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Discover Alternative Rome in San Lorenzo, the student and young artists district
Do you like to experience the real Rome, to see an alternative area very close to the city centre? San Lorenzo is a good option. We would rather go to Pigneto, but having more than one option is always a sound rule. NAME AND ORIGINS Let’s be clear, San Lorenzo has no stunning landmarks, [...]
It’s Finally Spring! The Best April Events in Rome
After the coldest and rainiest month in decades, April eventually marks the start of the warm season. The crazy times of Benedict XVI’s resignation and Bergoglio’s unexpected election are now over and we can again focus on lighter events and happenings. ROMAN IDENTITY The most Roman event of the month is the city’s birthday. [...]
Try a Colomba cake while in Rome for Easter! Our tips for the best artisanal ones
“The cake that tastes like spring.” This is how Colomba (dove) was presented to Italians in 1930, when one of the biggest panettone makers – Motta – decided to use the same machineries, techniques and more or less the same ingredients to make another cake, the dove-shaped colomba (peace symbol) for Easter, the most important [...]
How’s Pope Benedict XVI’s retreat? Let’s discover Castel Gandolfo!
No Angelus this Sunday in St Peter’s square. Nor any display of Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo, his new retreat. The pope is presumably very tired and will avoid any appearance in public at least until the new pontiff is elected. But we are sure that he will not get bored during the two months he [...]
March in Rome: Some of the Best Events Not To Be Missed
March is going to be a very exciting and hectic month here in Rome. So many crucial things going on… NEW LEADERS BY EASTER A huge establishment reshuffle is expected on both shores of the Tiber, i.e. at the Vatican and for our national government and Parliament. Italy’s general elections on February 24-25 will determine [...]
Touring Borgo Pio, Ratzinger’s favorite Borough of Rome
It’s not because of the German origin of the word ‘Borgo’ (burg means city in Old German) that Joseph Ratzinger, when he was not Benedict XVI yet, loved this neighborhood. It’s because for centuries this area of the town hosted pilgrims and the Catholic clergy. ORIGINS With just 3,500 inhabitants, Borgo Pio stands right [...]
Rome’s Travel Industry Hopes a Brazilian Pope Will Boost Tourism Revenues
March will see the election of the new pope as the key event of the month. We want to examine this crucial moment for the Catholic Church from a travel perspective. We asked ourselves and some Rome-based travel companies what nationality would mostly boost tourism in Rome. Even if in theory all Christian males can [...]
Benedict XVI’s Holy Fashion Show is over! What’s next?
The pope’s resignation not only shocked Catholic believers all over the world but also disappointed fashion lovers. Benedict XVI was indeed the most stylish pope in quite a while. Especially if compared with pope Paul VI (1963-1978) who represented the trough, with his love for purple, grey and beige ordinary clothes, Ratzinger stood out for [...]
Rome’s Carnival Treats: Our Favorite Frappe and Castagnole in Town.
Not just masks and costumes, streamers and confetti, Carnival is much more in Italy. It is also special food, in particular sweets. Rome’s typical season sweets are frappe and castagnole, but they are also common all over Central and Northern Italy, under different local names. The fact that they are the typical Carnival sweet of [...]
Befana Marks the end of the Christmas holidays. Here’s how Rome Celebrates it on January 6
On January 6 the Catholic Church celebrates the Epiphany, a religious feast that marks the liturgical end of the Advent-Christmas season. It is customary to replace the images of the shepherds in the manger scene with the three kings and their gifts. Being the Epiphany a very important Catholic solemnity, Rome is an ideal place [...]
Christmas in Rome: A Map of the Best Lights, Decorations & Trees of the 2012 Holidays
The Immaculate Conception marks the official start of the Christmas season in Rome. On December 8 many families set up their Christmas trees and cribs at home and start showing off the season lights from their windows or balconies. The key public happening in Rome on that day is the Pope’s visit to the Virgin [...]
The Best Events of December in Rome. Much More Than Just Christmas!
December is not just Christmas here. We will try to offer you tips and advice on a lot of activities in Rome. Many of them are related to Christmas but many are not. Of course the Christmas holidays are the most important event of the month but you can have a great time here in [...]
