Welcome to Vatican Insider on the weekend after ferragosto, the Italian name once associated with pagan games in the month of August but now referring to the solemnity of the Assumption! It also refers to the usually quite long August period of holidays. In fact, the lazy, hazy days of ferragosto is the title of the Special that will appear in what is normally the interview segment of VI.

This is August like you’ve never experienced or even imagined! I did this Special a couple of years ago and when speaking of the Assumption mention it was on a Monday. This week the feast fell on Thursday. In any case, I think you’ll be fascinated by August in Italy!

Italians all seem to take their vacation in August as you will see by all the places that are closed (chiuso) for short or long periods: stores, offices, pharmacies, gas stations, even some restaurants and coffee bars!