Easter in Rome, am I nuts??
 

Turns out I choose a very busy time to take my daughter to Europe, we will be in Rome Easter weekend.

I am not a big fan of crowds at all, am I S.O.L in hoping I can find some quiet areas to enjoy?

Yes, you are nuts! :)

No, seriously, I wouldn't go to Rome at Easter, unless you're a majorly devout Catholic & therefore are more patient/tolerant about the mob scene that you're inevitably going to have to deal with!

Maybe others here will have better news for you, though!

You can find quiet areas if you're willing to visit museums and churches which aren't the most famous major sights. Rome has so much to see that this isn't at all difficult. But if you're going to Rome for the first time you presumably will want to see the Trevi fountain, St Peter's, Pantheon, Vatican museums, Spanish steps etc, and yes, these will be busy.

On the other hand, I've never (in quite a lot of visits to Rome at different times of year) seen these top sights truly quiet. So you could take the approach that the crowds are going to annoy you whenever you go and psych yourself up to put up with them.

Make the most of it, after all you could not be in Rome which would be worse.

I was there on Palm Sunday a few years ago and it was exciting. You can always take a train day trip outside of town. Or have a picnic in Borghese gardens.

I was in Rome when the previous Pope died, and everything outside the Vatican was empty. And don't forget San Pietro has the capacity to hold, inside and out, several hundred thousand people, so even at its most crowded it's better than an NBA playoff.

My picks for keeping away from the worst of the crowds would be Trastevere, the Villa Borghese (make a reservation for the Galleria), the Jewish Ghetto (with the Portico d'Ottavia and the Campo di Fiore. The Forum can be surprisingly empty. If it all gets to be too much, take a day trip to Orvieto, Tivoli or Ostia Antica, depending on your personal interests, all less than an hour away.

Just drink alot of red wine and it won't be too painful? If you haven't been to Rome before-you might be over the edge sooner than later with the noise,crowds,lines,etc. I fly to Rome quite frequently for work and most of us who love Rome avoid it during the Easter season. Just use some of the other suggestions above to maximize your time there without alot of hassles. Good luck!

I was in Rome for an Easter. It wasn't all that crowded. You may find it very rainy though.

I was in Rome for Easter a few years ago and didn't find it that crowded either. If your not going to the Vatican on Easter Sunday I wouldn't worry about it. The evening before Sunday we happened to walk in on a small beautiful mass that was being held in the Pantheon (and observed that for a while - not crowded). Easter is not like in the US - people spend Easter sunday with family and don't parade around in their "Easter outfits" like in the US. We spent Easter Sunday at the Borghese gardens and there were a lot of kids around so my daughter had a great time (she was 10 at the time) - it will be great! Just bring small umbrellas and an extra pair of shoes.

So red wine it is...

Also like Sea Urchin says, I could NOT be in Rome, which would definitely be worse.

I am from the rainy Pacific Northwest, so will feel right at home if it rains.

Guess I will just tough it out and make a trip for us away from the Vatican, as I am very far from being Catholic.

Thank for the posts!

Hi threerohdes, although it was some time ago we were in Rome for two weeks which included Easter week and Easter Sunday and Monday. We did not attempt to go to the Vatican.

We had a lovely time, and we too went to the Borghese Gardens and had a lovely afternoon. I don't remember where we ate dinner but we did not have a problem finding a restaurant open, or getting a glass of wine or Compari when we wanted it.

You will not want to go to the Coloseum on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) as the Pope will be there as there will be the

Gads, I don't know my posts keep posting tonight before I am through typing. Anyway, as I was saying, there will be the Good Friday services at the Coloseum with a very large crowd.

Enjoy your time in beautiful Rome and I wish you lovely weather!

I have to say that Easter is one of my favorites times to be there- and I don't think the crowds will be too bad. The processions will be at night and will be intense (which I happen to like) but I think you have several good suggestions here for nice places to visit. The day after Easter (Pasquetta) is a big Holiday for many Italians, and is spent doing things liike having family picnics, so on that day you may find the parks more crowded than usual. Enjoy your visit!

The first time I went to Rome was at easter and there were a lot of people. I thought I was at a concert or something. However, Rome is so beautiful and you won't even mind.

Quite accidentally, I booked a trip to Italy at a remarkably low price yesterday ($530 from NYC to Rome...today they're $850!!). Of course, I didn't look at the calendar until after I purchased the ticket...I'll be arriving in Rome at 7:45 a.m. on Easter morning. I may stick around Rome for a day or two, or I may just dash out of town, as I need to make my way toward Bari for a wedding the following Saturday. Just wondering if it will dificult to get a hotel or dinner on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday. I'm assuming I can rule out shopping.

I don't think you are nuts. I have been to Italy at its worst when hordes are on trains, in museums, etc. I just try to fit in; like them, I am only a tourist. Enjoy Rome; I have also been granted leave and am making a bee-line for Rome - even if its crowed.