Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

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.

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

Ostia Antica  is about 25 km southwest of Rome only therefore it makes an ideal day trip outside the city of Rome,

It was a major port and military base during Republican times. Its aim was to protect and defend the coastline and the mouth of the river Tiber.
In the 2nd century despite the development of a new port called Portus (just slightly to the north west), Ostia port continued to flourish under the Empire.
Unfortunately during the 4th century the reduction of trade and also the silting up  of the harbor damaged the town.

Video of Excavations Ostia Antica

When malaria  became endemic in the area, the town, which  at its peak had a population of around 100 000 was then completely abandoned.
Ancient Ostia  has been buried for centuries under the sand but is nonetheless very well preserved. It enlightens on the every day life during the Roman Empire and indeed people from  all  social classes and from all over the Mediterranean lived and worked there.
Visitors can easily see the lay out  of Ostia from the main road through the town and you will locate many public and private buildings, bath houses such as the Baths of Neptune and the Baths of the Cisiarii in which you can still see the fine black and white mosaics.
Visitors also see the restored theatre with its three large masks which are part of the stage decoration, and during summertime the Ancient Ostia Theatre hosts musical plays.

Away from the main street is where the Ostia inhabitants lived, most of them stayed in rented apartments in a block of 3 or 4 stories high.

Other buildings must have been absolutely pretty like the house of Diana with its elegant look : It bore a balcony around the second floor, a private bath house  and a central courtyard.
For the wealthy there were detached houses called domus such as the House of Dioscuri which has fine colored mosaics. Other houses are the ones of Cupid and Psyche.
Among houses and shops there were also other buildings like  laundry and firemen’s barracks.
Various religions were practiced in Ancient Ostia. There were no less than 18 temples dedicated to the persian god Mithrus, Jewish synagogue dating from the 1st century and a Christian basilica.
To make the most of your visit why not take a guided Ancient Ostia Tour  with a pick up from your Rome Hotel ?

Ostia Antica - Its location

How to get to Ostia Antica from My Hotel Rome :
Take B line Metro from termini Station and get off at ‘Piramide’.
From there switch to a local train to Ostia .
Excavations and museum are open from 8:00 am till one hour before sunset.

 See here for their timetables.
Telephone number . +39 06 5635 8099

Read more about Ostia Antica.

Easy to cook typical Roman food.

Rome does not have only monuments, history, squares and statues: the eternal city has a long tradition of regional food.

The roman cuisine is based on simple fresh ingredients and it is not very complicated to achieve a good result even for a beginner. Now try some of these mouthwatering recipes according to the traditional roman way.

Before you begin I would suggest a couple of things :

First of all: it’s important having Italian ingredients.

Second. Relax your mind while you are cooking with some music that is going to help your fantasy.

And you may want to pour yourself a glass of good regional Latium wine  to put yourself in the mood.

Do not forget a cute apron, possibly with the map of Italy and its wines and foods scattered around it.

Now let’s start with fried “antipasti” (appetizers)

Called “Supplì”

The suppli are oval shaped rice balls. You will need 500 gr of rice, 180 gr of butter, 1 carrot and a branch of celery, 50gr of minced beef, 50gr of pork, mozzarella cut in small squares, flour, oil to fry, crumble bread, one glass of white wine.

In the meantime prepare the tomato sauce . Put some oil and some onion in a pan and when the onion gets some colour add the meat , the carrot and celery which you first cut in your mixer and wash down with the wine, then add the sauce and only a little of salt. Pour the rice and cook for at least 40 minutes on very low gas, mixing and adding water whenever necessary.

Leave to get cold. Now prepare the beaten egg and start to do the rice ball. Put the square of mozzarella in the middle of your rice ball, the size of an egg , pass it into flour and then crumble bread and finally, fry your suppli in scalding oil for a couple minutes and allow it to take a nice golden colour. You will certainly want to sample the supplì in a good restaurant in Rome on your next trip !

Now let’s go on with the “Primo” (First course)

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

150 gr of smoked bacon(more precisely "guanciale" which you may find in your local italian deli)  cut in small pieces, olive’s oil, one chilli, two cloves of garlic, two onions, tomato sauce, pecorino and parmigiano.

