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Curiosity
Eva Santini’s guide: Discovering Rome beyond the Jubilee
by Ilaria Solazzo The 2025 Jubilee is drawing to a close, bringing with it the conclusion of an experience that has involved millions of people around the world. But it is not only a religious event: it is also an opportunity to rediscover Rome, intertwining spiritual pilgrimage with the curiosity of travel. For this reason, the author of the new guide wanted to create not just a simple list of places to visit, but a travel companion—one that invites readers to reflect and explore the Eternal City in an authentic and profound way. In the interview, she shares the motivations that led her to write this book, the challenges of research, and the logistical difficulties faced by pilgrims. With a style that blends spirituality and practicality, the guide offers a complete experience: faith, history, art, and daily life, showing how Rome continues to speak even beyond the Jubilee. “The Jubilee is a parenthesis, an opportunity to look within,” the author says. But Rome, with its millennia-old history, always remains an invitation to reflect and to be moved. From this insight, the book was born: to be pilgrims of hope, but also curious travelers, at any time of the year. The chosen itineraries are not limited to the traditional pilgrimage routes; they also lead to lesser-known and evocative corners, encouraging a more intimate experience of the city. In addition to spiritual stops, the author included practical advice on transportation, lodging, and accessible routes, making the guide usable for everyone and available in multiple formats—print and digital. A tool not only for the Jubilee, but also for anyone who wishes to discover Rome in all its dimensions. In the interview, the author discusses the meaning of the Holy Year, her choice of itineraries, and the spiritual dimension she wanted to convey. She also reveals the birth of a new project: a book dedicated to the memory of Pope Francis—not a continuation of the guide, but a tribute to his figure and teachings. Read the full interview to discover her unique approach to narrating Rome, the Jubilee, and the thread of hope that ties them together. What inspired you to write a guide about the Jubilee, and what significance does this event hold for you?I felt the need to offer a tool that was useful and practical, but also went beyond a simple tourist guide. The Jubilee is an extraordinary occasion, of course, but Rome never ceases to speak, even beyond such events. For me, the Jubilee is a parenthesis in which the city—and those who visit it—have the chance to look within. The guide was born from this insight: to be pilgrims of hope, but also curious travelers, at any time of the year. In your book, which aspects of the Jubilee do you consider most meaningful for pilgrims preparing to live this experience?Certainly the symbols—the Holy Door, the pilgrimage to the Basilicas, the experience of forgiveness—but also the dimension of encounter. The Jubilee places you alongside millions of people, but those same stages and places remain significant even when they are not crowded: St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, St. Mary Major are not only Jubilee destinations, they are treasures of faith and art that always speak. Did you encounter any difficulties in gathering all the necessary information to create a complete and accurate guide?The greatest challenge was managing the sheer volume of information—official, historical, and practical sources. Rome is complex and constantly changing, especially during the Jubilee. I tried to create a guide that would be reliable for those participating in the Holy Year, but that would remain useful afterwards as well, as a travel companion for discovering the Eternal City. How did you choose the itineraries and stops to include in the book? Were they based on historical traditions, spiritual aspects, or other motivations?I sought a balance. Some itineraries follow the tradition of pilgrimage, such as the route of the Seven Churches; others are born from a more “civil” curiosity: neighborhoods, monuments, and hidden corners that deserve to be known beyond the Jubilee. In this sense, the guide is not just a manual for the Holy Year, but a permanent invitation to experience Rome from different perspectives. What are the main logistical challenges a pilgrim may face during the Jubilee, and how can your book help them overcome these?Crowds, waiting times, transportation: Rome is splendid but requires patience and organization. I wanted to give practical advice on transport, accommodation, and accessible routes. And these tips are just as valid in ordinary times: anyone visiting Rome must come to terms with its grandeur and complexities. The Jubilee is a deeply religious event. How did you balance the spiritual aspects with the practical information in your guide?I didn’t want to write either a purely devotional guide or a mere tourist manual. I sought a tone capable of uniting both dimensions: the reader can use it to prepare spiritually for the Jubilee, but also to visit Rome at any other time, finding history, art, and curiosities that speak to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. What do you hope readers will take away