Hotel Des Artistes Rome Travel Guide

A member of the Laterani family was said to have conspired against Emperor Nero, the emperor in retaliation confiscated and redistributed what belonged to the family. The Lateran Palace was among them. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine, gave the palace to the Roman Catholics.

As it is officially called, Papal Archbasilica of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in Lateran, was restored from its original look by Pope Sixtus V in the 16th century. He demolished the existing building and made a completely new basilica.

In the 10th century, the basilica was first dedicated to St John the Baptist and in the 12th century to St John the Evangelist. These two saints are regarded as co-patrons. But the inscription on the facade shows, Christo Salvatori, Christ the Saviour.

At present, St John, is the oldest and number one of the main four basilicas in Rome. This is a seat to the bishop of Rome, which is the Pope. But due to the workload, this basilica is run by Cardinal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.

Roman Catholics are convinced, this church is the mother of all churches, infact the inscription at the facade reads: Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head.

In St John square, stands the largest obelisk in the world, which is brought from the Karnak temple of Thebes in Egypt.

St Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I, brought Scala Sancta to Rome. Roman Catholic church tradition tells, Jesus Christ walked the staircase before Pilate in the city of Jerusalem.

Adu K

As any other city on earth, Rome has good and bad sides. Here are some precautions to avoid bad lucks.

1. Get clear info of the areas you plan to visit either from the hotel you are staying or Tourist Information kiosks.

2. Ask your hotel reception where you can leave your valuables secure. In any case bring with you photocopy of your documents.

3. Get full info (telephone & address) or business card of the hotel you are staying. This info is helpful in case you get lost.

4. Be equipped with a map (preferably with your hotel indicated clearly).

5. Watch out where you leave your phones, notebooks or cameras.

6. Pull your backpack on the front, especially on public transportation.

7. Don’t, for any reason board a bus or train with out a ticket or unvalidated ticket. Anyone caught with unvalidated ticket is regarded as ‘with out a ticket’. If you don’t find the obliterator machine, either consult the bus driver or write the date & time (h,mm) of boarding with a pen.

8. Getting drunk in a city that you don’t know well might be a snare, and if one does it is friends’ responsibility to accompany him/her back to hotel.

9. Don’t put credit card, wallet, money, cell phones or else on side or back pockets. Advisable to keep’em in the front pocket. If your are pick-pocketed go to the nearest Police Station and they will release you a compliant paper. And call your bank.

10. Better not to leave your friend alone, especially girls, with some one you just met.

11. Late at night,  it is always advisable to roam the city in two or more.

12. To avoid long queues in museums or sites, buy Skip line tickets or reserve a visit via phone or internet.

13. Ask your hotel to order you a cab. If you got cheated by a driver or lost something on the car, your hotel knows who to contact.

Adu K

Pope Innocent X (originally Cardinal Giambattista Pamphili), in addition to changing the look of Piazza Navona in remembrance to his Pamphili family, also started renovating the old villa atop Gianicolo hill, bought in 1630 by Pamfilio Pamphili.

The renovated and enlarged villa, then came to be known as Villa Pamphili. A dispute erupted following the death of Girolamo Pamphili’s (last male heir) in 1760. Soon after the last heir died, the dispute continued until 1763.

The dispute was settled down by Pope Clement XIII, who granted the Pamphili heritage to Prince Giovanni Andrea IV Doria based on the marriage between Giovanni Andrea III Doria and Anna Pamphili. After the pope’s ruling, the villa became Villa Doria Pamphili.

Inside Villa Doria Pamphili there are: gardens, one Casino, one theatre, one chapel, two villas, small lake and fountains. The total area of the park is almost 2 square km. This is an ideal park for jogging, biking, picnic, bird watching, walking and so on.

Adu K

“Disney On Ice” will turn your day into an extraordinary adventure! Is about to arrive in Italy “Disney On Ice – Let’s Party!”. The new production on ice of “Feld Entertainment”, with lots of Disney characters, over 50!

