Yes Hotel Rome Travel Blog: The Rome travel guide

October has traditionally been a month of celebrations and merry-making for Rome and its surrounding towns. The end of the harvesting season was received with wine-fueled partying on the steady rhythm of traditional tunes. The Ottobrata Romana Music Festival takes its cue from this glorious past and presents a series of concert that tries to preserve the spirit of the traditional October festivals. This year’s line-up features some of the grooviest and most influential world music ensembles such as Kocani Orkestar (Macedonia) and Orchesta Popolare Italiana (Apulia, Italy).

Kocani Orkestar has built its reputation on an intense mixture of traditional Balkan fanfare music with modern elements. Their live performances are much like their music: always over the top, almost overwhelming, taking the spectator in a whirl of rhythms and tones. Not to be missed.

The Orchestra Popolare Italiana sees some of Italy’s finest musicians perform under the lead of Ambrogio Sparagna, one of the first and most innovative figures on the ever-growing scene of the taranta-revival. This concert will be an exclusive anticipation of the program that the ensemble will be presenting at the illustrious Copenhagen World Music Expo. The ancient traditions of southern Italian music with its trance-like rhythm and ritual dances meets Italy’s finest performers to deliver a rare experience.

To enjoy all the interesting things Rome has to offer make a reservation at Yes Hotel or Hotel Des Artistes. Our staff will go out of their way to help you get the most of your holiday!

WHERE:     Auditorium Parco della Musica.

WHEN:       7 Oct. – Kocani Orkestar

                 8 Oct. – Orchestra Popolare Italiana

TICKETS:  15 euros. Reductions for people under 26 and over 60 years of   age.

GETTING LUNATIC (AND POETIC) IN ROME

Our Blogger: Marcelo

From May 26^th until June 25^th if you are in Rome you have the chance to get a little ‘’lunatic’’. In fact the term ‘’lunatic’’ has a connexion with ‘’luna’’ which means “moon” in Italian. So the eighth edition of the festival of literature in Rome is called "Earth- Moon. An infinite resonance." The idea is to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the first man on the moon. Through history the Moon has inspired artists, poets, scientists and lovers…just think of Dante, Ariosto, Galileo, men who like many others have been moved by its creative energy. Therefore, the subject appears to be more than suitable.

The event will take place in the Basilica of Maxentius, in the forum area. Sixteen narrators, 2 scientists, 8 poets who will read passages in seven different languages: Greek, Italian, Spanish, English, French, Dutch and Swedish. Solar panels have been installed to provide energy on the set.

This time the line of background music was changed. The choice wasto leave jazz to give space for the first time to the fantasy genre and the songwriter Vinicio Capossela was invited.

Free entrance (limited to the amount of people in the audience). You can be there at 7 P.M on every day of the schedule shown above, consider the action begins at 9 P.M. For further information check: http://www.festivaldelleletterature.it/

The Basilica of Maxentius is very easy to reach from our locations, just a few minutes walking. Check www.hoteldesartistes.com or www.yeshotelrome.com . Enjoy it!

Our Blogger: Andrea

From the 4^th of April to the 25^th of May will take place The International Festival of Photography in Rome.

The place chosen for this fantastic appointment is the “Palazzo delle Esposizioni”. The best location for enjoying photos.

The seventh edition is sponsored the municipality of Rome and produced by Zoneattive.

You will Have the chance to admire the work of youg photographers, full of passion and professionalism.

The theme of this year is “Seeing normality, photography portrays daily life” for showing, in the best way, the everyday life in all its characteristics.

For example Lucia Nimcova presents a work where she describes and investigates the Utopian communist system in her hometown. So, a different topic is visible in the Paolo Woods’s collection: “ The Chinese far west”, a reportage about the neo-colonialist’s hunt of eastern tigers.

Consequently, this is a great opportunity for young artists. They can show their style to a mixed group of spectators, coming from all over the world.

So, if you like to see something really special, get the tickets for only 12.50 euros.

The Palazzo delle Esposizione is located near Repubblica Square, within walking distance from Yes Hotel or Hotel des Artistes, the best accomodation options to enjoy everything the eternal city has to offer.

Our Blogger: Lorenzo

If you happen to be traveling in Italy on February, I would like to familiarize you with a festival called “Carnevale”. It is most celebrated in Venice, where it first began, but all of Italy is festive during this period. This year, Carnevale started on the 12th of January and will end on the 24th of February.

The 19th of February is called “giovedì grasso” or “mardi gras” in other countries and it is the peak of the festival, when adults and children dress up and participate in the various activities organized throughout Italy. In Rome, where I experienced Carnevale, there are many activities such as theatre plays  and activities in the museums for the young and theme nights in the pubs and dance clubs for adults .

