Special openings of hidden places, international sports competitions and breathtaking shows. There’s so much to do in Rome this May 2024!
Without wasting a lot of time, let’s dive into these super exciting things to explore in the city!
Night of the Museums (Notte dei Musei) – May 18th
Every year in May, there will be extraordinary openings by night of some of the Rome museums. This 2024 the Night of the Museums will take place on May 18th all over Europe.
According to the plan, museums will be exceptionally open from 8PM to 2AM (last entrance at 1AM). On this occasion entry tickets will be €1.
The full list of museums is not published yet (we’ll update this article when we know more), however among the sites which will participate (and that we recommend visiting) are the Musei Capitolini, Centrale Montemartini, Trajan’s markets, Museum of the Ara Pacis, the Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi (Piazza Navona), Museum in Trastevere, Villa Torlonia and other little hidden museums off the beaten path.
BNL Internazionali di Tennis – May 6th-19th
The Internazionali BNL of Italy Tennis tournament is back at the Foro Italico from May 6th to the 19th! The biggest tennis players of the world will be in Rome on those dates.
In Rome this is followed by both tennis enthusiasts as well as those who just want to take part in this “glamorous” event 😉
There is also something new this year on the occasion of the tournament: in Piazza del Popolo, from April 30th until April 5th, there will be a tennis court where a match show will be held by either Jannik Sinner or Matteo Berrettini (they will reveal which of them only few days before the event)! There will also be training sessions of tennis players participating in the tournament,.
Info and tickets: https://www.internazionalibnlditalia.com/en/
Piazza di Siena international horse show in Villa Borghese
This will be the 91st edition of this international horse show in Villa Borghese. Same as in the previous years, those who want to attend will be able to watch the shows for free from the spectators’ seats around the field.
More info: https://www.piazzadisiena.it/en/news-piazza-di-siena-english.html
Pentecost at the Pantheon – May 19th
After the mass at 10:30AM, the firefighters around midday will throw thousands of rose petals from the top of the dome, which will fall inside the Pantheon.
This is a breathtaking show which originates from ancient times. The rose petals symbolize the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church, as well as the blood of Christ for the redemption of humanity.
To see the rose petals you need to participate to the mass. This mass has very high participation, therefore you should be at the door of the Pantheon at 9AM and participants will be allowed inside until full capacity.
More info on: https://www.pantheonroma.com/
Giro d’Italia Grand Finale – May 26th
For the second year in a row, Rome will be the final stage of the Giro d’Italia, the most important cyclist race in Italy. The Giro d’Italia crosses the Italian peninsula through mountains and beautiful landscapes, and it will end in via dei Fori Imperiali on May 26th.
World Press Photo Exhibition 2024
The World Press Photo Exhibition selects the best photos of journalism and documentaries from all around the world. It will be exhibited at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni from May 9th until June 9th.
It is an exhibition that invites to see with visual images the main news and events around the planet. From the bombing in Gaza, to the migrants jumping in the “beast” train in Mexico, these photos show how an image can speak more than a million words.
Experience Rome with us!
If you want to make your May Rome trip special and looking for something fun, unique, personal… you’re in the right place!
We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Our experiences include the hidden gems of Rome, underground sites and a super local street food tour.
More info on: https://www.carpediemtours.com/