It’s an original Disney Show, with classic and modern Disney songs, a fabulous story with bright costumes on ice and with such infectious energy of Mickey Mouse and his friends for adults and children: these are the ingredients of the show that will take audiences to celebrate some of the most famous festivals in the world, all in one evening and in your own city – from “Halloween” with the “Disney Villains” to “Dance Royal Valentine’s Day” with the “Disney Princesses” to “Happy Birthday Do not” with Alice and the “Mad Hatter “.

A fun and exciting production that will accompany the audience in an ideal “world tour”, including exotic destinations like Brazil (with its Carnival parade) or Hawaii (for a “luau party”) and Japan (with the its “Festival of Flower”).

“Disney On Ice – Let’s Party! offers families a reason to celebrate at any time of the year, “says producer Kenneth Feld. “It ‘a wonderful show, unforgettable, and the audience will go home remembering to celebrate everyday joys and successes of life.” 

The tour will touch Rome from Novermber 29 to December 2 at “Palalottomatica”.

So hurry up, book your tickets and match it with the best accomodation in Rome!

Our Blogger: Rhodora

Rome Marathon will start March 17, 2013.  Start-finish line is Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseum area. The 42,195km unleashing run is as usual accompanied by La Stracittadina Roma Fun run (4,7km). This smaller non-competitive run is open to every one with out  age limit.

Marathon Village 14-15-16 March 2013
Time: 10:00 – 20:00
Piazza J.F.Kennedy, 1 Rome

Short History

In 490 BC, Thersipus of Erchius run from Marathon to Athens; to announce Persians had been defeated. The messenger, run all the way to Athens non-stop, said “We have won!” and collapsed on the ground.

This is the legend, the modern marathon competition claims origins.

In Greece, Messengers like Thersipus, were important in conveying messages and thus were raised with great enthusiasm, care and training.

The first official marathon race was conducted in 1896 Athens Olympics. French philosopher,  Micheal Breal is believed to have influenced his friend Pierre de Coubertin (one of the main contributors to modern Olympic competitions) to include marathon in the olympics.

Today, marathon has the largest number of participants as per race, ten of thousands in a single competition.

Adu K

Tips: All roads conduct to Rome. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Rome wasn’t built in one day.

1. Rome’s would-be founders, Romulus & Remus, were conceived by Rhea Silvia from god Mars or demi-god Hericules. They were abondoned in the Tiber River by Amulius to die, saved by miracles and suckled by a female-wolf.

2. Pantheon means ‘of all gods’. Legend tells, an eagle took the carcass of Romulus (founder of Rome) to heaven from this area.

3. Rome is made up of seven hills east of the Tiber river with in the ancient city. The hills are: Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal and Viminal.

4. Augustus established the first Roman Empire in 44 B.C. and Romulus Augustulus was the last emperor.

5. Rome is located on the banks of the Tiber river, which is an important outlet to the sea through Ostia port.

6. Ancient and modern Rome have one important thing in common, large number of gods or modern day saints.

7. Rome is a seat to Roman Catholic church and Vatican city.

8. Vatican city, might mean ‘the hill of prophecy’.

9. SPQR: stands for Senātus Populusque Rōmānus  (literally meaning “The Senate and People of Rome“).

10. Rome is full of beautiful architectures, sculptures and paintings.

Adu K

If designer clothing is what you look for but want to have a have a discounted price from the retail price, there are plenty of outlet shops located in the vicinity of Rome. Shopping in outlets not only give you the same quality pieces that you normally find in boutiques but you can find them in a very discounted price. These pieces are last season ago or some are a couple of seasons ago so you might not be able to find here the latest trends in the fashions magazines, but then again, fashion comes and goes and then comes back again. And if you find a very classic piece that can last for a couple of years.

The closest designer outlet shop, located just half-hour car ride from Rome is Castel Romano Designer Outlet. This outlet carries high-end brands like Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli, just to name a few. There are other shops that are middle ranged and sport clothing like Nike and Puma, so the choices for different shoppers areendless.

