Train in Rome. Photo: romanadr / Shutterstock August is considered one of the busiest months in Italy, with millions of tourists visiting the country during the Italian summer vacation. The heavy traffic is expected to put transportation systems and infrastructure to the test, but contrary to popular fear, the focus of disruptions is not expected to be strikes by public transportation workers.
The reason for this is the "summer immunity" period enshrined in Italian law, during which general or national strikes on public transport are prohibited. The period, which runs from mid-July to early September, is intended to ensure continuity of service during the busy tourist season.
This means that airlines, national railway companies, ferry services and public transport systems in major cities, including Rome and Milan, are expected to continue operating as usual throughout August.
However, passengers may experience disruptions due to infrastructure and development work being carried out across the country. This work is expected to affect some of the main transportation arteries and may cause delays and changes to schedules.
Alongside this, a number of sectors not related to passenger transportation are expected to implement pre-planned targeted sanctions during the month, but at this stage they are not expected to have a significant impact on public passenger transportation.