After a period of separation that lasted seven years in which team members have dedicated themselves to their individual projects, Dolores O’Riordan, Noel Hogan, Fergal Lawler Mike Hogan have decided to return to perform together and plan the future of the group planning a tour and announcing going back into the studio soon to record new songs.

More about the Cranberries in Rome

Further reading on Music in Rome

And for your stay in Rome, book a good and central hotel in Rome not far from the Rome Cappannelle.

Blogger : Rhodora

The race which is going to take place in Rome on May 30 has been defined the “craziest race in the world” and is an urban race on which the runners are required to pass some extreme tests following a route that takes them to some of the most interesting landmarks in the city.

This will be the second edition of this competition in Rome.The race will start at 9.30 at Piazzale di Ponte Milvio.

This year the single racers and teams (1 man with 2 women or 2 women with 1 man) have to cover 17 km trying to overcome a series of natural and artificial tests and obstacles.

Given that there won’t be any refreshment stations, competitors are advised to take everything they may need along with them (water, energizers, etc).

The Enrolment Form may be found on the site www.romanolimits.com or in a number of sports magazines. They should be fully completed and sent via post or fax to the “Rome No Limits” Secretary Office.

According to the latest news, the race has been postponed to a dete to be defined between September 26 and October 10. If you need further information, please visit the following website: www.romanolimits.com to get updated details.

And for accomodation and other travel tips don’t forget to visit the websites of Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes.

One of the events more expected this summer in Rome is the concert of a talented and sensual English singer: her name is Florence Welch, playing with her band, “the machine”, she’s already been defined as heiress of Kate Bush, Siouxsie e Pj Harvey and very soon she has became the pop diva more appreciated and cuddled on the English stage , climbing the charts of half the world and conquering the Italian radios too with the single  You’ve got the love.

After staying at the very first position on the English charts and winning the  Brit Awards with the album  Lungs, there are rumors about a  collaboration of her with Thom York , the singer of Radiohead.

HThe band’s debut album is a very original work that doesn’t betray the best English tradition, being able anyway to  go beyond the definition of independent rock . This album was made inside a debunked synagogue with the help of  two among the most sought-after producers   : James Ford (already working for Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys) and Paul Epworth (Bloc Party).

When Florence was very young at school she was a “peculiar character”  who used to read Poe and Jack The Ripper, to listen to the Velvet Underground and make gothic drawings  ( so that her mates used to define her as “macabre” ) : a teenager’s past a little bit dark transformed into an absolutely bright present; Florence says “ I love singing, I love dancing, I love playing the drums. The fact that someone pays me for doing it, well is just incredible”.

Florence has also been chosen by the Blur to open their concert in London and Manchester in June 2009. The band’s Roman concert will take place at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, located only a short bus trip away from Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes.

The first of may concert is already a tradition in Rome. Every year on this day some of the most famous singers and rock bands in Italy are summoned to the square of Saint John in the Lateran to play to an enthusiastic crowd.

The event, originally planned as a celebration of the workers’ day, is so popular that many people come from towns all over Italy to enjoy a day of music and sight-seeing in the Eternal City. If you want to get a taste of good Italian music and some of the fun that comes with an open-air event like this one, this is your best bet.

This year the featured artist will be Vinicio Capossela, a cult singer well-known in Italy for his strange looks and his re-imagination of Italian folklore. Another interesting names in the cast are Paolo Nutini and Irene Grandi and Carmen Consoli, two great musicians and songwriters. By the way, this year the host of the concert will be a woman for the first time, almosT a hommage to the growing urgence of Italian women to create and participate in all aspects of life.

To get to Saint John’s sqare from Yes Hotel or Hotel Des Artistes: all you have to do is take the red subway line from the Termini station and then get off at San Giovanni. Since some hours before the concert the station is closed, due to the great affluence of attendants you might need to get off one station before, at Manzoni, and then get walking to Saint John’s.

As every spring from 1951 you will have the chance to admire one of the most beautiful sights the Eternal City has to offer: the stairs of the Spanish Steps will be embellished with flowerpots of azaleas as a colourful way to celebrate the arrival of the new season.

Why use Azaleas to celebrate spring? The answer, besides the fact that azaleas are beautiful and are in full flowering during April, is hard to guess. For some, the idea might be somehow connected to the legend of the Roman goddess Proserpine who escaped from her husband Pluto to go back to her mother Ceres, but due to a spell cast on her by her husband she had to spend six months on earth and the other six months in the underworld with him. According to the legend Proserpine, by going back to earth, gave start to spring and summer, while during the six months that she had to spend in the afterlife autumn and winter arrived on earth.

The dates can slightly vary in operation of the flowering of the azaleas, but the office of the tourism will provide all the necessary information.

If you’ll be in Rome in that period don’t miss this opportunity!!! The Spanish Steps are waiting to celebrate with you! Book at the Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel located only a walk away from the Spanish Steps!

The Internazionali BNL d’Italia is an annual tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy, the Masters Series event at the Foro Italico. Aside from the Grand Slams, this is the highest-ranking tennis competition in the world, attracting the best male and female tennis players. The men’s competition is one of the 9 phases of the ATP Masters1000 circuit, while the women’s is one of the main WTA circuit competitions. The two competitions are currently held in separate weeks in May. The tournament is played on clay courts.

The event was previously known as the Italian Open and changed to its current name in 2002. The Italian tennis championship was first held in 1930 in Milan, where it was held until 1934 before being moved to the Foro Italico in Rome in 1935. Now is the highest profile tennis event in Italy; every year tennis enthusiasts from all over the round flock to the Eternal City to assist to the tournament.

