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The Apostolic Palace in Rome

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17March2012

Rome is the city of love. The city where you go looking for adventure or practically for the old renaissance atmosphere that one cannot find anywhere else in the world!

The Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican – are all different names of the Apostolic Palace. The high esteem that it holds is due to the fact that it is the residence of the Pope and is thus surrounded by a large horde of tourists at all times.

The building itself is like other Italian buildings a wonder to look at with its façade exuding an archaic feel. However it is not a traditional residential building since it features not only residential apartments but also support offices of various functions as well as administrative offices which are both quiet unrelated to the Pope’s living home.

The building also features the Vatican museum which is open to tourists. The Vatican library is also housed here. A number of private and public chapels can also be found in this region.

The interiors are even more wondrous with the marvelous frescoes including the masterpiece of Michelangelo. A lot of Raphael’s works can also be witnessed here. All in all, the pope’s palace is a place you must visit if you wish to satiate your hunger for the renaissance beauty of Italy!

Apostolic Palace in Rome

Touring Rome on a Hop-on/Hop-off bus

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21February2012

A popular way to visit Rome is a guided and pre-planned tour on the hop-on/hop-off (Ho-Ho) buses…open-top double-decker. All the companies offering tours on Ho-ho buses allow the tourists to purchase the tickets as they board at any stop for a cost of around 18-20 Euros. The tickets let you avail any available seat along with earbud headphones to plug into outlets for running commentary on approaching sights. Commentary is offered in nearly every European language. Most companies follow more or less the same route and the tourists can opt for a  complete Ho-Ho loop in which you can stay on until you arrive at each point/area you wish to visit, do so, then hop back on another bus (for that bus line) for the next point/area of interest.

It would be a good idea to keep your cameras handy as you can take pictures from the upper-deck, but you need to be careful with your balance while in-motion. An early start will also help choice of seat location to help camera angles. The different bus companies offer vastly different service levels.

Unfortunately, due to Rome’s narrow streets, the HOHO buses cannot go directly to a few of the more popular sites such as the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. Also the buses being open on top are no fun in the rain or wind. Most of the companies in Rome offer a 24 or 48 hour ticket.

For the most part, the routes are all similar. Most operators offer some form of a discount for children and family. While almost all the tours start at Roma Termini, you can buy a ticket on the buses at every stop. At Termini, the drivers tend to take their breaks so often you may have to wait here for the “route” to start.

Hop-on/Hop-off bus

The Piazza della Minerva in Rome

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2February2012

The Piazza della Minerva is as its name suggests a piazza situated in Rome. Lying close to the renowned Pantheon, this piazza is a sight to behold. A large number of beautiful buildings are foundin this vicinity. In fact it is named after the temple built by Pompey dedicated to Minerva Calcidica.

A very famous elephant, sculpted by one of Bernini’s students as per his instructions adorns the centre of this piazza. It is situated atop an Egyptian obelisk. The name given to the elephant by the Romans is “il pulcin della Minerva”, or “porcino”. The obelisk comes from the Iseum, in whose cloister it was excavated.

The church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, after whom the piazza is named, is also located at the centre of the square. Its exterior features a number of important inscriptions regarding the flooding of River Tiberia. The former Accademia dei nobili ecclesiastici, now known as the the Palazzo dell’accademia ecclesiastica, an academy for training the diplomats of Vatican City is situated opposite the church.

The 16th century Palazzo Fonseca stands to the right of the church. The hotel Minerva lies here. This hotel is extremely famous among the Romans and its guests include celebrities like Stendhal and José de San Martín.

Ruins of an archaic convent (or casa profess) of the Dominicans of the 13th century is also present here. The convent’s influence grew over the years and it even became the base of the Roman Inquisition or Holy Office. The historic trials of Galileo Galilei, was held here.

The piazza thus holds several places of historic as well as aesthetic value and is a good visit.

The picturesque Trevi Fountain in Rome

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26December2011

When in Rome, The Trevi fountain, is a must see. Inspired by Roman triumphal arches, this is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome being 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide. Designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and competed in 1762, Trevi fountain is the pride of Rome. It stands in the Trevi square (piazza di Trevi) and lies within walking distance from the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona.

