Rome’s status as the Eternal City has rarely felt more literal. In 2025, the Jubilee placed the city on center stage, drawing an estimated 35 million pilgrims in addition to the millions of annual tourists already thronging its piazzas (over 22 million in 2024). And the intrigue at the Vatican and the new Pope kept Rome in even more global conversations. The result is a capital in full bloom: sacred and secular life converging in an atmosphere thick with ceremony, art and discovery in a city ranked Top 5 in both our overall Livability and Lovability indices.
The Jubilee’s “Pilgrims of Hope” theme is being carried through a sweeping beautification push. Streets have been resurfaced, monuments scrubbed and new cultural showcases unveiled. Largo di Torre Argentina (where Julius Caesar met his end) has reopened as a public archaeological park, while Caravaggio’s masterpieces are featured in blockbuster exhibitions across the city. These initiatives build on recent reopenings like the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art’s enhanced exhibition spaces and the Trevi Fountain’s careful restoration. Expect Roma’s #4 Sights & Landmarks ranking to improve even more in the coming years.
The hospitality surge that began in 2023 has only accelerated. Palazzo Talìa, transformed by filmmaker Luca Guadagnino into a boutique jewel of 26 rooms and suites with restored Renaissance frescoes, has become a must-stay. Bvlgari Roma, Six Senses Rome and the upcoming Thompson Rome anchor a luxury wave joined by Nobu, Corinthia and Rosewood, while the recently debuted Romeo Roma (featuring a glass-bottom spa pool suspended over ruins!) redefines what it means to “sleep in history.” Even legacy addresses like Rome Cavalieri remain unmatched, with La Pergola the city’s only Michelin three-star jewel.
But investment isn’t just confined to hospitality. The long-delayed Metro Line C is adding new stations in 2025, easing movement across the dense historic core, while the city has approved mixed-use redevelopments in Ostiense and Tiburtina aimed at creating creative and residential districts. Global companies, particularly in fashion and mobility, are expanding local hubs, seeing opportunity in both Rome’s talent and lower costs relative to Milan.
Expect expanded pedestrian zones around the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia in 2026, and the opening of the Metro Line C Piazza Venezia station in 2032.