Experience Easter the Italian way in Rome

Your captain will dock your yacht in the Roma Marina Yachting harbor at the Port of Civitavecchia. You and your loved ones will talk to the chief stewardess about which day or days you would like to visit the city to witness one of the many celebratory masses, see the parades and enjoy a traditional Italian Easter dish. Of course there will be an Easter Egg Hunt onboard before you leave for the capital of Italy! 

Palm Sunday kicks off the most important religious festival of the year for the Catholic Church. Like many of the celebrations, St Peter’s Square is the focal point. The Pope will hold a mass here at 9.30 am and you may notice that locals carry olive branches around. That is because they can’t get their hands on actual palm branches to reenact or celebrate Jesus’ triumphal arrival in Jerusalem.

On Good Friday, around 5 pm, the Pope holds a mass in St Peter’s Basilica before the main event, the Via Crucis or ‘Stations of the Cross’ kicks off. Beginning at 9.15 pm, the Pope leads a procession through the fourteen stations of the cross, reciting a short mass at each point. The crowds are led by a huge, brightly lit cross. The procession starts at the Colosseum and moves down the Roman Forum to Palatine Hill. The Pope will commemorate the journey Jesus made while holding the cross. 

At 10.15 am on Easter Sunday, the mass that the faithful have been waiting for takes place in St Peter’s Square. It is usually quite packed with pilgrims, so if this is the event of your choice, make sure your chief stewardess has organized your tickets and arrive well in advance.

At midday, the Pope will  deliver the famous Urbi et Orbi greeting to the world, which is done annually at both Christmas and Easter. Literally speaking, ‘Urbi et Orbi’ is Latin for ‘to the City and to the World’. This message is directly addressed to the city of Rome and the universal church and is televised all over the world.

During the Easter period, Italians go all out for breakfast, and it is not what you would expect. Their elaborate breakfast is made up of eggs, salami and other savory delights like artichoke omelets, colored boiled eggs and coratella.  Not for the faint-hearted, coratella, lamb interiors, is traditionally served on Easter Sunday morning as part of the annual colazione pasquale, the one day of the year that Romans will indulge in an abundant breakfast.

For those with a sweet tooth, there is a delicious ‘beaten’ pizza made with lots of eggs, cheese and cured meat. This easter pie, baked inside a pizza dough crust, is almost like a soft sponge cake, and pairs beautifully with homemade jam or chocolate.

Maybe you can top it with some Easter eggs! Easter is a particular exciting time for children in Rome, since they receive over-sized, hollow chocolate eggs with a surprise inside. While you stroll through the streets of Rome, you will surely notice these chocolate eggs of all sizes, shapes and colors in the store windows!

What is known as Pasquetta, or small Easter, on Monday, is for most Italians the best day of the entire Easter break. This is the day that young Italians have been waiting for the entire winter. Easter Monday equals to having an epic picnic showered with wine and laughter, to go back home only after the sun has set. Be a local and ask your chief stewardess to pack all your favorite dishes and head over to the countryside around Rome or the beach to chill for a couple of hours.

Maybe you can have a picnic in the Borghese Gardens! The crew will set up your table at one of the most enchanting spots in Villa Borghese, the lake. Overlooked by a beautiful temple, you and your loved ones can take in all the sights and sounds of this charming corner in the middle of the park while enjoying some of the local wine. You can even row around the canal in this heart shaped park of Rome and try to find the small tortoises, geese and ducks that call the lake their home. 

The famous Borghese Gallery is located inside the park and was originally the private property of Scipione Borghese, to whom the park and villa belonged. The gallery boasts an incredible collection of paintings and sculptures by some of the most influential artists of all times, such as Bernini, Raffaello and Caravaggio. The gallery is compact in size but packed with incredible masterpieces. What a perfect way to get some culture mixed in during your Easter visit!

Don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs before you make your way back to the yacht at the end of the day! While leaving the port on your way to your next destination, you and your loved ones will agree, visiting Rome for Easter from the comfort of your own yacht is one for the books!