If you think that religion and politics don’t mix, then you’ve obviously never been to Rome, where both are a great excuse for a party. Rome Vacations is from the many Catholic festival days to the summer events staged by political parties, Rome’s calendar is brimming with special occasions held in even more special locations. Summer is one long, non-stop cultural feast, the highlight of which is the Estate Romana, an explosion of top-quality outdoor music, theatre, dance, cinema and literary festivals, some of which are held in awe-inspiring venues such as the Imperial Forum.
Where else in the world can you see opera in the surrounds of ancient Roman baths, open-air cinema on a river island or Easter celebrations hosted by none other than the pontiff himself?

Settimana Santa e Pasqua
Easter Week draws pilgrims to Rome from all over the Catholic world. From the blessing of palms on Palm Sunday to the traditional Easter Sunday papal blessing “to the city and the world,” Urbi et Orbi, this is a Mass-filled week in which hundreds of thousands take part. The most enchanting event is the Stations of the Cross ceremony held in the Colosseum on Good Friday.

Settimana della Cultura
During this dedicated week of culture, many museums, exhibition halls and ancient sites are free to visit and/or stay open longer. Some collections and archives which are normally shut to the public are opened for the occasion, and special events are organized.

Primo Maggio
Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano in 1 May, from 2pm onwards On May Day, some 500,000 people attend a traditional
free concert organized by the country’s three biggest Festival Internazionale delle Letterature Basilica di Massenzio, Via dei Fori Imperiali.

International award-winning novelists read extracts from their works under the grand arches of the old Roman Basilica of Maxentius. Paul Auster, Nadine Gordimer and Alice Sebold have all made appearances. Come early, as these free events get very crowded.

Roma Incontra il Mondo
Villa Ada,a stage next to a little lake in the huge Villa Ada public park hosts musicians playing world music, as well as the odd dash of electronica, from 9pm nightly. Stands sell drinks, food from around the world, books and fairtrade products.

Party Political Festivals
Various venues Italy’s political parties organize these free open-air events. You can eat no-frills Roman food, see theatre
shows and concerts, browse market stalls and mingle with Italians of all ages. People of all political affiliations attend the events, regardless of which party organizes them. The biggest is the Festa dell’Unità, organized by the Democratic Left (DS) Party in June or July.