from your book? Are there messages or reflections you wish to convey beyond simple information?I hope the book will be an encouragement to set out on a journey—in the broadest sense possible. Not only toward Rome and its churches, but also toward oneself. And I hope it becomes clear that hope—the theme of the 2025 Jubilee—is a daily attitude, not tied only to an extraordinary event. If a reader uses this guide for the Jubilee or for a simple vacation in Rome and comes away with greater trust and curiosity, I will have achieved my goal. Do you plan to write more guides on religious or spiritual themes, or was the Jubilee a unique subject in your literary work?The Jubilee was a unique theme, unrepeatable in its scope and atmosphere. I am not thinking of a series of guides, but rather of projects that have meaning and are born from authentic
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Actuality
Jubilee 2025: Final countdown, what remains and what lies ahead
On December 24, 2024, with the solemn opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee of 2025. Since then, Rome has been transformed into a great crossroads of pilgrims, tourists, volunteers, and workers, becoming the beating heart of an event that is not only religious, but also cultural, social, and urban. It is time to take stock and look ahead to what awaits us until the closing of the Holy Door on January 6, 2026. A beginning marked by great participationThe first weeks highlighted the powerful appeal of this Holy Year: St. Peter’s Square overflowing with faithful from around the world, and a city welcoming millions of visitors. After the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s, the subsequent openings of the other three papal basilicas — St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — symbolically marked the start of the Jubilee pilgrimage. Among the most memorable moments was undoubtedly the Youth Jubilee, held during the summer: more than one million young people from 140 countries filled Rome with songs, flags, prayers, and cultural exchanges. It was an important test for the organizational machinery, tasked with handling massive crowds without paralyzing the city. Events for everyone: from volunteers to prisonersThe Jubilee calendar has been designed to embrace all aspects of society. Not only major religious gatherings, but also days dedicated to volunteers, the sick, artists, law enforcement, as well as the poor and prisoners. A choice that reflects the motto of this Holy Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”: no one should feel excluded, and every social group finds a moment to be at the center. In the coming weeks, attention will focus on some particularly anticipated events: the Jubilee of the Poor, the Jubilee of Choirs, and the Jubilee of Prisoners. These occasions, alongside their spiritual dimension, also offer collective moments of reflection on issues such as solidarity, inclusion, and human dignity. Rome between construction sites and hospitalityThe Jubilee is not only about religious celebrations. It is also an opportunity for urban transformation. For this Holy Year, the city administration and the government allocated nearly two billion euros for projects ranging from road maintenance to public lighting, from the restyling of squares to mobility infrastructure. Not everything is running smoothly: some construction sites have slowed traffic, and the schedule is tight. But the message is clear: the Jubilee must leave Rome with a tangible legacy of improved infrastructure and more efficient services. Alongside the physical works is hospitality. Parishes, schools, gyms, and families have mobilized to host pilgrims, especially during large gatherings such as the Youth Jubilee. This model of widespread hospitality highlights the city’s community spirit and helps ease the burden on hotels and accommodations. Culture and spirituality hand in handRome has not forgotten its cultural vocation. Alongside liturgical celebrations, museums, exhibitions, and artistic events offer parallel itineraries that tell the story of the city and its heritage. From the Vittoriano to the Vatican Museums, from smaller churches to the streets of working-class neighborhoods, the Jubilee is also an aesthetic and cultural journey. Awaiting the closing of the Holy DoorThe Jubilee path will culminate on January 6, 2026, with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s, the rite that will officially mark the end of the Holy Year. Until then, Rome will continue to serve as a living laboratory of spirituality, culture, and urban innovation. The challenge is twofold: to keep organizational standards high while ensuring that the fruits of this effort remain with the city long after the event. A provisional assessmentIf we were to make an assessment today, Jubilee 2025 appears as a technically successful event which, aside from the Youth Jubilee, has not yet reached the level of participation that was expected. Logistical difficulties and pressure on infrastructure and services remain, but the atmosphere so far has been one of a Rome that — despite construction, challenges, and complexity — is eager to welcome the world and prove itself worthy of an appointment that marks its history, and of the major events it hopes to host in the future.