Other outlets shops are located a bit further from Rome, some 2-3 hour car ride to the direction for Florence. One of the most celebrated outlet in Italy is the biggest Prada outlet which carries the exquisite Prada pieces from accessories to Ready-to-wear with discount from 30-70%. Another outlet located about half hour car ride is The Mall. This outlet carries top designer shops like Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Balenciaga, Tod’s and Bottega Veneta, to name a few. Discounts ranges from 30-70% off the retail price from the boutiques. During sale seasons in January and August, further reductions from the outlet prices are applied. Some shops even put up last item bins or racks that has really impressive discount prices!!

Our Blogger: Joseph

People’s Square, located between the Pincio hill and Tiber River is embellished with churches, monuments and fountains. The Via Flaminia highway constructed in 220 BC to connect Rome to the north starts from this square. In 1562 Pope Pius IV made enhancements to the old gate in order to improve the look and impress visitors.

Piazza del Popolo is featured by twin churches (St Mary of Miracles and St Mary in Montesanto), an Egyptian obelisk and three streets projecting from the square into the city center.

The similar churches, that lead to the heart of the city past Via del Corso, were commissioned by Pope Alexander VII in 1658. Though they look identical, one is slightly bigger than the other.

In 1589, Pope Sixtus V erected 23,2m high obelisk at the center of the square which was originally brought to Rome from the sun temple in Heliopolis (Egypt); by Emperor Augustus around 10 BC.

Giuseppe Valadier (1811-1822) once more did the necessary restyling of the old square made in 1572. Bernini again redesigned the massive gate to the north (opening to Via Flaminia), as a sign of gratitude by Pope Alexander VII to Queen Christina’s of Sweden conversion to Roman Catholicism.

The square is close to Villa Borghese, easily accessible by metro, walking distance from the Spanish Steps and Via del Corso (not-cheap shopping street).

Adu K

‘Virgin Mary’ – as the legend goes – indicated a rich couple to build a temple for her memory by covering an acre of land with snow in the middle of summer. The area indicated by the alleged miracle is on the Esquillian Hill. But the alleged miracle is only reported 1000 years late. The fall of snow is celebrated by throwing white petals atop of the church on August 5.

Led by Pope Liberius (350’s), the couple agreed to finance a temple in Mary’s honour. The couple then dedicated all their fortune to ‘Our Lady of the Snows’ – aka Santa Maria Maggiore/Santa Maria Liberiana or Liberian Basilica (after Pope Liberius).

In 431 the Council of Ephesus proclaimed Mary ‘Mother of God’ and Pope Sixtus III commissioned to make church on the site where ‘Our Lady of the Snows’ had already ordered a temple in her glory.

Since its first start by Liberius in 350’s, Santa Maria Maggiore went through various remodeling works. The apse was restored in 1200. The bell tower was built in the 1300’s. The back was replaced in 1600 and the facade in 1700.

There are many Santa Maria temples in Rome but the largest and important of all is Santa Maria Maggiore . This is one of the four Roman basilicas (St Paul outside the wall, St Peter’s and St John Laterine).

Adu K

The 26 meters high and 20 meters wide fountain is one of the most admired fountains in the world. Numerous attempts have been made to make the present fountain as magnificent as it is today.

All started in 19 B.C. when Marqus Agrippa built an aqueduct -Acqua Vergine- that provides pure drinking-water to the city of Rome. The Acqua Vergine acqueduct comes from Alban Hill, 13 km to the east of Rome, ending in the Quirinal Hill.

In 1453, Leon Battista Alberti financed by Pope Nicholas V, made a basin at the end of the Acqua Vergine (now called Trevi Fountain).

In 1629 Pope Clement XII appointed Gian Lorenzo Bernini to make necessary improvements to the works started by Leon Battista, unfortunately the works came to an end after the pope died.

Hundred years after the second attempt, Alessandro Galilei won a bid to make a better fountain but his opponent -Nicola Salvi- was awarded the mission because Romans murmured against Galilei (Florentine) who won away-commission.

Salvi died in 1751, leaving the work unfinished. The fountain was finished in 1762 by Guiseppe Pannini when Oceanus (god of all water) was fitted in place.

Adu K