Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

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!

Roman hot summer tires a lot of tourists, who still are attracted by the charm of the Italian Capital, the Eternal City. Yes, of course, all the roads lead to Rome, and I would add, especially, to Colosseum.  This year as a continuation of a good tradition, “Castellum” agency organized from the 21st June an initiative, called All’Ombra del Colosseo (In the shade of Colosseum), and it reached this year its nineteenth edition  becoming a cornerstone of Estate Romana (Roman Summer) and  a reference point for all  the Romans who remain in city during the summer.  This initiative will last till September 2008.

“Eventhough this season certainly is  not easiest one for the new municipal administration - said the president of Castellum - we  still decided to revive this event to be  the flagship of proposals  for the capitoline summer.”
And this year there are some great innovations and inventions. 
First of all, has been put an outdoor pool with panoramic view of the Colosseum with aperitifs served on the boards of the pool every day from 19.00.  Swimming lovers can enjoy a  true  pool, sized 10 x 20 metres, and not a  plastic swimming pool. This pool is a jewel of transportable engineering, placed strategically in front  of the Anfiteatro Flavio. 
Then  there will be tons of art, culture, music, cabaret shows with the presence of many famous artists, solarium, poker tournaments, different sports, swimming courses for children, theatre performances and a draft catering Food & Fashion: dishes combined with color creations, tailored and signed by Emi Fabbri.

All’Ombra  del Colosseo will be open free of charge from 9 am to 2 at night. Admission  to the shows is  from 8 to 16 euros and cost of the pool from 10 to 12 euros. Do not hesitate to take advantage of so many Summer Special offers of My Hotel in Rome, and take yourselves and your children to enjoy the summer roman heat and summer roman relax in the shade of Colosseum.

Your summer stay in Rome should not be only focused on the eternal beauties of the Eternal City. But once you have walked and walked around again the whole city, choose an alternative path for your final dot of top vacations. My suggestion is simple and it is good food and especially good wine. An excellent opportunity is given in Tuscia area of Lazio these days.

"VinTuscia" guided tastings of wines of Tuscia  will  be held on Saturday, July 19th in Viterbo by the Chamber of Commerce of Viterbo and associations for the Notte Bianca  (famous so called White, or Sleepless Night) organised by the city of Viterbo this year.  A little historical overview will help you to understand why Tuscia is famous for wine. The territory of Higher Tuscia is a land of wines since the times of Etruscans. This famous way of wine runs between six Doc Vignanello, Aleatico di Gradoli, Orvieto, Colli Etruschi Viterbesi, Montefiascone "East! East! East!, revealing us some of the most picturesque corners of the Region. To get an idea of beautiful landscape of these lands and the particularities of settlements built on the tuff ideally one should  visit the area north of Viterbo, near the Tiber River and the border with Italy. Important in terms wine - to report the DOC wines Orvieto and Colli Etruschi Viterbesi . This area is also full of interesting historical and cultural outline.

The  wine tastings  on the 19th July will be  held at the conference room of the Chamber in Via Fratelli Rosselli, 4 starting from 21.30 with white wines offered by wineries Villa Chiarini Wulf, Tenuta La Pazzaglia, Sergio Mottura, Tenuta di Nepi Ronci and Antica Cantina Leonardi.
Around 11 pm it will be the right time for red wine cellars Isabella Mottura - Tenuta Corte di Tregoniano, Fattoria Madonna delle Macchie, Tenuta Sant’Isidoro, Viticoltori dei Colli Cimini and Caprigliano.
To lead these tastings will be the journalist Alessandro Scorsone, sommelier Master Class co-editor Bibenda, Sommelier of the Year and the winner of the Prova del Cuoco. 

"With this initiative-declares Ferindo Palombella, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Viterbo - we want to give the importance the wines of Tuscia do deserve, which will also appear in trade fairs and national competitions. An opportunity of this extraordinary visibility for our growers and their products  is as a prologue to the Wine Festival of Tuscia scheduled to last until August 24.
The entrance to the tastings is free. It is  recommended  to do the reservation by Saturday, July 19  before 13;00 at no 0761.234441, or directly at the conference room from 15  till 20.

Do not hesitate to plan your visit to Rome and to Tuscia Romana.

Book a great DES ARTISTES Hotel in Rome, which is strategically located just  few blocks away from the Central Station, from where you can take a train to Viterbo and enjoy all night long absolutely unforgettable wines of Lazio and will keep these Italian memories for a long, long time.

As the days in Rome this summer becoming hotter and hotter, and your stay in Rome allows you to spend some more time, in order to hide away and enjoy the nature, the beauty and the sea, I highly recommend to go to the Sea. But let us avoid a bitten track of going right away to Ostia from Piramide station, but let us explore and visit a pearl of Lazio’s seashores- Sperlonga!

