Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

Our Blogger: Wanda

The church of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the center of Rome, is an historical treasure and an usual stop in many visitors’ itinerary. But many people don’t know the curious history behind its foundation. The legend says that beetwen the 4^th and the 5^th of August of 352, Pope Liberio and Giovanni, a rich Roman gentleman, dreamed the Mother Mary asking them to build a church devoted to her on the Esquilino hill. The virgin also told them that in the place chosen to build the church it was going to snow, and as you might know, snow is extremely rare in Rome, even on the coldest seasons, let alone August, normally one of the hottest months of the Roman Summer. The following morning, anyway, Giovanni and the pope found snow at the summit of the Esquilino hill, and Giovanni, being a rich man, financed the construction of the church in the area covered with it.

The miracle of the snow, as the event is remembered, is celebrated still today on August 5^th with the celebration of a solemn mass at Santa Maria Maggiore, and that day petals of white roses are thrown from one of the domes of the church, creating a beautiful effect that’s definitively worth seeing.

Actually The Pope is particularly devote to this basilica and because of it he always celebrates Maria’s dogma. In fact, Santa Maria Maggiore has been the first Roman church devoted to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the men.

There used to be painting on the altar depicting the assumption and the miracle of the snow. It was painted between 1428 and 1431 by Masolino da Panicale but it has been removed and it can now be admired in the National Gallery of Capodimonte in Naples.

The best thing would be to come to Rome on the 5^th of August when you can assist at the celebrations. But if you cannot arrange to be here on that date, anytime is perfect to visit Santa Maria Maggiore, only some minutes away from Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel, where we’ll be more than happy to give you all the necessary information to visit this and many other famous atracttions in Rome.

The Ghetto in Trastevere

Our Blogger: Diana

Jewish Community in Rome dates back to the 1^st Century BC and the Roman Jewish Ghetto is one of the most fascinating areas in the city, located along the Tiber (“Trastevere”). It got its origins during the period of Inquisition when Pope Paul IV in 1555 confined the community in a small area, which took its name after the Jewish quarter in Venice.

Jewish Kitchen: the main pillars.

“Kashrut” is the term used to indicate the Jewish dietary laws resulting from Torah’s Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Further details were set down orally.

The main principles are the following:

Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Walks

- pork and shellfish are forbidden;

- meat and dairy are not combined (two sets of utensils are used and ingredients are stored in two different fridges)

- meat must be ritually slaughtered (shochet) and blood completely removed.

Non kosher food is called “treif”.

La taverna del ghetto.

Hungry after a promenade in Trastevere ? La Taverna del Ghetto in Rome is a delicious option if you want to taste the true Jewish Romanesca in the respect of the culinary tradition. Located in the beautiful panorama of the Portico d’Ottavia, a temple the Emperor Augustus dedicated to his sister, this restaurant serves home-made pasta and genuinely cooked meat and fish.

LA TAVERNA DEL GHETTO- Directions: It will take only 20 minutes from our lovely YES Hotel, strategically located near the Termini station, by only one BUS H, which will bring you in the heart of Trastevere.

Via del Portico di Ottavia 8

Closed Friday Evenings

Our author: Diana

“REWIND ROME” is a brand new 3D simulated show of the ancient Rome opened to the public on November, the 20th in a playhouse just a few steps from the Colosseum (via Capo d’Africa 5). Visitors will experience the thrill to visit the streets, the tribunals, the temples and the stunning arena of the Colosseum as they lived in the year 310 A.D.

With earphones available in 8 languages, the whole work is the result of an usual but creative cooperation between classicists, engineers and archaeologists. The setting is based on archaeological evidence whereas characters as the emperor Maxentius, ruling at that time, the lions and the gladiators have been jazzed up.

GLADIATORS FIGHT TO DEATH

Thanks to the latest 3D techniques used, we have the unique chance to see a gladiator fight like from the front row of the Colosseum.

The realism of the gladiators’ movements is terrific. Motion capture technology was applied, that is using body-sensors on real people, and the authenticity of the gestures was guaranteed thanks to the contribution of a local historical society running a gladiatorial school in Rome. The scene climax is reached when the audience screams for a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

Among the reconstructed monuments we find also the Forum, a gathering place of social and political significance, and the temple of Vesta, where visitors are revealed a sacred rite.

