Rome in April will delight you with comfortable warm weather and the full feeling of spring. Flowers and blossoming trees are the best decoration of the landscape (you will definitely take many wonderful photos against the backdrop of wisteria with its flowing delicate purple tassels). And the abundance of sunny days will encourage you to visit Rome’s many parks.
Easter week (Settimana Santa) is a popular vacation and school vacation time in Italy. In 2023, Catholic Easter falls on April 9, so there may be quite a lot of tourists in the city. It is better to take care of booking excursions and hotel reservations in advance, especially if you want to stay close to the Vatican.
In any case, Rome in April will be an excellent choice, because at this time there are quite a lot of events in the city, and the most important of them is the Birthday of Rome with costume processions and theatrical performances.
Table of Contents:
1. Weather in Rome in April
2. How to Dress in Rome in April
3. Holidays in Rome in April
4. What to Do in Rome in April
1. Weather in Rome in April
The weather in Rome in April is spring-like warm, with plenty of clear sunny days. But it is also deceptively spring-like. While the sun can warm up during the day, the evenings are still quite cool.
Some days you may want to take off your outerwear and walk around in a T-shirt, and some days you may want to wrap yourself up from head to toe against the wind and rain. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and don’t let the blue spring skies and bright sunshine fool you – warm clothes can still come in handy in April.
Either way, Rome is wonderful in the spring. There is no stifling summer heat yet, and the winter months with their rain and even snow are long gone (yes, it happens, in 2018 it snowed in Rome at the end of February!).
Spring is finally taking hold, and the days are getting longer and longer after the start of astronomical spring (March 21 – the day of the vernal equinox). You will be lucky enough to see the Eternal City at the most beautiful time of the year, with blossoming trees and flowers everywhere.
- Average daily temperature in Rome in April is +19°C/°66F
- Maximum daytime temperature in Rome in April is +23°C/°73F
- Minimum daytime temperature in Rome in April is +15°C/°59F
2. How to Dress in Rome in April
The weather in April is changeable – bright sunshine and almost summer heat, then cloudy skies and a noticeably cool breeze (especially at the beginning of the month). Therefore, in April you will still need jackets and raincoats, waterproof boots. Spare jeans and at least one warm sweater will not be superfluous in your suitcase either.
Don’t forget to bring your sunglasses, because in April the sun is already quite active, and walking around Rome with your eyes squinted won’t be so pleasant. A light scarf will also be useful – it will complete your image in the Roman manner, because many Romans wear scarves even in the summer months.
It also does not hurt to put an umbrella in your suitcase. But don’t worry if you forget or don’t want to take it: in almost every hotel you can borrow an umbrella for the rain or buy a cheap Chinese one from traders who always appear at the right moment.
3. Holidays in Rome in April
April 9 – Catholic Easter in Rome / Pasqua
Easter is the main Christian holiday, and therefore the main holiday in Italy, which traditionally has a large percentage of Catholic believers. Easter week according to the Catholic calendar in 2023 will last from April 2 to April 8.
Easter Sunday and Easter, or Bright Monday (Pasquetta, meaning “little Easter,” falls on April 10) are public holidays in Italy, so many banks, government offices, schools, post offices, and some restaurants may be closed. On Easter, the Colosseum and most other Roman museums operate on a regular or reduced schedule. The Vatican Museums are closed on Easter Sunday and the following day.
Easter cannot be described as a purely family holiday like Christmas. Italians even have a saying: “Natale con i tuoi e Pasqua con chi vuoi” (“Celebrate Christmas with your family and Easter with whomever you want”). For the Easter vacations, many Italians go to other cities and countries, travel, and spend time with friends. But many still spend time with family and get together to attend the Easter service at the nearest church.
When the children return from church, they search for giant chocolate eggs with surprises hidden around the house, and then the whole family sits down to a lavish meal as Easter marks the end of Lent. The festive feast can last into the night! The main decoration of the table is eggs, which are a symbol of resurrection and the beginning of a new life.
What do you eat for Easter in Italy?
- Agnello – lamb chops. In Lazio it is prepared with rosemary, red wine and garlic
- Carciofi e patate soffritti – roasted artichokes with potatoes. Artichokes are a traditional Roman food, and Easter is no exception
- Pasta or lasagna
- Colomba pasquale – traditional Easter pie in the shape of a dove with raisins and almonds.
- Chocolate eggs with a gift inside
- Ciabellone – a round cake with a crumbly and delicate texture.
At the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica hosts an all-night liturgy with the Pope on Saturday night (unfortunately, admission is by invitation only). The next morning at 10:00 a.m., a festive Mass will be held in the flower-decorated St. Peter’s Square (if you want to take part in this event, it’s best to arrive early). And at 12:00 Pope Francis will address the faithful of the world from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Cathedral with a solemn blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.
April 1 – Laughter Day, or Fool’s Day / Pesce d’aprile
Laughter Day in Italy, as in other countries, is associated with pranks and jokes. Interestingly, the name of the holiday from Italian literally translates as “April Fish”. On April 1, Italian mischief-makers attach a funny paper fish to the backs of their victims, which they paint with their own hands.
March 31, 2024 is the beginning of Easter or Holy Week in Catholicism / La Settimana santa
Easter Week, which commemorates the last days of Jesus Christ’s earthly journey, begins on the last Sunday before Easter. In 2024 Catholics celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (otherwise known as Palm Sunday) on March 24. In the AM, festivities with the Pope will take place in the cathedral and St. Peter’s Square, including a service, blessing of palm and olive branches, and a procession.
On Holy Thursday, the first day of the Easter Tridentine (March 28, 2024), the Pope’s address in St. Peter’s Square will take place in the morning. This day commemorates the Last Supper and the betrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the cathedrals, the bishops serve a special Mass of Consecration of the World. Priests during this Mass renew the vows they took at ordination. At 5:00-17:30 p.m., the pope serves Mass in Rome’s cathedral, the Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Lateran Hill. On this day, the faithful try to visit as many churches as possible, which will be decorated with flowers for the upcoming feast.
Good Friday (March 29, 2024) commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the removal of his body from the cross and his burial. According to tradition, at about 9 p.m. in the Roman Colosseum the service of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) begins, recreating in the memory of Christians the main moments of the suffering of the cross of Jesus Christ. The Via Crucis service, led by the Pope, is a torchlight procession consisting of 14 risings (episodes of the last day of Christ’s earthly life, from condemnation to death to burial), during each of which a prayer is said.
On March 30, 2024, Holy Saturday, at 8:30 PM, a Papal Mass and the Easter Vigil will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Catholic Easter in 2023 is celebrated on April 1st. Be prepared for large crowds throughout Easter week in Rome and the Vatican. Also on Easter and the day after Easter, many restaurants, banks and government offices may be closed.
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other museums and archaeological sites are generally open on a regular schedule (except for the Vatican Museums, which are closed on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday).
April 21 – Rome’s Birthday / Natale di Roma
According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus on April 21, 753 B.C. That is, on Thursday, April 21, 2023, Rome will be 2776 years old! The birthday of the Eternal City is celebrated on a grand scale, with a return to the time of its highest splendor and prosperity, i.e. the ancient era.
In the historic center on Via Fori Imperiali, costumed festive processions are held with members of the Gruppo Storico Romano, who also participate in a theatrical reenactment of scenes from Rome’s history on the grounds of the Grand Circus (Circo Massimo).
People dressed in costumes of vestal women, legionaries and gladiators will be seen on the streets of the city from April 20 to 23, 2023. The program of events for 2023 can be seen on the official website.
At noon on April 21 (the only day of the year!), you can see an unusual effect when the column of light entering the Pantheon through the oculus (hole in the dome) moves exactly to the doorway. This effect was used by Roman emperors to amaze the citizens of the empire: entering the temple at a certain time, the emperor, illuminated by the dazzling rays of the sun, resembled a deity (as he was considered to be in the ancient era).
Also for the birthday of Rome, the streets and squares of the Eternal City are decorated with flower pots, which will remain in their places until the end of spring. The Spanish Steps, decorated with pink azaleas, look especially luxurious. Romantic photos against the background of azaleas and the famous staircase will definitely get a lot of likes on your social networks.
