Rome in 7 days: the essential day-by-day itinerary
Rome in 7 days: the day-by-day plan with 32 stops grouped by area and the day trip to Tivoli, what to book ahead and what to leave out.
Read moreWalking tour Ostiense: 5 stops and the essential kit
Walking tour Ostiense: a 5-stop route from the Pyramid of Cestius to Centrale Montemartini, verified hours, mistakes to avoid and the kit to put in your backpack.
Read moreSaturnalia, December 17-23: the Romans’ historic gift and gift ideas for today
Saturnalia: how the festival that Christmas gifts come from worked, the traces in the Roman Forum and today’s gifts with an ancient flavor, to order in time.
Read moreAncient Rome in 3 days: essential Colosseum itinerary
Ancient Rome in 3 days: 14 stops from the Colosseum to the Pantheon and the Appian Way, with checked hours, what to book, where to sleep and what to leave out.
Read moreRome in 5 days: the perfect itinerary, with 23 stops
Rome in 5 days: the day-by-day program with 23 stops divided by area, the trip to Tivoli, what to book ahead, where to sleep and what to avoid.
Read moreFestivals of Ancient Rome: The Mos Maiorum Calendar, Month by Month
The main festivals of ancient Rome in the mos maiorum calendar: dates, deities, rites and sources, month by month, with links to in-depth articles on each festival.
Read moreFordicidia, April 15: The Sacrifice of Pregnant Cows to Tellus
Fordicidia, April 15: the sacrifice of pregnant cows to the goddess Tellus, the calf ashes used by the Vestals, and the link with the Parilia. Sources and history.
Read moreMundus Patet: The Three Days Rome’s Gate to the Underworld Stood Open
Mundus patet: on August 24, October 5 and November 8 the mundus of Rome stood open. What Varro and Macrobius say, the bans, and the possible sites of the pit.
Read moreTigillum Sororium, October 1: The Beam Horatius Passed Under
Tigillum Sororium, October 1: the beam Horatius passed under after killing his sister, the rite of atonement told by Livy, and the altars of Juno and Janus.
Read moreFeriae Latinae: The Festival of Jupiter Latiaris on Monte Cavo
Feriae Latinae: the movable festival of Jupiter Latiaris in the Alban Hills, the white bull, the Latin peoples, and the consuls’ duty before leaving for war.
Read moreAngeronalia, December 21: The Goddess of Silence and Rome’s Secret Name
Angeronalia, December 21: the festival of the goddess Angerona, the statue with the sealed mouth and the mystery of Rome’s secret name. Macrobius, Pliny and the theories.
Read moreVolturnalia, August 27: The Festival of the God Volturnus, Tiber and Rivers
Volturnalia, August 27: the festival of the god Volturnus, a Roman river deity. What Varro and Festus say, why we know so little and what scholars suggest.
Read moreJuturnalia, January 11: The Festival of Juturna and the Roman Forum Spring
Juturnalia, January 11: the festival of the nymph Juturna, the spring in the Roman Forum beside the Temple of the Dioscuri and the link to plumbers and water craftsmen.
Read morePaganalia, January: The Village Festival After the Sowing
Paganalia: the movable January festival of the pagi, Rome’s rural villages, after the sowing. The rite to Tellus and Ceres, Ovid, Varro and the festival’s social meaning.
Read moreOpalia, December 19: The Festival of Ops and the Rite of Sitting on the Ground
Opalia, December 19: the festival of Ops, Roman goddess of abundance and wife of Saturn, the rite of sitting and touching the ground and the link with the Saturnalia.
Read moreFaunalia, December 5: Faunus’s Country Festival as Told by Horace
Faunalia, December 5: the rural festival of Faunus with wine, a young goat and dancing in the meadows, the temple on Tiber Island and Horace’s ode. Sources and history.
Read moreSeptimontium, December 11: The Festival of the Seven Mountains of Earliest Rome
Septimontium, December 11: the archaic festival of Rome’s seven mountains before the classical seven hills, the montani, Varro, Festus and Plutarch. History and sources.
Read moreEquus October, October 15: The Sacrifice of Mars’s Horse in the Campus Martius
Equus October, October 15: the sacrifice of the October horse to Mars, the fight for its head between the Suburana and the Sacravienses, and the blood on the Regia. Sources and studies.
Read moreVertumnalia, August 13: The Festival of Vertumnus, God of Seasons and Fruit
Vertumnalia, August 13: the festival of Vertumnus, Etruscan god of seasons and fruit, the statue on the Vicus Tuscus in Rome and the verses of Propertius.
Read moreLudi Apollinares, July 6-13: The Games of Apollo Founded in the Second Punic War
Ludi Apollinares, from July 6: the games of Apollo founded in 212 BC in the thick of the Punic War, the prophecy of Marcius, the Circus Maximus and the temple of Apollo.
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