Discover all the markets planned for this month in Rome!
October marks the real restart of Rome’s market season. After the summer break the city’s independent markets are back, several of them with new venues, new formats and news worth flagging. Here are the ones to keep on your radar this month.
Unique Mkt
Two to start with. Unique Mkt returns for its autumn edition on October 10-11 at Industrie Fluviali, in the heart of the Ostiense district. Dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship and well-made, original products, it brings together selected exhibitors from across Italy over several floors, in one of the most striking spaces on Rome’s market scene.
Unconventional Market Rome
Later in the month comes Unconventional Market, on October 24-25 at Mediterraneo al MAXXI. Rome’s independent fashion and design market features emerging brands, craft and creativity, with music and DJ sets throughout the weekend. It’s one of the best places in the city to discover new labels and one-of-a-kind pieces.
There’s plenty more to explore. For vinyl lovers, Vinyl Village returns to Monk Rome on October 3.
The VGMT Market (Vintage Market) goes itinerant for the first time, opening at Forte Trionfale Hub (Ex Officina) on October 10-11 with 120 exhibitors of vintage furniture, design, posters, memorabilia and collectibles.
Ficus al Massimo is back at Garum Museo della Cucina, facing the Circus Maximus, on October 10-11 and again on October 24-25, with vintage items, handmade creations, floral design, fashion, ceramics, illustrations and vinyl.
Modern Mrkt returns with a special “uncommon & rare” edition on October 17-18, with a preview on October 16, also at Forte Trionfale Hub (Ex Officina). The focus this time is on unusual, hard-to-find and collectible pieces, with an outdoor food and drink area and a vintage DJ set.
Japan lovers can look forward to Japan Days at Ippodromo Capannelle on October 24-25, with artisanal goods and cultural workshops.
The Green Market is back with a new home at Hacienda on October 25: sustainable craft, small local producers, holistic treatments and a plant-based food corner. Open from 10:30am to 7pm, with free entry and an optional donation.
Every weekend, there’s also Merkat*, the market at Alcazar Live in Trastevere, with vintage, artisanal and handmade stalls and DJ sets throughout the day.
Be sure to explore these markets and discover the treasures they have to offer.
Discovering the best things to do in Rome in October
As Rome welcomes the cooler temps of October, it also welcomes new opportunities, events and adventures for visitors. Whether you’re a film enthusiast excited for the screenings and encounters at the Festa del Cinema, an art aficionado ready to immerse yourself in numerous exhibitions , or simply someone eager to party along to live music, Rome has something in store for everyone this October. In this article we have gathered some of the best events in October 2026 in Rome. Take your pick and enjoy.
Exhibitions this October in Rome
October is one of the richest months of the year for art in Rome, with the autumn blockbusters now open and a wave of new shows joining them.
The season’s biggest draw remains Vassily Kandinsky at Palazzo Bonaparte, the first monographic show devoted to the Russian master of abstraction in Rome in 25 years. Advance booking is recommended.
At the Museo Storico della Fanteria, from 17 October, Renato Guttuso: Mediterranean Soul pays tribute to one of the great figures of 20th-century Italian painting.
Two major openings follow: Keith Haring at the Museo di Roma – Palazzo Braschi, with over 140 works from the Nakamura Collection tracing his path from New York subway drawings to his final paintings, and Pontormo at the Scuderie del Quirinale, the first monographic exhibition ever dedicated to the Florentine master of Mannerism, built around loans from the Uffizi.
Two more not to miss: AQVA at the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, opening the five-year cycle Catastrophe and Wonder with JR, Bill Moran and chef Fulvio Pierangelini, and, from October 17, FOOD. The Taste in Art at the Chiostro del Bramante.
October in Rome promises to be a month filled with electrifying live music performances that will captivate music enthusiasts of all genres. From rock legends to indie sensations and everything in between, the city’s concert scene is set to deliver an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re into classic hits, contemporary tunes, or experimental sounds, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant music culture of Rome!
October is when Romaeuropa Festival really hits its stride. The 41st edition is one of the richest ever, with 100 shows, 240 performances and around 1000 artists from all over the world, and the autumn months bring the densest part of the programme: music, theatre, dance, digital arts and work created for younger audiences, staged at venues across the city.
The festival dedicated to the contemporary Italian trattoria returns to Rome for its second edition, this time stretched over eight days with around 60 chefs and 20 dinners across the city. Hypertrattoria celebrates the format that has done more than any other to shape how Italy eats: informal, regional, family-run, and now being reinvented by a generation of young cooks. Rather than a single venue, the festival unfolds as a series of collaborative dinners in trattorias and restaurants around Rome, each bringing together kitchens from different parts of the country for one night only.
Romics is the semiannual comic book, animation, and gaming convention in Rome. Taking place over four days, the convention will include special exhibitions, previews for upcoming works and meet-and-greets with authors and publishers.
Tevere Day returns from 2 to 11 October for ten days dedicated to the river that made Rome. More than 130 events unfold along the Tiber, from boat trips, guided walks and the Vogalonga regatta to open-air sport, clean-ups, talks and family workshops, in a part of the city most Romans cross every day but rarely set foot on. The highlight is Saturday 10 October, when thousands of flowers are handed out on six bridges to be cast into the current. It’s also one of the rare chances to see Rome from the water rather than from the street.
For one weekend Rome becomes a single open-air concert hall. Piano City arrives in the capital for the first time on 3 and 4 October with more than 200 free concerts, over 100 pianos and around 130 musicians across 90 locations in every district, from the historic centre to Ostia.
Born in Berlin in 2010 and already established in Milan and Palermo, the format turns squares, parks, museums, metro stations and even boats on the Tiber into stages, with 48 hours of continuous music from dawn concerts to late-night sets. It also includes House Concerts, intimate performances hosted by Romans who open their homes and their pianos to the public. The festival closes in Piazza del Campidoglio with Leonora Armellini, Gilda Buttà and Rita Marcotulli.
Now in its sixth edition, Roma Jewelry Week returns from 8 to 11 October, four days dedicated to contemporary, artist-made and goldsmith jewellery across the city. This year’s theme is The Crown of Ingenuity: jewelry as a story, a journey through the last 80 years of Italian art and culture, where design, craft and memory come together in a single contemporary object. Expect exhibitions, open workshops and encounters with designers and goldsmiths in galleries and studios around Rome.
The Ottobrata Monticiana returns to liven up the Monti neighborhood: three days filled with events, exhibitions, shows, and concerts to rekindle the cheerful and carefree spirit of the Romans who once participated in the famous roman “Ottobrate”. These were traditional Sunday trips outside the city that took place in the month of October, coinciding with the beautiful sunny days and the grape harvest.
EurHop, Rome’s craft beer festival, returns from 9 to 11 October for its twelfth edition at the Salone delle Fontane in the heart of the EUR district. Over 800 beers flow from 400 taps, poured by 88 breweries hand-picked by Manuele Colonna, one of the leading figures on the European craft beer scene: 74 from across Italy and 14 from countries including Belgium, Germany, Denmark and England. Many of the brewers are there in person to present their best beers of the year and preview the season ahead.
Rome’s Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale) welcomes the public to enjoy its autumn blossoms. Situated on the slopes of the Aventine hill, offering a beautiful view of the Circus Maximus, this enchanting garden is a sanctuary boasting over 1,200 unique rose varieties, many of which showcase their vibrant blooms during the autumn season.
October 9 – 11 | Longines Global Champions Tour Roma 2026
The “Formula 1 of show jumping” returns to Rome for the 14th leg of the 2026 circuit, which also marks the Tour’s 20th-anniversary season. For this special edition the event moves to the Ippodromo Militare di Tor di Quinto, home of the 8th Lancieri di Montebello Regiment and the cradle of modern show jumping, where Federigo Caprilli revolutionised the art of riding. Over three days, the world’s top rider–horse pairs will compete before the Tour heads to Cairo (Oct 22–24), the Rabat Finals (Oct 30 – Nov 1) and the season-deciding GC Playoffs in Riyadh (Nov 18–21).