While the bucatini are cooking, brown garlic and chilli. Then take out the garlic and put the onions and when is it turns golden then add the bacon. Let the bacon cook for a couple of minutes wash down the wine and when it is dry off add the tomato’s sauce.

When the pasta is ready put all together and add pecorino and parmigiano. Enjoy !

Cooking lesson to achieve great bucatini all’amatriciana

And then here is our suggestion of a “Secondo” to carry on (Second course, you may have guessed…)

Abbacchio al Forno

1kg of lamb, 3kg of potatoes, rosemary, half glass of white wine, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper.

Season the lamb with garlic and rosemary, add salt, pepper, swab with oil e put in a roasting pan.

Put in the oven with the wine and then add the potatoes cut in a small pieces.

After 10 minutes put the remaining garlic and rosemary and cook for another 30 minutes.

What wine to accompany ? Being in Rome and Latium, I would suggest a red Frascati DOP (the initials stand for Di Origine Protetta, which translated means it is a very good wine)

And to finish off nicely, a nice dessert !

Maritozzi alla Romana (biscuits)

4 eggs, 600gr of flour, 100 gr of dough, 200gr of sultanas, 100 gr sugar, 100 gr of orange rind, 100 gr of pine- kernels and 2 glasses of olive oil.

Knead the dough with 200 gr of flour, two eggs, 1 glass of oil, and a pinch of salt. Let the mixture stand for 8 hours in a warm place. When the 8 hours have elapsed, mix the remaining flour, the egg and oil, sugar, salt, orange rind and sultanas in a little hot water. Shape the biscuits in an oval size or in a round ball and leave them for another 7 hours. Eventually, oil the surface you will use to cook them and you can put them in the oven on a very high temperature (250 °C) for about 7 minutes. Take them out, add sugar on top, they are ready!

What wine to accompany your dessert ? My suggestion is a Frascati cannellino. (Frascati is a small town up in the hills close to Rome and the region is known as Castelli Romani). If you happen to be in Rome, you can taste them  in the best Rome wine bars.

You love italian food and to cook too ? then see here for more italian cooking !

And for your next trip to Rome, we suggest a nice comfortable hotel in central Rome such as My Hotel Rome.

Fall in love

I don’t won’t to be boring giving tons of cultural information about Rome that you can find anyway , but rather to give some ideas that may help you save precious time anyway. It’s amazing the fact that in few days you can have a very good picture of all the beauty that the Eternal city of Rome gives and inspires also.

You just have to know how, I will offer you some support about the matter, saving time relaxing , enjoying, enjoying and enjoying.

The fist thing you have to do is to fall in love with Rome, and that is the easiest part. Some ideas about how to :

-Climb the Cordonnata, which are stairs designed by Michelangelo – and don’t worry, you will not feel the effort because of it is a gradual ascension - to get to the Piazza del Campidoglio (the Capitol Square) then turn left at the end to have the most breath taking view of the Imperial and Roman Forums.

-A glimpse of the Colosseum at night, high moon shining over even better, should be enough, even for a heart of stone.

-The peaceful sensation of Saint Peter’s Square in the evening when almost no one is around, just like being inside a temple and after a short walk along the river side till the Castel Sant’ Angelo (ancient fortress of the Pope), views from the Ponte Sant’Angelo (beautiful bridge decorated with statues).

Let’s begin

Ok, Morning, you wake up to a good breakfast in your cosy hotel in Rome, go out and now after climbing the Cordonnata you’are looking at the Forums admiring their beauty, next step is to go there. It’s free. At Via San Gregorio, 36 (beside the Colosseum) lays the Palatine Hill entrance where you can rent an audio-guide containing all the information about the forums, for as little as 4 euros. Tell me: Do you want to wait one hour line before entering the Colosseum? If your answer is no, at the Palatine hill entrance you buy the ticket for Palatine Hill and Coliseum, (paying only two euros more) and you enter straight there saying ciao with your hands to all the people waiting!

And so, having the information you can stroll around the Forums and the stones will tell you so many things, instead of feeling like a caveman. Not only to see or to hear the stones talking it’s wonderful, but try touching them and you tell me.

