Last minute ideas for Easter and Easter Monday in the city

In a few days, it will be Easter. A long weekend lies ahead to spend with those we love, relaxing without thinking about the usual daily grind of work calls, deadlines to meet, meals hastily eaten in front of the computer, city traffic, and frantic rushes to try to get everything done, including our personal lives. It may not be the long vacation we deserve, but the upcoming days off are an opportunity to focus on ourselves, enjoy nature in bloom, chat with friends, eat with family, and indulge in chocolate. The luckiest ones will embark on a small trip or reunite with distant relatives, but even those staying in the city can choose from many different activities to fill their time. Here are some ideas on what to do on Easter and Easter Monday.

Immerse Yourself in Art

Why not dedicate a few hours to art and visit open museums and galleries during these two days? Throughout Italy, there are numerous exhibitions, ideal for immersing ourselves in beauty and culture. There's something for everyone. For photography enthusiasts, there's Martin Parr at MUDEC in Milan and the Biennale della Fotografia Femminile in Mantova, where until April 14th, national and international artists interpret the theme "Private" each with their own poetic. Those who prefer abstract art will fall in love with the works of Julie Mehretu exhibited at Palazzo Grassi in Venice. For lovers of ancient art and sculpture, the Capitolini Museums in Rome pay homage to Phidias, a sculptor and architect who lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. Finally, for those seeking something more spiritual, at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, there are the fallen angels of Anselm Kiefer.

Exploring Markets and Flea Markets

Hoping it doesn't rain, we could take a stroll through used goods or antique markets, browsing through stalls and stands in search of treasures for our outfits or to decorate the house. Some examples? From March 29th to April 1st, 2024, the European Market arrives in Naples, animating Piazza Dante with stands of street food, culinary specialties, and artisan creations from all over Europe. In the same dates, in Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, there is Firenze Craft, the market exhibition dedicated to the excellences of the artistic and traditional craftsmanship and the agri-food sector of the city. In Milan, on Easter Monday, the Fiera dell'Angelo takes place, one of the traditional events of Milanese tradition. The surroundings of Sant'Angelo church are crowded with flowers, plants, books, paintings, hats, clothing items, and gastronomic specialties, including the historic candy and cotton candy stand.

Discovering Our City: Not Just Rome and Milan

We often overlook many neighborhoods and secret corners of the cities we live in, especially if we've recently moved or if it's not the place where we grew up. The FAI (Italian National Trust) proposes many places to visit, fascinating monuments, and buildings: from the church of Santi Niccolò and Cataldo in Lecce to Villa Rezzola in Lerici, Liguria - overlooking the wonderful Gulf of Poets - to the Saline Conti Vecchi, a vast natural area and a site of industrial archaeology immersed in a natural oasis just outside Cagliari, passing through Villa Necchi Campiglio, a Milanese marvel designed in the early 1930s by the architect Piero Portaluppi.

Immerse Yourself in Nature

Spring awakens fauna and flora. Sometimes just stepping outside is enough to notice and enjoy the beauty of the trees, the scent of flowers, the chirping of birds, and the cuteness of dogs walking with their human friends. Throughout Italy, there are many wonderful parks and gardens to immerse ourselves in nature: Parco Sigurtà with its millions of tulips and hundreds of roses, or Giardino della Villa Medicea di Castello with its citrus fruits and medicinal herbs. Don't miss the cherry blossoms at Reggia di Venaria, near Turin, where from March 30th to April 1st there will be dance, music, poetry, activities with aperitifs, picnics, and themed lunches. For animal lovers, the butterfly house in Rome could be an option.

Picnics and Barbecues

There's nothing more classic than a picnic or a barbecue with family and friends to spend Easter and Easter Monday. You don't need to go far, just a neighborhood garden, a field, or even the living room floor where you can spread a blanket to place dishes and glasses. Everyone can bring their specialty or you can cook together while chatting about everything and nothing. If you don't feel like cooking, many restaurants and associations provide everything you need for the perfect picnic or barbecue, including the location. For example, FAI in collaboration with Enoristorante La Tana organizes a picnic in the garden of Palazzo Moroni (Bergamo), amidst hay bales and incredible views, while the bistro Capodoglio offers a barbecue on the Murazzi del fiume Po in Turin on Monday, April 1st.

Other Outdoor Activities for Easter and Easter Monday

Those who love sports and outdoor activities will probably take advantage of the upcoming long weekend to indulge in their passions: from roller skating to frisbee, from canoeing to yoga. Among the experiences that many sports enthusiasts appreciate at this time of year is urban trekking, a workout that winds through staircases, hills, and cityscapes allowing you to look at familiar places with new eyes. Perfect locations for practicing it include Rome with its elevations and history-filled corners, Cagliari with its dream beaches and barren mountains, Bologna, and the areas of Etna or Vesuvius.

An Opportunity to Be Kids Again

Easter is the perfect time to be kids again, sleep in, eat sweets, and play. What to do depends only on our mood and imagination. We could honor tradition and paint eggs, organize a treasure hunt, watch a cartoon, have a PlayStation tournament, or maybe find the nearest amusement park and spend a few carefree hours among rides and cotton candy. How about a ride on the observation wheel? For example, in Florence, in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, there's one 55 meters high that will remain open until June 10th.

And if It Rains on Easter Monday?

If it rains and we can't go out? We can gather friends and organize a themed lunch or dinner, a marathon of movies and TV series, a book club, or dust off the good old board games. Let's play Monopoly, Battleship, Scrabble, Pictionary, Twister, and have lively sessions of Just Dance. After all, it's not really about the activity, but only about who we spend our time with.