What’s on in Rome this month?

International sports competitions, marathons, archaeological sites and temporary exhibitions. There’s so much to do in Rome this March 2023!

Without wasting a lot of time, let’s dive into these super exciting things to explore in the city! 🤩

Things to do in Rome in March 2023

March 9th – Santa Francesca Romana, the most Roman of the women saints

On March 9th in Rome we celebrate Santa Francesca Romana, the patron saint of the city together with St Peter and St Paul. She is the most Romans of the women saint. For this occasion, on March 9th, the monastery founded by Santa Francesca Romana is open to visitors. This is the only day of the year to visit this mystical place and admire the incredible 1400s frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano, describing the episodes of Santa Francesca Romana’s life.

This is in the Monastery of Tor de’ Specchi in via del Teatro Marcello 32.

Ides of March – the last day of Julius Caesar (March 15th)

This year you’ll see Ancient Rome right before your eyes!

The “Gruppo Storico Romano” will show a representation with actors and realistic costumes of the time, of the assassination of Julius caesar on the Ides of March.

On March 15th (Ides of March) about 100 actors in accurate ancient Roman clothes, will reenact the last moments of Julius caesar, right in the very places where history was made. 

The event will start at 2PM in Largo di Torre Argentina (where the assassination took place). It will then continue through via dei Fori Imperiali. And it will then finish inside the Roman Forum, by the Temple of the Divine Julius Caesar, where there will be a representation of the funeral of Caesar and the famous speech by Marc Anthony, which inspired Shakespeare for his Julius Caesar tragedy.

Please note this event will be in Italian and that to see the ending part of the representation in the Roman Forum, you need to purchase the entry ticket to the Roman Forum (on the Colosseum official website).

More info about the Gruppo Storico Romano here: https://www.gruppostoricoromano.it/event/idi-di-marzo-5/

Catacombs day – March 18th

Every year, the catacombs open their doors to visitors for free. This year the day is March 18th and you can visit for free many of the catacombs of Rome, which are among the most ancient catacombs in the world. Visits will be for free, but you better book in advance, as there’s very high demand. For more info on how to book check the official website: https://www.giornatadellecatacombe.it/en/sixth-giornata-delle-catacombe/

Want to experience something adventurous? We offer guided tours of the Catacombs combined with the Appian way (in small groups!). Learn more here

Guinness Six Nations Rugby 2023 in Rome – March 11th

From February 4th to March 18th there will be the Six Nations championship for 2023, where we’ll see Italy, England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales playing for the trophy! Some of the matches will take place in Rome and we thought you didn’t want to miss this really cool thing to do in Rome this March!

The matches that will take place in Rome are:

February 5th: Italy-France

February 25th: Italy – Ireland

March 11th: Italy – Wales

More info: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/

Are you looking to make your Rome trip special? Are you looking for something fun, unique, personal? Our in person experiences grew from the legacy of our media content online. We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Check our private and semi-private experiences here

Taste the Bignè of San Giuseppe on March 19th

On March 19th we celebrate Father’s day and there is a specific dessert that we traditionally eat today: the Bignè of San Giuseppe! These are cream puff which carry the name of St Joseph.

This tradition starts from Ancient Rome. On March 17th the ancient Romans used to celebrate the Liberalia, a pagan festivity when the ancient Roman boys became adults. On this occasion the ancient Romans ate pancakes with honey.

Later on the Christians turned this pagan festivity into the Christian festivity of St Joseph and moved it to March 19th. Through the centuries the pancakes evolved and they become this delicious bignè filled with cream and vanilla: the Bignè of San Giuseppe.

If you’re in Rome in March, you must stop at a pastry shop and try one of these!

The blessing of the cars at the Colosseum – March 12th

As we mentioned above, on March 9th we celebrate Santa Francesca Romana, the patron saint of Rome. She is also considered to be the protector of the drivers. So traditionally there is a mass taking place at 10:30AM in the church of Santa Francesca Romana (very close to the Colosseum), followed by the blessing of the cars, which for the occasion will be parked by the Colosseum, in the area of the Arch of Constantine. If you have a car and would like to participate, you need to write at this email address: corrispondenza@acroma.it and communicate you details and car plate number.

When Rome was a Republic – exhibition at the Musei Capitolini

This exhibit at the Capitoline Museums tries to give an overview about the transformation of the Roman society across 5 centuries, from the beginning of the Republic to the birth of the Empire. In case you didn’t know the Roman legacy started first as a monarchy, then it became a Republic, to the become an empire. This exhibit focuses on the Republican period, to give you an idea, the times of Cicero, Caesar and so on..

