Holy Week in Rome

Holy Week in Rome

Holy Week began with Palm Sunday for Christians, while the Jewish community is observing Passover. These are among the most important days of the year for their respective religions. Passover marks the end of Jewish slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh  Ramses II, more than 3,300 years ago, while Holy Week celebrates the final days of Jesus’ life, with his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection among the central tenets of the Christian faith.

Rome is connected to Christianity in many ways: it’s the official residence of Pope Frances, has over 900 cathedrals, churches and chapels, and is the reputed resting place of St Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles. As such, there are few places on Earth that celebrate Easter with the same gusto this Italian city. Here, there are many special services to mark the most important Christian festival, and in Holy Week the city is flooded with religious tourists.

The Vatican City

Situated within Rome is the Vatican City which is home to the Head of the Catholic Church, the Pope. The most popular place to visit at Easter time is St Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro) and St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where many services are delivered by the Pope himself. The main event is Easter Sunday Mass, where huge crowds gather in the square to hear the Pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” message from the balcony of the papal apartments.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum also has a very strong connection to Christianity, with particular reference to the early Christians that were said to have been persecuted for their faith in God, by being thrown to the lions. On Good Friday an evening vigil called the ‘Stations of the Cross’ is presided over by the Pope in the Colosseum.

Scala Santa

A more unusual but no less popular destination for pilgrims is the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), reportedly the steps that led up to the official residence of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. It is believed that they were transported to Rome in the 4th Century AD by St Helena, and are now encased by protective walnut boards to guard against damage.

Visiting Rome and the Vatican City Rome is a gorgeous city to visit the whole year round, but it is particularly attractive during holy week.

Rome Best European City for Hostels

Marilyn Monroe - a British Love Affair

Jack Cardiff, British cinematographer, director and photographer

Sunday 24th March saw the end of a boutique exhibition of Marilyn Monroe - a British Love Affair at the National Portrait Gallery. The NPG has a very specific aim; "‘to promote through the medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and ... to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media.’" One icon who made a significant impact on the world's media was was Marilyn Monroe. 

The exhibition focused on the time when Monroe visited Britain at the height  of her glittering career in 1956 to film The Prince and the Showgirl, a Laurence Olivier film.

Celebrating the life of Marilyn Monroe through her connections with Great Britain, the small exhibition covered her journey from pin-up to renowned Hollywood actress. This was shown mainly through photos by British photographers Antony Beauchamp, Baron, Cecil Beaton, Larry Barrows and Jack Cardiff (pictured above). A few magazines from a private collection provided a rare snippet of publishing in context.


If you missed the chance to see this gem of an exhibition then perhaps the film My week with Marilyn, 2011 will give you an idea of how us Brits fell in love with the most famous woman on Earth on her first trip to our island. Watch the trailer for a taster.  

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