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Rome events in March 2025 - Holidays, exhibits, concerts, and other things to do
Rome events in March include International Women's Day, the Feast Day of Santa Francesca Romana, Father's Day (Festa di San Giuseppe), and more!
One of my favorite March happenings in Rome is on March 9, the feast day of Santa Francesca Romana - the one day a year you can visit this stunning convent dedicated to her.March always feels to me like the real beginning of the busy tourist season.
There is always so much going on!
Check it out here:
Rome events in March 2025 - What's happening
March is a great time to visit Rome for a lot of reasons, whether you're hoping to come in a slightly quieter season, are on a school holiday, or are looking forward to seeing Rome right before spring comes into full bloom.
March weather in Rome is still fairly cool, which makes it comfortable for sight-seeing.
It's also a good time to enjoy some hot Roman lunches and dinners indoors with some good wine.
It also occasionally includes the Easter festivities.
Keep reading for more info about the best Rome events in March 2025:
- Holidays in Rome in March
- Current exhibits at Rome's museums
- Sports/sporting events in Rome in March
- Vatican events in March
- Free things to do in Rome in March
- Nighttime things to do in Rome in March
- Concerts and operas in Rome in March
- Tours to take in Rome in March
- Day trips to take in Rome in March
- Things to do with kids in Rome in March
Holidays and special dates in Rome in March
Special dates in March in Rome include International Women's Day, the Feast Day of Saint Frances of Rome, Father's Day, and more.
March 2 - day of the catacombs
On Saturday March 1 the spring edition of the Day of the Catacombs is running, when the seven Roman catacombs open to the public will be open for free visits.
There will also be special tours and activities to take part in.
While entrance is free, booking is necessary - find out more details on our dedicated catacombs page!
💀 Discover the secrets of Rome's catacombs and most famous crypt 💀
Venture into ancient catacombs where early Christians found refuge, walk along the historic Appian Way, and brace yourself for the eerie Capuchin crypt—a unique reminder of life's fragility, adorned with monks' bones.
With comfortable minibus transport, this is a memorable dive into Rome’s mysterious past.
March 8 - International Women's Day
International Women's Day is a major international holiday around the world (for some reason that escapes me, it's barely heard of in the U.S.).
In early March, expect to see bouquets of mimosa flowers for sale around Rome. You can buy them for yourself or for the women in your life to commemorate International Women's Day.Although it's not a bank holiday, it's still widely recognized.
The tradition is to give some mimosa flowers to the women in your life.
In early March, you will see a lot of these flowers for sale in Rome.
On this day, all of Rome's CIVIC museums are free for women.
This includes the Capitoline Museums, Trajan's Market, the Ara Pacis, Palazzo Braschi, and many more.
March 9 - Feast Day of Saint Frances of Rome
Saint Frances (1378-1440) founded an order called the Olivetan Oblates of Mary, and eventually the Tor de' Specchi monastery, right near Capitoline Hill.
One of the most special things to do in March is the one-day opening of the convent of Tor de' Specchi, where you can see these stunning frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano.The monastery is only open on March 9 each year, the anniversary of the death of the saint.
It's free to visit but you will find a line and some crowds.
If you are on Rome on this day, I highly recommend visiting this site.
The frescoes are stunningly beautiful.
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March 15 - The Ides of March
On this day in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated in the heart of Rome, by his friends and colleagues in the Roman Senate, who were concerned about his growing power.
This act marked a major shift in ancient Rome, leading to a civil war which the first emperor Augustus won.
The ruins at Largo Argentina mark the spot where on the Ides of March, March 15, 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated. One of the more unusual Rome events in March is the re-enactment of this episode on this spot.Because it was such a significant event, to this day Romans remember the Ides of March.
There is a re-enactment of the assassination in the ruins at Largo Argentina on March 15 - this is where it actually happened, not in the Roman Forum!
March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day
In recent years, in honor of Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, Tourism Ireland lit up the Colosseum in green.
One of the most unusual Rome events in March is watching the Colosseum turn green on Saint Patrick's Day.This was part of their #globalgreening initiative.
They haven't done it the last few years, so this may not happen again, but I thought I'd leave this photo here, since it's pretty cool to see the Colosseum in green!
