World Tai Chi and Qigong Day – Villa Ada (Rome)

A wave of movement circling the globe

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day was created to unite practitioners of Chinese internal arts across all continents on the same day at the same local time. The rule is simple and universal: the last Saturday of April at 10:00 AM in every time zone. The result is a silent, twenty-four-hour relay that travels across the planet, moving from park to park in over eighty nations. The World Health Organization has recognized the initiative as part of the Move for Health campaign, dedicated to promoting gentle physical activity accessible to all ages.

The Rome event at Villa Ada

In Rome, the capital of Italy and the Lazio region, the gathering is held at Villa Ada Savoia, one of the city's great historic parks, with access via Via Salaria 273. The setting is perfect for the spirit of the day: wide lawns, pine forests, a small lake, and winding paths. Located just steps from the Trieste-Salario district, it offers a rare silence for a city the size of Rome. The practice takes place outdoors on the grass and is weather-dependent; in case of rain, the event may be cancelled or rescheduled, so it is best to check with the organizers on the morning of the event.

How the morning unfolds

The meeting is set for 10:00 AM. We begin together with a sequence of Qigong—slow exercises focusing on breathing, alignment, and joint loosening—followed by a group Tai Chi Chuan form. Throughout the morning, there are demonstrations of traditional weapon forms, such as the sword and saber, as well as guided trial sessions designed for those approaching these disciplines for the first time. No experience is necessary: those unfamiliar with the sequences can simply follow the movements from the back rows, which is exactly how most participants began.

A free event open to everyone

Participation is completely free and does not require prior registration. There is no audience and no stage: simply arrive, join the circle, and practice. This is one of the aspects that makes this day different from a traditional sports demonstration—the goal is not to perform, but to share. In Rome, the event is organized by Itcca Italia a.s.d., which coordinates over thirty meeting points across the peninsula, from Milan to Bergamo, Brescia to Genoa, and throughout Central and Southern Italy.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothing and light, soft-soled shoes suitable for grass
• A towel or mat, useful for floor exercises and resting
• Water and, if you wish, something to share: many editions conclude with an informal picnic
• A hat or sunscreen: the Roman sun is already quite strong by late April

Tai Chi in a city that practices outdoors

Rome has a well-established tradition of practicing internal arts in its parks: Villa Ada, Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphilj, and Parco dell'Aniene host groups training at dawn or in the late afternoon all year round. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day serves as a collective showcase for this widespread community, an occasion where schools and associations that usually work separately come together on the same lawn. For those visiting the capital in spring, it is an unusual and free way to experience a historic park, far from the beaten tourist paths, and to observe a practice that now counts thousands of enthusiasts in Rome.