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

Our Blogger: Raul

Well, these days are strange in Rome. With so many cancelled flights due to the cloud of volcanic ashes hanging over Europe, not everyone is paying attention to one of the most interesting cultural campaingns to take place each year in Italy: the Culture Week.

Like every year this 2010 many interesting activities will take place and besides many of the most famous monuments in Rome can be visited for free! Yes, from April 16 to 25 you will be able to visit the Roman Forum, the CoIosseum and many other great monuments for free, or almost: by instance, to visit the Capitoline museums you would pay only 4,50 Euros, since there is an additional axhibition taking place right now.

We have selected for you some of the most interesting options when it comes to activities. You will find our picks at the bottom of this page.

And don’t forget: your best options for accomodation in Rome are Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel. Contact us today, or make a reservation through our website!

Our Blogger: Raul

Thinking about a different way to greet the new year? You will be hardly pressed to find a most exciting city than Rome. The eternal city will offer you excitement, culture, and tons of fun to start the new year with the right foot.

Rome houses one of the most interesting art collections in the world: the Vatican Museums, where you will be able to admire the Sistine Chapel. How’s that for a good way to start your year? Not to mention the Capitoline museums, the Trevi fountain, and of course the Coliseum.

Every year a concert is organized at Piazza del Popolo (subway stop Flaminio) to celebrate the new year. And that night fireworks can be seen at Trastevere and Castel Sant’Angelo. But the Roman tradition is to attend a cenone (litterally, a “big dinner”) at a restaurant to celebrate the new year with your relatives and closest friends. The typical dish on this occasion is the Cotecchino e Lenticchie, that’s, sausage and lentils. Near Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes there are many typical restaurants where you will have the chance to experience a truly Roman New Year’s Eve.

Our hotels are conveniently located, with buses and subway stations at a stone’s throw, and the Colisseum is only half an hour away from us. So don’t hesitate to book now with us your accomodation for the New Year or Christmas, and while you are at that, take a look at our special packages!

Happy New Year!

Side business in Rome…

Hello again from Rome, where summer has been now hitting us in full !

Opportunity knocks at the door all the time. Consider 1.200 euro cash flow per day with no cost and almost no risk (unless police gets you).

Now think about a summer afternoon in Rome, your promenade is interesting but it is quite warm all around so you would like to refresh yourself going to the beautiful Trevi Fountain. Of course you are not the only one. There seems to be thousands of people and as legend says, they throw a single coin over the shoulder to guarantee they will come back to the Eternal City.

Let me just guess what you are planning :

Option 1- You want to take a dip ? Just like in the famous Italian movie La Dolce Vita, when a beautiful Anita Ekberg happily splashes around the Trevi Fountain.

OR

Option 2 – And allow me to say you would not be a pioneer by having such an impure thought -

The Trevi’s most famous coin thief was nicknamed ‘d’Artagnan’, a 50-year-old Roman who raided the fountain for more than 30 years before the law cracked down on him in 2002 and banned him from the square.

The musketeer, whose nickname derived from his long, sword-like magnet, gained worldwide news coverage with his tricks including a front-page slot on the New York Times.

At the peak of the tourist season, he was reported to have scooped out an impressive 22 kilos of coins from the fountain in just fifteen minutes.

The police eventually caught him and sadly for us, patrols have since been increased in the very Trevi area so you would need to be supersonic to get away with it…

About the Trevi Fountain : Not only ambition attracts crazy people to the monument. The Fountain has also lured imitators of screen beauty Anita Ekberg, who made a legendary dip into its waters in the 1959 Federico Fellini movie La Dolce Vita. In 2007 , a youth risked his life by diving from the highest part of the Baroque monument headlong into its shallow waters.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, designed to replace an older fountain dating back to the 1450s, was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Pietro da Cortona in the 17th-century and is one of the main atractions of Rome.

Read about  the Trevi Fountain that turned red : Lady in red !

If you plan to stay over in Rome for a few days, before packing do not miss out our Rome Hotel Summer Specials  in our Hotel Des Artistes Rome

and book now..

My dear readers, as promised, here is our next appointment of full immersion into Ancient Roman life, and we will talk about famous roman feasts-Saturnals.