For the first time, Romadiffusa takes over the Esquilino, the most multicultural district in Rome. For two days, from morning to night, the neighbourhood becomes a creative playground: live music and DJ sets in Piazza Vittorio, exhibitions staged inside grocery shops, bookshops and bars, open studios of artists and artisans, rooftop parties, private homes opened to the public, installations at the Esquilino Market, performances under the porticoes and at Palazzo Merulana, talks at the Acquario Romano, stand-up comedy in local bars, and tours and workshops at the Accademia Costume & Moda. The idea is to read a familiar part of the city through the people who make it, turning everyday places into venues for two days.
The Festa del Cinema di Roma returns for its 21st edition, running a day longer than planned: the festival now opens on 13 October and closes on 25. It begins with Il rumore delle cose nuove by Paolo Genovese, presented in the Grand Public section, with an opening ceremony hosted by Ema Stokholma. Among the names announced is Javier Bardem, who receives this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Auditorium Parco della Musica, designed by Renzo Piano, hosts the main screening theatres, while the avenue leading to the Cavea becomes one of the world’s grandest red carpets. Beyond the Auditorium, screenings, talks and encounters spread across cinemas and venues throughout the city.
GranMotori makes its debut at the Tenuta di Fiorano, a private estate on the Via Appia Antica owned by the Boncompagni Ludovisi family and never before open to the public. Across four days its 200-plus hectares fill with more than 200 cars and motorcycles, from vintage models and youngtimers to supercars, brought to life on a 1.4 km track with timed races, parades and runs by professional drivers. Off the track there are ACI regularity competitions in the paddock, four freestyle motocross shows a day, a driving simulator included with the ticket, live talks at the Wheel Theatre and street food curated by the team behind Taste of Roma.
Tenuta di Fiorano discover more Granmotori
October 18 | Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon
The Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon by Brooks is an unmissable event for sport enthusiasts this October. Now in its third edition, it takes place on Sunday 18 October 2026, starting at 8am from a new location under the Roman walls at Porta Ardeatina and finishing, as always, at the Colosseum. The 21.1 km route winds through the historic streets of Rome, passing iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, Piazza Navona and more. Alongside the main race there is the Longevity Run, a non-competitive 5 km focused on prevention and wellbeing, and a Charity Program that lets participants raise funds for non-profit organisations.
Now in its eleventh edition, Rome Art Week is a citywide annual event entirely dedicated to contemporary art. It offers the public a broad view of Rome’s contemporary scene through hundreds of free initiatives: exhibitions in galleries and institutions, artists’ open studios, and cultural projects. During RAW week, artists open their studios to enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals, while curators showcase their research through exhibitions and cultural events hosted across the city.
Maker Faire Rome returns to the Gazometro Ostiense from 23 to 25 October 2026 for its 14th edition, with something for everyone from curious kids to creative, tech-loving adults. Innovators come from across Europe to present new ideas on hot topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, aerospace, digital manufacturing, healthcare and the circular economy. Attendees can also experience these ideas hands-on through the fair’s workshops and educational activities for all ages.
Explore Rome’s markets in all their variety: vintage finds and collectibles, artisan craft, independent fashion and design, plus food and wellness-focused markets with something for every taste.
Vinyl Village – Monk Rome – 3 October
Ficus al Massimo – Garum Museo della Cucina 10-11 October
VGMT Market – Forte Trionfale Hub, Ex Officina – 10-11 October
Live music, food, drinks, and nightlife in Trastevere
A few streets back from the busiest corners of Trastevere, there’s a former cinema that never stopped filling up with people. Alcazar Live has been running it as a music venue since 2019, and in that time more than 1,700 artists have played here. It’s small on purpose: no barrier, no pit, and the stage just a few metres from the front row. What Rome gets is one of the most intimate places in Italy to see a concert and, after midnight, one of the few dancefloors in the centre playing music you won’t hear on the radio.
The Stage
The line-up crosses scenes rather than sticking to one. Masego and PJ Morton have played here for international soul and R&B; Ben l’Oncle Soul, Braxton Cook, MonoNeon, Jaz Karis, Wayne Snow, Kiefer and Dominic Miller for jazz, funk and alternative; Alan Sorrenti, Pino d’Angiò, Venerus, Francesca Michielin, Carl Brave and Marco Castello for the Italian songbook, old and new.
On the touring circuit the venue has built a reputation as a place where the live show never disappoints: artists tend to treat it like a club date rather than a stop on a tour, and audiences notice.
After Midnight
When the concert ends, the room changes shape and the night carries on until 3am. Here too the artistic direction stays off the commercial circuit: house, funk, disco and Italo disco, soul and boogie, with records chosen for each night.
Cassius, Moodymann, Mousse T., Folamour, Mind Enterprises, Bruno Belissimo, Kapote (Toy Tonics) and Habibi Funk have all played the decks. The resident nights carry the rest of the week: Comemammam’hafatto, the Thursday house jam, plus Boogie Frizzante, Soul Train, BELLA and Beat the 90’s.
Stand-up comedy
Some evenings open with stand-up comedy over dinner, featuring Italian and international comedians, with occasional shows in English as well as Italian, before the DJ set takes over the room.
Eat and drink
Upstairs, Balcony looks straight down onto the stage: Roman cooking with a contemporary touch, served while the band plays below. At the bar, the drinks list leans towards mixology rather than volume. The house motto is that a good night here takes good music, a good drink and your smile, in that order.
Merkat, the weekend market
On Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 7pm, the venue becomes Merkat, a market of vintage, Made in Italy, artisanal and handmade stalls, with DJ sets playing throughout the day. Entry is free, and it’s the only time dogs are allowed inside.
Private and corporate events
The space is also available for private hire and has hosted events for Bulgari, Versace, Gucci, Sky, Mediaset and Netflix. Enquiries to events@alcazarlive.it.
Good to know
Over-18s only.
Wheelchair accessible.
Dress code: original, casual chic, funky fashion. No sportswear.
Pets are welcome during the Merkat market only, because of the high volume at other times.
Refunds are only given if an event is cancelled by the artist or the promoter.
Alcazar Live isn’t just another venue for your entertainment. If you’re searching for a place where art, music, food and drinks come together to create a unique experience, Live Alcazar is it.
Click here for further information on Alcazar live music programs
Rome’s biggest event celebrating and protecting the Tiber returns from 2 to 11 October
The eighth edition of Tevere Day, Rome’s leading event dedicated to reviving and protecting the Tiber, runs from 2 to 11 October 2026. For ten days the river takes centre stage with over 130 events along more than 80 kilometres of its course, from Nazzano and Farfa down to Ostia and Fiumicino, spanning sport, the environment, culture, archaeology, boating, performances and community initiatives. Behind them is a network of over 200 associations, organisations, sports federations and companies.
The biggest new addition this year is the Giornata del Tevere, a day dedicated to the river that the Tevere Day Association hopes will become a fixed date in the city calendar on the second Saturday of October. The first one takes place on Saturday 10 October: from 11am to 1pm, thousands of flowers will be handed out on six pedestrian bridges (Ponte Milvio, Ponte della Musica, Ponte Sant’Angelo, Ponte Sisto, Ponte Fabricio and Ponte della Scienza) to be cast into the current as a collective tribute to the river. The opening ceremony is at 12.30pm on Ponte Milvio, while Ponte della Musica hosts Le 7 Arti, a performance by artist Francesca Chialà.
Also making its debut is Parchi di Sport, Urban Games: from 2 to 4 October, between Ponte Milvio and the Foro Italico, the new riverside parks will host demonstrations and open sessions of takeball, fencing, darts and footvolley, along with activities for families and older people. It runs from 11am to 5pm on 2 October, then from 10am to 5pm on 3 and 4 October.
Events not to miss
Vogalonga Tiberina, 10 October at 10am. The historic regatta sets off from the new Parco Fluviale Tiberis at Ponte Marconi and finishes at the Idroscalo di Ostia, with around 100 boats including canoes, rowing boats, dragon boats and kayaks. This year’s patron is two-time Olympic sailing champion Caterina Banti. The Roma-Ostia bike ride, organised with Sentiero Pasolini, leaves at the same time. Information and registration at vogalongatiberina.it.
