Exploring the Appian Way, one of the most ancient and well-preserved Roman roads.
Rome might be a bustling capital, with trafficked streets and packed attractions, but it also offers opportunities to unwind in nature, while breathing in ancient Roman history.
The Appia Antica, or the Appian Way, is what could be considered the first ancient highway, connecting Rome to Brindisi in Puglia. This historic road was once referred to as the Regina viarum or queen of the streets, a testament to its significance in ancient times.
The Appian Way owes its name to Appius Claudius Caecus, a Roman censor who oversaw the construction of the first part of the road, built as a military path to the south in 312 BC. Yes, it’s that old!
In July 2024, the Via Appia was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becoming Italy’s 60th listing and cementing its status as one of the most significant cultural routes in the world.
Today, the road is a remarkable relic of Rome’s past. It’s an essential stop on any Rome itinerary!
The first 16 kilometers of the Appian Way are now part of the Parco dell’Appia Antica regional park. This stretch of the road begins from Porta San Sebastiano and is lined with many ancient monuments on both sides. The road is remarkably well-preserved, constructed from large, flat stones known as basoli.
Some of the sites that have stood the test of time along the path include the Catacombs of San Sebastiano and the Catacombs of San Callisto. These catacombs served as burial sites for Christian martyrs. They are a fascinating and unique attraction to visit in Rome.
Further along is the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, built in honor of Cecilia Metella, daughter-in-law of Marcus Crassus, who was a prominent figure under Julius Caesar.
Another highlight is the Circus and Villa of Maxentius, a grand arena where chariot races were once held, situated next to the remains of Emperor Maxentius’ vast villa.
Next up is the Villa of the Quintili. It stands as Rome’s most extensive suburban villa, once owned by the two brothers Sesto Quintilio Condiano and Sesto Quintilio Valerio Massimo, notable figures during the era of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.
Each monument/museum has its own opening times and prices, some being free. Or if you’re just looking for a daytime refuge from busy Roman life, bring a picnic and enjoy the sun on the park’s grounds!
The Appia Antica offers a perfect blend of history, sightseeing, and physical activity, especially if you opt to explore it by bike.
How to explore the Appian Way
The Appia Antica Regional Park is not far from the centre. To arrive directly at the official entrance of the park, take bus 218 from the San Giovanni area, bus 118 from Circo Massimo, or bus 660 from Metro A stops Colli Albani/Arco di Travertino.
This tour offers the opportunity to glide along the 2300-year-old Roman road effortlessly, passing by ancient ruins and monuments. Departing from the Ancient Appian Way, you’ll journey towards the ancient Roman aqueducts rising over the fields on the horizon and follow them on their way back to Rome.
Bike Tour of the Ancient Appian Way
4 hour off-the-beaten-path guided bike tour of Rome with quality electric-assist mountain bike.
For a different kind of adventure, consider a golf cart tourof the Appian Way & Roman Catacombs. This 3-hour excursion ensures a comfortable ride aboard an electric golf cart, with stops to admire highlights like the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, the Circus and Villa of Maxentius, and the Roman catacombs.
Golf Cart Tour of the Appian Way & Roman Catacombs
Jump on a golf cart, and combine the allure of the Appian Way and the mysterious depths of the catacombs hidden in a stunning protected area.
An excursion to the Appia Antica is perfect for the tourist who is tired of being squeezed into the capital’s most-visited sites, or for the Rome resident who is looking for something fun and different.
Either way, don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water!
A personal guide on navigating your Roman solo adventure and finding community
A year ago, I packed a 32-kilogram backpack and set off for Italy. It was a disaster of a packing job, but this decision changed the way I see travelling. My first stop, and my first solo trip to Rome, was the obvious one: the Eternal City.
As a solo traveller, I was very nervous about being completely on my own. After all, for me solo travelling didn’t just mean wandering around the city with headphones on. It’s about the connections and the experiences you get to live outside of your comfort zone.
In my case, my stay in Rome lasted a month, so just imagine how scared I was. Maybe for you it’s a week, or just a few days in the city. It doesn’t matter how long you stay, it matters how special you make each moment.
I don’t have the magic formula to make your solo travelling experience perfect, but I can share the secrets of my own, in the hope of helping you with yours.
Is Rome safe for solo travellers?
Short answer: yes. Rome is a big, busy capital, and like any big city it asks for a bit of common sense, but I never felt unsafe walking around on my own, even at night in the central and lively areas. The main thing to watch is pickpocketing on crowded buses, around the metro and near the busiest monuments, so keep your bag closed and your phone somewhere secure. If you’re travelling solo as a woman, the usual precautions apply, but the historic centre, Monti, Trastevere and Prati are all comfortable areas to base yourself and move around in. Stick to well-lit streets at night, trust your instincts, and you’ll be fine.
Where to stay in Rome as a solo traveler: hostels are a cheat code
When I was planning my trip, I knew I wanted to experience the city in a fun way: making friends and doing more than just the traditional tours.
Coming to Rome was my first time ever in a hostel, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. A shared room in a hostel is one of the most culturally rich places you’ll ever walk into, and you leave with all the memories that come after a simple “Where are you from?”.
Hostels are truly a cheat code for friendship.
I stayed in one for a whole month as a volunteer, an arrangement where you help out a few hours a day in exchange for a bed, and I got to meet people from all over the world. We explored the city, visited an actual underground site, dipped our toes into Rome’s nightlife and even celebrated a traditional Cinco de Mayo party, piñata included.
There’s no match for the hostel feeling: everyone there is open to meeting people and having fun.
There are plenty of hostels in the city, so you can find one that matches your needs. Maybe you’re after a calm vibe, or maybe you want more of a party place: there’s one for every traveller.
And don’t worry if a shared dorm isn’t your style. Many hostels welcome non-guests to their evenings and events, so feel free to pop by and meet other travellers like yourself.
How to meet people in Rome: activities and free events
Beyond hostels, you’ll come across plenty of activities where you can meet people and learn something new.
The Eternal City has a lot to offer, from the classic sightseeing tours to unique experiences like making a mosaic from scratch. Whatever you’re into, there’s always something to do. From cooking classes to sketching in front of the Colosseum, you can find your tribe here.
During my stay, I stumbled upon a philosophy and literature club held in Spanish and open to anyone. We spent three hours talking about books at a bar in Pigneto. Needless to say, it was the best aperitivo hour I’ve had!
While tours and museums often require a ticket, many cultural activities around the city are free, like the outdoor cinema in summer. Even now that I live here, whenever I’m out of ideas I check Romeing’s activities calendar to stay updated on events and other happenings.
Rome can be home
Solo travelling, or travelling in general, is more than just seeing a place and taking good pictures. Even if only for a few days, it can lead you to experiences you never imagined and to people from across the globe you’d never have met otherwise.
Rome is beautiful, loud, chaotic and full of life. My biggest tip? Be open, lose the headphones, and don’t be afraid to start a conversation. You’ll find that Rome has a way of bringing people together.
See you around Rome!
Quick tips for your solo trip to Rome
Stay in a hostel for at least part of your trip: it’s the easiest way to meet people.
Join free or low-cost activities, from language clubs to outdoor cinema.
Base yourself in a central, walkable area like Monti, Trastevere or Prati.
Keep an eye on your belongings on public transport and in crowds.
Check Romeing’s events calendar to see what’s on while you’re in town.
Lose the headphones and start the conversation. Rome does the rest.
Rome Becomes the Capital of World Mixology on September 14-15 under the motto Mix is our business.
For two days this September, Rome turns into the meeting point for the international cocktail world. Roma Bar Show returns on 14 and 15 September 2026, and for the first time it moves into La Nuvola, the striking Fuksas-designed venue in the EUR district. It is the sixth edition of the only Italian event dedicated entirely to mixology and the beverage industry, and this year it comes with more space, a bigger international line-up and a few genuinely new ideas.
The move to La Nuvola is not just cosmetic. The larger, more functional halls give room to hundreds of exhibitors and buyers from more than thirty countries, which is exactly the crowd that has turned Roma Bar Show into a fixture on the global circuit since it launched in 2019. The September dates also give Rome a strategic spot at the front of the international calendar, ahead of events like London Cocktail Week.
A new space for no and low alcohol
The headline addition this year is Future Drinking, an area built entirely around no and low alcohol drinks. Once a niche, alcohol-free and low-ABV cocktails have become one of the fastest-growing parts of the global drinks market, and the new space brings together tastings, products and talks for anyone curious about where the category is heading. Alongside it, two of the show’s most loved formats return: the Mexican Village, a deep dive into Mexican culture and spirits, and the Educational Program, the technical heart of the event.
The big names behind the bar
The Auditorium, Tasting Room and Academy host the masterclasses and seminars, with some of the most influential bartenders in the world sharing not only their drinks but the thinking and the business vision behind their venues. This year’s guests include Faye Chen of the multi-award-winning Double Chicken Please in New York, Jonathan Gabbay of Argo in Hong Kong, Marco Corallo of Saikindō in Abu Dhabi and Alex Frezza of L’Antiquario in Naples, among many others.
Beyond the bar counter
Roma Bar Show 2026 leans harder into the business side of hospitality with the Business Room, a new program of seminars on leadership, management, brand building, data and career development for professionals who want to grow beyond the bar. On the trade side, the Buyer Program, run with ICE and Fiere di Parma, connects exhibitors with importers, distributors and decision makers, supported by a new app for booking B2B meetings before and during the event.