The fountain displays the Neptun (God of the sea), flanked by two Tritons. One struggles to master a veru unruly “sea horse”, the other lead a far more docile animal. These symbolize the two contrasting moods of the sea. One of the first-storey reliefs of the fountain show a young girl (the legendary virgin after whom the aqueduct was named) pointing to the spring from which the water flows. The fountain goes by the tradition that if a coin is thrown in its waters, it guarantees the visitor’s return to Rome.

The fountain holds the beauty of a stage set and as such, many of the films in Rome have been shot here including romantic films such as “Three coins in a fountain” and “Roman holiday”, but also “La dolce vita”, Federico Fellini’s satirical portrait of Rome in the 1950s.

There are many elegant and classy hotels near Trevi fountain some of them being, Hotel Majestic Roma set right on world-famous Via Veneto, Hotel Raphael standing one street from Piazza Navona, Alexandra which is a 3-star superior hotel on Rome’s exclusive Via Veneto and Grand Hotel De La Minerve which stands at a 2-minute walk from the Pantheon and near the picturesque square of Piazza Navona.

Famous Churches of Rome

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26November2011

A visit to Rome would be incomplete without witnessing the churches here with fine art work. Many churches stay open all day but some close for a few hours in the afternoon. All churches require you to be quiet and respectful while some require you to be in a proper dress code. Some of the famous churches of Rome are:

The Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the oldest churches built in the year 118, Rome. It was authorized by Marcus Agrippa, which was later re-constructed by Emperor Hadrian. It has a huge dome that has an opening and allows sunrays to enter. The view is splendid.

Trastevere
Trastevere is probably the first Church of Rome. The name Trastevere has been derived from a Latin word that originally means ‘beyond the tiger’. It was constructed in the fourth century but was re-built in the twelfth century. This church is well known for its wonderful ancient mosaics. It is situated on the banks of Tiber, Vatican City

St.Peter’s Basilica
St.Peter’s Basilica is situated in the Vatican City of Rome and is famous for Michelangelo’s artwork. The dome of the church, which rises to a height of about 400 feet above ground level, was designed by Michelangelo and is considered to be the finest example of the Renaissance architecture.  The church can accommodate up to 80,000 people and is considered to be one of the largest churches of Rome. The church also comprises of The Pieta. The Pieta, made by Michelangelo is the finest piece of sculpture evoking deep emotions. It shows Mary in seating position carrying the body of Jesus across her breast.

The Basilica of the Holy Cross
The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic parish church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy. It is considered to be one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. It has beautiful hardens set in the Castrense amphitheatre and a hotel. It is well known for its compilation of relics. This church has been re-constructed several times and was last renovated in the 18th century. The name of this church has been derived from an Italian word.

Santa Maria del Popolo
Santa Maria del Popolo, in Piazza del Popolo, was one of the first Renaissance churches in Rome. The church features Caravaggio’s Martrydom of St. Peter and Conversion of St. Paul. In the Chigi Chapel, created by Raphael, are ceiling mosaics and pyramid-like tombs as well as statues by Bernini.

San Clemente
San Clemente located near the Colosseum displays Rome’s interesting history. It is built in honour of Pope Clement I and is a Roman Catholic minor basilica. The church has been reconstructed thrice and is a three-tiered complex of buildings and was last re modeled in the twelfth century.

You can easily find hotels near all these churches. The Hotel Veneto offers accommodation near St Patrick’s church in Rome. Hotel Emmaus Rome lies at a mere one hundred yards from Piazza San Pietro and the spiritual home of the Catholic Church. The Hotel Forum Rome Italy is located near the Coliseum.

Sapienza University of Rome, the center of learning in Italy

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10March2011

The Sapienza University of Rome that is also termed as the Sapienza – Università di Roma is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy. It is one of the largest European universities and the oldest of Rome’s three state-funded universities. The university was founded in 1303. The meaning of sapienza in Italian language is “wisdom” or “knowledge”. As according to an international ranking of the educational institutes, the Sapienza is placed at among the top 30 European universities. In 2010 QS World University Rankings placed the city in overall at the 190th spot in the overall ranking in the world.

The university was founded when the supremae praeminentia dignitatis was issued on 20 April 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, as a Studium for ecclesiastical studies beneath his control more than the universities of Bologna and Padua. In 1431 Pope Eugene IV entirely approved the stadium with the bull. In supremae, in which he granted masters and students alike the broadest possible privileges and decreed that the university for having the four faculties of Law, Medicine, Philosophy and Theology. He therefore to meet out there introduced a new tax on wine so to raise funds for the university. That money later on employed as and housed the Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza church. When the sacking of Rome occurred in 1527, the studium was closed and some professors were dispersed. Pope Paul III revised the university immediately after his ascension to the pontificate in 1534.

