Hotel Des Artistes Rome Travel Guide

Campo de ‘Fiori is one of the most popular nightspots favored by young people, both Italian and foreign, thanks to the many clubs and pubs.

The square of Campo dei Fiori in Rome, owes its fame to the episode that saw the philosopher Giordano Bruno burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for heresy on February 17, 1600 AD
The execution is today commemorated by a statue erected in 1889 AD and placed in the middle of the Campo dei Fiori.

here’s a few bars:

The Drunken Ship

The Drunken Ship, open daily from 19.00 to 2.00, is one of the local field de’Fiori frequented by lovers of beer and party. It ‘a disco pub with an international flair and is open until 2 am.the club is characterized by a long list of cocktails and especially for offerings, the “body shot” is the specialty of the house.

Sloppy Sams:

Sloppy Sams is open from 19:00 to 2:00 is the Sloppy Sams The Original American Bar at Campo de ‘Fiori, a pub where you can drink and have fun in a very festive atmosphere. , The restaurant makes discounts to students and foreigners and is frequented by young ones  and eager to party with dance music offered every evening.

La Vineria Reggio:

The small club from ‘rustic look is a family run, and the cocktail hour fielding an extensive wine list to try in combination with snacks and food fingher. With good  prisez, the restaurant is open from 8.00 to 2.00 and closed on Sundays. You can have a glass of g

ood wine with € 1.50.

Check our best deals on www.hoteldesartistes.com or www.yeshotelrome.com

jona

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

Once upon a time, Saul (desired) who was born in Tarsus went to live in Israel. He was trained to be a hardliner, who would defend Jewish religion at any cost.

In the early ministry of Jesus’ disciples in Jerusalem, Saul unconsciously became anti-Christ. He persecuted those who believed on Jesus.

Saul decided to go to Damascus (Syria) to persecute disciples of Jesus. On the way to Damascus Jesus revealed himself to Saul, Saul fell on the earth.

Saul was led to Damascus – for the Splendor of Christ blinded him. Jesus used Hananiah to baptize and give his sight back.

Saul humbled himself before God, testified the death and Resurrection of Jesus for forgiveness of sins to everyone without favor (Jews, Greeks or Gentiles). In the years to follow, Saul was persecuted for his firm faith on Lord Jesus Christ.

Saul ministered in Asia minor, Greece and Rome. He wrote many powerfull books in the New Testament. He spoke fluent Greek and Hebrew. Eventually he was called Paul (small/little).

Paul was beheaded by Nero (67 A.D.) in Rome. It is said Paul’s pupils erected a memorial for him. This memorial eventually became a church (St Paul Outside The Walls) for it is outside the Aurelian walls.

St Paul complex is one of the four main basilicas in Rome: St John Lateran, St Maria Maggiore and St Peter. Paul’s tomb is believed to be right below the altar in the church.

Adu K

The Navona Square was called Stadium of Domitian. Constructed in 85 A.D. to host Greek athletic events, agones. It was thus called Circus Agonalis (literally ‘competition arena’). The name eventually evolved to ‘in agone’ then ‘navone’ and at last ‘navona’.

The factors that render this square admirable are:

1. Market and naval battles

After its first construction and till the time Innocent X intervened to revive the square for his own family prestige, the square was used for market, festivities and gathering place. Innocent X filled the square with water  to entertain the people. Piux IX ended the games and in 1870 the square was asphalted and became inconvenient for water games.

2. Competition

In 1653, Innocent X to honor his Pamphili family- wanted to make a majestic palace with higher quality decorations. The competion between Bernini and Borromini compeled Innocent X to shift from one architect to the other. The work to the fountain was initially given to Bernini later to his rival Borromini and again to Bernini. Started by Girolamo and Carlo Rainaldi, Sant’ Agnes in Aragone was later finished by Borromini (1653-1657).

3. Architects

The Fountain of Four Rivers  represents the four know rivers at that time, was made by four architects. The Nile by G.A.Fancelli, Rio de la plata by Francesco Baratta, the Ganges by Claude Poussin and Danube by Antonio Raggi. The Pamphili Palace was built by Girolamo Rainaldi. To be continued…

Adu K

… continuation of the above article

the factores that render this square admirable:

4. Legend

A. Costanza de Cupis, was an adorable woman with beautiful hands. When an abbot saw the replica of her hands made by craftsman, said ‘If these hands where for real they would be cut.’ She heard about the curse and from that time on ward she lived in anguish and fear. One day she pricked her hand with a needle and her hand was cut because of infection.

