Rome Guide - Entertainment

Rome is not just a city of culture, history, and crumbling marble, but a lively city that's a lot of fun for young people. Simply hanging out in the piazzas and on the steps of churches and old buildings is the best way to meet young locals as well as other travellers. There are also plenty of cafes, pubs, and bars offering all kinds of live music. A list of cool places to go and things to do is provided by weekly magazines such as Roma C'e' (look for the small English section at the back), the bi-monthly Wanted in Rome (completely in English), and L'Evento, available at the Punti Informativi Turistici around the city.

Cinemas

To find out what's playing, you can either call the theatre directly or check the current issue of Roma C'e'--available for € 1.00 at newsstands.

Pasquino:
Three screens, three different English-language films several times daily. € 6.20. Piazza S. Egidio , Trastevere. Tel. 06 5803622. Take Tram 8 from Largo Argentina to the first stop after the river. From there, turn right and walk down Via della Lungaretta. Just past Piazza S. Maria in Trastevere, head right and look for the orange door on the right side of the small Piazza S. Egidio.

Metropolitan:

This newly remodelled cinema near Piazza del Popolo usually offers one screen in V.O. every day. €7.50. Via del Corso, 18. (06 32000933) Metro A: Flaminio

Warner Village Moderno:
This brand-new, technologically superior cinema usually has one screen in English. Piazza della Repubblica, 45. Tel. 06 477791 / 47779202. € 7.50. Metro Line A: Repubblica, or a short walk from Termini.

Alcazar:
One screen, film shown in English on Monday only. € 6.20. Via Cardinal Merry del Val (Trastevere) Tel. 06 5880099. Take Tram 8 from Largo Argentina two stops past the river. You will see the cinema on a smaller street off to the right.

 

Opera

Outdoor operas are frequently held during the summer in interesting venues, including the Baths of Caracalla (where ballets are also presented by the Teatro dell'Opera) and the Basilica of San Clemente. Information and schedules can be found in Roma C'e' or Time Out (see above). The least expensive tickets are generally around € 15.

Teatro dell'Opera
Check here for theatre and opera programs and tickets. Cheap (e.g. € 12) tickets sometimes available. Piazza Beniamino Gigli. Metro Line A: Repubblica.

Teatro Nazionale - Sala Milloss
Via del Viminale, 51. Metro Line A: Repubblica.

Teatro Brancaccio
Via Merulana, 244, near Santa Maria Maggiore. Metro Line A: Vittorio.

Classical music

There are classical concerts in Rome year-round in venues of every shape and size. In addition to the normal concert halls there are also outdoor venues during the summer for good music and unbeatable atmosphere. Among the many locations is the Villa Torlonia, on Via Nomentana; After many years, the Academy of Santa Cecilia has resumed staging summer concerts in the Baths of Caracalla.

Auditorio Pio, Accademia di S.Cecilia
Via della Conciliazione, 4. (Down the street from St. Peter's). Bus 40 Express to Piazza Pia. During the summer the Accademia di S. Cecilia holds its concerts at the Baths of Caracalla.

Oratorio del Caravita
Via del Collegio Romano, 3. Bus 40 Express, 170, or 64 to Piazza Venezia.

Aula Magna Universita' La Sapienza
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5. Metro Line B: Castro Pretorio.

Accademia Filarmonica Romana
Via Flaminia, 118. Metro Line A: Flaminio.

Sala Baldini
Piazza Campitelli, 9. Bus 40 Express, 170, or 64 to Piazza Venezia.

Sala Palazzo della Cancelleria
Piazza della Cancelleria (near Campo de' Fiori). Bus 40 Express, 64, 62, 492, 116 to Largo Argentina or Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Teatro Olimpico
Piazza G. da Fabriano, 17. Bus 910 or Metro Line A: Flaminio and bus 225.

Many churches also have live classical music performances. A partial list:

San Nicola in Carcere
Via del Teatro di Marcello, just west of Piazza Venezia. Bus 40 Express or 64 to Piazza Venezia, or 170 to Via del Teatro di Marcello.

Sant'Ignazio
Piazza S. Ignazio, 1. Between Via del Corso and the Pantheon. Bus 40 Express, 64, 62, or 170 to Piazza Venezia, or 116 to the Pantheon.

Chiesa Valdese
Via Marianna Dionigi, 57. Bus 492 to Piazza Cavour.

St. Paul 's Inside the Walls
Via Napoli , 58. Metro Line A: Repubblica, or a short walk down Via Nazionale from Termini station.

Sant'Eustachio
Piazza Sant'Eustachio. Between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Bus 40 Express, 64, 62, or 492 to Largo Argentina , or 116 to the Pantheon.

 

Rock, jazz & blues

Alexanderplatz
Via Ostia , 9. Jazz club in the Vatican area. Metro Line A: Ottaviano. In the summer they move to the gardens of the Villa Celimontana, not to be missed for a great night out.

Big Mama
Vicolo S. Francesco a Ripa, 18, Trastevere. Blues and rock. Tram 8 from Largo Argentina two stops past the river, then walk left down Via S. Francesco a Ripa.

Four XXXX Pub
Via Galvani, 29, Testaccio. Metro Line B: Piramide.

St. Louis
Via del Cardello, 13. Metro Line B: Cavour.

Fonclea
Via Crescenzio, 82A, near Piazza Risorgimento in the Vatican area. Bus 492 to

Via Crescenzio (last stop before Piazza Risorgimento) or Metro Line A: Ottaviano.

Large indoor venues for bigger concerts:

• Palacisalfa Metro Line B: EUR-Fermi, then bus 706

Palaeur (Palazzo dello Sport) Metro Line B: EUR-Palaeur

 

Estate Romana

Roman summer nights are made for being outside, and all of Rome becomes a stage during the Estate Romana, the collective name given to a summer-long season of events held in mostly outdoor venues in every corner of the city. Classical concerts take place in gardens and archaeological sites. Piazzas and church steps play host to jazz and blues musicians. Sprawling green parks like the Villa Celimontana become entire music festivals. Theatre is performed in the ruins at Ostia Antica, and classical music in the Baths of Caracalla and the Villa Torlonia. The entire Foro Italico is turned into entertainment space during the summer, with rock concerts, discos, and a huge open-air gym. All this, plus night-time archaeological visits, outdoor movie screenings, and hilltop stargazing appointments, provides affordable entertainment for every taste--an unforgettable way to spend a Roman summer evening!