Easter

Holy Week in the epicentre of the Catholic Church
Word to the wise: If attending Easter ceremonies in St Peter's Square, get there super early. If you want to attend a Mass in St Peter's Basilica, you'll need to apply for your ticket in advance.

While weather-wise this is probably the best time to visit, if you're not here to do the Catholic thing, then coming to Rome over Easter is near crazy. Not only will you do battle with the usual gamut of tourists, but the city is also besieged by thousands of Vatican pilgrims, as well as a huge number of tour groups and school trips mistakenly thinking this is the time to see the city in action.
However, there are some interesting Easter celebrations, processions and masses, which some may want to experience. Easter Week starts on Palm Sunday, when St Peter's Square fills up with people eager to hear the special mass said by the Pope, starting at 9.30am. On Good Friday, the Pope celebrates the Via Crucis near the Colosseum. A huge cross with burning torches lights the sky as the stations of the cross are described in several languages.