Italy celebrates Women’s Day
To be a woman in the modern age is not an easy feat. The lives that 50% of the world’s population now lead, are largely due to the activism and accomplishments of those before them. On March 8th the world will celebrate the achievements of women in social, economic and political spheres in what is known as International Women’s Day or Festa delle Donne in Italian.
The day began in remembrance of a strike that occurred on the same day in the year 1908, where 15,000 female garment workers in New York, protested poor working conditions. Later, the day became the date of many protests and demonstrations by women including a Russian women’s strike in 1917 for “bread and peace”. But it was only after WWII in 1946 that the date of March 8th was set by Teresa Mattei, director of the Italian Women’s Union. Mattei subsequently chose the yellow mimosa flower as the symbol for International Women’s Day in Italy.
The mimosa flower, originally of the acacia species, but commonly known as mimosa was first introduced to Europe in 1820. And because it was a widespread, fast-growing shrub Mattei found that it was the best affordable choice as opposed to the French symbol of violets. Nowadays, men give the flower to the women in their lives as a way to show their appreciation, and women offer each other the flower as a sign of solidarity.
Another interesting custom of Festa delle Donne is the torta mimosa, a yellow crumbled sponge cake reminiscent of the appearance of the mimosa flower with a custard center and a hint of orange. The celebration itself may have become a spin-off valentine but it still serves as a day to commemorate female resilience.
Rome this year is preparing to celebrate Women’s Day with free admission for women in Italian state museums and archaeological sites and events including exhibitions, performances and food festivals. Whether you’re a local or a visitor take part in the festivities to recognise women’s invaluable contributions to society.
Here are some ideas for you for how to celebrate the day.
Free Admission for women in Italian state museums and archaeological sites
Museums and cultural heritage sites, including the Colosseum, will offer free entry to women in honor of IWD and will also make a point to highlight works of art featuring women on the day.
Info: cultura.gov.it/evento/giornata-internazionale-della-donna-2023
Exhibitions in major museums and city walks
The city of Rome is hosting a series of events to celebrate women’s roles in art and culture, as well as to honour influential female figures in the city’s social and cultural life. Among these are: a visit to the Museo della Repubblica Romana, celebrating the female figures that played a prominent role in defending Rome in 1849, a walk through the Fori Imperiali, retracing the stories of key women from the Middle Ages and Baroque periods and a storytelling session at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna.
The city has also prepared women-centred itineraries, such as a walk-through Campo Marzio to learn about women’s social roles in the past, a San Lorenzo Street art tour showcasing themes of resistance and civil rights, and a walk around Porta Capena square that focuses on significant female figures from the early days of Rome.
Check out the program for museum visits and walks below…
MUSEUMS
11am
MUSEO DELLA REPUBBLICA ROMANA
Largo di Porta S. Pancrazio
Le battaglie delle donne nella Repubblica Romana
(Women’s fights in the Roman Republic)
11.30am
MUSEO DELLE MURA
Via di Porta San Sebastiano, 18
Spiritualità e devozione femminile nelle Mura Aureliane
(Spirituality and female devotion in the Aurelian Walls)
3pm
MUSEI CAPITOLINI
Piazza del Campidoglio, 1 – Meeting point: Pinacoteca Capitolina entrance
Sante, eroine, dee: donne in Pinacoteca Capitolina
(Saints, heorins, goddesses: women in Pinacoteca Capitolina)
3pm
MUSEO NAPOLEONICO
Piazza di Ponte Umberto I, 1
“Dicono di lei…”
(They say about her…)
3pm
FORI IMPERIALI
Via dei Fori Imperiali – Meeting point: piazza Madonna di Loreto, entrance to Fori Imperiali
Storie di donne sullo sfondo dei Fori Imperiali
(Histories of women against the backdrop of the imperial forums)
3.30pm
GALLERIA D’ARTE MODERNA
Viale delle Belle Arti, 131
Storytelling about the bodies and faces of women represented in the museum collection and ongoing exhibitions
4pm
MUSEO DELLA SCUOLA ROMANA, CASINO NOBILE DI VILLA TORLONIA
Via Nomentana, 70
Homages to Edita Broglio, Antonietta Raphaël Mafai, Pasquarosa, Adriana Pincherle and Katy Castellucci
4.30pm
CENTRALE MONTEMARTINI
Via Ostiense, 106
Stories of Women at Centrale Montemartini: Ordinary women, princesses, empresses, and goddesses
5.30pm
MUSEO DI ROMA, Sala Tenerani 3rd floor
Piazza di San Pantaleo, 10
Petronilla Paolini, feminist poet book presentation
WALKS
10am
Street art a San Lorenzo: tra Resistenza e diritti civili
(Street art in San Lorenzo: between resistance and civil rights)
Meeting point: piazzale del Verano, by the obelisk
10am
Come diventare donne rispettabili
(How to become respectable women)
Meeting point: piazza della Minerva, by the Elefantino
11am
Donne tra mito e realtà a S. Urban alla Caffarella
(Women between myth and reality at St. Urban’s at the Caffarella)
Meeting point: vicolo di Sant’Urbano, via Appia Pignatelli, 65
12pm
Egeria e le altre: presenze femminili dei primordi di Rom
(Egeria and the others: female presences in the early days of Rome)
Meeting point: piazza di Porta Capena crossing with viale Aventino, next to F.A.O.
3pm
Meretrici, partorienti, mammane e modelle
(Prostitutes, birthing women, nurses and models)
Meeting point: piazza S. Silvestro crossing via delle Convertite All activities are free upon mandatory reservation at (+39)060608
Info: https://www.museiincomune.it/it/didattica/8-marzo-2023-giornata-internazionale-della-donna
Charity Dinner at Eataly Rome
Eataly Roma pays tribute to women with a special dinner on Wednesday 8 March at 8pm in the Pizza & Cucina restaurant. Part of the proceeds from this special menu, created by chef Elettra Rampa, will be donated to Komen Italia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting breast cancer and supporting women’s health, which operates throughout Italy with a network of volunteers and supporters. The dinner includes tuna tartare, cacio e pepe with purple shrimp and lime, grilled cuttlefish with pea cream, goat cheese and squid ink sauce, and for dessert a mimosa tartlet with cream and pineapple. The cost is 50 euro per person, including service, bread and water.
Eataly – Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492 (Ostiense)
Info & bookings: www.eataly.net/it_it/negozi/roma/news/giornata-internazionale-donna-eataly-roma
Lost In Party at Coffee Pot in Trastevere
And a very nice option in the heart of trastevere, will be COFFEE POT, this location will not only offer you ladies everything from aperitivo to dinner but offers also a great drink selection and the night here will go on till late with a live DJ-Set and more.
Please RSVP +334.253.2673
Via del Politeama, 2
from 7.30pm
Chiara Civello in concert
On March the 8th, for Women’s Day, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chiara Civello, returns to the Auditorium. In addition to singing her most representative songs, she will present live her latest single “Sono come sono” (I am as I am). The concert starts at 9pm at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and costs 20euros.
Auditorium Parco della Musica
9pm
