Picturesque Piazza della Rotonda at the Pantheon in Rome

When in Rome… Piazza della Rotonda

This When in Rome… blog article is written for the guests of the Hostel Chaplin Bed and Breakfast and B&B Little Italy in Rome.All Hotels and B&B’s in Rome In 1575, under the order of Pope Gregory XIII Boncompagni, Giacomo Della Porta designed a plan for a fountain to be placed in the centre of Piazza della Rotonda. Four different sculptors cooperated to carry out the project, a large marble vase with vertical water jets that came out from four large masks on the sides. In 1711 Pope Clemente XI Albani had the vase substituted with the obelisk of Pharaoh Ramses II from the Temple of Isis and the 4 dolphins at the base of the pedestal were carved. There are several restaurants and cafes on the Piazza della Rotonda, but the prices for even a cup of coffee there are not for the faint-hearted. Turn right when you have your back to the Pantheon and you will discover an area full of small boutiques and jewelry stores.

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Pantheon in Rome: Practical info and some interesting facts

When in Rome… Pantheon information

This When in Rome… blog article is written for the guests of the Hostel Chaplin Bed and Breakfast and B&B Little Italy in Rome. All Hotels and B&B’s in Rome The Pantheon is located on Piazza della Rotonda in Rome and is open from 9am till 7pm. Entry is free. It can be reached from the Via del Corso by walking northward from Piazza Venezia and turning left when you see the sign or by following Corso Vittorio Emanuele from Piazza Venezia and then turning right when you see the signs. The official name of the Pantheon is Santa Maria ad Martyres (St. Mary of the Martyrs). In 609 or 610 Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon to the Blessed Virgin and the Martyrs and proclaimed All Saints Day (then May 13th, nowadays November 1st) to commemorate all the martyrs. This was necessary because demand exceeded supply: There were way too many martyrs for the number of days in the year. Among the famous people buried in the Pantheon are the painter Raphael and the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia.

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Real fight among fake gladiators at the Colosseum in Rome

When in Rome… Gladiators of the year 2009

This Rome information blog is written for the English speaking guests of the B&B Little Italy Rome and the Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel

In case the Chaplin and the Little Italy are not what you are looking for or you prefer a hotel to a bed and breakfast in Rome, we recommend the Venere website for finding both luxury and cheap accommodation in the Eternal City. You fill out your budget and which quarter of Rome you would like to stay in and you will be supplied with a list of available Rome hotels, bed and breakfasts or apartments in Rome for the desired period. Guest opinions facilitate your choice. Booking online.

The world is in a crisis and even the gladiators at the Colosseum in Rome cannot escape it.

It is not the first time that the so-called gladiators at the Colosseum have caused problems for tourists. During an altercation over who was going to have his photograph taken by an unsuspecting tourist two Romans dressed up as gladiators ended up coming to blows.

The Gladiators make their money by posing for tourist photographs wearing their phony Gladiator skirts and brandishing their fake Gladiator swords, for which they often ask exorbitant sums of money.

The gladiators are not the most gentle Romans: in 2007 one of them attacked two American tourists who refused to pay for the privilige of photographing him.

Some years earlier it had come to light that a bunch of the gladiators had conspired and invented an entire system to get as much money out of gullible visitors to the Colosseum as possible.

The gladiator who, in the year 2002, was arrested by the carabinieri on the grounds of carrying a real sword was not involved in that scam.

According to the gladiators who did not participate in the fight yesterday it was all a made-up story and their colleague who ended up in hospital had only stumbled and fallen and thereby hurt himself.

In case you have more information about the Roman Gladiators, or photographs, please help us make this website better by providing us with your feedback.

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A Short History of the Pantheon in Rome

When in Rome… History of the Pantheon

This When in Rome… blog article is written for the guests of the Hostel Chaplin Bed and Breakfast and B&B Little Italy in Rome.   All Hotels and B&B’s in Rome  The Pantheon was built by Emperor Hadrian in 118 AD to replace an earlier temple destroyed by fire. It is the temple to “all the gods,” and was spared destruction because it was given to a religion with one god. It still functions as a Roman Catholic Church, with mass celebrated on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.The earlier wooden temple was probably built by Agrippa in 27 BC (due to the inscription “M Agrippa….”) and destroyed by fire in 80 AD. It was the Emperor Hadrian who had Agrippa’s name and inscribed above the entrance, though, which was unexpectedly humble of the good man, since he was not afraid of a little boasting: “My intentions had been that this sanctuary of All Gods should reproduce the likeness of the terrestrial globe and of the stellar sphere.” When Christianity became more powerful (5th century) the temple was closed, to be reopened as a church by Pope Boniface IV after it had been given to him by the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire Phocas.

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The Wolf and the Sphinx at Castel Sant’Angelo

When in Rome… Castel Sant’Angelo Exhibition until November 2008

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

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A complicated relationship has existed over the centuries between Rome and Egypt.

