Jubilee 2025 in Italy: events in the main cities

The centrality of Rome for the 2025 Jubilee clearly overshadows the other cities of Italy, this article is an opportunity to discover the events of the main cities of the peninsula. We will go for a walk-through Naples, Florence, Milan, Venice without leaving out Assisi, the city of Saint Francis to discover how you can experience the 2025 Jubilee in other territories too. Faithful or not, the Jubilee is the right opportunity to set out and contemplate the beauties of the Bel Paese.

The Holy Doors of the Jubilee churches, like a domino effect, have opened one after the other in the various Italian cities and here too, as in Rome, it will be possible to obtain indulgence, to obtain the gift of forgiveness, in addition to the pilgrimage among the Jubilee churches there is the need to perform specific acts: the sign of the cross with holy water in memory of Baptism, participation in a mass, Eucharistic adoration, prayer in facing the crucifix and the choice of an act of charity. Let's start immediately by decentralizing your attention from the capital, did you know that the oldest Holy Door of all in Italy is in L'Aquila? It is in the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Abruzzo region where Pope Celestine V in 1294 instituted the Forgiveness, an event that paved the way for the actual Jubilee.

In Milan the central church of reference will be the heart of the city, the Duomo, Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, the Holy Door was opened on December 29th. In Milan you will have the opportunity to take a spiritual journey starting from the center and then moving to the surrounding areas, an opportunity to get to know beautiful destinations such as Monza and Lecco that often remain on the sidelines due to the centrality of Milan. There are fifteen Jubilee churches established in the territory of Milan, we will focus on only a few, it is good to know that by going to any of these churches you can obtain indulgence, provided you perform the 5 symbolic gestures.

The Jubilee churches in addition to the Cathedral will be: the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte in Varese, the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Vittoria in Lecco, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows in Rho, the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie in Monza, the Church of the Holy Family in Melegnano and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Sesto San Giovanni. If you are visiting Milan and want to take the opportunity to make a small pilgrimage to the sacred places, we suggest you start from the Cathedral and then continue your journey to Monza, here in addition to the visit to the Jubilee church you cannot miss visiting the splendid Villa Reale, a majestic neoclassical palace, built in the 18th century, Lecco is also worth a stop, on the eastern branch of Lake Como, it is where Manzoni set the famous book I Promessi Sposi (n.d.r. The Betrothed).

As in all the Diocesan churches, also in Venice the Holy Year opened on December 29th, a procession left the church of San Zaccaria to arrive at the Basilica of San Marco, in Piazza San Marco, this will be the main church of reference for the Jubilee year. In the Basilica the Holy Door was not opened, but a solemn opening mass presided over by the Patriarch Francis took place. In the territory of Venice other Jubilee churches have been established where it is possible to make a pilgrimage.

We suggest you create a small spiritual path that will allow you to actively participate in the Jubilee, but also to discover the formidable territory of Venice and its surroundings. We start from the very central Basilica of San Marco, then we proceed to the splendid Basilica della Madonna della Salute and the Church of San Silvestro, both located in the heart of Venice; then we begin to move a little further away: in the magnificent territories of Caorle, here we find the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Angelo and the Church of the Santissimo Nome di Maria in Marango; Caorle is an ancient and fascinating fishing village, finally we include in this small spiritual journey also Jesolo, here we find the Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in Lido and the Archpriest Church of San Giovanni Battista. The Patriarchate of Venice, on the Jubilee, also offers three Jubilee itineraries between faith and art in Venice, aimed at different age groups and a series of 7 evening meetings at the Basilica of San Marco, which will illuminate the splendid mosaics of the Basilica in the light of faith.

In Florence, the 2025 Jubilee opened solemnly on December 29th with the opening of the Holy Door of the splendid Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the event was preceded by a procession with the cross made for the 2000 Jubilee at the head, which will remain on display in the cathedral, in front of the octagon, until the end of the Jubilee 2025. In Florence, it will also be possible to indulge in spiritual walks among all the Jubilee churches of the territory, which are the Sanctuary of the Santissima Annunziata, the Sanctuary of Santa Verdiana in Castelfiorentino, the Sanctuary of S. Maria all'Impruneta and the Sanctuary of S. Maria a Montesenario.

