Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

Our Blogger: Raul

-The exhibition organized to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the painter is gathering crowds from all over the world.

The Caravaggio exhibition in Rome is being a huge success. As if trying to make up for the decades of oblivion, Italy and  tourists from all around the world are flocking to the Scuderie del Quirinale Museum to admire the works of the Lombard painter who for some critics is “the first modern painter”.

The reason for all this excitement is the 400th anniversary  of the death of the painter who lived in Rome and spent his last years as an outlaw after killing a man in a fight. Many paintings have been gathered from museums all over Europe sepcially for this exhibition, so it’s not very likely you’ll have the cance to see them all together again in your lifetime! There is no better occasion to get acquainted with the ouvre of one of the most famous and mysterious Italian painters

The line for the exhibition can be quite long, so our advice is to book beforehand, which can be done on line. You will pay a bit more for the pre-sale rights, but it will be worth saving the waiting time.

And don’t forget it: for accomodation in Rome Lucci Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes are your best options!

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Our Blogger: Marcelo

-Did the atmosphere of the Eternal City enchanted even the most acerbic of philosophers to the point of falling in love? Marcelo tells the story.

Due to health problems, Friedrich Nietzsche lead from 1880 until his collapse in January 1889 a gypsy-like existence. Searching for better climates his travels took him through Nice (during the winters), the Swiss alpine village of Sils-Maria (during the summers), Leipzig, Venice, Rapallo, Genoa, Turin,  Messina, Florence, and…our beautiful city of Rome.

It was precisely there, in the Eternal City in 1882 that the unexpected happened: He fell in love…

This might be hard to believe if we consider certain sentences like: ‘‘Ah, women: they make the highs higher and the lows more frequent’’ and ‘‘For the woman, the man is a means: the end is always the child.’’

Nevertheless so it was, and probably the undeniable romantic atmosphere of Rome had something to do with it. In 1882 during a visit to Rome, Nietzsche, age thirty-seven, met the young Lou von Salomé  (a twenty-one-year-old Russian woman a student of philosophy and theology in Zurich). He soon fell desperately  in love with her, and even proposed her to marry him.

She declined.

From that moment  Nietzsche’s friendship with her and Mister Paul Rée took a turn for the worse: Salomé and Rée decided to moved to Berlin…and left Nietzsche.

Years after,  Salomé would become an associate of… Sigmund Freud! And would write with psychological approach of her relationship with the author of Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

It is as least part of his harsh view about women explained simply for a broken heart? Maybe, but he carried his pain on philosophically ‘‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger’’ and (what could be seen by many as surprising), with humbleness for ‘‘The demand to be loved is the greatest of all arrogant presumptions.’’

The philosopher lived what for some would be seen as an unhappy life. But perhaps his most important legacy is that is possible for us transform pain into something beautiful, by a complete “life-affirmation” (central core of his philosophy), a total yes, pain included.

No pain no gain.

If somebody is still skeptical about Nietzsche’s romantic approach here you have a last and maybe unexpected quotation: ‘‘Love is not consolation. It is light.’’

Still skeptical? Visit Rome and fall in love! Check our availability at www.hoteldesartistes.com and www.yeshotelrome.com !!!

Our Blogger: Marcelo

Prepare yourself for the most fantastic journey…A journey of over 14,000 lines turned into the most amazing show before your eyes. The Dante’s journey through the three realms of the afterlife. A journey to the unknown which becomes possible due to the imagination of one of the greatest writers of world literature.

Lost in a dark wood, unable to find the ‘’diritta via’’ (straight way) to salvation Dante finds the guidance of his ‘’Idol’’ the Great Virgilio through the Inferno (Hell) and Purgatorio (Purgatory). But for the Great Pagan Poet it is not possible to continue. Then Beatrice his beloved and ideal woman takes him through the Paradiso (Heaven).

In Hell, the poetic justice rules and so in  this terms each sin finds its right punishment. If  for example you were a fortune-teller in life, you are condemned  to walk with you head on backwards (unable to see what is ahead). Quite fair after all. Isn’t it?

The Purgatory represents the Christian life. The hope of “the conversion of the soul from the sorrow and misery of sin to the state of grace’’ in which faith finds its very basis. It may sound funny but certainly The Purgatory is notable for suggesting the medieval knowledge of a spherical Earth…

Finally Beatrice guides Dante through the celestial spheres of Heaven, of course concentric ones (as suggested by the Aristotelian cosmology). From the most ancient times, the circle was seen as the most perfect form in the universe. However, Dante accepts the fact that his vision of heaven is only  the one that his human eyes allow him to see.

