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

Our Blogger: Wanda

Rome celebrates the 29 June of every year the feast of its patrons Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Special ceremonies are organized in all the churches of the city, especially in those entitled to the Principles of the Apostles.

According to the tradition both saints were confined in the Mamertine Prison (pictured above), in the skirts of the capitol, a place that still exists and can be visited. There St. Peter succeeded in converting the guards and baptized them, and when he realized there was no water, he hit the ground where a fountain magically appeared.

St. Peter was brought to the ancient Neronian Circus located on the area where St.Peter’s square is now. He was crucified there with his head down to the ground.

St. Paul instead was conducted "to aquas salvias", in the actual area of the Three Fountains, on the Laurentina Street, to be beheaded; the story goes that his head bounced three times, creating every time a fountain: one of hot water, one of warm water and finally one with cold water.

On June 29th solemn rites are celebrated and, many of the dedicated to St. Peter. An interesting tradition is to kiss the feet of the great bronze statue of St. Pietro placed in the central aisle St.Peter’s basilica.

As commemoration of the party of the Roman patrons there’s as well a procession on which the chains of St. Paul are brought: they are preserved near the basilica ostiense and consists of 14 iron rings.

To enjoy many other Roman traditions, stay at Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel in Rome. Both will offer you all the comfort you need in the heart of the Eternal City.

After a small break, I came back with the stories about the Capitol Hill of Rome.

I hope you will not be annoyed with my historical outline, but will learn something new and next time you come to Rome you will surprise you friends with your knowledge.

So let us start…

In Rome there are many legends of the glorious past of its ancient empire. One of these concerns Castor and Pollux.

The introduction of the cult of Dioscuri, or Castori, is closely linked to a specific episode: the battle at the lake Regillo that saw the Romans opposed to Latins.

The Latins were allies of the Tarquinio Superbo, seventh and the last king of Rome. He was the dynasty of Etruscan Tarquini and he reigned from 535 a. C. to 510 a.C., when he was banned from Rome. It was an important date in Rome, because with the Tarquinio Superbo ending the Etruscan hegemony on the city of Rome, which began with the reign of Tarquinio Prisco. After the last king, Rome became free and the Repubblic was founded.

The battle of Lake Regillo is one of the first legendary Roman victories. Legendary because we don’t have precise references (documents seems to have been lost in the fire following the invasion of the Brenno’s Gauls). Legendary also because it says that the outcome of the battle, initially unfavourable to the warriors of Rome, has been decided by the appareance of mythological Dioscuri: Castor and Pollux.

Tarquino, already chased away from Rome, attempted to regain power.

The Roman dictator Aulus Postumia Albino, departed from Rome with large forces of infantry and cavalry and met the enemy army at Lake Regillo, in the territory of Tuscolo. After a first phase with uncertain outcome, the battle was about to turn in favour of Latin ranks when Aulus Postumia prayed Jupiter that granted his victory’s wish. In the clamor of battle, two mysterious knight appeared between the forces in the field, and they led the Roman armies to victory. Leaving the battlefield, the two young appeared again inside the walls of Rome and they announced the successful victory over the Latins at the citizenship, and then they would be disappeared into the air(I talk about this another day*).

There are different statues of Dioscuri that can be admired even today in Rome, for example, on the Quirinale hill and on the balustrade of the piazza del Campidoglio. Here, at the top of the stairs, there are the colossal groups of the Dioscuri, Castor from one side, and Pollux from the other side.

The legend of Dioscuri is the introduction of a greek myth in Roman tradition. In fact, Castor and Pollux, in Greeks centres of southern Italy, were considered the “Numi Tutelari” of chivalry, which was established exclusively by characters in the aristocracy. The recruitment in Rome of a cult of aristocracy could mean the need for a strengthening of political power by the classes of “Romans gentilizi”, at a time when the transition from monarchy to republican institutions could involve strong social tensions.

From the mythological’s side, more simply, the Dioscuri represent the will of the gods of the birth of a Roman empire free from foreign yoke, as will by that time.

Our historical adventure, of course, does not end here, and I heartly welcome you to visit Rome and enjoy all these treasure by yourselves. My suggestion is to stay in bugdet and cosy hotel Nice Hotel and enjoy history in its relaxing atmosphere.

As a tourist you have probably seen all the parts of Rome, all the sights and places. What I propose you today is a trip into details, which will continue through the next several weeks. I would like to start talking about the Capitoline hill and its peculiarities you may not have heard of.