Teverevivo, 2 to 11 October. Marevivo’s Floating Hub at Scalo de Pinedo becomes Tevere Day’s environmental village, with talks on art, science and conservation, the RiscARTI festival, the March for the Sea, guided tours and a science space run by ISPRA, Italy’s environmental research institute, dedicated to the river’s ecosystem.
Parliamo di Tevere, 5 to 11 October. Around 30 talks in bookshops, libraries and museums. The series opens on 5 October at 6pm at Temple University, Via di San Sebastianello 3, and closes on Sunday 11 October, from 3pm to 5pm, in Piazza San Bartolomeo all’Isola on Tiber Island, with a public conversation hosted by journalist Giuseppe Di Piazza.
The “Noi Siamo Tevere” campaign
In 2026 “Noi Siamo Tevere” (“We Are the Tiber”) continues. Promoted by the Tevere Day Association, the campaign involves volunteers, associations and neighbourhoods in caring for the river all year round. This year several companies have also joined, taking part directly in hands-on initiatives.
The message remains the same: looking after the Tiber is everyone’s responsibility, all the more so now that its central stretch is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A river that brings people together
Created to give the Tiber back a central role in city life, Tevere Day has grown over the years into a genuine grassroots movement. Working with sports federations, associations, institutions and local groups, it has helped restore numerous green spaces along the river and give them back to the public, who now use them again.
This eighth edition continues along the same path, bringing together associations, schools, neighbourhood committees, sports clubs, artists and residents to make the Tiber ever more accessible and lived-in, and recognised as a public space, a place for culture and a driver of urban regeneration.
Three days of events in the Monti neighborhood to relive the charm of the roman “Ottobrate”
Ottobrata Monticiana returns to enliven Rione Monti, Rome’s first and oldest district. From October 9th to 11th, 2026, enjoy three days of initiatives: wellness and sports activities, exhibitions, shows, and concerts that revive the cheerful, carefree spirit of Romans who once celebrated the famous Ottobrate Romane. These were traditional Sunday trips outside the city that took place in the month of October, coinciding with the beautiful sunny days and the grape harvest.
The Ottobrata Monticiana retraces these memories, encapsulating them within the Monti District. This initiative was born after AS Roma’s 1983 Scudetto victory, thanks to the efforts of Prof. Adolfo Cecilia, the founder of the Associazione culturale ricreativa e sportiva Rione Monti, whichaimed at preserving and passing on the traditions and identity of Monti. The goal was to bring together Monticians who had moved to other neighborhoods over the years or were about to do so.
Since that first edition, the Ottobrata Monticiana has become a tradition and a regular event for both old and new Monticians, as well as for tourists and visitors who come to experience the neighborhood’s genuine and authentic atmosphere.
The three-day programme, running from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October, is packed. The 2026 edition brings the district to life starting from the main stage in Piazza Madonna dei Monti, alongside the events on the Scalinata degli Ibernesi and the moonlight concerts in Largo Visconti Venosta, with many more initiatives spread across the whole district. Beyond concerts and performances, there are exhibitions and roving events, plus workshops open to all ages.
Friday 9 October
Piazza Madonna dei Monti
16:30–17:00 — Carabinieri Band
17:30–18:00 — Address by the Municipio administration
18:00–18:30 — Awards for the district’s historic businesses (presented by Councillor Cristina Michitelli)
18:30–19:30 — Francesca Bessi, “Tutte le notti in sogno”, Roman songs (accompanied by Corrado Amici)
20:30–21:30 — Stefy Camboni (piano and vocals) and Massimo Mattia
22:00–22:30 — Ottobrata Monticiana lottery draw
22:30–23:30 — Massimo Mattia & Greta Mattia
Scalinata degli Ibernesi
20:00–21:30 — Monti canta Napoli, with Romolo Bianco (vocals and guitar)
Largo Visconti Venosta
20:00–22:00 — Canzoni in prestito, Mirai band & Aula 7
Over the three days the district will also come alive with roving performances (Rugantino & Rosetta, the Lodi Circus, and the Società di Danza in period costume), widespread exhibitions, guided tours, and workshops for all ages.
One of the highlights of 2026 is City Adventure, which turns Rione Monti into a large open-air urban game across all three days of the festival. You download the app (iOS and Android), follow a route through the alleys and squares, and play by the “play, shoot, discover, win” formula: historical riddles to solve, questions to answer and hidden details to photograph, with a final leaderboard and prizes up for grabs. There is no set start time: you begin whenever you like, on your own or as a team. All the info and rules are at cityadventure.it.
Here is a day-by-day rundown of the exhibitions, cultural initiatives and roving events of Ottobrata Monticiana 2026.
Exhibitions (all three days)
Giuseppe di Legge, “I Luoghi dell’Uomo” and Federico Ruxo, “L’Immaginario Marino” – Bar La Licata, Via dei Serpenti 165 – 9, 10 and 11 October, 07:45–21:30
Micro Art Shop – Via Tor de’ Conti 21 – the “Just One Day” flash-exhibition format with a rotating line-up of illustrators, plus the SLURP graphic project on show at Bar La Licata – 11:00–19:30
“Stagioni d’Oriente” by Francesca Maffucci – Galleria Moca, Via degli Zingari 1 – Friday 10:00–13:30 and 15:00–18:30, Saturday and Sunday 15:00–18:30
Mostra delle Macchine parlanti e degli Organetti, by Mario Valentini – Via dei Serpenti 35, c/o FITEL – Friday 16:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–13:00 and 18:00–22:00
Yarn Bombing, textile art installation (AssemblAbili GlobAli OdV) – Cavour metro exit, Piazza della Suburra – installation on view across the three days, with an open workshop 10:30–12:30
Roving events (all three days)
Rugantino & Rosetta – roving, starting from Via del Pozzuolo – 18:00–20:00
Lodi Circus, a circus show with stilt-walkers, acrobats and jugglers – roving – Friday and Saturday, 20:00–22:00
La Tavolata Monticiana – Via del Grifone – 17:00–20:00 – three open discussions with experts and institutions: Friday Environment and quality of life, Saturday Maintenance, upkeep and safety, Sunday Over-tourism and its impact on the district
Friday 9 October
Convento di San Bonaventura (14:30–15:30) – free guided visit, booking required, limited places
Gran Ballo dell’Ottocento (20:00–21:30) – a roving period-costume performance by the Società di Danza Circolo Nomentano, starting from Largo Corrado Ricci
Agriculturando – extra-virgin olive oil and Rome’s farming past (from 19:00) – Via della Madonna dei Monti 86 – a talk with an Oculus virtual-reality experience, 45-minute slots, max 15 people, booking required
Saturday 10 October
Istituto Centrale di Patologia degli Archivi e del Libro (11:30–12:30 and 14:30–15:30) – guided visit, max 25 people, booking required
Mathias Menanteau’s violin-making workshop (12:00–13:00 and 16:30–17:30) – visit, max 15 people, booking required
Convento di San Bonaventura (14:30–15:30) – free guided visit, booking required
All’ombra delle Torri (16:30) – roving guided tour with Dr Alessandra Rossi, meeting point in Piazza del Grillo
Rione writers in the bookshop (17:00–18:00) – Libreria 220, Via Panisperna 220
Schola Cantorum di Roma, sacred music (18:30–20:00) – Santa Maria ai Monti parish church
Marco Agamennone on the Capofarfa farm (19:00–20:00) – Via Madonna dei Monti 86
Sunday 11 October
Fitness & More with Rome by Run and WIP Fitness (from 09:00) – Piazza Madonna dei Monti and Largo Gaetana Agnesi – a running tour of about 7 km at 9:00, HYROX functional training for adults at 10:00 and 11:00, WIP Kids (ages 8–16) at 12:00 – free, limited places
Games for children (11:00–13:00) – Via Baccina at the corner of Via del Grifone – free ice cream from Il Gelatone for the children taking part
Gli uomini illustri di Monti (11:00) – roving guided tour with Dr Alessandra Rossi, meeting point in Piazza Madonna dei Monti
Il cinema a Monti (16:00) – roving guided tour with Dr Alessandra Rossi, meeting point in Piazza Madonna dei Monti
Workshops
Hands-on, informative sessions blending tradition, craft and creativity, open to the public and in many cases by booking.
