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The Vatican City

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:15:03 +0000

Arriving at St. Peter’s Square, the visitor is immediately impressed by the size of the memorable square facing St. Peter’s, surrounded by the magnificent four-row colonnade masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Only when one gets inside the basilica, slowly climbing up the sweeping three flights of steps designed by Bernini, one will be truly amazed by the size and splendour of the largest church in the world, the symbol of Christianity, extending over a total of about 22,000 sqm.
The building is 136 m. high, the diameter of the Cupola, designed by Michelangelo, measures 42 m. It is possible to reach the top of the Cupola climbing 330 steps: once up there the view of the square below and of Rome is unforgettable. The church contains the masterpieces of important artists: the 29 m. high bronze baldachin by Bernini, the Pietà by Michelangelo, the tomb of Clement XIII by Canova and the mosaic of the Navicella by Giotto, located above the middle entrance to the Portico.
Numerous and timeless are the works of art, mainly paintings, kept in the Vatican Museums, which preserve the art of the most illustrious artists of all times. A visit to the Sistine Chapel, a milestone in the history of Italian painting, should not be missed.

Brief historical outline
The first basilica of St. Peter, belonging to the Vatican City, independent State since 1929 (Lateran Pacts), was built by emperor Costantin about 320 A.D. near the necropolis which included the tomb of the martyrized Saint, that can still be visited today. Around 1450, reconstruction works were first entrusted to Bernardo Rossellino, later on to Bramante who designed a Greek-cross plan basilica, and then to Raphael who designed it, instead, following a Latin-cross plan. The design by Bramante was resumed and enlarged by Michelangelo in 1547. Before its official conservation in 1626, the church was modified by Carlo Maderno who reverted definitively to the Latin-cross plan.

Piazza Navona

marsha — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:04:09 +0000

Walk from the Boutique Hotel Trevi, Hotel Genio, Hotel Sistina or Hotel Eliseo, to this piazza, which like so many in Rome, is overflowing with cafés and bars, allowing you to sit and admire the sumptuous sculptures or numerous artisans. Daily plying their trade here, some have immortalized the surrounding apartments and the piazza itself, on canvas. It is a blend of the new and the old, as modern billboards hang on century-old apartments. Live performers completely covered in silver or mummified in gold lamé, stand frozen for hours, in front of Baroque architectural jewels. The piazza itself is truly a gem, but it is ‘the diamond in the centre’ which has brought acclamation to this uncharacteristically long ’square’.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers, the pièce de résistance of Bernini erected in 1651, is an impressive fusion of rock and water making the fountain not only a wonderment, as it has been for centuries, but also functional for the use of the public, centuries ago when home plumbing was absent. The fountain pays homage to the four rivers of the four continents then discovered by geographers of the time: the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata.

If your visit is before dinner and assuming that you have not drunk more than your fair share of the abundant Italian wine, train your eyes on the river gods with accompanying flora and fauna. Can you guess which river is being depicted? The other two fountains in the piazza, one to the north - the Fountain of Neptune and one to the south - the Fountain of the Moor also by Bernini, are eternally overlooked by the church Sant’Agnes in Agone. Completed in 1657, the facades were constructed by one of the fiercest of Bernini’s rivals, Borromini, and is touted as one of his more restrained creations, nevertheless heavily embellished in the typical Baroque style. Why not take a quick peek inside the church, to observe the beautiful dome from the inside or the main altar? Out of respect for the sobriety of the internal atmosphere, please don appropriate attire.

Piazza Navona is highly recommended as the starting point or end of a truly splended evening in the Eternal City.

Castel St. Angelo

marsha — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:11:52 +0000

Castel St. Angelo silently observes you as you cross one of the many bridges of Lungotevere. Its imposing facade is in total juxtoposition to the welcoming arms of St. Peter’s Basilica. Its somber brown walls speak of a history which was anything less than joyful, at best, modestly pleasant. CASTEL (not castle) St. Angelo was built by Emperor Hadrian around 135-139 as a mausoleum for himself and members of his family. Sadly this was also the final resting place for many who were imprisoned here or executed in the small interior square during the time of Papal Rule. The towering cylinder with a garden atop was the original architectural plan. However as the function of the tomb changed, should we say “extensive renovations” were also undertaken. In 401 the tomb became a military fortress and within this time period, the ashes and urns of previous emperors were scattered away. Many of the original features of the tomb were then used in the post-Roman period of expansive construction. In the 17th century, pentagonal ramparts were added to the surrounding of the building reinforcing its primary use at the time as a fortress. Pope Nicholas III eternally and gratefully provided a safe escape to this stronghold from the breached walls of the Vatican, by constructing a covered corridor “Passetto di Borgo” for the security of popes. Probably the only remotely pleasant feature of the history of Castel St. Angelo, is seen in the marble statue of St. Michael afixed atop of the building. It is believed that the archangel himself signalled the end of a devasting plague engulfing the city in 590. Hotel Aureliano and Hotel Genio are located in close proximity to this 360 degree time capsule.

The Spanish Steps

marsha — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:42:50 +0000

You may ask yourself what is the allure of the 138 steps which functionally link the Spanish Embassy below with the Trinita dei Monti above? Maybe it is because these steps proclaimed as “ without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe”, are simply beautiful and can also serve as the perfect location for resting your weary feet after a fun-filled day of sight seeing.

Be true to Italian style and don a pair of large black sunglasses, as you watch tourists; shuffling and organizing map; Italians animatedly conversing- wildly gesticulating with their hands; or two lovers kissing, locked in a passionate embrace. After winning a competition in 1717 for the design of the steps, Francesco de Sanctis completed them in 1725 after generations of controversy.

The famous steps regally rise from the piazza below, famously known as Piazza di Spagna. As if adorning the feet of a queen, the Baroque “Fountain of the Boat” built in 1627-29 by Pietro Bernini; serenely sits at the base of the steps. Minutes can easily run in to hours as you become lost in the excitement that always seems to encompass the Piazza and its steps like a light fragrance. Our hotels- Hotel Eliseo, Hotel Villa Pinciana and Hotel Sistina allow you the rare opportunity of staying close to the action, but give you an oasis of tranquility after a hectic and exciting day in the Eternal City.

The Pantheon

marsha — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:19:45 +0000

St. Mary of the Martyrs might seem like another church amongst the hundreds in Rome. However this church has been described as a tomb for the illustrious dead, best preserved Roman building, mathematical wonder, celebrated temple for gods. If you still haven’t guessed, this is none other than the Pantheon.

Smaller and more modest than its present day counterpart, the original Pantheon built in 27BC by Marcus Agrippa, was reconstructed around 120 AD. Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian to service the population’s growing religious diversity, he continued in the same vein as Agripp,a allowing a place of worship for all gods.

It was proclaimed a church in 609AD, inadvertently becoming the coveted final resting place of Raphael, Kings Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I. Its secured place as a man-made mathematical and engineering marvel, stems from the fact that firstly, it is still standing throughout centuries without any steel reinforcement and the diameter of the interior circle and the height to the oculus is incredibly the same (43.3 meters; 142ft).

After admiring from the inside why not live La Dolce Vita and leisurely sip a café in the piazza filled with a number of restaurants and bars. The Pantheon provides the perfect backdrop for a night time stroll; lovingly and dependably watching over her treasures as she has done for centuries. Boutique Hotel Trevi and Hotel Genio are two of our hotels close by this marvel.