Italy celebrates Pasqua with traditions, food and public holidays.

Rome retains its place as the most sought-after Easter destination in Italy for international tourists, followed by Milan, Venice, Florence and Naples, according to Booking.com.

More than 11 million Italians are set to travel at Easter, according to a survey carried out by Tecnè market research institute for the Federalberghi hotel group.

88 per cent of those surveyed will choose a holiday destination in Italy, with the surge in Easter travel fuelled by a cluster of public holidays including Liberation Day on 25 April and Labour Day on 1 May. 

For those staying in Rome, or travelling to the Italian capital, Easter in the Eternal City is an experience rich in religious and culinary traditions.

Holy Week and Easter at the Vatican

The Vatican's Holy Week and Easter liturgies will be slightly different in 2025 as Pope Francis continues to convalesce following his recent battle with pneumonia.

The health of the 88-year-old pontiff continues to improve and he has made several surprise appearances in public in recent days however his name is not included on the Vatican's Holy Week programme.

One of the most evocative ceremonies associated with Holy Week in Rome - the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross - will take place at the Colosseum on the night of Good Friday, 18 April, at 21.15.

This solemn candle-light procession - which is free to attend and does not require tickets - attracts thousands of faithful who listen to meditations re-enacting Christ's crucifixion.

Cardinal Baldo Reina, the pope's vicar general of Rome, will preside over the ceremony this year and the meditations will be written by Pope Francis.

The Vatican's Easter Vigil Mass will be in St Peter's Basilica at 19.30 on Holy Saturday, 19 April, as well as Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square the next morning at 10.30.

Francis is expected to impart the Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi blessing, traditionally given by the pope from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica at midday on Easter Sunday, which falls on 20 April this year.

The blessing cannot be delegated to anyone else, although it could be delivered in a different format such as a live-stream video.

The Vatican press office is set to provide more details on Friday.

For full details of the Vatican's liturgical programme see official website while for a listing of English-language religious services in the capital see Wanted in Rome's guide.

What to eat in Rome at Easter

Roman restaurants typically offer menus featuring abbacchio (lamb) at Easter, or Pasqua, however you will need to reserve your table in advance due to high demand.

Easter Sunday brunch in Rome is a savoury occasion with Romans laying out a delectable spread of hard-boiled eggs (often painted brightly), salami and cheese, accompanied by the classic pizza al formaggio.

Rome's bakeries sell a sweet cake made in the shape of a dove, known as a colomba, which has been a firm favourite on the Easter calendar in Italy for almost a century.

Pasquetta

Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, or Pasquetta, are national holidays in Italy, with all public offices and schools closed on Monday 1 April.

Many Romans mark Pasquetta with a picnic in the city's parks.

Museums tend to open exceptionally for Pasquetta however the Vatican Museums will be closed on both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Easter in Italian life

In contrast to Christmas, which is very much a family-oriented occasion in Italian society, Easter is a time to celebrate with friends.

As a popular expression goes: "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi", meaning Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want.

Photo credit: A.J. Olnes / Shutterstock.com