Let’s suppose you want to know when the fun is in Rome. Well you could have some good time nowadays but real fun was during Ancient Rome Period while celebrating what they used to call Saturnalia.

The Saturnalia was a festivity offered to the God…Saturn of course, and officially was celebrated on December 17 and, in Cicero’s time, lasted seven days, from December 17-23. Augustus limited the holiday to three days and Caligula extended it to five. Nevertheless , everyone continued to celebrate for a full week in practice because when fun begins is not easy to stop. Catullus describes it as "the best of days,"

Saturn was identified with Kronos. The Temple of Saturn, the oldest temple recorded by the pontiffs, had been dedicated on the Saturnalia were a sacrifice and banquet was performed. You can see today the columns remaining from that temple in the forums area.

During the holiday, all restrictions were relaxed and the social order almost inverted. So by that, gambling was allowed in public. Slaves were permitted to use dice and did not have to work! Instead of the toga, less formal dinner clothes were allowed. Slaves were treated as equals, permitted to wear their masters’ clothing, and be waited on at meal time.

Now hear what Lucian tell us about the party "During My week the serious is barred; no business allowed. Drinking, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water—such are the functions over which I preside."

As you can imagine, the equality regarding to slaves treatment was only temporary ; and Petronius refers of an impudent slave being asked at some other time of the year whether it was December yet.

Saturnalia was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly wax candles (cerei), possibly to signify the returning light after the solstice.

If a time of relaxing and enjoy, the season also was at the same time an occasion for murder. Few examples: the Catiline conspirators intended to fire the city and kill the senate on the Saturnalia, when many would be preoccupied with the festivities. Commodus was strangled in his bath on New Year’s eve while Caracalla plotted to murder his brother. Just part of the Roman habits.

By the end of the first century AD, Statius proclaims: "For how many years shall this festival abide! Never shall age destroy so holy a day! While the hills of Latium remain and father Tiber, while thy Rome stands and the Capitol though has restored to the world, it shall continue" The Saturnalia continue to be celebrated as Brumalia (from the term bruma, winter solstice) reaching the Christian era, finally, by the middle of the fourth century AD, its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas. Dear friends, pack your luggage and come to Rome to explore and learn and to PARTY!!! My suggestion for your stay in Rome is YES Hotel, located just near the station, and my suggestion to get a deeper knowledge about Saturnalia is a book of

Lindsey Davis- SATURNALIA!

So long, my dears, and to be continued…

"HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD"

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:2)

Easter is the most important religious festivity in the Christian liturgical year. During this day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is a moveable feast, that is it’s not fixed to the civil calendar since it follows the cycle of the moon. In 2008 Easter fell on Sunday 23 march.

FESTIVITIES

A bit of history first ! The Easter festival among the Roman Catholics is preceded by a 40 days of fast and abstinence called Lent (in Italian Quaresima) beginning on Ash Wednesday (Mercoledi delle Ceneri). Holy week of Lent begins with the observance of Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem where the crowds waved and laid palms at his feet. Holy Thursday (Giovedi Santo) commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus had with his apostles before being crucified. Friday in Holy Week is the anniversary of Jesus death on the Cross. Easter celebrations begins on the night of Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil, which ends with the Eucharist (also called ‘Holy Communion’).

TRADITIONS: FROM FAST TO FEAST

During the Holy week in Italy in every italian region exhibitions, local feasts, rites and processions are taking place in the streets where the penitents walk (in some cases even barefoot and in chains) holding torches and praying. Even the bells in the churches stay mute from Friday until Easter to evoke the pain for the crucifixion.

With the Last Supper episode, that is with Jesus dividing up some bread and handing the pieces to the disciples, it already states clear that food holds a major significance in this festivity. That’s the reason why on Easter food remains in different ways the main character: eggs are given (real ones, hard boiled and often painted with decorations or the more common ones are the chocolate eggs ), as symbols of rebirth and fertility, since Spring usually starts in this period as well; Lamb is usually cooked and a dove- shaped Easter cake is served (the traditional "colomba") , which are evident symbols of the Passion. Other typical Easter cakes are "Torta Pasqualina" whose main ingredients are ricotta, arthichokes and eggs and the delicious "Pastiera Napoletana" with corn, butter, ricotta and candid fruits.

