My Hotel Rome Blog

After six years of incredible success, we will witness again  this summer famous Animated Nights on the Terraces of Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome from the 2nd July to the 24th August 2008. This event puts together on a stage different evening shows from 20:45 till 0:45 and gives opportunity to breath the fantastic atmosphere of one of the most beautiful sights of Rome.

Each night there will be 5 shows, which will be held 5  times in the bastions and courtyards with different schedules. 

This event, in collaboration with the  Special Supreme council  for the Roman Museum Pole  and with the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, aims to enliven the summer evenings of Romans and tourists of all ages, through a rich ladder of performances of folk and classical music, exhibitions of magicians, jesters, weapon masters, acrobats, puppeteers and exhibitions of gold jewelry crafts, like ‘The Jewels Made in Italy’. 

In addition to many spectacles and other shows

Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome

it will be possible to walk along the crenelated walls and  visit the courtyards, forts and loggias,  Historical Rooms, admire from the Terrace of Sant’Angelo the charming and intriguing show of Rome by night, enjoy this wonderful view  and the lights of  evening Rome. Something new in this edition will be from the overwhelming tango sensational acrobats to heart-touching and entertaining interactive theaters performances. On the occasion of the event ‘On the Terraces of Castel Sant’Angelo’ the Pontifical Prisons will have  extraordinary openning to the public in the evening with guided tours.

The shows taking place on the terraces are accessible also for people with disabilities, as there is an electric platform, connecting the various levels of the Castle.

More information on opening hours and scheduled performances can be found at: http://www.castelsantangelo.com or through the following contact numbers: +390690287455; +393925187760.

Do not miss this great Roman Summer appointment- book your stay in Rome and enjoy its marvelous evenings at one the most beautiful places of Eternal City!

George W Bush with the Pope at the Vatican

As a part of his farewell tour visits to major European countries, George W. Bush, incumbent president of the United States, has visited also Italy. His visit lasted two days from 11^th till 13^th June.

Air Force One, the plane that transports the  American president came  from Berlin and landed to Ciampino airport at 16:10 on the 11^th June 2008.

Bush stayed at his residence in Italy in Villa Taverna . 

When he came out from the doors of Boeing 747 with the colors white and blue, stars  on the tail, George W. Bush has greeted with waving  turned towards photographers and tv operators. Near by the  ladder of the aircraft there were present many officials to  greet the President, like an American ambassador in Rome- Ronald Empty P., with the ambassadors to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon and to the Fao Rome, Gaddi Vasquez;

and from Italian part there were the ambassador in Washington, Giovanni Castellaneta and the head of the diplomatic Cerimoniale of the Republic, ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone. For the secretariat of State of the Vatican, the greetings came from the nunzio apostolic, monsignor Peter Paul Prabhu, and from the head of the protocol, monsignor Fortunatus Nwachuwu. Bush had a few minutes chat and then he entered into  the special black armored limousine that that waited for him a few meters from  Air Force One.

A long corteo, escorted from  Italian and American security forses has left the airport of Ciampino and headed to the residence of the  US embassy in Parioli. Approximately half hour before the arrival presidential airplane, another one landed to Ciampino Airport, Boeing 757  that  follows the travel of the USA President in Europe. 

The President Bush has met Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the President of Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano and the Pope during his stay in Italy.

Bush thanked and praised Italy, historical ally of the United States and current Italian Prime Minister is a good friend of his American collegue, for continuous efforts in the operation in Afghanistan, like the deployment of more then 2000 soldiers of the NATO-led mission in the country. Berlusconi is also believed to support the efforts of the United States within the United Nations Security Council to put more pressure on Iran in order to stop the nuclear programme, in order to enter into the Group of Five that deals with this issue, thus becoming the Group 5+1. Bush expressed his interest in consideration of this possibility.

As planned George Bush visited the Vatican, expressing his personal appraisal of the Pope Benedict XVI. He walked accompanied by the Pontefice in the Vatican gardens.

George Bush has also visited the Quirinal Palace, where he met Giorgio Napolitano, the President of Italian Republic. "Wonderful" was his comment when he saw the doors openning wide and showing him historical rooms of the Palace: il Salone dei Corazzieri and  la Cappella Paolina.