The Capitoline hill is the smallest of the famous seven hills of Rome, but also the most important because the first nucleus of the city was born here. Initially it was enclosed by a system of defensive walls to protect the inhabitants from hostile tribes who lived in surrounding areas.
The Colle del Campidoglio, the way it is called in Italian, has been since ancient times an important place for the life of the city, first as a religious centre, following as a place of power when it arranged the Senate in Rome.
The hill overlooking the Roman Forum, and several temples were built here, for this was considered the most sacred places of Ancient Rome.
But it was during the Republican age that the importance of the Capitoline grew and became the place of power in the city.

The Capitoline Hill is the basic

Capitol Hill, Rome

nucleus of Roman life for thousand of years. The Capitoline once were sacred to the Romans and the destination of the triumphal processions of victorious generals.

In medieval times the Capitoline was neglected, after numerous fires. Major reconstruction work were made by the Emperor Domitian, in 81 A.C. But then the hill was gradually abandoned after the fall of and subsequent destruction of temples of ancient Rome.
Later it was called Monte Caprino, because reduced pasture for goats.

The Palazzo Senatorio was built for the first time in the twelfth century on the ruins of the Tabularium, the archive status of ancient Rome. This was located at one end of the Forum and was re-used as a deposit first, then as a prison.

Today the Capitoline is the headquarters of the Mayor and Municipality of Rome. And it hosts one of the most important museums of Rome-

the Capitoline Museums.

oday the main attraction is the Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo as from about 1537. The square is facing S. Peter, with pavement design and the centrifugal center equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.

The Capitoline Hill is reached by the grand flight of steps known as the “Cordonata”, built to a design by Michelangelo Buonarroti, commissioned by Pope Paul III.

The cordonata was a place of transit of men and knights, for this is so large.
Its form is to gather downwards.

The "cordonata capitolina" connects today Piazza del Campidoglio with the underlying square of Aracoeli.
The cordonata is that road slope formed by large elements in stone or brick (here the name) that make it similar to a staircase.

The Square of Campidoglio hosts a lot of intersting events, so, if you happen to be in Rome, book a nice stay with a bunch of special offers in Lucci Hotel and just walk for half an hour and enjoy the greatest cordonata and special concerts!!!

The recent opening of The House of Augustus in Rome  to the public has been an extraordinary event. It is a fruit of decades of work. Some of the walls were found in pretty good conditions ,other took long and difficult restoration work.

In 31 BC Augustus – also known as Octavian – had triumphed over the combined forces of Mark Anthony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium.

The victory brought Egypt, and with it immense wealth, into the empire.

Ottaviano Augusto, still to become emperor erected his residence on the Palatine hill. It is not known whether the choice to build his residence sixty metres above the Lupercale, (the cove where the She-Wolf it nursed Romulus and Remus) has been accidental.

The certainty is that the domus (latin for “home”) of the founder of the Empire  transformed the Palatine from an inhabited place to an official centre of the imperial authority. The August complex, situated within the Apollo Temple (Tempio di Apollo Aziaco), the House of the Emperor, the libraries, the house of Livia (Augusto’s wife), were only identified during the 1970s, during the campaigns of digging guided from professor the Gianfilippo Carettoni.

Then long and difficult restorations have been hiding from the eyes of the public the splendid examples of Roman wall paintings that make  the house of the first emperor the greatest complex of second style that has been recovered in the last few decades.

Just a few days ago, the opening of the three rooms on northern sides  finally took place. The Minister  of the  Cultural Assets Francesco Rutelli (former Rome Mayor) , along with director of the archeological campaign of the Palatine Irene Iacopi were attending this event.

The rooms are named : the "inferior cubicle" room, large oecus (ambient of stay and reception) and the premises "of the rampa" and "the antirampa".

Augusto had a habit of withdrawing for meditation . "we have realized the puzzle more monumental of the history – the minister has commented – fruit of more than twenty years of archaeologically work and restoration. Numerous pieces of fresco today recomposed were in fact buried, and some seed-destroyed even.

The spaces are decorated with fresco and not only they represent an important roman painting example of the end of the 1st century B.C but also a restoration work never seen until now.

The Domus Augusto is another spectacular discovery in the heart of an ancient Rome that continues to astonish and to give extraordinary experiences.

