June 29th: Feast of Saint Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome

Great celebrations in Rome for the feast of the patron saints, with performances, shows, exibitions, fanfare, and fireworks in musical sync, called Girandola (pinwheel), originally created by Michelangelo and reworked by Bernini. This is a liturgical feast in Rome, and offices and shops are closed. Civic museums and Vatican Museums are closed for the solemnity. Statal Museums and Archeological sites (as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Galleria Borghese) are regularly open. Continue reading

5 of the most important works of Michelangelo in Rome (and 4 of them can be seen for free!).

Michelangelo Buonarroti is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. He was a sculptor, a painter, an architect and a poet of the High Renaissance, and undoubtedly a great genius. His contemporaries admired him so much for his style and his temper, that they often called him “il Divino” (the divine one). Continue reading

Carnevale: 5 things to do in Italy

Carnevale is one of Italy’s biggest winter festival, celebrated in every town from the end of January. All over Italy you can found masquerade balls, costume parties and parades along the streets and in the squares. Masks, sweets and having fun are the most important things during Carnival: it’s a chance to be happy and cheerful, to dress up in costumes, even if you are not a child anymore! Continue reading

5 things to do in Rome on Epiphany 2018

Epiphany is national holiday in Italy, and is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God as a human being in Jesus Christ. Is the commemoration of the manifestation of Christ, and of the Adoration of the Magi. In popular folklore, the “Befana” is an old lady riding a broomstick through the air. On the Eve of January 6 th, the Befana visits children and leavecandies and presents in their socks, if they have been good, or lump of sugar coal and dark candies, if they had been bad. Continue reading

5 things to do in Rome for Halloween

Halloween is not a traditional Italian holiday, but it has become very popular in the last few years. While the main holidays are still All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), the custom of celebrating the night of Halloween has taken hold everywhere in Italy. Continue reading

Halloween 2015: 5 things to do in Rome.

Halloween is not a traditional Italian holiday, but it has become very popular in the last few years. While the main holidays are still All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), the custom of celebrating the night of Halloween has taken hold everywhere in Italy. You can find Halloween costumes and decorations on display in many shop windows and many costume parties along the cities, during the afternoon or early in the evening for children, and during the night for adults. Continue reading