PASQUETTA
The day after Easter is officially the celebration of the Angel announcing the resurrection of the Lord to the women at his tomb. In Italy Easter Monday is a bank holiday, and in Rome, as well as in other Italian cities, organizes cultural events. Italians traditionally spend this day among friends, having pic nics, doing outside activities or organizing trips somewhere.. and what about you? Got any plans for a trip during your spring vacation ? March and April are ideal to get discounted Rome hotel rates in Italy Hotels.

Read a relatad blog about Easter in Italy …

And want to know more about April Festivals in Italy ?

When ? Between 1 december 2006 and 6 january 2007, all day long until late at night.

What ? This year again in Piazza Navona in Rome is taking place the traditional Christmas market. The star of this event is no doubt the “Befana�, the witch children adore so much ! The Befana is represented in many ways and looks.
The square fills up with stalls that propose food specialities, other that have the Christmas socks with a wide choice of chocolates and sweets for all tastes. You will also find artisans that have on show and sale the traditional Christmas decorations and mangers to put under your tree.
An old Austrian roundabout with its horses play music and go round and round for the fun of the younger and older crowds.
And in the middle of Piazza Navona is a huge manger, different every year.

The atmosphere is light and festive, and people of all ages will just love it. And if you have a sweet tooth you cannot miss this event.
Apart from this event you will be able to admire the beautiful fountains designed by Bernini who also has numerous works exposed in the Galleria Borghese ; the most impressive fountain in Piazza Navona is certainly the Fontana dei Fiumi.

Where ? Piazza Navona is in the centre of Rome, not far from the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps and for those who prefer a guided tour you can book here. It is in easy reach of our accommodation and hotel My Hotel Rome.

How to get there ? From our hotel My Hotel, walk to Termini station, where an exceptional exhibition of Caravaggio is taking place and take bus 70. A 15 min trip, and you get off in Corso Rinascimento : Piazza Navona is just behind.

Christmas in Rome? A magnificent idea: the eternal city is far from quiet and sleepy even in Christmas time! Of course the Romans, too, calm down for Christmas, go to the Christmas mass and spend some quiet time in family, but usually that’s just on the 25th December: any other day there’s a lot going on in Rome.

First of all, there’s the famous Navona Square Christmas market which is an absolute must! That’s where you can find anything that has to do with the Roman Christmas: decorations, sweets, entertainment, and plenty of atmosphere… And if you still have some Christmas shopping to do and the market is not enough, you can have a look at the shops on Via del Corso, one of the main shopping streets of Rome, close by.

On Christmas Eve most people, even locals, go out for dinner: the menu is usually fish, in the large sense, meaning any kinds of sea food. You should definitely try the “spaghetti alle vongole�, clams swimming in butter and garlic… On Christmas Day the restaurants are probably going to be a bit less crowded, since most of the Romans organise huge luncheons for the whole family at home! Anyway, don’t worry: many restaurants have a special Christmas menu for those who prefer eating out. And don’t make any plans after lunch: you’re probably not going to able to walk or even think after a 6-7 course Italian feast lunch…

And when your material need have been fulfilled, you’re going to want to calm down and feel the spirit of the Christmas. You shouldn’t miss the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass! Even if you’re not all that religious, it’s a beautiful experience of music and joy, and In Rome there is any number of wonderful ancient churches to choose from as the venue. Most tourists head for Saint Peter’s or the Pantheon, but small churches like the age-old Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Sabina on the Aventine hill or Santa Maria in Cosmedin close to the Venice Square can be less crowded and at least as beautiful!

In the following days you can for example see some of the museums: the Vatican Museum of course, and maybe the enormous Capitoline Museum on Piazza del Campidoglio, or the smaller and more concrete Crypta Balbi (a must for those interested in the Roman Empire), and the masterpiece-filled Borghese Gallery.

As for practical matters, you can use these links to book your hotel in Rome, to find information about museum opening hours and locations or about guided Rome city tours.