March 19 - Father's Day
March 19th is Father's Day in Italy.
In Italian it's called La Festa di San Giuseppe.
Giuseppe is Italian for Joseph and of course, Father's Day here is named for the one of the most famous fathers, at least in Catholic history.
If you have a sweet tooth, one of the best Rome events in March for you will be La Festa di San Giuseppe, Father's Day. You will find these scrumptious bignès at pastry shops and cafés all around Rome in March.Why is this important if you're visiting Rome in March?
Because you will want to load up on some bignè di San Giuseppe, which are pastry bombs filled with cream.
A must!
As March 19 is a Christian holiday, St. Joseph's Day, the Vatican Museums will be closed on this day.
No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 essential things we recommend never leaving home without:
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Last weekend of March - Daylight saving Time begins
The last Sunday of March is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time in Europe (this date differs from the U.S. and some other parts of the world).
We move the clocks forward and LOSE one hour.
In 2025, we set our clocks ahead on the night of Saturday March 29th for the time change at 2:00 AM on March 30.
Don't forget to turn your clock AHEAD by one hour on the last weekend in March!Be aware of this if you have any Sunday morning plans like a tour or flight.
Rome Marathon
The Rome Marathon will be held on Sunday March 16, 2025.
This really won't affect you much unless you run the marathon, or are staying or planning any cultural visits near the route.
For more info, visit the official website of the Rome Marathon.
Current exhibits and events at Rome's museums in March
The cooler winter months are a great time to take in the arts indoors.
Keep in mind that some museums stay open later on the weekends.
Here are some of the best events in March at various museums around the city:
Palazzo Bonaparte
Rome’s Palazzo Bonaparte hosts Munch: The Inner Scream from 11 February to 2 June, featuring 100 masterpieces from Oslo’s Munch Museum. Curated by Patricia G. Berman, the exhibition showcases iconic works like The Scream and Despair, exploring Munch’s psychological themes.
Through June 2, 2025
For details and tickets, click here.
Chiostro del Bramante
Flowers
The Chiostro del Bramante in Rome presents Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence, an exhibition running from February 14 to September 14, 2025. Featuring over 90 artworks from global institutions like the Louvre and the Royal Botanic Gardens, it explores flowers’ artistic and cultural significance across five centuries. Curated by Franziska Stöhr and Roger Diederen, the show blends tradition, science, and digital innovation.
For more information and tickets, click here.
Capitoline Museums - Villa Caffarelli Garden
The Colossal Statue of Constantine
See the striking reconstruction of the Colossus of Constantine, one of the most representative works of late antique Roman sculpture.
February 6 2024 - December 31 2025
Free to enter, follow the path up to the right to reach the garden entrance.
Don't miss my video all about the statue!
Palazzo Barberini
Caravaggio 2025, a landmark exhibition celebrating Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio (1571–1610), as part of the Jubilee celebrations. Curated by Francesca Cappelletti, Maria Cristina Terzaghi, and Thomas Clement Salomon, this collaboration between the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica and Galleria Borghese showcases an extraordinary selection of Caravaggio's autograph works.
Highlights include the Portrait of Maffeo Barberini, publicly displayed for the first time in over 60 years, and Ecce Homo, returning to Italy from the Prado after centuries. Iconic works like Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Martha and Mary Magdalene join rediscoveries and rare loans, such as The Cardsharps and The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula. The exhibition offers an unparalleled exploration of Caravaggio’s artistic revolution, reflecting his profound impact on the religious, cultural, and social landscapes of his time.
For more details, click here.
March 7 to July 6, 2025
There are a lot of smaller exhibitions in March.
To see a complete list of them, visit this page of the Rome Tourist Board where you can filter to see all the events happening in Rome in March, or drill down further by category such as dance, music, etc.
Sport/sporting Rome events in March
The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome
Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.
In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo, and much more.
And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.
Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.
Vatican Events in March
When the Pope is in town, you can attend the Wednesday Papal Audience, or watch the pope give the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.
Both are free.
For the Papal Audience, you need tickets. For the Angelus, you don't.
March 19, 2025 is Father's Day, and a Catholic Holiday (Festa di San Giuseppe), so the Vatican Museums are closed this day.