 Carnevale time is mostly for children, where they wear costumes almost every day and go around the streets throwing confetti, however for adults “giovedì grasso” is a sort of Halloween where you can either dress up totally or just wear a mask. The last weekend before February the 24th is very fun with many parades organized throughout the city and towns nearby. There are many typical pastries to eat such as “frappe” and the city becomes more colorful with confetti covering the streets. This festive time is celebrated by young and old and it’s an experience I recommend to anyone traveling to Rome during this time. Information is available on internet, on the city of Rome website and posted in the various pubs and dance clubs.

To experience the carnival in Rome and get a taste of many others Italian traditions make a booking in the strategically-located Yes Hotel or Hotel des Artistes!

Our Blogger: Diana

“If you wanna be blessed
Put on the garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
You don’t have to live in defeat
Put on the garment of praise
God will make your life so complete
Put on the garment of praise”

(Garment of Praise, performed by Patrick Laundy)

From December 20th until New Year’s Eve the magnificent setting of the Auditorium Parco della Musica will host one of the most moving music events: the Roma Gospel Festival.

Among the artists, there will be some outstanding artists from the US like Harlem Gospel Choir, Crystal White, Patrick Lundy, Earl Bynum, Bob Singleton, and the Soul Stirrers.

The origins of Gospel music date back to the religious chants of the Afro-American people. In order to simplify the Christian teachings and to spread the faith, Gospel choirs were introduced during ceremonies together with the characteristic call-and-response and clapping.

This is the thirteenth edition of the festival, directed by Mario Ciampà, which has become a solid point of reference for all the fans of this music genre over the years and it perfectly fits in with the atmosphere of the ongoing festivities since Gospel has always been typical of deep religious devotion. So why not book into Hotel Des Artistes for a great stay during the festival and we’ll direct you to all the best performances.

Fondazione Musica per Roma e International Music Foundation presentano
ROMA GOSPEL FESTIVAL

Ticket prices:
Adults: 22.00 euros
Reduced price: 8 euros

The Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome is in Viale Pietro de Coubertin, near the Palazzetto dello Sport, off Viale Tiziano.The Auditorium Parco della Musica is in the Flaminio district of Rome, by the Villaggio Olimpico and can be easily reached by public transport:
Bus Routes

• 910, from Termini Station and Piazza Mancini
• 53, from Piazza Mancini and Piazza San Silvestro
• 217, from Viale XVII Olimpiade and Termini Station
• 231, from Piazza Mancini and Piazzale Canestre (in Villa Borghese park). Only weekends
• Linea “M”, special bus route between Termini station and Viale Pietro de Coubertin Auditorium stop. From 17h00 – every 15 mins. Last bus from the Auditorium departs at the end of last event.

Tram routes

• 2, from Piazzale Flaminio and Piazza Mancini

Trains

• Metro A line to the Flaminio stop then no.2 tram
• Or the Ferrovia Roma-Nord train to the Piazza Euclide stop

By car

• From the G.R.A. (ring-road around Rome) take the Flaminio Saxa Rubra exit towards Corso di Francia
• Or from the Lungotevere Flaminio turn off into Viale Tiziano and then again at the Palazzetto dello Sport (covered sport complex)

There are large car parking facilities by the Auditorium Parco della Musica with designated areas for disabled visitors.

Our Blogger: Wanda

Every year in Rome the most well sought after Christmas market is the bazaar that is staged in Piazza Navona. This massive square is transformed into Christmas central, with games and toys for children, appearances by Santa and the famous “Befana” a.k.a. the friendly witch who flies on a broomstick on the day of the epiphany to fill the kiddies stockings with goodies. Holiday crafts, tree trimmings, games, chocolate, candy, and artists are all to be found there. 

Meanwhile, the Vatican is turned into a magical Christmas haven.  In 1982, Pope John Paul began a tradition of putting-up a Christmas tree of about 30 meters or more in the centre of St. Peter’s Square. Now every year a tree is given as a gift by one of the regions of Italy or one of the E.U. nations.  Beside the tree, a nativity scene is placed, drawing pilgrims from all over to have a look.

The pope himself gives midnight mass on Christmas Eve. If you are lucky enough to get tickets for this mass, it is a really special event. Its a time when  St. Peter’s is a truly a place of worship, where no crowds of tourists will swarm around you during their Vatican City tour, and for one evening it is possible to take in St. Peter’s not just as a tourist attraction, but as the most important place of worship in Christianity.