Mani che creano – LabCreativo (Arte e Moda in Corso, FITEL) – Via dei Serpenti 35 – free workshops in crochet and amigurumi, sewing and dressmaking, watercolour and creative arts, with demonstrations of embroidery and tatting. Saturday: crochet 15:00–16:30 (max 20) and watercolour 16:30–18:30 (max 15). Info: 388 1626760
Lost-wax craftwork and life drawing – Sottobosco, Via Baccina 40 – Friday and Saturday, 10:30–23:00
Candle Store, workshop with Koche Dama – Via dei Serpenti 127 – Friday and Saturday, 17:00–18:30 – max 4 people, by booking
Gold leaf on fabric + demonstration – Via degli Zingari 37 – Saturday, 11:00–13:00
Build your own themed book, workshop for children (ages 4–8) – Libreria 220, Via Panisperna 220 – Saturday, 15:00–21:30
Yarn Bombing, textile art workshop – Cavour metro exit, Piazza della Suburra – across the three days, 10:30–12:30 – open to all, learn to make woollen flowers with the volunteers
Agriculturando, extra-virgin olive oil between health and history – Via della Madonna dei Monti 86 – across the three days from 19:00, 45-minute slots, max 15 people, booking required, with an Oculus virtual-reality experience on the world of the olive tree
Over 200 free piano concerts across Rome on 3 and 4 October
For the first time, Rome is hosting Piano City. On 3 and 4 October, more than 100 pianos will be placed around the city for over 200 free concerts, performed by more than 130 artists, from established names to young Conservatory graduates. The line-up includes Nik Bärtsch, Rita Marcotulli, Leonora Armellini, Cesare Picco, Ramon Valle, Giovanni Guidi, Anna Gourari, Andrea Morricone, Gilda Buttà, Dénes Várjon, Dominik Wania and Andrea Lucchesini.
Concerts will take place in over 90 venues: monumental squares and concert halls, parks and museums, pubs and private homes, bridges and boats on the Tiber, metro stations and shopping centres, from the historic centre to the outer suburbs. The music ranges from classical and jazz to pop, rock, folk and electronic.
4pm, Spanish Steps: Seville-born pianist Laura de los Ángeles plays flamenco from the top of the steps.
5.30pm, Parco Tor Tre Teste: Angelo Pelini of Têtes de Bois performs the songs of Claudio Baglioni.
6.30pm, Ostia pier: Francesco D’Errico plays Antônio Carlos Jobim by the sea.
7pm, Palazzo Poli (Trevi Fountain): an evening of water-inspired music in the Sala Dante.
7.30pm, Teatro Palladium: Rita Marcotulli in concert.
10pm, Pantheon: Cesare Picco gives the world premiere of music from his new EP Edge, out on Decca Records at the end of October.
Sunday 4 October
6.45am, Pincio: a sunrise concert with Gilda Buttà, Ennio Morricone’s long-time pianist, playing the Maestro’s music.
10.30am to 8.30pm, Piazza di Pietra: a Chopin marathon in the Temple of Hadrian, from preludes in the morning to nocturnes at night.
12pm, MAXXI: Andrea Riccio performs Philip Glass’s études alongside original video works by Shirin Neshat and others.
From 3.30pm, Metro A: two travelling concerts on board a train between Anagnina and Battistini.
4pm to 8pm, Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere: an afternoon of Battiato, Glass, Debussy and Sakamoto, closing with Alessandro Martire.
6.30pm, Giardino degli Aranci: Jacopo Petrucci plays Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition on the Aventine.
6.30pm, Casa Sordi: Andrea Morricone and Cecilia Grillo play Ennio Morricone in Alberto Sordi’s former villa.
Grand finale, 9pm, Piazza del Campidoglio: Leonora Armellini, Gilda Buttà and Rita Marcotulli share the stage, followed by Pianobici, a convoy of bikes fitted with speakers carrying music into the suburbs through the night.
Concerts at home
Anyone with a piano can host a house concert for friends and neighbours, with the pianist provided by Piano City. A few are open to the public on booking, including Salotto Papale (Andrea Riccio, 4 October at 6pm) and Marco Arcieri’s villa (4 October from 5pm). To book, email [email].
Beyond the concert hall
Piano City also reaches places closed to the public: young pianists from Piano City Kids will play for patients at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Marco Arcieri will perform Chopin for guests of the Caritas hostel at Termini, and there are concerts at a seniors’ centre in Ostiense. Luiss University hosts readings and talks, including a Scarlatti reading-concert with writer Alberto Riva and Leonora Armellini (4 October, 4pm).
Practical info
All concerts are free. Some venues require booking. Full programme on pianocityroma.it.
Looking for a moody, cool jazz bar hidden in a fashionable part of town with cocktails, great live music and a good aperitivo?
Charity Cafe, with its fully-stocked bar specializing in whiskey, rum and killer shaken concoctions, is the jazz & blues aficionado’s dream. It’s gritty New York and Roman elegance fused with music nights ranging from Chicago blues to Harlem jazz standards. Situated on Monti’s iconic Via Panisperna, this small big locale offers live music from Tuesday to Sunday.
The musical scene is the following: 60s and 70sClassic Rock, Soul and Folk every Tuesday with Andy’s Corner; Blues Jam & Friends on Wednesday; Jam Session Jazz on Thursday; Jazz Night on Friday, and a groovy Blues Night on Saturday, all from 10 pm. On Sunday there’s an Early Concerto: live music from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.
The concerts take place in two sets, and given that there are not many indoor seats available, the Charity Cafe has introduced an ‘American’ style system, meaning that each set will be tied to obligatory consumption of €10. You wish to dine at the Cafe, and enjoy a lovely meal alongside the music? You’re more than welcome to!
Over 70 Masterpieces Bring Colour, Geometry and Sound to Life at Kandinsky’s Exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte
From September 15, 2026 to February 14, 2027, Rome’s Palazzo Bonaparte hosts one of the year’s most significant cultural exhibitions dedicated to Vassily Kandinsky, the father of abstract art. Produced and organized by Arthemisia in collaboration with Paris’s Centre Pompidou and curated by Angela Lampe, the exhibition brings over 70 iconic works to Rome for his first major retrospective in the city in over 25 years. With the Centre Pompidou preparing for a temporary closure for restoration, Rome offers visitors a rare chance to view masterpieces that rarely leave Paris.
Divided into five sections across two floors, the exhibition traces Kandinsky’s complete human and artistic transformation through different political climates, theoretical breakthroughs, and personal relationships.
The first section covers his formative years from 1866 to 1907. Born in Moscow, Kandinsky was not originally on a path toward art. He pursued a career in law and political economics at the University of Moscow before making the radical decision at age 30 to abandon academia and move to Munich to study painting.
This section reveals how two decisive experiences were the reason for this shift: seeing Claude Monet’s Haystacks, where he realized colors could evoke emotion without representing tangible objects, and hearing Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin at the Bolshoi Theatre, suggested that painting could function like music. On display here are early paintings like Old Town II (1902) and Schwabing, Winter Sun (1901), alongside folklore-inspired pieces such as Song (Song of the Volga) (1906), which blends Slavic costumes and viking ships against an Ottoman-esque backdrop.
The next section explores his breakthrough period in Murnau and the founding of Der Blaue Reiter. Settling in the Bavarian Alps, Kandinsky’s natural style turned into broad brushstrokes and vibrant hues of color. A major highlight of this section – and one of the exhibition’s most significant achievements – is a dedicated focus on Gabriele Münter. Long overshadowed in art history as simply Kandinsky’s partner, Münter is presented here as an extraordinary, independent artist of German Expressionism. Exhibited in Italy for the first time, her work reveals a voice defined by simple forms, bold black outlines, and saturated colors because Münter painted what she felt, not what she saw.