From Monday 17 march 2008 entrance to the Roman Forum is no longer free. The fee is 11 euros ($16; £8) for a combined ticket that allows you to the Forum, the Palatine Hill and the nearby Colosseum.

How do I visit the House of Augustus ? No booking in advance is possible at this time and you have to queue. Access is allowed by small groups composed of 5 persons at a time.

Where? From Termini station you can take metro line B to Colosseum (3 stops away)  and then is a few minutes walk.

For your Hotel stay in Rome see our suggested  Rome Hotels.

See the related reads on the Domus Augusto.

Piazza Navona is one of the most famous and beautiful of the many other Roman squares.
It is build like such in 16-th century.
Before that on its place has stayed the stadium of Domitian,built by emperor Domitian in 86 AD.
It used to hold up to 30 thousand spectators. Also it is known that it had larger arena than the Colosseum.
The stadium was used for festivals and sporting events. It is known also as Circus Agonalis.
In the 15-th century the stadium was paved over to form the Navona square.
Even today there are still visible some remnants of Domitian’s stadium.

There 3 magnificent fountains at the square and also the baroque style church of S. Agnese.
One of the fountain is made by the great architect and sculptor Bernini between 1648 and 1651.
It is called the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) and is in the center of the square. It is like huge rock coming out of the water.

Another fountain is Fontana del Nettuno. It is created by Giacomo Della Porta around 1576.
It is situated on the north side of the square, exactly opposite of the third fountain: Fontana del Moro which is on the south side.

Today Piazza Navona is a beautiful popular place where people go out for a walk or to visit some of the best restaurants and coffee places and enjoy the view created so many years ago by some of the best artists.

Are you a cat lover? If the answer is positive, when visiting Rome, you cannot miss the famous Roman Cat Sanctuary of Largo Torre Argentina. It is something you can only run into in Rome: a lively cat community in the very heart of Rome, located in the midst of archeological treasures!

The archaeological area of Largo Argentina was excavated in 1929, revealing the remains of ancient Roman temples, the very place where Julius Ceasar was stabbed to death in 44 B.C! The excavation area, covered and protected from the weather and the curious, offered the perfect shelter to the stray cats of the area, who were quite numerous at the time, and who soon founded a “home base� there. Soon some cat lovers made their appearance and started regularly feeding the cats on their own expense.

This went on until 1993, and the cat community prospered, building up a certain fame partly thanks to its magnificent surroundings – certainly many a per cat would envy the historical setting and splendid tradition of these “Ceasar’s heirs�! The cats have had some quite remarkable supporters and admirers, for example Anna Magnani, who loved to feed them and keep them company during her breaks when working in the neighbouring Teatro Argentina.

In 1993 things began to get more organised: the city of Rome gave a primitive shelter space to the “cat-people�, and finally, in 1995, they managed to get some financial and practical support from the UK. This was a turning point for the activity of the activists: first they started collecting little donations from the tourists visiting the cats, and eventually they even started organising fund raising dinners! Today the activity is flourishing even though, of course, funds are constantly needed. So when you visit the “Sanctuary�, don’t forget to leave your own little offering if you care for cats. If you wish to do something more, you can for example adopt a Roman cat!

The Cat Sanctuary is located in Largo Torre Argentina in the historical center of Rome, nearby Navona Square and Venice Square (see the location or Largo Argentina on a Rome city map). From the Termini station you can catch the bus number 40 to get there in a few minutes, or just stop by on your way to the Vatican.

You can find comfortable and stylish accommodation – even if maybe not quite as fabulous as the historical home of these cats! – at the Rome Hotel Des Artistes near the Termini station, the central location of which allows you to visit easily Largo Argentina as well as any other Rome attractions. Another great option is the Rome budget-hotel Nice Hotel.

Did you wish for a room with a view in your Rome hotel? Well, if you didn’t get one that’s no wonder, because in the city center it’s very rare to have a view: in Rome there are no sky scrapers, but all the buildings seem to be of the same height. But not to worry: Rome is the city of the seven hills, and therefore in the center of Rome there are several great spots for admiring the view, which, that goes without saying, is spectacular!