The city joins in
As always, the show spills out into Rome itself. A packed program of off-site events, guest shifts, tastings and appearances by international bartenders takes over cocktail bars across the city, so even visitors without a trade pass can catch a piece of the action in their evening out.
Tickets: available through the official Roma Bar Show ticketing site
If you are in Rome that weekend and love a good cocktail, it is worth planning your evenings around the fuori salone events, when the city’s best bars put on their most interesting shifts of the year.
Discover the program for the summer of 2026 at Villa Medici in Rome!
The Villa Medici – The French Academy in Rome is a prestigious museum and cultural institution located near Villa Borghese. Like every summer, this year it is ready to host numerous events, with a rich program that includes art exhibitions, landscape architecture interventions, and film festivals. With its 18 hectares of gardens, fountains, and sculptures, Villa Medici remains an oasis of artistic expression that evokes the French countryside, despite being situated in one of the most central areas of Rome.
Let’s take a look at the artistic programming of Villa Medici from May to September 2026
The Festival des Cabanes at Villa Medici was created to offer architects, artists, and researchers the opportunity to “take over” the site’s historic gardens, designed by Ferdinando de’ Medici at the end of the 16th century. For the fifth consecutive year, six original “cabin” creations will be showcased throughout the summer in the heart of the Villa Medici gardens. These cabins are specially designed for the festival by international groups of architects, builders, and students: Bento Architecture, ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, Foundation Huttopia, NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, PRÌA and VELIA, and Salazarsequeromedina. All summer long, the cabins will host various educational workshops, readings, and yoga classes.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday (closed on Tuesday) from 10:00am to 7:00pm (last entry at 6:30pm)
Oracle beyond the sea | 19 June – 7 September 2026
From June 19 to September 7, 2026, Villa Medici presents Oracles Beyond the Sea, the collective exhibition marking the end of the sixteen fellows’ year-long residency at the French Academy in Rome. Curated by Roberto Pontecorvo and Imma Tralli of Marea Art Project, with Camille Coschieri as associate curator, the show takes its title from Oracles from the Sea (1998) by Palestinian artist Vera Tamari.
The exhibition brings together works spanning visual and performing arts, music, literature, architecture, curating, and art theory. Created in the privacy of the studios, the projects now move into the historic spaces of Villa Medici to meet the public. Some appear as finished pieces, others as ongoing processes, held in a constant tension between the poetic and the political.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday (closed on Tuesday) from 10:00am to 7:00pm (last entry at 6:30pm)
Created in 2021, the Villa Medici Film Festival offers an international selection of films that explore the connections between cinema and contemporary art. For the sixth consecutive year, the festival aims to present pioneering works with diverse profiles that challenge, disrupt, transform, or re-enchant our relationship with images.
The Villa Medici Film Festival is divided into three sections: the International Competition, consisting of fourteen recent films of various genres and formats, the parallel program Focus, featuring non-competitive films by artists, masterclasses, and exceptional encounters, and the Piazzale screenings, which gather the audience for outdoor screenings of new films, including premieres and restored classics.
This year’s festival is dedicated to the memory of Lili Hinstin (1977–2026), a woman of the cinema, festival programmer and artistic director, who began her career at Villa Medici as a film programmer from 2005 to 2010, before helping to create the Film Festival, serving as a member of its Selection and Organizing Committee until her passing.
Welcome to a gastronomic journey like no other! When in Rome, it’s not just about the iconic landmarks and ancient history; it’s also an opportunity to savor the delectable flavors that the region has to offer. As the sun-drenched days of summer arrive, so do the lively food festivals and traditional “sagre” that fill the air with mouthwatering aromas and a contagious festive spirit.
The sagra is an Italian festival, organized in some towns, or regions, and is always linked to a local tradition or food celebrated in the course of the event. These events provide an authentic and immersive experience into the heart of Italian culinary traditions, celebrating local produce, regional specialties, and age-old recipes that have been handed down through generations. Most of these festivals take place in charming villages just outside the city, making them the perfect excuse for a day trip from Rome.
This is our list of Sagre in the Lazio area in 2026.
Festa Cozze e Pecorino Mussels and pecorino cheese July 23 – August 2 Fiumicino (RM)
Sagra della Ciccia Mixed grilled meat July 31 – August 2 Canale Monterano (RM)
Sagra dei Cecapreti e della Bufaletta Cecapreti pasta and buffalo meat August 1 Villa Santo Stefano (FR)
Fettuccine alla Trebulana Fettuccine pasta “alla Trebulana” August 1-2 Monteleone Sabino (RI)
Sagra delle Fettuccine con i Funghi Porcini Fettuccine pasta with porcini mushrooms August 2 Ascrea (RI)
Sagra del Vino di Monticelli Monticelli wine August 6-7 Esperia (FR)
Cantine in festa Wine Feast August 7-8 Anticoli Corrado (RM)
Sagra delle Pappardelle Pappardelle pasta August 7-9 Canale Monterano (RM)
Sagra della Pizza Fritta Nerolese Nerolese Fried Pizza August 8-9 Nerola (RM)
Sagra della Lumaca Snails August 11-16 Graffignano (VT)
Sagra delle Fettuccine con i Funghi Porcini Fettuccine pasta with porcini mushrooms August 12-13 Casaprota (RI)
Sagra delle Strengozze Strengozze pasta August 20-23 Cantalice (RI)
Sagra della Tellina Tellina clam August 21-30 Ostia (RM)
Sagra dell’Agnello Lamb August 21-31 Rocca Priora (RM)
Sagra della Nocciola Hazelnut August 21-23 & 28 – September 1 Caprarola (VT)
Rajche August 23-25 Subiaco (RM)
Sagra del Pizzutello Pizzutello grapes August 29-31 Tivoli (RM)
Sagra degli Spaghetti alla Amatriciana August 30 – September 1 Amatrice (RI)
Sagra del fagiolo Bean August 29 – September 1 Sutri (VT)
Fiera mondiale del Peperoncino World Chili Pepper Fair August 28 – September 6 Rieti
Discovering the best things to do in Rome in September
Rome in September is perhaps at its best! The city has survived the boiling peaks of August, Romans have returned from holidays with renewed energy, and local life is ready to get back on track, in a post-summer, but still sunny, fresh, and extremely pleasant atmosphere! In this article we have gathered some of the best events in September 2026 in Rome, such as exhibitions, festivals, concerts and other things to do. Take your pick and enjoy.
Exhibitions this September in Rome
September in Rome is the perfect time to dive into the city’s vibrant art scene and explore a variety of exhibitions.
The month’s big opening is at Palazzo Bonaparte, where a major retrospective on Vassily Kandinsky opens on September 15. Twenty-five years after the last monographic show dedicated to the Russian master of abstraction in Rome, it’s already one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the season, and advance tickets are on sale.
At the Ara Pacis, Robert Mapplethorpe and Humanity as Art offers a powerful journey through the work of one of the most influential and provocative photographers of the 20th century, exploring the body, form and beauty through his unmistakable black-and-white lens.
Over at the Musei Capitolini, don’t miss the major retrospective dedicated to Diego Rivera, one of the giants of Mexican muralism, a rare chance to see his work in Rome.
The Galleria Borghese continues to impress with Metamorphosis. Ovid and the Arts, gathering over 80 masterpieces from Correggio to Rodin in a journey through Ovid’s myths of transformation, staged in the very rooms his poem once inspired.
Finally, fashion lovers shouldn’t miss After. Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985 at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, a faithful restaging of the legendary 1985 exhibition celebrating the collaboration between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, conceived by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the maison’s centenary.
As summer comes to a close, Rome’s live music scene stays lively throughout September. The month brings a variety of musical events for all tastes, featuring both established and emerging artists from Italy and abroad, in individual shows as well as festivals such as Romaeuropa and Dissonanze. The line-ups are well worth exploring — check out who’s playing!
Short Theatre is Rome’s international festival dedicated to contemporary creation and the performing arts, back for its 21st edition with over 65 events by some 40 companies and artists from around the world. Through performances, installations, talks, workshops, concerts and DJ sets, the festival maps today’s artistic geographies across the Global South and East. The heart of the event is La Pelanda at the Mattatoio in Testaccio, with an opening night among the greenhouses of Rome’s Botanical Garden and additional programming at Teatro India, Teatro Vittoria, Cinema Troisi, MACRO and the Museum of Civilizations.
Mattatoio, Botanical Garden, Teatro India, Teatro Vittoria, MACRO, Cinema Troisi, MUCIV – Museum of Civilizations discover moreShort Theatre 2026
Until 5 September | Village Celimontana
Village Celimontana continues to bring live music to one of Rome’s most beautiful summer settings. Now in its tenth edition, the festival runs until September 5 at Villa Celimontana, with more than 100 free concerts throughout the season. Expect a rich programme of jazz, swing, manouche, rock’n’roll, Brazilian rhythms, dance nights and family-friendly events.
