​August 15, or Ferragosto, is the assumption of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important holidays on the Catholic calendar. In Italy it is a national Holiday.

The origin of the feast dates back to the reign of emperor Augustus: in 18 BC he instituted the  Feriae Augusti to mark the end of summer harvest and provide a day of rest for all. As frequently happen the pagan date now coincide with a religious one.

​Ferragosto is one of this clue days along the year when we party and look for absolute leisure with our beloved ones.
The week around August 15 is when you easily find many commercial sites closed for vacation as traditionally August is the month we select for summer vacations.
On August 15 in Rome, many major sites are open except the Vatican museum.

​Summer sales kick off 6 July.

In all shops the prices of the spring and summer collections are discounted from 20 to even 70 percent.

Of course, the first days of sales are the ones with the largest assortment of items, but as the days pass by the discounts became even most consistent.
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If you’re visiting Rome during the sales season don’t miss spending few hours shopping!

​Saint John day used to be celebrated with night parties and special traditions on June 24th  The event started the eve before and lasted until dawn. It was the night of the witches.
The romans believed that the ghosts of Herodias and Salome were condemn to wander on a broom at night to espy the sin of beheading St John the Baptist, and on that night, all witches met in St John’s square.
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The romans left their homes and gathered in the square to pray and eat snails.

​The feast of Corpus Domini dates back from the middle ages.

It was instituted by Pope Urban IV in 1264 after the famous Miracle of Bolsena.
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In papal Rome every year on Corpus Domini day a solemn procession was led by the pope from the Sistine chapel along the Borgo neighborhood. The pope holding the sacrament was carried on his chair and followed by cortege of about 3.000 people among cardinals, prelates, clergy, Swiss guards and noblemen.

Every year this is the main athletics event in the capital.

This year it will be the 38th event.

The greatest world’s athletes compete to win in the Eternal City.

​It’s held in the Olympic Stadium and 

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is held in Rome every May. This year the 4-days events will be as usual held in the Circus Maximus, where there are all kinds of things to participate in, leading up to the race.  The dates will be: May 17, 18, 19 and the race ending the event will be on Sunday 20th.
 
The race goes through the historic center of Rome. For moore informations check  the site for the race in Rome: http://www.raceroma.it/
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 The website is in Italian; if you want to learn more about the events or to participate. you can try to translate with translate.google.com 

During this weekend you may visit many buildings, palaces and monuments in and around Rome for free.
House Rome is an annual event that in a single weekend allows the free opening of hundreds of buildings of the Capital notable for their architectural and artistic peculiarities. You may visit historic palaces, private residences not normally open to the public.
 
It's a chance to find detailed information on the visiting programs. Check their Facebook page that is  the most up to date, and their website.
​Links are below:
https://www.facebook.com/OpenHouseRM
http://www.openhouseroma.org/pagina-base/cose-openhouse-roma.html
 

 
If you are in Rome and love tennis, you may already know that every May, the BNL Tennis championships are held at the Olympic Stadium (Foro Italico) in Rome. This year it starts on Monday May 7th 2018, with finals on the following Sunday, May 20 2018.
It will be the case of a great world event,  the season’s “Fifth Grand Slam”.
The Tournament will be a “combined event”, staging both a men’s and women’s matches during 9 days, besides the pre-qualifying draw.
This means that you will be able to watch both the world’s best men’s and women’s matches on the same day, plus both doubles, as during a Grand Slam tournament,
 
You may find more details and tickets through their website below:

http://www.internazionalibnlditalia.com/en/

Every year in May  the ADSI (Associazione Dimore Storiche Antiche) holds its annual "Open Courtyards" event.
During the all day, on a Sunday by the end of the month,  you may visit courtyards of historic palazzos and private residences normally closed to the public.
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Right now, when I’m scheduling the blog, the date of 2018 event is not posted yet.

For information:
tel. 066832774, e-mail lazio@adsi.it, and for full Rome program  see the ADSI website.
http://www.adsi.it/
https://www.facebook.com/www.adsi.it/

​On May 1st traditionally named ’Calendimaggio’a great feast occurred in Rome.

A main happening was the ‘Cuccagna’ a tree planted in the Capitol square full of delicious foods but covered with a slippery substance. The romans were rivalling to climb the Cuccagna tree and get the prize. It was not easy and it was one of the occasions of rivalry between the bullies.

The tradition continued until the middle of the seventeen century.
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The painting of the Cuccagna tree is by Agostino Tassi (1631-16329 and can be found in the ‘Museo di Roma’

Taken by My husband this morning.

One of the most beautiful and important world’s marathon is held in Rome every year in March or April. It takes place on  Sunday. This year, 2018 it will be April 8th.
The race gives the participants the chance to run 42 kilometers surrounded by art, history, archeology and architecture from the past 2000 years.
The beginning and the marathon’s end is by the roman forum and coliseum!
It’s considered one of the most impressive and fascinating marathon of the world attended by professional athletes and passionate alike. The participants came from Italy and all over the world.

​The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Divine Love is our beloved and venerated place of worship since 1740.

In the middle of the countryside, there was a much-venerated image of Virgin Mary painted on a medieval tower.

A wayfarer on his way to Rome was attacked by a pack of rabid dogs. He saw the Votive image, prayed Virgin Mary and cried for help. Immediately the dogs calmed down and fled into the countryside.

​The news of the miracle soon spread out and faithful to the sanctuary constantly increased. The Pope Bendict XIV built  a sanctuary by the tower where the holy image is preserved. Folk pilgrimages continue today.