The exhibition showcases their joint travel sketchbooks from Holland, Tunisia, and Rapallo, where both artists observed scenes side-by-side yet developed very different visual styles. A standout piece by Münter on display is Dragon Fight (1913), adapted from a small Russian folk sculpture kept in the Munich apartment she shared with Kandinsky. Through intense colors and heavy contours, Münter transformed the scene into a powerful symbol for the struggles faced by avant-garde artists. The section also details her legacy during the Nazi regime, when she secretly hid many Der Blaue Reiter masterpieces from being destroyed. Beside her works, visitors experience Kandinsky’s dialogue with composer Arnold Schönberg, illustrating how musical dissonance inspired his early abstract masterpieces like The Black Arch (1912) and Picture with a Red Spot (1914).
Continuing on, the third section documents his return to Revolutionary Russia. Forced to flee Germany at the outbreak of World War I, his paintings were strictly limited to abstract graphic prints in 1915. Following his marriage to Nina Andreievskaia in 1917, he briefly returned to figurative work as seen in Nina and Tatiana on the Veranda (1917). Exposure to Suprematist and Constructivist artists pushed his art toward geometric styles and primary palettes, with In Grey (1919) as a prime example.
Concluding the first floor, the exhibition transitions into his years teaching at the Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau (1922–1933). As the director of the mural painting workshop, Kandinsky embraced what he termed his “cold phase”. Hanging near the end of the first floor is the centerpiece of this era, Yellow-Red-Blue (1925), a composition in which shapes and primary colors are arranged according to an almost musical logic.
Moving up to the second floor, visitors are able to explore the interactive stations and his late years in exile. The floor begins with an interactive wall dedicated to Bauhaus theory, where visitors can physically arrange primary-colored blocks (yellow, red, blue) into geometric shapes (triangle, square, circle) based on their personal perception. Just next to this wall is a listening display featuring a selection of the 95 preserved gramophone records from Vassily and Nina’s personal collection. Putting on the provided headphones lets visitors sample the couple’s musical taste, spanning Russian folk songs, Bach, Handel, Stravinsky, and 1920s foxtrots.
The final section covers his exile in Paris following the closure of the Bauhaus under Nazi pressure. Living in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Kandinsky’s style shifted from rigid geometry to biomorphic forms inspired by the microscopic world, showcased in late paintings like Composition IX (1936) and Sky Blue (1940). Near the end of the second-floor gallery is a floor-to-ceiling mirrored room projecting geometric shapes, lines, and colors that allow guests to step directly inside a living Kandinsky composition. The exhibition concludes as the path guides you into a gift shop filled with art prints, mini-books, candles, and souvenirs before leading back down to the first floor.
Plan to spend roughly 60 to 90 minutes exploring the galleries, audio stations, and interactive sections. Running through February 14, 2027, this immersive experience is a must-see on Rome’s cultural calendar.
The OperAffinity Festival returns to Todi from 14 to 26 September 2026 for its most international edition yet, bringing together a world-class faculty, new international partnerships, and artists from Italy, Europe, the US, Africa and Australia.
After two editions of rapid growth, the festival is back in the historic hilltop town of Todi, now with a firm place on the international cultural calendar. This year’s programme is its most expansive so far: an international artistic residency built around opera and extending into contemporary composition and the visual arts.
Founded and directed by British-Australian soprano Breana Stillman, OperAffinity has grown from a weekend of concerts into a sustained programme of residency, education and international partnership, based at the Convento San Giacomo, the thirteenth-century convent overlooking Todi. Beyond its public performances, the festival works as a platform for residency, mentorship and international collaboration for emerging artists.
“My role is to oversee the festival’s artistic direction, build our international partnerships and faculty, and protect the overall vision of the project,” says Stillman. “We are creating real opportunities for young performers while developing cultural projects that leave a lasting mark on Umbria.”
While the first two editions introduced OperAffinity to Todi, the 2026 festival marks a new stage, with the residency model now at the centre of the programme. For two weeks, artists live and work together at the Convento San Giacomo, where singers, pianists, composers and internationally renowned faculty rehearse, collaborate and develop new work side by side.
World-Class Faculty
The 2026 edition brings together an international faculty that includes soprano Marie McLaughlin, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, Italian opera director Stefano Vizioli, conductor and vocal coach Audrey Saint-Gil, pianist and répétiteur Laetitia Ruccolo, and opera coach and répétiteur Felice Venanzoni. Between them, they have performed, directed and taught at many of the world’s leading opera houses and festivals, among them the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Opéra National de Paris, Glyndebourne and the Bavarian State Opera.
New International Partnerships
This year’s programme also opens new international collaborations with some of the most respected institutions in classical music. OperAffinity launches its first partnership with the Aspen Music Festival and School, one of the world’s foremost training programmes, welcoming singers and pianists from Aspen’s summer programme to Todi and strengthening cultural ties between Italy and the United States.
A new partnership with the National Opera Studio in London, one of Britain’s most respected training grounds for young singers, brings a recent graduate to this year’s residency, the first step in what is intended to become a long-term relationship. The collaboration reflects OperAffinity’s longstanding ties to Britain, from Stillman’s own British-Australian heritage to British faculty such as Marie McLaughlin and the young British artists in this year’s residency.
These new partnerships sit alongside OperAffinity’s established relationship with the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, which continues to bring outstanding young musicians to Todi.
The Composition Residency with Alan Fletcher
Among the festival’s new initiatives is the Composition Residency, developed with American composer Alan Fletcher, President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School. As part of the programme, Fletcher mentors young Italian composer Riccardo Palomes, selected from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana’s composition course, led by Salvatore Sciarrino.
The residency culminates in a concert of contemporary music on 24 September at Todi Arts Studio, the former studio and home of sculptor Beverly Pepper. The evening opens with a talk by the Beverly Pepper Foundation on her life and work, followed by a performance of music by Fletcher and by OperAffinity’s Composer-in-Residence, in the very space where she once lived and worked.
Art and Music in Dialogue
Interdisciplinary collaboration continues to shape the 2026 programme. This year, artist Austin Young creates a temporary immersive installation for Todi, transforming the Teatro Comunale into an intimate setting for opera and music. The installation is accompanied by a series of surprise opera flash mobs that animate the town throughout the festival.
Africa: Artist Development and Cultural Exchange
OperAffinity’s international artist development programme this year welcomes two young singers from Tunisia and Kenya, who join the residency alongside artists from across the world. Their participation reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to emerging talent, creating opportunities for artists both internationally and within their own communities through mentorship, training and long-term professional relationships.
Festival Programme
19 September – Opera Aperitivo, Cantina Todini, Collevalenza (Todi), 19:00. A celebration of opera, fine wine and local cuisine in the surroundings of Cantina Todini.
20 September – Guido Calori Museum Concert, Museo Guido Calori, San Gemini, 18:00. An intimate concert with the Museo dell’Opera di Guido Calori, with a presentation by FAI Umbria.
23 September – Educational Concert & Workshop, Scuola Media Cocchi-Aosta (Todi), 11:00 & 13:00. A community project introducing local students to opera through performance and storytelling.
23 September – Immersive Installation by Austin Young & Opera Flashmobs, Teatro Comunale di Todi, Foyer, 18:30. An installation by Austin Young and surprise opera performances across the town.
24 September – Contemporary Music Concert & Composer Residency, Todi Arts Studio (former studio of Beverly Pepper), 18:30. A talk by the Beverly Pepper Foundation followed by a concert with Alan Fletcher and OperAffinity’s Composer-in-Residence.
25 September – Final Gala Concert, Teatro Comunale di Todi, 19:00. Directed by Stefano Vizioli and featuring the festival’s emerging artists.
A Festival for the Whole Town
As in previous editions, Todi comes alive throughout the festival with pop-up performances and flash mob opera in the town’s piazzas. The education programme returns with a dedicated concert and workshop for local schools, giving students direct contact with the festival’s international artists and faculty.
About OperAffinity
OperAffinity is a cultural organization committed to artistic excellence, inclusion, and international cooperation in classical music and opera. Through its festivals, educational programs, and global partnerships, it aims to redefine how opera connects with the world, starting from a small Umbrian town with a big cultural heart.