In the 1650s the university renamed as Sapienza, meaning wisdom, and to the date is yet known by the same title and name.  In 1870, La Sapienza dethroned from the status of the papal university and became the University of the Capital of Italy. In 1935, the new university campus, planned by Marcello Piacentini, was completed. On 27 October 1935 the university became an aggregate of all the institutions of higher learning of university rank in the city of Rome. Since 1935 Sapienza University is under the control of the   Italian Government. At present by far it is the largest university in Rome and is a leading center of research and academic guidance in every field of knowledge and learning. The university has improved its research programmes in the areas of engineering, natural sciences, biomedical sciences and humanities. It has recently has gone into the collaboration with the British and American universities for education and learning.

Grand Hotel De La Minerve, 5 star hotel in Rome

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1March2011
Grand Hotel De La Minerve, 5 star hotel in Rome

Grand Hotel De La Minerve, 5 star hotel in Rome

•    Overview of the Hotel: The hotel is located at the center of Rome and is preserved in an about 17th century building in the heart of Rome, there you can admire the entire scene of the Rome from the roof terrace of the hotel. It is also located at the close distance to the Pantheon and the beautiful setting of the Pizza Navona. Other attractive places around it are the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps about feet away.  The hotel restaurant remains open for both lunch and dinner and provides a mixture of Italian, Mediterranean, and international cuisine. More you can there enjoy cuisine at the roof garden and take in the view out over the historic center of the city. The hotel has total 135 rooms and it is the chain of the Worldhotels.

•    Amenities at the Hotel: For amenities in the hotel it consists as restaurant,         bar, 4-hour front desk, newspapers, terrace, non-smoking rooms,         rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe, heating, baggage storage. in services the hotel includes services as room service, meeting/banquet facilities, laundry, ironing service and fax/photocopying.

•    Hotel Rules: With respect to hotel rules there remains a universal policy as with subject to common areas of the hotel. However for the different rooms in the hotel the rules and regulations are applied as according to the hotel rules. The check in time into the hotel is 15:00 hours and the check out point is until 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment polices there vary according to the room type.  Cancellation and prepayment policy there vary according too the room type. Pets are allowed in the hotel for free. The hotel accepts cards like American Express, Visa, Euro-Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro and CartaSi.

•    Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Classic Double Room: € 1366 (Per Night)

Teatro dell’Opera di Roma after the initial years of construction

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22February2011

The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is one of the famous opera house in Rome. The opera became operational from November 1880. When it stared in year 1880 with 2,212 seats was initially was named as the Costanzi Theater. Since then the theater has undergone several changes as well many a number of modifications as well as improvements. At present, the hall has about 1,600 seats.

The name of the opera since between 1880 to 1926 was remained as Costanzi Theater after the name of its contractor who made it during the Domenico Costanzi. The opera was personally financed by the Costanzi who deputed the Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini an expert in the construction and the renovation of theaters. The opera house was constructed in the record period of about eighteen months, at the site where the house of Heliogabalus used to stand and stay as during the ancient times, and there was started at about on 27 November 1880 with a performance of Semiramide by Gioachino Rossini.

While at the construction of the opera the, Sfondrini paid special attention towards the   acoustics, as planning the interior to be as the “resonance chamber”.  Initially, at the start the theater with about a seating capacity of 2012 the theater had the three tier of boxes, an amphitheater and two separate galleries. There at the top was a spectacular dome provided by the Annibale Brugnoli. Despite troubled with various financial problems Costabze kept on managing itself this how or the otherwise. The opera house organized many world premieres of operas like Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni on 17 May 1890. For a short period and instant the theater was handled by the Costanzi’s son, Enrico, who retained prominence by organizing other great performance by Tosca by Giacomo Puccini on 14 January 1900.

