Rome’s often-quiet Tiber River is a lively place to be during the Lungo il Tevere summer festival
Some travelers try to avoid tourist hotspots like Rome in the summer – it’s hot, it’s crowded, and it’s expensive. But summer in Rome can be one of the best times of the year, thanks to all of the summer festivals and events that go on in the Italian capital.
There are plenty of things to do in Rome in summer, however, so if you don’t mind the heat or the crowds, here are some of the summer festivals in Rome not to miss.
Opera di Roma at the Baths of Caracalla
Often, Italian opera houses take the summer off. In Rome, however, the opera just changes venues – to the spectacular ruins at the Baths of Carcalla. Performances are outdoors, with dramatic Roman ruins as the backdrop, and the program changes every year. There are sometimes visiting performance groups from other countries, and the program may include ballet as well as opera and orchestral music.
Lungo il Tevere
Rome was once accused of turning its back on its river, but lately the city has been embracing the Tiber – Tevere in Italian – more and more. In the summer, the Lungo il Tevere festival runs from mid-June through the end of August and features vendors, restaurants, and bars in temporary shops along the river. It’s the place to be, often until the wee hours of the morning.
Gay Village
The massive Gay Village festival takes over the Parco del Ninfeo in the EUR neighborhood of Rome. The party lasts from June through September, and features live theater and music performances, dance parties, a film festival, plenty of bars and restaurants, and even an open-air gym. It’s become one of Rome’s most popular festivals, attended by locals and tourists alike.
Roma Incontra il Mondo
“Rome Meets the World” is how this festival name translates, and it’s through the music of artists from around the world that Rome meets the world every summer. This music festival is held on an island in the lake at the Villa Ada park, which is northeast of the Villa Borghese Gardens.
Festa de’ Noantri
There are several religious festivals in Rome in summer, but one you might want to clear the calendar for is the Festa de’ Noantri. It runs from mid-late July in the Trastevere district, and involves a procession through the streets with a statue of the Madonna del Carmine. That’s followed by two weeks of, essentially, a street fair. It’s a festival that dates back to the 16th century.
Rock in Roma
The annual Rock in Roma festival brings major international music acts to the city each summer, including the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Billy Idol, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Metallica, Megadeth, Neil Young, Smashing Pumpkins, Sigur Ros, The Lumineers, and Blur. The venue is near Rome’s smaller airport, Ciampino, at the Ippodromo delle Capanelle.
Isola del Cinema
Summer evenings are perfect for outdoor movie screenings, and in Rome the Isola del Cinema festival takes over the Isola Tiberina right in the middle of the Tiber River in Rome’s historic center. From mid-June through the end of September there are Italian and international films shown.
