Florence on 25 April: Liberation Day
25 April is Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) in Italy, the national holiday commemorating the end of the Nazi-Fascist occupation in 1945. It is a significant public holiday and in many cities, including Florence, there are official commemorations.
The holiday usually creates a long weekend. In 2026, 25 April falls on a Saturday, which means the long weekend extends from Friday 24 April through Sunday 26 April. In years when the date falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, Italians often take an extra day off to bridge to the weekend.
Florence in late April is in full spring: temperatures average 12-22 degrees, the gardens are in bloom, and the light is good for long afternoon walks.
Liberation Day in Florence
Florence has its own particular significance in the history of Italian liberation. The city was liberated in August 1944, with significant local Resistance activity in the preceding period.
The official commemorations on 25 April typically include a ceremony at the Sacrario dei Caduti in Piazza dell’Unità Italiana (near Santa Maria Novella station) and a procession through the historic centre. The civic ceremony usually begins around 10:00-11:00 and involves municipal authorities, veterans’ associations, and representatives of the Italian Resistance movement (ANPI).
The tone is serious and genuinely felt. This is not a tourist event. It is a civic ceremony attended primarily by Florentines. If you happen to be in the city, watching from the street is completely appropriate.
In the afternoon, many Florentines participate in outdoor activities, picnics, or short trips. The parks along the Arno and the Parco delle Cascine are busy in good weather.
The events and commemorations
Official civic ceremony at Piazza dell’Unità Italiana (adjacent to Santa Maria Novella station): Begins around 10:00 on 25 April. Free to observe.
ANPI events: The Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia (National Partisans Association) organises events across the city. These vary by year but typically include public readings, film screenings, and discussions at cultural venues. The programme is published on the ANPI Florence website.
Concerts and outdoor events: The city often runs free outdoor concerts in Piazza della Repubblica or Piazza Santa Croce on the afternoon or evening of 25 April. Check the Comune di Firenze events calendar in the days before.
Estate Fiorentina begins its spring programme around this time. Some years the festival launches events around the Liberation Day weekend.
What is open and what is closed
25 April is a public holiday, so the same general rules apply as for other Italian public holidays.
Open:
- Uffizi (8:15-18:30)
- Accademia (8:15-18:50)
- Duomo complex (check component hours)
- Palazzo Pitti
- Bargello (morning hours)
- Major tourist restaurants in the centre
- Most supermarkets (with possible reduced hours)
Likely closed:
- Government offices and banks
- Many smaller local shops
- Some local trattorias
- Post offices
The main tourist infrastructure operates normally on 25 April. The holiday is more significant for residents than for visitors in terms of daily impact.
Restaurant booking is recommended for the evening of 25 April. The city is busier than a typical Saturday in April.
How to make the most of the long weekend
The 25 April long weekend in late April is one of the best times to visit Florence. The temperatures are ideal for walking, the Boboli Gardens are in spring bloom, and the Iris Garden on the slope between Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte opens in early May (sometimes in late April if conditions are right).
Book the Uffizi and Accademia at least one week in advance for a 25 April weekend visit. Both will be busy.
Spend the morning of 25 April in the Oltrarno, which is away from the main civic ceremony area and has a quieter, neighbourhood feel even during the holiday.
The walk from Ponte Vecchio to San Miniato al Monte in the afternoon, when the temperature is 18-20 degrees and the gardens along the route are in bloom, is one of the most pleasant things you can do in Florence in spring.
Book a restaurant for the evening in advance. Friday evening (24 April) and Saturday evening (25 April) are both likely to be busy.
Day trips for 25 April
The long weekend is a good opportunity for day trips. Tuscany is at its most beautiful in late April.
Volterra (80 km west, 2 hours by bus): The alabaster city on a hill. Etruscan museum, medieval towers, and the famous alabaster artisan workshops. Accessible by SITA bus from Florence (check the schedule, as public holiday services may vary).
Siena (90 km south): The Piazza del Campo, Duomo, and Museo Civico are all open on 25 April. The bus from Santa Maria Novella bus station takes 1.5 hours (SENA/Flixbus).
Chianti wine road by car: The SS222 (Chiantigiana) from Florence south through Greve in Chianti to Siena is one of the most beautiful drives in Tuscany. In late April the vine shoots are emerging, the broom is flowering, and the road passes through oak and cypress woods.
Lucca (75 km west, 1.5 hours by train with a change in Pisa): The walled Renaissance city is perfect for walking. The city walls form a 4.2-km promenade at treetop level. Worth combining with a short Pisa stop.
Prato (20 km northwest, 20 minutes by train, frequent departures): A textile-industry city with a surprising concentration of art. The Cathedral of Santo Stefano (free entry) has a Filippo Lippi fresco cycle. Prato is dramatically undervisited and makes a half-day trip from Florence.
Where to stay
The 25 April long weekend sees significant demand for Florence accommodation. Booking 3-4 weeks ahead is advisable, especially if you want to stay in the city centre. The Key is at Via Cittadella 22, a 5-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station and close to the main commemoration sites.