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Events
Rome Beyond the Walls 1883–1960: Itineraries between agricultural heritage and industrial innovation
Starting from June 7th until October 25th, 2025, Art Sharing Roma ETS launches a program aimed at rediscovering the recent history of Rome through storytelling and exploration of the city’s industrial and natural heritage. The focus is on Rome’s industrialized outskirts—areas that have lost part of their identity and are often seen either as commuter zones or trendy nightlife districts. The original agricultural vocation and early industrial history of these places have largely been erased by overdevelopment. Nevertheless, many areas still retain significant urban, architectural, and natural value—hidden gems waiting to be rediscovered. The program, running from late spring through early autumn, features 12 events in total: 6 conference meetings with scholars, experts, and special guests held at the association’s headquarters (MUN XII), with LIS sign language interpreters available. 6 guided and dramatized walks through various districts. Each tour features licensed guides—specialized in slow, sustainable tourism—and two actors from the company Argillateatri – The Way to the Indies, who will perform excerpts inspired by literature related to the featured neighborhoods. All events are free of charge and open to anyone interested in Rome and its history. The conference venue is accessible at street level with no architectural barriers, while the walks vary in difficulty. Full details for each event can be found at👉 https://artsharingroma.it/roma-1883-1960/including event-by-event information sheets and public transport directions. The website also features: Audio descriptions of each route for visually impaired visitors, narrated by Gianluca Esposito Reading suggestions with direct links to book listings available for loan through the Libraries of Rome network, curated in collaboration with Monteverde Attiva’s Public Reading Lab A printable A3 map of the routes, available for self-guided exploration The project, promoted by Roma Capitale – Department of Culture, is a winner of the Artes et Iubilaeum – 2025 Public Call, funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, as part of the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), measure M1C3 – Investment 4.3 – Caput Mundi, and is carried out in collaboration with SIAE. 🗓 PRACTICAL INFORMATION Rome Beyond the Walls: 1883–1960. Itineraries Between Agricultural Heritage and Industrial InnovationA project by Art Sharing Roma ETS, in collaboration with The Way to the Indies ETS and Monteverde Attiva ETSScientific coordinators: Penelope Filacchione and Maria Rosa Patti Reservations are required for all events:📧 artsharing.roma@gmail.com | 📞/📲 +39 338 9409180 (phone & WhatsApp)Participation is always free 📚 Conference Calendar (Saturdays at 5:30 PM – Via Giulio Tarra 64) June 7: The Immigration of the Brickmakers June 21: The Valley of the Casali September 6: Magliana September 20: The Via Ostiense, from the General Warehouses to San Paolo October 4: Bullicante Lake and the SNIA Viscosa factory October 18: The MandrioneAccessible by buses 31, 33, 44, and 773 – LIS interpreter present 🚶♂️ Guided Walks with Dramatic Readings June 14: The Brickmakers’ Hamlet June 28: The Valley of the Casali and Forte Bravetta September 13: The Tiber Embankment at Magliana – Pian due Torri September 27: River Port to the Basilica of Saint Paul October 11: The Park of Energy (Parco delle Energie) October 25: The MandrioneEach walk includes licensed guides and professional actors from Argillateatri Meeting points and public transport directions are available on the map and website:👉 https://artsharingroma.it/roma-1883-1960/ Communications Manager: Art Sharing RomaPress Office: Andrea Cavazzini – 📧 press@quartapareteroma.it – 📲 +39 329 4131346Social Media Manager: art a part of cult(ure)Graphic Design: Tania RussoWebmaster: Caterina Giannottu, Ideepratiche®Narrator (Audio Descriptions): Gianluca Esposito
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Events
The artist Mauro Russo creates a work dedicated to the Jubilee 2025
A work for the Jubilee 2025. This initiative comes from the artist Mauro Russo Painter and serves as a good omen following Pope Francis’ discharge from the Gemelli Hospital, where he had been hospitalized since last February 14. It is a piece that aims to encapsulate a message of peace and hope, like a treasure chest of symbols and colors that lead to a universal image for believers. The work was executed in tempera on paper, measuring 25×27 cm. The profile of Pope Francis, bowed over his cross, offers his words of unity and brotherhood to the crowd at the foot of the Colosseum. The artist states: “With great enthusiasm, I conceived the idea of creating a piece for the Jubilee 2025. It was also an important opportunity to engage, through this painting, with the great masters of the past and the last century, who never missed the chance to leave their message in such events.” Mauro Russo, exclusively for GP MAGAZINE, ALCE NEWS, and GIUBILEO MAGAZINE, has shared the painting with us, and we are delighted to present this small-format work to our readers. Russo is now well known in elite artistic circles. The master has a deep connection with sacred art. We recall his great Crucifix, an oil painting on wood nearly two meters tall, which he donated to the Church of San Pantaleone in Limbadi, Calabria, his hometown. It is still preserved today in the chapel of the baptismal font.
