Author Archives: admin
The Basilica of Saint Pauls outside the Walls in Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Hotels, Landmarks in Rome, Shopping, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls popularly called St Paul’s Outside the Walls, is an ancient basilica of Rome. It is indeed one of the four oldest papal basilicas of Rome. Its archpriest is Francesco Monterisi.
Built over the burial place of Saint Paul, this basilica was founded by Roman Emperor Constantine I. Valentinian I then expanded this structure. Over the years the basilica underwent several changes under the patronage of various different emperors. No change however, diminished its glory. It was and continues to be one of the most remarkable structures made by man.
Its present exterior is of Neo-classic style and was added in the 19th century. The main door has been completely reconstructed, however the leaves of the original structure created by Constantine has been used. The basic structure is same as the original. It is mainly the paintings and carvings and sculptures that have been changed over the years.
It has one nave and four aisles and one of the biggest structures in Rome. The nave alone features 80 columns and stucco-decorated ceiling. The glamour of the mosaics is unmatched. Some of the original mosaics by Pietro Cavallini are still there, although most of them were ruined in a fire long back. The interior portion of the apse and the triumphal arch are where you can find these. Two new mosaics depicting St. Paul’s life now adorn the nave’s ceiling.
St. Paul’s sarcophagus is also beautifully decorated. His tomb is worth a visit, if just to appreciate the talents of mankind.
The old basilica feature friezes of the pope’s pictures. 19th century versions of these are seen today. A fine statue of Pope Boniface IX embellishes the sacristy. The cloisters are also elegantly decorated. An aura of peace and serenity surrounds the church and it is a soothing place to be in.
The Spanish steps in Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Hotels, Landmarks in Rome, Shopping, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
The Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, better known as the Spanish Steps, comprises of a stairway with 138 steps, remarkably adorned and set in a traffic-free zone, at the very heart of Rome. It is one of the widest staircases in the whole of Europe and is a popular resting stop for both tourists and locals due to the large number of landmarks that surround it.
It connects Piazza di Spagna and the French Church of Trinita dei Monti. Through a steep slope and has been designed by architects Alessandro Specchi and Francesco de Sanctis. French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi is what sustained this stairway financially.
A beautiful fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia or Fountain of the Old Boat is situated at the base of the Piazza di Spagna. This fountain is the product of architect Pietro Bernini’s genius and has much to add to the aesthetic beauty of the stairs as well as the piazza.
Also, for those interested in history and literature, in the piazza on the right as one begins to climb the steps, is the House of John Keats, a renowned poet. It has now been converted into a museum which displays his entire life as well as his memorabilia of the English Romantic generation.
On the same right, another monument stands – former cardinal Lorenzo Cybo de Mari’s palace, now called Ferrari di Valbona. Its baroque façade merged with modern terraces is again a sight to behold.
The steps is not just a popular tourist attraction, it also holds a lot of significance for the locals. These steps have left several marks throughout the history of Italy. During the fall of the Berlin wall a multi-media event was held on the steps that involved all the locals and led to large crowds accumulated on the steps. A number of festivals and events are also celebrated upon these steps throughout the year.
Each year during Christmas a celebration is held on these steps where a 19th-century crib is displayed. A small cut-flower market has been introduced as a part of these steps and in May, several pots of azaleas are found on these stairs.
Not only this, the steps have also featured in several music albums and movies like “Dublin Blues” by American singer-songwriter Guy Clark and Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”.
Parks And Gardens In Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Hotels, Landmarks in Rome, Shopping, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
Rome happens to own one of the largest areas of green space amongst European capitals with a number of public parks and nature reserves in the city. Since Rome can get really crowded and loud, its parks and gardens are a nice refuge from the busy city. There are a large number of villas and landscaped gardens created by the Italian aristocracy, the best known among them being Villa Borghese, Villa Ada, and Villa Doria Pamphili. Some of the best known parks and gardens in Rome include:
Vatican Gardens:
The Vatican Gardens features various lines of hedges and lush vegetation, the statuary and ancient fountains, dispersed amongst the greenery add a fantastic air to the entire setting. The water flows freely from the pools and sprouts from the fountains. The gardens are often carved by various paths, well-tended flower gardens and gigantic oaks.