Majority of the artifacts which you can see in this exhibition are usually not visible to the public, because they are usually kept in the deposits (did you know that the deposits are sometimes more crowded of artifacts than the museums themselves?!).

This exhibit started on January 13th and will last until September 24th. More info here: https://www.museicapitolini.org/en/node/1012211

This exhibition can be perfectly combined with the “Wonders of the Capitoline hill” itinerary included in our Video Guide.

Van Gogh exhibition in Palazzo Bonaparte

This exhibition has been extended until May!

March 23rd 2023 will be the last day to visit this exhibition that we loved so much. Palazzo Bonaparte since last October hosted an incredible exhibition dedicated to Van Gogh and his works.

The exhibition includes 50 Van Gogh artworks, including Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, as well as documentation of Van Gogh biography.  

The exhibition takes place in Palazzo Bonaparte, which used to be the residence of Napoleon’s mother in Rome.

Website: https://www.mostrepalazzobonaparte.it/mostra-van-gogh.php#

Get to know Medieval Rome, the unsung side of the Eternal city (extended until April 16th!)

Too often when visiting Rome we tend to focus on history moments such as Ancient Rome, Renaissance and Baroque. And what about those centuries between the fall of the Roman Empire and the rebirth of the Renaissance? This March 2023 take the chance to discover the Medieval period, when Rome fought to stand back on its feet.

There are some marks of Medieval Rome around us, but not as much. Because the medieval ruins and buildings were considered something not valuable, and destroyed to either be replaced by something more modern, or to bring back to light the ancient Roman ruins.

This exhibit focuses on the medieval period of Rome, which characterized so much the way the city looks like today.

This exhibit was so good that it was extended until April 16th! (It was supposed to end in February). You can find it in the Museo di Roma of Palazzo Braschi, in Piazza Navona.

Website: https://www.museodiroma.it/en/node/1011574

The Colors of the Romans – mosaics in the Centrale Montemartini

This exhibition is absolutely incredible! We have to admit, we didn’t rush to go visit it, because we didn’t realize how incredible it was. When we saw it, we wondered why we have waited so long!

Without considering the beauty of this museum in itself (an old powerhouse with its black machines contrasting with the white marbles statues of ancient Rome: stunning!), you will be in total awe when your eye will discover the triumph of colors that the Romans put together in their mosaics between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD. It is unbelievable to imagine these mosaics were decorating houses where (wealthy) people conducted their everyday life.

Absolutely unmissable exhibition, which will run until March 12th in the Centrale Montemartini.

More info here: https://www.centralemontemartini.org/en/mostra-evento/colori-dei-romani-i-mosaici-dalle-collezioni-capitoline

Telepass RomaOstia Half Marathon – March 5th

How unique is to visit a city.. and run a marathon in it? Definitely not a standard tourist attraction!

On March 5th there will be the half-marathon, covering the distance between the EUR district of Rome and Ostia, the seaside of Rome.

The Roma-Ostia Half Marathon is one one of the most attended races on Italy. The route is mostly flat and it’s 21 kilometres long.

This half-marathon was inserted in the IAAF international and FIDAL national calendars, and it’s the only competition in Italy that features the prestigious World Athletics “Gold Label”.

For more info and to register, this is the link: https://www.romaostia.it/?lang=en

Run Rome The Marathon 2023 – March 19th

Another day another marathon. The date will be March 19th, and this time it will be a full marathon. What makes this particular marathon so amazing, is the background you’ll encounter incredible sights and iconic places of Rome. A proper race through history!

As per tradition, the race will be 42.195-kilometer long, and will take place in more than thirty historic sites. To mention some, via dei Fori Imperiali (where the start and finish line is), the Vittoriano, Piazza Venezia, Circus Maximus, Lungotevere, Castel Sant’Angelo, via della Conciliazione, St Peters’ square, Foro Italico, the Mosque, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona and via del Corso.

The competition is certified with the FIDAL Gold Label and the World Athletics Label.

To register to the marathon, visit the official website: https://www.runromethemarathon.com/

Frecce tricolore flying over Via dei Fori Imperiali – March 19th

It seems like the Run Rome the Marathon on March 19th will get a spectacular opening. In fact the Frecce Tricolore will be flying over via dei Fori Imperiali at the start of the marathon!

Live a unique experience with us!

If you want to make your March Rome trip special and looking for something fun, unique, personal… you’re in the right place!

Our in person experiences grew from the legacy of our media content online, meaning that we focus on discovering the authentic side of Rome. We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Our experiences include the hidden gems of Trastevere, Centro Storico and the heart of Ancient Rome. You can find them all here!