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Senza categoria
Jubilee: The first stop of the “Walks in the protected areas of Lazio” in Itri
The first significant stop of the project “Walking in the Protected Areas of Lazio – Jubilee 2025 Edition” kicks off in Itri. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Department of Environment and Tourism, led by Elena Palazzo, and the Department of Parks, headed by Giancarlo Righini. In collaboration with Cammini d’Italia, the project focuses on slow and sustainable tourism, aiming to showcase the many hidden treasures across Lazio. Throughout 2025, it will involve seven parks, one reserve, and eight historically and culturally significant walking routes. The first event is scheduled for February 22 in the historic village of Itri, where a free guided tour and a tasting of Natura in Campo-branded products have been organized. The regional councilor Elena Palazzo, a resident and former administrator of Itri, will be present at the starting point at 10:00 AM to greet visitors. At the end of the tour, participants will have the chance to learn about Itri’s renowned gastronomic excellence: the olives from which a prized oil is extracted, famous throughout Italy and highly sought after abroad. “A perfect opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture and flavors of the region,” explains Regional Councilor Elena Palazzo. “We are investing heavily in enhancing the natural areas that make Lazio so rich. These places reveal unexplored corners, breathtaking landscapes, and promote the development of slow and sustainable tourism. I am delighted that the project is starting in the southern Pontine area, which has so much to offer in this regard. Through the ‘Walking in the Protected Areas of Lazio’ initiative, we give everyone the opportunity to experience our stunning landscapes up close while also discovering Lazio’s enogastronomic excellence, which speaks volumes about our traditions and history—just like the famous Itri olives. This is the right way to promote our localities and support regional development.” The second event is set for Sunday, February 23, 2025, in the Monti Aurunci Natural Park. The walk will start from the Pornito Refuge in Maranola and lead to the summit of Monte Redentore, offering a spectacular view of the Gulf of Gaeta and the Pontine Islands. This walk will be dedicated to exploring the Cammino di San Filippo Neri. For more details on upcoming stops and to register, visit www.camminiditalia.org
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Events
“Munch. The Inner Cry”: a major exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte in Rome
From February 18 to June 2, 2025, Palazzo Bonaparte will host a major exhibition dedicated to Edvard Munch, one of the most important modern artists. Curated by Patricia G. Berman, one of the leading experts on Munch, the exhibition will feature 100 works by the artist, including some of his most famous pieces, such as The Scream, The Death of Marat, and Starry Night. The exhibition will focus on Munch’s life and work, exploring his human and artistic journey. Munch is known for his ability to express the deepest emotions of the human soul through his art. His works are often characterized by a sense of anguish and solitude, reflecting his personal experiences. The Palazzo Bonaparte exhibition will be a unique opportunity to get a closer look at Munch’s work and gain a deeper understanding of this great artist. Who Was Edvard Munch? Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter, born in 1863 and passing away in 1944. He is considered a forerunner of Expressionism and one of the leading figures of Symbolism. His art was deeply influenced by his personal experiences, marked by loss and profound inner turmoil. Munch’s Works Munch’s works are known for their strong emotional impact. His paintings often depict isolated human figures set in unsettling landscapes. His use of color is intense and dramatic, contributing to an atmosphere of anguish and mystery. The Palazzo Bonaparte Exhibition The exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte will feature a selection of 100 works by Munch, including paintings, lithographs, and prints. The displayed pieces will cover the entire span of the artist’s career, from his early Impressionist-influenced works to his later, more personal Expressionist style. Exhibition Information The exhibition Munch. The Inner Cry will take place at Palazzo Bonaparte, in Piazza Venezia, Rome, from February 18 to June 2, 2025. Tickets are already available for purchase on Ticket.it