Parco Villa Borghese:
The site is famous for its lush greenery and abundant water, long strolls, biking, and picnics. Nearby the site are various important structures, museums and galleries, as well as various notable sculptures. The ultimate highlight here is the Galleria Borghese.
Aqualand:
The place happens to be a haven for fun and excitement with six swimming pools complemented with a section of gigantic pine trees, enclosing an area with cosy picnic tables, water slides and rubber dinghy trips. There are three activity swimming pools for children, all of them equipped with miscellaneous games. One of the pools contains hundreds of small balls for the children to play with.
Villa Medici Gardens:
Set on the Pincio Hill, occupying more than 17 acres, originally belonged to the Medicis. Later, Napoleon Bonaparte installed the French Academy here. The structure was opened to visitors in 1928 to house temporary exhibits, concerts and various events. The entire architectural complex encompasses the villa and its adjoining gardens, which are a continuation of the Borghese gardens.
The Best Season To Visit Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Hotels, Landmarks in Rome, Shopping, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
Though Rome is an interesting place to visit at any time of the year because most attractions are open all year round, stills spring and autumn months call for more tourists. The climate is at its best here during spring and fall and during this time people from all over the world flock to the city. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold. During spring and fall the daytime has plenty of sun, and in the later half of the day you can witness the beauty of the famous Roman sunsets.
Summer months in July and August are generally hot and humid. However, during the summer festivals and concerts fill the squares, making the summer worth the heat.
Though winter can get cold, this can be a good time to visit because you will probably not have to queue for any of the attractions. When winter comes, you’ll experience the mildest climate on earth. It’s coupled typically by some persistent rainy spells.
Christmas, New Year and Easter are busy periods and expensive. During August a lot of shops and restaurants close.
The seasons in Rome can be categorized as:
Spring months: March, April, May
Summer months: June, July, August
Autumn months: September, October, November
Winter months: December, January, February
To sum up, it can be said that Rome is an attraction for tourists round the world all the year round. When in Rome, remember to take in its essence to the fullest. Get up and out early, take a long lunch and resume your activities in the late afternoon. Roman nightlife also has a lot to offer, so staying up late is always a good idea when visiting Rome. Book your hotels in advance when planning a trip to Rome because the place can get very crowded during some parts of the year.
How to Arrange a Budget Trip to Rome?
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
While making a trip to Rome along with you can also plan journey to Rome, Florence as well as Pisa on a very affordable and budget planning as according to the trips as provided over here in this article according to one’s choice and opinion. The best period of the year to tour Rome is about in February and early March. The summer time to travel in Rome is quite hot, crowded as well as expensive. And you may have to hang on in longer queues in order to travel around any such center and places of attractions. The period as mentioned by me even also remains to be bit crowded yet one may not have to stay there in longer queues as well. After the deciding about the period of the year to arrange the trip to Rome, the next you need to think about the procuring the ticket for your journey and one of the noble mean to buy ticket for you is to get them from the medium of Internet as it always works for you. There are many sites from where you can book a ticket for your journey. Some popular sites to book ticket is sidestep.com and the kayak.com
After these two initial problems the next wondering issue over here is to learn something about the place where you would to stay as about during the tour of the city. As having a cheaper budget plane ticket you can decide upon the time you spent in each of the city. One can spare three nights on Rome, three nights in Florence along with a day trip from Florence to Pisa. Other better alternative to stay in the city is the youth hostels. As you have decided about a hostel however before making any entry into the hotel you should ideally too decide about after reading reviews about the site from other references as well as places of importance as well. One such interesting spot to stay in Rome is The Yellow Hostel.
The next important decision that you have to make around and about is the spot and places that you would love to see in each of the city. Let start the calculation from the city of Rome as you are about to spare three or more days in Rome. The ideal idea to pass out the time there in the city of Rome to buy a Roma Pass, the Roma Pass which cost around the 20 euro let you to have a free admission to the first initial attractions to the city apart from that the Roma pass even provides the three day luxury on about all buses, trams and subways in Rome as well.
