I am planning a trip to Rome in April 2009. I was wondering if the Easter crowds are generally around before or after Easter? I was looking to arrive late in the week after Easter.

The week before Easter has the most foreign tourists. I believe Easter Monday is also a holiday. Your plan to arrive late in the week after Easter is a good one.

The week leading to Easter is called Holy Week. This is a very popular time for pilgrims to visit Rome.

After Easter you will find the city more relaxing. Here is a nice video of things to do around Easter time in Rome:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=339

I don't know about that; we were in Rome at the end of Holy Week in 2006 and I have never seen so many people; families, school groups, tours with the flag leaders, etc. I think that many people have vacation for Holy Week and it ends at the second weekend. We had a wonderful time but it was very crowded, and surprisingly hot for early April.

I don't want to hijack the original poster's post but I have nearly the same issue. My wife and I will be in Italy from March 29th through April 7 of next year. We had planned on going to Tuscany up front and finishing in Rome (we are into and out of Rome). However, the 7th is the Tuesday after Easter Monday (before Easter). In everyone's experience, how crowded will Rome be? We are planning on staying away from the Vatican but are all parts of Rome affected? Even though it doesn't work as well with our schedule would it be better to start in Rome and finish in Tuscany?

Rome starts getting really crowded by the middle of March(all of the college kids begin going on their spring breaks around then)so be prepared for crowds no matter how far away it is from Easter.

This time of year is difficult as other posters have said there are parties out during school holidays. In addition in Italy April 25 is a public holiday Liberation Day and then May 1 and so on. While much will be open it is quite busy with others on holiday.

We're facing the same Easter issue, however we are under the impression that Easter is on April 12. Is Easter on April 5 or April 12? We arrive in Rome on Monday, April 13, spending one night (Best Western Hotel Canada) and then heading to Capri.

Easter is on April 12th, 2009.