Rome’s biggest wine and food event returns to Piazza di Siena, in the heart of Villa Borghese, from September 7 to 13 for its 23rd edition. Over seven evenings, visitors can taste their way through 3,200 labels from 800 Italian wineries, alongside a rich program of masterclasses, guided tastings, show cooking and exclusive chef’s dinners. Highlights include the Wine Top Tasting masterclasses, the Casa Barolo tastings dedicated to the great wines of Langa, the Temporary Restaurants, and the Pizza d’Autore dinners with Italy’s top pizza masters, culminating in the finals of La Città della Pizza contest on September 13.
Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese discover moreVinoforum 2026
8 September – 15 November | Romaeuropa Festival
This year, the jam-packed line-up of Romaeuropa Festival is set to delight, inspire and entertain all ages. A dazzling array of music, theatre, dance, digital arts and creation for children will be showcased at different venues throughout the city. The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival is one of the richest ever: the programme includes 100 shows with 240 performances and the participation of around 1000 artists from all over the world.
Dissonanze returns to Rome on September 12–13 with “New Chapter”, opening a bold new era for one of Italy’s most visionary festivals after last year’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Two days of live sets, DJ sets, and performances at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, closing the Roma Summer Fest season with a line-up that blends club culture, experimentation, and avant-garde soundscapes. From house to techno, ambient to performance art, the event features artists like Björk (DJ set), Peggy Gou, Floating Points, and many more, reconfirming Dissonanze as a landmark of contemporary electronic culture.
Line-up:
Day 1 (September 12): Björk (DJ set), Peggy Gou, Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, Kelly Lee Owens (DJ set), Ron Trent, Tony Humphries, Aline Umber (DJ set), CARISTA, Dante, Duddha, ISAbella, Nubiyan Twist, Paranoid London (live), Ruthven, Sugar Free, Ti Es, Yu Su.
Designed by Renzo Piano, the Cavea, the Auditorium’s stunning open-air amphitheater, is home to the Fondazione Musica per Roma’s summer festival: the Roma Summer Fest. Just a few feet from the stage, audiences can experience outstanding live music under the stars, enhanced by the venue’s exceptional acoustics. One of the most anticipated events of the Roman summer, the festival brings some of the biggest names from the Italian and international music scenes to the capital for a series of unmissable concerts.
Line-up: in September, the Auditorium will host Hermanos Gutiérrez (September 2), Sal Da Vinci (3), Fiorella Mannoia (4-5), Il Tre (6), Levante (7), Tony Boy (8), Judas Priest (9), I Cani (10-11), Marisa Monte (11, Sala Santa Cecilia), Dissonanze festival with Björk and Peggy Gou (12-13)
This September, the Roma Bar Show returns — the event that brings together all the key players of the beverage industry and the vibrant world of Italian mixology. Two days dedicated to spirits, cocktails, tasting experiences, and masterclasses with top international bartenders. From industry professionals to cocktail lovers, Roma Bar Show is the place to discover trends, innovations, and the art of great drinking.
From the 16th through the 20th of September 2026, Villa Medici will once again be transformed into a space dedicated to the celebration of cinema in all its forms. Now in its sixth edition, the festival offers over forty screenings across three screens, including an open-air one set up in front of the villa’s historic façade, presenting pioneering works that challenge, disrupt, transform, or re-enchant our relationship with images. The program is divided into three sections: the international competition, featuring twelve recent films of various genres and lengths; the Focus program, dedicated to out-of-competition works and special meetings with directors; and the Piazzale evenings, with outdoor screenings of premieres and restored classics.
From September 18th to 21st, the sixth edition of Roma Baccalà will take place, a cultural and gastronomic event dedicated to salted cod and stockfish. This year again, Roma Baccalà will be held at Parco Schuster, a large green space adjacent to the majestic Basilica of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura. Visitors will be able to taste over 40 different preparations of salted cod and attend engaging workshops and numerous showcookings. Admission is free.
“Materia Prima” (Raw Material) is the theme of the fourth edition of Rome Future Week, taking place from September 21st to 27th. The theme invites participants to reflect on what makes transformation possible — knowledge, skills, relationships, care, creativity, and the ability to imagine the future. Rather than a single-stage event, the festival unfolds as a widespread program across venues throughout the city and its surroundings, with over 400 events spanning AI, art, startups, and social innovation, making it one of the largest open events dedicated to innovation and the future.
Marvel at Caravaggio’s, Bernini’s and Raphael’s works at Rome’s Galleria Borghese.
When in Rome you should definitely visit the Borghese Gallery, with its impressive collection of art, defined as “the most beautiful collection in the world“.
The museum, housed in Villa Borghese, is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Booking is mandatory.
Built in 1613 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the Borghese Gallery houses the private collection of the Cardinal, who had a marvellous collection of precious works of art, both ancient and modern. The Cardinal’s private collection was created starting in 1607, who initiated a systematic acquisition of artworks, making it one of the largest ones at the time.
The first collection was made up of paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian while the collection of ancient sculptures, another fundamental element capable of giving an aura of ideal universality to the artistic collections, had been constantly enriched. Inside the gallery, you will find a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculptures and antiquities.
Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix, Antonio Canova
Galleria Borghese Highlights
Scipione Borghese was an early patron of Bernini and an avid collector of works by Caravaggio. He was particularly interested in antique sculptures, but was also driven enough to patronise modern artists and was commissioned work by Caravaggio, Bernini, Domenichino and Rubens.
Daphne and Apollo, Bernini
Walking inside the Borghese Gallery is a unique once-in-a-lifetime journey into the world of some of the most universal artists of all time, including Bernini’s most famous masterpieces:
Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius
Rape of Proserpina
David
Apollo and Daphne
Truth revealed by Time
Self portrait as Young Man
Self portrait at a Mature Age
Bust of Cardinale Scipione Borghese
As you move from one section to the other, marvel at Bernini’s details. A particular artwork to set your eyes on is Ratto di Proserpina, where the hands of the God touching Proserpina’s skin actually seem as if they are sinking into her flesh.
Saint Jerome, CaravaggioRatto di Proserpina, G. L. Bernini, copyright Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo – Galleria Borghese
The Borghese Gallery also hosts Rome’s largest collection of Caravaggio works, including David with the Head of Goliath, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne (Madonna dei Palafrenieri), Saint Jerome and the Boy with basket of fruit.
Apart from being exceptional for its splendid collection (including masterpieces by Antonio Canova, Titian, Brueghel, Raphael and many others), the Galleria Borghese is perfect in the coherence of its decorative ensemble that implies antique marbles, inlays, mosaics, stuccoes and inserts.
The Borghese Gallery regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that dialogue with its permanent collection, often pairing old masters with contemporary art. Among the most talked-about in recent years were Damien Hirst’s Archaeology Now in 2021, which placed more than 80 of the British artist’s works among the ancient sculptures, and Guido Reni a Roma. Danza e paesaggio, which followed that winter and explored the birth of landscape painting in the early 17th century. Check our guide to the current exhibitions in Rome to see what’s on at the gallery during your visit.
Borghese Gallery tickets, hours and booking
The Borghese Gallery works differently from most Roman museums, and it catches many visitors out. Booking is mandatory for every ticket, including free ones, and entry runs in timed two-hour slots capped at 180 people. There is no walk-up ticket in practice: slots regularly sell out weeks, sometimes months, ahead, especially at weekends and during temporary exhibitions.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm, closed Mondays. Slots start on the hour from 9am to 5pm, with a final shorter slot at 5.45pm.
Tickets: €16 plus a compulsory €2 booking fee, so €18 in total. The late slot costs less. Under 18s enter free but still pay the €2 booking fee.
Free entry: the first Sunday of the month is free, but booking is still required and those tickets are released only ten days in advance and sell out immediately.
Good to know: large bags and backpacks are not allowed, only small bags up to 21 by 15 cm, and a cloakroom is available at the entrance. A limited number of last-minute tickets is sold at the box office about 30 minutes after each slot begins, but they are never guaranteed.
How to get there: Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, inside Villa Borghese. Metro line A to Barberini or Spagna, then a walk through the park, or bus to Pinciana/Museo Borghese.
Do you need to book the Borghese Gallery in advance?
Yes. Booking is mandatory for all tickets, including free ones, and slots often sell out weeks ahead. There is no reliable way to visit without booking.
How much are Borghese Gallery tickets?
A full ticket costs €16 plus a compulsory €2 booking fee, so €18 in total. Under 18s enter free but still pay the booking fee.
How long does a visit to the Borghese Gallery last?
Visits run in timed slots of two hours. The final slot of the day is shorter, at around an hour and a quarter.
What are the Borghese Gallery opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm, closed Mondays, with the last entry slot at 5.45pm.
What should you not miss at the Borghese Gallery?
Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne and Rape of Proserpina, Rome’s largest collection of Caravaggio paintings, and Canova’s Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix.
Is the Borghese Gallery worth visiting?
Yes. It holds what has been called the most beautiful private collection in the world, in a villa inside Villa Borghese park, and the two-hour cap means it never feels crowded.
Can you visit the Borghese Gallery for free?
The first Sunday of the month is free, but booking is compulsory, the €2 fee still applies and tickets are released only ten days before.
Guide to Rome’s underground sites: Rome’s Catacombs and church crypts
Beneath Rome’s streets lies a second city: catacombs, crypts, Roman houses and imperial palaces buried under centuries of building. A dozen of these underground sites are open to visitors, from the hypogeum of the Colosseum to the three layers of San Clemente, Nero’s Domus Aurea and the Roman houses under Santa Cecilia, with tickets ranging from a small donation to €26. Here are the best underground sites in Rome and how to visit them.
