Easter Week in Rome 2014 - What's On and Where to Stay

Here is some guidance on the most important celebrations and hotel suggestions where to stay in Rome during the Easter week events and near the central section of Rome where most of the festivities are held.

Enjoy an Amazing Easter Week in Rome

Vatican Square, Source: Flickr, "Harris Walker"

Nothing quite compares to attending mass in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. It’s one thing you can cross off your bucket list once you’ve experienced it, because the event is just spectacular. People come from all over the world to pack into the small area of the Vatican Square to go to the services and festivals leading up to Easter Sunday. Easter 2014 is going to be a busy one for the Vatican, for sure. Easter mass is performed in all churches in Italy, but the grandest one will be held by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The event has always been popular, but many pilgrims and tourists will want to go see Pope Francis perform worship services during the Easter Week. This will only be his second year performing the event.

Easter Week Schedule and Worship Services

Source: Flickr, "Howard Young"

The following schedule outlines the major events and festivals to be held during the week of Easter in 2014 as well as main worship venues taking place.

Easter Week Days	Date
Ash Wednesday	March 5, 2014
Palm Sunday	April 13, 2014
Passion of the Lord and Palm Sunday Passion of the Lord and Palm Sunday starts the week of Easter and is held in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Worshippers and tourist will need to get there early because the square fills up quickly. The service starts between 9:30 and 10:00 am and the pope stands in the middle of the square to bless the Palms. The blessing is then followed by the procession of the Palms and Holy Mass. It’s fun to watch the people hold up the medals of the saints that they have bought from nearby vendors for the Pope to give his blessing to. The medals make nice keepsakes for remembering the event later. The pope will often dedicate a portion of his speech to send a special message to the young people of the world during this service.
Holy Thursday	April 17, 2014
Holy Thursday Mass The next event in Easter Week is Thursday Holy Mass, and the Chrismal Mass is held at the Vatican Basilica at 9:30 am. There is another Thursday mass held hours later at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran at 5:30 pm. It is the mass of the Lord's Supper and the start of Paschal Triduum. The event commemorates Jesus Christ washing the feet of the Apostles.
Good Friday	April 18, 2014
Good Friday and Via Crucis One of the most important Easter events that shouldn’t be missed is the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. It will be celebrated by Pope Francis, and he will bless it at the end of the event. It takes place in one of the most elegant and evocative settings in Rome, and it runs the distance from the Colosseum to the Temple of Venus in the Roman Forum. The Via Crucis, as the Stations of the Cross is known, depicts the final moments Christ endured before the crucifixion. There is a Papal Mass at the Vatican in Saint Peter's Basilica at 5:00 pm and later the Stations of the Cross event starts at 9:15 pm. One of the most memorable visuals of the commemoration is an enormous cross illuminated with burning torches that illuminates the sky. The Via Crucis is described in multiple languages to the huge crowds.
Holy Saturday	April 19, 2014
Holy Saturday Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday, and it is a solemn ceremony that commemorates the day before Jesus Christ was resurrected from the tomb. Easter Vigil and Papal Mass are held at 9:00 pm in the Vatican Basilica.
Easter Sunday	April 20, 2014
Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Holy Mass completes the last part of the week leading into Easter. It is held in the morning in Saint Peter's Square around 10:15 am. This is a huge event in Rome and can have almost a stadium atmosphere to it. The Easter message is given at noon in the central section of the Vatican Basilica. Pope Francis will then deliver the blessing "Urbi et Orbi (to the City and to the World) from the façade of the balcony of Saint Peter's.
Infos and pictures of the celebrations are usually published in the Vatican's Calendar of Celebrations. You can also find a very well documentation of the Holy Week 2013 for your inspiration.

Hotel recommendations for your visit

The tourists and pilgrims flock to Rome in droves during Easter week, so be sure to book your hotel in advance.
Here are a couple of good hotel suggestions in central Rome and an alternate just outside of the city if you can’t
find a hotel near central Rome.

