Category Archives: Hotels
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.
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)
St. Peter’s Basilica, the most pious Christian Church |
St. Peter's Basilica,
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter that is known as popularly in the Christian theology as the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano and is popular among masses as St. Peter’s Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church situated within the premises of Vatican City. St. Peter’s Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world to the known history and can accumulate as much as 60,000 people at a time. It is the pious Catholic sites of the world and is been described as “holding a unique position in the Christian world” and as “the greatest of all churches of Christendom”.
According to the Catholic tradition, the basilica happens to be the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. According to the certain historical evidence as told to the Saint Peter’s tomb is located straight below the altar of the basilica. For this particular reason, the Pope has been interred at St Peter’s since the very basic Christian period and age. There has been a church on this particular site from about 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, as about the old Constantinian basilica, started on began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on dated on November 18, 1626.
St. Peter’s basilica is a very known and popular place of pilgrimage and is remembered for its liturgical functions and its connection for various historical reasons. The church for many reasons is associated with the papacy and the Counter-reformation and with many other artists, primarily as Michelangelo. As a work of architecture, it is considered as the most popular building of its time and period. Against the popular belief, Saint Peter’s is not a cathedral, nor it is the seat of a Bishop; it is instead termed as the papal Basilica. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of Rome. The church in the Renaissance style is situated in west side of Rome with the River Tiber and close to the Janiculum Hill and Hadrian’s Mausoleum.
The middle dome of the church lies straight to the skyline of Rome. The basilica there can be reached St Peter’s Piazza, a forecourt in two sections, and surrounded by tall colonnades. The first space is oval and the second trapezoid. The facade of the basilica, with a massive orders of columns, heads across the end of the square and is there is led by steps on which is erected two 5.55 metres (18.2 ft) statues of the 1st century apostles to Rome, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The interior of the church is decorated with marble, reliefs, architectural sculpture and gilding. The basilica involves a good number of tombs of popes and many other notable people, of that many are remembered as outstanding artworks.
Hotel Splendide Royal, 5 stars hotel in Rome |
Hotel Splendide Royal, 5 stars hotel in Barcelona
• Overview of the Hotel: This five star hotel is located at the Rome’s most exclusive district named as and amidst the Via Veneto and the scenic gardens of Villa Borghese. This provides a very exclusive setting in the Eternal City. From its terraced restaurant that provides the views across the city, you can enjoy the gourmet Mediterranean cuisines. If is converted into the hotel from a nineteenth century monastery. The professional staff guarantees a warm welcome and a personalized service. The hotel has about 68 rooms; it is the chain of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
• Amenities at the Hotel: For general facilities in the hotel that are provided to guests are as restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, terrace, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities for disabled guests, elevator, safe, soundproofed rooms, heating, baggage storage, allergy-free room and all public and private spaces non-smoking. in services the hotel comprises the room service, meeting/banquet facilities, business center, babysitting/child services, laundry, dry cleaning, vip room facilities, breakfast in the room, ironing service, honeymoon suite, currency exchange, shoe shine, fax/photocopying and ticket service.
• Hotel Rules: There are some general rules for the hotel as for everyone to follow among the staying guests in the hotel. However, these policies do change in terms to staying at different type of rooms in the hotel. The check in time into hotel is 14:00 – 23:30 hours and the check out time is 06:00 – 12:00 hours. The cancellation and prepayment policies in the hotel vary from room type. Pets are allowed in the hotel on request. The hotel accepts the credit cards like as American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, Maestro and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Double or Twin Room: € 275
Deluxe Double Room: € 350
Junior Suite: € 500
Suite: € 650
National Museum of Rome, the set of museums across Rome |
The National Museum of Rome is not a single alone museum in Rome, instead, it is a set of museums in Rome, Italy. The museum is divided into various branches across the city; the museum was established in 1889 and was inaugurated in 1890 with objective of collection antiquities and artifacts as between from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD.
The first collection was made from the Museo Kircheriano that was gathered by the antiquarian Athanasius Kircher, and further added by the different new discoveries in Rome at the time of the elaborate city planning while it became the new capital of the Italy. This ideally was inaugurated for showing up in ‘Museo Tiberiono’, however, in 1901 the state provides the institution the status of the Villa Ludovisi and the collector of various important collection of ancient sculptures. The base was founded in the 16th century cloister as made by the Michelangelo off the baths of Diocletian that to the date is its base. The renovation of these buildings for there new purpose was occurred in 1911 and was completed by 1930s.
With respect to the collections in the museum, it is consisted of the collections of the former Kircherian Museum, the Gorga and Betti collections, numismatic material from the Gnecchi collections and the collection of victor emmanuel iii of savoy, collections from the roman forum, in particular a fresco and marble architrave from the late-1930s, museum of the palazzo venezia, the capitoline museums, the communal antiquarium of rome, frescoes removed in 1960 from the church of santa maria in via lata
The first section of the museum shows the results of the excavations, and keeps them into the context of the history of the area. As well as the remains from the site too tells about the Monastero di Santa Maria Domine Rose of medieval merchants’ and craftsmen’s homes, of the Conservatorio di Santa Caterina dei Funari of Loyola to house the daughters of Roman prostitutes and of the Botteghe Obscura. The second section on the first floor is the Museum of Medieval Rome and shows the life and transformations of Rome as an entire entity between the 5th and 10th centuries AD.
