Jubilee 2025 in Rome: major construction sites and cultural initiatives for the revival of the eternal city

As early as February 22, 1300, the opening date of the first Jubilee in history, blessed by Pope Boniface VIII, the Holy Year offered Rome an opportunity for infrastructural and artistic renewal. At that time, the highlight for the city was the celebration of Giotto’s new fresco in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, accompanied by significant restorations of churches and historic palaces.
The same occurred in 1423, at the end of the “Avignon Captivity,” when the Jubilee in Rome, convened by Martin V, marked the rebirth of the Eternal City with works such as the portico of St. Peter’s Square, the restoration of the Pantheon, and Castel Sant’Angelo.

Following a tradition renewed every 25 years, Jubilee 2025 is also a crucial moment for the revival of the capital. Thanks to the Jubilee 2025 Plan and funds from the PNRR, over 600 projects have been planned, with a total investment of €4.8 billion. The interventions focus on urban redevelopment, accessibility and mobility, hospitality, and the enhancement of cultural heritage, particularly in historically and architecturally significant complexes like Rome’s squares and museums.

Many symbolic works of the Rome Jubilee have already been completed, while others are ongoing. Meanwhile, the first visitors, part of the expected 32 million, are beginning to populate the city, drawn by its historical wonders and the opportunity to pass through one of the Holy Doors.

At Piazza Venezia, one of the historic squares and vital centers of Italy’s capital, the large construction site for a new metro station has been transformed into an open-air gallery. This is the “Murales Project,” promoted by the consortium of companies led by Webuild and Vianini Lavori, involved in building Metro Line C.

“Murales” is a public art initiative featuring six artists who will interpret Rome’s ongoing transformations through their works. Since December 16, new pieces are unveiled every four months on the 10-meter-high industrial silos occupying part of the site, turning this vast space into an open-air gallery.

The “Murales Project,” inaugurated with Pietro Ruffo‘s Constellations of Rome, offers another opportunity for urban redevelopment during Jubilee 2025, showcasing Rome as a growing hub for art and culture.

The extension of Metro Line C, already operational with 22 stations and 19 kilometers in use, is a key project for improving the capital’s transportation. Managed by the Webuild Group, alongside Vianini Lavori as part of the Metro C Consortium, the project envisions traversing the entire historic center to reach the opposite side of the city. This highly complex undertaking includes unique interventions, such as the construction of Piazza Venezia Station, set to become the world’s largest archaeological station.

Improving Rome’s public transportation system is a cornerstone of government funding, both for Jubilee 2025 and the long term. The influx of faithful from around the world during the Jubilee year will test the resilience of the city’s transportation system. According to Rome’s municipal estimates, the city’s mobility network will need to handle an additional 3.5 million passengers beyond the usual averages.

To meet this increased demand, the city administration has expanded bus and tram services and invested in modernizing metro lines and train fleets. Enhancing the metro system (Lines A, B/B1, and C) is one of the central pillars of the Jubilee 2025 intervention plan.

Over €350 million has been allocated for upgrading the trains on Lines A, B, and B1. Of this total, €60 million comes from Jubilee funds, with the remainder from other sources. The goal is to provide 36 new trains by mid-2027, boosting the metro’s capacity.

In addition to upgrading public transportation, Jubilee initiatives include completing several urban projects. A standout project is Piazza Pia, a 7,000-square-meter area transformed into a pedestrian zone by redirecting traffic into an underground tunnel. The project required €90 million, freeing up surface space to create a grand square capable of hosting up to 150,000 people.

Other revamped areas include Piazza Risorgimento, partially pedestrianized; Via Ottaviano, a key pedestrian route linking Rome’s metro to St. Peter’s; and the entire area around Termini Station, including Piazza dei Cinquecento, repaved and restructured with new taxi and bus lanes.