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What to expect when travelling to Italy this spring

If you're planning a visit to Italy in the coming warmer months, here's what you need to know about Covid rules, strikes, and more.

Spring is one of the best times of year to visit Italy.
Here's what to expect when visiting Italy this spring. Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP.

Spring is one of the best times of year to visit Italy, and with Covid travel restrictions now a thing of the past, international visitors can look forward to a hassle-free trip this year.

READ ALSO: Nine of Italy’s best events to catch in spring 2023

But while Covid’s unlikely to disrupt your plans, upcoming transport strikes and potential drought restrictions could throw some curveballs your way, and it’s always best to plan accordingly.

With this in mind, here’s what to expect on your trip to Italy this spring.

Covid rules

There are no longer any Covid-based requirements for entering Italy from abroad, or for accessing goods and services within the country.

Anyone who tests positive for the virus is required to isolate for up to five days, but can leave as soon as they test negative.

Under current Italian law, those who leave isolation after five days without a negative test should wear an FFP2 mask in public until the tenth day from the onset of symptoms or first positive test result.

Anyone who comes into close contact with someone who has tested positive should wear an FFP2 mask indoors or in crowded spaces up to the fifth day from the last point of contact.

Masks are required in hospitals until April 30th, 2023.

While masks are otherwise no longer mandated in Italy, you’ll still see plenty of people wearing them on public transport and in shops, and in some places you may see signs asking you to put one on as a courtesy to the staff.

Transport strikes

Italy has recently been hit by a series of nationwide transport strikes by workers protesting high living costs and job insecurity. Airports, trains and local public transport services are all affected. 

Several nationwide and local strikes have been announced for late March and April, including an air traffic operators strike on the afternoon of April 2nd and a nationwide train strike from Trenitalia staff on April 14th.

READ ALSO: Calendar: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this spring

Staff at Milan’s main public transport operator, ATM, will strike on March 31st and April 19th.

Keep checking The Local’s strike coverage for the most up to date information on transport strikes.

Weather

In the first half of 2022, along with much of the rest of Europe, Italy experienced a record-breaking heatwave and drought, with temperatures more than 10°C above the norm.

Scientists fear Italy may experience further severe drought this spring, in which case some areas could experience water shortages and be subject to restrictions on filling swimming pools and other non-essential uses.

READ ALSO: Why Italy is braced for another major drought this spring

If you’re a regular visitor to Italy, temperatures may be higher than you’re used to for the time of year: check the forecast before coming and pack accordingly.

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STRIKES

UPDATE: What to expect from Italy’s airport strike on Sunday

Airline passengers travelling to or from Italy are set to face further disruption on Sunday, June 4th due to a 24-hour airport staff walkout which has already caused ITA Airways, the country's flag air carrier, to cancel 116 flights.

UPDATE: What to expect from Italy's airport strike on Sunday

Italy’s flag airline carrier, ITA Airways, has cancelled as many as 116 weekend flights due to Sunday’s nationwide airport staff strike, a statement from the company said on Saturday.

According to the statement, the company was working to “rebook the greatest possible number of passengers affected by the cancellations” onto the first available flights, estimating that “60 percent [of passengers] will be able to travel on the same day”.

ITA was also advising all passengers planning to travel with them during the weekend to check the status of their journey either online or by contacting their customer support services directly. A list of all cancelled flights can be found here

READ ALSO: Which airports in Italy will be affected by strikes on Sunday?

At the time of writing, it appeared unlikely that ITA customers would be the only ones experiencing major disruption during the weekend.

Staff from several airlines were set to hold protests on Sunday, with significant flight delays or further cancellations on the horizon.

Staff at Spanish airlines Volotea and Vueling, and Air Dolomiti – a subsidiary of Lufthansa operating routes from Germany to 13 different Italian destinations – were expected to take part in a 24-hour nationwide strike.

Meanwhile, ground staff from American Airlines and Emirates were expected to strike for four hours, between 12pm and 4pm.

Strike at Rome Fiumicino airport

Italy’s flag air carrier ITA Airways has cancelled 116 flights ahead of Sunday’s national airport staff strike. Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Flights run by any of these airlines seemed likely to experience delays or cancellations on the day, though no further details were available at the time of writing.

It bears noting that, under Italian law, flights scheduled to leave between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strike action.

Earlier this week, Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC published details of the flights guaranteed to go ahead on Sunday on its web page.

Besides disruption to scheduled flights, operations at both check-in desks and baggage collection points at airports all around the country were expected to experience significant delays on Sunday due to a national four-hour handling staff strike between 12pm and 4pm.

Furthermore, air traffic control operators employed by ENAV’s Rome and Milan centres were set to strike from 1pm to 5pm, whereas Atitech staff at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and handling staff at Bergamo’s Orio Al Serio airport were set to strike for the full 24 hours, according to the Corriere della Citta news daily.

READ ALSO: OPINION: Italy’s constant strikes are part of the country’s DNA

Sunday’s walkouts were called in protest over employment contracts for handling staff at Italian airports, as unions said pay and conditions had not been improved for six years.

Sunday’s nationwide strike action was initially scheduled for May 19th, but was postponed after disastrous flooding hit parts of the country.

You can keep up to date with the latest strike news from Italy HERE.

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