Friday: Tonight, those wide paths along the river become more than just a place to jog, bike, and set up the occasional tent, as the Lungotevere season officially opens. From now until September, descend any set of stairs between Ponte Sisto/Piazza Trilussa and Porta Portese to spend an evening below the heat and on the river. Until it officially opens, it is always anyone’s bet as to exactly what will be there, but last year saw a variety of bars, dance spots, hookah bars, restaurants, and special outposts from favorites like La Maison (with pool) and Pompi (with their famous tiramisu). There is always plenty to eat, and some shopping thrown in for good measure.
Saturday: Rome has had Caravaggio fever ever since the Scuderie mounted a massive retrospective a few years back (and, well, probably for about 400 years before that), but it’s time to get excited again as Palazzo Braschi unveils the recently restored “The Raising of Lazarus” tomorrow. For one month only, the masterpiece will be on display at the Palazzo Braschi. Also, the outdoor cinemas at Castel Sant’Angelo and Piramide open today. No one has bothered to list the schedule of movies, but it is guaranteed that for 5 euro you can catch a flick under the stars at either of those locations. Movies start at 9.15, and we will post the program as soon as we get our hands on it.
Sunday: As you may have heard, Roma Vintage opened on Thursday night. The outdoor, summertime club/meeting point/hang out truly earns its name on Sunday as it hosts its first market on Sunday at 4. However, this isn’t just any market. Roma Vintage is kicking things off by bringing together Sunday stalwarts Happy Sunday, Vintage Market, and Mercatino Giapponese into what can only be called a…well, supermarket. If you’re looking for an Olympic preview, head up to the Foro Italico for the final qualifying event in beach volleyball. The top teams from around the world have been bumping and setting all week, and wrap things up with the women’s final on Saturday, and the men’s on Sunday. Oh, and it’s free.