The Kolbe Hotel - upper class (Via Di San Teodoro 48, Colosseum, 00186- Rome, Italy) One of the best accommodations you can stay in while in Rome is the 15th century Kolbe Hotel. The Kolbe is listed as a four-star rated hotel on its website, but the luxurious qualities it offers to its guests could easily get it upgraded to a five-star rating. There are a ton of four-star hotels in Rome, but four-star accommodations with such luxury standards as the Kolbe that are located near the center of Rome is difficult to find. The Kolbe Hotel is 2.8 kilometers northwest of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City and only fifteen minutes away from the Coliseum, Circus Maximus and Palatine Hill by foot. The hotel is also in a perfect spot to do local sightseeing in between the Easter events, too. Guests can take local buses to see Travestere, a very popular spot across the Tiber River.
Décor and Theme	The Kolbe Hotel was once a monastery and is located near a neighboring Franciscan friary. The hotel has wondrously large arches and exposed brick walls that really lend a medieval atmosphere to it. The hotel has an enchanting garden filled with olive, orange and lemon trees. Guests can enjoy the lovely garden scents while enjoying a meal al fresco at the hotel restaurant.
Rooms and Rates	The hotel has 72 rooms available to book. The rates and vacancies may vary, but rates usually start from $415 for a double room. For fixed bookings (without cancellation) you might even get one from $338, VAT included.
Amenities	The Kolbe Hotel has excellent amenities and features attractive and comfortable contemporary furniture in the interior of the building. There are lounges and couches in the room that are plush with vibrant color. The beds are modernly designed and very comfortable to catch a night’s rest in between your ventures. The rooms at the Kolbe have high brick walls and arches on the ceilings that give a sense of spaciousness and a medieval atmospheric touch. The larger rooms such as the Deluxe Double rooms and Quadruple rooms are a roomy 323 square feet. The rooms also include A/C, LCD TV, satellite, and Wi-Fi accessibility.
Restaurant and Food	Hot and cold buffets are available at the Kolbe for breakfast. The hotel also has a restaurant onsite that serves Roman dishes that can be best appreciated while dining on the balcony that overlooks the garden and its lush trees. An excellent local restaurant to dine at near the hotel is the Da Augusto at Piazza Dè Renzi. The restaurant serves local favorites such as marinated rabbit, puntarelle (a local vegetable), and superb rigatoni at a good price. The restaurant is located in Trastevera and opens at 8:00 pm. Be sure to get there early or make a reservation if you want to find an open table.

Hotel Eurogarden - budget choice (Salita di Castel Giubileo, 197/215 00138- Rome, Italy) In operation since 1970, the Hotel Eurogarden is located in the countryside in a 10,000 square meter park. The hotel has been renovated recently, so the hotel has a very modern feel to it. The Eurogarden is an ideal place to book your stay if the hotels in downtown Rome have no vacancies. It is also a good consideration for budget because it is significantly cheaper than many of the hotels located near downtown Rome. The hotel’s proximity to the Ring Road of Rome (GRA) between Via Flaminia and Cia Salaria make it a top location that is easily accessible to the A-1 Rome Florence highway for those that want to rent a car and travel to the central part of Rome. The hotel has a large parking lot to park the rental in for those that want to commute to the city for the Easter festivities and cultural attractions. The bus stop is about two blocks from the hotel, and the rates are very low for transportation to the city, also. It does take about an hour and a half to reach the city using this mode of transportation, so be prepared for a little bit of a commute to get to your Easter activities if you go this route.
Décor and Theme	The hotel is a string of cozy and independent cottages with vintage ceramic tile roofing. The park that the Eurogarden is located in is a very scenic and ideal place to spend your Easter vacation. You can open your windows at night and take in the outside fragrance of spring flowers or stroll through the conifers and citrus trees during a walk on the park grounds.
Rooms and Rates	Discounts are available if you book the hotel for over three nights. This way rates for a double room start as low as $52.50 per night on weekends and $71.00 per night on weekdays, VAT included.
Amenities	The rooms of the Eurogarden are designed for comfort and relaxation. The hotel’s website allows you to look up the floor plans for every type of room they offer to see the size of each room and what each room includes before you book the hotel. Regular room sizes range about 26 square meters, and the Junior Suite has about 35 square meters. All rooms are equipped with an in-suite private bathroom. The regular rooms have classic style wooden furnishings with wicker chairs. Regular rooms have carpeting, but the Garden Rooms and Junior Suites have wood parquet-style flooring and cherry wood furniture. The rooms each contain A/C and heat, LCD TVs and satellite TV. Internet is available but must be purchased. Golf enthusiasts can visit the neighboring Golf Club Arco di Costantino or the Golf club Parco di Roma to enjoy a game of golf in Rome’s agreeable climate during their stay at the Eurogarden. There is a bike lane being constructed that will soon connect the hotel area to the center of the city. The hotel will begin to offer bike rentals when it is complete.
Restaurant and Food	The breakfast buffet is included with the price of the room and the buffet offers a nice spread of croissants, meats, yogurt, coffee and juice. Guests at the Eurogarden should try the Nashville Restaurant that is a little over 1.6 kilometers from the hotel for a fantastic meal and some of the best pizza on the planet. The team works in an open kitchen to serve local and fresh prime selections of meat that they bring from their butcher block to your table. There is a traditional Italian atmosphere to the restaurant, and they offer an abundant selection of delicious and classic fare to their patrons. Menu offerings include classic Italian dishes such as pasta, barbecued meat, and fresh focaccia. Make sure you try a dish with artichokes in it for a taste of Easter tradition. Also be sure to pair your dinner with a suggested wine from the wait staff, followed by a cool limoncello dessert at the end. The Nashville has been reward the Certificate of Excellence for 2013, and is highly recommended by tripadvisor, googlemaps and yelp reviewers.