B. Sant’ Agnes in Aragone, a young lady refused to marry a Roman prefect’s son and was threatened to be exposed of her faith in Jesus. She stayed on faith and was thrown naked into a brothel. Men who visited her were not able to see her naked, nevertheless the prefect’s son along with others came to mock her but he was hit with blindness. A lieutenant tried to kill Agnes first by fire but later he killed her with a sword.

5. Pasquino ‘talking statue’

Since 1501, Romans attached anonymous satirical messages against the Pope, aristocrats or his government below Pasquino. His origin remains unclear: a barber, a tailor or a shoemaker.

Popes were not sympathetic with Pasquino. Infact, Pope Adrian VI planned to throw the statue into river Tiber but feared uproar of Romans and later he assigned guards to stop people attaching messages but people used other talking statues. Benedict XII also tried to impose punishments on those who posted messages.

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

The Colosseum is oval shaped arena measuring 187 by 155 meters and 50 meters high. This is the most important and biggest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators at a time. Originally it was called Amphitheater Flavio, but with time this structure came to be known as Colosseum.

The name derives from the bronze statua colossale di Nerone ( literally: colosal statue of Nerone) and also to the colosal dimention of the building (Amphitheater Flavio).

Construction of the Amphitheater began by Emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D.  Seven year in to the construction Vespasian died and his son Titus completed and inaugurated the Amphitheater in 80 A.D. The opening ceremony is said to have lasted 100 days and a number of animals ranging from 5000 to 10,000 were believed to have been slayed for this special occasion alone.

The main motive to construct the Amphitheater was to divert attention of people from the political quagmires which were fomenting the seat of the Roman Empire in the second half of the first century A.D. The arena hosted professional and deadly (gladiatorial) fights, sea battles, animal hunts, executions and dramas.

The Colosseum has 3 rows. The first row was for first class (senators, government representatives, military officials). The second row was for the middle class and the last row to the lower class. Colosseum was connected to other training facilities like the Ludus Magnus (the Great Gladiator school) by underground passageways.

The Colosseum was out of service since the Middle Ages and parts of the monument was destroyed by earthquakes, stone robbers, unawarenes, negligence. In the 21st century, this is one of the main sources of income in the Italian economy.

Adu K

Il Vittoriano, located in Piazza Venezia (Rome) is a massive white marble monument dominating the Capitoline Hill, erected as a tribute to the first King of United Italy -Victor Emanuel II. The construction of the site began in 1885, inaugurated in 1911 marking the 50th anniversary of Italian Unification but finalized in 1935.
 
The two quadrigae on top of building represent Unity and Liberty. Below the columns and midway climbing the stairs is the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emmanuel II made of bronze designed by Emilio Gallori and inaugurated in 1911.
 
Below this statue is the tomb of unknown soldier chosen on October 26 1921 by Maria Bergamas a mother who lost her only son in World War I. Eleven unknown remains were gathered and the woman was given the chance to pick one body. The randomly chosen soldier was then buried in a state funeral (November 4,1921) celebrating all those who died in the war.

Once inside the building there is kind of a museum narrating the history of Italian unification.

Since long Il Vittoriano was criticised by artists for various reasons. The first reason is, a medieval neighborhood was doomed to build this massive structure. The second reason is its color, the white Altar of the Fatherland doesn’t match with the old brownish buildings in the area.

Because of its unpopularity Romans have coined the building names like: the wedding cake, zuppa inglese or typewriter.

Adu K

The word Pantheon is a Greek word and means ‘of all gods’. Since its edification in 27 before Christ, Pantheon has been a wander for every generation that comes to pass. It is believed to have been built for the seven Roman pagan gods and on the site where the body of Romolo, founder of Rome,  flew by eagle to heaven.

The structure was first built by Agrippa the son-in-law of the Roman Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C. And left his mark right on top of the entrance. The headline reads: M. AGRIPPA L. F. COS. TERTIUM FECIT translated, Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, in his third consulate, made it.

In the following century, fire damaged parts of the lower porch section and foundation. Later, Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the Pantheon from 118 to 128 A.D. without changes to the original pagan temple.

In 609 after Christ Roman Catholic intervened, brought in martyred Christians’ bones into the temple and changed the pagan temple to Church of Santa Maria and Martyres.

Every part of the structure is astonishing. That is the bronze doors (7 meters high), the interior, the oculus (opening of the dome), the decor and the diameter (43 m) of the dome equalling the height of the building bottom to top. What a story to unravel?

Michelangelo, one of the greatest artists of all time, has called Pantheon ‘Angelic and not human design.’ The artist seems to exaggerate in admiring the architects, even if he himself can’t tell what an ‘Angelic design’ is.

Adu K