As Easter approaches, you must be ready to learn about all that Easter in Rome has to offer during that week. A fascinating whirlwind of different things to do, traditions that take place and the atmosphere is just a little more “homey” and welcoming.
The weather is usually amazing and it might be one of the best times to visit Rome, all in all. So here is your friendly guide to discover what happens in Rome during Easter week.
As we all know, Easter is a celebrated holiday all over the world. But the Symbolism and traditions may change depending on the Country.
For instance, in Rome, preparations for Easter take up an entire week, each day with its own traditions and curiosities.
We can say that it all starts with Palm Sunday, which takes place on April 2nd this year.
This festivity takes place a week before Easter and in this day, Christians and Catholics celebrate the time that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
This event is commemorated in churches mostly. When during Mass the priest hands out olive branches as a symbol of peace, instead of Palm leafs, for practical reasons among others.
In 2023 you can expect the Pope to Celebrate Mass on this occasion, Palm Sunday at around 10:00am directly in Saint Peter’s Square, so you could find more people around than usual that day and some streets could be closed off, for safety. But the occasion will not influence opening hours of any attraction in Rome, except for Saint Peter’s Basilica, which is closed to public on Sundays, during Mass hours.
A few days later is what Italians call Holy Thursday, which falls on April 6th this year.
This is basically another Catholic Holiday, that will not influence opening or closing hours of anything in Rome, whatsoever, so you don’t need to worry about that. The busy life of museums, restaurants and boutiques carries on undisturbed.
*A fun fact that is definitely worth mentioning is that there are certain traditions that take place on certain occasions. For instance, during this Thursday, churches celebrate by holding special masses and decorate the altars with the result of an ancient tradition called “Sepolcri”.
About a few weeks before Easter, church goers receive a handful of grass seeds from the priest. For them to place the seeds in a small plate or a cup, fill it with water and put it in the darkest space of their house, like under the bed or in a closet. The seeds would slowly grow and cover its container just in time for Easter to display as decorations, at the feet of the altars in the churches.
A curious activity for sure, with a simple but powerful message for believers: there is always life even in the darkness, like Jesus has died and risen so has a simple bunch of seeds grown into a bush of grass even the darkness.
Oh Rome, what a fascinating city you are, filled with curiosities and all sorts of bizarre traditions!
If you are in Rome during Easter, one of the busiest days during Easter week is possibly Holy Friday, which falls on April 7th this year.
Holy Friday is for sure the main event before Easter, here in Rome. It’s the day during which the Vatican City and churches all over the world commemorate the Via Crucis, the Holy path of the Cross.
Another Catholic tradition that takes place generally around the Colosseum, right after sunset. Where Pope Francis presides a procession, usually inside the very Colosseum, with pre-arranged stops to symbolize the stops that Christ made during His Passion, followed by a mass. The Colosseum and its square are just beautiful, with candles and lights everywhere. If you happen to be around, we recommend stopping by for sure.
Be aware though, on this particular day, public transport is complete chaos and there will certainly be a massive overflow of visitors. So don’t worry if you see a big crowd gathered that night or there are delays in taxis or buses or the subway.
Then there is Easter Saturday, on April 8th
There won’t be much going on around town that day. Aside for the joyful touring in Rome in the perfect warm atmosphere. This is certainly the best time to be in Rome. A relaxing atmosphere prevails, and even the bells in the churches don’t sing, as it’s looked at as a time of reflection. Everything is still.
And it’s finally Easter, Sunday April 9th 2023 this year.
You’ll notice a lot more of passerbys enjoying their day in the City. The pope will be busy in a wonderful Mass that will take place on Saint Peter’s Square that day, around 10:00. A festive occasion, at the end of which he proceeds with the famous blessing Urbi et Orbi, that is so dearly cherished to all Italian grandmothers. We recommend stopping by, it’s something interesting to see. The Pope will be in the Square directly, and if you want to partake, there are tickets available on the Papal’s prefecture website.
If there is one thing Italians know how to do is appreciate a good holiday. Even more so that traditionally the day after Easter, always a Monday (Angel’s Monday) is considered a second holiday, another day off work!
