“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!

Hi everyone,

I decided to do something special for you last week.

I went to visit a small pretty village in Lazio called Bellegra.

Let’s start from the  very beginning.

As you may know I work for a group of hotels in the city center of Rome.

So, at the end of my shift last week, I spent the night in one of the most beautiful, warm rooms at Hotel des Artistes.

After a nice rest and a very nice tasty breakfast, which I had on the roof terrace( So nice to have the breakfast kissed by the sun!) I left the Hotel des Artistes to go to Bellegra.

I know you are demanding yourself, what’s so nice about Bellegra?

I chose this village for two principals reasons: first of all was going to the Tacchie (type of pasta) with Porcini mushrooms festival; second reason  is the incredible cavern’s bow uncommon kind of design made from the torrential water.

Unfortunately, the cavern that is open every day during summer time, during winter time it needs to be booked in advance, which I didn’t know.

Bellegra is as well a nice village where it’s possible to have a relaxing walk. In fact it is rich of spiritual places, really beautiful S. Lucia and S. Sisto church built in a modern style or S. Nicola church built in Barocco style with some painting from XVII.

Feature characteristic of this place is also the antique trade market where you can find typical products from this part of the region. In particular this antique trade market which takes place every second Sunday of the month contributes to enforce the Bellegra images in tourism industry.

But let’s get back to us.

I was talking about the porcini and the pasta that unfortunately you cannot try anymore.

What you can still see, what I really recommend is the Christmas’ market which takes place every year starting from the 8 of December, in Tyrolese style, with small wood’s object, souvenir and handcrafts.

Not finished yet with the surprises: where we go with something that you really enjoy: The Bisagra of the boar and olive of oil, where it’s possible have lunch or dinner tasting delicious boar with polenta, spiced boar, and bruschetta.

So what do you think?

Do you know what? Let’s go togheter. I’m waiting for you here at Hotel des Artistes in Rome.

Directions: SS 6 Casilina, or A24- Aquila , Vicovare exit, Subiaco direction until Bellegra.

Roma- tiburtina cotral bus, 1 and an half hour journey time.

Great music lovers have a must on November in the Eternal City! The Roma Jazz Festival 2008 will be held in Rome from November 5-30. Over two hundred artists for a total of 20 concerts.

Organized with the cooperation of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, the House of Jazz and the Goethe Institut and hosted mainly in the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the festival will offer a remarkable overview of the current jazz scene.

A wide and exciting mix of styles, the concerts will be divided in three main sections:

Focus Orchestras, performing a style that has animated the music scene since the early 40s, and among the artists, the Count Basie Orchestra and his swing of the years’40 and’50.

A female section with three outstanding artists, surely the most engaging and surprising in recent years, as the Canadian singer Terez Montcalm, the free-Israeli singer Yael Naim and the virtuous Japanese pianist Chiciro Yamanaka

From Bossa Nova to Fusion. The Bossa Nova, which has left a mark on the history of jazz for the last 50 years and its evolution resulting into new experiences. Get ready for Milton Nascimento with Jobim, celebrating 60 years of Bossa Nova, with Enrico, through the Five Peace Band, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, and Herbie Hancock with his sextet

The excentric Sun Ra with his Arkestra, the local Gianluca Petrella Cosmic Band, and many other performers giving their personal interpretation of the living spirit of Jazz…

If you are heading to Rome’s Jazz Festival, and you are just lost and do not know where to stay and leave your precious saxophone, then do not hesitate to check our great and cosy hotel, just around the corner from main railroad station in Rome- YES Rome Hotel. Your stay in Rome will be unforgettable in all the ways possible.

For more info check www.auditorium.com. Enjoy it!

Furniture and Interior design lovers!!!

Rome has something special for you. In fact, from October the 25th to 

November the 2nd Moacasa will take place. 

Moacasa is a fair that will delight all those interested in interior

decoration or those just looking for stylish ideas to apply to their

own homes. Paying a visit might be an interesting off-the-beaten-track 

option in your travel itinerary and a great opportunity to get in

close contact with the world-famous Italian design.

La fiera di Roma is the venue for Moacasa. This vast structure built

in the outskirts of Rome will house the fair in four of its pavilions.

Two of them will be dedicated to interior design. In one of the other

two will be exposed all the items for bathroom and kitchen, and the

other one will be reserved for accessories, posters, and curtains.