Love exploring Rome below the surface? Get the full Rome Google Maps Guide: every neighbourhood, landmark and local gem in one map on your phone.
Basilica of San Clemente
Via Labicana, 95 Mon-Sat, 9am-12.30pm; 2pm-6pm; Sun 12pm-6pm Entry fee: €10, reduced €5
Often overlooked by the nearby Colosseum, the Basilica of San Clemente is a hidden gem that is definitely worth a visit. This three-tiered complex consists of an 11th century Basilica that was built on top of the pre-existing 4th century ”domus ecclesiae” (a secretive meeting room for early Christian worshippers) of martyr San Clemente. Go deeper under the Church and you’ll find a vault from the 3rd century AD.
This Mithraic sanctuary consists of stone benches, surrounding an altar that was used during Mithraic rituals, a mystery cult of Persian origin.
Colosseum entrance from “Sperone Valadier” Open daily Entry fee: €24 (Full Experience Undergrounds and Arena ticket. Valid for 2 days from the first use, it allows one entrance to the Colosseum with access to the Undergrounds and Arena, one entrance to the Palatine Forum and SUPER Sites.)
Underneath the world’s largest amphitheatre lie the tunnels and chambers which hosted the mechanisms that made the spectacular battles of the Colosseum possible. The recently discovered hypogeum, from the Greek word for “underground”, is a labyrinth of rings that emulate the oval shape of the arena. Behind the scenes, a vertical winch called a capstan was pushed by slaves to elevate lions, crocodiles and bears into the arena. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators, with a tour group that explores the underworld of the Colosseum.
Via della Domus Aurea, 1 (Colle Oppio, near the Colosseum) Open Friday to Sunday, visits every 15 minutes from 9am to 4.30pm (last admission 3.30pm) Entry fee: €26 with guided tour and VR experience, €18 without
Nero’s Golden House is the most spectacular underground site in Rome. Built after the fire of 64 AD, this vast imperial palace once covered around 80 hectares of the city centre before Trajan buried it under his baths, which is why it survives today as a series of underground halls. Visits run only with a guided tour, and the standard ticket includes a virtual reality headset that reconstructs the palace as it looked in the 1st century, frescoed vaults, marble and all. Groups are small and slots limited, so book well in advance, especially between spring and autumn. Bring a layer: it stays cold underground all year.
Domitian Stadium – Piazza Navona Underground
Via di Tor Sanguigna, 3 Open Saturday, 10am-7pm Entry fee: €7-9
The ruins of the Domitian Stadium (declared Unesco World Heritage Site and subjected to the indirect protection of the Ministerial Decree of April 7th 1954) are located under Piazza Navona at about 5 meters below the street level. The archaeological area is all that remains of the only masonry athletics stadium known in Roman history.
Catacombs of San Callisto
Via Appia Antica, 110/126 Open 9am-12pm, 2-5pm / Closed on Wednesday Entry fee €7-10
The most famous of Rome’s catacombs stretches almost 20 km along the Appian Way and holds the crypt of 16 popes, once known as “the little Vatican”. Saint Cecilia was buried here for five centuries before her relics were moved to her basilica in Trastevere. See our full guide to the catacombs of Rome for the other sites along the Appian Way.
Via delle Sette Chiese, 282 Open Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm Entry fee: 7€-10€
The oldest burial network in the city and the only one that still holds ancient bones. Three levels of galleries reach 30 metres underground for a total length of 17 km, entered through a 4th-century sunken basilica that leads to a 2nd-century fresco of the Last Supper. More in our complete guide to Rome’s catacombs.
Palazzo Valentini’s Domus Romane
Via Foro Traiano, 85 Daily, guided tours at fixed time slots (booking required) Entry fee: €16, €9 reduced
Recent excavations under Palazzo Valentini led to the discovery of the original ancient Roman palace, 7 meters below street level. Enjoy a different underground experience, with a three-dimensional experience of the palazzo: this tour features digital projections of what Palazzo Valentini looked like at its peak.
Piazza di Santa Cecilia, 22 Open Monday to Saturday, roughly 10am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Excavations and crypt: €2.50
Beneath the basilica of Santa Cecilia, in the heart of Trastevere, lies one of Rome’s most atmospheric and least crowded underground sites. The church was built over what tradition holds was the home of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, martyred in the 3rd century. Descending from the left aisle, past the gift shop, you reach the excavations: the remains of Roman houses with black-and-white mosaic floors, a lararium (a household shrine), and the ruins of an ancient bath complex. According to legend, this bathhouse was the calidarium where Cecilia survived an attempt to suffocate her with steam. At the far end sits the crypt, richly decorated in Cosmatesque style, holding the relics of the saint. Above ground, don’t miss Stefano Maderno’s moving 1600 statue of Cecilia beneath the altar, and, on weekdays, Pietro Cavallini’s 13th-century Last Judgement fresco (a separate €2.50). A perfect stop to pair with a walk through Trastevere.
Hadrian’s Crypt at Santa Maria in Cosmedin (Mouth of Truth)
Piazza Bocca della Verità, 18 Opening times for the Crypt, Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm, 3pm-5.30pm; Sun 12pm – 5.30pm Opening times for the church, Daily, 9.30am-5.50pm
Escape the long line of visitors queuing up to put their hand in The Mouth of Truth by exploring Pope Hadrian’s Crypt. The basilica shaped crypt is located underneath Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church, in Piazza Bocca della Verita. It was constructed in the 8th century to store the relics taken from the catacombs by Pope Adrian I. This small underground site is definitely worth a visit. There is no entry fee but a donation is suggested.
The Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
Via Vittorio Veneto, 27 Open daily, 9.30am-1.30pm; 2.30pm-6.30pm (last entry 12.30pm and 5.30pm) Entry fee: €10, reduced €7.50
“What you are we were; what we are you will be” is the spooky reminder of the inevitability of life that greets visitors upon entering the Crypt. By far the eeriest site in Rome, this Crypt is made up of the bones of 4,000 Capuchin monks. After visiting the convent and museum, walk towards the dimly lit hallway, where a multitude of messages are conveyed. This spooky corner of the city is the ultimate underground experience.
Via Salaria, 430 Tue – Sun 9am-1pm, 2pm-5pm Entry fee: €7-10
Known as the “regina catacumbarum”, the queen of the catacombs, this site run by an order of nuns holds the oldest known image of the Virgin Mary. A viewing point lets you look down through three levels of graves dug deeper and deeper into the earth. Reservation required.
Beneath the modern city lie layers of ancient Rome: catacombs, crypts, Roman houses, temples and imperial palaces buried as the city rebuilt itself over the centuries.
Which underground sites can you visit in Rome?
Around a dozen are open to the public, including the Colosseum hypogeum, the three levels of San Clemente, the Domus Aurea, Palazzo Valentini, the Capuchin Crypt and the catacombs along the Appian Way.
Do you need to book underground sites in Rome?
Yes for most of them. The Domus Aurea, Palazzo Valentini and the Colosseum underground have limited timed slots and sell out well in advance, while smaller crypts can usually be visited without booking.
How much do underground sites in Rome cost?
Prices range from a suggested donation at Hadrian’s Crypt and €2.50 at Santa Cecilia to €26 for the Domus Aurea with virtual reality and €24 for the Colosseum full experience.
What is the best underground site in Rome?
San Clemente is the classic choice, with three eras stacked one on top of the other, while the Domus Aurea is the most spectacular and the Capuchin Crypt the most unusual.
Which underground sites in Rome are free?
Hadrian’s Crypt at Santa Maria in Cosmedin asks only for a donation, and several church crypts charge a small fee of a few euros.
Every time you turn a corner in Rome you stumble upon another ancient temple or Renaissance masterpiece, but have you ever wondered what lies beneath your feet? Acres and acres of tombs. Rome is home to a vast underground maze of catacombs carved out of the soft volcanic tufa that surrounds the city: more than 60 burial sites in total, of which only a handful are open to visitors, with an accompanied visit included in the ticket.
The best known, San Callisto, San Sebastiano, Domitilla and Priscilla, lie along the ancient Appian Way and just outside the historic centre, and tickets cost around 8 to 10 euros.
There’s a myth that during their persecution Christians used the catacombs as a secret place to bury their dead, but in reality their location was well known. Poor Christians simply couldn’t afford a private grave, so they arranged to have their bodies carried down into these tunnels, laid out in a sarcophagus or in a shelf carved into the wall and sealed over to await the Last Judgment, or the inquisitive eyes of archaeologists.
Begun in the 2nd century AD, these burial sites were extended deeper into the earth as they filled up, one layer at a time. By the 6th century more familiar church cemeteries had taken their place, and the entrances to the catacombs were often blocked up to prevent looting.
Along the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica, 110/126) 9am-12pm, 2-5pm / Closed on Wednesday Entry fee 7-10 €
Possibly Rome’s most famous catacomb, this site extends almost 20 km and was the burial place of more than 10 martyrs and 16 popes. As the official catacombs of the Roman Church, the crypt of the popes was known as “the little Vatican” and you can still see the Greek markings “MPT” on two of them for “martyr.” You can also see burial place of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, buried here for five centuries until her remains were transferred to a church in Trastevere.
