Overview of School Holidays in Italy
Planning family holidays around your child’s school schedule is crucial to avoid disruptions. Italy’s Ministry of Education determines the standard national school holidays applied across all primary and secondary educational institutions. However, specific holiday dates can additionally vary by region due to local stipulations.
Italy consists of 20 administrative regions grouped into North, Central, South, and Island areas. Each region might implement slight variations in holiday schedules, making it important for parents to check the exact dates provided by local educational offices or specific schools, especially international ones, which may follow different calendars.
National Public Holidays in Italy for 2023-2024
Public holidays in Italy are uniform across the country and affect all schools. These holidays include:
- All Saints Day – November 1, 2023
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception – December 8, 2023
- Christmas Day – December 25, 2023
- Saint Stephen’s Day – December 26, 2023
- New Year’s Day – January 1, 2024
- Feast of the Epiphany – January 6, 2024
- Easter Monday – April 1, 2024
- Anniversary of Liberation – April 25, 2024
- Labor Day – May 1, 2024
- National Republic Day – June 2, 2024
Regional School Holiday Dates for 2023-2024
Beyond national public holidays, Italian schools observe regional holidays that typically encompass breaks for Christmas, Carnival, Easter, and Summer. While similar in timing, the specific start and end dates may vary across different regions:
Northern Italy Regional Holidays
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Christmas (Dec 25, 2023 – Jan 6, 2024), Carnival (Feb 12-14, 2024), Easter (Mar 28 – Apr 2, 2024), Summer (Starts June 9, 2024)
- Lombardy: Similar to Friuli-Venezia Giulia sans Carnival break.
- Veneto: Christmas (Dec 23, 2023 – Jan 6, 2024), Extended Carnival (Feb 12-24, 2024), Easter (Mar 28 – Apr 2, 2024, plus Apr 26, 2024), Summer (Starts June 9, 2024)
Central and Southern Italy, and Islands
The regions like Tuscany, Campania, and Sicily generally follow within a day or two of other regional dates mentioned, adjusting for specific local celebrations like additional Carnival days or patron saints’ days.
Childcare Options During School Holidays in Italy
For working parents, aligning personal work schedules with school holidays can pose challenges. Here are some common childcare solutions:
- Babysitting: For short-term needs, local babysitters can be sourced through agencies or personal networks such as local expat groups on social media.
- Nannies or Au Pairs: For a more stable solution, consider hiring a live-in nanny or an au pair, which can also aid in bilingual language development for your children.
- Summer and Holiday Camps: A variety of thematic camps ranging from sports to technology and language immersion provide excellent opportunities for children to learn and socialize.
Explore local options by consulting community centers, schools, or municipality recommendations.
Top Summer Camps in Italy
Enhance your child’s summer experience through thematic camps throughout Italy:
- AC Milan Junior Camps – Soccer-focused camps across several regions.
- Design, Fashion & Arts Summer Camp – Creative arts camp suitable for budding artists.
- Green Summer School – Environmentally focused activities for nature lovers.
- International Camp Sancelso – An adventure camp with activities in the Italian Alps.
- Labsitters English Language Camp – English language immersion in a fun setting.