Are you going on holiday to Rome in Italy? Do you want your trip to coincide with one of Rome’s many festivals and celebrations? Our guide gives you facts & information about the best festivals in Rome.
Rome has several festivals and special occasions that are commemorated annually. While many of these festivals in Rome have religious roots, some have been promoted by the municipal government in Rome as a means of boosting tourism and are purely secular and cultural in their nature. Below we’ve mentioned just a few of Rome’s festivals that occur at different times during the year.
Summer Festivals in Rome
Estate Romana Festival: This is probably the largest festival held in Rome during the summer months. The main attractions of this festival in Rome are a series of cultural events and performances usually held outdoors including song & dance troops as well as theatre performances. The festival continues for the entire duration of the summer months in Rome and is an initiative of the local government to attract people to Rome at a time of year where many escape to the cooler climates in the north of Italy.
Noantri Festival: This festival, which occurs towards the end of July, has its roots in the Christian religion of Italy; however, it is accompanied by much song and dance of which people of any religious persuasion can easily partake. The official highlight of this festival in Rome involves the procession of the Vergine del Carmine statue through the streets of the Trastevere district of Rome to San Crisogno where it is displayed for a week. Otherwise the festival is full of the usual food, drink and general merry making one would expect. The Trastevere district of Rome is situated towards the west of the city just across the river Tiber.
Autumn Festivals in Rome
Roma Europa Festival: This festival begins some time in September and usually lasts for about one month every year. The main draw of this festival is the large number of top names in the performing arts world from Italy who come to partake in the festival. Common activities of this festival in Rome include music and theatre performances.
Antiques Festival: This festival is limited to the Via dei Coronari in Rome where most of the antiques shops are situated. It is hard to say whether this is primarily a shopping festival as antiques are on sale; However, the basic point of the festival is for Rome’s antiques dealers to display their goods to the public, many of whom just come to have a look without buying anything.
Winter Festivals in Rome
Capodanno Festival: This festival technically only lasts one day although in combination with New Years Day it constitutes two days. This festival occurs on December 31st annually and involves fireworks and concerts in the public squares of Rome to see in the New Year. The religious highlight of New Years Day involves a procession which takes place in the catacombs.
Spring Festivals in Rome
Culture Festival: This week long festival in Rome is designed to promote awareness of the rich history and culture of Rome and for one whole week museums open their doors to the public for free.
