Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

Our blogger: Diana

Sport is undoubtely full of passion, pain and challenges and this description fits perfectly with what you are going to experience until December 28^th , visiting the exhibition held in Museo di Roma, Trastevere, a historic building situated in Trastevere, Rome. 

The extraordinary selection of Reuters images at this exhibition will screen worldwide sport events in a rich collection dating from the millenium until the latest Olympic Games in Beijing, with a special section dedicated to the Italian olympic champions who won gold medals this year.

Athletics, skiing, soccer, martial arts and some other less famous sports appear in the list, representing a common effort to picture sport activities not only as an act of human heroism but also as a social vector of positive values.

Nelson Mandela once wrote: "Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can… sport can create hope… it is an instrument for peace,".

Reuters is an international news agency widely trusted to report breaking news. Some of its photos have become widely reputable, including one of the Italian football World Cup victory in 2006.

While in Rome to enjoy this exhibition, why not stay at our centrally located Hotel, Yes Hotel, with quick transport connections nearby to Trastevere? We’ll look forward to seeing you this Christmas.

Museo di Roma in Trastevere

Piazza di Sant’Egidio 1/b

From Roma Termini Station

- Go to the bus stops outside TERMINI

-  Take Bus Line H (DEI CAPASSO) for 5 stops

-  Get off at stop SONNINO/S. GALLICANO (H)

-  Walk 500 metres to Piazza Di Sant’Egidio, 1b

Opening hours

Tuesday-Sunday 10.00am-8.00pm;

24th and 31st December 10.00am-2.00pm

(the ticket office closes an hour in advance)

Closed

25th December

One of the many interesting facts about Rome is that is the only city in the world with a country within it. That state is the Vatican, house of one of the most important spiritual icons in the world: the pope.

The pope at the moment is Benedict XVI, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in Germany. Joseph’s vocation for priesthood was evident from the beginning. When he was five years old he announced his parents he wanted to become a cardinal, and after the dreadful experience of the Second World War he entered the seminar.

The future pope was soon recognized as a brilliant theologist and went on to became archbishop of Munich and Freising, a charge he kept for five years until he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by pope John Paul II. From this position he defended an orthodox view of the Catholicism and became one of the nearest and most appreciated collaborators of the pope, who allegedly turned down his resignation three times.

When the time came to elect a new pope the name of Ratzinger was often given as one of the favourites which was seen by many as a signal that he wouldn’t be elected since only rarely that kind of “papal predictions” come true.

This time they did, anyway, and Joseph Ratzinger is now the pope, under the name of Benedict XVI, chosen by himself as an homage to pope Benedict XV and Saint Benedict of Nursia.

During his pontificate Benedict XVI has tried to stress the continuity in the traditions of the catholic church, assuming an orthodox approach to religion and even using some papal garments that haven’t been used for decades.

When at Rome there are two chances two see the pope. One is through the Wednesday audiences held in San Peter’s Square or in Castel Gandolfo, depending of the season. To attend an audience it’s necessary to have tickets, which are available for free upon request to the Prefecture of the Papal Household. The other way to see the pope is the Sunday Angelus led by the pope on Saint Peter’s Square every Sunday at noon. No tickets are required to attend.

Some tour companies are able to take you to the papal audience saving you the trouble to write to get the tickets. If you are staying at Hotel Des Artistes in Rome our staff will be more than happy to help you to make such arrangements!

Our Author: Rhodora

Soriano nel Cimino is one of the most famous villages situated at the foot of the Cimino Mountains, in the province of Viterbo, near Rome. And in December it will become the toast of the region as it opens its doors to the annual festival of olive oil.

The festival, which takes place on December 8 and 9 in the village, will also open elsewhere in the region before Christmas in a bid to give more people the chance to taste possibly the best olive oil in Italy.

The village is situated in the province of Viterbo and after celebrating the festival of wine and chestnuts, its ready to show off its olive oil.

You can visit this amazing food festival during December- tasting the distinctive olive oil of the Tuscia region as well as enjoying yourself with evenings of dance, music and food.

Soriano nel Cimino is famous for its culinary delights too. “Spaghetti col ferro” (special pasta that is made with a small iron), and “Spaghetti alla ricotta” are two typical dishes.

With Hotel Des Artistes being so centrally located in nearby Rome, why not come and stay with us while enjoying a dance, a bite to eat and some authentic Italian fun?

