Oh hello, Spring. It is good to see you. While we begin to toy with the idea of putting our winter coats away, the longer days have brought plenty of April 2018 events in Rome.
The month kicks off with Easter, which is a big deal in these parts. The main show will be at the Vatican, but it is also a long weekend that sees many locals leave the city. It is also the month of birthdays (both mine and Rome’s) so why not celebrate with a gelato festival in the final days of April?
Get out there and enjoy everything there is to do!
April 2018 Events in Rome
1 April: Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua! Today is a holiday in Italy so expect even more closures than usual for a Sunday.
1 April: Want to brunch in style? Doney Restaurant on Via Veneto is holding as Easter brunch. There will even be opera singers to top off the already lovely setting. The meal is €60 (including wine). Children up to 12 years of age are €25.
2 April: Because Easter Sunday is not enough, today is Easter Monday in Italy also known as Pasquetta. Schools, government offices, and many businesses will remain closed while most people head to the countryside for a rustic lunch or picnic. It is the perfect time for a day trip from Rome.
4-10 April: Rendevous – a film festival dedicated to new French films will be taking place at different theaters throughout Rome. A full schedule is here.
8 April: The city streets will be taken over by the Rome Marathon today! Even if you are not going to run the full course, there is still time to join the fun run.
9 April: Get your wine and your art on with a night of painting via Art with Lauren at Alembic bar in Trastevere. Here is a look at that time I tried it out.
12 April: The Bittersweet Life Podcast will broadcast a live show from The Beehive.
13 April: Lana del Rey is performing in Rome at the Palalottomattica.
13-15 April: The 68th edition of the Sagra del Carciofo Romano (artichoke festival) will take place in Ladispoli. It is one of the best local festivals near Rome.
14 April – 12 May: Every weekend from mid-April to mid-May the Outdoor Festival returns to Rome. This year, the festival is moving to the Mattatoio in Testaccio (which is very convenient for me, thankyouverymuch Outdoor Festival). Dedicated to exploring urban culture, there are various events and installations dedicated to art, music, and television. There are also various markets spread across the weekends. More information here.
21 April: It is Rome’s birthday! Rome turns 2,771 years young today. Celebrate with a free visit to the city museums. This is also the first day that Rome’s rose garden reopens.
21 April: Celebrate the Roman birthday with a Roman evening and a pop up dinner. Domenico and Sofie of The Eatery in Rome will be cooking a delicious dinner in a secret location with Talea Events.
21 April: Or you can celebrate with a trip to the market. Testaccio Market will have its first Open Day of 2018 – which means the market stays open until midnight. Stop by for a glass of wine, live music, street food and Italian bbq.
21 April: Or head to the Otherwise Bookshop near Piazza Navona to celebrate the new book from Flavia of Which Way to Rome.
22 April: Join author Chelsea Hodson who will read from her upcoming book of essays Tonight I’m Someone Else, along with other writers for a literary evening at the Otherwise Bookshop.
25 April: Today is a public holiday because it is Liberation Day in Italy. Expect some businesses and all government offices to close. There will be lots of political speeches and some ralliees. Public transportation will still run but will be on a limited schedule.
27 April – 1 May: 100 artists will take over the already lovely street of Via Margutta in central Rome for an exhibition known as Cento Pittori.
28 April – 1 May: The Gelato Festival returns to the Pincio Terrace. One ticket allows you to taste every flavor and then vote for your favorite.
Ongoing April Exhibits in Rome
Monet: Due to its popularity, the show of Monet’s beautiful impressionist paintings has been extended. You now have until 3 June to see the 60 works from Paris’ Musée Marmottan Monet at the Vittoriano.
Citazioni pratiche: Fornasetti a Palazzo Altemps: A gorgeous exhibit of over 800 items from the Fornsetti design archives is currently on display at the already lovely Palazzo Altemps until May 6, 2018.
Magnum Manifesto: The Ara Pacis is hosting a photography exhibit highlighting the most historically poignant photos from 70 years of Magnum photojournalism archives. The exhibit will run through June 3rd.
Canaletto: From April 11 – August 19 Palazzo Braschi will host a retrospective of Venetian artist Canaletto. The exhibit will include 68 works by Canaletto to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his death.
This post will be updated as more information about April 2018 events in Rome becomes available.
Thanks so much for sharing tomorrow’s event, Natalie! How thoughtful of you. Much appreciated.
A presto, spero!
Flavia