Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

Temperature is getting high? Let’s get a fresh start talking about Zoomarine!

Covering an area of 34 hectares, Zoomarine is the most outstanding marine amusement theme park in Italy. Located in Torvajanica, Pomezia, 25 kilometers from Rome it’s a theme park where both adults and children can have fun and learn to respect nature. Zoomarine as well, has always been on front line in defense of turtles and mammals threatened on our coasts, signing several conventions with important research organizations.

Zoomarine Italy is the offspring of Zoomarine Portugal, which has been attracting loads of visitors over the last 10 years.

Water rides and log fulmes apart, the real attractions of the park are the amazing shows displayed where the magnificence of the sea mammalians and the tropical birds is celebrated. In the “Tropical Birds Forest Show” for example, fantastic colored parrots interact with the public and the trainer creating sort of gags and in the “Pinnipeds Bay Show” five different species of Pinnipeds play games of skill and speed. The most famous show remains anyway the “Dolphins’ Island Show”, where dolphins are hosted in a set of pools and there’s a seating area of over 3000 seats.

Sounds exciting, don’t you agree?

Closed in winter ( October until March), tickets cost 22 euros for adults, reduced to 15 euros for children from 4 up to 10 years old; entrance is free for children under 4 years old. You can easily reach the park thanks to a free shuttle bus service as follows:

Shows at Zoomarine Rome

Roma Ostiense 09.30 (arrives at Zoomarine at 10.30)

Returning at 6.20 pm and arriving in Rome Ostiense at 7.30 pm.

Or if you are staying in our Lucci Hotel Rome near the Rome Termini station then it is convenient to take a train and timetables are as follows:

09.07 , arriving in Pomezia at 9.25

11.07, arriving at 11.25

13.07 arriving at 1.25 pm

And once in Pomezia a free Zoomarine shuttle will take you there (takes 30 mins approx.)

On your way back from Pomezia train runs with the following schedule:

5.22 pm, arriving in Termini at 5.45 pm

6.26 pm, arriving in Termini at 7.13 pm

8.22 pm arriving in Termini at 8.45 pm

And if you plan your Rome vacation look out for great Rome hotel deals

August as in many countries world wide is commonly known as  a month for vacation. In Italy you might feel it even deeper. Your barber shop, or your nearby farmacy will have a sign CHIUSO PER FERIE (Closed for vacation)  from August 2nd till August 24th, or something similar.  The streets of Rome are mainly deserted and many local clubs and pubs are also closed for summer or move their activities towards the sea side. And even it might give you, as a tourist visiting Italy in August, an impression of cultural stagnation or disinterest, many summer activities in Rome prove the opposite. I can proudly say that Music does not leave for vacation, it does not abandon Rome.

Even in August the great music continues to heat the city. Once the thrust of the great festivals in July is off, the offer moves towards the places of vacations, with seaside resorts, while in the city Villa Ada, Fiesta!, House of Jazz and Villa Celimontana continue to breath throughout the month and to propose  high lively quality events.
As mentioned before resorts  become places of tours of the great artists, especially Italians: the first to perform is the great Donatella Rector, Sunday 3rd August, he performs in the main square in Fiuggi, followed Wednesday 6th August by Antonello Venditti, in the scene of Arena del Mare of Sabaudia. The day after, in the same location, a young composer Giovanni Allevi, returned from three sold out concerts in the capital: an excellent opportunity for thosewho have missed them. The tour continues in the province, Friday 8, with Loud! Saturday scene at the Open Bar of Ostia while, Sunday 10, redivivi Stadium arise in the splendid setting of Villa Clementi to Cave. On the day of Ferragosto great appointment with Enrico Ruggeri, which celebrates the more than twenty years of career with a live at the Roman Theatre of Ostia Antica while, simultaneously, Petra Magoni and Ferruccio Spinetti will perform all’Autodromo Vallelunga. In the second half of the month, the attention moves southward, with performances by Fiorella Mannoia, Saturday 16 March in Piazza XIX in Latina, Mario Biondi, Sunday 17 at Villa Adele at Anzio, and Patty Pravo that closes the season of  Arena del Mare of Sabaudia. On the same evening, eyes to Palestrina, where the Roman king is back and I think that Franco Califano that does not require any special presentations. For those who had not any intention to leave the Eternal city, in August focuses, as mentioned in historical location of Estate Romana. Villa Ada, which this year ends the first half of the month, offers us Friday 1 Eugenio Bennato, followed in the first weekend of the month, by Nando Citarella and the Kocani Orkestar. Other appointments are indispensable Amy Coleman & Texa.Co Jive, Acustimantico and Roots In Cement, respectively Monday 4, 5 and Tuesday 5 Tuesday before the grand finale with Daniele Sepe, Sunday 5. Lovers of South American sounds, which will saziarsi, with performances at Fiesta! Charanga Habanera y of the People Friday Zone 1, Jose Luis Cortes y La Banda 4 Monday, and the great Toquinho Wednesday 6. If you love jazz, instead, Villa Celimontana there leaves you alone and offers its fans a timetable that, alone, namely the renunciation to holidays. Some suggestion? Please do not miss the three performances of the great Enrico Rava: quartet, in standards and in a special edition, respectively Wednesday 6, Thursday 7 and Friday 8. After the showing of Giuliana Soscia and Pino Iodice Italian Tango Quartet, Sunday 10, here is to get Avier Ghirotto: first, Wednesday 13, with its "Latin Project", then, Thursday 14, when together with Sinesi and Bruhn present his new disc "Dos Sles" and then conclude with two dates, Friday 15 and Saturday 16, along with Aires Tango and Atem Saxophon Quartet. If there still enough, 17 rounds Sunday to see Alain Jean-Marie and Nicola Stilo, Friday 22 for Carla Marcotulli Dick Halligan together and say hello the end of the month with double live, Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28, the project "Ensemble Paris – Rome. "

