My husband, my two children (ages 10 and 13) and I will be in Rome in late June. I know that Wednesday, June 29 is St. Peter & St. Paul Day, and that some things will be closed that day. I am trying to plan what we will do that day and would like to know more specifically what exactly will be closed that day. Will the Colosseum and the Forum be closed? Will most museums be closed? Will restaurants be closed? Will parks be closed? Thanks in advance for help anyone can give me. - Molly

Ask your hotel.

I'll be in Rome the same day and this is the first I've heard of it. I guess I'll have to ask my hotel too.

"I know....that some things will be closed..."

Where did you get this information??????

The Feast of St. Peter and Paul is only a holiday in the city of Rome, not a national holiday. They are the patron saints of the city. City offices are closed but that's about it. Go to the Vatican as this one of the few times the Pope celebrates a public Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) will be closed. Otherwise business as usual.
Papal Mass will take place at 9.30 am in St Peter's with the blessing and imposition of palliums to archbishops.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I read about St. Peter & St. Paul Day in my Fodor's book, I think, as well as in the Fodor's kid book. They both made it sound like a lot is closed. As it happens, yesterday I met an American who is a priest at Santa Susanna in Rome (the American Catholic church in Rome), and he told me that churches will be closed, and it's a holiday for most Italians in Rome, and probably a good day to hang out at Villa Borghese. - Molly

We were in Rome for that holiday in 2001. I found many of the small shops were closed, but otherwise the holiday did not seem to affect our sightseeing.

cw

We will be in Rome on this date for the specific reason of attending the Mass celebrated by the Pope. The Mass may or may not be in the square, it might be in the Basilica itself...depending on weather. Most of Vatican city will be closed to tourists on this day in preparation for the Mass that takes place at 6:00 pm and is BY INVITATION ONLY. Other churches in Rome will also be closed, but non-religious sites are open.