Sperlonga is a beautiful tourist town of low Lazio: is located in the province of Latina, a few kilometers away from Gaeta, Formia, Itri, Fondi and Terracina, hosts about 3300 inhabitants, a figure that grows significantly in the summer because of the numerous tourists who choose Sperlonga  is notable for its beaches, clean and equipped, accommodation facilities, which offer a good value for money, premises where exclusive dancing and having fun, many of them along the way Flacca, which in summer nights overcrowded by many young people in search of fun and relax.

The town of Sperlonga is located on a rocky spur at 55m above sea level: here lies the ancient heart of the city, with its narrow streets and small shops, old churches and small bars where the evening you can see many young people  sipping a cocktail; walking along the alleys, you arrive on the seafront of Sperlonga: here there are the most exclusive of Sperlonga bathing establishments and the villa, where both during the summer and winter young people can play outdoors on swings, springs and other games designed for them. The lovers of art also remain certainly satisfied with the visit to the Grotto of Tiberius, dating back to Roman times, and the National Archaeological Museum , where are preserved numerous archaeological findings.

How to get to Sperlonga
The town is 116 km away from Rome and to 114 from Naples. Coming by car from the capital, is reachable with the  Pontina highway up to Terracina and then continue along the Via Flacca. For

Sperlonga and its beauties

those travelling on the Autostrada del Sole Roma-Napoli, the exit closest to Sperlonga is Cassino. From your hotel close to the station, you can reach it by a  train (FS, direct Rome-Naples)  and should get off at the station Fondi. . A small tourist port allows the docking and storage for about 150-200 boats with draught not exceeding 0.50 m
The Museum is located on the Via Flacca, about two kilometers from the Borgo. It is from 9 am until sunset. The ticket costs 2 euros.

Between 20 June 2008 and 14 September 2008 , the Ara Pacis  Museum in Rome (via di Ripetta 190) hosts a traveling exhibition on the creations of one of the greatest French architects and designers of the 20th century.

Jan Prouvé developed the idea of nomadic architecture, whereby a chair was given the same iconic importance as a house, designing both with transportability in mind. His work has had a lasting impact on furniture and industrial design.  His main achievement was transferring the manufacturing technology from industry to the architecture, without losing the aesthetic qualities.

It demonstrates how Jean Prouvé (1901-1984) had a remarkable capacity to combine entrepreneurial skills with craftsmanship, design and architecture.
More than 100 of his works, executed between 1924 and the mid 70s are included in this exhibition:

50 objects of design(chairs, tables, desks, beds, lamps), architectonic elements, various architectural models as well as a rich selection of signed drawings and studies for the Péchiney pavilion in Paris.

Prouvé is considered a leading exponent of industrialized building.

Jean was born in Nancy. In Nancy in 1923 he opened what would be the first in a string of his own workshops and studios. He produced wrought iron lamps, chandeliers, hand rails and began designing furniture. In 1947 he built the Maxéville factory. After Maxéville he started "Constructions Jean Prouvé" In 1957 he started the Industrial Transport Equipment Company and built the Rotterdam Medical School, the Exhibition Center in Grenoble and the Orly Airways Terminal façade.The metal furniture of Jean Prouvé was produced copiously in every studio and workshop. Prouvé was influential in the development of the idea of nomadic architecture, likening a chair to a house, and designing both with portability in mind.He died in Nancy in 1984.

Opening hours

Tuesday - Sunday 9.00/10.00am – 7.00/8.00pm

Entrance ticket

ordinary: € 6,50; reduced: € 4,50;

How to get to the Ara Pacis Museum  with Rome  public transport :

Museo Dell’Ara Pacis, Lungotevere Augusto (near Piazza del Popolo) . If you stay in Rome central Hotel this is going to be easy to get there.

From Termini station take line A metro and get off at the stop "Spagna"

If you happen to be too tired to always walk about the famous sights in Rome and would like something more folk like then you must not miss out on the various festivals in Rome and its county scattered all through the month of July.

Sagra della Cozza from 4th to 6th July 2008 based in Anzio, near Rome :

The Mussel Festival takes places in Anzio, the small sea town where the Americans first arrived during the 2^nd World War. It is in the area of the quarters of Colonia that you will be able to taste the mussels made in many different sauces and ways. This area of Anzio is highly populated and was chosen purposefully in order to put it on stage and for visitors to discover it.

Sagra dell’olio di oliva e pizzafritta on 12^th July 2008 in Monteflavio, near Rome :

The festival of the olive oil and fried pizza will open at 4.30 pm on the main square. You will enjoy tasting the “pizzafritte” which are basically doughnut fried in olive oil. Another typical food is the bruschetta (toasted bread) topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil from the Latium. For meat lovers you cannot miss out on the “coppiette” of smoked dry meat , sausage shaped. To wash it all down you will taste good wine also and for dessert there will be a variety of local italian pastries and cakes….

At night from 9.00 pm, a musical festival will start until late at night and you will be able to dance away all the food you have eaten….

Monteflavio is a location not far from Rome in the Regional Park of the Monti Lucretili.