For more information, visitwww.operaffinity.com or contact info@operaffinity.com
Rome’s independent fashion and design market returns to Mediterraneo, inside the MAXXI complex, with a curated line-up of emerging brands, DJ sets and a real community feel.
Unconventional Market is a Rome-based format dedicated to independent fashion, craft, design and creativity. Launched in Rome in 2024, with eighteen editions behind it, it has become one of the go-to appointments for discovering independent talent in the city. The idea is straightforward: give emerging brands, artisans and creatives a real showcase and a place to sell.
Through the end of the year the market is resident at Mediterraneo, the restaurant and garden inside the MAXXI complex on Via Guido Reni. Each edition turns the space into a creative hub where shopping meets entertainment, in a relaxed, contemporary setting.
The heart of the event is its selection of exhibitors: contemporary craft, forward-looking fashion, design, illustration and collectibles. It is a chance to spot new trends early and take home one-off pieces you won’t find in mainstream shops.
There is more to it than shopping. Continuous DJ sets run from late morning to aperitivo hour, setting the mood as visitors browse. The format also introduces a new music strand created with DJ Martina Alegra Tirone, designed to give young DJs from the Roman scene their own space and visibility.
The wider goal is to build a series of recurring, recognisable dates across the year, bringing together exhibitors, creative projects, music and entertainment. More than a market, it is meant to be a regular meeting point for the city’s community.
Next edition
When: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2026 Hours: 11:00 to 20:00 Where: Mediterraneo al MAXXI, Via Guido Reni 4A, Rome
At La Vaccheria in Rome’s EUR district, from 10 September 2026 to 28 March 2027, over 50 works spanning canvases, photographs and documents trace the story behind the Pop Art myth. Free entry.
Andy Warhol – Forever Love is the retrospective that, from 10 September 2026 to 28 March 2027, turns the La Vaccheria exhibition centre in Rome’s EUR district into the Home of Pop Art, with a tribute to the undisputed master of the movement.
Curated by Gianfranco Rosini, who met the artist in Rome in 1975, the show grows out of a personal and privileged account of Warhol’s world. It is not only a selection of iconic works, but a journey through the art, encounters, friendships, photographs, documents, travels and memories that reveal the American artist in his human dimension as much as his creative one. Rosini built a close relationship with Warhol and his circle, one that stayed with him throughout his own personal and artistic path.
Andy Warhol – Forever Love takes an unusual angle: it tells the Warhol “myth” through his most celebrated works, but also through the material that brings us closer to the man, to the people around him and to the remarkable artistic and cultural season he helped define in those years of ferment for both the economy and the arts.
On display are 51 works by Andy Warhol, more than 60 documents on his life and 37 works by other leading Pop artists, alongside canvases, photographs, objects, books and assorted memorabilia. The documents trace Warhol’s life from childhood and school diplomas to his correspondence with figures such as Mick Jagger, Truman Capote and Elizabeth Taylor, down to personal papers and materials tied to his practice.
Among the pieces on show are the celebrated portrait of Regina Schrecker, painted by Warhol in 1983, portraits of Liza Minnelli, works dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, the Campbell’s Soup cans, the Dollar Sign, the Candy Box (Heart) and the Kiku, as well as portraits of international art figures such as Joseph Beuys and Man Ray.
Particularly telling is the homage to Paolo Uccello, a Warholian reworking of a detail from Saint George and the Dragon: an ideal meeting between the Renaissance and Pop Art, between images of the past and contemporary icons, and a nod to the history of Italian art.
Photography also plays a central role, through the work of Dino Pedriali, the artist and photographer who was Warhol’s main assistant and documented key moments of his Italian and European years. The show presents 28 original photographs linked to the Roman season of Ladies and Gentlemen and Drag Queen, and to the professional and personal bond between Pedriali and Warhol.
Rounding out the exhibition, in the Mirror Room, is the video work Female Beauty – Warhol and the Feminine Universe, curated by Giuliano Gasparotti and Francesco Mazzei, with an original score by Maestro Furio Valitutti for KIF Italia.
Practical information
Entry is free. Opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 9am to 1pm, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 7pm, closed on Mondays. La Vaccheria is in the EUR district, at Via Giovanni L’Eltore 35. By public transport, take metro line B to Laurentina or EUR Palasport and continue by bus, or take bus lines 070, 700 and 709 to the Colombo/Pacifico stop.
Beach, seafood lunch, sunset aperitivo and dinner by the water, all in one spot a short train ride from Rome.
Rome doesn’t let go of summer easily. Well into September the sea stays warm and the light holds, so an easy escape from Rome for a day by the sea still makes complete sense. Marechiaro Ostia is a good place to spend one: beach club, seafood restaurant, bar and Roman-style pizzeria in a single spot, which means you can arrive in the morning and stay through to dinner without moving.
It’s one of the historic establishments on the Ostia seafront, and it reopened in July 2026 under new management. The space between the promenade and the beach has been opened up, and this is its first full season under the new team, so it’s a good moment to catch it.
Getting there is simple and fast. Take the Metromare (the old Roma-Lido line) from Piramide to Lido Centro, around 35 to 40 minutes, then it’s about an eight-minute walk to the beach. There’s also a cycle path running right past the entrance. One thing worth knowing: on weekdays the last evening trains are often replaced by buses while track works continue, so if you’re staying for dinner, check the return times.
The day here can start early, with breakfast served by the sea from 9am. I arrived later and headed straight for the beach, which was calm and rarely overcrowded. The sand is kept clean, and the umbrellas and sunbeds are set well apart, so you have room to yourself instead of being packed in next to strangers. It’s an easy place to spend a few hours swimming, reading or doing nothing at all. Private cabins are available for €70, including one umbrella and two sunbeds.
Lunch runs from midday to 4pm and leans on seafood, with pizza and Italian classics alongside. I had the spaghetti with lupini (small clams), the seafood salad, which stood out, and a classic Margherita. The kitchen also does paccheri with tuna puttanesca, fried calamari and prawns, and tuna tartare, so there’s plenty to come back for.
As the afternoon slides into evening the mood shifts. From 6pm aperitivo is served right on the sand, and you can choose a cocktail with the house fried starters or one with a board of cheeses and cured meats, easily enough for two. Sunset is the high point, with tourists, families and locals out for birthdays all sharing the same unhurried setting.
The service is worth a mention too. The owner was on the floor through the day, checking in with guests and making sure everyone was comfortable.
Dinner starts at 7pm, with a fuller seafood menu: fried baby octopus, red prawns with pacchero, scampi risotto, grilled swordfish and roasted octopus, plus the Roman pizzeria for anyone who wants something simpler. Some tables are set directly on the sand, which is the reason to stay on past sunset. It gets busy in the evening, so book ahead. The team also handles private events, from birthdays to group dinners.
For anyone flying out of Rome, Marechiaro sits about 15 minutes by car from Fiumicino airport, which makes it an easy last stop before a flight. The menu is available in English and staff can help in English over WhatsApp, so it’s straightforward for international visitors.
Quiet beach day, sunset aperitivo or dinner by the water: Marechiaro is a simple way to spend more time by the sea without going far from Rome.
MAGEÍA is a new three-day festival running from 17 to 19 September 2026 at Palazzo Esposizioni in Rome, pairing a free daytime art installation with three nights of DJ sets and live music. Created and produced by Lux Entertainment, the format brings together visual art, sound experimentation and new technology inside one of the landmark venues on via Nazionale.
For three days the building’s monumental architecture becomes part of the work, as light, material and sound play against the volumes of the exhibition halls in a composition that shifts through the day. The name comes from the Greek magheía, evoking transformation and wonder, the guiding idea behind a project designed to bring different audiences and generations together.
The visual side is led by Quiet Ensemble, a studio known for its research into light, technology and perception. For MAGEÍA they present a site-specific piece that reworks some of their best-known installations in dialogue with the spaces of the Palazzo. From 10am to 4pm the halls are open free of charge, a chance to walk through the transformed building without a ticket.
Three nights of music
From 6pm to 2am the focus turns to music, with a different lineup each evening.
Thursday 17 September, No Limits Party. The opening night celebrates Rome’s own scene, with Gemitaiz, Sine, Gengis, Frenetik and Whtrtrsh behind the decks.