A quick guide to Soriano nel Cimino

Orsini Castle, which also features several ancient towers, is the most iconic monument in the village. A precious altar made from Italian sandstone lies inside, which was previously situated in the church of Santissima Trinità of Cimino.

The historical centre manages to conserve its vintage character even today. The village takes a circular form, situated around the castle at the top of a hill. And in the Renaissance area of the city, there is Palace Albani-Chigi, which was built on the request of Cardinal Matzo. Nearby is an ancient natural spring, called “Papacqua”, which lies inside a famous sculpture.

The Tuscian festival of olive oil starts in Blera (24-25 November) and continues at Canino in December (December 1-2, 7-9, 15-16), Montefiascone (7-9 December), Soriano nel Cimino (8-9 December), and Vetralla (7-9, 15-16, 22-23 December).

Our Author: Saiyora

There are so many stereotypes about Italians. Many of them are based on the gastronomic habits if this Mediterranean nation. Italians are known in the world as main pasta eaters- or Italiano Maccheroni Pasta. And it is in fact true that the inhabitants of one of the most gorgeous peninsula do like a lot pasta products. Also they are known for their immense love for the ice-cream, or gelato. And I admit it is one of the most tasteful in the world.

But today I would like to talk about a different Italian passion, which is coffee, very special coffee in Rome. As you may or may not know coffee beans were brought to Europe from Ottoman Empire, which in its turn borrowed them from Africa, precisely Ethiopia historical birthplace of coffee. Italy has a whole range of different coffee types, from espresso, cappuccino, ristretto, etc, etc… One of the first places on each agenda of any tourist that comes to Italy should be to try all the types of coffee, prepared in Italy. But again today I will not speak about a normal coffee. I will speak about a very special type of coffee, well, the most expensive in the world! You may be puzzled now, for sure, but I do inform you that this coffee is very, very special and you should be courageous enough to try it. Well, about the costs, this coffee, and let us reveal the secret, called KOPI LUWAK costs 90 euros per 100 gramms!!!

«Kopi Luwak» (in Bahasa Indonesian Kopi means coffee and Luwak is the name of the animal "producing" beans), or «Civet’s Coffee » is prepared from the coffee beans that have passed through the alimentary system of these animals in Indonesia. These civets are specifically put on coffee plantations and, as they say, they know how to find the best beans of coffee. They eat them, digest, and… Plantation workers then gather excrements , separated from them coffee beans, launder and fry them. Specialists say that this coffee has such a unique aroma. And I do confirm that this smell is all but nasty!
Just some interesting facts about these civets. Recently many hundreds of animals were killed in an attempt to stop the outbreak of SARS. The meat of these animals is being prepared in many Asian countries, especially in China, but it is believed that the Indonesian civet is different from the Chinese ones. And there practically no chances that a person would drink this coffee accidently. First, it is very expensive and second is specially made!

So, if you have enough courage to drink it while you are in Rome, just go to the Bar Bonito in the Ostiense Train Station and enjoy its particular taste and aroma, as I did just a week ago!

Ostiense station is just few steps away from the Piramide Line B Metro station, if you stay in Hotel Des Artistes in Rome just hop on the train on Castro Pretorio and in 10 minutes you will be in the right place to try the right coffee!

HAVE A GOOD… COFFEE!!!

Writer : Raoul

I have been living in Rome since 1990 and i didn’t know this museum existed until a friend told me about it. The building is an eighteenth-century palace that has been demolished and enlarged a number of times, and it’s impressive even only from the outside. Its original owner was Mary Elisabeth Bradhurst Field, a member of the New York high-society.

The actual Oriental museum was opened to the public in 1958 and was dedicated to Giuseppe Tucci, who was one of the most important orientalists of the twentieth century. The museum is divided into seven sections: Islam, Far East, Southeast Asia, Tibet-Nepal, Gandhara, Pre-Islamic Near East and India. Most of the collections are findings made by the Italian government in countries like Afghanistan, Iran , Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet. Recently the museum has added some other interesting features like a specialized library, a photo archive, and an archive of Oriental collections.

The Oriental Rome Museum is situated on Merulana street not far away from Termini station and major good hotels in Rome at number 248 and is open Thursday,Wednesday,Thursday, Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and Saturday, Sunday And all Holidays from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.Monday is the closing day.

