From ghost tours in big cities to theme nights

Halloween is coming back and this year, as ever, it’s bringing with it the colours of autumn and the typical spooky atmosphere which makes it a unique holiday. 

An annual celebration of Irish origin which became popular in the United States, where the customs of trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins were introduced. In New York, the world's largest Halloween parade is held on the night of 31st October, with over 2 million spectators.

But in our country as well there are plenty of initiatives for all ages: between theme nights, scary tours and museum visits, discover the best Halloween 2023 events in Italy.

Celebrating Halloween in Turin

Turin is a city which has always been associated with mystery, and the Halloween festival offers many events you can take part in. 

There are plenty of tours organised every year to discover the darker side of the Black city: places like the Egyptian Museum and the Devil's Gate will be shown to you in a new light.

An special opening of the Museum of Antiquities will take place at the Giardini Reali in Turin: here you can also witness the rite of Samonios, the traditional Celtic ceremony to celebrate the end of the year.

And why not treat yourself to a visit to the famous Pumpkin House, where you can buy pre-cut pumpkins of all shapes and colours?

Moving to the Langhe, you’ll have the opportunity to spend Halloween in a castle: it's located in Monticello d'Alba and during the night of Tuesday 31st October , it will be transformed into a large "ghost house".

The Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze is waiting for you to enjoy Turin and all its events: a 5-star hotel in the heart of the city which boasts several prestigious services and the best possible location for discovering Piedmont’s capital.

Halloween in Milan, between tours and concerts

Milan offers a range of activities for the night of witches and for the days leading up to it, including festivals and routes to discover.

You could take part in the Ghost Tour of Milan, a guided tour to discover the legends linked to Halloween and to the city through various stops: such as the Castello Sforzesco, the Ossuary of San Bernardino and the Monumental Cemetery. 

For culture enthusiasts, we recommend a visit to the Planetarium, where you'll find Witches, Ghosts, Vampire Stars and Cosmic Pumpkins: Halloween's Night, a special Halloween-themed sky observation. 

If you’re looking for music, the Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster House will host the Candlelight Halloween concert; while at the Blue Note, jazz and voodoo culture come together in a commemoration of New Orleans.

In Milan there are several hotels you can choose between for a luxury stay, such as UNAHOTELS Galles Milano overlooking Corso Buenos Aires or Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze, an iconic urban design hotel in the Garibaldi-Porta Nuova district.

Halloween 2023 events in Rome

What to do on Halloween in Rome? The capital is rich in possibilities, leaving you spoilt for choice. 

Nature lovers can celebrate Halloween in the Aniene Nature Reserve thanks to Percorsi d'Autunno (Autumn Paths), while the Paliano Wood will host a themed day with a programme for the whole family on 31st October.

If you want to celebrate Halloween in a castle, you should know that Bracciano Castle will be the site of three special openings with compulsory booking. On Sunday 29th October 2023, 1st November and 5th November, you can explore the manor house on a guided tour.

A special Halloween menu is planned at the restaurant of UNAHOTELS Decò Roma, a 4-star hotel in the heart of the city with a striking architectural design and cosy art deco interiors.

As a first course, you'll taste paccheri mantecati with pumpkin, sausage and rosemary, while the main course will be a Mantuan pumpkin and lamb kebab with sweet and sour sauce and chilli pepper chicory. The planned dessert is a pumpkin pie with apple compote and salted caramel. 

Halloween 2023 can be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a special atmosphere and rediscover some of Italy's great cities thanks to the many events which come to life on this unique night.