Friday 18 September, Club Culture. A night built around the dancefloor, mixing Italian and international names: a live set from Elasi, a DJ set by Korean artist Shubostar, Whitesquare, and clubbing heavyweight Alex Neri, with more special guests.
Saturday 19 September, French Touch. The closing night pays tribute to the movement that shaped European electronic music, with Breakbot & Irfane among the headliners.
The evening programme is for over-18s only. Info and tickets at mageia.it.
Artisanal goods from famous island of Murano in Rome
Founded in 1997 by the Guetta family, Glassy Venezia is a Murano glass boutique offering a variety of handmade interior decorations, tableware, stemware, artworks, and jewelry. Recently renovated, the shop now boasts a refreshed look.
Stepping inside, you will find elegant vases, tasteful glass ornaments, and stalls filled with colorful mosaics of glazen rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces that could make a unique travel souvenir.
The inventory is produced by Venetian artisans using exclusive Vetro Artistico® Murano glass. Intricate design with many small details, vibrant colors, light weight, and clean and translucent glass are all the signature characteristics of the authenticMurano trademark that ensures high quality, using traditional techniques and methods dating back to the 13th century.
Why is Murano Glass so special?
Production of Murano glass is considered an art form of its kind. Practiced in Venice at least from the 8th century, it evolved from the craft performed by highly skilled masters into a bold way of experimenting with glass and expressing a creative vision of the artisans. The technique allows masters to yield and experiment with texture, form, size and color saturation of the glass, thus making the process very personalized and artistic.
Murano glass symbolized luxurious status and elegant taste. Murano glass artists famous worldwide include names like Guido Cadorin, Alfredo Barbini, and Umberto Bellotto. For the longest time the craft technology was kept a mysterious secret passed through generations of artisans of the Murano island. Even nowaday, authentic Murano glass pieces are highly valued among many knock-offs in the market.
Unique pieces at Glassy Venezia
All the products at the Glassy store are 100% Made in Italy. Apart from more simple and customary accessories, there’s also a wide selection of murrine veneziane pieces created with mosaic flower patterns, as well as Murano glass versions of iconic works of art, depicting masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh and Monet. The boutique sells glass figures of different animals in various sizes, religious icons, as well as Christmas tree decorations.
Located a few minutes from Termini station, the shop remains popular among tourists in Rome. To avoid standing in line during the peak of the tourist season, we suggest you visit the store in the morning or in the evening (it’s open till 11pm!).
Witness a hidden world of whimsical and strange beauty in the smallest district in Rome, Quartiere Coppedè.
Forget the secret garden, this is the secretneighborhood of Rome. Tucked behind the main streets of Quartiere Trieste between piazza Buenos Aires and via Tagliamento, is the bizarre and elaborate district ofCoppedè. I was shown this magical place by my Roman man, obscured from the view of daily passers-by I was unaware it existed. Ok, so Rome is full of stunningly majestic monuments anyway. But this architecture is a wholly ‘other’ and wonderfully odd thing.
Off the tourist trail, the Coppedè district is a corner of Rome with unexpected and bizarre features, a fantastic mixture of Art Nouveau or Liberty, Art Decò, with influences of Greek, Gothic, Baroque and even medieval art.
Coppedè, brainchild of Florentine architect Gino Coppedè (built 1913-1927), is a jumble of historic style all whipped together in a dramatic frenzy. Nature is the principal inspiration; daring and eccentric curved lines seek freedom from tradition, coexisting with modern sensuous ironwork. Coppedè is Rome’s answer to the Gaudì structures of Barcelona.
There are no cafes or restaurants in the area – Quartiere Coppedè is simply for exploring. There are no metro stations close by, the easiest public transport would be to catch a tram or bus to the stop Buenos Aires.
Although small, Quartiere Coppedè is packed with architectural details and unique landmarks. Here are the main spots you shouldn’t miss during your walk.
The Monumental Arch Entrance to Quartiere Coppedè
The dramatic arched entranceway (pictured in the photos) is the main entrance to the quarter on Via Dora. A hanging iron chandelier of floral twisted tendrils and seahorse motifs beckons the eye into a hidden world.
Piazza Mincio and The Fountain of the Frogs
The heart of Quartiere Coppedè is Piazza Mincio, where the famous Fontana delle Rane (Fountain of the Frogs) stands. Designed by architect Gino Coppedè in the 1920s, the fountain became legendary when the Beatles jumped into it after a concert at the renowned nearby club Piper. The work was intended to be a tribute to Bernini’s turtle fountain and the low level of the pond and the well-structured lively composition are features that remind us of his work.
The Spider Palace
The Palazzo del Ragno (Spider Palace), built between 1916 and 1926, is an intriguing building located at Piazza Mincio 4. It gets its name from the large spider decoration above the wooden doorway. From a distance, visitors can observe many other fascinating decorations, including a large face, lion heads, griffins, a variety of columns, and a balcony on a higher level with a loggia, along with frescoes adorning the façade.
The Fairy House
The Villino delle Fate (Fairy House) actually consists of three houses located at Via Aterno 4, Piazza Mincio 3, and Via Brenta 7-11. These three buildings, with their exquisite decorations, turrets, and small loggias, pay homage to Florence, Rome, and Venice through symbols and characters reminiscent of the three cities. They feature a fusion of various materials, including marble, brick, travertine, terracotta, and glass.
Wandering through the inner streets, one can glimpse other buildings that add further charm to the area. The Quartiere Coppedè is a fairy-tale and romantic part of Rome, distinct from the more famous and crowded attractions.
Quartiere Coppedè is one of Rome’s most unusual and fascinating neighborhoods. Designed in the early 20th century by architect Gino Coppedè, this small district blends Art Nouveau, medieval, baroque and mythological elements into a surreal architectural mix. Unlike the city’s famous landmarks, Coppedè feels almost hidden, making it a perfect stop for travelers looking to discover a lesser-known side of Rome. With whimsical buildings, intricate decorations and the iconic Fountain of the Frogs in Piazza Mincio, a walk through Quartiere Coppedè feels like stepping into a fantasy set in the heart of the Eternal City.
Quartiere Coppedè:
Between Piazza Buenos Aries and Via Tagliamento
Getting There:
Take trams 3 or 19 to Piazza Buenos Aires.
Enter under a big arch on Via Tagliamento (in front of Piper Club) on the corner with Via Dora.
Looking for the best exhibitions in Rome this autumn 2026? Rome is preparing to welcome art lovers with a full season of exhibitions, featuring some of the biggest names in art history alongside modern and contemporary masters. From Kandinsky‘s leap into abstraction to Keith Haring‘s street-born visual language, by way of Pontormo‘s Mannerist genius, Rembrandt‘s revolutionary etchings and the Mediterranean colour of Guttuso, the autumn scene promises a journey through time, borders, culture and artistic expression.
Palazzo Bonaparte opens the season with a major retrospective on Vassily Kandinsky, bringing together around seventy works that trace the artist’s entire path across Russia, Germany and France. The show follows his early figurative years, the birth of abstraction in Munich, his return to Russia during the revolutionary period, the Bauhaus years and his final Parisian phase. A significant part of the works comes from the collections of the Centre Pompidou. The exhibition is curated by Angela Lampe.
The Historical Museum of the Infantry pays tribute to one of the greatest printmakers of all time with a show devoted to Rembrandt’s graphic work. Curated by Patrizia Foglia, it brings together around fifty works on loan from public and private collections, including the etching Self-Portrait with Saskia featured on the exhibition poster. The selection captures the revolutionary force of his prints: light and shadow, the sacred and the everyday, self-portraits and scenes of daily life, all used to probe the depth of the human soul.
Rembrandt: Absolute Black. The Revolution of Etching
Palazzo Braschi presents more than 140 works and documents, drawn largely from the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection. The path runs across the artist’s whole career, from his early New York pieces to the celebrated Subway Drawings, alongside political posters, sculptures, paintings and works from his final years. The show reconstructs the visual language with which Haring turned the line into an immediate, instantly recognizable public sign. New York and the urban culture of the 1980s form the essential backdrop, where art, music, the street, activism and pop culture all enter the same visual system.
