The Best Time to Visit Rome is TODAY!
April 21st is Rome's official birthday party, and everyone's invited.
I know, I know. It’s a little last minute to get on a plane.
What I’m trying to say, is that April 21st might be the best day all year to be in his city.
Rome turns MMDCCLXXIX (2,779) Years old today.
She’s looking fresh-faced as ever, and aging far better than I am.
In fact, Rome looks pretty much the same as when I first landed here in 2001.
That’s right. This year also marks a quarter century since I moved to Rome on a student visa and overstayed it for eight years.
Rome was my first and most enduring love story to date. If you don’t know that story, stay tuned!
In honor of my quarter-century anniversary, I’ll be sharing some places from my past along with my present here on Tastefully, including the family trattoria pictured above.
It’s still my favorite carbonara in town, undoubtedly for nostalgic reasons.
Rome has undergone some serious improvements.
The Metro is cleaner, faster, and gets you farther. The wine bar selection is off the rails for creativity and atmosphere.
Back in my day, there were a handful of beloved standbys and rustic holes in the wall for very inexpensive wine drinking. In case you missed it, I narrowed down the city’s top 10 for Wine Enthusiast with input from local experts (in addition to myself).
It was quite a challenge, but thankfully I have this space to write up the rest of them.
As happens in many cities, Rome’s evolution inevitably sheds some of its cherished aspects. It’s louder and more crowded, there are fewer genuine family-run spots, and the pace has picked up (a little).
Those of us who have been here the longest are the first to notice.
There are certainly days we’d love to strip away the veneer and return to a time when Rome was dusty and dirty, yet pure wonder.
Alas, life moves οn, which brings me back to why this cluster of days dedicated to centuries-old traditions is so much fun.
People ask me when the best time is to visit Rome.
I usually say May, June, and October—mainly for the weather.
Maybe I’m just charmed by a particularly promising week of perfect late spring days, but I’ve changed my tune.
Mid-to-late April is the eve of high season.
The city’s not yet swarming, and you can still find a reasonably priced place to stay. The sun is hot, the breeze is cool, and the air is clean.
The days surrounding April 21st are filled with mostly free and fabulous events to celebrate the city. The way it used to be, but with fewer orgies and bloodshed.
A Few Highlights
Parades in historical costumes throughout major sites in the city center
Gladiator fights and batter simulations at the actual Circus Maximus
“The Renewal of the Sacred Fire”: an ancient ritual once conducted by vestal virgin priestesses, now handled by the Rome Historical Society
For the sports fans out there: watch a match of Harpastum. This rough and tough ancient Roman precursor to rugby, football, and soccer is played in minimal clothing. The boys get sweaty. The play is intense. There’s something for everyone.
Ancient Roman music and dance performances
The list goes on…
Seaside Spritz
In addition to all of this, the beaches closest to Rome, a few of which can even be reached by public transportation are clean and uncrowded in mid-April.
Before the beach clubs officially open with rental chairs and umbrellas, great stretches of sand are open to the public. Splurge on an oversized throw from a street vendor, pack a picnic, and soak up the late spring sunshine.
The water is way too cold for me, but I saw plenty of brave souls up to their shoulders last weekend.
Moral of the story?
Mark your calendars and start planning next year’s Rome trip now. What’s one more year? The Eternal City will still be here, just like me.