Not just barbecues: 8 ideas on what to do on Easter Monday in Italy

If the weather permits, it’s traditional to spend Easter Monday outdoors enjoying the first spring days. Better still in a beautiful flower garden. Italy is full of historic gardens to discover.

Enjoy a walk among the waterfalls of Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli or be enchanted by the flowering Garden of Ninfa in Latina. Those in search of something unusual might find the grotesque and fascinating statues of the Parco dei Mostri in Bomarzo, near Viterbo just the ticket.

Italian archaeological sites are perfect to spend a day outdoors walking among the wonders of the past.

One of the most fascinating on offer is undoubtedly the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia, near Naples. It is explored on glass-bottomed boats and is nicknamed the "submerged Pompeii" because it has a structure similar to the Roman city. It will certainly be an experience that will take your breath away and make your day truly unique.

The Venetian Villas, or Palladian Villas, are many, just one day wouldn’t be enough to see them all.

Choose a stretch of the long itinerary that winds between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and feel noble for a day: you’ll discover rooms richly decorated by the aristocrats of the Republic of Venice who built their sumptuous summer villas there. From Villa Almerico Capra to Villa Gazzotti Grimani, from Villa Godi to Villa Forni Cerato: decide your route and enjoy a feast for your eyes.

Any occasion is good for a wander through the alleys of medieval villages that offer splendid views and mouth-watering typical cuisine. Every corner of Italy has infinite treasures to offer, all that remains is to choose which village to explore and book into a farmhouse.

A special idea? La Scarzuola in Umbria, the ideal city imagined by the architect Tomaso Buzzi. Another opportunity for exploration is the abandoned villages such as Bussana Vecchia, in Liguria, now repopulated by artists. Or Craco, the ghost town near Matera.

If you prefer an active life to that of contemplation, hit the road. A trek in Marettimo combines the splendor of the Sicilian sea with the pristine nature of a wild island.

Or try the Via dei Santuari in Liguria, the Via di Francesco in Umbria or the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara trail in Sardinia. Or why not, a trip out of town by bike and try the cycle path around Lake Orta. The opportunities and places are practically endless, you just have to choose.

If your idea of ​​Easter Monday does not coincide with the crowds bbq grilling in the pine forest or in cities full of people. What you need is to book into a thermal spa to immerse yourself in relaxation and dedicate yourself to a day of pleasures for the body and mind.

The terme di Saturnia thermal waters are also a pleasure for the eyes. Remaining in Tuscany, if the temperatures allow it, immerse yourself in the waters of Bagno Vignoni or those of San Filippo. Or choose Bormio for luxurious treatments or Milan for peace without leaving the city. In southern Italy and on the islands you are spoiled for choice, from the renowned thermal baths of Ischia to the sulfurous ones of Vulcano, in Sicily, passing through the thermal waters of Cerchiara in the Grotta delle Ninfe, in Calabria. For a dip not only in the pool but also in history, discover the Terme di Fondorgianus, thermal baths in Sardinia, where the water flows at 54° from a Roman cistern inside an archaeological site.

Whether you feel like taking the first dip of the season or just sunbathing on the beach, Easter Monday by the sea is always a great idea.

Choose the south or the islands to guarantee yourself beautiful weather and already pleasantly warm waters: from the wild coast of the Torre Salsa reserve in Sicily to the turquoise bays of Lampedusa and the Poetto seafront in Cagliari. Enjoy the beaches of Salento before they are overrun by summer tourists.

If on the other hand your Easter Monday is in the north but you don't want to give up the sea, don't despair: Liguria comes to your rescue. The Riviera dei Fiori will surprise you with a mild climate that already feels like summer.