Interaction is another key-word: an exceptional artificial character named Sapientinus introduce the visitors to this incredible world, screening detailed shootings of the ancient Rome, and dedicated devices will let them walk the city giving tourists and residents a sense of the city in the past.

Come and book your stay at Hotel des Artistes in Rome, just 20 minutes away from this fabulous adventure!

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.

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 .

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.

The Palatine Hill is one of the 7 Roman hills and is proved to be one of the oldest parts of the city.
It is situated in between the The Roman Forum , Circus Maximus and The Colosseum, and all these sights are close by our Myhotel Rome.

According to the legends here the twins Romulus and Remus were kept alive by a she-wolf until a shepherd found them and raised them together with his wife.Later Romulus decided to build a town on that hill-Rome.This is the place from where
the Roman Empire begun. The word “palace” comes from the latin word Palatium.

The view from the Palatine Hill is so amazing that back in the centuries it already attracted the attention and became an exclusive location to live in and the rich and powerful would build their palaces there.

The height of the hill reaches 230 feet(which is about 70 meters)
Over the centuries, the hill got eventually completely covered with beautiful buildings of famous Roman men and emperors and to name a few, Mark Antony, Cireron and Augustus(who was also born here) dwelled on the Palatine Hill in Rome.

It was believed that living on the hill meant breathing cleaner air and the danger from catching diseases from the lower working classes would be kept at bay.
According to archaeological digs the palatine Hill was inhabited in ancient times as far back as 10 century BC.

During the middle ages the Rome Palatine hill was owned by cardinal Alessandro Farnese.
Indeed, the ruins are from different periods of the history.
The palace of Septimus Severus (who ruled between 193-211 AD)
The so called stadium with the palace of Domitian.
The stadium might have been used also like a private imperial garden.
Famous palaces like Domus Augustina, Domus Flavia and the House of Livia(1st century BC)-home of emperor Augustus and his wife Livia.
Other ruins discovered are from the Temple of Cybele and Temple of Appollo.

On the Palatine Hill have been also the ruins of palace of Tiberius ( best known as palace of Caligula), built 1st century AD.

In 1550 cardinal Alessandro Farnese decided to fill the ruins up with soil in order to create a garden atop, also known as the Farnese Garden. It is connected to the Roman Forum through a few stair flights.

And if you are a lover of the ancient remains, then you will discover many statues and other artifacts which are on display at the Palatine Museum, definetely worth a visit while in Rome.

This stop is on the B line and is the last stop before Laurentina. There are some great museums in this area and they are not far from the metro stop. You can easily walk there and the large white obelisk in the traffic circle is right opposite to the museum complex which is on the right hand side.

An especially interesting museum, museo della Civilta’ Romana, or the museum of Roman Civilisation has a copy of Trajan’s Column which is laid out in sections that can be viewed really close up. The other great exhibition is the model of the ancient city of Rome. The detail is absolutely amazing and it gives you a very good idea of how the city looked. I had a lot of fun figuring out where all the places would be today and where my favourite gelateria and bar was.

The musueum price is 6.50 euro. It contains mostly replicas and casts of sculptures and other artifacts found in Rome and other parts of Italy. I went to the museum on Sunday so it was only open from 9 till 1 in the afternoon. On weekdays its open till 6:45. The best part is definetly the scale model of Rome. I spent at least half an hour in that room looking at it. It was absolutely fascinating.

I would only recommend going to the museum to see the column and the model. There is nothing else to see that is of any real significance except for the other scale models of buildings and temples found in Rome and other places like Pompei.

The area that the museums are located in looks nothing like that of the city centre or the other parts near the centre. This was designed as a modern metropolis envisioned by Mussolini but which somehow doesn’t quite look completed. While I was walking through the area I felt like I was somewhere in East Berlin or Russia. All the streets are wide tarred and straight. The buildings have been built in a very planned and specific way with columns and arches everywhere. Everything seems so ordered and tidy that you would not think you are in Rome unless you looked at the street names. This place is so un-Italian. It has none of the chaos, small crooked streets and careless town planning that the city centre has and where our Nice Hotel Rome is located.

 

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