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Events
Warhol and Banksy on display until june 6 at WeGil in Rome
Kate Moss by Banksy face-to-face with Marilyn Monroe. Then, Queen Elizabeth, portrayed by Warhol with the royal diadem, side by side with her depiction as a monkey. Add to this a gallery of Mao, Lenin, and Kennedy by one, and Queen Victoria by the other. In other words, the world of Andy Warhol—the most photographed artist in the world, famous and omnipresent—contrasted with the anonymous Banksy, who has turned his art into a global media phenomenon. The two artists meet face-to-face in the exhibition “Warhol Banksy”, on display at WeGil in Rome from December 20 to June 6, 2025, which directly compares their creative journeys. This unique exhibition takes inspiration from a 2007 show curated by Banksy himself, where the enigmatic artist juxtaposed his works with those of the father of pop art. Sponsored by the Lazio Region in collaboration with LazioCrea and produced by MetaMorfosi Eventi and Emergence Festival, the exhibition documents the innovative and revolutionary paths of both artists. It features over 100 works sourced from renowned private collections worldwide and major art galleries. Behind the event lies an extensive research effort as well as significant logistical challenges. For instance, the walls brought over from London—featuring Banksy’s creations—alone weigh 800 kilograms. The exhibition reflects the contemporary approach to art, which is no longer confined to object-based pieces like traditional paintings, but has evolved into art as an event. This Dada-inspired approach creates disorientation and provocation. Warhol did this in the 1980s, primarily in the context of consumerism, while Banksy does it today with explicit references like his “Mona Lisa Smile” at the Louvre. 4o
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places
Piazza Pia: The new look for the Jubilee wins over romans and beyond
For centuries, Piazza Pia was an unresolved urban node—a dilemma that engaged Popes, designers, and city institutions in solving the challenge of access to St. Peter’s Basilica and its connection with the Bridge and Castel Sant’Angelo. Here are the milestones marking the transformations of this emblematic place, from its origins as an anonymous traffic hub to its completely renewed urban definition. During the Middle Ages, the area between Castel Sant’Angelo and Borgo was a square from which a porticoed road extended, cited in numerous documents from the 12th and 14th centuries but erased by subsequent changes in the urban fabric. The covered walkway provided pilgrims with shelter from the elements as they traveled to St. Peter’s Basilica. Major modifications began in the 15th century in anticipation of and in conjunction with Jubilees, events when Rome, then as now, embraced various urban adaptations to welcome throngs of pilgrims. For the Jubilee of 1450, Pope Nicholas V planned a redesign of the area, though it remained unfinished. Later, Pope Alexander VI ordered the first demolitions of some medieval Borgo buildings, including a pyramid-shaped mausoleum—twin to the Pyramid of Cestius—to make way for a new road that would become the main pilgrim access to the Basilica. Indulgences were even granted to those who participated in demolishing the Vatican Pyramid. The road, named Via Alessandrina after the pope who promoted it, was inaugurated for the Jubilee of 1500 and soon came to be known as Borgo Nuovo, contrasting with Borgo Vecchio, the other primary route to St. Peter’s. From the then Piazza Pia—then called Piazza Castello or Piazza di Borgo—three streets originated: the two leading through Borgo’s dense housing toward St. Peter’s and one toward Borgo Sant’Angelo. Between Borgo Vecchio and Borgo Nuovo lay the “Spina,” a block named for its elongated shape pointing toward the Tiber, with its base near St. Peter’s. The deep transformations of this area were chronicled in the 2016 Capitoline Museums exhibition “The Spina, from the Vatican Fields to Via della Conciliazione,” curated by Claudio Parisi Presicce and Laura Petacco, featuring diverse materials. By the 17th century, with Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s colonnade, St. Peter’s Square took its final form, but the connection between the Spina and the area corresponding to today’s Piazza Pia remained contentious. Pope Paul V made the first aesthetic improvements by decorating