Along the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica, 136). 10am-5pm / Monday to Sunday Entry fee €7-10
This cemetery, named after the martyr St. Sebastian, who is buried here, was originally called “ad catacumbas”. According to the widely acknowledged explanation, the name signifies “near the hollows”, because of the mines of tuff located in this area. The name was later used generally to indicate all subterranean Christian cemeteries. The tour of this catacomb, which has second-century pagan tombs along with Christian chapels, will take you down a staircase studded with pieces of sarcophagi with imperial seals. Underneath the church, you’ll see an area with three decorated pagan tombs with some very attractive frescoes and a floor mosaic. It is believed that both Christian and pagan funerals were held in the elaborate central chapel, the vault of which has acanthus and lotus-leaf stucco decorations. The Chapel of Symbols has early Christian symbols carved in it. Up another staircase is a dining room for funeral banquets. The graffiti date back to the second century.
Via delle Sette Chiese, 282 9.30am-1.30pm; 2.30pm-6.30pm (last entry 12.30pm and 5.30pm) Entry fee 7,5-10 €
Rome’s oldest catacombs are the only ones that contain an ethereal sunken basilica through which you can enter the labyrinth below. Built in the 4th century, the basilica was abandoned in the 9th and not until 1870 was it reconstructed. You can visit the tombs of the martyrs Nereus and Achillius and gaze upon the most extensive inventory of catacomb paintings which includes an image of the Last Supper. They are also the only catacombs that still contain bones.
Via Salaria, 430 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm / Closed on Monday Entry fee 7-10€
Run by an order of nuns, these catacombs were named after the woman who owned the land in which they were built and were known as the “regina catacumbarum” or the queen of the catacombs. They are famous for housing the oldest image of the Virgin Mary in existence. There’s also a chilling view point where you can look down and see the three levels of grave sites dug farther and farther into the earth to accommodate the dead.
Yes. The catacombs are one of the most fascinating historical sites in Rome. These underground burial networks date back to the 2nd–5th centuries and offer a unique glimpse into early Christian history. Visiting the catacombs allows you to explore ancient tunnels, frescoes, and burial chambers hidden beneath the city.
Which catacombs in Rome are the best to visit?
The most famous catacombs open to visitors include the Catacombs of San Callisto, the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, the Catacombs of Domitilla, and the Catacombs of Priscilla. Each site offers guided tours that explain the history and significance of these underground cemeteries.
Do you need a tour to visit the catacombs in Rome?
No, a private tour is not strictly necessary to visit the catacombs in Rome. Most catacombs can be accessed through guided tours organized directly at the site, which are included in the entrance ticket and usually last about 30–40 minutes. However, joining a dedicated tour is highly recommended, especially if you want to better understand the historical context of the catacombs and explore the surrounding area along the ancient Appian Way. For a more comfortable and immersive experience, a great option is the Appian Way Golf Cart Tour, which combines a visit to the Appian Way with stops at some of the most important landmarks in the area, including the catacombs. Traveling by golf cart allows you to cover more ground while learning about one of the oldest roads in Rome and the fascinating underground burial sites along it. You can check the tour here: https://www.romeing.it/shop/product/appian-way-golf-cart-tour/
How much do catacomb tickets cost?
Ticket prices typically range from about €8 to €10 for adults, depending on the catacomb. Reduced tickets are often available for children and students. It is recommended to check the official website of each catacomb for updated prices and opening hours.
Where are the catacombs located in Rome?
Most of Rome’s catacombs are located along the ancient Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), just outside the historic city center. They can be reached by bus, taxi, or guided tours departing from central Rome.
Programme and highlights of Romaeuropa Festival 2026
The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival is shaping up to be one of its richest yet: 100 shows featuring 1,000 artists from around the world, bringing REF2026 to life with a programme of music, theatre, dance, digital arts and productions for children.
Once again directed by Fabrizio Grifasi, this year’s edition offers more than two months of performances across numerous venues in the capital, an invitation to listen and to see artistic creation as something still alive and necessary.
This edition brings a wealth of major international names. Flemish choreographer Michiel Vandevelde, together with the BRYGGEN-Bruges Strings ensemble, takes to the stage at Teatro Argentina with The Four Seasons Changed, a staged concert that translates into space Max Richter’s reworking of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Sasha Waltz returns to dance with Bach Cello Suites Dance, set to the Cello Suites by J.S. Bach performed by cellist Anastasia Kobekina.
There’s also French choreographer Boris Charmatz, back at the Festival with Muette, an intimate and radical solo, and Britain’s Ben Duke, who reinvents Hamlet as a contemporary anti-hero in a show that weaves together dance, theatre, stand-up and irony to question the meaning of life. Franco-Algerian Nacera Belaza returns too, forming an intense duo with Valérie Dréville in a performance where gesture meets space.
At Teatro Costanzi, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen presents a programme of works by Jan Martens, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Christos Papadopoulos, three names who have appeared at the Festival many times. Papadopoulos himself directs Greek dancer Georgios Kotsifakis in Landless, continuing his personal exploration of rhythm, repetition and the transformation of movement. Also from Greece, choreographer Katerina Andreou joins Carte Blanche, Norway’s national dance company, bringing fourteen performers together in How Romantic.
Some of the dance programme is designed to reach every generation and audience: Le Pas du Monde by the remarkable Collectif XY, at Teatro Olimpico, speaks to all ages with its shifting landscapes, while Morocco’s Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger returns under the direction of Raphaëlle Boitel with a new creation in which acrobatic power meets a formal, poetic language. From South Korea, Eun-Me Ahn blends ritual, new circus, pop culture, eccentricity and colour in her Post-Orientalist Express.
Jaha Koo, Haribo kimchi PH. bea borgers
Also from South Korea, director Jaha Koo, winner of the International Ibsen Award, presents Haribo Kimchi: a real street-food stall fills the stage, turning the making of the traditional Korean fermented cabbage into an autobiographical and symbolic gesture.
Memory takes centre stage for India’s Pankaj Tiwari and Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues too. The first, with The Harvest of Broken Promises, tells of the transformation of Indian agriculture under the influence of global agribusiness; the second fills the stage with the memory of his father in No Yogurt for the Dead, a tribute built around the unfinished notes he left behind.
ITALIAN DANCE AND THEATRE
GiorginaPi, Lemnos
One of the directors who has most deeply shaped the Festival’s history returns to Romaeuropa: Romeo Castellucci, with his new creation Faust. Fatto, non detto, a radical theatrical experience that probes the figure of the artist, suspended between condemnation and redemption, reality and vision.
At Teatro Vascello, Marta Cuscunà makes her national premiere with her latest production, La Medium, the true story of Hersilie Rouy, daughter of the illusionist Charles Rouy, confined to an asylum for fourteen years, in a world that weaves together illusionism and gives voice to “invisible women”. Director Giorgina Pi reworks the figure of Philoctetes from a female perspective in Lemnos, intertwining myth and the present.
Marta Cuscunà @Alessandro Ruzzier
Also at Teatro Vascello, Pietro Giannini presents his new work STARMAN – The True Story of Leon Skum, a concrete yet visionary portrait that questions the myth of technology in the age of Elon Musk. Giacomo Bisordi, with Fabrizio Sinisi, brings the novel Il Prodigio to the stage with actors Chiara Ferrara, Gabriele Portoghese and Federica Rosellini, while Ubu Prize winner Marco D’Agostin, alongside dancer Marta Ciappina, gathers in Catalogo a moving mosaic of farewells, in which a dancer’s final performance becomes a choral score on leave-taking, shaped through the eyes of choreographers and directors such as Silvia Gribaudi, Francesca Pennini / CollettivO CineticO, Sotterraneo and Emio Greco / Pieter C. Scholten.
At the Mattatoio, the cycle HEIMAT – Homeland/Foreigner unfolds, created with the “Silvio d’Amico” National Academy of Dramatic Art: five days of performance in which Fabiana Iacozzilli, Thom Luz, Ersan Mondtag, Leonardo Lidi and Leonardo Manzan direct the same performers from the Academy’s second-level acting course, using a shared stage device to build a plural reflection on identity and belonging.
Still in Testaccio, the female body and its representation are at the heart of CAN CAN, a show born from the meeting of director Giovanni Ortoleva, winner of the National Critics’ Prize, and actress Irene Mantova. Director Piero Maccarinelli presents a reading of L’ora dei predatori by Giuliano da Empoli with Elisabetta Pozzi and Tullio Solenghi, followed by a talk on the book’s themes.
MUSIC
Vinicio Capossela, Renato tuffo
Music has a major place in the Festival’s programme, moving between experimentation, pop and contemporary composition: Osmium, the project born from the meeting of cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir and James Ginzburg; a concert by Kangding Ray, presenting his new AV live show Superfluid; and the award-winning percussion ensemble Third Coast Percussion in dialogue with composer, performer and electronic musician Jlin.
For the first time at the Festival, Vinicio Capossela appears too, presenting with Pierpaolo Capovilla And Death Shall Have No Dominion, a ballad opera loosely drawn from the life of Renato Striglia and the work of Dylan Thomas.