You can buy the tickets to this Rome museum  there or call this numbers to make bookings: 0039/0646974837 0039/0646974831

The entrance fee is 6,00 euro, with free admittance for citizens from the European Union under 18 and above 65 years and for students of Preservation of Artistic Goods, Architecture and Arts

(Historic-Artistical and Archaeological course).

The museum is located near the Termini Station, so it’s really easy to make a visit if you are staying in one of our central Rome hotels such as Hotel Des Artistes Rome or our Yes Hotel Rome, both three-star conveniently located hotels that will make your trip easier and will allow you to visit this and other interesting attractions without much effort.

You are a fan of museums? Read more about other great Rome Museums !

Our Author: Giuseppe

Football or soccer (in Italian Calcio) is a team sport played between two  teams of eleven players, and is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world. The object of the game is to score by manoeuvring the ball into the opposing goal. The goalkeepers are the only players allowed to use their hands or arms to propel the ball; the rest of the team usually use their feet to kick the ball into position, occasionally using their head to intercept a ball. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is tied at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition.

Futsal ( or Calcetto) can be translated as ‘indoor football’. Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, and up to seven substitutes per team. The game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines. Futsal is also played with a smaller ball . The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay where in 1930 Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a–side ball kicking game with adjusted size goals for youth competition in YMCAs.

The international governing body FIFUSA (Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón, International Futsal Federation) was created in 1971 to administer the game, and held its first futsal world championship in São Paulo in 1982. Due to an apparent dispute with FIFA over the administration of fútbol, FIFUSA coined the word fut-sal in 1985.

Some professional players start out with futsal to build fundamental skills. Brazilian players Ronaldinho, Robinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Juninho and many more started out playing futsal. In Brazil, the majority of children start out with Futsal rather than association football since it requires less space and many schools in the country do not have a field to play traditional association football. There are also some notable players like Falcão who continue to play futsal at the club level.

You can check your country’s Futsal World Ranking here.

Calciotto is a sport halfway between Calcetto (5 players against 5) and Calcio (11 against 11). This sport is gaining more and more sympathy and support; in 2005 the first official body, the Football League, was created which made the first regulations and organized the championships of Serie A and Serie B.
Being a sport like Calcio, it shares many of the rules. However it has its own regulations. The length of time (two, as in football) is 25 minutes.

So, if you are passionate about Football, or Soccer, or Calcio, you choose how to call it, just do not hesitate to visit me at an elegant and sports friendly YES Hotel in Rome, and we can chat and share opinions about the most spectacular sports game in the world!!!

Our author: Jonadab

The fair BTC International (Fair of Congress Tourism) is one of the most important events of the b2b sector to organize events. It will take place in Rome from the 6th till the 8th of November this year.

Every year hotel chains, tour operators, airports, tourist agencies  contribute to increase the professional quality of the event. Thanks to the fair BTC Rome  the technical staff working in the field is put in touch with such realities, like tourism of conferences, focused on ensuring of matching of demand and supply of this industry and consequently any valuable partnerships it may bring to. The International Marketplace BTC is in fact a landmark event that whole industry of  conferences are awaiting in Italy.

In the two days when the fair is taking place there will be organized seminars and mini -courses with refreshments and trainings in collaboration with the most notable industry associations. Again this will be  in the Area Events, a section of the exhibition completely dedicated to agency communications and events. In this space, agencies and suppliers will show their services, products and professional skills. There will be dynamic and light posts, a new place and especially the spectacular projects for the promotion of events will be shown as this event is done behind the scenes with the creativity and professionalism of specialized companies in the sector. Events inside the BTC will also an area dedicated to moments of depth on current topics such as eco-sustainability and new trends in marketing. Area events will be staged at the pavilion 14 of the new exhibition complex in Rome- Nuova Fiera di Roma.

BTC’s mission is the creation of better conditions to facilitate the matching of demand and supply in the Meeting Industry. With experience is seen today only point of reference for the whole conference industry and to incentive Italian market and this appointment is a not-to-miss opportunity, really is a must for the most qualified international operators.

My practical advise for you is to visit and enjoy hospitality of an elegant boutique Hotel in Rome- YES Hotel Rome, where you feel the real professionalism and charm of local operator, while enjoying the beauties of the Eternal City, and visiting this greatest Congress Event of the Year!!!