After a 12-month hiatus between travel adventures, I arrived in Rome – big smile – feeling fuzzy and jet-lagged but eager to explore! Over the years, I’ve visited Rome several times during multi-city excursions throughout Italy. It’s sizzling hot and crowded in the summer, so January will be a fun contrast at a slower pace with smaller tourist crowds and cooler weather. Upon arrival, the weather was rainy but comfortable in the 50s.
Each Roma visit was beautiful and educational, and during January 2026, I’ll continue exploring this city of endless treasures. My apartment is in Vatican City, a few minutes’ walk from the Vatican, with central Rome a brief metro ride away.
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“Vatican City, a sacred place in Christendom, displays formidable spiritual, artistic, and architectural masterpieces. Its centre is St. Peter’s Basilica, with a double colonnade and circular piazza bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world. It’s the fruit of the combined genius of Italian artists and architects like Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Maderno.” UNESCO World Heritage Convention
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Festive Christmas Markets, La Befana, Epiphany
Some 2025 Christmas Markets remain open into early January. I’m excited to visit the famous Piazza Navona market, which runs until Epiphany!
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“The origins of La Befana, a traditional Italian folklore character linked to the Christmas season, go back to ancient pagan propitiatory rites inherited by the Romans.” italia.it
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January 5th marks the anticipation of Epiphany (January 6), especially during a Holy Jubilee year. Activities are centered around the ancient La Befana tradition, where a “benevolent Christmas witch brings sweets to good children and coal for naughty ones”. Key activities include “visiting the festive market in Piazza Navona, attending a 5 PM mass at Santa Maria Maggiore (aka Basilica St. Mary Major) often attended by the Pope, and observing a Viva La Befana procession around Via della Conciliazione (Conciliation Street) on January 6th”. The event celebrates the Three Wise Men, traditionally named Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar. According to legend, they stopped at La Befana’s house on their way to Bethlehem, inviting her to join their journey to meet the baby Jesus.
On January 6, there’s an Epiphany parade that starts at the Vatican and winds its way to Piazza Navona. Participants “dress as the three wise men and other biblical characters”. The Epiphany is a public holiday in Italy. Churches across Rome host special masses and display nativity scenes.
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“The Piazza Navona Christmas Market transforms the square into a festive hub for handcrafted gifts, toys, sweets, and nativity scenes. With free entry and opening hours from morning to late evening, it’s perfect for experiencing the festive spirit during Rome Jubilee Year.” Wanted in Rome
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“Pilgrims of Hope” Holy Jubilee Year 2025
Holy Jubilee Year is a “significant event in the Roman Catholic Church”. It’s celebrated every 25 years, marked by “spiritual renewal and indulgence“. Pilgrims visit Rome to “cross through the Holy Doors of four major papal basilicas – St Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. The pilgrimage is a “symbolic act of reconciliation and renewal”. Pope Francis designated “Pilgrims of Hope” as the theme of Jubilee 2025, focusing on “unity, spiritual healing, and global solidarity”. I plan to visit all four beautiful basilicas.
New Metro Stations
My last visit to Rome was in June 2017, and many things have changed, including the addition of two fabulous new metro stations – each a work of art in its own right. Colosseo-Fori Imperiali was built underneath the Colosseum and Porta Metronia lies beneath a gate in Rome’s third-century Aurelian Walls. The Walls were built between 270 and 275 century AD. at the behest of Emperor Aurelian. Their purpose was defending Rome from the threat of invasions by Germanic populations. Both metro stations are 100 feet underground and part of the C line.
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“The two new metro stations in Rome have been dubbed ‘archeostations’. Both exhibit archaeological riches unearthed during the construction process.” Euronews Travel
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Performing Arts, Galleries, Museums, Food
Roman performing arts, museums, and art galleries are exceptional and will be a major focus. There are many excellent live performances in January, including classical and baroque music, opera, and jazz. Interesting performance venues range from ancient to modern and contemporary Roman architecture.
The Quatuor Ébène is performing Beethoven January 21 at Parco della Musica. The program features Pierre Colombet, Gabriel Le Magadure, Marie Chilemme, and Yuya Okamoto performing Beethoven String Quartets. In 2012, I attended a performance in Oregon, and later saw them in Berlin – they’re fantastic!!
I plan to take a few group day trips – not sure where yet. The goal is slowly immersing myself in Italian day-to-day life and culture as much as possible – no rush or stress. Although I’ve taken several Italian classes, not speaking it for years means practically starting from scratch – hoping my pronunciations don’t offend anyone. Of course, delicious food is a big part of experiencing Italy – during the last visit, I gained 5 pounds!
Malta Next?
Malta may be the next stop. In 2019, I took a ferry from Sicily to the enchanting Renaissance city of Valletta. It was a brief excursion, and I vowed to return for a longer stay. The island is one of the most beautiful places I’ve experienced.
The energy of a vibrant European city like Rome is exhilarating! After quiet, woodsy Oregon, the change to a dense urban environment is challenging – at least in the beginning :o). Part of the allure of foreign travel is embracing the unfamiliar and acclimating to a different culture and way of life.
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“Valletta Malta, a fortified UNESCO World Heritage site, is located on a peninsula between two natural harbours. It boasts 320 monuments featuring baroque architecture, grand palaces, and massive bastions, primarily designed by military engineer Francesco Laparelli.” art.torvergata.it
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Ciao più tardi…