There are several tributes marking the anniversaries of the great 20th-century masters: for Steve Reich’s ninetieth birthday, a homage from Blow Up Percussion with performances of works such as Pendulum Music, Drumming and Come Out; while for the centenary of Hans Werner Henze’s birth, Romaeuropa presents Voices, in partnership with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, a powerful civic and poetic work entrusted to the New European Ensemble conducted by Carlo Boccadoro.
In the Sala Santa Cecilia of the Auditorium, pianists Maki Namekawa and Thomas Enhco go head to head interpreting one of the most celebrated piano works of the 20th century, Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert, while The Avex Ensemble performs a special film-concert dedicated to the iconic Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis.
KIDS
The REF Kids & Family section offers three weekends of free shows and activities in music, theatre and new circus, curated by Stefania Lo Giudice. The spaces of La Pelanda are transformed into an area for children and families, with a programme of performances and a playground of games and hands-on activities.
Highlights range from Flanders’ ZONZO, bringing jazz to the youngest audiences, to a focus on the Catalan scene with the magic show Maginarium by Pau Segalés and Copiar by Animal Religion, which invites children from the audience on stage. From the Netherlands, de Dansers offer a joyful journey through the body with A Small Anatomy, while Japan’s Kenji Shinohe brings manga culture to a teenage audience with Action Briquette Z – Manga, Beat & Dance.
Closing
100Cellos, Enrico Melozzi
The grand finale on 15 November promises to be a true musical marathon, a great collective ritual of listening in which musicians take over the main hall of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in a closing event that moves across repertoires, audiences and moods. Twelve hours of concerts, with an afternoon that anticipates the celebrations for Philip Glass’s ninetieth birthday (January 2027) through a complete performance of the Études by Vanessa Wagner and of Águas da Amazônia by Third Coast Percussion, with the start and end of the day in the Sala Santa Cecilia devoted entirely to Enrico Melozzi’s Classical Rave Party.
The morning is dedicated to 100 Cellos with Giovanni Sollima; the evening to the Orchestra Notturna Clandestina, with special guests including Alessandro Baricco, Gloria Campaner, Elsa Lila, Anastasio and Fasma, breaking down the boundaries between academia and real life, between concert and celebration.
Venues and Tickets
The Romaeuropa Festival 2026 takes place across various spaces in the city, from historic theatres to museums and cultural institutions. The 2026 venues are:
American Academy in Rome, Via Angelo Masina 5
Auditorium Conciliazione, Via della Conciliazione 4
Auditorium Parco della Musica, Via Pietro de Coubertin 30
Tickets can be purchased online at romaeuropa.net through Vivaticket. For information and assistance, the box office is available on +39 06 4555 3050, also on WhatsApp, Monday to Friday (10am-1pm / 2pm-6pm).
The traditional celebration of the Marian miracle returns on 5 August
On August 5 Rome hosts a captivating event that defies the summer heat both symbolically and practically – the celebration of the Madonna della Neve (Our Lady of the Snows). This cherished occasion involves the recreation of an extraordinary miraculous snowfall outside the magnificent Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Legend of La Madonna della Neve
According to ancient legend, in the 4th century, a devout Roman couple sought divine guidance on donating their possessions to the Church. In response to their fervent prayers, the Virgin Mary appeared to them in a vision on the night between August 4th and 5th, 358 AD. She revealed that a miraculous event would occur, guiding them to the precise location for the construction of a new church.
That very night, an astonishing snowfall covered a hill in the Esquiline district. Word of this celestial event reached Pope Liberius, who went to the snowy site and traced the outline of the planned church. With the generous contribution of the devoted couple, the church was built, solidifying the legend of the miraculous snowfall.
Though historical evidence supporting the legend is scarce, the event is celebrated annually with unwavering devotion. As the snow gently descends from the sky, Rome relives this extraordinary story, continuing a tradition that has captivated hearts for centuries.
An Enchanting Spectacle Awaits You in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore
The eagerly awaited 2026 edition of this magical spectacle, supported by the City, the Vatican, and the Ministry of Culture, will take place on Wednesday, August 5th in Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore. This year’s celebration is dedicated to Pope Leo XIV, to the memory of Pope Francis and to the hope for peace in the world.
During the day, the “Miracle of the Snow” is re-enacted inside the basilica with a cascade of white petals falling from above, a symbolic snowfall marking the ancient legend.
The first re-enactment takes place in the morning, during the singing of the Gloria at the 10:00 AM Solemn Mass, presided over by Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Basilica.
The second is held at 5:00 PM, during the singing of the Magnificat at Vespers, presided over by Archbishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera.
In the evening, the square comes alive with the spectacular artificial snowfall, accompanied by lights, music and the Carabinieri band. Now in its 42nd edition, the show runs from 9:00 PM to midnight and draws thousands of Romans and visitors every year.
After its presentation at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Galleria Borghese in Rome presents METAMORPHOSIS. Ovid and the Arts, on view until 20 September. Curated by Francesca Cappelletti and Frits Scholten, the exhibition is held in collaboration with the Dutch museum.
The imaginative power of Ovid’s Metamorphoses comes to life through more than 80 masterpieces on loan from major international institutions. Works by Correggio, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Poussin, Gérôme, Rodin and Brancusi engage with the vision of one of antiquity’s greatest poets, in gallery rooms that were themselves inspired by his text.
Starting from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the exhibition explores change and transformation as a key to reading the cosmos, matter and the human condition, in a vision built on the fluid boundaries between the human, the natural and the divine.
At its heart lies the idea of metamorphosis as a generative principle, one that runs through and redefines the cosmos, matter and the body. Through famous myths and often tragic tales, the Metamorphoses gave artists an inexhaustible repertoire of images and conflicts for centuries, giving visual form to passion, desire, cunning, violence, deception and the possibility of redemption.
Inside the exhibition
Through its many masterpieces, among them Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the exhibition reaffirms the enduring relevance of myth and its central role in shaping the European imagination, highlighting the visual and conceptual force of Ovid’s stories.
It opens with the section Chaos and Creation, where metamorphosis is tied to the passage from formless matter to ordered space, seen through the work of artists such as Louis Finson, Herri met de Bles, Auguste Rodin and Constantin Brâncuși. The same theme, in a different key, returns in the section devoted to the myth of Pygmalion, where it is the artist’s creative power that gives shape to the invisible, as in the works of Jean-Léon Gérôme and Auguste Rodin.
From birth to death: the theme of the underworld and the return from darkness takes shape around the symbolic pivot of Bernini’s Rape of Proserpina, with works such as Orpheus and Eurydice recounting the experience of those who crossed the realm of the dead while still alive.
Still, the central thread remains transformation itself: from woman to spider, as with Arachne, the starting point for a display of paintings, tapestries and textiles; from human being to stone, as in the tale of Perseus and Medusa, seen through works by Rubens, Sebastiano Ricci and Antonio Tempesta.
A final section is given over to the loves of Jupiter, with works dedicated to Leda and the Swan and to Danaë. Here it is the force of love, desire and passion that sets transformation in motion, at times almost spectacular, as in the shower of gold falling into Danaë’s lap, magnificently rendered in the work by Correggio on display.
The result is a symbolic and sensory reading of change, evoking the tension between order and transformation, the fluidity of identity and the dynamic relationship between body and nature. In this dialogue between myth and art, metamorphosis emerges not only as physical transformation but as an aesthetic and philosophical category, one that questions the relationships between time, space, matter and form.
Meet il Marchese, Europe’s first amaro bar & Roman trattoria in Rome’s centro storico
Il Marchese unites the best of two worlds: a bar with elegant French salon accents, pompous chandeliers, and a restaurant with the coziness of a Roman trattoria. But it’s not just the décor that’s impressive. When you walk into Il Marchese you step inside Europe’s first Amaro bar with more than 500 different Amaro labels.
Opened in 2018 in an eighteenth-century palazzo on Via di Ripetta, a few steps from the Ara Pacis and the city’s fashion streets, Il Marchese is the work of Davide Solari and Lorenzo Renzi, friends since their school days.
What began here has since become a name that now extends across Italy. After Rome came Milan in 2022, followed by a summer location in Poltu Quatu on the Costa Smeralda, and a mountain opening in Courmayeur for the 2025-26 winter season. The Rome address, though, remains the original: an intimate Roman house looking onto the street, in the heart of the city yet tucked away like a private drawing room.
During the 2021 G20 in Rome, Il Marchese had two special customers: the American First Lady Jill Biden and the French Première Dame Brigitte Macron. The two ladies said they were “delighted with the lovely welcome”, complimenting the staff and the quality of the products.
Il Marchese takes its name from the Marchese del Grillo, made famous by Alberto Sordi in the classic Italian film: a true gentleman, always inclined to irony, a lover of tradition but equally at ease with those who come from different cultures. That double soul, the aristocrat and the everyman, runs through the whole place.
Cocktail bar & Amaro Bar
The amaro and cocktail bar at Il Marchese pays tribute to the elegance of nineteenth-century French aristocracy, with fine stuccoes, wallpapers and velvets. Leading it is Fabrizio Valeriani, the group’s bar manager, who designs the seasonal drink lists across all the venues.
The mixology here has always centred on amaro. Il Marchese was the first in Europe to open an amaro bar, with around 500 labels from the start, ranging from the most prestigious names to small local producers. The drink list is built around this and changes roughly twice a year.