For him, as a consequence,  the  soul that has reached Paradise stops at the level suitable to it. All depending on their human ability to love God. There is indeed a heavenly hierarchy but not determined by time or learning but by their proximity to the Divine.

This Show offers a colorful representation of the great mystery of human condition. A way to re-think from a different point of view this day-to- day life of ours,  by contemplating the eternal scene of the world beyond. And hopefully each one of us will find his own paradise…

The paintings of Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, continue to marvel the world and the city of Rome is organizing an exhibition to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of this grat artist.

Among the works exposed there are the Bacchus from the Uffizi Gallery in Rome, the Musicis of the Metropolitan Museum, the Supper of Emmaus from the National Gallery in London, the Deposition from the Pinacoteca Vaticana.

The celebrations of Caravaggio, actually initiated in autumn with an exhibiton at the BorgheseGallery, but the one taking place now at the Scuderie Del Quirinale will undoubtedly be one of the most important cultural events of the year in Rome.

To discover all the information on the show of Caravaggio to Rome you can visit the site of the Museum of the Scuderie del Quirinale. http://www.scuderiequirinale.it/mediacenter/FE/home.aspx

And if you’re coming to visit the beautiful capital you can book here with us at Lucci Hotel , your most convenient option for accomodation in Rome!

The six nations rugby championship 2010 is approaching, promising another tournament full of action and pure adrenaline. The six major European nations rugby point to the end the victory, giving life to a tournament full of excitement. The Italian team in terms of tactical and less to other nations but is improving year after year, and under the guidance of new coach Nick Mallet, will offer a major challenge to Rome.
As every year the Six Nations rugby championship promises truly exciting, amplified by an unpredictable World Cup. The new coaches and new entries will only make the ending even more unpredictable.
The first national that Italy will host the very strong England team at the Stadio Flaminio on 14/02/2010 at 15.30pm. 27/02/2010 While the Scots will face the national team at 14.30pm again at the Stadio Flaminio

Prices: Grandstand Blanket – 99 euros
Grandstand reduced U14 – 90 euro
Bleachers – 60 euro
Bleachers reduced U14 – 55 euro
Curva Nord / Sud – 35 euro
Curva Nord / Sud reduced U14 – 28 euro

Note: The new part of the grandstand, so the first file A, B, C, D, E, F commonly called parterre, are included in the price category and the statement of the Tribune Blanket.
States that over the parterre has no coverage.

For accomodation and special packages, don’t forget to check Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel!

Our Blogger: Rhodora

Under the porch of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, not far from the Colosseum, there is a large mask of marble, with the image of a River God. The mask, placed on site in 1632, is called Mouth of truth ( Bocca della  verità).

The sculpture, dating from around the first century, represents the face of a bearded man whose face, eyes, nose and mouth are hollow. The face has been interpreted over time as the reproduction of different things like Jupiter Ammon, the god of the Oceans, an oracle or a faun.

After the art, before the history, there’s the legend about a woman, the wife of a noble Roman, who was accused of treason and forced by the husband to put her hand into the mouth and if she answered with a lie her hand would be cut . In front of the sculpture, the crowd was waiting the verdict, when suddenly the true lover embraced and kissed the woman, who pretended not to know him and mistaking him for a madman. She swore that in her life she had kissed only 2 men, her husband and the madman that kissed her before. Of course the hand remained intact, with the great pleasure of the noble wife.

The mouth of truth has become a symbol of Rome, also thanks to  the film “Roman Holiday”, shot in the 50s, in a brief scene in which the 2 protagonists, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, want to show their feelings in front of the symbol  for excellence of what is the boundary between truth and falsehood.

Nowadays people visit the mouth of truth every day. Following the Roman tradition they put their hands into the mouth. Some of them are confident, while some others fear for a second this might be more than a superstition!

A visit to the mouth of truth is mandatory if you are in Rome. If you are planning your trip take a look at the websites of Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes. Our great service and convenient rates are a solid truth!

Our Blogger: Marcelo

Whitney Houston (at her 46)  plans the conquest of Rome next  4th may 2010. The concert of Whitney is already shaking Roman Foundations with the highest expectations.