The Hotel Eden - luxury option (Via Ludovisi 49/Roma 00187-Italy) Lonely Planet has listed the Hotel Eden as one of their most recommended hotels in Rome. The Eden offers superb rooms, exceptional service, and amazing views. ‎It’s one of the most glamorous Roman hotels, and it offers 121 luxurious suites for guests to choose from. It’s a stone’s throw from St. Peter's Basilica as it’s only 2.7 kilometers from the hotel. Visitors wanting to see the city of Rome and participate in the Easter worship services during the week can enjoy the amenities of the five star-rated Hotel Eden when they are not traveling. From the moment you’re greeted at the hotel from the grand entrance in the main lobby, you will marvel at its excellent and polite staff. The hotel is a discrete and classy pick and really pampers you during your stay. The Hotel Eden is also just a short stroll from the Spanish Steps and the lovely Villa Borghese. The history of the villa and Spanish Steps dates from 1889 and it has welcomed dignitaries, celebrities and royalty during its time.
Décor and Theme	The rooms at the Hotel Eden differ slightly, but all of them include elegant antique furniture, thick carpets, and marble structuring in their restrooms. The décor of the hotel features turn of the century theme with muted colors on the walls, vibrant and rich fabrics and classic prints and paintings. The guest rooms and suites are spacious and relaxing, and the grand windows let sunlight in and provide a looking glass for Rome’s breathtaking views.
Rooms and Rates	The Hotel offers superior and deluxe rooms starting at about $625. If you are lucky, you might catch a special Easter event package, “Easter in Rome,” starting from about $480 per night but only bookable via the hotel directly.
Amenities	The Hotel Eden has sumptuous amenities, and there are marble bathrooms, large, comfortable beds and classic Italian furniture. The spa and fitness center at the Eden provide a perfect area to relax after a day of sightseeing. The rooms all have WIFI, LCD TVs and satellite connections.
Restaurant and Food	The Eden is famous for its Michelin-starred panoramic and exquisite rooftop restaurant, La Terrazza dell’Eden. Guests can dine on gastronomical menu choices and enjoy fine wine selections while enjoying the spectacular sight of St Peter’s Dome from the rooftop terrace. The restaurant offers Italian and Mediterranean dishes and an example of a course on their tasting menu consists of scallops, Kaluga caviar, oysters and endive. Guests can also go to wine tastings at the hotel’s La Caveau or enjoy cocktails and piano music at the Bar La Terrazza.

The city and its visitors are never more at ease with their Christian roots than during the time Easter is observed during Easter week. The suggested activities and centers of worship in the Eternal City of Rome should be a great help to those wanting to attend the Easter celebrations and festivals.

Visitors to the city are sure to find a fun time and a good place to stay in the center of the city with the two suggested hotels, the Kolbe and the Eden. Those of you who like staying away from all the hustle and bustle of the crowds or encounter full hotels would do well to book at the Eurogarden.

If you want to look for something else, try our hotel search at the top or get some inspiration by taking a look at all hotels in Rome. You might even be successful in staying in a hotel around the Vatican City if you are lucky.

There are many chances to celebrate the catholic faith during Easter week in Rome, or if you are just participating in the festivities you can have the bragging rights that you were able to see Pope Francis in Rome. Whatever you decide to do during your week there, it will involve lots of fun festivals and food so say what they say when you visit Italy, “Buona Pasqua!”