The exhibition titled the Wolf and the Sphinx, until November 9th 2008 in the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, is an attempt to clarify this tie, not only through sculptures that were robbed from Egypt by the Romans (many of which can still be seen and admired in Rome), but also through paintings from the Rinascimento period (18th century), when the Italians rediscovered the mythological wealth and architectural, scientific and artistic knowledge of the Egyptians in the times of the Pharaohs.

The Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo is opened from 9am until 5pm. Closed on Mondays. From Rome Termini Castel Sant’Angelo can be reached easiest by taking the 40E express bus.

The Acqueducts of Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of the Bed and Breakfast Chaplin and the Little Italy B&B in Rome.

Rome’s longnoses

Wherever you are in Rome you can see water fountains, spouting water, day and night. The water from these “longnoses” (nasoni), as the Romans have nicknamed them, is pefectly drinkable: Even in mid-summer, with temperatures between 35 and 40 Celsius, it’s as cool and fresh as if it has come directly out of the fridge.

What most tourists in Rome are not aware of is that this is still thanks to the aqueduct system which was built in the times of the Roman Empire, in some cases over 2000 years ago.

The Aqueducts in numbers

Added up, the aqueducts come to a total length of 400km, 350 of which are underground. Already when building them, the possibility of the need for repairs was thought of and at regular distances entrances to the aqueducts were constructed. These had marble covers on top of them.

Een legion (in Emperor Augustus’ times a legion consisted of more than 5000 men) of workers was needed for the construction and upkeep of the system, which was overseen by the curator aquarum.

The oldest aqueduct is the Acqua Appia which dates from 312 b.C. Its length is 16km, nothing compared to the longest one (68km), the Acqua Claudia. Like most aqueducts the Acqua Claudia enters Rome at Porta Maggiore.

Hotels near Porta Maggiore

The hotels closest to Porta Maggiore are Hotel Ducale (2 stars) and the 3 star Hotel Donatello. Although both hotels are at the edge of Rome’s center, many of the city’s main tourist attractions can be visited on foot, and pricewise they are cheaper than hotels near the Spanish Steps.

Trevi Fountain in Rome – Legends and Trivia

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Hostel Little Italy Bed and Breakfast Rome and B&B Chaplin Hostel

La Dolce Vita

The Trevi Fountain became especially famous through its use in Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita when Anita Ekberg jumps into the fountain and implores Marcello Mastroianni to join her.

A fountain painted red

In 2007 the Trevi Fountain enjoyed a brief day in the spotlight when somebody calling himself an anarchist added a liquid to the water that turned it red.

Coin collectors

Legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the Trevi Fountain will one day return to Rome. Contrary to what many tourists in Rome think, it is not necessary to do this with your left hand, or over your left shoulder.

The Trevi Fountain is emptied of its coin collection on a daily basis. The money goes to charity. It can be very amusing to try to detect the ingenious ways the beggars and the gypsies use in order to fish the coins out of the fountain without being seen to do so.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous attractions in Rome, still you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to stay there. The Bed and Breakfast 3 Coins Trevi Fountain is far cheaper than a hotel and central as can be. Acquire information or reserve B&B 3 Coins Trevi Fountain.

Trevi Fountain in Rome – History

The Trevi Fountain is the biggest and most famous fountain of Rome. It is 26 meters tall and 22 meters wide.

The fountain was named Trevi because three streets (“tre vie”) used to lead to the Piazza di Trevi.

The Trevi Fountain is a mixture of Baroque and Classicism sculpture and can be found on the façade of the Palazzo Poli.

General Agrippa had the Trevi Fontein built in 19 b.C. when he wanted to restore the old aqueduct, the Aqua Virgo, in order to lead water to the Pantheon.

That early fountain was moved several times and more sculptures were added to it until Pope Urban VIII ordered Bernini to make a project.

Because of lack of finances Bernini’s project was not completed however until, in 1731, Pope Clement XII took the Trevi Fountain’s destiny into his own hands.

A year later work on the fountain was resumed. The project was by the architect Nicolo Salvi, who had won a competition. It was Salvi’s aim to tell the history of the aqueduct and the fountain itself through its design.

Until 1762 various other architects added parts to the fountain and it became a symbol of Papal Rome.

A medium-sized 4 star Rome hotel near the Trevi Fountain is the Hotel Barocco, a small and cozy hotel with a touch of luxury (and a roof terrace). Some of the rooms look out over the gorgeous Piazza Barberini. An excellent choice if you have business at the American Embassy and nobody is picking up the tab for you.

Trevi Fountain in Rome – description

The big central statue of the God Neptune was made by Pietro Bracci. Neptune is pulled by winged horses in a shell-shaped chariot.

On both sides of the Trevi Fountain arches can be spotted, containing statues personifying, respectively, Abundance and Health. The statues, made by Filippo della Valle, are seen above bas-reliefs.

