It's hard to say what you'll find most breathtaking about the eternal
city - the arrogant opulence of the Vatican, the timelessness of the Forum,
the top speed of a Fiat Bambino, the millions of cats in the
Colosseum,
trying to cross a major intersection, or the bill for your latte. Make like the locals and souse your senses in the glut of pleasures the
city has to offer, from the grandiose thrill of feeling centuries of
turbulent history under your feet to the small but potent intoxication of
eating chestnut gelati on a hot day.
Ariston Rome Ideally placed between termini station and the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the hotel welcomes you, ready to meet your every requirement with care and a wealth of experience.
An ideal position for those who travel for work or pleasure, the ...
Italian Growth with New Bases, Routes and Frequencies Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline announced that it will open two new Italian bases in Alghero and Cagliari, in March 2009. These two new bases will create 8 new domestic and 11 new international routes to/from the island of Sardinia. ...
F1 Italian Grand Prix 2008, Monza, September 14 For ardent Formula One enthusiasts, the Grand Prix of Italy is an event not to be missed. You will be spending four nights in the Lake Como district, a magnificent area featuring beautiful landscapes, luxurious villas and exquisite culinary ...
Hotel Sole al Pantheon Rome
The Hotel Sole al Pantheon features a splendid location directly in front of the Pantheon and offers immediate access to the best of Rome’s attractions.
Find yourself in the heart of the city centre where Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps are all within walking distance. This intimate hotel is the ideal place for a tranquil stay, far from city noise and traffic.
The Hotel Sole is one of Rome’s oldest hotels and boasts the likes of Ludovico Ariosto, Pietro Mascagni, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir as former guests. Dating back to 1467, this renovated hotel maintains the charm of its fifteenth century heritage and provides elegant rooms and furnishings. Each room is individually decorated and some rooms have beautiful views of the Pantheon.
The main tourist season starts at Easter and runs until October; peak
periods are in spring and autumn, when the tour buses pour in and tourists
are herded around like cattle. Numerous outdoor festivals and concerts and
the fact that Romans desert the city for the beaches and mountains, which
means very light traffic and a less-crowded city centre, makes summer almost
worth the heat. If you do visit in summer, try to hit the sights early, take
a long lunch and a nap, and then head out again around 18:00 to take
advantage of the cooler evening. Winters are usually mild with few tourists
and some fun events around Christmas time.
Supperclub
- Sister club to the already legendary Amsterdam Supperclub, the Rome
version is even more sensational because it’s still such a secret. Set
in a gorgeous restored 3rd century mansion (what Roman buildings are not
works of art?) it’s tucked down a narrow alley, has no sign on the door
or bouncers outside and you’ll miss it if you didn’t know it was here.
Inside though it’s unforgettable: a forest of extravagant drapes lead to
Bar Rouge holding area, beyond which are two sultry salons – Salle Neige
and Baroque. On plush white beds the elite of Roman society recline like
stars in La Dolce Vita, violinists and DJs provide the soundtrack and,
unbelievably, waitresses massage you as you recline on the sofas! Or
perhaps that was a one off. Either way, it’s like the Carlsberg ads have
come to life. Cocktails mixed by unfeasibly sexy staff are world class,
none finer than the Smoky Martini: Monte Cristo cigars are seeped in
Lagavulin single malt and stirred over ice with frozen vodka and a dash
of vermouth. Who comes up with these ideas? Add fine contemporary food,
a great CD featuring Groove Armada and David Holmes, and you are living
La Dolce Vita.
Bars are a universal feature of Italian life. Unlike bars in the US or
pubs in England, Italian bars do not just sell or major only in alcoholic
drinks, but also a variety of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages, the
chief being of course coffee - espresso (caffè) or cappuccino, or half a
dozen other ways of serving it, including chilled (caffè freddo). Also thé
freddo (iced tea, in lemon or peach flavours) They also sell ice-cream,
cakes, and a large selection of hot and cold snacks, pizza and sandwiches
(although the best pizza can be found in, surprise, surprise, pizzerie, not
bars). There's few things nicer in the world than sitting outdoors at a
Roman sidewalk café, sipping on your drink while watching the Italian world
go by. More about the bars of Rome
THE FOODS
The Eternal City has been a melting pot for foods from other places since
the Roman legions began collecting recipes and provisions, and, in some
cases, cooks, from the far reaches of the empire. As the national capital,
Rome has drawn culinary inspiration from Italian regions north and south,
though most substantially from the home provinces of Latium.
Today, in a world center of art, religion, politics and trade, Roman
eateries cater to visitors ranging from diplomats and jet-setters to
pilgrims and backpackers. This compulsory cosmopolitanism may explain why
precious little has been preserved of the epicurism of the ancient Romans or
of the papal and princely courts of later eras. Yet what remains of la
cucina romana provides some of the most flavorful foods of Italy served in
some of its liveliest surroundings. For, beyond purely gastronomic aspects,
eating is a social event to Romans, who on Sundays and holidays love to
gather family and friends around tables as plates, glasses and bottles
multiply with the passing hours.