In fact, Easter Monday is called Pasquetta, little Easter. And it is the usually the day when Romans host barbecues, go on picnics or go out of town with friends. Romans are very attached to traditions.
One of the things Romans enjoy doing on Easter and little Easter, is dedicate their days to some well-deserved exploration.
Here are some ideas to do some exploration of your own, to enjoy your time without surprises.
The weather is usually sunny and warm. Which is perfect if you plan on walking a bit through the city.
The majority of the museums and points of interests in Rome are generally opened during the entire Week of Easter, except on Easter Sunday, maybe. And the Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill are open on both Easter Sunday and Monday. On Holy Friday the Colosseum might be closed because of the Pope’s Via Crucis.
The metro station “Colosseo” will be also closed, so that’s good to know.
The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are closed on both Easter Sunday and Monday. Saint Peter’s Basilica should be open on Monday, but since it’s free entrance, you could encounter in long waiting lines and security posts.
That being said, this is still one of the best weeks to discover Rome and its surroundings.
At the Scuderie del Quirinale, the Quirinal Stables, you can explore this exposition center adjacent to the President of the Republic’s Residence. The Stables host many incredible expositions that are especially spectacular during the Easter week, each year.
Another great idea, prefered by many Romans, is to escape the City and take some time off in the country, in Rome’s surroundings.
In fact the surroundings boast with so many great opportunities: Gardens, Renassaince jewels, idyllic hamlets, Lakeside towns and more. A picnic or lunch in a countryside restaurant are always a good option during Easter. A great place to visit, just a few miles away from Rome are Tivoli, with the beautiful Hadrian Villa and Villa D’Este. Or Bracciano Lake tour, also a fantastic choice! Or a walk in the Ninfa Gardens, specifically opened during Spring and Early Summer. Or Bomarzo, the Stone Park or Monster’s Park as some call it. Or a trip to Viterbo, many Romans like to take some time off to enjoy a day in the Thermal sites called the Pope’s Baths, le Terme dei Papi. Thanks to the perfect weather and climate, there are so many great things to do during Easter, inside of Rome and in it’s surroundings, in the countryside.
If you are on a budget and want to do something special on Easter in Rome, we highly recommend going to one of the many concerts scheduled that week.
In fact almost all concerts are free or low cost on Easter, in Rome. This is usually when a lot of many great events at a low cost are planned. In great locations like the Terme di Caracalla, or other beautiful venues. A nice way to enjoy Easter in Rome, for sure. Just look for the different concerts scheduled in the Concerts in Rome calendar. If you are looking for different activities for your Easter in Rome, this is certainly an option to consider.
Another thing Romans focus on during Easter is the food! Obviously.
There is a special Easter menu specifically created centuries ago. Starting with breakfast! Meals usually include sweet bread, Easter eggs, boiled eggs and what is called the Easter Pizza (which is not at all a pizza but more a sweet bundt cake) then there are all sorts of cold cuts and chocolate, and pastries.
For lunch, every Region in Italy has its own Easter traditions but Rome’s eatery delights are just a little more spectacular. They include different artichocke based dishes, Frittatas, and a local delicacy called Coratella, which we will not tell you what it is, because we don’t want to spoil the surprise; but trust us, you are going to love this dish.
The star of any Roman table is is oven baked lamb with a side of roasted potatoes. Then there are all sorts of seasoned cheeses, cold cuts, soups and desserts. Like the Colomba, a dove-shaped panettone with dried fruit and almonds.
We will get into the traditions of Easter meals in our next article. Just know that where you go to eat in Rome on Easter, you will find special dedicated menus just for the occasion.
What more there is to know about Easter in Rome?
Rome hosts many events specifically for the occasion, religious or not, that are definitely worth seeing. Our advice is to plan your activities for that week a little in advance. This is the time when Rome receive the most visitors during the year. So if you’d like to visit the monuments or museums, perhaps you could consider doing so a few days before Easter or a few days immediately after.
In the high time of Easter week, on Easter Sunday and the day after, we would recommend looking into the different activities the surroundings of Rome have offer, just as any Roman would do. To escape from the business and spend a beautiful day in the Countryside, off the beaten path.
you may be interested: