On December 24, Pope Francis opened the first Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica, inaugurating the Jubilee. This door, bearing 15 bas-relief panels recounting the story of man's redemption, is the most symbolic, marking the launch of the Jubilees since the year 1500. Rome also offers four other holy doors: those of the three other major basilicas...

Rome is on a lot of people’s minds this year. That’s because 2025 is a Jubilee year, a Holy Year for Catholics that takes place every quarter of a century. Millions of Catholics from every corner of the planet will be making a pilgrimage to the Eternal City (and, of course, Vatican City) to show their devotion and piety. One of the Jubilee traditio...

Water has always been an integral part of Rome’s landscape and culture from its ancient aqueducts and Imperial baths to its majestic Renaissance and Baroque fountains commissioned by her ruling popes, and since the mid-19th century, her “nasoni”, or drinking fountains. Thus, thanks to her over 2,000 fountains–plus some 2,500 nasoni–today Rome, appr...

There is no better place than Italy to celebrate love: its timeless charm, cities rich in history, breathtaking landscapes, and irresistible cuisine make it the perfect destination for a romantic experience. Valentine's Day is the ideal occasion to be enchanted by its beauty, rediscover the magic of unique scenery, and create unforgettable moments...

Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel site, recently released its Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Destination Awards based on millions of reviews from travelers worldwide over the past 12 months. This year they added a new category: The Best Food Destinations and Rome is top of the list. According to Tripadvisor, the city's piazzas, open-air m...

Extraordinary discovery at the Unesco site of Tarquinia, where archaeologists have found a new painted chamber tomb: the paintings on the walls show dance and workshop scenes. The discovery dates back to late 2022, although it was announced by the Viterbo Superintendency only in the last few hours. It all begins during an inspection by the Soprinte...

Rome authorities this month opened a new archaeological park and museum in the shadow of the Colosseum that features an original marble map of Ancient Rome that visitors can literally walk over. The opening of the Archaeological Park of the Celio and the new Museum of the Forma Urbis is part of a bigger project to develop the hilly area around the...

In 2024, Italian airport traffic reached a new record, with 219,078,618 passengers passing through national airports, marking an 11.1% increase compared to 2023. This figure not only highlights a significant post-pandemic recovery but also surpasses pre-COVID levels, restoring traffic distribution to 2019 values: two-thirds of travelers opted for...

Rome may be the heart of the Jubilee Year celebrations, but just 90 minutes away lies a hidden gem steeped in religious history: Viterbo. Known as the “City of Popes,” this charming town in northern Lazio served as a papal refuge during turbulent times and played a pivotal role in shaping church traditions, including the papal conclave. With the ma...

One of the earliest European printed books was a tourist guide to Rome. Ranging from information on ancient ruins, fallen temples and classical bathhouses to the place where an emperor “saw a vision in the sky”, Mirabilia Urbis Romae (Marvels of the City of Rome) was written in Latin in the early 12th century. The popular text was reproduced in doz...