The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Castello Sforzesco will open for up to four hours longer in the evenings during August 2026. The Vatican Museums will also be offering evening guided tours.
Wildfires in Italy: Sardinia evacuates beaches, Piedmont declares an ecological catastrophe, Sicily burns under temperatures exceeding 40°C. The latest overview.
Venice entry fee: the 2026 trial phase ends with over 5 million euros in revenue and 650,000 vouchers. How things will proceed in 2027 remains to be seen.
West Nile virus in Italy 2026: 46 confirmed cases across 20 provinces and one fatality in Latina. How travellers can best protect themselves now.
Wildfires in Sicily: 16,834 hectares burned in one week, 1,400 fire brigade call-outs, one fatality. Legambiente describes the situation as a structural crisis in 2026.
A moment's pause with Dr. Christoph Glumm: one minute to stop, breathe and recharge – inspiring thoughts for greater calm and serenity.
No vest at the table: In Conegliano, restaurateur Stefano Durante is drawing a firm line on dress code at his Italian restaurant with his "No uomini in canottiera" rule.
Ten Italian hand gestures with their origins and meanings: when to use them, and when it is better not to. Part 2 of our series on the language of hands in Italy.
Holidays in Italy 2026: flights nearly tripled, ferries doubled and hotels 69 per cent dearer than in 2016, according to an ISTAT study of the past decade.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia in summer 2026: cable cars open, the new Bike Arena Ravascletto-Zoncolan and hiking programmes in the Carnic Alps await.
Speed cameras in Italy: A new decree decommissions around 850 outdated devices from July 2026 and requires annual calibration. What drivers need to know.
Sunday shopping in Italy: usually possible in cities, rarely in mountain villages. Since liberalisation in 2011, shops have been free to decide for themselves.