Keith Haring
Museo di Roma at Palazzo Braschi
October 6, 2026 to April 11, 2027
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The Scuderie del Quirinale stage the first major monographic exhibition ever dedicated to Pontormo. Produced in partnership with the Uffizi Galleries, it brings together the artist’s key masterpieces and presents him as one of the most original figures in sixteenth-century Florentine painting, at the turning point between the High Renaissance and Mannerism. The show follows how the classical language is transformed into a deeply personal style, with works on loan from the Uffizi and from major Italian and international institutions. Curated by Cristina Acidini with a team of specialists in the Florentine Cinquecento.
Pontormo
Scuderie del Quirinale
October 9, 2026 to February 7, 2027
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The Historical Museum of the Infantry also hosts a tribute to the Sicilian master Renato Guttuso, one of the leading figures of twentieth-century Italian painting. Curated by Vittorio Sgarbi with Marina Giordano, the show gathers around sixty works spanning the 1930s to the 1980s, including the oil Ritratto di Mimise con il cappello rosso, together with drawings and prints. The selection highlights the visual, symbolic and chromatic elements rooted in Mediterranean culture and reworked by the painter from Bagheria.
Rome’s biggest wine event returns to Villa Borghese from September 7 to 13
The 23rd edition of Vinòforum returns to Rome from September 7 to 13, 2026, once again in the stunning setting of Piazza di Siena in Villa Borghese. Over seven evenings, visitors can taste their way through 3,200 labels from 800 wineries, alongside a line-up of acclaimed chefs, restaurants and producers.
Beyond the tasting stands, the program features guided tastings, show cooking sessions and signature dinners bringing together top chefs, master pizzaioli and industry experts to celebrate the flavors and terroirs of Italian and international food and wine.
What’s on the program
At the heart of the event are the Wine Top Tastings, twice-nightly masterclasses guiding the public through some of the most prestigious wineries and surprising terroirs in Italy and beyond.
Back by popular demand are the Casa Barolo tastings, dedicated to one of Italy’s noblest wines: Barolo and the wines of the Langhe.
This year’s edition also welcomes the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium as a special partner, with guided tastings and events marking the Rome launch of the first Parmigiano Reggiano Tasters Course, starting in October. Olive oil lovers can join Unaprol and Evooschool for guided tastings of Italian extra virgin olive oil, exploring different cultivars and food pairings.
The gastronomic highlight of the week is The Night Dinner series, organized in collaboration with La Molisana. This year’s theme, Human Factor. Past. Present. Future, pays tribute to the human touch in the culinary arts. Each dinner unfolds in several acts (memory, gesture, vision), accompanied by images and music, turning the evening into an immersive experience paired with great wines.
Alongside the dinners, the Temporary Restaurants return with the theme Rome: Roots and Future, weaving the city’s culinary traditions together with their most contemporary interpretations: over 20 restaurants and 40 dishes across 7 days.
Pizza lovers are in for a treat with Pizza d’Autore, co-produced with Molino Caputo: six exclusive dinners hosted by some of Italy’s most respected masters of the craft, exploring unexpected pairings of doughs, flours and premium ingredients.
Vinòforum will also host the final of La Città della Pizza, the national competition dedicated to discovering Italy’s emerging pizza talent. On Sunday, September 13, seven finalists will compete for the title of best up-and-coming pizzaiolo of the year.
Talks, workshops and exhibitions on innovation: over 400 events across more than 150 venues
After a record-breaking edition with more than 75,000 participants, Rome Future Week returns: the city-wide event will take over more than 150 locations across Rome with over 400 events, running from 21 to 27 September 2026.
Historic palaces, parks, event spaces, university halls, labs, offices and coworking spaces will set the stage for hundreds of talks, workshops, exhibitions, immersive experiences and networking moments, organized by companies, startups, institutions, universities, public bodies and professionals.
“Materia Prima” (Raw Material) is the theme of this new edition of Rome Future Week, an invitation to recognize what comes before and makes every visible innovation possible.
The week is also about work. Rome Future Week 2026 will be a place to look for new opportunities, professional and personal: where companies meet talent and talent discovers who’s looking for them. A thread that runs through the whole event and has its own dedicated moments in the programme.
Cinema takes center stage this year. Corti Futuri returns, the contest dedicated to new audiovisual languages, now in its second edition and produced in collaboration with Rai Cinema and RUFA. Filmmakers and videomakers under 30 will tell the story of the city and its possible futures, shooting original short films over the days of the event, and the winning work will be made available on Rai Cinema’s channels.
And then there’s a neighborhood getting ready for a special week. Ostiense, with ROAD – Rome Advanced District as the edition’s main partner, will be one of the symbolic districts of Rome Future Week 2026: where the industrial archaeology of the Gazometro meets the Rome of tomorrow.
Participation is free. To explore all the available events, visit the official RFW website.
The climb toward elegance, and a first impression suspended in the air
The La Griffe experience begins before you even reach the top of the hotel, part of the BZAR hotels group, at Via Nazionale 13.
Step inside and the pace of the city falls away, replaced by a modern, low-lit elegance and a welcome that feels attentive from the front desk on. The elevator carries you up to the 9th floor, and the ride alone marks the shift from the noise of the street to the mood of the restaurant and American bar. The design gets your senses ready for what waits at the top.
Rome takes center stage: the skyline
Once you reach the 9th floor, the city opens up in full: one of the most complete and captivating views over the Eternal City, a visual embrace of Roman history. Your eye travels from the solemn white of the Vittoriano to the bell tower of St. Paul’s Within the Walls, before settling on the perfect curve of St. Peter’s dome.
It is striking at sunset, but the real magic happens during the blue hour, when the sun has dropped and Rome becomes pure visual bliss.
Aperitivo: signature mixology with a zero-waste approach
Aperitivo at La Griffe is not a quick stop, but a slow ritual meant to be enjoyed without rushing. The generous spacing between tables creates a rare sense of privacy, ideal for couples or families looking for a more exclusive setting.
While you wait, the soft rock of Elton John or the Red Hot Chili Peppers plays in the background, and the bartender turns mixology into storytelling. His experimental, zero-waste approach comes through in creations like the signature cocktail that reworks the pairing of butter and sage, an immediate hit of surprise and pleasure for any kind of guest.
Dinner: tradition and research
The kitchen on the 9th floor lifts Italian cooking, now a UNESCO heritage, into a balance of tradition and innovation. Each course is designed as a sensory and aromatic journey, and we let the restaurant manager guide us through it. We were won over by the freshness of the beef tartare with peach and purple potato, the crunch of the cod with an anchovy-and-vinegar mayonnaise, and the creaminess of the fettuccine Alfredo with a touch of truffle.
The service is attentive and warm, a lead role in its own right, turning dishes like the seared octopus or the dessert of fresh ricotta and ripe mango into lasting memories for the palate.
Celebrations above the clouds: private events and weddings with a view
Beyond the everyday experience, La Griffe makes an ideal setting for turning private evenings and milestones into something memorable. On the 9th floor, the wide, light-filled spaces can be booked in full for corporate events and, above all, for elegant weddings with a panoramic view of Rome, backed by a dedicated menu that reflects the best of Italian cuisine.
For those who want to reach even higher, the panoramic terrace on the 10th floor, among the tallest and most spectacular in Rome, is available for more dynamic private events, complete with DJ sets and a lighter, more convivial menu. What stands out is the venue’s versatility: the upper terrace is not just for large events. Any guest can simply order a signature drink and head up to the 10th floor to take in the Roman skyline with friends or family, surrounded by one of the most captivating views over the city.
The emotional legacy: feeling expected, not just served
What stays with you after an evening at La Griffe is not only the wonder of the skyline, but a deeper sense of having been expected, not simply served. It is an experience that confirms the strength of the brand through effortless refinement and a staff that knows how to guide you with attentive, thoughtful gestures.
This is where Rome stops being a postcard and becomes an experience to live in, even for a single special evening. You head back down to the city with a genuine wish to return.
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