A trip to Italy is materializing very quickly that could put us in Rome on Wednesday 16 April and flying out Tuesday 22 April. I have just figured out that this is Easter. I know there are many closures normally on Mondays, and I won't try the Sistine chapel on Easter, but how will the holiday starting with Good Friday (Maundy Thursday?) impact our plans to sightsee during that timeframe? Will that Friday and Saturday as well effect tourist sights, or transportation? Years ago in London I was surprised how totally everything shut down on Christmas, so will Rome over Easter be as bad or worse? Are there Holy Week processions or Easter time events? I'd always read about Seville, and am pretty amazed I might be in Rome for this time of year. Attending actual services or mass is not on the agenda. We have been to Rome twice, and seen the biggies, but I had hoped we could wander around, especially looking for works of art in smaller churches, or visit the catacombs, or other less travelled sights if things shut down big time in Rome? I hope this makes some sense...thanks for any insights.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16239 posts
The biggest issue might be securing your desired hotel accommodations. Therefore you'd better start searching now or you'll find yourself like me several years ago, when all I could find was a hotel past the E.U.R. near the Via Pontina (basically in No Man's Land).
Monday after Easter is called "Pasquetta" (little Easter) or "Lunedi dell'Angelo" (Angel's Monday). It is a national holiday and traditionally Italians take out of town day trips. Monday 21 is likely to have lots of places closed, but the best way to check is to go to the websites of the museums you want to see and check their schedule.
Posted by
Oregon
111 posts
I found this article on Rick's site which describes the religious events, including Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday evening: http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/easter-in-rome.
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
The Stations of the Cross is a Big Deal, but I missed it because I'm old and it was raining sideways and blowing like stink when I was there Easter week. Go and watch if you can. I DID make dinner reservations for Sunday and Monday. Went to Easter Mass @ St. Peters along w/ 100,000 or so other people and really enjoyed it, but that's me. Got tickets through the home parish. Restaurants around the Vatican were all very happily open for business, and we had a nice pizza. You could, of course, attend Easter Mass and all of the other Holy Days in any church, and they will ALL be beautiful.
I always stay near the Vatican whenever I go to Rome. Make sure your hotel dining room will be open on Sunday/Monday. Of course in Rome, so many sites are outdoors so of course, you can visit Coloseum and piazzas and fountains, etc.
We really enjoyed Easter week in Rome.
Posted by
OP
Columbus, OH, USA
2111 posts
Thanks to everyone for the helpful responses. We have also been to Paris over May Day...twice...and still can't figure out how one holiday seems to morph into a week long event, or so it seemed anyway :-) It is good to know that Rome will be pretty much business as usual. Thanks again to all. Buona Pasqua, and Buona Passover!