Easter in Rome

Lots of friends and family back home have been asking about what Easter is like in Rome and importantly what I’ll be doing to celebrate.

Now I’m not really the religious type but I grew up in an Italian household ok! Which basically means that Easter has been marked by family and food for as long as I can remember.

This will be my first Easter away from Melbourne and will be spent with friends in Rome!

On Good Friday (which I am shocked and outraged to report is NOT a public holiday in Italy, unlike in Australia – is this not strange for a country which houses the seat of the Roman Catholic Church?? Go figure!) I will try to get to a mass service of some sort or to see the Stations of the Cross procession at the Colloseum (eh when in rome…)

On Saturday night I’m thinking of going to a gelato aperitivo hosted by one of Rome’s most renowned foodies and food writers, Katie Parla (of Parla Food, www.parlafood.com). Sunday there will be a lunch and Easter Monday Pasquetta will be spent in the Lazio countryside.

Will tell you all about it next time!

It’s so beautiful seeing traditional and colorful Easter Eggs in pasticcerie around the city. This is the one time of year that my obsession with chocolate is not frowned upon!

I’ve been advised to try local Easter specialties like colomba (the Easter cousin of panettone – sweet brioche type dessert with candied fruit or chocolate, or both and formed in the shape of a dove as its Italian name suggests), pastiera (ricotta cake traditionally from Napoli) and casatiello (another neapolitan style savoury bread usually garnished with salami and cheese). I will try them for you and report back!

Courtesy of Wanted in Rome (for all happenings in the city check out www.wantedinrome.com) here is a run down of what’s taking place in Rome over the Easter period.

Easter Services in English:

Friday, April 6th – Good Friday

3&6pm: All Saints’ Anglican Church, Via del Babuino 153/b
1&3pm: Pontifical Irish College (Roman Catholic), Via dei Santi Quattro
3pm: St Francis Xavier dei Caravita,Via della Caravita 7
3pm: San Silvestro in Capite (Roman Catholic), Piazza S. Silvestro 1
5pm: St Patrick’s (Roman Catholic),Via Buoncompagni 31
6pm: Santa Susanna American Church (Roman Catholic), Via XX Settembre 15
7pm: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Via XX Settembre 7
7pm: St Paul’s within-the-Walls,Via Nazionale, corner Via Napoli 58

Sunday, April 8th – Easter Sunday

7am: Rome Baptist Church, San Lorenzo in Lucina 35
8:30am: St Paul’s within-the-Walls,Via Nazionale, corner Via Napoli 58
9am, 10:30am: S. Susanna American Church (Roman Catholic), Via XX Settembre 15
10am: Pontifical Irish College (Roman Catholic), Via dei Santi Quattro 1
10am: St Isidore’s College (Roman Catholic),Via degli Artisti 41
10am: St Patrick’s (Roman Catholic),Via Buoncompagni 31
10am, 5:30pm: S. Silvestro in Capite (Roman Catholic), Piazza S. Silvestro 1
10:30am: All Saints’ Anglican Church, Via del Babuino 153/b
10:30am: Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church, Piazza Ponte Sant’Angelo
11am: St Francis Xavier dei Caravita,Via della Caravita 7

Easter at the Vatican

April 6th, Good Friday: Papal Mass, Vatican Basilica 5pm
Way of the Cross, Colosseum 9:15pm
April 7th, Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil, Vatican Basilica 9pm
April 8th, Easter Sunday: St Peter’s Square 10:15am.

To all my friends, family and followers who celebrate, Happy Easter Buona Pasqua and love and peace to you all!

Signing off from Roma,
Baci Maria

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