 Forget postcards and funny t-shirts you're never going to wear. The

great thing of visiting Moacasa is the possibility of buying a durable

and beautiful souvenir that reflects genuinely the culture and taste

of Italy and will add a touch of it to your home and will remind you

everyday the great time you had in Rome.

It's really easy to reach La Fiera di Roma. All you have to do is go

to Tiburtina station on the blue subway line and there take the train

to Fiumicino airport. Then get off in the predictably-named station

Fiera di Roma and that's it. The tickets for Moacasa cost 6 euros on

weekdays and 8 euros on the weekend. Aditionally, the weekend-ticket

can be used as an entrance for other weekday and the visitors under 16

years enter the fair for free.

If you are planning to visit places that, like this one, are outside

the typical touristic routes, Rome can be a tricky city. That's why

you got to make a smart hotel-choice when you plan your trip. 

An elegant Hotel Des Artistes in Rome is unbeatable when 

it comes to convenience in location. The Termini station is only four blocks away

from it and just around the corner you have a  blue-subway-line

station (that's the line where Tiburtina and the train to Moacasa is).

From there you can explore Rome and the areas around it without major

worries. A savvy decision like this one will make you save money and

time, and that's what every traveler wants!

The exhibition Etruscans describes the story of the Etruscan civilization in Lazio through the extraordinary development of its main urban centers: Veio, Cerveteri, Vulci and Tarquinia, four cities that began life with many of their more ancient features stemming from common roots.

The individual character of these four cities in southern Etruria is illustrated by a selection of some of the most important works of art from each locality, many of which are on public display for the very first time.

The second part of the exhibition is dedicated to the relationship between these ancient cities and Rome itself, which highlights the huge influence that the Etruscan civilization had on the Roman world. Another important museum about Etruscans to advise is  Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia.

Veio is famous for the production of “terracotta” intended to decorate the roofs of buildings and achieve votive sculptures.

Cerveteri is characterized mainly by the extraordinary funerary architecture connected to the famous necropolis.

Vulci is the monumental sculpture in stone.

Caere (Cerveteri) and Vulci, from the end of the eighth century BC, were the main destinations for large trade flows which from the greek world markets reached different centers in Etruria.

Tarquinia, with its several hundred tombs painted between the archaic and Hellenistic age, is the most important art gallery of the ancient world before Pompeii.

Do not miss this great archeologic appointment in Rome, do visit this exhibition and this wonderful city. I advise you to stay in a nice three star hotel near Termini Station-Lucci Hotel, which offers you genuine hospitality and warmth.

The exhibition is open on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 8pm;

on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 10.30 pm;

Closed on Mondays.

As every year, this month takes place in the Tuscia area the chestnut festival, that involves many people and many villages located in the surrounding area.

During the roman period the Tuscia, was a residential territory, chosen by rich roman people to built their houses.

In fact with a really rich soil, plenty of water and mild climate Tuscia became a vacation place where to go.

Naturally this type of climate is still the same and for that reason we have every year 2 important rendezvous: wine’s festival, during summer time and now autumn’s time the chestnut festival.

Really we can talk about a gastronomic trip, a journey inside the specialities and the flavours of Lazio’s countryside. And I will keep that in my for my future blogs.

In particular way there are some special municipality protagonist of: Capenina, Caprarola, Carbognano, Latera, Soriano nel Cimino, Vallerano.

In these villages it’s possible to taste the real chestnut, big, white, gluttonous grilled or boiled.

Close your eyes and try to imagine the scene.

Imagine yourself walking the tortoise medieval street, imagine a little slope to climb, feel on your skin a soft jumper, the first cold air itching the nose, smell now all around, chestnut sweet flavour mixed with the one stronger of roosted met , imagine your self in the middle of traditions old centuries. Tell me now, do you wish to be there with me, don’t you?

More information: www.tusciaviterbese.it 

My last suggestion when you will come to visit my beloved Eternal City is to book a place in a nice and cozy hotel in the city center, strategically close to main railroad station-Termini- Lucci Hotel, the place where I work! We will definitely plan a trip to Tuscia together!

7 years after the first edition, designed by President Mario Di Marco, LBF,  Female Basketball League of Italy, Opening Day has arrived in Rome in October 10-12, 2008.
After crossing the Italian peninsula far and wide, touching the cities of Como, La Spezia, Chieti, Taranto, Cagliari and Venice (and the island of Sardinia), the Women’s Basketball League has decided that it was now time to choose Rome as the natural place of the event.

