What To Do in Rome this Weekend — 16-17 June 2018
We’re coming up on the last official weekend of spring and some of the very longest days of the year. Otherwise known as my absolute favorite time of year. One that I savor and that passes too quickly. (It’s also my Maritino’s birthday this weekend, which makes it extra special.)
In case you’re thinking of hopping off to some nearby beach this weekend, keep in mind, there are a slew of interesting things to do in the city this weekend. Here are my top picks:
My most beloved opera has gotten a modern make-over thanks to visionary director, Àlex Ollé. If you’re a Puccini fan (and who in their right mind isn’t?) and you thrill at original and contemporary stagings, this is the ticket for you.
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma at Teatro Costanzi. Piazza Beniamino Gigli. Saturday 16 June at 6pm; Sunday 17 June at 4:30pm.
The future may be female, but the (recent) past isn’t half bad either. This new exhibit at the PalaExpo that opened last week showcases the works of female Italian photographers from 1965 to today.
Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Via Nazionale, 194. Saturday, 10am-9:30pm; Sunday, 10am-7pm.
There’s nothing quite like watching a great composer conduct his own work, and that’s not an easy thing to come by these days. Legendary composer Ennio Morricone conducts excerpts from his film scores such as The Untouchables, Once Upon a Time in America, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly at the Baths of Caracalla.
Terme di Caracalla. Viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Saturday 16 June at 9pm; Sunday 17 June at 9pm.
If contemporary art—and by contemporary I mean created in the last 2 years—is your passion, the MAXXI is where you’ll want to be this weekend. The works of the three finalists for this prestigious prize are on display, and the winner’s work will be purchased by the museum for their permanent collection. The finalists are young international artists who have “demonstrated a strong understanding of the historic moment in which we are living, and the ability to expand the confines of the language of art.”
MAXXI. Via Guido Reni, 4a. Saturday, 11am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm.
Want to escape into a magical forest? Sounds rather tempting, especially on these hot humid days. A brand-new exhibit at the delightful Casino delle Civette showcases 30 sculptures and 25 paintings of “shamanic trees” by Paolo Martellotti. The exhibit explores the mystic and transformative nature of trees.
Casina delle Civette, Villa Torlonia. Via Nomentana, 70. Saturday, 9am-7pm; Sunday, 9am-7pm.
Foodies should head to Eataly to celebrate the gourmet Italian food emporium’s sixth birthday. In honor of the occasion, many of their products for sale have been drastically discounted. They will also be hosting cooking workshops, live demonstrations, and over 20 free tasting stations.
Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492. Saturday, 9am-midnight; Sunday, 9am-midnight.