On the 13th June Bush has left Rome, continuing his farewell tour to France.

There are strong historical ties between Italy and the United States, which lie in political, economic, social and cultural interests of both nations. Hopefully, this will influence more on the growth of the tourist flows to Bel Paese from the American Continent.

The magic door.

If you take a walk to the Vittorio square (Piazza Vittorio) which is also well known for its morning market, it is possible to admire the remains of the magic door also called the “alchemic door”. Unfortunately nowadays only few pieces are preserved from what used to be a huge door, however the legend around the area is truly magic.

Vittorio square is situated in the heart of the Esquiline quarter, one of the oldest of the entire Rome close by the Termini station.

In ancient time it would be a rich area, one of the favourites from the well-to-do family of the imperial rome.

During the middle age the area degraded becoming a zone for common people. With the Renaissance and the Baroque époque the old aqueducts were been rediscover and the area had a new life.

It was during that period that marquee Palombara between 1655 and 1680 the alchemic door the only rest that we today have from the Palombara Villa.

The Esquiline Rione…then

Palombara marquee was an enigmatic and mysterious man. He was passionate in alchemy and it’s from this passion that the legend was born.

The legend says that one night he gave hospitality to a secret man friend of the ex queen of Sweden, Christine. This man was identified as Francesco Giustiniani Bono famous alchemist that was looking for a famous grace able to turn things into gold. He stayed in the overnight. The following morning he had disappeared, leaving behind some gold thread and some parchment with strange sentences and magic symbols.

Marquee Palombara built then the famous door with all the magical materials left by Boni.

On the front of the door is the Salomon seal and on the 2 sides there are 2 statues of Bes the god that preside the amusements .

All the writings take us back to older times and let us imagine all the trials and the studies that Massimiliano Palombara used to do in his “horti” (gardens). Palombara was also a member of the Rose Cross (not to mistake with the Red Cross !) which was a famous esoteric order.

Now put on your walking shoes and pack some fresh water, and just go see this very special door. Stand in front of the door and wait: If you want it hard enough you may disappear and find yourself in a parallel world.

The Door and the Esquiline Market of Piazza Vittorio Rome are absolutely central.

Directions:

On foot, it is only 5 minutes away from your Termini station  My Hotel Rome Hotel.

By public transport : Take metro Line A, from Termini and get off at the next stop Vittorio Emanuele.

Festa della Repubblica 2007

As France celebrates on the 14th July 14 the overtaking of the Bastille, the United States on the 4th July 4 its Independence Day,  Italy’s National Day comes on the 2nd June.
On this day the Italians remember the institutional referendum, hold on the 2nd and the 3rd June, 1946 according to which they were called to choose the future form of government in ballot- Republic or Monarchy.
The Monarchy preferences received 10,719,284 votes, against 12,717,923 votes in favour of the Italian Republic!  This way the Italian Republic was born 62 years ago.
Very much suffered this victory received a support from the Centre-North of a good 63%, while  in the South Monarchy supporters got 67% of the votes.
The vote of Ravenna, "the most Republican city"  was of 91.2%  was in contrast with the 85, 4%  support for monarchy in the city of Messina.  
There were, of course, the consequences on a national scale  of the defeat of monarchy, such as the exile of kings of the House of Savoy, who came back to Italy only in 2003, after 57 years of exile.
Important achievement on this occasion was the first electoral true universal suffrage: women finally went to the polls.
In June 1948 the Street of Fori Imperiali in Rome held a first military parade in honour of the Republic.
In 1961, on the occasion of the centenary anniversary of Italian Unification the celebrations also took place in Turin and Florence, the first capital of United Italy.
Even today, the  Day of the Republic  has important symbolic ceremonies, such as the deposition of a crown of laurel to the Unknown Soldier at the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome (the Victorian Complex) and a military parade on the Fori Imperiali in the presence of the highest officials of state. 
The gardens of the Quirinal Palace, where resides the President of the Republic, are open to the public in the afternoon.

