Best of Rome: Festivals Part of the Places of a Lifetime series from Traveler magazine

Expert recommendations of the top events—with tips on how to best experience these celebrations.

Crowds gather daily at the Spanish Steps, the graceful double staircase built in the 1720s. THIS ARTICLE IS FROM National Geographic Traveler National Geographic Traveler Get 2 for 1 and experience new destinations with over $60 in savings. ORDER NOW

Easter (Pasqua)
Rome blooms with flowers and festivities for this major Catholic holiday; places to visit include the flower-trimmed Spanish Steps and, of course, St. Peter's Basilica.

Estate Romana
June-September. Rome's celebration of summer, or "estate" (eh-STAH-teh); multiple events, including classical concerts, theater performances, special archaeological tours, outdoor movie screenings. www.estateromana.comune.roma.it

La Notte Bianca
Early September. Annual event; hundreds of performances and shows; games; parties; sporting events. Also, shops, galleries, museums, and cultural centers open all night—and the city is closed to traffic. www.lanottebianca.it

Festa del Cinema di Roma
Mid-October. Festival of cinema in Rome; screenings of films from up-and-coming global filmmakers at different venues throughout the city. www.romacinemafest.org