Festival della Birra e della Bruschetta, in Allumiere, near Rome :

The Beer and Bruschetta Festival will take place between 24 and 27 July . You will be able to taste over 30 different types of bruschette all made with local breads and local toppings and olive oil. The local bread in Allumiere is the yellow bread cooked in the wood oven.

The beer provided is from Munich, Germany !

Summer months in Italy Latium are great to chill outside in cooler regional areas outside the buzzing city of Rome, so you can actually relax and meet different people and get to know more small towns which are always warm and welcoming and plentiful of traditions and great food and wine. All the above are good  for a day trip.

Enjoy !

And for your stay in Rome, watch out our My Hotel Rome special deals !

After six years of incredible success, we will witness again  this summer famous Animated Nights on the Terraces of Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome from the 2nd July to the 24th August 2008. This event puts together on a stage different evening shows from 20:45 till 0:45 and gives opportunity to breath the fantastic atmosphere of one of the most beautiful sights of Rome.

Each night there will be 5 shows, which will be held 5  times in the bastions and courtyards with different schedules. 

This event, in collaboration with the  Special Supreme council  for the Roman Museum Pole  and with the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, aims to enliven the summer evenings of Romans and tourists of all ages, through a rich ladder of performances of folk and classical music, exhibitions of magicians, jesters, weapon masters, acrobats, puppeteers and exhibitions of gold jewelry crafts, like ‘The Jewels Made in Italy’. 

In addition to many spectacles and other shows

Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome

it will be possible to walk along the crenelated walls and  visit the courtyards, forts and loggias,  Historical Rooms, admire from the Terrace of Sant’Angelo the charming and intriguing show of Rome by night, enjoy this wonderful view  and the lights of  evening Rome. Something new in this edition will be from the overwhelming tango sensational acrobats to heart-touching and entertaining interactive theaters performances. On the occasion of the event ‘On the Terraces of Castel Sant’Angelo’ the Pontifical Prisons will have  extraordinary openning to the public in the evening with guided tours.

The shows taking place on the terraces are accessible also for people with disabilities, as there is an electric platform, connecting the various levels of the Castle.

More information on opening hours and scheduled performances can be found at: http://www.castelsantangelo.com or through the following contact numbers: +390690287455; +393925187760.

Do not miss this great Roman Summer appointment- book your stay in Rome and enjoy its marvelous evenings at one the most beautiful places of Eternal City!

George W Bush with the Pope at the Vatican

As a part of his farewell tour visits to major European countries, George W. Bush, incumbent president of the United States, has visited also Italy. His visit lasted two days from 11^th till 13^th June.

Air Force One, the plane that transports the  American president came  from Berlin and landed to Ciampino airport at 16:10 on the 11^th June 2008.

Bush stayed at his residence in Italy in Villa Taverna . 

When he came out from the doors of Boeing 747 with the colors white and blue, stars  on the tail, George W. Bush has greeted with waving  turned towards photographers and tv operators. Near by the  ladder of the aircraft there were present many officials to  greet the President, like an American ambassador in Rome- Ronald Empty P., with the ambassadors to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon and to the Fao Rome, Gaddi Vasquez;

and from Italian part there were the ambassador in Washington, Giovanni Castellaneta and the head of the diplomatic Cerimoniale of the Republic, ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone. For the secretariat of State of the Vatican, the greetings came from the nunzio apostolic, monsignor Peter Paul Prabhu, and from the head of the protocol, monsignor Fortunatus Nwachuwu. Bush had a few minutes chat and then he entered into  the special black armored limousine that that waited for him a few meters from  Air Force One.

A long corteo, escorted from  Italian and American security forses has left the airport of Ciampino and headed to the residence of the  US embassy in Parioli. Approximately half hour before the arrival presidential airplane, another one landed to Ciampino Airport, Boeing 757  that  follows the travel of the USA President in Europe. 

The President Bush has met Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the President of Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano and the Pope during his stay in Italy.

Bush thanked and praised Italy, historical ally of the United States and current Italian Prime Minister is a good friend of his American collegue, for continuous efforts in the operation in Afghanistan, like the deployment of more then 2000 soldiers of the NATO-led mission in the country. Berlusconi is also believed to support the efforts of the United States within the United Nations Security Council to put more pressure on Iran in order to stop the nuclear programme, in order to enter into the Group of Five that deals with this issue, thus becoming the Group 5+1. Bush expressed his interest in consideration of this possibility.

As planned George Bush visited the Vatican, expressing his personal appraisal of the Pope Benedict XVI. He walked accompanied by the Pontefice in the Vatican gardens.

George Bush has also visited the Quirinal Palace, where he met Giorgio Napolitano, the President of Italian Republic. "Wonderful" was his comment when he saw the doors openning wide and showing him historical rooms of the Palace: il Salone dei Corazzieri and  la Cappella Paolina.

On the 13th June Bush has left Rome, continuing his farewell tour to France.

There are strong historical ties between Italy and the United States, which lie in political, economic, social and cultural interests of both nations. Hopefully, this will influence more on the growth of the tourist flows to Bel Paese from the American Continent.

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.