And don’t forget the comfort of Christmas in Rome, because it’s the little things that realty count. You can enjoy a walk shopping in the most beautiful streets of the historical centre and for a break stop at the Antico Caffe Greco in via Condotti, where you can get perhaps the best hot chocolate on offer in the city.

So be quick to make your hotel reservation with Hotel Des Artistes in Rome -  taste the magical Christmas atmosphere in the Eternal City and enjoy an unforgettable time with hotellucci in rome!

Our Author. Rhodora

For who did not know it, tomorrow will be the night of Halloween.

History of Halloween, National Geografic

Halloween is the name of a popular pre-Christian party, but now tipically American and Canadian. Often considered as a commercial party that does not belong to us for the origin not for sure Italic, It is celebrated as an appointment, and even if many people are contrary to celebrate it and the debate is open every year, it is anyway a good reason to have fun! And Rome is ready to celebrate the night of witches and zombie with many programs:

“The Heineken Halloween night� is a fixed appointment in many cities, between these Rome is on the top of the list for the participation of many pubs, and Heineken this year will take place just in the capital.

Tenebria film festival is a festival of Italian cinema noir. The projections of the movies will be show at “Teatro piccolo Re di Roma�.

The “Asian Horror- The Xtreme dvd Colletion� is an event organized in many cities like Milan, Turin, Bologna and Rome. In some of the movie theatre of these cities will be projected some horror movie such as “The Call-2 and “ The Premonition�. If you want to watch an horror movie in Halloween, in Rome you have to go to the Metropolitan Cinema (Via del Corso). The price for the ticket is 5 euros per person.

For those who want to dance and have fun in discos, some of the most important discos in Rome are organizing many “Halloween Parties�, discos as Gilda, Akab, Qube and Piper, are ready to entratain you with music and drinks.

But Halloween is mostly a party for the children, for them, the Zoo of Rome organized a special evening! The staff of the Zoo will organize games and shows to celebrate Halloween with the animals (also spiders, bats and snakes!!!)

Take this opportunity and visit the Eternal City on this enchanted nights. I suggest you a nice small family cosy hotel in the heart of the City-Lucci Hotel in Rome.

So, TRICK OR TREAT?

Our blogger is : Nic

FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL FILM DI ROMA

Italian film stars are set to take the limelight at this year’s Rome Film Festival but that doesn’t mean there won’t be room for the Hollywood giants.

Al Pacino has been named as one of the leading guests at the festival this October and he will be meeting fans in the flesh as part of a newly created section called “L’altro Cinema” – meaning “other cinema”. It looks to give film fanciers a different look at the silver screen, featuring displays, clips and interviews with a handful of movie stars and special effects production staff.

Joining Al, who famously played mob boss Michael Corleone in the Godfather, will be Italian actors Toni Servillo and Carlo Verdone.

The Rome Film festival, which is in its third year, has recently been in the news worldwide following a radical shake-up to its programme. It will now have a closer emphasis on Italian film rather than international premieres, a decision which was taken by the festival’s new president, Gian Luigi Rondi.

The biggest sign of the change is of course shown in the festival’s new title – Festival Internazionale Del Film Di Roma – as opposed to the Rome Film Festival which is the English translation.

The change is also clearly demonstrated in the chosen opening and closing films – led by Italian sex symbol, Monica Belluci. Her new film, L’uomo Che Ama, which is directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi, will open the festival on October 22.

Monica, who has recently been posing in a series of kinky lingerie TV ads, stars alongside Pierfrancesco Favino and Kseniya Rappoport.

Meanwhile the closing film will be Huit or “Eight”, a film inspired by the eight millennium development goals decided by the United Nations.

Other international highlights include Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes in “The Duchess”, a film about the 18^th century Duchess of Devonshire. Bob Marley will also be on the lips of many film fans as “Bob Marley Exodus 77” is revealed for the first time. Anthony Wall’s widely anticipated film retraces the life of the reggae king.

Fans are not just being asked to watch movies this year – they’ll also get a chance to vote for the best film in the official section. The one with the most votes will be awarded the Golden Marc’Aurelio award at the closing ceremony of the Rome Movie Festival on October 31.

The festival takes place in the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Viale Pietro de Coubertin.

Rome Cinema Festival : A video !

For a full movie programme, and how to buy tickets, visit the official Rome Cinema Festival

Read related blogs :

Venice Film Festival

Independent Film Festival Rome

Federico Fellini

Needless say that if you plan to come to Rome you will need a few days to take a good look at what the Eternal city has to offer, and why not try our Yes  Hotel Rome with its  discounted rates ?