In the heart of the city centre you can climb the Campidoglio hill next to the Venice square. To get even higher, enter the Capitoline museum, which has a café on the roof top: that’ll give you a great view of the historical centre of Rome, all the way to the Vatican. Next to the Campidoglio, on Venice Square, is the Monument Vittoriano: you can climb on the top and admire for example the Imperial Forums from above! Another spot in the same area is the Palatine hill, the ancient location of the emperors’ palaces that offers a great view over the Roman Forum and on the opposite side, the ancient Romans’ horse race stadium Circus Maximus.

On the banks of the Tiber, you’ll find the Aventine hill and on top of it a charming little garden inhabited by a feline community and a “belvedere�: a spot to admire the view over the river and of the opposite bank.

When you get down from the Aventine, you can cross the river and climb the Gianicolo hill in the Trastevere area. Gianicolo in the evening is the favourite destination of lovers, whereas the Sunday afternoon it’s populated by families. The place in itself is beautiful, and already the ancient Romans considered it the best place to view the whole city: Trastevere, Tiber, the historical centre on one side and Saint Peter’s and the Vatican on the other.

One more popular and beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the view is the Pincio hill and the Villa Borghese Park. From there you can see the Piazza del Popolo right at your feet, the mausoleum of emperor Augustus, the central shopping areas all the to the river.

A central location well connected with all these spots is the Termini station area which offers many accommodation options. Try the brand-new Yes Hotel – a classy boutique hotel – or one of the lovely hotel in rome close to termini Station – or the budget-friendly but good quality three star hotel My Hotel, both near the Termini. If you’re looking for a hostel in the Termini station area, try the Hostel Des Artistes.

A belated new year’s treat for everyone visiting Rome from the 30th of January next year. The Domus Aurea or Golden House will be partially opened again for small groups of tourists. This excellent site is located between the Colosseum and the train station Termini and is conveniently situated in walking distance from My Hotel Rome.

This amazing palace was built by possibly the most insane person ever to rule over Rome. Nero built this house after the great fire of Rome, which he blamed the Christians for starting. However many people thought contrary and said that Nero probably had the fires started himself to make space for this sprawling complex.

The Golden House was so called because its walls were covered in gold leaves. The walls and ceilings were also encrusted with pearls and ivory. The surrounding grounds, before being buried buy Trajan , who then used the remains of the house for the foundation of the baths, contained magnificent gardens. There was even a giant gold statue of Nero himself on the premises.

The building of the house commenced in A.D. 64 and was finished in the same year in which Nero killed himself which was A.D. 68.

The house had a main room which also revolved with the direction of the sun and there was an entrance where guests would enter and petals and perfume would rain down upon them. The house even had hot and cold bathwater. Quite an architectural and design accomplishment for almost 2000 years ago.

The Domus Aurea is also the house of beautiful frescoes on the wall, which tourists will be able to see upon entering the house. There will be scaffolding available and you can get a really good detailed view of the frescoes while the restorers are painstakingly repairing them.

4 million euros will be spent over a period of 2 years to repair the damage that was done to the house last year after heavy rain caused water damage. When you go to visit the museum, even in summer, take some warm clothing with you. The area has to be kept at an even temperature of 10 degrees and it is also very humid.

Location : Via della Domus Aurea – Giardini di Colle Oppio

Area : Termini – Esquilino – Metro Stop : Line A Termini / Line B Cavour

Opening hours : 09.00 am -7.45 pm

Booking in advance only on +39 06 39967700

The Caracalla Baths in Rome are close to the FAO and the Coloseum, in an extremely green area of the eternal City and in easy reach of your hotel or Bed and Breakfast in central Rome.

They are open to visitors from 9 am until hour before sunset, and the nearest metro stop is Circo Massimo on line B (Circus Maximus).

The baths, completed in 253 were probably the biggest built in ancient times. Caracalla, son of Settimio Severo, opened the complex which were functional until 537.

They had an igienic purpose since they were used as bathrooms and toilets, but they also provided saunas, hot and cold baths, massages and physical exercise was possible too and even some athletic contests took place : this was an occasion of meeting and socialising in ancient Rome.

At peak times the baths could have 8000 visitors a day. The decorations of marble and bronze were luxurious and the size of the buildings huge : up to 30 metres high in some areas, and in total 80000 m3 of water. On the top floor an oven operated with wood would heat the whole area through a heating system through tubes that would heat up the floors. And on the underground floor were the gutters taking the waters away from the building.

In the same area you will be able to visit the Coloseum and the Circus Maximus, and since you will certainly stopover for a few days we recommend you stay in central and comfortable hotel.