After seeing Colosseum and Forums you deserve a rest, go to the Palatine Hill, which is a beautiful archeological park, being at the very centre of the city you will feel miles away from the buzzing city, for it is so green and birds are singing. (don’t tell anyone you could have a healthy hamper with no harm at all).

You will want to take a nap but set your alarm clock before sunset !

Now we cruise to the Temple of all Gods, The Pantheon. It’s from the same classical period, but all in one piece as it is undoubtedly the best preserved ancient building! Even if the Barbarians took little away (but not much indeed) and the Barberini’s the bronze, for the Bernini’s Badalchino at Saint Peter’s. I will not say anything about it’s perfection and beauty, or the greek legacy breathing in and out from its walls and marvellous god-connecting oculus. (When rainy day go and check, the floor is almost dry).

Having already listened the hits of the classical period, walk three minutes and dine at Piazza Navona, feeling more roman now, if you want roman pizza in a roman place with roman prices try one of our recommended Restaurants.

After that you could go for a drink at Campo di Fiori, Giordano Bruno statue with moon behind, good view for a drink with friends you know or to make new buddies while hanging around.

Small country, big art treasure

The morning for the Vatican Museums (closed on Sunday except last Sunday of the month when it’s free) , the best is to be there at 08:30 am (in a beeline that you cannot avoid unless you have booked a Vatican tour), line goes faster that it seems so don’t fret and use your time to read about the masterpieces you will find. My, you have already arrived, time is an illusion, so the oriental sage says, once inside you can get the audio-guide for 6 euros with the whole information.

Don’t overstay in the Museums looking at this and that else by the time you get the Sistine Chapel you will only be concerned about a beer and grab something to eat and you will miss out on the best of Michelangelo’s works. Since you have paid your fee for entrance better get streetwise . First things first : first the Sistine Chapel (which is at the very end), anyway we have to give back the audio-guide at the entrance, remember?. Well, keep on the way to the Rafaello’s rooms and the Pinacoteca (masterpieces of Giotto, Leonardo, Perugino, Beato Angelico, Raphael, Caravaggio etc, what else do the want, the Gioconda? Go to Paris).

Once you have a glimpse of that go wherever you want, the choice is endless and fascinating, special mention for the Laoconte wich inspired Michelangelo’s conception of the body.

After a quick lunch break in one of our recommended Rome’s restaurants, then get ready to go to the second biggest church in the world. Hey! Don’t blame me, the biggest one is in Ivory Coast.

So, we are talking about St Peter’s in Rome at the Vatican. The Square with the colonnade designed by Bramante symbolizes the embrace of the Catholic Church to the pilgrims arriving there. If you stand on certain point marked with a circle here and there, the two lines of columns will become one by a trompe oeil (visual effect, in French sounds better, isn’t it?).

Up there are 140 saints watching out, Jesus and the twelve disciples. In the Piazza on the left Saint Peter with the great key, and Saint Paul with a sword (he died decapitated, as roman citizen he could no die on the cross). The basilica was ordered to be constructed by Constantine on the IV century on the place it’s believed that Saint Peter died, the ancient Nero’s Circus (Saint Peter died under the Nero’s rule) to remark the victory of the Church.

The Pieta of Michelangelo’s, the Altar of Bernini, the Heavenly view from the dome, having the whole city at your feet with the must beautiful and surprising orange skyline, are only examples of the marvellous impression you will have entering this temple (cover your shoulders and knees).

After you may take a walk until Castel Sant’Angelo for a sunset view not easily forgetting and Yes! Say will love her forever (she will even believed for five minutes).

To walk inside the centre is easy, distances are short. There are many ways to do it, I began by Campo de Fiori with the open market, see Giordano Bruno statue on the place he was executed by the Church, looking peacefully at the people going around.

Then, since it is just aside, Piazza Navona (better in opinion during the evening) artists can be found there offering a quite bohemian atmosphere, here used to be the Ancient Domiziano Stadium and in the past it was fill with water for festivities. The Pantheon (remember?) it’s around the corner, allow your self to visit the very near church of San Luigi dei Francesi  and the French Embassy in Rome and enjoy Three Caravaggio Masterpieces for free (Not bad eh?).

Walk towards the east after only five minutes you will hear (not see) that you are arriving to the surprising Trevi Fountain. Drop the coin, so you will come back for sure, I did it as a tourist, now I live in Rome. (A guy went to prison been caught at four o’clock at night getting the nickels , good business by the way, who could blame him).

And so, now you can play the intellectual going to Antico Caffe Greco at Via Condotti (where luxury shops are found and where of course I didn’t buy anything) Antico Caffe Greco used to be one of the spots where you could find Goethe for example (So why not you).

Piazza Spagna opens its beauty to your eyes, with flowers in springtime (Ladies  will love it, and males can play the romantics with a poetical face).

At piazza del Popolo you will see an interesting visual effect, standing at the arc looking at the twin churches you will swear they are the same size, and you will be wrong.

You have quite a picture now, next time I‘ll tell you something about the outskirts.

And since Rome was not built in a day, don’t imagine you can see it all in one day so while around, why not stay in a central and cosy hotel like My Hotel Rome?

ARRIVEDERCI FELLOWS

(Your friend Big-Mouth-Knows-all-about-it)

The region of Trastevere is situated on the west bank of the river Tevere (Tiber in English) and south of the Vatican City. Its name means ‘beyond the Tiber’  and comes from the Latin ‘trans Tiberim.

Around 753-509 BC the area across the river belonged to the hostile Estruscans. Rome took over it so they could gain better control of and access to the river from both sides.

In the beginning Rome was not interested in building on the other side of the Tiber River and as consequence, there was only one wooden bridge that used to connect both parts. Pons Sublicius or bridge built on piles.

But by 509 the number of fishermen and sailors making a living from the river steadily increased and many were those who settled down in Trastevere along with the many immigrants from Eastern countries such as Jews and Syrians, who came and settled.

Slowly the area got more  populated and under Augustus it started being considered as part of Rome. He divided the city into regions and the modern Trastevere was the XIV and was called Trans Tiberim.

But the district really got included under Aurelian (270-275) who made the protection walls larger so Trastevere and the Vatican Hill were inside the borders.

Some important figures from the Imperial Age decided to build their villas there. Julius Caesar had his Horti Caesaris villae (garden villa) built there.

The region also includes 2 important ancient churches of Rome: basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere and Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.

In the middle ages Trastevere had narrow and winding streets because the houses had this kind of structures in front that would not let the carriages and carts move easily.These structures were removed in 1400 but the region remained with the same kind of streets. Sixtus IV in the late 1400 paved the streets first with bricks and later with cobble stones.

Because of its partial isolation and mixture of people from different parts of the world they developed their own  culture and its people were therefore named the Trasteverini.

Nowadays still, Trastevere still keeps its own character-cozy narrow cobbled streets and beautiful medieval houses.

During the evenings and at night both locals and tourists are flooding its streets and enjoy the amazing and buzzing atmosphere created by the many painters, actors and musicians combined with the beautiful houses, churches and small squares with fountains. There also is a significant number of good Rome restaurants and pubs.

Important international institutions in the Trastevere district are : the John Cabot University and the American Academy in Rome but also the  campus of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts and the Canadian University of Waterloo School of Architecture.

Some worldwide famous personalities have their origins in Trastevere : take the  “westerns” movies director Sergio Leone and the composer Ennio Morricone who lived and studied in Trastevere, and who briefly attended the same class at school too.

To visit the beautiful and romantic Trastevere from My Hotel Rome is easy: You can take bus ‘H’ or bus 75 fro termini Station which just a few minutes walk from our hotels.

You should get off on the first stop after crossing the river. Take one of  the main streets, Via Della Lungaretta .

Live at the Boat Show Rome 2008

The new “Fiera di Roma” - the New Rome Fair, the space of Rome for different expositions, trade fairs, special events, festivals and exhibitions will accommodate for the second year The Blue Big Rome Exposé.

From the 28th of February it will be possible to visit this big and unusual event that will bring together the different realities of the fantastic water world.

1000 mq of exposition space present from underwater field to the nautical one, from the sails field to the tourist offers.

“Boat show”, “Eudishow”, “Gommoshow” are the 3 respective events inside the BIG BLU, which are displayed all over this fair. But this year there is as well another event inside the biggest one: The Pelagos project.

Boat show is the biggest one. 80000 mq of exposition shows nautical accessories and boats of different types.  See here for

last year Rome Sea Expo.

Eudi show (European Diving news) comes to its XVI edition and it’s the European event that put together a crescent number of people who practise the underwater sport.

Gommoshow comes to its VII edition characterised by exposition of nautical  boats especially, turning again the attention, to the pneumatic boats. Passing from a pavilion to another one voilà that you have exposition and furniture for people who are working with this trade, nautical school, specialized books, a dedicated area for nautical tourism and finally shopping and beauty area.

Pelagos project celebrates its 10 years and in this expò proposes plans dedicated to the Mediterranean sea and the valorisation of the marine heritage.

Some example of the activities during these 5 fantastic days:

28 of February: 10.00-13.00 pavilion 9 “ Navigar m’è dolce” sails to disposition of the young people in the ventilated swimming pool.

29 of February, 12.30-13.30 pav.1 : tracks from Antibes’s

festival .

1 of march, 10.30-11.00 pavilion 9 Nase and Greenpeace.

2 of March 11.00-11.30 convention about sea’s rights

3 of march 13.00-15.00 Exposition in swimming pool.

The New Rome Fair location is along on the highway to Fiumicino outside Rome, and  is certainly worth staying in Rome for a few days and  if you stay in our My Hotel Rome  by the Termini station it is in easy reach by train with Trenitalia, the journey is only 45 minutes and your stop will be "Fiera di Roma".

See all the Rome Fair Events in 2008.

The Rome Mamertine Prison is among the most ancient jails in Rome. It is mostly famous for the stay of the Apostles Peter and Paul and for its capital executions. The Mamertine Rome Prison was discovered during archeological searches within the area of the Oblati of Maria Vergine, which is an annexe to the church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami (St John of the Carpenters).

The prison is also known as Carcer Tullianum and is located in a very central area of Rome next to the Capitole Square – Piazza Campidoglio -  and the famous Capitoline she-wolf, while you can also admire also the famous statue of the Emperor Marc Aurel refurbished recently– and near the Scale Gemonie and beneath the very church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami.

The Mamertine Jail is divided in 2 levels and the deepest floor which is the Tullianium was built under the King Anco Marzio (VIII – VII centuries B.C) during archaic times. The Tullianum is a floor constructed with blocks set in a circular way. Due to its shape it was believed to be a fountain or a water tank.

The upper floor, better known as the Carcer (jail) was built only at a later stage, presumably in the VI century B.C under Rome King Servius Tullius (Servio Tullio). This level was made in a square shape with huge blocks the colour ochre and red.

Within the building’s pavement still exists a small stream of water, which has almost completely disappeared nowadays, and the story goes that the stream would be sufficient to fill up the Tullianum to be used as a well for the Capitoline Rome Hill during ancient times.

Both floors are connected thanks to a round shaped hole in the pavement between Carcer and Tullianum. An inscription on the walls of the holes says Consoli C Vibio Rufinio and Cocceiro Nerva, both supposed to have contributed in the building the monument during the first century AC.

Nowadays a modern staircase goes down from the Carcer to the Tullianum but in ancient times you could only enter by the circular hole joining the 2 levels.

Famous prisoners stayed there, such as the Apostles Paul and Peter with other followers, and legend goes that Peter miraculously made a water hen to appear and subsequently using it to convert and baptize the jail guards Processo and Martiniano who then were martyrs also at a later stage. The Apostles were not to be executed in the prison, but Peter was taken to the Vatican Hill, and Paul to the Acque Salvie now known better as the Abbazia delle Tre Fontane (the Three Fountains Abbaye). Nowadays in Rome the 29th june is the commemorative day of St Peter  and Paul, and is a  bank holiday and mostly religious celebrations take place.

Among other famous personalities who stayed in the prison and who were decapitated or strangled were the followers of Gaio Gracco, the King of the Numidia Giugurta and Senators Lentulo and Cetego.

How to get there : From My Hotel Rome, go to the Termini station and Take line B metro and get off at Colosseo (2 stops away) and walk down the Fori Imperiali  to the Mamertine Prison.