Nonae Caprotinae, July 7: the festival of the maidservants under the wild fig
Nonae Caprotinae, July 7: the festival of Juno Caprotina, the wild fig, Roman maidservants and the legends of Tutula and Romulus told by Plutarch and Macrobius.
Read moreAmbarvalia: the Roman procession that purified the fields in late May
Ambarvalia: the procession of a pig, a sheep and a bull around the wheat fields in late May, the suovetaurilia sacrifice and Cato’s prayer. Sources and history.
Read moreVeneralia, April 1: the festival of Venus Verticordia and Roman women
Veneralia, April 1: the washing of the statue of Venus Verticordia, the myrtle crowns and the cult of Fortuna Virilis, according to Ovid. History of a women’s festival.
Read moreAnna Perenna, March 15: the Roman festival of the first full moon of the year
Anna Perenna, March 15: the Roman folk festival of the new year, the picnic on the Tiber told by Ovid, the legends of the goddess and the spring at Piazza Euclide.
Read moreRegifugium, February 24: the “flight of the king” in the Roman calendar
Regifugium, February 24: the rite of the “flight of the king” in the Comitium, the legend of the exile of Tarquin the Proud and the theories of modern scholars.
Read moreTerminalia, February 23: The Roman Festival of Boundaries and the God Terminus
Terminalia, February 23: the Roman festival of the god Terminus, the boundary stone on the Capitoline Hill and the neighbors’ rite told by Ovid. History, sources and places.
Read moreMausoleums of Rome: Guide to 26 Ancient Mausoleums and Tombs
Mausoleums of Rome: 26 ancient mausoleums and tombs, from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Appia Antica, with access details, reservations and map locations.
Read moreMausoleum of the Gordians: The Works, the Glass Wall, and the Facts
Mausoleum of the Gordians at Villa Gordiani: timeline of the works, 240 sq m glass wall and staircase, reader objections, and official sources.
Read moreLudi Plebei, November 4-17: the historic banquet of Jupiter
Ludi Plebei from November 4 to 17: the history of the games of the plebs, the Circus Flaminius, the banquet of Jupiter on the 13th and where to find them today in Rome on foot.
Read moreFree Rome in 3 days: the essential 15-stop itinerary
Free Rome in 3 days: 15 free-entry stops divided by area, the free Sundays, what you now have to pay for (Pantheon, Trevi) and how to save money.
Read moreAll Saints in Rome and November 2: Verano and fave, the essentials
All Saints in Rome: the true history of November 1 and 2, official hours of the Verano and the Non-Catholic Cemetery, fave dei morti, mistakes to avoid and what to order.
Read moreParty costumes in Rome: 4 historical themes, the essential kit
Party costumes in Rome: toga, 1920s, Renaissance and gladiators. What they were really like, where to see them live, when to order them and what to buy online.
Read moreRome in 4 days: the essential day-by-day itinerary
Rome in 4 days: the day-by-day plan with 19 stops grouped by area, what to book ahead, where to stay, how to get around and what to leave out.
Read moreFornicate: the Word Born Under the Arches of Rome (and Why “porn” Has Nothing to Do With It)
Fornicate comes from the Latin fornix, the arch under which women worked as prostitutes in Rome, including at the Circus Maximus. Porn, instead, comes from Greek: here is why.
Read moreRome in 3 Days with Kids: The Perfect Plan in 13 Stops
Rome in 3 days with kids: Colosseum, Bioparco, Explora and the fountains of the center, one area a day, with bookings, breaks and what to skip if they’re tired.
Read moreRome in 2 Days: The Essential Itinerary, Day by Day
Rome in 2 days: the day-by-day plan with 10 stops divided by area, what to book ahead, where to sleep and what to leave out.
Read moreHalloween in Rome: 5 Places and the Legendary Lemuria Rite
Halloween in Rome: Ovid’s Lemuria, fava beans, the Capuchin Crypt, the catacombs and what to order in time for the night of October 31, 2026.
Read moreRome in 3 Days: The Essential Itinerary, Day by Day
Rome in 3 days: the day-by-day plan with 15 stops divided by area, what to book ahead, where to sleep and what to leave out.
Read moreArmilustrium, October 19: Rome’s Historic Festival of Arms
Armilustrium, October 19: the Roman festival of the purification of arms on the Aventine. Ancient sources, where it was held and how to mark it today in Rome.
Read moreFontinalia, October 13: the Festival and 12 Rome Fountains
Fontinalia, October 13: what the Roman festival of springs was according to Varro and a walking route of 12 fountains in Rome with a water bottle.
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