Habemus Papam! Francis, the Argentinean Bergoglio
When the old, pale, thin Cardinal Tauran came out of that window, more than an hour after the white smoke, silence came down on the square that had been teeming with joy and screaming for hours and hours despite the incessant rain. When Tauran started speaking in Latin and pronounced the words Georgium Marium, the first and [...]
Celebrating March 8: Our Top-10 of the Most Inspiring Women of Rome
Rome’s long history has had many women playing major roles, inspiring noble actions and giving wise advice to men. Here is our personal choice of the most inspiring female models in the Eternal City, an homage to the International Women’s Day. OUR TOP TEN Rhea Silvia (legendary figure) mythical mother of Romulus and [...]
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 [...]
All the Dates & Occasions to meet Benedict XVI before he steps down on February 28
There are only a couple of weeks before pope Benedict XVI retires. Many of you will want to know if and when he will hold public events before February 28, his last day as pope, and here we are to provide you the information. Benedict hasn’t changed his agenda at all, he has just moved [...]
Reality check: How Rome reacts to the Pope’s resignation
No matter how universal is the role and the figure of the Pope, we Romans always see him as a city representative and leader. This is also because the Pope is first of all Rome’s bishop. And this also explains why no other place in the world yesterday was so strongly affected by Benedict [...]
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 [...]
Skiing Near Rome is Easy and Fun, Try Campo Felice!
There are several skiing destinations near Rome. But one is in our opinion by far the most convenient: Campo Felice. [1] Perfect for a day trip, we particularly recommend you to go there on a working day when there are few people on the ski slopes. GETTING THERE It is very easy to reach [...]
Year of Faith in Rome’s surroundings: Spiritual Itineraries and Religious Destinations
The Year of Faith (running through November 24) is particularly intense in the Rome area [1]. We already suggested a religious itinerary within the city of Rome in this post and we now want to discover with you some of the most significant places around Rome from a spiritual point of view. The area [...]
