Ah, spring—the time of year when the countryside erupts in pastel-colored blooms, sea temperatures creep up, and days just seem to have more life in them. Instead of submitting all your free time to the eponymous “cleaning” through that stockpile of thrifted sweaters or books stacked in dusty corners (okay, you need to do that too), get your dose of seasonal inspiration with these exhibitions, celebrations, and shows happening all across the country. From Milan’s world-famous Design Week (happening in just a few days!) to exclusive access to a Caravaggio fresco in Rome, these are the springtime events and exhibitions you’re not going to want to miss. 

Every city and small town in Italy has their own incredible Easter and Pasquetta celebrations; for the sake of length, we haven’t included these celebrations in this list. 

ROME

Caravaggio 2025, Palazzo Barberini — Until July 6th

This landmark exhibition at Palazzo Barberini—in conjunction with the Jubilee—showcases 24 masterpieces by Caravaggio, offering an unprecedented opportunity to experience the breadth of his work, including autographed pieces from international collections and rarely seen paintings from private holdings. Highlights include the Ecce Homo from Madrid and the Portrait of Maffeo Barberini.

Villa Aurora Public Opening — Until July 6th

The 2,200-square-meter Villa Aurora, home to Caravaggio’s only known ceiling mural, opens its doors to the public, allowing visitors to experience this unique masterpiece in its original setting. This rare access coincides with the Caravaggio exhibition at Palazzo Barberini, and those with a ticket to that exhibition can visit the villa on weekends; visits might be subject to prior reservation.

En Route Exhibition, Vatican Apostolic Library — Until December 20th

To celebrate the Jubilee, this exhibition in the Vatican’s Library includes some 50 works from the Library’s collections of manuscripts and books, plus site-specific installations by three creative artists: Cesare Poma’s collection of newspapers, Chiuri’s tapestries highlighting Victorian-era women travelers, and Jovanotti’s global journey memorabilia. 

Edvard Munch Exhibition, Palazzo Bonaparte — Dates to be confirmed

Palazzo Bonaparte is set to host a significant exhibition dedicated to Edvard Munch, featuring a comprehensive collection of his works. With themes of existential angst and human emotion, it will be a rare opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of the Norwegian artist’s legacy. 

MILAN

Miart 2025, Allianz MiCo — April 4th to 6th

Miart is Milan’s international modern and contemporary art fair, featuring approximately 180 exhibitors, including renowned galleries such as Galleria Continua and Massimo De Carlo. With a platform for both established and emerging artists, the fair aims to present the largest chronological range of artists in the country. 

Milan Design Week 2025, Across the City — April 5th to 13th

This is one to mark your calendars for: Milan Design Week, including the Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone, is the reference point of design in Europe, showcasing innovation all across the city. Blending history, innovation, and craftsmanship, highlights include Alcova’s curatorial exhibits at Villa Borsani and Capsule Plaza’s installations at Spazio Maiocchi. 

“Il Trionfo dell’Art Déco”, Palazzo Reale — Until June 29th

Celebrating the centenary of Art Deco, this exhibition presents extraordinary examples of Italian and European decorative arts—including glassworks, porcelain, textiles, furniture, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, drawings, and advertising posters—plus the historical events that influenced this “1925 Style” of design.

“George Hoyningen-Huene: Glamour and Avant-Garde”, Palazzo Reale — Until May 18th 

Curated by Susanna Brown, this exhibition features over 110 photographs and archival materials from the Archives of George Hoyningen-Huene, exploring his significant impact on 20th-century visual arts. From his work for the French edition of Vogue France to haute couture houses, his photography blended classical aesthetics with avant-garde influences, exploring themes of fluid identities and gender norms.

“Valerio Adami: Rethinking Reality”, Dep Art Gallery — Until May 17th

Valerio Adami is an Italian artist known for his vibrant, narrative paintings that blend elements of abstraction and figuration. The show highlights his distinctive visual language and explores his journey with works from the 1970s to the 2000s.

FLORENCE

“Impressionists in Normandy”, Museo degli Innocenti — Until May 4th

Celebrating 150 years of Impressionism, this exhibition, curated by Alain Tapié, offers a glimpse of the artistic exchanges that shaped the movement. Seventy masterpieces—including works by Monet, Renoir, Delacroix, and Courbet—of mainly luminous landscapes and coastal scenes highlight Normandy’s pivotal role in Impressionism. The prestigious Peindre en Normandie Collection is the core, complemented by loans from the Musée d’Art Moderne of Le Havre and private collections.