In 1907, the Teatro Costanzi was come under the impresario Walter Mocchi through the purchase deal.  In 1912 Mocchi’s wife, Emma Carelli, became the managing director of the new Impresa Costanzi, as the theatre was renamed after the procurement. At her tenure of being director of the opera the major works that organized at Costanzi includes    La fanciulla del West, Turandot and Il trittico by Giacomo Puccini, Parsifal by Richard Wagner; Francesca da Rimini by Riccardo Zandonai; Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky; Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns and many other as well. The opera house was re-sale once again to the Rome City Council and its name was finally changed to Teatro Reale dell’Opera in 1926. Then the opera was constructed partially by the architect Marcello Piacentini at the commencing fifteen months and re-opened on 27 February 1928 as with the opera Nerone by Arrigo Boito.

St. George Roma, 5 star hotel in Rome

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14February2011
St. George Roma, 5 star hotel in Rome

St. George Roma, 5 star hotel in Rome

•  Overview of the Hotel:This is an ultramodern hotel located at the center of Rome. Piazza Navona is about 5 minutes walk away form the hotel. The hotel is close to the Tiber River, the popular Trastevere area and the Vatican. The good rooms into the hotel come with LCD TV, Wi-Fi access, satellite channels, and large marble bathrooms. The rich brakefast too is provides at hotels internal garden. The hotel has total 64 rooms and it is the chain of Worldhotels.

•    Amenities at the Hotel: In amenities the general facilities in the hotel include as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, grounds, terrace,        non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe,         soundproofed rooms, heating, design hotel, baggage storage, air conditioning, designated smoking area. For convenience in the hotel one can avail services as        room service, meeting/banquet facilities, babysitting/child services,       laundry, dry cleaning, breakfast in the room, ironing service, car rental,         fax/photocopying and ticket service.

•    Hotel Rules: With respect to the general rules in the hotel they are uniformly followed at common areas in the hotel, but rules get changed for staying into the type of the hotel room. The check in time into the hotel is 15:00 hours and the check out time is until 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment policy in the hotel varies according to the room type. Pets are allowed into the hotel for free. The hotel accepts credit cards like American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, Maestro and CartaSi.

•    Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Deluxe Double Room Single Use: € 310 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room: € 340 (Per Night)

Villa Doria Pamphili, the largest garden in Rome

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4February2011
Villa Doria Pamphili,

Villa Doria Pamphili,

The Villa Doria Pamphili is a seventeenth century villa that contains the largest landscaped public park in Rome.  It is situated at the quarter of Monteverde, on the Gianicolo (or the Roman Janiculum), about outside the Porta San Pancrazio in the ancient walls of Rome where the ancient road of the Via Aurelia begin. It started as a villa for the Pamphili family and after them in eighteenth century passed out to the Prince Giovanni Andrea IV Doria and thus was recognized as the Villa Doria Pamphili.

The Villa Vecchia or ‘old villa’ was there already on the place well before the 1630, when it was priocured by Pamfilio Pamfili, who further added into it the neighboring   vineyards to keep up the much and bigger holding that is too popular as the Bel Respiro or ‘beautiful breath’ as it remain there on high ground, above the malarial areas of Rome, and provides the spectacular views that are much desired features of Baroque villa settings. In 644 Cardinal Giambattista Pamphili became elected to the papacy and ssuend the name of Innocent X. and according to his new status he made much advancement to the structure and building. In the modified new design there was structured a casino.

And around the central casino building there is a landscape garden keeping the exterior keeping statues providing a rich allure that typical to be very conservative to the present time as well. In the garden casino is set in a manner that on the hill slope the main entrance on the north side is at a level well above the giardino segreto or ‘secret garden’ having an enclosure from its  south side and a parterre garden with low clipped hedges. The garden on the sloping site was founded in around 1650 by Innocent’s nephew, Camillo Pamphili. Till the 18th   century there many regular features were spontaneously were added as fountains and gateways by Gabriele Valvassori and other architects.

At the defense of the short-lived Roman Republic in 1849–1850, Garibaldi hastily fortified three of the villas on the outskirts of Rome. The Villa Doria Pamphili was much closer to one of the fiercest hand- to-hand combat by the Porta San Pancrazio, as students joined Garibaldi’s to defend Rome from the French troops who finally reinstated Pope Pius IX. After that prince Doria-Pamphili bought the extensive Corsini grounds, and doubled the area of the extensive Villa Doria Pamphili’s and at the devastated villa’s site the monumental commemorative arch, which to the date is known to be the ‘Arch of the Four Winds’, that is primary passage to the Villa’s grounds. The Corsini casina presently is held for organizing temporary art exhibitions. Further the two sections of the extended villa grounds parted equally by a road.