My wife and I are finally hoping to take our 25th anniversary trip (delayed because of economics) to Rome-Assisi-Florence at Easter. My tentative plans are to spend Holy Thursday and Good Friday in Rome and then travel on Saturday to Assisi until Monday afternoon. Then on to Florence for 2 nights and back to Rome. I am wondering if we will encounter travel problems - or other difficulties I'm not thinking of - because of the holiday.
Thank you.
David,
Book your hotels now as suggested. This is a VERY busy time in Rome. On Good Friday evening plan on heading to the Colosseum to see the Pope lead the "Stations of the Cross." It's an incredible ceremony that usually starts about 8 PM... but yes, very crowded.
When you get into town (Rome), BUY your train tickets if you plan to ride Eurostar. This is one of those times of the year that trains do fill up, especially those with assigned seating. I had friends last year who had to buy 1st class tickets to Venice as 2nd class was sold out on Good Friday!
Due to the holidays, buses (and some trains) will be on "festival" scheduling so count on fewer runs and longer waits. Be patient, it's a great time to be in Italy!
Ciao,
Ron
David, I will be in Italy again next Easter. In Sicily at that time I found that fewer shops were open, transport was reduced. Check the websites of the various places you intend to visit for their holiday times. I know that I will have limited 'windows' for buying food at that time - we have apartments in both Rome and Florence overlapping Easter. But for all of that, I will experience festivities that I would certainly never see in rural Australia.
Book your hotels now. Easter is a big event there, places are packed. I was there a week after Easter and there were still plenty of people on their extended holiday. Certainly check the websites of the places you want to visit (like museums) to see if they have reduced hours because of the holiday.
I was in Italy in 2001--in Rome for Easter. It was very crowded, but an experience I will never forget. I got the opportunity to see Pope John Paul II, luckily we had seats--there were people crowded into every inch of St. Peter's square. Ironically, I arrived in Rome for the second time on the day Pope Benedict was chosen. You may want to check with the Vatican museum as the Sistene Chapel may be closed at any moment. The first time I went they closed the Chapel--I had only enough time to look up and we were ushered thru-- we got there early and didn't have to wait in line (the Pope trumps tourists I suppose) The second time it was closed for the Conclave. Been twice and only had a few minutes inside. I'm going again in March and I will see it this time. I don't remember having any trouble with city transportation, but I'm not sure about intercity travel (we were in Rome three days before Easter and left the day after). There were restaurants open on Easter Sunday. It is a time like no other--Enjoy!
We were wondering, as well, if the week before
Easter would be a busy time in the hilltowns of
Tuscany and Umbria. We were considering visiting
then. Thanks, Carol
I remember Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano being quite busy the week before Easter (the only parts of Tuscany I went to), but I'm sure they would be anyways. I wouldn't worry too much about crowds...if you're set on going at Easter it's a great time to go. You could decide to go another time of year, but the weather may not be as nice, etc. There are pros and cons to any time of year. Go when the time is right for you.
Just remember that the week around Easter EVERYONE is off work and school, so places like Rome, Florence, and Assisi will also be crowded with Italian tourists and pilgrims.
