Rome’s “Nuova Fiera di Roma” opens its doors April 6-9 for the 21st edition of Romics 2017, one of Italy’s biggest cosplay expos.

Fans of comics, video games, and anime can’t wait for April to get here for Romics, one of the biggest cosplay conventions in Italy. Here it’s possible to find the rarest comics or the newest releases, preview new video games before they’re out to the public and meet some of the biggest names in the business, including producers, illustrators, and Italian dubbers. But before you write off Romics as just for cosplay fanatics, there’s so much more: each day, for 4 days, this illustrious conference offers activities and performances for everyone, from the littlest visitors to the oldest, from the biggest fans to those who are just looking for a colorful and exciting weekend that’s a little different from the norm.

The expo is the chance to find the rarest or most recently released products.

How to get there

Romics takes place at the “Nuova Fiera di Roma” convention center, located a bit outside the city on the Roma-Fiumicino highway.

By Car: If you’re traveling by car, simply take exit 30 of the G.R.A. (Grande Raccordo Anulare – the ring that circumvents the city of Rome) toward Fiumicino and immediately head toward the “Fiera di Roma”. You can park the car in any of the many parking lots outside the convention center, most of which are paid parking spots.

By Train: If you decide not to drive, the best option is to take the train, Orte/Fara Sabina-Fiumicino line, which stops just minutes from the North entrance to the convention center. You can pick up the train in several different points of Rome, including Tiburtina, Ostiense and Trastevere. Thanks to a special convention rate, despite being located outside city limits, you can reach Romics using a regular public transportation ticket for €1.50 each way. *We suggest purchasing your return ticket at the same time because it can be difficult to purchase a ticket at the expo hall or station.

Where to stay

If the plan is to include a visit to Romics during your Roman vacation, then staying somewhere that makes it simple and easy to reach the expo is a good idea. ROMAC manages a handful of vacation rentals around Rome that fit the bill perfectly.

AP02 Testaccio and AP50 Trastevere are two such apartments that feature a living room, single bedroom and bath located conveniently near the Ostiense and Trastevere train stations, respectively. Their locations also provide great central locations for visiting other monuments and museums in the city as well as engaging their respective cultural neighborhoods.

For a larger group of friends or family, AP44 San Saba offers plenty of space for everyone. Just 5 minutes from the Ostiense station, the apartment features 5 bedrooms and a spacious terrace to enjoy the spring sunshine. It’s also just minutes from the Testaccio neighborhood, known for its market and characteristic restaurants (read our guide on the best tourist-free restaurants in Testaccio!)

Ap44 San Saba by ROMAC

Prefer to stay in an apartment near Rome’s main transport hub, Termini Station? AP58 Principe Amedeo is just around the corner from Termini and well-connected with the rest of the city. And for those guests who plan to create their own costumes for the convention will be happy to know the apartment is located in the Equilino neighborhood, where it’s possible to fine loads of fabric stores (in the covered Esquilino market) as well as costume jewelry and accessories. If you need to make any last minute mends or add that last piece of flare, the Esquilino area is a great place to be!

Appointments and Useful Information

Romics will take place from April 6 – 9, 2017, from 10am to 8pm. The ticket costs €10 or €12, depending on the day you visit, but it’s possible to purchase tickets online and passes for 2-3-4 days, that allow you to skip the line. The last few years has seen an immense growth in participation at Romics, reaching as many as 200,000 visitors in 4 days. Logistical improvements have been made to manage such a large amount of visitors, opening 3 of the massive expo complex entrances: North, South and East.

The colors of cosplay at Romics – photo by FabioHazard

So what are the appointments you should make sure not to miss? Without a doubt the Galà del Doppiaggio (the Dubbing Gala), in it’s 14th edition, will open on Saturday, April 8th and award the best Italian voice actors; then there’s the naming of the “Romics d’Oro” award winner to Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator of the Gundam series (one of the most famous animated series on the international level, stimulating the imagination of children of the 80s and 90s). The biggest fans shouldn’t miss the gara di cosplay (cosplay competition) on Sunday, April 9, where visitors show up dressed as characters from their favorite comics and video games to compete in a costume competition. What’s new this year? The winner awarded with the best costume will participate in the prestigious Clara Cow’s Cosplay Cup, an international cosplay competition that will take place in Holland in June of this year.

Last year’s winner of the Romics Cosplay Award, in October, who will represent Italy in the world Cosplay expo in Japan!

For more information you can visit the official site for Romics.

Have you ever been to a cosplay convention? Share your experiences with us in the comments below! If you’ve made your own costume, let us see it!