Hotel d’Inghilterra, 5 star hotel in Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
Hotel d'Inghilterra, 5 star hotel in Rome
• Overview of the Hotel: This is a historic hotel situated about near to Via dei Condotti that is Rome’s most fashionable street. The Spanish Steps are about close to it. The hotel also has a gourmet restaurant and lounges and bars feature original works of art. It is located at the quite pedestrian area having the designer shops and elegant restaurants. The hotel has total 89 rooms.
• Amenities at the Hotel: For amenities in the hotel as in general category they include as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, terrace, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe, heating, all public and private spaces non-smoking, air conditioning. in services it include as room service, meeting/banquet facilities, airport shuttle, business center, babysitting/child services, laundry, dry cleaning, VIP room facilities, breakfast in the room, ironing service, honeymoon suite, currency exchange and fax/photocopying.
• Hotel Rules: With respect to the hotel rules there remains a uniform policy at common areas of the hotel. However, these hotel policies there change according to the room type. The check in time into the hotel is 14:00 hours and the checkout time is until 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment policy in the hotel vary according to the room type. Pets are allowed in the hotel. It accepts credit cards as American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro, and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Classic Single Room: € 1601.60 (Per Night)
Classic Double Room: € 1925 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room: € 2902.90 (Per Night)
Junior Suite: € 3257.10 (Per Night)
NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Landmarks in Rome, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
NATO Defense College (NDC) is an international military college for North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries situated within the premises and locations as selected for its deputation and curriculum purposes in Rome, Italy. The thought of the NATO Defense College arrived from the vision of the General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, who at very first recognized the need for an international organization with a uniqor ue education mission. On 19 November 1951, the NATO Defense College commenced its education program with Course 1 in Paris. However, the college came into the operation much later in Rome, when in 1966, the France exited the command structure of the Alliance’s integrated military structure and the College moved to Rome, where it still continues to fulfill its mission. First at 10th September 1999, the new college building as double of the size of the previous one was started at Cecchignola Città Militare, a military zone that was about 2 km away from the former site. On 25 September 2001, the NATO Defense College celebrated its 50th Anniversary and organized the 48th Annual Conference and Seminar of the Association of Anciens.
Under the Strategic Guidance of the NDC (National Defense College), the primary objective of NDC states the contribution to effective and cohesion of Alliance develop strategic level of thinking on pol military matters. It further develops the centers of education, study and research. There it selects the officers and officials for important NATO and NATO related multinational appointments. It also carries the academic studies with reference to the Alliance wider and bigger objectives.
The Commandant of the college is an officer that is with the rank of Lieutenant-General. To accomplish its task of learning the entire college is divided into four major divisions that carries out the education and research tasks as matched up by the DEAN of the College. The Director of Management who is a Brigadier General carries out the financial and technical jobs with objective to improve the quality of life in College and making the best conditions as for work as well as study. The regular courses at the college follow as The Senior Course, Generals, Flag Officers & Ambassadors’ Course (GFOAC) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC). The senior course running for five and half a month is the most important that contains the two three days crisis management exercise at the end. The second course is to develop the mixture between the security needs of the NATO and capacity among Generals and Flag Officers. The third and the final course there is for developing mutual understanding and networking among participants.
Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa, 5 star hotel in Rome
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa, 5 star hotel in Rome
• Overview of the Hotel: Giving the ultra panoramic view over and around the city, Parco dei Principi is situated as close to the Rome’s Villa Borghese Park. It there provides the luxurious rooms, a large outdoor pool and a very extensive spa. The hotel’s Pauline Borghese restaurant looks towards the outdoor pool and grounds and their serves the modern Italian cuisines. Guests there even can enjoy snacks at the poolside bar and give the cocktails in La Pomme piano bar. The hotel is about 5 minutes away from the Galleria Borghese. Termini Train Station is about 15 minutes bus ride from the stop on close by Via Mercadente. The hotel has about 179 rooms.
• Amenities at the Hotel: With respect to the amenities and facilities in the hotel, the general facilities there includes as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, grounds, terrace, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe, heating, baggage storage, air conditioning, designated smoking area. In convenience for the hotel it includes the services as sauna, fitness center, spa & health club, massage, jacuzzi, cycling, turkish/steam bath, indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool, room service, meeting/banquet facilities, laundry, vip room facilities, breakfast in the room, ironing service, currency exchange, bicycle rental, car rental, fax/photocopying and ticket service.
