What to know and how to avoid crowds in Rome this year
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world in terms of size and population.
That’s not stopping an estimated 32 million travelers from visiting Jubilee 2025 this year, a year-long global celebration among those of the Catholic faith.
Jubilee is a time of pilgrimage, prayer, reflection and renewal of faith, said Jubilee spokeswoman Caterina Rigoni.
Visitors cross the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 25, 2024, in the Vatican.
Franco Origlia | News Getty Images | Getty Images
“It is celebrated throughout Rome through masses, processions and various religious and cultural events in the main basilicas, with special attention to the role of the Vatican as the heart of the Catholic faith,” she said. CNBC Travel.
The Italian government provides Jubilee visas for travelers coming to Rome via excursions organized by their local churches.
Year of event
The jubilee began on December 24, with the opening of the first of the four “Holy Doors” by Pope Francis tradition which dates back to at least 1500. The doors, which are usually sealed with plaster, are opened only during jubilee years, which occur every 25 years.
Passing through the gate signifies cleansing from sin and reconnecting with faith, and this is the primary reason pilgrims travel to Rome to attend the Jubilee.
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas opens the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary the Great on January 1, 2025 in Rome, Italy.
Marialaura Antonelli | Vatican pool Getty Images
Attendees can make a pilgrimage within the pilgrimage. The “Seven Churches” the route is a ritual dating back to the 16th century and involves a 15.5-mile walk from the Vatican to the outskirts of Rome. Meanwhile, “Protectors of Europe and Church Teachers” the pilgrimage allows visitors to learn more about European saints.
Several days are reserved for celebrations for certain groups. For example, February 8 to 9 is dedicated to the armed forces, while Jubilee of teenagersfrom April 25 to 27, includes concerts in numerous Roman squares.
Rigoni said that the jubilee organizers expect good attendance at these concerts. She advised visitors to plan all activities in advance and check the Jubilee website and app for updates.
Where to stay and what to eat in Rome
Brandon Shaw, who lived and worked in Rome for 15 years and co-founded a guided tour company Tour guy in 2012, recommends that Jubilee visitors stay in Prati, a district near the Vatican, on Hotel Dei Mellini, Hotel Isa or Hotel NH Collection Roma Centro.
For the best pizza in town, Shaw suggests travelers dine at Panificio Bonci. For a more formal meal, he recommends Il Sorpasso. Both are within walking distance of the Vatican.
Brandon Shaw (right) on a tour of the Vatican Map Gallery.
Source: The Tour Guy
“Prati isn’t home to ancient ruins or any major monuments, so it’s often overlooked by tourists, but that’s exactly what makes it a great place to stay. It’s a place where many locals live and is home to many outdoor wine bars, elegant cocktail lounges and gourmet restaurants,” said Shaw, who now lives in Florida.
To enjoy Rome away from the jubilee crowd, Shaw recommends visiting it Catacombs Rome, which are underground cemeteries containing the crypts of notable popes and martyrs. He also suggests walking in sections Appian Waythe ancient road that stretched from Rome to the “fifth” of Italy, i Aqueduct Park, which contains the remains of aqueducts built during the Roman Empire.
Avoiding the Roman crowds
As for travelers looking to skip Rome during the jubilee year, TV presenter and producer Kathy McCabe has no shortage of alternatives.
McCabe said she is a big fan of Modena, a city about five hours north of Rome that is also home to Luciano Pavarotti and balsamic vinegar.
She said this while filming two episodes “A dream about Italytravel series on PBS, she met celebrity chef Massimo Bottura. He leads the world famous Osteria Francescanaand more casually Franceschetta58which she said make the best tortellini in the world.
“Modena is the Italy of 20 or 30 years ago that you long for and I hope it never changes. It’s such a quaint town with almost no tourists or souvenir shops,” said McCabe, who lives in Colorado.
McCabe also filmed in Capua, some two hours south of Rome, near which is an ancient amphitheater second only to Rome’s Colosseum. Caserta, which is about 20 minutes from Capua, is another favorite of McCabe, s royal palace that she said “the rivals of Versailles”.
For foodies, McCabe said the northern cities of Bologna and Parma should top the list.
McCabe, who has visited Italy more than 90 times and wants to live in Rome one day, says people who don’t like crowds shouldn’t write off Rome in 2025.
“Rome is endless. Once you get past the big things to see, there are tons of churches, museums, shops, restaurants and experiences,” McCabe said.
“If you have the chance to go to Rome, you should,” she said.