Another museum The Palazzo Altemps is situated in the modern rione Ponte, part of the Campus Martius, a part of Ancient Rome that was developed beginning under the emperor Augustus. It is located directly north of the Piazza Navona. The museum has collections as related to the sculptures from Renaissance collection like as the Boncompagni-Ludovisi and Mattei collections, involving the Ludovisi Ares and the Suicide of a Gaul and the ‘Egyptian Collection. The palace also involves the historic private theatre, which presently is used to preserve the temporary exhibitions, and the church of Sant’ Aniceto. The remaining important sections of the museum are Palazzo massimo alle terme and baths of Diocletian.
Hotel Eden, five star hotels in Rome |
Hotel Eden, five star hotels in Rome
• Overview of the Hotel: The hotel is located at the most exclusive areas of Rome near Via Veneto and at a few steps away from the Hotel Eden and provides the little taste of paradise in Rome. Its closeness to the Borhese Gardens is filled with impeccable services and elaborate extensions. Rooms there are sumptuous having the classic Italian furnishings and beautiful décor with the most breathtaking views of Rome. From the rooftop terrace of the hotel one can have the most panoramic views of the city. The hotel has about 121 rooms and it is the chain of the Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts.
• Amenities in Hotel: As for general services in the Rome, there are facilities like restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk, newspapers, terrace, non-smoking rooms, elevator, express check-in/check-out, safe, soundproofed rooms, heating, allergy-free room available, air conditioning and designated smoking area. In activities there are available fitness centers and Hammam. As for services there are services that one can enjoy like as Room Service, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Business Center, Babysitting/Child Services, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Breakfast in the Room, Ironing Service, Currency Exchange, Shoe Shine and Fax/Photocopying.
• Hotel Rules: As for policies and rules in the hotel there is some common one and there are some which varies according to the type of room, where a person stays in. The check in time into hotel is 14:00-00:00 hours and the check out time is as between 07:00 -12:00 hours. There cancellation and prepayment policies even vary according to the room type. A child below six years can stay there for free of charge while using existing bed there. Pets are allowed for free in the hotel on request. Hotel accepts cards like American Express, Visa, Euro, Mastercard, Diners Club and CartaSi.
• Hotel Room Type and Rates:
Superior Double Room for Single Use: € 333.30 (Per Night)
Superior Double Room: € 355.30 (Per Night)
Deluxe Double Room: € 398.20 (Per Night)
Pantheon Royal Suite, Rome hotels near Piazza Navona |
Pantheon Royal Suite, Rome hotels near Piazza Navona
Overview of the Hotel: Pantheon Royal Suite gives you ultra-modern accommodation and the highest standard of luxury; all in a fabulous, central location, facing the Pantheon in one of Rome’s most famous squares.Each of the 21 guest rooms is decorated in a fresh, contemporary style and comes with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and an LCD TV with Sky channels. You will also find a coffee machine, bathroom amenities, and free mineral water. If you wish to explore historic downtown Rome, Pantheon Royal Suite is ideally located for you. Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain are both less than 10 minutes away by foot. The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi rione in Rome, Italy. Standing 25.9 meters (85 feet) high and 19.8 meters (65 feet) wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city, and it is one of the most famous fountains in the world. The Roman Forum and Vatican City are just a short bus ride or pleasant walk away.The surrounding narrow streets are packed with traditional ice-cream parlors, typical restaurants, and wine bars.
Amenities at the Hotel: The hotel has a Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Family Rooms, Elevator, Safe, Baggage Storage, Gay Friendly, All Public and Private spaces non-smoking and Air Conditioning. Other services include Laundry and Fax/Photocopying. Internet Connection is available for free. Wi-fi is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge. Parking Space is Not available.
Hotel Rules: The Check-in time for the hotel is from 14:00 hours and the Check-out time is until 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 2 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years are charged EUR 18 per night per person for cots. There is no capacity for extra beds in the room. Maximum capacity of babycots in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed/cot or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are not allowed. Accepted credit cards are American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, and JCB. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
Hotel Room Types and Rates:
Deluxe Double Room: € 450
Included in room price: 10 % VAT, service charge, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: EUR 2 city tax per person per night.
Classic Double Room: € 290
Included in room price: 10 % VAT, service charge, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: EUR 2 city tax per person per night.
Junior Suite (4 Adults): € 430
Included in room price: 10 % VAT, service charge, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: EUR 2 city tax per person per night.
Junior Suite (2 Adults): € 270
Included in room price: 10 % VAT, service charge, Buffet breakfast
Not included in room price: EUR 2 city tax per person per night.