The Rome Index
Festivals & public holidays
What's happening when, and which dates change how the city runs.
Major public holidays
Easter weekend and the days around it draw some of the largest crowds of the year, especially at the Vatican. August 15th (Ferragosto) sees many family-run businesses close as Romans leave the city.
Estate Romana
A summer-long program of outdoor concerts, film screenings and events across the city, roughly June through September — worth checking the current program once you have travel dates.
Christmas season
Piazza Navona hosts a Christmas market through December and early January, and major churches put up nativity displays worth a look even for non-religious visitors.
National holidays that actually close things
Unlike some countries where public holidays pass with shops open regardless, several Italian holidays (Ferragosto on August 15th, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and to a lesser extent Easter Sunday) genuinely close most non-tourist-facing businesses — worth checking your specific travel dates against the Italian public holiday calendar rather than assuming normal operations.
Regional versus national events
Rome also observes its own city-specific holiday — the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th, marking the city's patron saints — with many local businesses closed and some public events held, distinct from the national calendar most visitors check.