The one on the left shows Agrippa’s Aqueduct’s history, whereas the other one depicts the legend of a virgin pointing out the location of the well to a wounded soldier. It used to be customary in the times of the ancient Romans to build a monument near spots where wells had been found.

The four Corinthian arches carry the coat of arms of Clement XIII. The sculptures on top of the arches the depict the four seasons.

Another representation of a virgin is depicted on one of the walls. According to another old Roman tradition this was meant to protect people passing by the fountain.

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Rome Monuments – Spanish Steps

This Rome information blog entry is written for the English peaking guests of the Bed and Breakfast Little Italy Rome and the B&B Chaplin Hostel.

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Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Piazza di Spagna) consist of a set of steep stairs (138 steps, 12 flights) between Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti (on a shoulder of the Pincio hill) at the top. The steps were built between 1723 and 1726 with a legacy from the French diplomat Stefano Gueffier. Initially the piazza was divided into two parts, the French Square (because the French ambassador resided there) and the Spanish Square. The steps themselves, however, came to be called Spanish Steps after the Spanish Square (which was called Spanish because the Spanish embassy to the Holy See was – and is - located there). For a while, in the 17^th century, the entire Piazza di Spagna was considered Spanish territory. Apparently foreigners unwittingly trespassing into the area could even find themselves all of a sudden to be soldiers in the Spanish army.

The idea of connecting the Spanish Square with the church of Trinità dei Monti dates from the 17^th century. The French also planned on adding an equestrial statue of King Louis XIV of France at the top of the staircase. Papal opposition caused the plans to be shelved until 1723, when Pope Innocent III ordered it to be built without the statue. The Spanish Steps were designed by Francesco de Santis, who used many ideas originally put forward by Alessandro Specchi.

Trinità dei Monti

The gothic church with a renaissance façade at the top of the steps, Trinità dei Monti, is a French church however. In 1495 King Louis VII commissioned it in order to replace the small chapel that was there before. Construction started in 1502 but it wasn’t consecrated – by Pope Sixtus V – until 1585. It has two bell towers. Inside there are various paintings by Daniele da Volterra, one of Michelangelo’s pupils.

The obelisk in front of Trinità dei Monti was ordered to be moved from the Gardens of Sallust to its current location in 1788 by Pope Pius VI. The hieroglyphs were copied from the obelisk on the Piazza del Popolo.

Spanish Square

To the right as you face the steps you will see the house where the English poet John Keats died (in 1821). It has been transformed into a small museum, the Keats and Shelley Memorial House (open 9am-1pm and 2.30-5.30pm).

At the base of the steps is the boat-shaped fountain, the Barcaccia (“ugly boat”) believed to be made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s father, Pietro. The design was inspired by a small boat that was left on the square after Rome was flooded in 1598. The Fontana della Barcaccia is set very low in order to make maximum use of the lack of water pressure in the Piazza di Spagna. It was Pope Urban VIII Barberini who commissioned the fountain and therefore it is decorated with bees and suns (the Barberini coat of arms).

In the south-east part of the square is the Colonna dell’Immacolata (1857). It is topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary and rest on a base featuring statues of the prophets Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and David. The column, which was found under a monastery in 1777, celebrates the Christian Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Every year, on December 8^th, the Pope comes here.

The column stands in front of the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide with a façade by Bernini. To the right of this is another façade designed by Borromini in 1662.

The Spanish Steps Nowadays

The Spanish Steps nowadays are mostly famous for the atmosphere created when thousands of tourists meet there during the afternoons and evenings, but already in the 18^th and 19^th centuries the Piazza di Spagna was popular as a gathering space. At the time it was Rome’s main hotel district (in the days before trains and plains the Piazza del Popolo was the first piazza inside the Roman walls for tourists arriving from the north) and travelers used to flock to the square in search of artistic inspiration (which is probably what they told their wives) and Italian mistresses. The wealthy foreigners also attracted many beggars, who were in their turn supplied with sad letters by the scribes working in the piazza.

During Christmas time a 19^th century crib is assembled on the first set of stairs and in May a large part of the steps is covered by huge pots of azaleas (the Spanish Steps you usually see on the picture postcards).

After the last of many restorations (in 1995) eating food and especially drinking was forbidden at the Spanish Steps, largely because of the enormous mess that had to be cleaned up after the crowds of - mostly younger – tourists had gone back to their hotels, hostels or bed and breakfasts. It is not a law that gets enforced very much (to be sure, no law in Italy does), but you can get fined if you disobey it.

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Directions from Chaplin Hostel and Little Italy B&B

To get to the Spanish steps from the Little Italy Bed and Breakfast Rome you take the metro line A from Vittorio Emanuele to Spagna (4 stops). From the Rome Hostel Chaplin Bed and Breakfast it is only 3 stops (from Roma Termini to Spagna). If the steps are too much for you to climb, there is a lift to the top outside the “Spagna” metro station.