Tracey Emin’s “Sex and Solitude”, Palazzo Strozzi — Until July 20th

Curated by Arturo Galansino, the show is Italy’s first major exhibition on the celebrated British artist, offering an intimate exploration of Emin’s raw, confessional work. Through over 60 pieces—paintings, drawings, sculpture, film, neon, and textiles, plus new works created for the exhibition—Emin delves into themes of sex, solitude, and the human body.

Wisteria, Giardini Bardini — All Spring 

The Bardini Gardens transform into a dreamlike cascade of purple as the wisteria tunnel bursts into bloom. With sweeping views over Florence, this is really a can’t-miss spectacle. For more of Florence’s best blooms, don’t miss the Rose and Iris gardens near Piazza Michelangelo, and enjoy the Boboli gardens in the comfort of the 350 chairs that were recently installed.

Thomas J. Price in Florence, Palazzo Vecchio (and Museo Novecento & Piazza della Signoria) — Until June 11th

Renowned for his large-scale figurative sculptures, Thomas J. Price explores the psychological depth of his fictional subjects, emphasizing the intrinsic value of the individual while subverting traditional hierarchies. His works, drawing from diverse sources, merge classical sculptural techniques with intuitive digital technology. For this exhibition, Price presents sculptures of various scales within Palazzo Vecchio’s permanent collection, alongside two outdoor bronzes: one in the courtyard of Museo Novecento and a monumental 3.6-meter gilded sculpture in Piazza della Signoria.

Marion Baruch’s “Un passo avanti tanti dietro” (“One step forward, many behind), Museo Novecento — Until June 8th

Spanning nearly 70 years of her boundary-pushing career, the exhibition is the most extensive Italian retrospective of Marion Baruch. It showcases her evolution from early works and collaborations in design to her striking textile installations, which repurpose discarded fabrics into thought-provoking reflections on identity, labor, and society.

The Florence International Crafts Fair (MIDA), Fortezza da Basso — April 25th to May 1st

The 89th edition of this event showcases a diverse array of artisans and craftspeople from around the globe. Visitors can explore handcrafted products ranging from textiles and jewelry to home décor and gourmet foods, plus attend workshops. It’s the best blend of traditional techniques with contemporary innovations. 

PISA

Luminara di San Ranieri, Along the Arno River — June 16th

On the eve of Pisa’s patron saint’s feast day, thousands of candles illuminate the city’s riverside buildings in a Tangled-esc display. The night ends with a spectacular fireworks display over the Arno.

TURIN

Torino Jazz Festival, Across the City — April 23rd to 30th

The 13th edition of this festival offers an exciting 11-day program with a diverse range of events, including major concerts, intimate club performances, lectures, book presentations, film screenings, and marching bands at venues all across the city. Check their website for more information. 

“Beneath the Surface” EXPOSED Torino Foto Festival, Across the City — April 16th to June 2nd

This international photography event showcases contemporary photography through 12 exhibitions, featuring 16 artists from 12 countries. This second edition explores how the physical world connects to the forces shaping our lives, and how materials shift and evolve, reflecting systems like nature, politics, and technology. At seven venues, including Accademia Albertina, Camera, and GAM, most events have free entry. 

Torino International Book Fair, Lingotto Fiere — May 15th to 19th

One of Italy’s most significant cultural events, this fair brings together authors, publishers, and readers for a vibrant program of meetings, conferences, and presentations at locations around the city. 

VENICE

“1932-1942 Il Vetro di Murano e la Biennale di Venezia”, Stanze del Vetro — April 13th to November 23rd

The exhibition explores Murano glass at the Venice Biennale between 1932 and 1942, a period when it gained a dedicated space and official recognition as a significant art form. Showcasing works by leading glassmakers like Venini, Seguso, and Salviati—alongside designers such as Carlo Scarpa and Flavio Poli—the exhibition highlights how the Biennale became both a platform for innovation and a catalyst for artistic exchange.

19th International Architecture Exhibition (Biennale Architettura 2025), Giardini & Arsenale — May 10th to November 23rd

Curated by Carlo Ratti, this edition of the Biennale explores the theme “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective,” examining the role of intelligence—both human and artificial—in shaping the built environment. Architects, designers, and thinkers gather from around the world to address contemporary global challenges.