• Hotel Rules: As for hotel rules in the Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa, there exists a common policy at entire areas of the hotel in the uniform way and manner. However for different rooms according to a person’ stay the hotel rules also change accordingly. The check in time into the hotel is 14:00 hours and the checkout time is until 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies even vary according to the room type. Pets are allowed on request. The hotel accepts card as American Express, Visa, Euro-Mastercard, Carte Bleue, Diners Club and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Superior Double or Twin Room: € 220 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double or Twin Room: € 224.40 (Per Night)
Junior Suite: € 467.50 (Per Night)
Spanish Steps, binding two famous Pizzas in Italy
Posted by in Fun, Guide, Tips, Tour
Leave a comment
|
The Spanish Steps that in Italian is termed as Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, that ascend on a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, with prominence of the church of Trinità dei Monti. The Scalinata is considered as the widest staircase in Europe.
The monumental stairway of 138 steps was constructed with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s with about funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, connecting it with the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. At present, during Christmas festivities a 19th century crib is shown on the first steps of the staircase. In around May, some sections of the steps are being covered with pots of azaleas. Around in contemporary times Spanish steps even include a small cut flower market. Under the Roman urban regulations the steps are barred from any eating activities, however, they remain thronged with people.
At the Piazza di Spagna, that is located at the base of steps, there is situated an Early Baroque fountains named as Fontana della Barcaccia (“Fountain of the Old Boat”). Fountain was constructed in 1627-29 and is refereed as to be Pietro Bernini, the son of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The senior Bernini was the pope’s architect for the Acqua Vergine, since 1623. According to folklore Pope Urban VIII led the construction of the fountain after when he was impressed by a boat carried to him by a flood of the Tiber River. Fontana della Barcaccia can be visualized as from the top of the Spanish Steps. On the corner of the piazza, at the right side where the stairs starts climbing, is situated the house of the English poet John Keats who lived and died there in 1821.Now his houses is converted into a museum filled with examples and memorabilia of the English Romantic generation. There again at the right side is located the 15th century former cardinal Lorenzo Cybo de Mari’s palace, now Ferrari di Valbona, a building that converted in 1936 to designs by Marcello Piacentini, the main city planner as occurred during Fascism. There modern terraces remained ideally there in context with the surrounding baroque context.
Spanish Steps are also known for many best activities that occurred at its footsteps. In 1986 the first McDonalds restaurant in Italy was inaugurated close to the Spanish Steps. Om June 13, 2007 a 24 year old Colombian man tried to drive a Toyota Celica down the Spanish Steps. No one was injured in the incident however the 200 years old steps were damaged. And the list is endless of trivia occurred at the Spanish Steps.
Aldrovandi Villa Borghese, 5 star hotels in Rome |
Aldrovandi Villa Borghese, 5 star hotels in Rome
• Overview of the Hotel: The hotel is located at Rome’s very noted and prestigious living areas known as the Aldrovandi Villa Borghese close to the Modern Art Gallery and the Villa Borghese Park and Museum. Renovated in 2008, the hotel presents an ideal atmosphere to leisure out a day in the center of the Rome. Within proximity to Spanish Steps and Via Veneto. The hotel has about 108 rooms and it is the chain of The Leading Hotels of the World.
• Amenities at the Hotel: With respect to amenities and services in the hotel, the most common areas are as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, grounds, terrace, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe, heating, baggage storage, gay friendly. In services it involves as room service, meeting/banquet facilities, business center, laundry, dry cleaning, and breakfast in the room, ironing service, currency exchange, shoe shine, car rental and fax/photocopying.
• Hotel Rules: With respect to the hotel rules they are far common for all the places in the hotel that comes under the category of common areas in the hotel. However, these hotel rules get modified when a person stays in different rooms in the hotel. The check in time into the hotels is 14:00 -00:00 hours and the checkout point there is until 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies there even vary according to the room type. Pets are allowed in the hotel. The hotel accepts credit cards like as American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Single Room: € 197 (Per Night)
Superior Double Room: € 216 (Per Night)
Superior Double Room with Garden View: € 265 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room: € 315 (Per Night)