the Spina’s front with the Mascherone Fountain after bringing the Acqua Paola to the Vatican. Yet 17th-century maps depict the square as a modest widening, devoid of notable buildings, intersected by the road from Ponte Sant’Angelo and descending steeply toward the Tiber past the Santo Spirito Hospital. The area remained largely unchanged until 1852, when architect Luigi Poletti introduced two architectural facades on either side of the Spina’s tip. These twin facades, with travertine pilasters and capitals, clad the modest rear buildings, creating what Gianfranco Spagnesi called “one of the last urban Baroque-like scenes.” In 1875, the construction of embankments to contain the Tiber began, requiring demolitions along the riverbank, creating the Lungotevere, and drastically altering the city’s relationship with its river. This arrangement, too, was short-lived. In 1911, Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II was inaugurated near Borgo Santo Spirito. While road connections to Prati were still under design, Piazza Pia itself was reshaped to accommodate vehicular traffic. The Spina was obliterated in 1936 following the Lateran Pacts, giving way to the new Via della Conciliazione, a visual manifestation of the reconciliation between Church and State and the grand new access to St. Peter’s Square from Castel Sant’Angelo. Demolitions began at Piazza Pia, with Mussolini striking the first blow to the cornice of the elongated building marking the Spina’s tip. While the demolitions were completed in a year, reconstruction was slow, hampered by wartime financial strains. The layout, completed by 1950 for that year’s Jubilee, remained unchanged until 2023. Today, tourists, pilgrims, and locals can admire Piazza Pia’s new face, transformed in just a year and five months. It has become a vibrant space in the heart of Rome, steps away from the Vatican, the picturesque Tiber with its bridges, and the magnificent dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Curiosity
The story of the official bell of the Jubilee 2025
The Official Bell of the Jubilee 2025 was created by the Pontifical Marinelli Foundry of Agnone, in the province of Isernia. This historic foundry, one of the oldest in the world, crafted a bell weighing 200 kg, with a circumference of 2 meters, tuned to the musical note D. The bell features in relief the logo of the Jubilee 2025, accompanied by the motto “Peregrinantes In Spem” (Pilgrims in Hope). The logo depicts four stylized figures representing humanity from the four corners of the earth, united with one another, with the first figure embraced by a cross symbolizing Christ, extending to become an anchor of hope. The waves below are in motion, symbolizing that the pilgrimage of life does not always take place in calm waters. In addition to the logo, the bell features other decorative elements: Four stylized angels positioned at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that they do not blow on the earth, the sea, or any plant, inspired by the passage in Revelation 7. The number four symbolizes universality, and the four corners of the earth represent the whole world. An image of the Holy Father in the act of opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a gesture that marks the beginning of the Holy Year. The Door remains open for the entire Jubilee year, allowing pilgrims to cross its threshold to obtain the indulgence associated with the Holy Year, demonstrating that their pilgrimage has led them to an encounter with Christ and that the Door is always open for all people of goodwill. The coat of arms of Vatican City (the Keys given by Christ to the apostle Peter) and the papal motto “Miserando Atque Eligendo” (“With love and choosing him”), taken from the Homilies of Saint Bede the Venerable. The casting of the bell took place on December 15, 2023, in Agnone, in the presence of Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. The Pontifical Marinelli Foundry had previously crafted bells for earlier jubilees, including the majestic bell of the Jubilee 2000, which is now located in the Vatican Gardens. For collectors and interested faithful, miniature reproductions of the Jubilee 2025 Bell are available, faithfully replicating the original and made with high-quality materials. These reproductions can be purchased from various specialized retailers. The Jubilee 2025 Bell represents a symbol of faith, hope, and unity for pilgrims from around the world, accompanying the celebrations of the Holy Year with its solemn chimes.