Tatiana Trouvé’s “The Strange Life of Things,” Palazzo Grassi — April 6th, 2025 to January 4th, 2026

The largest exhibition to date of contemporary French-Italian visual artist Tatiana Trouvé. Through intricate sculptures and immersive installations, the exhibition explores the poetic and transformative nature of objects, and Trouvé invites viewers into a world where memory, architecture, and materiality intertwine.

Venice Boat Show, Arsenale — May 29th to June 2nd

Set in the historic Arsenale, the Venice Boat Show highlights the city’s maritime heritage while showcasing the latest in international yachting and boating technology with a focus on sustainability and innovation.

Barbara Walker’s “Any Time, Any Place, Any Where,” Victoria Miro Venice — Until May 3rd

 Known for her powerful large-scale drawings, British artist Barbara Walker presents new works exploring themes of identity, history, and belonging. The exhibition includes charcoal drawing self-portraits that reflect on personal and collective narratives, emphasizing themes of freedom, vulnerability, and transience.

Andrea Marchesini Exhibition, Cantieri Crea del Contemporaneo, Giudecca — Until April 27th

Veronese artist Andrea Marchesini’s latest works focus on contemporary themes through expressive paintings and mixed-media pieces. His bold use of color and form captures the complexities of modern life, offering a striking visual commentary on the present moment.

NAPLES

The World of Banksy – The Immersive Experience, Arena Flegrea Indoor — Until May 4th

Dive into the work of elusive street artist Banksy with 100 murals, prints, and installations that challenge themes like war, capitalism, and individualism. 

Ann Veronica Janssens: UP, Galleria Alfonso Artiaco — April 5th to June 7th

Experience the ethereal light installations of Belgian artist Ann Veronica Janssens in an exhibition that celebrates the inauguration of the gallery’s new space at Piazza dei Martiri 58. 

Imogen Cunningham: A Timeless Lens on Nature, Form & Identity / Robert McCabe: Images of an Enchanted Land, Naples Art Institute — April 26th to July 20th

Explore dual exhibitions at the Naples Art Institute, featuring the works of modernist photographer Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976), who captured striking botanical studies and intimate portraits, and of Robert McCabe (b. 1934), who documents Greek landscapes and daily life with poetic elegance.

Impressionists and Fin-de-Siècle Paris, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore at Pietrasanta — Until April 27th

Also in celebration of 150 years of Impressionism, this exhibition, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, features 69 works from 40 artists, tracing the movement’s evolution from the Realist roots of Corot and Millet to the revolutionary colors of Monet, Renoir, and Degas. The final section explores Post-Impressionism’s lasting impact.

PALERMO

Bertozzi & Casoni: “What We See if Not What Is, But What We Are,” Villa Igiea — From April 15th

Opening on World Contemporary Art Day with a concert, this exhibition by the artist duo Bertozzi & Casoni invites viewers to explore reality through enigmatic sculptures displayed throughout Villa Igiea. 

Jean Boghossian: “Palea,” Cloister of the Church of San Domenico — Until May 4th

In collaboration with Fondazione Sebastiano Tusa, this solo exhibition features 84 pieces, including ceramics, paintings, etchings, and aquatints, offering insight into Boghossian’s autobiographical art.

VERONA

Vinitaly, VeronaFiere — April 6th to 9th

One of the world’s largest wine fairs, Vinitaly transforms Verona—the land of Amarone—into the epicenter of Italian wine culture, with thousands of producers, tastings, and industry events.

PADOVA

Vivian Maier, Centro San Gaetano — April 25th to September 30th

Discover over 200 never-before-seen photographs by the pioneering street photographer Vivian Maier. This exhibition, curated by Anne Morin, offers a rare glimpse into Maier’s world, capturing the streets of Chicago and New York in the mid-20th century. Also on display are personal objects like her Rolleiflex camera.

PORDENONE, FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA

Les Italiens by Bruno Barbey, Harry Bertoia Gallery, Pordenone — Until May 4th

For the first time in Italy, the Harry Bertoia Gallery is hosting a captivating photographic series by renowned French photographer Bruno Barbey. Taken between 1962 and 1966 while Barbey was studying in Switzerland, the collection of 70 prints offers a vivid snapshot of Italy during its post-war “economic miracle,” capturing a wide spectrum of society.