The heart of it is the Americano section, with six variations, each made with a different amaro and marked on the menu by its level of sweetness or bitterness. The Americano n°1, always on the list, blends Campari, Cinzano 1797 red vermouth, Velluto Braulio Riserva, black tea soda with pear and cinnamon, and chocolate bitters. Alongside it you’ll find the Twist on Classic drinks, where the Cavaliere di Franciacorta has become a signature, a selection of Luxurious cocktails for something more special, and a line of low-ABV options for drinking well with less alcohol, including a Negroni Zero.
A refined Roman trattoria
In the kitchen is Roman chef Daniele Roppo, with Solari and Renzi since the very first opening and now executive chef across all the venues. His cooking has strong Roman roots, drawing on traditional recipes lightened for a contemporary palate, with vegetarian dishes on the menu too.
Quality comes first. Ingredients are sourced from local producers: the guanciale is from Re Norcino in Ascoli Piceno, an award-winning producer, and the pecorino is from Cibaria.
Among the starters, don’t miss the bollito croquette with green sauce, a Roman dish from Roppo’s grandmother. The first courses are a tribute to the “Roman poker” of Carbonara, Amatriciana, Gricia and Cacio e pepe, served in the restaurant’s iconic little pan. Also worth trying is the tortello filled with porcini, finished with butter and Parmesan. Among the mains are the veal fillet cooked as a saltimbocca and the lamb meatball “alla scottadito”, plus lighter options like a Caesar salad or mixed greens with citrus-marinated salmon and guacamole.
Desserts are all homemade, from the great classic of Italian pastry, tiramisù (in both the traditional and pistachio versions), to a plate of three chocolates, salted caramel and popcorn.
So how do you describe Il Marchese? A place with two souls, mixing Roman recipes with a contemporary twist and countless amaro labels, a new way of spending time together in contemporary Rome, seven days a week, from 12pm to 2am. Quality food, quality drinks and quality people, all day long.
Drink Like Italians: Cocktail-Making Class in the heart of Rome
Enjoy your mixology experience in Rome’s historic centre and learn how to prepare the most famous Italian cocktails: Spritz and Negroni. Next to that, our bartender will explain how to pair these drinks with food. Want to learn more? Get your answers in a cool atmosphere at Il Marchese while sipping on your own handmade Negroni and enjoying an italian aperitivo.
A cocktail bar and Italian tapas in Rome’s historic centre
In the historic centre of Rome, a short walk from the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, there’s an elegant yet easy-going hideaway. Its name is A’Mano: a place for a cocktail, an aperitivo with tapas, or a relaxed dinner.
A’Mano sits inside Dimora Coppelle, a boutique hotel from the BZAR Hotels group, housed in a striking Renaissance building that welcomes guests through an imposing sixteenth-century arched portal. History is in the air from the moment you step in: the palazzo was once the residence of Pope Urban VII.
Aperitivo and signature cocktails near the Pantheon
Whether you’re after a well-earned break at the end of a long day, a romantic toast for two or an evening with friends in the heart of Rome, A’Mano adapts to the occasion. It’s the kind of place made for stepping out of the city’s rhythm for a couple of hours.
The drinks list is wide and full of character. Signature cocktails, carefully made and named after Italian icons of music, film and art, sit alongside selected regional wines. Try the Caravaggio, an intense, powerful punch as singular as the work of the great seventeenth-century painter, or the Sophia, as striking and distinctive as the actress who inspired it.
Alongside the drinks comes a wide range of Italian tapas, made to be tasted and shared around the table. The dishes are built in dialogue with the bar list, for a dinner that’s lighter and more sociable than the usual sit-down affair.
Italian tapas and dinner made for sharing
Open from 6pm, A’Mano turns dinner into something more dynamic, built on the quick, easy rhythm of tasting and sharing.
The menu moves lightly through traditional flavours reworked in a contemporary key. In the evening the focus is on local-inspired dishes, like the handmade garganelli with Italian roasted peppers and Calabrian liquorice, or the Maremmana beef rump with brown jus, potatoes and tonka bean. To finish, the Vignola IGP cherries with chocolate, thyme and vanilla are worth saving room for.
A’Mano is a place designed to be lingered in: time slows down, conversations stretch out, and every sip and every bite becomes part of the evening, wrapped in the atmosphere of one of Rome’s most historic corners.
Now those same halls host a monumental exhibition: After – Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985, on view from 10 July to 25 October 2026.
The Greatest Fashion Partnership
What’s on display retraces the longest creative partnership in fashion history, between Karl Lagerfeld and the Fendi family. Hired in 1965 by the five Fendi sisters to reinvent the family’s traditional fur and leather house, Lagerfeld revolutionised the very idea of luxury outerwear, a collaboration that lasted until his death in 2019.
This is not a typical parade of red-carpet gowns. Instead, it faithfully rebuilds the pioneering 1985 show, originally curated by Ida Panicelli with an installation conceived by Lagerfeld himself, one of the first times fashion entered an Italian museum. It subverts expectations of the “finished product,” offering an intimate look at how Lagerfeld actually worked: how his raw sketches and the iconic double-F motif stepped off the page and came to life in the hands of master artisans.
Inside the Creative Process
Drawing on the Fendi and GNAMC archives, the exhibition brings together around 180 original drawings, 22 paper patterns, 50 sample boards, preparatory canvases and 25 furs, tracing every stage from idea to finished garment. The sketches reveal how Lagerfeld’s hand evolved over time, from soft, naturalistic female forms to bold, expressive marker lines. Look closely at the margins and you’ll find handwritten notes, references and even French words transcribed into Italian, a quiet reminder of the bilingual, real-time dialogue with a Roman atelier.
The show guides visitors through the architecture of couture, from paper patterns and canvas prototypes (toiles) to archival footage of Fendi’s deep Roman roots, including Jacques de Bascher’s 1977 film Histoire d’Eau. At its centre, a cluster of coats suspended in mid-air recreates Lagerfeld’s 1985 “Theatre” installation, once famously called the “dance of the furs.” The exhibition closes with a selection of the vast 1985 press coverage, a rare chance to trace how fashion found its place inside the museum.
For anyone drawn to the enduring legacy of Lagerfeld’s genius inside one of Italy’s most storied fashion houses, this is a must-see. Set on Viale delle Belle Arti, a short walk from the Borghese Gallery, it’s one of several major shows in the city this summer. Planning your visit between now and October? See our guide to Rome in August for more to pair with it.
As autumn settles in, Rome’s concert season moves indoors and gets busier than ever. October brings a packed calendar of live music across the city’s best venues, from the Auditorium Parco della Musica to the Palazzo dello Sport and Atlantico Live: Italian pop icons, international acts and rising rap stars.
Here are the best concerts in Rome in October 2026.
One of Italy’s most visionary songwriters brings his theatrical universe of ballads, literature and folklore to the Teatro Olimpico for two nights, within the Romaeuropa Festival.
Italy’s longest-running band celebrates 60 years of history across two nights at the Palazzo dello Sport: a multigenerational celebration from start to finish.
A rare chance to see one of Italy’s greatest singer-songwriters up close: an intimate theatre residency at the Sala Umberto, four nights of poetry and song.
Even though Romans tend to flee to their summer escapes during August (especially on Ferragosto), Rome has some pretty cool events to keep you entertained during the hottest month of the year. Check out the best events in Rome this August 2026.
If you have a passion for art, Rome in August 2026 has a rich lineup of exhibitions to explore. Museums are also one of the best ways to beat the heat: air-conditioned halls, world-class art, and no queues compared to the rest of the year.
At the Musei Capitolini, don’t miss the major retrospective dedicated to Diego Rivera, one of the giants of Mexican muralism, while the Ara Pacis Museum hosts “Robert Mapplethorpe and Humanity as Art“, a powerful journey through the work of one of photography’s most influential figures. Photography lovers should also head to the Museo di Roma in Trastevere for “Rome after Dusk“, Hervé Gloaguen’s luminous portrait of the city at night.
Villa Medici offers two unmissable summer appointments: the Festival des Cabanes, with architectural installations throughout its historic gardens, and Oracles Beyond the Seas, the Villa Medici Fellows’ exhibition. Ancient history takes the spotlight at the Colosseum with “Troy and Rome. Myths, Legends, Stories of the Ancient Mediterranean”, which explores the links between Troy, Aeneas and the foundation of Rome.
Fashion lovers shouldn’t miss “After. Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985” at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, a faithful restaging of the legendary 1985 exhibition celebrating the collaboration between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, conceived by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the maison’s 100th anniversary.
And if you’re looking for free art, Palazzo Bonaparte has you covered with two exhibitions running until 23 August, both with free admission: “Novecento italiano. Opere dalla Collezione Generali”, a journey through 20th-century Italian art featuring Gustav Klimt’s “The Three Ages of Woman” as a special guest, and “Marco Tamburro. Caravaggio Forever”, where over forty contemporary works enter into dialogue with the vision of the Baroque master.
August might not be as packed with concerts as June and July, but you can still catch a few good shows, especially at the beginning and end of the month. Check them out and pick your favourite!
Village Celimontana continues to bring live music to one of Rome’s most beautiful summer settings. Now in its tenth edition, the festival runs until September 5 at Villa Celimontana, with more than 100 free concerts throughout the season. Expect a rich programme of jazz, swing, manouche, rock’n’roll, Brazilian rhythms, dance nights and family-friendly events.