LBF Opening Day is a three-day-event, and the entrance is free.
It has its climax in the performance (Saturday 11 and Sunday October 12) of seven games of the first day of the 78th Championship Serie A1 at the PalaTiziano in Rome. 

THE PROGRAM

Saturday 11 October 2008
03:30 pm PalaTiziano: Pool Comense – Gescom MCI Viterbo
05:45 pm PalaTiziano: Pallacanestro Pozzuoli – Famila Wuber Schio
08:00 pm PalaTiziano: Acer Erg Priolo – Umana Reyer Venezia

Sunday 12 October 2008
11:00 am PalaTiziano: Women Livorno - Banco di Sicilia Ribera
03.00 pm PalaTiziano: Geasar Sesto San Giovanni - Lavezzini Parma
05.15 pm PalaTiziano: Cras Taranto - Club Atletico Faenza
07.30 pm PalaTiziano: Liomatic Umbertide - Napoli Basket Vomero

09.30 pm PalaTiziano: Closure of the event LBF

Opening Day
To see the whole program just go on the website Lega Basket Femminile.

Do not forget to book your stay at our Lucci Hotel in Rome, or at our nice Hotel Des Artistes in Rome, and visit one of the most important Sports events of Italian Capital.

Villa York, also known as Villa Baldinotti or Bichi Ruspali, is a Roman villa located in the valley of houses with views of Villa Pamphili and dome of St. Peter. Its name comes from Cardinal Benedict Enrico Duke of York, very important character at the end of the eighteenth century. They were the nuns of St. Cosimato that transformed the estate, known as Casal di Marcello, in a large company, with a farmhouse and outbuildings artefacts service. In 1647 Zenobio Baldinotti bought Casal di Marcello, starting the construction of a magnificent Baroque villa. Subsequently, the house expanded with the purchase of House of Bravetta and the creation of a beautiful waterway, which leaves from the square Casino and ends in a ninfeo. In 1697 the villa was purchased and renovated by Girolama Marchesa Bichi Ruspoli, who did make several paintings, build new artefacts which the birds, and planting numerous trees. Finally, in 1800, Villa York reached its maximum extension while developing the best of its agriculture. Today, is a charming residence a few miles from the center of the capital, and is an ideal place to enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes  for Romans. Perfect for every important occasion, making every reception unforgettable. The management of the villa, is conferred directly by the owner who, with passion and experience will ensure the minimum requirements for the success of the events.
The spacious halls of the villa can accommodate up to 250 people, while the garden also features a swimming pool, can accommodate up to 400. The villa also has a kitchen equipped and very professional, where the chef working more experienced at international level. Regarding the organization of convention and entertainment, they are accompanied by live music, facilitated by technology companies. Finally, to ensure maximum comfort for customers, local interior is fitted with a thermoregulator. If your reason to visit Rome on a very special occasion of celebration of wedding, Villa York is a perfect venue to do that. Do not forget to book your stay in romantic Lucci Hotel, and later celebrate your special day in Villa York.

Location: Municipality XVI, Portuense area

Epoch: XVII-XIX century

Entrance: via di Forte Bravetta

From the 19th to the 30th September 2008 the Rome Scuderie Ruspoli display the works by the contemporary Italian artist Bruno Di Cunzolo, also known as Brunello.

On show are about 70 watercolour paintings and 70 of his most recent charcoal drawings and small paintings.

He mainly portrays women’s faces and catches the secret, the maliciousness and the intensity of their glance.

The women’s eyes – magnetic, sensual, passionate or veiled by a subtle melancholy magnetism – are central in his works.

For Brunello painting is an intimate and private experience as well as a passion, which he has developed during his professional career as an architect. 

Bruno di Cunzolo was born in Campania, Italy near Salerno and studied at the “Liceo Artistico” in Salerno and he got a degree in Architecture at the University of Naples.

Bruno Di Cunzolo has been an architect since 1979.

This Rome Exhibition at the Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome follows the following schedule :

Opening : Thursday, September 18th, 6.30 pm

Closing date: Tuesday, September 30th

Address: Via della Fontanella di Borghese 56/b, Roma

Timetable: every day from 10 am to 7 pm

Free entrance

For your stay in Rome, why not take advantage of our Lucci Hotel Rome deals ?

Did you know ? Brunello also is an italian wine

Read related blog about Brunello