A winding stone path leads down to a long, shady iron pergola draped in wisteria and twisting jasmine, where Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli di Poggio Suasa, the creative force behind all this romance, is sipping a pink martini. Elegant and dashingly handsome, Ruspoli casts an eye over Olinto Atlas Mountain Retreat, his eight-acre (and expanding) garden estate. Shimmering olive trees underplanted with fragrant floriferous white Atlas rose bushes encircle an expansive pool. A walkway below us cuts through swaying, luminous Pennisetum grasses punctuated by sculptural giant agaves and supersize succulents. As we begin to wander, drinks in hand, Ruspoli points out a building in the process of being repainted; the celadon green he'd originally chosen turned out not to be precisely the shade he had envisioned. It's this sort of attention to detail, along with flawless taste, that has turned his dream into a living and growing idyll.
When is the best time to go to Rome?
16.12.2024 - 10:21 / lonelyplanet.com
Dec 16, 2024 • 7 min read
With its rich history, fabulous food, layered culture and world-class sights, Rome is one of the top cities to visit on the planet. At any time of year, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to see and do, but some months are definitely calmer than others in the Eternal City.
The great thing about Rome is that the city is always open for business, so you can come at any time of year and find a city full of warmth and activity. Time it right, and you can also avoid the endless queues and other frustrations of peak-season travel.
From finding good weather and cool festivals to avoiding the crowds, here's what to expect from Rome throughout the year to help you plan the best time to visit.
When in doubt, aim for the shoulder seasons. Italy awakens from its winter slumbers for the Easter holidays, and while this isn’t officially the start of the tourist season, it is the time when Italians begin to take long weekends to enjoy the delights of their home country. This is also one of the best times to catch great deals on flights and accommodation, and the crowds are much more manageable than in the busy summer.
However, there are still some crowded periods, such as the weekend of the Rome Marathon in April, the Natale di Roma festivities on 21 April, and the Ides of March celebrations on 15 March. If your visit coincides with a major event, you'll need to book ahead for transport and accommodations.
Visiting Rome in the spring means taking part in those first giant bursts of life that creep into the city, from flowers and trees blooming to the first sunny days that draw locals outdoors onto overflowing cafe terraces. You run the risk of hitting a rainy day here and there, but once the clouds part and life resumes, the sun tends to shine even brighter.
The period following the summer is celebrated so enthusiastically in Rome that there is a specific, ancient term for it: Ottobrata Romana (“Roman October”). Corresponding to the ancient harvest season, early fall was the time when Romans would leave the city to soak up the gentle sunshine and clean, fresh air that marked the end of the hot summer.
Romans still rejoice at the arrival of fall today, marking the season with long walks through the city and extended aperitivi sessions to soak up every ray of sunshine, plus visits to movie screens for the Rome Film Fest in October. If you’re looking for a time to enjoy Rome like a local, late spring and early fall are the top times to come.
There’s no bad time to visit Rome, but the city is notoriously crowded in the summer, and if you visit during the sultry months from June to September, your experience will inevitably be colored by the crush of fellow visitors. And to be fair,
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