For those who miss wintry nights in the height of summer, fret not: La Madonna della Neve has got you covered. Each year, between 8pm-12am on 5th of August, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore transforms into a snowy wonderland filled with music, dance and light shows. This event, which draws thousands of visitors annually, originated from a dream. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius (352–366 AD) on the night of August 4th and told him that a location in Rome would be marked by snowfall. The next morning, snow was found covering the site where the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore now stands. Even if you are not religiously inclined, this event that takes place in front of the imposing Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is not one to miss.
Even in August, Summertime at Casa del Jazz keeps the music going, though only through the 7th. Produced by Fondazione Musica per Roma, the festival brings Italian and international stars, jazz legends, big bands, acclaimed pianists, and genre-crossing experiments to the open-air stage set in the gardens of Villa Osio, on Viale di Porta Ardeatina. It’s the perfect chance to catch live music under the Roman sky in one of the city’s most charming green settings.
August Line-up: Enrico Rava (1 August), Enzo Avitabile (3 August), Cory Henry (4 August), Jalen Ngonda (5 August), Matteo Mancuso – Route96 Tour (6 August), Peppe Servillo & Solis String Quartet (7 August).
Seeing the Colosseum by day is one thing; exploring it under the moonlight, after the crowds have gone, is a different experience altogether. The Colosseum’s night tours are back: every Tuesday and Thursday, a 60-minute guided visit takes you through the arena floor, the underground chambers where gladiators and wild animals once waited, and the first tier of the amphitheater. With cooler evening temperatures and a fraction of the daytime visitors, it’s one of the most atmospheric ways to experience Ancient Rome in August. Advance booking is essential, as spots fill up quickly.
On Tuesday, August 12, the archaeological area of the Circus Maximus will once again host Il Cosmo al Circo Massimo, with a special event dedicated to families and children.
The event will take place on the eve of the Night of San Lorenzo, traditionally associated with the famous shooting stars.
Gates open at 9:00 PM, with the show starting at 9:30 PM: an evening under the stars featuring a digital telescope, live astronomical puppetry by Gabriele Catanzaro, and a guided observation of the night sky.
The show will also be projected on a large screen and onto the Torre della Moletta. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket to sit comfortably on the grass.
The incredible architectural space of the Auditorium will host the Fondazione Musica per Roma – Roma Summer Fest. This is one of the most important music events of the Roman summer, each year hosting many artists from the national and international music scene who return to the capital for a series of unmissable concerts.
After the mid-August break, concerts resume in the Cavea on August 24 with Djo, the musical project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery (already sold out), followed by Tony Pitony (August 29) and American indie rock legends Wilco (August 31). The most original event of the month is Cosmo’s “La Fonte” Matinée Tour on August 30: a one-of-a-kind sunrise concert starting at 7am, turning the early morning into an immersive sonic journey.
Experience the enchantment of open-air cinema in Rome this August. From piazzas like Piazza Vittorio to cultural venues like the Casa del Cinema, various locations offer outdoor movie screenings. Immerse yourself in the magic of cinema under the stars and enjoy a diverse range of films.
Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio – Piazza Vittorio, Esquilino – until 20 September
Casa del Cinema Summer Arena – Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese – until 6 September
Arena Villa Lazzaroni – Via Appia Nuova, 522 – until 6 September
Festival del Cinema di San Lorenzo – Piazza del Parco Caduti del 19 Luglio 1943 1 – until 10 August
Notti di Cinema a Parco Tevere Marconi – Lungotevere di Pietra Papa – until 29 August
Villa Medici Film Festival – Villa Medici – 16-20 September
Get into the vibrant atmosphere of the riverside at the Lungo il Tevere summer festival along the Tiber, celebrating art, food, and nightlife. Enjoy free shows, cool shops, delicious cuisines, and cultural delights from July until late August.
If you’re up for a short day trip from Rome, August is the perfect time to explore the many sagre (local food festivals) taking place across the Lazio region. These traditional celebrations are all about seasonal produce, regional recipes, and community spirit, from sagre dedicated to porcini mushrooms, snails, and lamb to ones celebrating hazelnuts, wine, fried pizza, and even the world-famous Amatriciana. Expect charming hilltop towns, live music, open-air dinners, and authentic food experiences off the beaten path.
Rome’s riverside theatre becomes an open air cultural village from 14 to 31 July, with over 40 events and more than 50 artists
There’s a corner of Rome where summer tastes like a dream. From 14 to 31 July 2026, India Città Aperta returns for its second edition: the summer festival of Teatro di Roma, created with Dominio Pubblico, transforms the spaces of Teatro India, from the outdoor Arena to the stage nestled in the greenery of the Canneto, into a buzzing cultural village in the shadow of the Gazometro, the iconic gas holder of the Ostiense district.
The thread running through this edition is the dream: an oneiric dimension inspired by the poetics of Pier Paolo Pasolini, unfolding across more than 40 events with over 50 artists spanning theatre, dance, music, publishing, installations and projects for younger audiences. Best of all, most events are free to attend, while ticketed shows have a flat price of just 10 euros.
The opening night
The festival kicks off on Tuesday 14 July with a free opening party: Roman rapper and songwriter Piotta brings his Si riparano ricordi tour to the Arena, preceded on the Canneto stage by cartoonist and musician Davide Toffolo with Giulio D’Antona and their live drawn performance about legendary publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
Theatre highlights
The hottest ticket is on 16 July, when acclaimed actor Elio Germano and composer Teho Teardo present Il sogno di una cosa, based on Pasolini’s novel. Also worth marking in your calendar: spoken word star Lorenzo Maragoni with Tipico maschio italiano (17 July), Chiara Becchimanzi‘s Eroina (19 July) and comedian Paola Minaccioni‘s semi-serious reflection on happiness, La vita è bella? No, è un tipo (25 July).
Music, dance and a night at the opera
The music programme revolves around NeroIndia. Siamo fatti di canzoni, a series curated by Studionero and Giulia Ananìa featuring some of the finest voices of the new Italian songwriting scene: Emma Nolde (17 July), Giovanni Truppi (25 July) and Matteo Alieno (30 July). On 24 July, the Instant Composing Society led by Rodrigo D’Erasmo blends improvised live music and film, with actress Isabella Ragonese as special guest.
New this year is a section dedicated to contemporary dance, featuring Stefania Tansini‘s L’ombelico dei limbi (22 July) and the jump rope fuelled energy of HIT OUT by Parini Secondo (26 July). On 28 July the Arena even turns lyrical with ONIRICON, staged by the young artists of the Rome Opera House’s “Fabbrica” programme.
Families, talks and the grand finale
There’s plenty for kids and families too, from the historic Podrecca marionettes (21 to 24 July) to Antonio Catalano’s poetic installations. The talks calendar is packed: book presentations curated by Feltrinelli, which also runs the festival bookstore, a conversation between film director Mario Martone and writer Nicola Lagioia (23 July), plus events with Rome Future Week and the city’s liveliest cultural magazines. The festival closes on 31 July with the BeiRicordi Show, Rome’s beloved showcase for emerging performers.
Ten days of contemporary creation across Rome, from 3 to 12 September
From 3 to 12 September 2026, Rome hosts the 21st edition of Short Theatre, the international festival dedicated to contemporary creation and the performing arts. Over ten days, more than 65 events by some 40 companies and artists from Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Hungary, Algeria, Libya, Eritrea, Cameroon, Rwanda, Mexico and China take over the city. Expect a program that blends art, critical thought and politics, mapping today’s artistic geographies across the Global South and East.
The festival’s home base is La Pelanda at the Mattatoio, the former slaughterhouse turned arts hub in Testaccio, with events also at Teatro India, where the festival was born twenty years ago, Teatro Vittoria, Cinema Troisi, the MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art and the MUCIV – Museum of Civilizations
The opening night at Rome’s Botanical Garden
ST26 opens on 3 September (6-10 pm) in one of the city’s most enchanting settings: the Botanical Garden of Rome in Trastevere, with a continuous flow of performances, sound rituals and site-specific interventions among the greenhouses, including Hungarian choreographer Eszter Salamon‘s celebrated Dance for Nothing (revisited), based on John Cage’s Lecture on Nothing, and the sound ritual Naturale sconosciuto by poet Mariangela Gualtieri at dusk.
Highlights of the program
Among the must-sees: Alberto Cortès‘ El corazón de Ester, a performance that will be staged only 50 times worldwide, two of them at ST26 (4-5 September, Teatro Vittoria); Chiara Bersani‘s Michel. The animals I am, which reimagines Swan Lake through three performers with disabilities; François Chaignaud & Aymeric Hainaux‘s Mirlitons, where opera singing battles beatbox (8-9 September); the Italian premiere of L’Echo by French-Algerian choreographer Nacera Belaza with actress Valérie Dréville, co-presented with Romaeuropa Festival (10-11 September, Teatro India); and Muna Mussie‘s Cinema Impero, a three-part journey through Italy’s colonial archives staged at Cinema Troisi, MUCIV and MACRO. Closing the festival on 12 September, Claudia Castellucci‘s dance piece L’Infinito Carnale.
Throughout the festival, DJs and live acts — from queer scene icon HABIBITCH to Chinese experimental artist otay:onii — soundtrack the evenings at La Pelanda, alongside free talks and workshops open to all.
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