August in Rome {Quasi Chiuso per Ferie}

August in Rome has changed from when we first arrived nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen summers ago. More shops and restaurants stay open throughout the month. More people seem to be taking their vacations in July and generally, there is just a lot more happening. The days of completely empty streets shuttered storefronts, and having the city to yourself, (not to mention all that parking) seem to have slowly disappeared.

That said things do quiet down and places are closed for at least part of the month. Here is a roundup of lists of where to eat, find a dentist, get your hair cut and see a movie in Rome in August.

The CNA Roma (Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato e della Piccola e Media Impresa di Roma) has compiled a list (in Italian) of small business services available in August from mechanics to plumbers to hairdressers to bakeries. 

Where to Eat in Rome in August

Romewise is a terrific resource for all things Rome and the August openings page is thorough and useful.

Puntarelle Rossa's list is in Italian, but it is easy enough to decipher if you are not an Italian speaker.

Tavole Romane compiled this extensive list of 2018 August restaurant openings.

Dentists and Pharmacies

It sometimes seems like mishaps are just waiting to happen at the most inopportune time. Your teenager's brace wire pops out on August 10 or you get a brutal headache and only realize you are out of Motrin (called Moment in Italian) on a Sunday. At 10:00 pm.

Doctors in Italy and Med in Action are services that can help you find a doctor that speaks English and can even arrange a housecall. The Aventino Medical Group has been serving Rome's international and expatriate community for almost 40 years. 

The website Dentista Agosto has a list of all the dentists in Rome working in August.

To find a pharmacy open at any hour this site FederFarmaRoma has an interactive map so you can search by neighborhood.

Cinema

Summer in Rome means evenings outside, this year with COVID-19 required advance reservations and social distancing. There are movies screened under the stars at the Cinema America in Piazza San Cosimato. All films  (with the exception of Disney films) are presented in original language with Italian subtitles. Practice your Italian with nightly screenings at the Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese. Check Rome Review for films in English being shown in theaters.

Also check the city of Rome's Estate Romana for a list of music, dance, and theater events and Lungo il Tevere for information on restaurants and events along the Tevere river.