Activities

General

Bicycles  can be rented near the Porta Pinciana in the Villa Borghese.

Villa Doria Pamphili, 2km (1mi) south of the Vatican, is the largest park in Rome and a lovely spot for a stroll or a picnic.

For the family, there are pony rides and Sunday Punch & Judy shows on Gianicolo Hill, a short walk south-east of the holy city.

Tours of the city  are available by horse and cart. 

Music and Theater

Classical Music

Open air concerts are held throughout the summer in the Villa Giulia Gardens and in the Terme (Baths) di Caracalla.  Summer newspaper listings will give dates and times.

Rome has 3 main auditoriums, each with its own resident orchestra or choir:

1.  Academia di Santa Cecilia,(06-678-0742) which is the best known, moves to Villa Giulia during the summer.

2.  Auditorium del Foro Italico (06-3686-5625)

3.  Teatro dell’ Opera   (06-4770-4664) for opera and ballet

Opera

Opera is performed at the Teatro dell’Opera during the November-June season and in the open air at the Baths of Caracalla during the summer. 

Rock and Pop Music

Concerts are held in the Palazzo dello Sport 06-592-5107) in EUR, and also at Studio Olimpico (06-3685-7520)  and Studio Flaminio.  (06-3685-7520)

Theater

Teatro Argentina  ( 06-6880-4601) is one of Rome’s best known theaters with a resident company which performs the classics.

Teatro Quirino (06-679-4585) puts on classics and productions brought in from elsewhere in Italy.

Teatro Valle (06-686-9049) also presents classics.

English Puppet Theater (06-589-6201) stages dramas by traveling companies in the remains of the Teatro di Pompei.  

Annual  Events

Carnavale:  Street celebrations Sunday to Tuesday each year before Lent   (Feb. or March). 

Festa di Santa Francesca Romana (March 9) Roman drivers bring their cars to the church of Santa Francesca Romana to have them blessed by the patron saint of motorists.

Domenica delle Palme:  Palm Sunday is traditionally celebrated by the Pope who says Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Holy (Easter) Week. Catholics from around the world make pilgrimages to Rome's various basilicas or to hear the Pope give his address at the Vatican.

Good Friday there is a procession of the Cross from the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill.

Easter Sunday:  Papal blessing at St. Peter’s.

Festa della Primavera (late April) Azaleas in terra cotta pots adorn the Spanish steps.

International Horse Show (early May) at Piazza di Siena in the Villa Borghese.

Rose Show at the Via di Valle Murcia (May)

Antiques Fair (May) in Via dei Coronari (lit by candles at nighth).

Festa della Repubblica (first Sunday in June)  Military parade.

Festa di San Giovanni (24 June)  Meals of snails and suckling pigs.

Festa di SS Pietro e Paolo Rome’s patron Saints. (June 29)

Infiorata (last weekend in June)  Flower festival.

RomEuropa Festival of Film, dance, theater and concerts held at the Villa Medici. (Late June-Late July) 

Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds) is an international festival of music, opera, ballet, cinema and art that runs for 20 days from the end of  June – mid-July.  It is located 117km from Rome, but well worth the trip.  (For information:  Piazza del Duomo tel. 0743-49890).

Festa dei Noiantri (last two weeks in July)  An open air party to usher in the outdoor summer concerts.

Tevere Expo (Last two weeks of July)  Stalls along the Tiber near Ponte Sant’Angelo display Italian arts, crafts, food, wine, and folk music.

Festa delle Catene (August 1) At San Pietro in Vincoli, the chains of St. Peter are shown to the faithful during prayer.

Festa della Madonna delle Neve. (August 5) At Santa Maria Maggiore, at the Gloria portion of the Mass, flower petals fall on the congregation in reinactment of a local 4th century legend. 

Ferragosto (Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) August 15:  Main midsummer holiday.  Shops and restaurants are closed.

Late September -Early October :  Torchlit street and craft fair in Via dell’Orso.

Castelli wine festivals ( first Sunday of October )

Festa di Santa Cecilia (Nov.22)

Festa dell’Immacolata Concezione (Dec.8)  Religious services in Piazza di Spagna often attended by the Pope.

Children’s Fair (Dec.12-Jan.6) In Piazza Navona.  Culminates with the “witch”(Befana) festival on the eve of Epiphany.

Midnight Masses Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria in Aracoeli and the Papal Mass at St. Peter’s (December 24)

Mid-morning Mass at St. Peter’s (December 25)