The day of June 2 recently has also become the National Sports Day.
The Day of the Republic is also an opportunity to learn about  the national symbols of Italy.
The emblem of the Republic, for example, consists of three elements: the star, the gear wheel, and olive branch on the left and an oak on the right.
The star has always been one of the emblems of Italy, already nell’iconography of the Renaissance. The symbol of the star indicates, among other things, the belonging to the Armed Forces of country.
The wheel toothed steel is a symbol of labour and translates the first article in the Constitutional Charter: "Italy is a Democratic Republic founded on labour".
Let us discuss the branches of the emblem, rarely the centre of the attention.
We see two different types of trees that grow in Italy.
The olive branch symbolizes the desire for peace of the nation, both internal and international, while the oak embodies the strength and dignity of the Italian people.
Of the Tricolore, Italian flag, we can remind that, as the national flag, it was born in Reggio Emilia on the 7th January  1797, under the Cispadana Republic.
The shape of three vertical bands was inspired by the French republican model of 1790, precisely when the  regiments of the Lombard Legion  fought side by side with the Napoleon’s troops had the white, red and green, strong regional roots: white and red, are in the municipal emblem of Milan (red cross on a white field), while Green was the color of the uniforms of Milan’s Civic guards.
Under the Kingdom of Italy  the white emblem was added to the royal crown.
The emblem, but at this time that of the Republic, stands up as a banner, designed for the President of the Republic.

From May 23rd to June 08th the CinaviCina Festival is taking place in one of the  most fascinating city: Rome and the exhibits of art and culture and traditional performances of the world’s most populous country will be even hosted in one of the Renzo Piano ‘s pearl of architecture, the Auditorium Parco della Musica.

AUDITORIUM

The Auditorium’s construction began in September 1995. At north of Parioli District and at East from Flaminio District and just at south from the Olympic Village, the location was accurately chosen to foster a new dignity in this area. This intent is also underlined by the concept that this building wants to represent as both source of attraction and as source for everyday local use.

The Auditorium has three Music Halls named after Santa Cecilia, Petrassi and Sinopoli, which are immersed in a large park with trees with an impressive theatrical cavea, facing the Olympic Village.

THE IDEA

The CinaviCina Festival is jointly produced by the Fondazione Musica for Rome and the Centre of International Cultural Exchange, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. The Fondazione Musica worked on this project for two years, trying to take the most of the Chinese culture, individuating the most preminent rapresentatives in all the creative fields: from traditional songs and dances to the theatre and the cinema, to cuisine, massage and kung fu. The Festival ‘s name takes origin from the movie of the Italian director Marco Bellocchio entitled “La Cina è vicina” (China is close), screened at the Venice Festival of the Cinema in 1967. Never as before China is felt “close” to Europeans like today, not only as a commercial partner and/or opponent as in first instance it has been for decades but even as a cultural identity with its own history and costumes.  This Festival wants to enlarge the cultural vision of China in Europe and help the intercultural exchange. Dialogue and knowledge can only strengthen the al comprehension of two civilisations that are so distant in many different ways. Highly appreciated by the Chinese Embassy in Italy, Sun Yuxi, who highlighted the importance for the relation among Italy and China.

PERFORMANCES

The Festival covers different kind of exhibitions and displays. We will be fascinated from the beginning and get to the mood with the Dongguan Shipai Lion Dancing Troupe, which opens the event and “Sticks” is the dance show of the Guandong Modern Dance Company. with Kung Fu will be the main key in the spectacle of the Gongfu MonkGroup of the Shoalin Temple (June 1^st and 2^nd), the Changqing Acrobatic Troupe will stun viewers with amazing acrobatic routines (May 28^th – 29^th). About music we will pass through the Mongolia Chorus accompanied by local instruments thanks to the Mongolia Youth Chorus and the Butterfly girls Band (June 07^th and 8^th) until the modern music exhibitions of the eminent composer Guo Wenjing (May 23^rd – 24^th).

If you plan to visit Italy during this period, and maybe are looking forward into opening an enterprise with Chinese counterparts, then do not hesitate to participate in this unforgettable initiative. Book you stay in one of the stylish hotels in Rome-YES HOTEL, from which you will easily reach Auditorium.

And, yes, China is near, China is here, in Rome.

