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National Holiday/First Sunday of Month Museum Day- Bologna

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I will be ending my Italy trip in Bologna and will be there on the first Sunday in October which I recently learned is also a reinstated national holiday- Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (800th anniversary of his death). I would imagine there will be special services/celebrations at Basilica of San Francesco.

I am wondering how the holiday might affect attractions that day, normal Sunday hours or possible closures? I did not find anything mentioned on the official Bologna Tourism website. I do plan on checking hours for specific places before I finalize that day's itinerary, but was hoping someone here might have some insight or experience when Sunday at the Museum Day also falls on a national holiday.

Thanks in advance—much appreciated!

Posted by
631 posts

The St. Francis holiday shouldn't affect the free entrance at museums. Please note that is valid on National museums. In Bologna only the Gallery (Pinacoteca) is a national one. I'm not 100% sure the other museums will be free that day. The group of the "Musei Civici" in the past was free, but I fond no info for 2026.
There are of course even all the free museums: https://www.museidibologna.it/musei-gratis-bologna/

Posted by
119 posts

Thank you, Ricky, the link is very helpful! I’ll have four nights in Bologna (three full days) and want to plan around any closures or reduced hours so I can use my time wisely. I know free museum Sundays attract a lot of visitors to the more popular sights, I'd like to choose the ones I feel would have less crowds, or even visit a few of those that don't offer free admission. I don't mind paying an entrance fee.

Posted by
831 posts

The Welcome Bologna card which you can buy from the tourist office was a good deal for me because it includes a walking tour as well as museums. I don't know if it is still worth it if you are there for the free museum day. When I was there, the tourist office also had an updated handout with the opening times for many museums and churches. The church list was very useful on a Sunday to know after what time tourists would be welcome. In October 2024, I was surprised how empty museums were even when there were crowds outdoors in the center.

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