March is crazy. (Or at least that is the saying in Rome).
The weather gets unpredictable, and the seasons feel schizophrenic. It is a time when you want to make plans, but never seem able to.
March is also the month of the ladies, with International Women’s Day (festa della donna) widely recognized and celebrated with mimosas. (Unfortunately- the flowers, not the bubbly drink).
To help you plan how to celebrate, and to make sure you don’t miss out on the March madness, here is what is on in Rome:
4-6 March: We have Julius Caesar to thank for moving the new year to January 1st. The Romans used to celebrate the New Year’s on the 1st of March. Ex-Dogana is reviving the celebration and throwing a Roman New Year– a three-day music and movie event.
5-6 March: If you have been waiting for a reason to visit EUR, the Spirit of Scotland Rome Whiskey Festival might be the perfect excuse to head out this unique Roman suburb. Offering events for collectors, masterclasses, and exploring the world of American Whiskey, the festival will run from 2-9:30 pm at the Salone delle Fontane. For more information, follow the event here.
5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26 March: From 10 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, accessory and clothing designers will set up shop on Via Leonina for Mercato Monti. The ongoing market is one of the best places to find unique and vintage pieces in Rome.
7-13 March: It is craft beer week in Italy! Beers are having a major moment, and several bars around the city will host different events. Roma Experience has a short round up.
8 March: International Women’s Day. Expect to see ladies walking around with bunches of mimosas (bright yellow blooms). And ladies, you get free entrance to many museums. Enjoy! (But if you want to celebrate with dinner, make a reservation. It is a day of pampering in Italy).
13 March: Record lovers rejoice- Vinyl Market Place is back for all your vintage music needs. The event is a collaboration between Städlin e Ultrasuoni Records Rome, and will run from 3 pm to midnight in Ostiense, with music (obvs), beer and cocktails.
18-20 March: The Food Truck Fest moves to Trastevere for the weekend. Food trucks from around Italy will be dishing out eats from 12 pm to 12 am in Piazza Mastai. Entrance is freee and prices vary based on what you want to sample. More info here.
20 March: Vintage Market will put on a 70’s themed flea market. Get ready for Flower Power and DJ sets while doing your spring shopping from 12 pm to 8 pm at the Quirinetta.
Ongoing Exhibits:
Botero: 27 paintings and 34 drawings by Columbian artist Fernando Botero are now on show in Rome. The theme of the works completed between 2010 and 2011 follow is “The Way of the Cross. The Passion of Christ.” Appropriate for the Jubilee Year, no? You can visit through 1 May at Palazzo delle Esposizioni.
Tale of Costumes: There is still time for fashion lovers to visit LV. Through 31 March, Louis Vuitton has opened a new exhibit at its flagship stores in Rome and Venice. Located in Rome’s Spazio Etoile, the show is focused on movie costume design. Perfect if you were looking for a “cultural” excuse to visit Louis Vuitton!
Toulouse-Lautrec: A collection of works created by the French artist between 1891 and 1900 on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. The show is being held at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis, in the nuovo spazio espositivo Ara Pacis. Tickets are €11 for the exhibit alone, or €17 for the exhibit plus entrance to the Ara Pacis. On through 8 May 2016.
Awesome info here! Just want i was looking for
Thanks!
what*
My understanding is that the new year was moved from from March 1 to January 1 in 153 b.c., not in 45 b.c., so Caesar is not responsible.
March 1 was the new year to coincide with the election of the consuls. But during the wars in Spain following the 2nd punic war, consuls found it hard to rustle up troops via the year’s legio and still make it to Spain for the fighting season, so the consular elections were moved up to January 1 so that the consuls had time to get it together.
Makes sense that originally the new year began with spring, and not the dead of winter.
Ah- interesting! Thanks!