Italy attracts millions of tourists every year, led by keen and growing interest in its historical and archaeological heritage (Italy possesses 60% of World’s cultural heritage), but Italy has a lot more to offer. Today I would like to stress out its unique geography and nature, which also attract many tourists, not mentioning local fluxes of travellers within the country.

Ancient Romans were extremely intelligent folks, even when choosing a place to build their capital. They had chosen a place with extremely favourable moderate climatic conditions. One should not forget that it almost never snows in Rome, and when it rains, the average temperatures are quite high. Rome is a unique place, built in a unique territory. Natural parks and resorts near Rome are abounding. In our previous post we already talked about the area of Castelli Romani (Ariccia, Genzano). Today I would like to mention Bracciano Lake and small town on its shores - Trevignano Romano. 

Bracciano Lake is a volcanic lake, situated about 1 hour away from Rome. Recently it became famous for a celebration of wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. On its shores we find several cute and sympathic little towns, like Trevignano. It extends on the northern shore of Lake Bracciano or Sabatino. The lake is almost circular, with a diameter of about 9 km and a depth at the center of 170 metres. 
It has a system for collecting sewage and ia under a strict control of the use of pesticides in surrounding crops, which makes its waters clean, enough to form the pool of reserve for emergencies of water in the city of Rome. For this reason  all motor boats are prohibited, making the lake ideal for sailing, canoeing and windsurfing. The shores of the town are ideal for trekking activities.

This picturesque country town of Trevignano on the north shore of Lake Bracciano, is just a few dozen kilometers away north of Rome. Built on a cliff lava leucitica, the country is located at the edge of a small bay, secondary crater of an ancient volcano. 
Has a precious medieval village structure and has beautiful lakeside trees that extend for about 3 km, with many bars and restaurants with a view of the lake.
Trevignano Romano is located in the so-called "Tuscia Romana" and is an ideal centre for trips in a region of high tourist, artistic and naturalistic interest.

In addition, of course, to Rome (about 45 km)  you can easily reach from Trevignano  Cerveteri (30 km), Bracciano (12 km), Sutri (12 km), Viterbo (45 km), Filadelfia (61 km), Tuscania (52 km) , Caprarola (25 km), the mountains of Tolfa and other picturesque locations.

Trevignano is very small, but offers tons of possibilities to enjoy your time,  nature and have a spiritual retreat, or just to organize a nice family picnic. One place for that would be the ruins of a medieval fortification. This fortification  was of the family Orsini, was fitted with double walls, extending up to the lake, defending this way the country. It was destroyed in 1496 by Giovanni, the brother of Cesare Borgia, during the war unleashed against the Orsini by Pope Alexander VI Borgia, which failed to impossess of the castle of Bracciano.
The ruins of this castle-fortification are easily reachable from the church of Trevignano, from up there you can enjoy a scenic view of the lake and surrounding countries beyond the roofs of Trevignano.

Trevignano is a part of Natural Park of Bracciano-Martignano. It has an important Etruscan Museum.

Some of the Important Initiatives, taking place in Trevignano in these days are the following:

• FEAST OF SAN BERNARDINO PATRON OF SIENA and the 37 th SAGRA  OF MARINATED FISH   The festivities are planned on Saturday, May 24 according to the following programme:
  18:00 Concert presented by Musical Band "Cesare Carbonetti" directed by the maestro Francis Consaga. Piazza del Comune
  21:00  Daniele Sinasce sing songs by Renato Zero. Piazza del Comune
  21:30  Tombola of San Bernardino. Piazza del Comune
  23:00 Fireworks display of Company Colonnelli of Nepi

• INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORT OF FICTION 
  From May 28 to June 1, 2008  will be held in Trevignano’s the 14th edition of International Festival of Short Fiction organized by the Cultural Citadel and supported by the Municipality of Trevignano Romano, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the Lazio Region and several other public and private partners.

The a great place to visit  for the people that love the cinema -  The House of Cinema. Here you can enjoy everything from  cinema of the present with international reviews  to  any information  about actors and directors, you can have a chat with some of them.

Get informed about the digital cinema of the future, news and facts about movie characters of the cinema tomorrow. One can also see great works of Cinema of the past on dvd and many actors, the old way of reproducing images and sounds.

