Having booked a 5-week trip to Italy (first trip since COVID), I've discovered that Easter is in week 5 of our trip. We will stay in one town (probably central Lucca at this stage) for that period. We're really looking forward to the experience, but what can we expect in Italy?
Thanks in advance!
From our experience Easter week in Venice precovid, the crowds really increased on Good Friday, so we assumed the schools were closed Friday and Easter Monday. Many shops and businesses were closed Sunday and Monday, but the sites were open. Restaurants were packed, but the wineries in the countryside were closed. Services in the Cathedrals were spectacular , even if not religious, as the music was grand. (However, arrive early, or you'll be standing.) public transportation was jammed.
I've seen Easter markets and festivals in the Czech Republic, but not in Italy. I'm sure the local Farmers Market days would be more lively the week before Easter.
Hopefully folks more informed than myself can contribute.
Safe travels!
We were in Amalfi last April from Good Friday through the Weds after Easter. Not too much was closed or out-of-service the whole time. Amazing procession through town on Friday night, with the whole town lit up with candles on the windowsills and a big crowd gathered at the foot of the stairs of the cathedral.
We got up early Easter morning and hired a car to take us to the Path of The Gods trailhead (all transportation seemed to be working as normal), hiked to Positano, where we had lunch and the town was fully open, with regular bus service available back to Amalfi. So it seemed like a normal Sunday (with perhaps a bit more enthusiastic bell ringing in the little towns along the path).
I also learned that week that if you greeted the shop keeper with "Buona Pasqua!", they pulled a little bowl of chocolate eggs from under the counter and offered us one with a smile. We'll always remember that as a special time. : )
Just to be clear:
The most boring moments of my southern childhood involved me being forced to watch a mediocre statue being slowly carried around for hours by a bunch of beefy psychos and bored priests, surrounded by a testudo of old ladies who pretended to be crying for Jesus' suffering while they were actually chatting about food, sex and soap operas.
What's a complete bore for an 8 YO is a subject of fascinating observation by the tourist. In the US, we have NOTHING like this. So it would be a fascination to see.
When we were in Siena, we went to the San Francisco church. I asked the priest if there was a 6 PM mass, and he invited me to attend. I said we were not Catholic but he said, "no problemo". So we attended, and were the only ones there in the little side chapel. He did the mass, helpfully translating for us as he went along. Very moving experience.
Just to point up: Easter Monday is a holiday and in the smaller towns little public transportation is operating. I'm not sure about Lucca.
Thanks for your insights. I suppose I had expected that Italy would shut down for 4 days, but I'll be certain to watch out for the Monday!
