Como over the weekend, and Inter travels to Cagliari on Sunday.
Saturday, August 29th
Heaviest return traffic of the summer
Saturday morning will see heavy traffic as the beginning of il grande rientro sends masses of holidaymakers back to Italy's major cities from the coast and mountains at once.
Red-alert conditions continue through Sunday evening and into Monday morning, according to forecasts from Italy's traffic police. Drivers will want to avoid the late-morning to early-afternoon window if possible.
Summer sales end in Piedmont
The northern Italian region is the next to close out its summer saldi, with Saturday the last day for discounted prices in shops. Each region sets its own calendar.
Sunday, August 30th
L'Aquila's Holy Door festival ends with a concert
The town of L'Aquila's Perdonanza Celestiniana (Celestinian Forgiveness) event wraps up on Sunday with a concert by Il Volo at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio.
The UNESCO-recognised tradition dates to 1294, when Pope Celestine V granted a pardon to everyone who passed through the basilica's Holy Door — a rite L'Aquila still marks every August. This year's edition, the 732nd, caps a summer of events for L'Aquila's year as Italian Capital of Culture 2026.