Christmas in Rome, new lights in the Villa of Maxentius, the Goddess Rome and many exhibitions and historical re-enactments

The new lights at Villa Massenzio and the exhibition of the sculpture the Goddess Rome by Pietro Tenerani at the Sala Santa Rita are the special events of the celebrations of April 21, on the occasion of the 2,777th anniversary of the Christmas of Rome. But there are dozens of events for two days between Saturday and Sunday foot racesenvironmentalist demonstrations, exhibitions to say “no to war”, visits to museums, historical re-enactments.

New lights in the Villa of Maxentius

Big party in the villa of Maxentius on the Appia Antica where on Saturday at 8pm there will be the inauguration of the new lighting conceived by Capitoline Superintendence, which will also participate mayor Roberto Gualtieri. The lights will enhance the 20 hectare archaeological area which can be visited even after sunset. The new system involves the dynastic mausoleum, the access path to the Villa, the towers and the prisons. Inside the villa the Ab Urbe exhibition is an immersion in history. Another exhibition at the museum of the Roman Republic entitled «21 April 1849» opens Saturday at 11.

The Goddess Rome

The Herm of the Goddess Roma is on display starting from April 21st (and until May 12th) in the Sala Santa Rita near the Teatro Marcello. The sculpture, made of plaster and coming from the collection of the Museum of Rome, created by the great nineteenth-century sculptor Pietro Tenerani in honor of the Eternal City, is exhibited for the first time in many years. The sculpture, an example of the artistic canons of Purism, depicts the Goddess faithfully to classical representations with a Corinthian helmet surmounted by a high crest, wavy hair coming out of the cap, the baldric (the leather belt of Roman soldiers) decorating the torso and the military cloak secured on the left shoulder.

Circus Maximus

Saturday at Circus Maximus 48 hours between history and colour: we start with theharpastuma distant relative of football, in the context of you play the Godsfollowed by the show of Maurizio Battista «A smile for Rome» and a performance by the Italian Army band. And it ends on Sunday with the traditional activities of Roman historical groupbetween ancient rites and shows of gladiators.

Rose Garden, Pantheon and Capitoline Hill

Christmas Day opens on Sunday with the reopening with entrance free of the Municipal rose gardenand with the phenomenon of light at the Pantheon where once a year, on April 21st, the sun’s rays enter theoculus of the Pantheon and go to illuminate the bronze door of entrance. On the Appia in 6,500 run the Appia Runthe race in the heart of the famous Regina Viarum which takes place on a route made up of five different pavements, the asphalt of the Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, the cobblestones of the Appia, the lava pavement that from the mausoleum of Cecilia Metella leads to the dirt road of the Caffarella Park and finally there is the athletics track of the Martellini stadium for the finish line after 13 kilometres.

The children’s drawings of Rome for peace

In the square of Capitol there is «Rome for Peace», an exhibition of drawings made by children from all over the world to say no to wars. The event is a message of Peace from primary and nursery school pupils from all continents, a project born from the collaboration between the Presidency of the Capitoline Assembly and the Colors for Peace Association, already known in the city for the exhibition at the Colosseum on the International Day of Peace. The exhibition will be visible from 10am to 6pm on April 21st.

Villa Borghese and Capitoline Museums

At the Museum of Ancient Sculpture Giovanni Barracco guided tour for «The distant ancestors of the Latin alphabet». While at the Carlo Bilotti museum a Villa Borghese Manuel Felisi is on stage, a contemporary “bestiary” with animals reproduced in life size. And yes Capitoline Museums – Villa Caffarilli, in addition to all the exhibitions taking place in the circuit, will be held Phidiasall the colors of perfection, exhibition on the theme of polychromy on ancient works.

Ara Pacis

AtAra Pacis children will be able to participate in the workshop «April 21st, a special birthday!» and realize the crown to become emperors for a day. In the afternoon at modern art gallery «Gruppo 70» will be held in Via Crispi, and in Piazza Vittorio free visit for the «Magic door and Mario’s trophies». At Palazzo Braschi there will be «From the street to the museum: the monochromes of the Casino del Bufalo».

With Retake on the river

For the land, it comes into play” is the initiative of Retake with Centrale del Latte di Roma dedicated to the urban regeneration of the Sentiero Parenzio, the circular route of approximately 2 kilometers which develops along the Aniene river and which has long been in state of abandonment. The Sentiero Parenzio (from Parensius, ancient name of the Aniene river) runs along the river delle Valli to the ancient Roman bridge Ponte Nomentano. It was recovered in 2020 by Retake volunteers but it is disfigured by waste and neglect which make it impassable to citizens. Thanks to the commitment of the Centrale del Latte di Roma and the volunteers of the Retake foundation with the support of Ama, on Sunday 21 April the area will be cleaned and redeveloped, giving school groups and citizens an educational path to admire the avian flora and fauna along the river.