Easter in Rome: A Feast for Restaurants and a Getaway for Locals

Coastlines and Castles stormed by Romans, who will leave the historic center essentially in the hands of tourists present in the Eternal City and the many people who (especially on Easter Monday) will choose the Capital for a day trip. The ones to make the best deals, in this long Easter weekend, will be especially the restaurateurs: many of whom display the "sold out" sign - for tomorrow and Monday - already for some days. And revenues are also growing, compared to the same period last year: "We expect a turnover of over 55 million euros for these days of celebration - emphasizes Claudio Pica, president of Fiepet-Confesercenti of Rome and Lazio - With an increase of 23 percent compared to 2023". THE MAP With the historic center locked down to ensure safety, given the delicate international situation, Romans choose especially to go out to eat. Few are the trips of more days: many have preferred to focus on the long bridge from April 25 to May 1. Those who are moving now, instead, have chosen in most cases nearby destinations: the rest of Lazio, Abruzzo, Umbria, and Tuscany in the first place. "But customers who book do so largely for the next summer and autumn months, especially if it's about important trips", explains Cinzia Renzi, president of Assoviaggi Lazio, part of Confesercenti, which includes 1,900 agencies and tour operators. In these days, therefore, the restaurants of the Capital's hinterland (with the Castelli Romani at the top of preferences) and especially the coastline - particularly between Ostia, Fiumicino, Fregene, and Maccarese - but also in other favorite seaside locations of Romans: north towards Santa Severa and Tarquinia and further south towards Anzio and Circeo. Boom of reservations also in farmhouses, around the Eternal City and in the provinces of Viterbo, Rieti, and Frosinone. The only uncertainty, as always, lies in the weather, very uncertain especially on Easter Monday. WITHIN THE WALLS The center, as said, will instead be manned by tourists and "day-trippers" coming from outside the city, who will still guarantee the sold-out in most of the public establishments that have chosen to remain open these festive days. The origins of the guests in the hotels, during the Easter period, are equally divided between Italians and foreigners: among the latter, Europeans prevail. Particularly crowded areas with a greater tourist vocation of the Urbe are expected: from the Trident to the surroundings of the Colosseum, from the Baroque bend to Borgo and Prati, due to the proximity to the Vatican. THE TREND If Easter will reward especially the restaurants and other public establishments of the Capital and its hinterland, the end of April will be more dedicated to travel, mostly short by Romans. Many will take advantage of the seven days of bridge, between April 25 and May 1, when also many Roman schools have decided to remain closed. Weather permitting, the preferred destinations will be the seaside locations of Lazio, but also some inland villages. Then follow Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Campania, Marche, Molise, the Apennine arc, and the Alpine arc. Mostly these are national destinations, although, according to travel agencies, many Romans will opt for the classic "city break", in Europe.