As the days grow longer and Rome shakes off the last traces of winter, the city becomes a theatre of beauty and inspiration. Its palaces, galleries, and piazzas open like petals in the sun, inviting travelers to stroll slowly, look closely, and let themselves be touched by what they see. Whether you're drawn to the quiet radiance of a painting or the joy of discovering a hidden courtyard during an open house visit, springtime in Rome brings culture to life with grace and warmth.
Below, a curated guide to what’s unfolding across the Eternal City during your stay.
Caravaggio 2025 – Palazzo Barberini (Until 6 July 2025)
A rare and powerful encounter with one of Rome’s most beloved sons. In the heart of Palazzo Barberini, twenty-four canvases—some of them long-lost, others world-famous—come together to reveal Caravaggio’s darkness and brilliance. From the recently rediscovered Ecce Homo to the iconic Cardsharps, this exhibition is more than a retrospective—it’s a meditation on light, violence, and humanity.
Munch: The Inner Scream – Palazzo Bonaparte (Until 2 June 2025)
Edvard Munch arrives in Rome with a haunting collection of over 100 works from the Munch Museum in Oslo. Within the elegant rooms of Palazzo Bonaparte, visitors encounter not only The Scream in its lithographic version, but also quieter pieces that speak of love, loneliness, and memory. A deep and emotional exhibition that lingers long after you leave.
Chromotherapy – Villa Medici (Until 9 June 2025)
In the gardens and salons of the French Academy, color becomes a language of healing. Chromotherapy is an invitation to reflect on the way hues affect our moods and inner states. Works by contemporary photographers and visual artists are presented alongside site-specific installations in one of Rome’s most quietly magical spaces.
Richard Avedon: Italian Days – Gagosian (Until 30 June 2025)
In a sharp yet sensual collection of portraits and moments, the great Richard Avedon captures post-war Italy with unmatched clarity. The exhibition focuses on his travels through Rome, Naples, and Florence, offering glimpses of fashion shoots, film stars, and fleeting street scenes. Hosted in the Gagosian gallery on Via Francesco Crispi, this is a love letter to the elegance of another era.
Frida Kahlo: A Photographic Life – Museo Storico della Fanteria (Until 20 July 2025)
This quiet, moving exhibition traces Frida Kahlo’s life through the camera lenses of those who knew her. Intimate portraits, snapshots, and handwritten notes sketch the story of a woman whose image became legend. It’s less about myth, more about presence—the way she looked at the world, and how it looked back.
Global Baroque – Museo di Roma, Palazzo Braschi (Until 13 July 2025)
Step into the Rome of the 1600s, when the city wasn’t just shaping art history—it was looking out at the world. This exhibition weaves together paintings, sculptures, and rare documents to show how the Baroque was both intensely Roman and quietly international.
Rome’s Birthday – Natale di Roma (21 April 2025)
Each spring, Rome throws herself a birthday. Not the kind with cake and candles, but one with centurions marching in full regalia across the cobblestones and spectators leaning over the railings at Circo Massimo, half in awe, half in disbelief. On this day, the city remembers her founding myth—Romulus, the she-wolf, and that ancient moment when time itself seemed to begin. You don’t need to attend a parade to feel it. The air shifts. The stones remember.
Festa della Liberazione (25 April 2025)
Flags flutter quietly from balconies, and music rises from unexpected corners. You may stumble upon a brass band in a piazza or catch sight of schoolchildren laying flowers beneath commemorative plaques. The city doesn’t shout this holiday; it sings it gently. A day of memory and gratitude, when the past feels present and freedom is not taken for granted.
Open House Roma (24 May – 1 June 2025)
Palazzi, private homes, and little-known architectural gems welcome curious visitors for guided visits and conversations. From Fascist-era modernism to medieval towers, Open House is a chance to explore the layers of Rome through its walls, windows, and rooftops.
Notte dei Musei – Night of the Museums (Date to be announced)
One night a year, Rome’s museums stay open after dark. Entry is symbolic—just one euro—and the atmosphere is unforgettable. With candlelit galleries, open-air concerts, and nocturnal strolls through palaces and ruins, Notte dei Musei is a chance to see the city in a different light.
Rome Tennis Open – Foro Italico (7–18 May 2025)
In May, tennis returns to Rome in its most Roman form, played between statues and pines. At the Foro Italico, the matches unfold with precision. But the atmosphere is the real star of the show and pure theater: long shadows, murmuring crowds, the occasional breeze stirring through the cypress. It’s a tournament, yes, but also a ritual, a real Roman ritual.
Wherever your interests lie, quiet contemplation, historical celebration, or the thrill of the game, Rome this spring offers something for every kind of traveler. Not just something to see, but something to remember.