There are still many interestinf music events that will take place in Rome, just do not hesitate book you flight to Rome, book our nice LUCCI Hotel, take all the advantages of cool summer Roman nights either in the city or by seaside and just relax and ENJOY!

If you compare, you will find out that there was not pretty much a difference between our pastimes and those of classic Rome age (excluding the computer staff) that we have to admit is not helping to keep the body in good shape. The Romans wanted to show themselves like their beautiful statues here and there. These is how they worked it out.

In ancient times Rome had a place called Campus, a kind of drill ground for Roman soldiers, by the Tiber. Later, the Campus became Rome’s track and field playground, it is said that even Julius Caesar and Augustus used to go there for practising . In time, these type grounds were developed in other cities and military locations.

Here, the youth met to play and exercise: jumping, wrestling, boxing, racing, riding, throwing, swimming, and many other things. As a legacy from the Greek

culture, sport was very important in Roman education. In the countryside, the favourite pastime was hunting. Females did not participate in these activities.

Ball playing was a popular sport and ancient Romans had several ball games, which included Expulsim Ludere, that is the way they called handball, field hockey, catch, and even some form of soccer.

Of course board games were played also, choices were Tesserare that you know by the name dice, Latrunculi, the roman chess and we could not forget the Egyptian backgammon, the Tabula as they called. It is funny to think that gambling was not legal, but in every bar they had a section at the back, well covered for this sort of entertainment! It was unofficially tolerated in fact as long as you didn’t show it in public. Just like the gangster films!

There were many other activities like chariot races, musical and theatrical performances and the well known public executions and gladiatorial combat at the Rome Colosseum, one that we have left way (with the little exception of the fiction in films, which makes me wonder about…). And if you plan to stay in Rome why not take advantage of our discounted prices in our Lucci Hotel Rome?

It is said that the people in Ancient  Rome knew how to enjoy the pleasures of life. Among these pleasures of course the joys of the table are certainly included. Banquets that combined  the most exotic tastes coming from different parts of the Empire ensured the joys of all guests during hours, even until late at night, sometimes the whole night, giving permission to another sort of pleasures. 

This time we will illustrate partially what regards the happennings on the table (What happened under the table we leave it freely to your immagination). Therefore,  some information about  Roman dishes of this period.

Enjoy ancient secrets from ancient cooking:

PEPONES ET MELONES (Water and Honey Melons) 
Ingredients:
————
1/2       honey melon – both peeled, diced  
1/2       water melon – and stoned
500ml     Passum
a little bit of honey (or Passum)
1 tblsp   minced parsley
1/2 tsp   freshly ground pepper
a little bit of Liquamen, or a dash of salt
Poleiminze, Silphium, vinegar, if wanted

Instructions:
————-
Cook diced melons in a pan together with spices and herbs until done.
Sometimes Silphium is added.

PATINA DE PISCICULIS (Soufflee of Small Fish)
Ingredients:
————
500g      boiled fillet of small fish or whole sardelles
150g      dried raisins (sultanas)
1/2 tsp   freshly ground pepper
1 tblsp   Liebstoeckl
1 tblsp   oregano
2         small diced onions
200ml     oil
50ml      Liquamen, or 1/2 tsp salt
some cornstarch

Instructions:
————-
Mix raisins, pepper, Liebstoeckl, oregano, onion, wine, Liquamen and oil
together and put in a casserole. Cook until done. Then put small boiled
fish fillets or boiled small whole fishes into it. Thicken with a bit of
cornstarch and serve it!

  (Pear Soufflee)
Ingredients:
————
1kg       pears (peeled and without core)
6         eggs
4 tblsp   honey
100ml     Passum
a little bit oil
50ml      Liquamen, or 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp   ground cumin
ground pepper to taste

Instructions:
————-
Mesh cooked and peeled pears (without core) together with pepper,cumin,
honey, Passum, Liquamen and a bit of oil. Add eggs and put into a
casserole. Cook approximately 30 minutes on small to moderate heat.
Serve with a bitt of pepper sprinkled on the soufflee.

I hope you really enjoyed my virtual Master classes of ancient Roman cooking. But this is just the beginning and we will certainly continue in future.

If you decide to stay in Rome and enjoy its enogastronomical variety, do not hesitate to book our lovely Lucci Hotel, and nearby you will find a nice Roman hosteria A ME MI PIACE, which has tons of specialities and surprises for you!