Festival trip guides

Naples visits the sepolcri on Holy Thursday; Procida carries 40-60 tableaux through the streets at dawn on Good Friday. How Campania does Easter.

How Holy Week works in Rome: which papal ceremonies need free Vatican tickets, which do not, where the Via Crucis happens, and what closes over Easter.

Milan programmes the Castello Sforzesco's courtyard from June to September — theatre, concerts, dance and open-air cinema. What runs, and what else is on.

Estate Fiorentina spreads concerts, cinema and theatre across Florence's gardens and cloisters from June to September. What it covers and how to find it.

Estate Romana turns Rome's ruins and riverbanks into venues from June to October. What the programme covers, what is free, and how to find the schedule.

Rome's oldest neighbourhood feast runs two weeks each July in Trastevere. The processions, the free events, the recurrence rule and what to expect.

The Rome Film Fest runs 14-25 October 2026 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. How public tickets work, what the red carpet involves, and where to stay.

Florence's lantern procession fills Piazza Santissima Annunziata every 7 September. The route, the timings, and the odd tradition of shooting the lanterns.

Venice still marries the sea every Ascension Sunday, throwing a ring into the lagoon off San Nicolò. The rule behind the date, and what happens on the day.

The festival that gave the world 'O sole mio still runs around Mergellina each September. What survives of it, what does not, and how to check before you go.

Naples waits three times a year for San Gennaro's blood to liquefy. The dates, what happens in the Duomo, and how to attend the 19 September ceremony.

Florence's patron saint day on 24 June brings the Calcio Storico final and fireworks from Piazzale Michelangelo. Timings, viewing spots and what closes.