- BY ISSIMO
- December 17, 2024
A trip to Rome is always a good idea, though this year more people than usual might think so, too: 2025 marks in fact the Jubilee – the holy year that the Pope has decreed periodically since the 1300s as a milestone for the Catholic Church.
Millions of pilgrims are expected to descend upon the Eternal City (if you came in 2024, you surely noticed all the scaffolding around some of the capital’s main landmarks to get everything ready for the big event), and chances are the crowds are going to be a little bigger than average across town.
That doesn’t mean you should skip a visit, however. Rather, plan smartly to avoid the throngs of tourists (something you should do anyway!), and consider giving some of the bigger churches a miss to favour lesser-known sites instead.
Need a little guidance? We’re here to help. Below, we share a few tips on how to do Rome sans-crowds during the Jubilee. Just don’t tell anyone….
Discover minor – but equally beautiful – churches
Major players like St. Peter’s, San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Paolo fuori le Mura (the four Papal Basilicas) are bound to be pretty busy during the Jubilee – which is why opting to visit smaller churches might be a better idea. Rome has a wealth of awe-inspiring, historical, beautiful places of worship wherever you turn, some of which don’t get the attention they deserve.
Try Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, built in 1642–1660 by architect Francesco Borromini and widely regarded as a masterpiece of Roman Baroque. You’ll find it at the rear of a courtyard on Corso del Rinascimento, in a complex that is now used by the State Archives of Rome.
Next up, make a stop at San Pietro in Vincoli, on the Oppian Hill near Cavour metro station and a short-ish walk from Colosseum. A minor basilica, the church is best known for housing Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, part of the tomb of Pope Julius II; as well as the chain with which St. Peter was bound as a prisoner in Jerusalem, which is now preserved under the high altar. The relic, which gives the church its name, is exposed to the public annually on August 1, so think about a trip then.
More churches we love are San Lorenzo in Lucina, one of the oldest places of worship in the city, whose facade is a fantastic example of ancient Romanesque style (the Baroque interior is just as impressive); Santa Maria del Popolo, which comes off a fresh restoration and features works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Carracci, Pinturicchio and Bernini; and Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built on the site of three pagan temples, including one dedicated to the goddess Minerva, and Rome’s only Gothic church.
Little remains of the original 13th-century structure today, but inside you’ll find an incredible interior, a Michelangelo sculpture, the Cristo Risorto, and frescoes by Filippino Lippi. Outside, don’t miss the charming obelisk supported by an elephant base. It was rediscovered in 1665 during excavations near the church, though the pachyderm was actually designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and sculpted by his student, Ercole Ferrata in 1667.
Skip the Vatican Museums
Sure, they’re a treasure trove of artistic riches, but the Vatican Museums get some 20,000 visitors a day – and that number isn’t going to decrease during the Jubilee. If you don’t want to be surrounded by mad throngs of tourists, might we suggest saving it for your next trip to Rome and booking tickets for other, just as notable, museums and galleries instead?
Start with the jaw-dropping Galleria Borghese, which houses paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian, as well as stunning sculptures by Bernini. The building itself is a bit of a sight, with lavish neoclassical decor, 4th-century floor mosaics of fighting gladiators and over-the-top frescoes. The piece de resistance, however, is Antonio Canova’s daring depiction of Napoleon’s sister, Paolina Bonaparte Borghese, reclining topless as Venere vincitrice (though Bernini’s flamboyant Ratto di Proserpina comes a close second).
Galleria Doria Pamphilj is another must-visit. One of Rome’s richest private art collections, it boasts works by Raphael, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio, Bernini and Velázquez, plus several Flemish masters, which visitors can admire across its ornate, opulent halls. The gallery is found in Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, which dates from the mid-15th century, although its current look is actually from the 18th century and the work of the current owners, the Doria Pamphilj family.
Time for one more museum? Then don’t miss the National Etruscan Museum/Museo Nazionale Etrusco of Villa Giulia (ETRU), dedicated to the Etruscan and Faliscan civilizations. It is the most important Etruscan museum in the world, and features remarkable findings from southern Etruria – the territory corresponding to Upper Lazio, between the Tiber and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Just like Galleria Borghese and Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, Villa Giulia is worth a visit of its own, having been built between 1550 and 1555 by by Pope Julius III with the participation of great artists such as Giorgio Vasari, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Bartolomeo Ammannati and Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Take a day trip – or two – outside Rome
Rome begs to be explored over more than one trip, so if you’re visiting during 2025, think about saving a proper tour for your next soggiorno, and leave the city behind with a fab day trip or two.
You could visit Bomarzo, a Mannerist park built by Prince Vicino Orsini in 1547 featuring giant, surreal statues of magical creatures and exotic animals, just over an hour away from Rome. Or you could immerse yourself in the wonders of Tuscia, in northern Lazio – a historical area that comprises a few towns and territories once under Etruscan influence (we suggest Viterbo, Caprarola and Civita di Bagnoregio, just some of our favourite places).
Lake Bracciano and its three delightful towns – Anguillara, Bracciano and Trevignano – is another great destination for an afternoon away from the bustle of the Eternal City, with lovely centri storici, excellent restaurants and an impressive medieval castle to discover.
If you’re after more chilled vibes, opt for the coast, where Palo Laziale offers laidback beaches, more Etruscan ruins, fantastic seafood and, of course, our magical La Posta Vecchia, for a perfect getaway.