Beyond the ‘’good girl’’ image during the 80’s and 90’s. Even beyond her ‘’incorrect’’ profile during the second part of the 90’s and the current decade. This last period included:  being late for interviews, canceling concerts and talk-show appearances, weight loss and rumors about drug abuse, airport security guards discovering marijuana in both Houston’s and Bobby Brown’s luggage at a Hawaiian airport in the year 2000 (anyway she boarded the plane  before authorities could arrive) etc etc …

Does it really matter after all? Her godmother, the Soul Goddess Aretha Franklin would be happy after all this things considering her busting success and skills:  Her debut album Whitney Houston in 1985, became the best-selling debut album by a female artist at the time of release.  Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart  Houston appeared in her first starring role in the feature film The Bodyguard in 1992  The film’s original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single, “I Will Always Love You”, became one of the best-selling singles in music history.

Houston is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million records, worldwide  She is ranked as the fourth best-selling female artist in the United States  Not bad for a girl born in a poor neighborhood in the projects of Newark, New Jersey. With her amazing career she grasped all the aspects of the American Dream…  After a concert in Milan, the singer will present in the Eternal City her last album called ‘I look to you’ already certified platinum for sales over one million copies in the U.S:

PRICES
From 57.5 € to 138.00 €

WHEN:
04/05/2010

WHERE:
At Palalottomatica
Address Piazzale dello Sport, Rome
City Rome

GETTING THERE:
From our locations Hotel Des Artistes Rome or Yes Hotel Rome, just
take the B line of the underground (direction Laurentina) and get off
after 20 minutes at the stop Eur Palasport.

Our Blogger: Katja

Celebrate the Holiday season with your loved ones as this enchanting Christmas ballet dances its way into your heart.

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman.  Although what is seen on the stage today is different in de

tail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.

In 1891, the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the music for the Nutcracker Ballet. In December 6^th, 1892, the first showing of the Nutcracker took place at the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the Kirov Ballet.

The Nutcracker made its way to Western Europe in the 1930’s and to America by 1940, performed by Ballet Russe. The Nutcracker has since become an annual Holiday tradition.

The Nutcracker is like a beautiful dream in which anything is possible and where toys come to life. This is the only ballet which captures the wonder, the energy and the imagination of the child’s world. Beautiful sets, colourful costumes, remarkable music and dancing, now all this is possible to discover here at Rome!

The world famous ballet is showing at Teatro Nazionale, Via dei Viminale 51. Showing dates for this amazing ballet are 15 – 19 – 20 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 27 – 30 – 31 of December. You can make reservations online from : www.online-tickets.it or www.worldticketshop.it

And for the perfect Roman Christmas make a reservation at Lucci Hotel or Yes Hotel!

Our Blogger: Raul

Nothing beats Christmas in Rome!

So, Christmas is only one month away. This is the time to make up your mind and get ready for that special christmas in Rome.We’ll brief you about everything what’s there to know about this special season in the eternal city.
Something you can’t miss it’s the christmas market at Navona Square. It’s an institution in Rome, and if you have kids with you they will have a lot of fun: there are candies, puppets, a merry-go-round, and all kinds of whacky things for them to do. But even if you don’t have children with you this is the place to visit if you want to get the feeling of christmas while in Rome.
Another tradition it’s the exhibition of nativity scenes.There are many of them, and many neighborhoods and churches (including the Vatican) have their own Nativity scene, but an interesting option is an exhibition of 100  nativity scenes, taking place at Piazza Del Popolo. We’ll be reporting about it with more detailed information on the next days.

The Auditorium Parco Della Musica, one of the finest concert halls in Rome, will be featuring “Christmas at the Auditorium“, a series of concerts and events related to the joy of Christmas. We highlight the gospel festival, and the concert of Christmas songs, but you can check the entire program here.

And, of course, one of the most interesting possibilities of your Roman Christmas is beaing able to attend the midnight mass the Pope Benedict XVI will be holding on December 24th, or the public blessing he will give to the crowd at Saint Peter’s Square the day after.

The Nativity scene at the Vatican

When it comes to accomodation we have the best option for you at Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes. Just take a look at our availability, and at our special packages for this season, and get ready to try to resist the tentation of organizing a trip to Rome.
Our hotels are located within walking distance from some of the most beautiful sights of the city, like the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain, which is a great advantage considering than on Christmas the public transportation system doesn’t work at its full capacity. There are many restaurants nearby and many shops, perfect to get a last minute gift. Besides, our warm and professional staff will go out of their way to help you to have an unforgettable Christmas in the most beautiful city in the world.

Merry Christmas!
And if you are planning to extend your stay to celebrate New Year in Rome as well, check this post!