The Jubilee in Florence is a magnificent opportunity to create a small itinerary, spiritual walk or pilgrimage among these jewels of faith, but also of art and discover not only Florence, but also the surroundings of the city among hills and vineyards. Our mini-itinerary will start right from the Duomo of Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the symbol par excellence of the capital of Tuscany, a ten minute walk through the magnificent historic center you can reach the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, this is the main Marian Sanctuary of the city; from here we move towards the Sanctuary of Monte Senario, located in a fir forest north of Florence, from here you will enjoy a superb view of the city and the Mugello, this is one of the most famous and frequented monasteries. From here we move towards the Basilica of Santa Maria dell'Impruneta, located in the center of the town of the same name surrounded by hills and vineyards that will give you one of the most classic Tuscan sceneries. With about 50 minutes by car you will arrive in Castelfiorentino, in the Sanctuary of Santa Verdiana, one of the very few examples of Baroque style in the area. Finally, we would like to point out that in Tuscany region you can cross the path of the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrims' route that came from France, its paths, often lost in the countryside, are pervaded by unique atmospheres.

The Jubilee 2025 is a unique opportunity to visit Assisi, the city of the most beloved Saint in Italy: Saint Francis of Assisi. Assisi will be one of the beating hearts of the Jubilee, each of the sacred places of the Umbrian town will offer pilgrims and tourists the opportunity to tell the life of the Saint, this year also marks the Franciscan centenary, and several celebratory events are planned. Even in Assisi and in the adjacent territory the Jubilee can be an opportunity to discover the rich territory of the Umbria region and lose yourself in the contemplation of spiritual paths such as the Cammino di Francesco.

The Jubilee churches, central to the events of the Jubilee 2025 are: the churches of San Francesco and Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, still in Assisi the cathedral of San Rufino and the Santuario della Spogliazione. Moving around you will instead encounter the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Nocera Umbra and the Co-Cathedral of San Benedetto in Gualdo Tadino. All the churches are ready to welcome the numerous pilgrims. The Ecclesiastical Museum Network of Umbria region will also be involved with a series of cultural initiatives to make this experience even more immersive, given the vast historical-artistic heritage linked to the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”.

The center of the 2025 Jubilee of Naples will be the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. If you are in Naples, we suggest you start your spiritual journey right from the Duomo and seize, as in other destinations, the opportunity of the Jubilee to discover places that you would not have imagined including in your itinerary. Still in Naples city there are the Jubilee churches of San Pietro ad Aram and the Basilica del Carmine Maggiore; but now let's move outside the center and reach the Basilica del Buon Consiglio in Capodimonte, this is a wonderful opportunity to visit the Museum and Royal Wood of Capodimonte. Moving away a little further we arrive at Torre del Greco, located between Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, this town is famous above all for the workmanship of Coral, Cameos and Mother of Pearl; in Torre del Greco we find the Basilica of Santa Croce, indicated as Jubilee Church.

The Curia, the Campania Region and the Municipality of Naples have worked hard on a plan of hospitality, art and charity to make this experience as enjoyable as possible for tourists who will visit the city. Together they have built an interesting program of events, 8 itineraries dedicated to the "Women of faith, charity and hope" are planned, female figures who have left a deep mark on the Neapolitan capital, paths traced for pilgrims and tourists through the convents and monasteries of the Naples area, scheduled 77 guided tours, 18 musical meetings and a pilgrimage of reconciliation to the churches of Gesù Novo, Santi Filippo e Giacomo, San Giorgio Maggiore and the Porta Giubilare del Carmine. All the events are free until seats last, upon reservation. If you have planned a trip to Naples in this period we suggest you consider the Naples Pass, a single card that you can choose from the option of 1 to 7 days that will allow you to move easily around the city, you will be able to access the main attractions and use public transport unlimitedly, many conventions and possibilities present inside.