Easter Monday in Italy
Easter Monday, called Lunedì dell’Angelo in Italy, is a national holiday on the day after Easter Sunday. Many people know it as Pasquetta, a day associated with countryside outings and picnics.[1][2][4]
A national holiday
Italy’s Ministry of Labour lists Lunedì dell’Angelo among the country’s paid public holidays. Its guidance says that, under the employment rules it describes, work on a holiday is compensated with an increased rate or a compensatory day of rest.[1]
The national tourism board also lists the day among Italy’s national holidays. It says that most productive activities and public and private offices pause on national holidays, while bars, pastry shops, ice-cream shops and restaurants remain open. Individual opening hours can still vary.[2]
Why it is called Lunedì dell’Angelo
The name Lunedì dell’Angelo means “Monday of the Angel.” In the Gospel account recalled by the Holy See, women arrive at Jesus’ tomb and an angel tells them that Jesus has risen. The day continues the Easter celebration in the Christian calendar.[3]
Pasquetta is a familiar Italian name for the same Monday. Treccani identifies it as a diminutive of Pasqua and describes the day as one often marked by trips to the countryside.[4]
Picnics and regional food
A countryside outing or picnic is a common way to spend Pasquetta. Italy’s tourism board describes the day as an occasion to share food outdoors with friends or family, and suggests parks, lakesides and other picnic areas as settings. These are popular ways to mark the holiday, rather than a requirement or a custom followed by everyone.[4][5]
Food differs from place to place. The tourism board’s examples include pinza, an Easter cake from Friuli; arrosticini, sheep-meat skewers associated with Abruzzo; and lamb cooked at picnic areas in Sicily. These examples show some regional choices, not a single national menu.[5]
What to expect as a visitor
Plan around holiday hours: public and private offices are generally among the services that pause, and some museums or cultural sites may close on certain holidays. Italy’s tourism board recommends checking the official information for the specific museum or site before visiting. Bars, bakeries, ice-cream shops and restaurants are more likely to be open, though their schedules may differ.[2]
The day falls on the Monday after Easter Sunday, whose date changes from year to year. For a picnic, check local access and facilities in advance: the national tourism board notes that rules differ by place, including whether barbecues or open fires are allowed.[2][5]
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Italy?
When does Easter Monday fall?
It is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday. Easter’s date changes each year, so the date of Easter Monday changes too.[2]
What does Pasquetta mean?
Pasquetta is a familiar name for Easter Monday. Treccani traces the word to a diminutive of Pasqua, or Easter.[4]
Are shops, restaurants and museums open?
Many offices and productive activities pause for the national holiday. Bars, pastry shops, ice-cream shops and restaurants generally remain open, while some museums or cultural sites may close; check local opening information before you go.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Easter Monday in Italy:
- Disciplina del rapporto di lavoro - Triennio 2026-2028- Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali
- Orari e giorni festivi- Italia.it / Ministero del Turismo
- Regina Caeli, 5 April 2021- The Holy See
- Pasquetta - Sinonimi e Contrari- Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani
- Easter Monday picnic in Italy: 6 locations- Italia.it / Ministero del Turismo