RomaEuropa Festival
A fast-growing performing arts festival with a pronounced emphasis on the provocative, held every autumn in various superlative venues, including the French Academy, Palazzo Farnese and the Spanish Academy. All kinds of music, dance and theatre, including several international artists.
end-Sep–early-Dec
Testaccio Village
This well-run multi-event happens all summer long in a purpose-built area near an old slaughterhouse. Every evening there’s live music until midnight, followed by several discos, each featuring a different type of music, and lots of food choices. There’s a new decor theme every year, often quite elaborate.
Via Monte Testaccio 16
06 5730 1420
Jun–Sep 8:30pm–3am nightly
Festa dell’Unità
Put on by the DS, the former Communist Party, this is a lively evening event, featuring music, films, dancing, games and more. The venue changes every year, as do the dates, but it’s usually held in a central park, sometime around July, for about a month.
Rome’s Birthday
Every 21 April there’s a gala civic observance in the Piazza del Campidoglio, celebrating Rome’s traditional founding in 753 BC (see Romulus and Remus). Music, fireworks and a speech by the mayor mark the event, but the best news is that the Musei Capitolini are free of charge and open until 10pm.
Summer Opera Festivals
Not only does the Rome Opera Company offer its usual summer programme in the Baths of Caracalla, but there are also a number of other opera programmes all over the city, with singers from around the globe.
¡Fiesta!
Celebrating all forms of Latin music, this festival takes place every night throughout the summer. In recent years, world, jazz, rock and pop music have been added to the schedule. The event is held in the vast grounds of a converted racetrack.
Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Via Appia Nuova 1245
Metro Colli Albani then bus
06 718 2139
mid-Jun–mid-Aug
Luglio Suona Bene
This “July Sounds Good” concert brings pop, jazz and folk music artists to Auditorium Parco della Musica’s outdoor arena.
Viale Pietro de Coubertin 15
06 802 41281
International Horse Show
Villa Borghese’s annual splash-out for the equestrian classes. International show-jumping in a garden setting. Much of the park is closed off for the event and parties.
Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese
last week May
Villa Celimontana Jazz
A magnificent setting among dramatically lit umbrella pines, where you can enjoy gourmet cuisine and jazz every night all summer long.
Piazza della Navicella
06 589 7807
Jun–Sep
May Day Concert
Held in front of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, this is a vast, free event, boasting a line-up of top Italian popstars and the occasional international luminary. It’s in celebration of socialist Italy’s “Day of the Worker”, when just about everything shuts down.
Piazza S Giovanni
1 May
Christmas Market
Sugar candy, nativity figurines and all the Christmas trimmings.
Piazza Navona
1 Dec–6 Jan
White Night Festival
Museums, monuments and churches open through the night hosting a variety of cultural events.
Sep
Easter Week
Events include the Good Friday Procession of the Cross at the Colosseum and the Easter Sunday blessing from the balcony of St Peter’s.
Madonna della Neve
Commemorating a papal vision of an August snowfall in the 4th century, white petals float down from the ceiling of S Maria Maggiore.
5 Aug
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
Most churches celebrate the Saviour’s birth, but tickets are required for St Peter’s.
“Urbi et Orbi”
The noontime Christmas Day blessing by the pope from St Peter’s balcony.
Carnival
Dressing up, parties and pranks.
Late Jan–Feb
All Saints’ Day
Romans visit the graves of loved ones.
1 Nov
Feast of Sts Peter and Paul
Fireworks and partying to celebrate the founders of the Catholic Church.
Piazza S Paolo and Via Ostiense
28–29 Jun
54.167.199.134