House cinema is situated near by the famous Via Veneto and has been created in during  the restauration of all the buildings of Villa Borgese Gallery and of its transformation into the  cultural park with the greatest importance in Europe.

The House of the Cinema is equipped with one  cinematographic hall with 124 places with ceiling in wood, being able among the rest also of high quality picture with high digital resolution and  to transmit via satellite movies and events; one knows it conventions of 60 places equipped also for video-projections on a bigger screen.

It has also  2 halls  with 24 places availavble to be reserved for waching any available movie in the library on dvd  and through Internet, being connected to the movie archives of Teche RAI, the historical archives of the Light.

Available for the visitors are also  the cafeteria and the restaurant. The building accommodates for movie previews  journalists and initiatives during the entire week like: appointments with the actors that are in Rome at that time, presentations of books, encounters with script writers, actors and directors, discussions about the new digital technologies. The House of Cinema holds also becoming very famous International Film Festival of Rome- ROMAFILMFEST.

Where is it:

Largo Marcello Mastroianni , 1 Roma

The Entrance is from Piazzale del Brasile,the parking lot  of  Villa Borghese

Using busses
490 – 491 – 495 – C3 – 88 – 95 – 116 - M

With the subway

Metro A (stops Spagna, Barberini, Villa Borghese, Flaminio)

Visit this terrific place once you are in Rome!

Discover all the happeings this month at the House of the Cinema.

It is open every day.

Useful info about cinema in Rome:

The Best of Rome: MOVIES IN ENGLISH-

Metropolitan
Via del Corso 7 (near Piazza del Popolo)
tel 06 320 0933

Nuovo Olimpia
Via in Lucina 16/g (near via del Corso)
tel 06 686 1068

Alcazar 
Via Merry del Val (Trastevere)
In the original language Mondays only

In the small villages of Lazio  the attachment to the local traditions, even not counting the daily espresso, is definitely pretty strong.

The organization of the popular festivals puts into the inhabitants the will to do things, to creat entertainments and to rediscover some traditions, often existing for centuries. 

The atmosphere during these events taking place from the early morning often is undescribable. The continuous movement all-around of excited and happy people , smells of traditional meals and delicious food, the lighted fires, children who attempt to play in games already forgotten from the elder, it is not surprising these traditional folk events receive so many visitors.

For the regions of the historical centers the doors of old wine cellars are opening for the wine tasting.

Many beautiful gardens, palaces and premises are typically recreated for the occasion and are filled up of examples of local handicraft in order to help the tourist to know more about the country and its inhabitants.

Like in a movie, the festivals are like mirrors of the history of the antique centres that are just a few kilometers out of Rome .

One of the most beautiful festivals are happening in June and is called Infiorata in Genzano di Roma. The word Infiorata comes from ‘Fiore’ and is the Italian word for flower.

Many tourists and admirers from many countries are attracted by the skilful flower works ,the completely decorated streets with many flowers of so different colours creating this lovely natural carpet.

It has been celebrated for more than two centuries but the origin of this tradition comes way back from 600s when the flowers were thrown by hand.

The festival is connected with the Christian celebration of Corpus Domini the origin of which comes from 13-th century.

Later they started using the flowers.

For the happening of the event the road Via Italo Belardi is turned into a flower carpet by picture drawn the same way every year. Exactly there about two thousand square meters are decorated with flowers, seeds, petals and leaves which all together give gorgeous pictures and shapes with bright naturals colours .

This evocative festival is consisted of: first with procession of Corpus Domini an then children running from the stairs of the church Santa Maria. After, within the celebration atmosphere the great flower pictures are shown to everybody.

I have visited Infiorata two years ago. And I have to say that it is not just amazing, it is something breath-taking, the beauty is in the air, the beauty is everywhere… Infiorata in Genzano has also different exhibitions, and different artisan traders all over the town. I had a unique chance to see the collection of War period and early post war period Italian motorbikes, like Lambretta, or first Vespas.

There were also some war vehicles exposed, like tanks. Do not miss this great event, book your stay in Rome, take a little bag-pack, take the first train and right away to Genzano! Enjoy Infiorata!!! Remember also  that Genzano has the best baked bread of Rome!!!!

