Sometime last year, I asked DD where she'd like to go for her birthday. "Rome", she said. We were last there 2015, a bit rushed, so we thought we'd stay for a week. Do Pompeii, Hadrian's Villa. Saunter around eating gelato. Booked plane tickets and accommodations. Sometime later..."Jubilee Year? What's that?" and "oh, we land the day before Easter Sunday...". And her birthday? Liberation Day, apparently. Traveler ignorance aside, I do think it will be a great thing to be a part of this. Next Jubilee I'll be too decrepit to make it, unless another special one is declared. That being said, I would appreciate any and all tips for spending Easter Sunday, and for the rest of the week. I'm leaning towards taking tours, esp the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill, sounds like getting tickets is now an adventure unto itself. Planning to skip Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (seen it 3x). Already booked tour and train tickets for Pompeii. Booked tour for Hadrian's.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5689 posts
What is your question? There's a wealth of info here on the Forum, so if you could be more specific, you could be directed to the resources you need. Safe travels!
Posted by
OP
26 posts
I'll start with the most pressing question: Easter Sunday. Will the shops and restaurants be closed? Will it be possible to visit the Vatican area, if just to absorb some of the atmosphere?
Thanks in advance. Working on finding answers on this forum and others. Not quite sure what to expect w/ the holidays and the Jubilee celebrations.
Posted by
Vignola, MO, IT
707 posts
You'll need reservations to eat on Easter. I've been in Turin, Venice, Rome, Florence and Bari for Easter and reservations are recommended. I would imagine Rome will be super crowded for Easter and the Jubilee.
Posted by
OP
26 posts
Thank you. Will definitely get reservations, then.
Posted by
327 posts
Easter Monday may be a holiday as well.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2104 posts
We also made a trip to Rome and only after hitting the “pay now “ button realized I had chosen the epicenter of Christendom in the days leading up to and including Easter. We expected much to be closed but were pleasantly surprised to find we had ample opportunities to tour and enjoyed ourselves a great deal. I’m fairly sure we went to the Palazzo Barberini on Easter Sunday itself which has a wonderful collection. We aren’t particular about eating (we don’t dine, we eat) and had our choice of many restaurants on Easter Sunday as well, as I recall.. The only downside that day was huge crowds in the subway (exited and chose to walk) and elevated hotel prices. Otherwise we didn’t feel inconvenienced or shut out of much of anything. It was a great week, but it wasn’t a Jubilee year either. Should attractions be closed, wandering the fabled streets of Rome with DD and gelato should be rewarding in itself. I’m guessing you’ll have a wonderful time. I’d certainly research openings and hours before setting out. Safe travels.
Posted by
OP
26 posts
@janet, thanks, Easter Monday is a holiday too, you are right. I booked a Jubilee tour with Through Eternity, visiting two of the older basilicas, with two of the Holy Doors. Pretty excited about that.
Posted by
OP
26 posts
@Denny, we were in Paris for Easter Sunday the year before the Notre Dame fire. We watched the processions....a wonderful experience. Thanks for the reassurances, we will definitely follow your suggestion and yes, just wandering the streets eating gelato sounds like just our thing. In our earlier travels, I would have an exhausting list of to-do's and have almost every minute planned. Lately, we just focus on making memories and having fun. But I am still working on the laid back philosophy, I do like to be prepared. Walking instead of taking the metro on our last visit allowed us extra gelato.....