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Events
Rome Parade 2025: A spectacular success for the roman New Year
An unforgettable start to the year in the Eternal City, thanks to the Rome Parade, which enchanted the audience with an extraordinary procession of artists, musicians, and performers along a 4-kilometer route through some of Rome’s most iconic locations. Starting from the Pincio Terrace, the parade made its way through Via del Babuino, Piazza di Spagna, Via dei Condotti, Via del Corso, and Piazza del Popolo, attracting nearly 30,000 enthusiastic participants and spectators. This year’s edition showcased the energy and talent of numerous Italian groups alongside prestigious American high school marching bands, delivering unique moments of music, color, and entertainment. Adding to the festivities were captivating majorettes, dynamic cheerleaders, and unmistakable street performers, all guided by the charismatic hosting of Stefano Raucci, Francesca Ceci, and Stefano Molinari, who engaged the audience with professionalism and charm. The Rome Parade 2025 kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Svetlana Celli, President of the Capitoline Assembly, and was opened by the ancient Roman group AB VRBE CONDITA, followed by Renaissance-era reenactors. The procession featured the Hamilton High School Charger Marching Band, street performers from the Festive Spark Street Crew, the Corpo Bandistico Pontelliese, the Spaccanapoli folk group from Scafati, Disney-themed Cosplayers, the Varsity Spirit All American group, the Bedizzole Marching Band, the Sbandieratori e Musici di Marino – Lo Scudo di Lepanto, and the Detroit Catholic Central High School Marching Band. Other highlights included the Banda Musicale di Cave with the Majorettes Golden Stars Sabine of Casperia, Jolly Rickshaws with Cotton Candies supporters, the Holly High Steppers stilt walkers, the Associazione Filarmonica Vejanese, the Candy Lane Performers, a second performance by Varsity Spirit All American, the Bersaglieri A.N.B. “Cotterli” Fanfare of Aprilia, Led Robots – Galactic Gliders, the “G. Verdi” Band of Castel Chiodato, the Black Brass Band, the Heritage High School “Incomparable Marching Storm,” Brazilian dancers from the Carnival of Joy, the City of Rome Pipe Band, Superhero-themed Cosplayers, Pifferi e Tamburi di Baio Dora APS, the Banda Musicale “Città di Fiano Romano” with Orbassano Majorettes, the Noel Skywalkers stilt walkers, the Parkview Marching Band, and the folk group La Frustica of Faleria. Giant balloons, including the Rome Parade Balloon, Senator Balloon, Maria the Majorette, Trevor the Triangle, the Centurion, and the Gladiator, added vibrant color and excitement to the parade’s most spectacular moments. Lizzie Bone, representative of Destination Events, the organization behind the Rome Parade for over 15 years, expressed her delight, stating: “We are thrilled with this year’s success and the incredible participation, which included a growing number of Italian groups alongside our beloved American high school marching bands. Rome always welcomes us with unmatched warmth, and we can’t wait to return next year to share the enthusiasm, culture, and fun with even more participants. It is a great honor to offer this New Year’s gift to the city of Rome, making the first day of the year so festive and uplifting.” The event has firmly established itself as a must-see in Rome’s cultural landscape, uniting people of all ages in a message of joy and hope for the new year. Once again, it has demonstrated the power of music and performance to create an atmosphere of universal joy and togetherness. The parade was part of the ROMA CAPODARTE 2025: Cities in the World initiative, promoted by Roma Capitale, the Department of Culture, and coordinated by the Department of Cultural Activities.
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