In 2007, the Italian bank BNL becomes the “title sponsor” of the tournament. BNL has always developed strong relationships with Italian sport and its main associations: it has been the bank partner of the CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee) for 70 years.

The spectacular Foro Italico was constructed between 1928 and 1938 and is located on the bank of the River Tevere. It hosts numerous sports venues including the Stadio Olimpico, which hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Mussolini built the sports centre to encourage young Italians to keep both bodies and mind fit. As such, the track and the tennis court were embellished with colossal marble sculptures of athletes who preside over all athletic efforts whilst showing off their fine physiques.

The event is more than just tennis – it is a total entertainment experience. High fashion, fine food, fabulous shopping and celebrity musical performances have made it one of the most glamorous stops on the ATP World Tour. To enjoy all of it don’t hesitate to make a reservation at Yes Hotel or Hotel Des Artistes!

Tickets for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia go on sale on the Italian Tennis Federation website.

One of the most exciting sporting events in Rome is the annual Marathon which will see the city center turned into a pedestrian  zone with concerts, shows and performances

It will take place March 21, 2010 at 9.00am where the race will start at   Via dei Fori Imperiali, under the shadow of the Colisseum.

For those who would like to live a great day this marathon is a not-to-be-missed event. Even if you are not the sport type, there will be a parallel event, the “Roma Run”, a non-competitive 4 Km run for those who want to be part of the celebration but are not trained marathonists.

They also will activate the “Marathon Village”,there will be dining, health care items, bus service, radio service of civil protection, resuscitation centers: everything necessary to  enjoy of a sporting event in all safety

You can also be the protagonist by participating and obviously having the chance of winning this incredible race . Here at Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes we will have many people from all over the world participating,  join us to make your dream a reality!

REGISTRATION FEES
• € 35.00 – until November 23, 2009
• € 42.00 – until December 21, 2009
• € 55.00 – until January 28, 2010
• € 65.00 – until March 8, 2010

Recommended changes or any requests and / or additions to the rankings will be accepted by 25.03.2010 and should be sent to the e-mail info@tds-live.com. Thereafter, standings will be final.

For more info please visit www.maratonadiroma.it

September 19th and 20th at 2010 Elton John is going to offer two concerts at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. Sir Elton John will be companied by legendary drummer Ray Cooper at both concerts which starts at 20.30. The English musicians are going to perform some of the biggest hits of Sir Elton like Rocket Man, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Your Song, Daniel, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Nikita and Elton Joh’s last ballad the Boy in the Red Shoes.

Legendary Sir Elton John as everybody knows him, was born in the London suburbs at 1947, has made a long and remarkable career, received numerous Grammy Awards and at least 250 million sold albums. During the years ’72 and ’96.

Ray Cooper has worked for example with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton and many many other artists. He has played in many Elton John’s albums and last time they performed in concert together was in Russia at 1979.

The concert will be held at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, one of the most modern music venues in Rome that can be easily reached from Yes Hotel or Hotel Des Artistes.

-Rhodora introduces you to Malika who will be performing soon in Rome; we hope she surprises you as se has surprised us all in Italy.

Malika Ayane was born in Milan in 1984 to a Moroccan father and an Italian mother.

In 2006 Ferdinand Arnò decides to use her voice for Time Thief, music composed by himself  for the DTC advertising campaign, which begins in a symbiotic partnership, which in 2007 brings to Soul Waver, soundtrack to Saab’s advertising. Another television spot where we can find one of her songs is that of Barilla in 2009, whith its instrumental rendition of  I giardini dei salici.

The first single from the album is Feeling Better, that becomes a hit radio and allows Malika to  gain recognition all over the country.
In 2007, the singer meets Caterina Caselli that immediately sees in her an artist with an original style:  fresh and spicy.

Malika began working on his first recording project, released in the autumn of 2008 and is titled Malika Ayane. The first single from the album, Feeling Better, becomes immediatly a radio hit.

On 2009  Malika partecipates to the Sanremo Festival with Come Foglie (As tree leaves , lyrics and music by Giuliano Sangiorgi one the greatest Italian signers and part of the band Negaramaro) produced and arranged by Ferdinand Arnò.

On wesnesday 28^th april 2010 at 9.00 p.m, Malika Ayane will meet her fans to treat them with her special brand of pop-soul on a concert at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, one of the finest music venues in Rome .

The auditorium is located only minutes away (with a bus) from Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel, the choice for all those trying to live Rome to its fullest!

Polenta is loved by everybody…this dish has on the table of Italian families for generations!!

Polenta is a corn meal mush, but is more than that! It’s the staple food of the North of Italy, where after pasta, is one of the favourite dishes. It can be served in innumerable ways: as a first course, baked, with stews, or even as a bread substitute.

For citizens of Rocca di Papa , a small village near Rome, Polenta is too a unique and complete food, it is added to the usual simple condiments (with tomato sauce, sausages, meat, cheese etc), the condiments that the old farmers use to this day  to create to create dishes that satisfied the gourmets.

And it is in Rocca di Papa for the second year that will be a special gastronomic event in occasion of Valentine’s Day: “La Polenta degli Innamorati” ( The polenta of Lovers). The event will be surrounded by so many moments of entertainment with music and with “Il bacio più lungo” (The longest kiss), all the couples attending this event are invited, it consists in a kiss of mass to enter on the Guinness world record as the major kiss of mass ever!

La Polenta degli Innnamorati will be held on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Frebruary 14 and February 15 at the center of Rocca di Papa, one of the many little towns that can be explored from Rome using as a base a well-located hotel like Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel.