Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

Our Blogger: Jona

The Wargames are a category of strategic game that has the purpose of reconstructing historical military events. From the perspective of many people, with the Wargames you have a way to explore the war itself with no real combat experience. Now for many people the Wargames have become a hobby where one or more players can simulate battles or wars. The most traditional of wargames is of course, the board game, played on a map, with pieces that represent the forces in the field, following the rules and tables for combat. Another component that is part of Wargames table is the “counter” which generally are rectangles of cardboard representing armies or military units. The most modern Wargames though are computer games that show the units and the scenario of war on the monitor. There are many advantages of digital Wargames:, there is no need to manage data, because the computer will manage the whole game. The possibility to save, stop and restart at any point in the game is very convenient too. There are different types of Wargames classified according the environment, historical period, the map scale or size. There are, of course, many of them that are dedicated to war in ancient Rome!
Rome will host the European Championship of Wargames that will be held for three   days starting on July the 9^th , 2009. The championship will take place at Castel Sant’Angelo as a part of the activities of the “Summer Reading along the river and through the trees.” Many feel that the place chosen was the best to play the event, to the extent of space and the functionality and beauty of the home. We are waiting for you at Yes Hotel and Hotel des Artistes!

Our Blogger: Diana

Cinema Fans from all over the world are landing at Rome in March.

The VIII edition of the RIFF (Rome independent Film Festival) kicks off on March 19^th and will last for seven days showcasing more than 80 movies from documentaries, to shorts and animations of the highest calibre.

The film-maker winning the competition will be awarded with a prize of 50,000 euros and the opportunity of theatre distribution. Outstanding winners of the past editions of the Rome Indipendent Film Festival are Marko Kostic with The Paper prince, Lisa F Jackson with The greatest silence: rape in the Congo, and Alessandro Valori with Chi nasce tondo.

This year among the most promising Italian candidates we find Sleeping around by Marco Carniti with Anna Galiena and Lotta by Daniele Anzellotti with Giovanna Mezzogiorno.

Workshops and seminaries are as well organised since this Festival has gained during  the years a key-role as an exchange point in the cinema field where both old and new generations can give a contribution.

To enjoy many stimulating cultural activities while in Rome is important to find accomodation in well-located hotels with great standards of quality. Check Hotel des Artistes and Yes Hotel to start your trip on the right foot.

IN SHORT

NUOVO CINEMA AQUILA

19-27 MARCH 2009

Via l’Aquila 66/74

FROM TERMINI

BUS 105 (Grotte Celoni)

7 Stops, get off at PONTE CASILINO

Our Blogger: Jona

Metallica is one of the greatest heavy metal bands in the world. From the beginning, with albums like Kill ‘Em All, and Master of the Puppets they became the face of a heavier, more aggressive rock that hooked immediately a whole generation of rock fans.

A sad note that changed forever the story of the band is the demise of Cliff Burton who died when the band’s bus overturned in Sweden. Afterwards, the band was in the verge of separation, but with the help friends, Cliff’s family among them, they overcame the grief and began playing actively again.

Jason Newsted became the new bassist for the band, that still had many successful albums to come like Load, Reload and Death Magnetic. The band put back the heavy metal on its tracks after a decade of excess and manierism and gained almost instantly a place among the living rock legends of our time.

The band has a concert scheduled in Rome as a part of their World Magnetic- European Style tour. The date is June 24^th and the venue is the Palalottomatica Arena (where Bob Dylan will have a concert this year as well!)

A couple of great options to find accommodation are Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes. Both are reasonably priced, and perfectly located to allow you to travel within the city with the public transportation system and to get the most of you staying.

Don’t hesitate to make a booking in any of these hotels!

PALALOTTOMATICA ARENA

Piazzale dello Sport, Roma (Near subway station Eur Fermi)

TICKETS

• A Tribune: 63,25 EUR
• B Tribune: 51.75 EUR

Our Blogger: Arianna

As every year last week, took place in San Remo the Italian music festival a very important celebration that involved both old glories and new arrivals of the Italian music.

I saw the last two days of the festival and I have to tell you that I really enjoyed it. I did so for several reasons and first of all because of the host, mister Paolo Bonolis, a Roman celebrity who had the brilliant idea to include in the program, besides the featured songs, international music, poetry, classic dance and opera. Bonolis invited many international celebrities to the festival, like Huge Hefner (father of Playboy) or Annie Lennox.

San Remo has a long history behind. Created in 1951 the festival celebrates its 58 anniversary with this edition, so we can say that it’s like a man in the middle age that renovates himself every year.

The festival was the point of departure of an evergreen Italian success: Domenico Modugno’s Volare, which has become a symbol of Italy all around the world. Other famous singers who had their first break on San Remo are Laura Pausini, Zucchero and Nek, who now sings too in English and Spanish.

But Sanremo is not only song festival; the city is famous for its flowers, which every year embellish the Ariston theatre and there’s also a festival (that takes place one month before the music festival) dedicated to them

The preparation of the festival begins the very next day after the final show, but the host, that’s different each year, and the assistants are chosen six months before. The funny fact this year was that instead of female hosts ( that usually are two, one blonde and one brunette) Bonolis used as well a male model, a very uncommon choice.

The first prize for new talents has been awarded to Arisa, a young girl with a peculiar look. The song it’s easy to sing and to remember.

The big competition has been merciless and at the end the winner was Marco Carta, a 23-years-old young man. Teenage audiences really love him, because of his past. His career started in fact with a very import teenagers’ reality show called Amici (Friends) where talented young people participate in an academy very similar to “ Fame”.

Now San Remo it’s over but still the city deserves to be visited. Why not take a chance? stay with us at Hotel des Artistes in Rome and then spend one or two days in the marvellous Liguria

Our Blogger: Diana

There is a grandeur in this view of life,

In which endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful,

Have been, and are being, evolved.

Two hundred years after the birth of Darwin, Palazzo Esposizioni in Rome celebrates this outstanding figure depicting a picture of a man in wonder.

The exhibition, based on a previous one organized in New York by the American Museum of Natural History, will guide visitors not only throughout the theories but even along the entire life of the “father of the evolutionism”, trying to recollect his historical and personal background.

The world before Darwin

Darwin introduced dynamism in a world that was then conceived as static and unchanged since its creation. There was no link between the species and human beings were not included in the natural world. Earth itself was thought to be much younger (around 6,000 years old). This idea of the world was the reflection of how people lived at that time. Just think that people never travelled or rarely left the city where they were born and children were to live the same lives of their parents.

  From a bored student to an enthusiastic naturalist

Born in 1809 in the rural England as a son of a doctor (and then clergyman), Darwin was an indifferent student. But despite his dislike for school, he was always eager to observe the natural world and was enthusiast about chemistry, biology and botany. His life changed completely in 1831, when he accepted the invitation to take part to a voyage around the world which brought him to the coasts of South America and the South Pacific.

After 5 years abroad, he went back to London now as an established naturalist, due to the prestige that granted him the astonishing collections he had sent ahead.

The development of the theory came out gradually soon after, but only in 1842 he produced his legendary work, the Origin of Species.

Palazzo delle Esposizioni
Via Nazionale 194 – 00184 Roma

Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: from 10 am till 8 pm
Fridays and Saturdays: from 10 am till 10:30 pm
Mondays: closed
full price € 12,50 – reduced price € 10,00

How to reach the museum
Underground line A (stop Repubblica)
Underground line B (stop Cavour)
Bus: 64-70-71-116T-117-170-640-H
(stop Nazionale/Palazzo Esposizioni)

The palazzo delle esposizioni is located near the Termini station, a great area to look for accomodation due to the abundance of shops, activities and the convenience of staying near the main hotspot for transportation in Rome, and in that area Yes Hotel and Hotel des Artistes are unbeatlable options!

Our Blogger: Marcelo

From February 15^th until March 21^st one of the most exciting competitions in Europe and one of the most important events of the rugby season will take place in Rome – The Six Nations Rugby Tournament. 

As before, this year will see the Italian national team open the tournament. The first match is on February 7 14.00 (Italian time) at Twickenham Stadium in London where Italy will play a very strong England team.

In 2009 three matches will be played in Rome itself, at the Flaminio Stadium: Sunday February 15 15.30: ITALY – Ireland. Saturday March 12 16:00: ITALY – WALES. Saturday March 21 14:15: Italy – France.

The Stadio Flaminio is very easy to reach from our hotel, Hotel Des Artistes in Rome:

From Termini station: by Metro A direction Battistini reach the Flaminio stop. Then take the tram No. 225 in the direction of Flaminio Stadium until the 4th or 5th stop. We are located just a few steps from Termini, the Main Station.

Our Blogger: Diana

Food, art and design were the ingredients of Gustovagando, a tasteful event which took place at Macro Future from December 27th 2008 till January 6th 2009. Christmas was still in the air and the cheerful and cosy atmosphere of this festivity was re-created through an imaginary apartment including a kitchen, a dining-room and a living room. 

Every day one region of central Italy was welcomed as a guest to present their traditional culinary delights. It was a great chance for producers, who actively took part in the exhibition, to promote their products through seminaries and tasting.

Food lessons were organised during the afternoon, where high level chefs proposed the main Christmas dishes. Thinking of a place to stay in Rome? Try Lucci Hotel, it’s smack bang in the centre!

MACRO FUTURE

Piazza Orazio Giustiniani 4

How to get there from Termini station

BUS 75 (POERIO/MARINO) for 14 stops. Get out at MARMORATA/GALVANI then walk for 500 m.

Entrance opens from 16.30 till 24.00
Food Educational: from 18.00 to 20.00 (on January 04th and 05th from 19.30)
Live concerts: from 21.00

Closure days: December 31^st 2008 and January 1^st 2009
Free entrance

Ticket price of Food Educational ranging from 20 up to 70 euros

Our blogger: Marcelo

From February 7^th 2009 to the 15^th “Casa Idea” will take place in Rome. One way to translate the title of this event would be something like “Ideas for the home”. Italy has a lot to say about design. Its roots and tradition concerning family remain as strong as ever. The space for creativity in Italian life is directly linked to the space they regard as the most important… the space made available for the family. 

Spread out over more than 40,000 square metres, this event will house more than 100,000 visitors. Professionals interested in the latest innovations in the market will be able to discover the trends of the market and propose new trends.

Business agents, and also householders in search of solutions, can get fresh and new ideas to give a stylish look to their homes, to change its face or just put a smile on it. Often, a single detail is so important.

There are also different sections at the exhibition: contemporary, classic, Etna, green spaces, decorative bathroom, decorative kitchen accessories, furnishing and restructuring & interior finishes.

You can also speak directly with the designers and get their opinions. It’s organized by the institute Mides: Tel: 06 684 251, Fax: 06 68802433 email: info.casaidea @ forumpa.it

Opening Times:

Weekdays: 15.00 -21.00
Saturday and holidays: 10.00-20.00
The ticket office closes an hour before closing. 

There is free admission for:

• architects and their escorts, by presenting their card
• students of architecture and design equipped with a card or equivalent document
• Children up to 16 years

Fiera di Roma – North Entrance

How do you get there from Yes Hotel Rome? It’s easy. Take the underground (line B) until the station Magliana and from there the train in the direction of Fiumicino. Stop at Fiera di Roma. So book a room at our hotel where you can ask for further information if necessary.

Our Blogger: Rhodora

Christmas is coming and everybody is rushing to find the perfect gift for friends and relatives.There are many nice ideas and many nice special things to buy…but for sure, the perfect gift is a high tech accessory.

For example, Apple offers you different things, laptops and Mp3’s, but the last novelty of this company is the new I-pod touch, the perfect gift for those who love music…if you want to buy a mobile phone instead, why not buy a mobile phone and an I-pod, all in one!! This is now possible, with the all new I-Phone. The price is slightly expensive (around 500 euros), but Christmas is only once a year.. And talking about hi-tech, some gifts are just irresistible…From the new Play Station 3 to the Nintendo DS… From the Dinosaur robot called Dino to the Nintendo Wii, the choice is endless.

One thing’s for sure, high tech gifts are a little bit expensive, but for sure, they are always appreciated!

So why not come to Rome for some great shopping fun this Christmas and –new year? There are some great areas to go shopping, including, Via Dei Condotti, Via del Corso, and even Porta Portese, the capital’s biggest and best flee market every Sunday. Pop in for a stay at Hotel Des Artistes and we’ll direct you to all the best shops, shopping centres and markets Rome has to offer. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Our Blogger: Beppe

On Sunday March 1 2009 the 35th edition of the Roma-Ostia Race will take place.

The race starts at 9.30 in the morning, so all the runners have to gather at the starting gate at 8.30 at the “Palazzo dello Sport”, Palalottomatica (Roma Eur) and they must be in the starting grid by 9.15.

Starting at the Palazzo dello Sport, the route runs the entire length of via Cristoforo Colombo, then up and down the seafront to the finish line at the round-about i(La Rotonda) in Ostia. Ostia itself is famous for being the port where the romans sailed from during great battles. The marathon also happens to be one of the most popular marathons in the Lazio region.

Water will be provided for thirsty runners during the marathon. There will also be an ambulance behind the last athlete. At the finish line there will be refreshments including water, tea and fruit.

Each runner’s time will be monitored from the moment he (or she) passes the starting line until the moment they pass the finish line. Time and ranking will be available immediately after the race.

If anyone wants to run in this 21 km-race (or 13 miles), the price is 20 euros from November 29^th to January 9^th, 25 euros from January 10^th to 30^th, or 30 euros from January 31^st to February 9^th.

At the starting point, the runners will be subdivided into five grids according to their bib numbers. The bibs of each grid will be different colours. If you are thinking of taking part in the race or coming to watch, why not look at the great rooms you can stay in at Yes Hotel, Rome. Being so well connected to Ostia and the centre of Rome, getting there is little hassle.

Contact information

Once again this year the Roma-Ostia offers its participants a personalised photographic service.

Romaostia S.r.l.
Viale Marco Polo, 104
00154 Roma (RM) – Italia
Tel             +39.06.57.28.80.29       
Fax +39.06.57.13.61.47
E-mail: info@romaostia.it