Janiculum Hill is overlooking  Tiber river and is on the side of Trastevere and is one of  Rome’s 7 hills.

It had always plyed a part in the Rome’s defense against possible attacks of invaders.

The last invasion took place   in 1849 when Garibaldi stopped the french troops on that very  hill.

In the park on the top of the Janiculum hill  there are various monuments of Garibaldi and his soldiers.

A huge equestrian statue and is a part of a park that commemorates the heroic events happned on Janiculum when the French army attacked the city in 1849. On its   base  is an inscription that says.’Roma o Morte’-Rome or Death.

Garibaldi’s  army  foughtfor weeks the greatly superior French forces until the italians were overwhelmed and eventually Garibaldi and his men escaped.

This monument was erected in 1895 and is a piece by  Emilio Gallori. Around the pedestal are four smaller sculptures in bronze showing battle scenes and allegorical figures.

Nowadays this green area of Rome is a beautiful and popular place to have walks and to enjoy the view to the city and at night, it becomes a suggestive and romantic place for lovers. In medieval times the hill has been occupied by monasteries and convents, however now visitors are  offered  entertainments for children, along with bars with food available too.

The park monuments include also Statue of Garibaldi’s wife who is known to be patriotic and is buried under the monuments and The Lighthouse which is a gift to the city of Rome from Italians in Argentina.

Another site worth seeing is in Via della Lungara where stands the  Palazzo Corsini with its national art collection and the Villa Farnesina, decorated by Raphael for his friend and patron banker Agostino Chigi.

Near by are The Botanical Gardens established in 1883 when part of the grounds of Palazzo Corsini were given to the University of Rome.

How to get there. If you decide to stay at My Hotel Rome, which is conveniently located in the centre : walk to Termini Station and take bus H which will take you to Trastevere.

From there you can or just take a hike to the hill or take a bus 870 that will take you to the top of the hill.

From April 6 2008 Exhibition dedicated to Joan Mirò is coming to Rome, one of the greatest protagonists of the 1900’s, near the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome. The exposed works come from the Foundation Mirò of Barcelone and include 26 paintings (aquarelles and aqueforti) but also 4 wonderful bronze sculptures, works of the artistic maturity of Mirò, where it can be noticed the great mental opening of the new artist care tendencies like Informal and the Action Painting.

About one of the greatest contemporary artist -Joan Mirò:

He was born in Barcelone on April 20,1893 of a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers. During his youth he moved to Paris in 1920 where under the influence of various poets and writers he developed his unique style using sharp lines on plane paintings combined with organic forms. His works has been interpreted as Surrealism.

Joan Mirò never became a real member of the Surrealists which gave him a complete freedom to experiment many different artistic styles without worries of being ‘accused’ to be not ‘real’ or ‘true’ Surrealist.

Joan Mirò , a slide show

In the final years of his life Mirò created numerous sculptures and ceramics. Some of the most famous are : ‘Wall of the Moon’ and ‘Wall of the Sun’ which are on exhibition at the UNESCO building in Paris. He also has created a few temporary window paintings on glass.

Joan Mirò won a several awards in his lifetime : 1958-Venice Biennale ;  1959-The Guggenheim International Award ; 1980- Gold Medal of Fine Arts from King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Nowadays his paintings sell for between 250 thousand and 10 million  US Dollars (in case you would want to purchase).

This Art Exhibition in Rome starts on April 6 2008 and bears the name of " Galería de antirretratos " and owns its organization to the anniversary of the 135 years of activity in Rome of the Real Academy of Spain in cooperation with the the Ministry of the Culture and the Culture and Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This Rome Exhibition is free, and the location is off Viale Trastevere.

How to get there ? If you stay in My Hotel Rome take Metro Line B from Castro Pretorio (direction Laurentina), get off at Circo Massimo then take bus line 75 (Poerio/Marino) for 12 stops, get off at “Fabrizi” .

Mirò. Galería de antirretratos

Accademia Reale Accademia di Spagna - Sala Espositiva

P.zza San Pietro in Montorio, 3

Opening: 4 aprile, ore 19.30

Period for visiting: 6 aprile 2008 – 25 maggio 2008