This does not affect the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica, or Vatican Square, which are both open and free.
Visit Rome's Parks and gardens
While March can still be a chilly month, it can still be a beautiful time to visit a park or garden in Rome, especially towards the end of March when flowers start blooming.
Rome events in March - Free things to do
If you're looking for some fun free things to do in March, the below are confirmed for 2025:
Rome's civic museums, including the Capitoline museums, Trajan's Market, Ara Pacis and others are offering free admission to women on March 8, 2025 in honor of International Women's Day.
The first Sunday of the month, Rome's Civic Museums are free for everyone.
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, you can visit the Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis, Villa Torlonia, Trajan's Market and many others for free.
In 2025 the Vatican Museums are free and open the last Sunday of the month, except for March.
Normally you can expect large crowds on this day.
St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square are free and open daily.
You cannot buy tickets in advance for the Free Sunday, but you can book a tour of the museums through the Vatican.
If you don't want to book this tour, just come early.
By early I mean by 8am.
But otherwise I recommend you book your visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.
In March 2025, the Colosseum will be free to enter on Sunday, March 2.
You can expect the Colosseum to be pretty much a mob scene.
I'd highly recommend visiting one of the other sites that is also free on this day, like the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, or Ostia Antica.
Nighttime things to do in Rome in March
In Rome in March the evenings can be colder than you might think.
Most of March is still winter!
And while it's still too early in the season for Colosseum night visits, you can still enjoy the city after the sun goes down.
There is one nighttime visit that begins in March, and that is the Vatican Museums.
The Vatican Museums stay open until 8 PM on Friday and Saturday nights, and this can be a really wonderful way to enjoy a much quieter and more relaxed way to visit these museums.
For more nighttime tours and Rome events in March, visit Viator.
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Rome events in March - Concerts, operas, shows
Disclosure : If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!
Tour and Concert - Catacombs of San Callisto
Experience the chants of the early Christians performed by our historically informed ensemble.
Through music, you will relive the dramatic moments of the early spread of Christianity.
This program includes compositions by renowned Renaissance composers such as Palestrina, Victoria, Morales, and other masters of the Sistine Chapel.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
Easter Concert: Mozart's Requiem - All Saints Church
Explore a novel interpretation of Queen's iconic tracks, transformed for Italian opera virtuosos from the Opera da Camera di Roma ensemble and piano accompaniment.
Mercury's own passion for opera, famously showcased in his performances with soprano Montserrat Caballé, inspires this unprecedented concert.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
Rooftop Bar Opera Show: The Great Beauty in Rome - Palazzo Pamphilj
Stunning by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Bellini at Rome's treasured and world‐renowned 'La grande Bellezza', Palazzo Pamphilj.
The event includes a delicious aperitif: white or red wine or a non‐alcoholic drinks, a rich selection of Italian cheeses, cold meats, and sparkling wine for a final toast with the artists.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
Great Symphonies at Piazza Navona - Sant’Agnese in Agone
In this highly‐anticipated concert, hear the beautiful sounds of chamber music by Mozart and Beethoven at Rome's treasured Sant'Agnese in Agone.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
Visit our dedicated page about concerts in Rome for more options.
Tours to take in Rome in March
Booking a tour is a good way to make sure you get tickets to the sites you want to visit, and also get to enjoy them without fighting the crowds too much.
And even if it's not too crowded, a tour is a great way to see the sights and get to know a bit about them as you go.
For more tours to take in March, start here:
Day trips to take in Rome in March
March is a wonderful time to take a day trip, especially if you want to try some food/wine ventures outside Rome.
We have lots of options for places to visit which you can easily reach within 1-2 hours of Rome.
For organized day trips, visit Get Your Guide.
Activities with kids in Rome in March
Whether you are visiting Rome in March for the holidays or just for a short getaway, if you are coming with kids, there are plenty of tours and activities in Rome geared to children of all ages.
If you're looking for some fun activities with kids, start here:
I've listed some of what I think are the most fun and interesting Rome events in March, and most central.
For a complete list of Rome events in March, visit the website of the Rome Tourist Board.
Romewise's Top Travel Resources
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