April 25 – Day of Liberation from Fascism in Italy / Festa della Liberazione
The Day of Liberation from Fascism is a national holiday in Italy. It marks the end of Nazi occupation during World War II and the overthrow of the fascist regime (Benito Mussolini was shot dead 3 days later, on April 28).
Schools, banks and government offices are closed on this day, but museums and other tourist sites are usually open. In the morning, a festive procession of the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI) will take place from the Colosseum to Porta San Paolo (Pyramid Metro).
4. What to Do in Rome in April
Free museum admission days
The free admission day to public museums (except the Vatican Museums) is the first Sunday of each month, which in April 2023 falls on the 2nd. Museums and archaeological areas such as the Thermae of Caracalla, Galleria Borghese, Palazzo Barberini, Ostia Antica, etc. can be visited free of charge. The free day to visit Vatican museums in April 2028 is April 28 from 9 AM to 2 PM (last Sunday of the month).
On April 21, Rome’s birthday, visiting municipal museums is free! For example, these include Trajan’s Market and the Imperial Forum Museum, Villa Torlonia, the Capitoline Museums, the Altar of Peace Museum, the MACRO Museum of Modern Art and others.
Taste Seasonal Roman Products and Dishes
April is still the season for artichokes, which will remain on the shelves until May. Try the popular Roman appetizer – roasted artichokes roasted to golden brown (sarciofi alla giudia) or artichokes romana (sarciofi alla romana) with mint, lemon and garlic.
In April there is a traditional artichoke festival in Ladispoli, a town near Rome on the Tyrrhenian coast. For Romans who love artichokes, this is a great gastronomic event that lasts for three days.
If you want to try an authentic Roman dish associated with spring, vignarola is the best. It is a stew made of vegetables such as peas, beans and artichokes, as well as young onions and mint. Vignarola is an old country dish originating from the town of Velletri, which is located in the hills of Castelli Romani near Rome. Vignarola can be eaten alone or as a side dish to meat and fish dishes, as a frittata (omelet), as a vegetable addition to pasta, or even as a soup if you add broth to the vegetable mixture.
As for traditional holiday treats, one can’t help but think of the giant chocolate Easter eggs that will fill the windows of every pastry shop in Rome. Often these eggs are sold with a mini gift inside. It is also customary to eat colomba pasquale, a traditional Italian Easter cake in the shape of a dove.
Picnic in One of Rome’s Parks
Rome in April offers plenty of days with clear, sunny weather. Spend one of them in the same place where the Romans themselves relax – in the lap of nature, in one of Rome’s many parks.
There are many ideas: you can rent bicycles or a whole bicycle car for the family, take a boat ride on a picturesque lake, have a picnic, not forgetting to bring a bottle of wine and plaids (after all, in April it can still be quite chilly).
A list of Rome’s most popular parks:
- Villa Borghese Park
- Villa Doria Pamphili Park
- Villa Torlonia Park
- Villa Celimontana Park
- Park on the Appian Way
- The orange orchard on the Aventine
Visit Rome’s public rose garden (Roseto Comunale)
The Rose Garden is a green oasis near the historic center of Rome, where 1,100 varieties of roses are planted! The garden officially opens in May, but actually starts on April 21 on Rome’s Birthday (admission is free).
At the end of April, the roses are not yet in full bloom, but the garden itself is quiet, beautiful and peaceful. It’s also close to the Aventine Hill, which offers a gorgeous panoramic view of Rome and is home to the famous secret keyhole where you can “peek” at the Tri-State area.
What Else to Do in Rome in April
- Go on an evening tour of the Vatican (every Friday from April to October the Vatican Museums are open extra hours)
- Learn the secrets of making delicious Roman pizza at a master class led by a pizzaiolo
- Attend a real gladiator school
- Take a ride through the streets of the Eternal City in a legend of the Italian car industry Ferrari or a stylish vintage car
- Visit the picturesque national park near Rome, Castelli Romani, enjoy prosecco with strawberries and picturesque views of ancient volcanic lakes.
