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ONLY BE ROMAN

Only-Be Roman

Jubilee in Rome

On December 8th, the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica will open its doors to mark the start of the 2016 Jubilee year; a momentous religious event that millions of people worldwide have been preparing for.

The Castelli Romani

The Castelli Romani are a unique option for a relaxing day on the outskirts of Rome, enjoying some fresh air and great food.

Roman Holiday

Remember Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn touring Rome on their 50’s Vespa in Roman Holiday? A love story set to the backdrop of Rome’s majestic beauty. The so-called Eternal City still preserves all of its magnetism despite its years. This is a city worth experiencing, fully admiring its charm, its ancient sites, and discovering the many events it proposes for the summer season, making the most of your visit to this amazing open-air museum. By the Shade of the Colosseum Like every year, the Roman summer returns with a great backdrop to it: the historical center of the Italian capital. Celio Park, art, cuisine, and entertainment will be the protagonists until September 4th. Many Italian and international artists will take part in this event, already considered a tradition that has not gone unnoticed by tourists, and music and theater lovers alike. “All’Ombra del Colosseo” kicks off at 9am with a dip in a pool with views over the Colosseum, followed by a good Italian aperitif in the evening, and ending off with shows and partying. Don’t forget to enjoy the best of Roman cuisine during this event… and to that end, here are some of our suggestions:   Traditional Roman Cuisine It’s no secret that Italian cuisine is held in very high esteem worldwide, and you’ll find flavors and recipes in Rome that will simply steal your heart. So after a show at the “Ombra del Colosseo”, why not head towards the area of Trastevere to taste the best of Roman cuisine in its many restaurants, serving dishes like: amatriciana, carbonara and salti in bocca alla romana. Most of...

Hipster Route in Rome

We’ve all heard about the infamous hipsters at this point in the story. But what does it mean to be a hipster? The term was born in the US in the 30’s and 40’s, although the hipster generation is a more recent phenomenon that started gaining momentum circa 2010. In Rome, you’ll mostly encounter them in the areas of Rione Monti and Rione Testaccio.   Your average hipster wears buttoned-up shirts and All Star or Vans shoes. His face will proudly sport a moustache like that of a Sicilian man, a beard, tattoos and large-frame vintage glasses. And for her: skinny high-waisted jeans, vintage earrings and hot pants. Hipsters are almost always graduates with an interest in photography, art, skating, or cycling.   Where to find Rome’s hipsters?   Rione Monti 2 Periodico Café is one of Rome’s hipster venues par excellence. You’ll feel right at home here! In fact, there are vintage chairs, armchairs and tables arranged in true vintage style. There’s a space where you can read, eat, listen to music, have a chat with your friends, and even make your own coffee right in their kitchen! The area of Rione Monti is well-preserved, with its oldest part dating back to the eighteenth century and with an archeological site. Some of the peculiarities of the area are its cobblestoned streets and its wonderful vintage markets.   The Trastevere Neighborhood Let’s journey on to Trastevere now, where you’ll find Fish Market, for high quality fish at its chicest. They serve fried fish at the bar, and our hipster friends just can’t get enough of it. Moreover, the area...

A Birthday in Rome

There are some people who don’t enjoy celebrating birthdays, but certainly if they had the chance to celebrate in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, even skeptics would rise to the occasion and succumb to the temptation of planning the perfect birthday. Whether you’re a skeptic or someone who loves birthdays (like the author), here are some ideas for how to blow out the candles with great style throughout the streets of Rome. Our suggestions are listed follow your particular musical tastes.  Soul birthday Soul Kitchen – La cucina dell’anima With vintage furniture, a relaxed atmosphere, and quality food with original presentations, this place is ideal for an “all’italiana” aperitivo with friends, accompanied by good music. If you celebrate in the summer, you can also enjoy their large outdoor terrace. Dessert recommendation: cheesecake. Via dei Sabelli 193, 00185 Rome, Italy, Tel: +39 06 6487 1016 Anticafé On your birthday you are the center of attention, and while I wish the hours were endless, your special day only lasts 24 hours: make the most of them in a place where the most important thing is time. The Anticafé is a place where you pay for the hours spent and not what you consume. One hour is € 4; or € 14 for a full day. You can enjoy a comfortable time with the people you love most, while you enjoy the games, tapas, desserts and drinks included for free. Via Veio, 4/B, 00183 Rome, Italy, +39 06 7049 4442   Jazz Birthday Gregory Jazz Club Of course, jazz lovers would feel right at home in a small,...

The 2014 Rock in Roma (A top 10 Festival)

The 2014 Rock in Roma festival arrives with fully charged batteries and a star-filled line-up with that includes bands like Metallica, the recidivist David Guetta and Prodigy to set the scene. A line-up this good can be the perfect excuse to visit Rome, whether you already know the call Eternal City or if you’ve not yet visited. Take note, the dates are from 3 June to 26 July. This “global” festival is held every year somewhere in the world with artists of various stripes and periods. For example, Rock in Rio Madrid (held in the town of Arganda del Rey) brought back the 70s when The Police took the stage, as the British band reunited exclusively for the occasion. It was a success. The appearance of Metallica is not quite the same (since the band is still together), but we’re still excited to see a band that has been a leader since the 80s and keeps on rockin’ on. Of course, they play to accommodate the conditions. To name but one example, their concert last year in Antarctica, for the privileged few, was done with headphones to avoid damaging the glaciers with the vibration of the amplifiers. Awesome, right? Well, now that Rome is playing host to the complete American band, their music will resound all the way to the Coliseum. Without headphones, Metallica promises to rock the Hippodrome (where Rock in Roma 2014 is celebrated), for veterans as well as new fans to their music. If you’re interested in joining them, don’t wait too long to buy tickets. Concerts are purchased separately, and tickets are between 35 and...

Rome from A to Z: Part I

Aperitivo: The Italians know how to live well, and one of the best things about Italian cuisine is the aperitivo, or aperitif. It’s an alcoholic drink (like a Negroni, for example) to whet your appetite that is accompanied by something light to nibble on such as olives or sausage. And if you can enjoy it on a sunny terrace in the Eternal City, all the better. Bernini : This Italian artist is the creator of many of the sculptures that featured in the Roman piazzas. Gian Lorenzo Bernini is responsible for the stunning Trevi Fountain and Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona. The works of this Baroque artist are highly realistic and impressive if they are lighted at night. Colosseum: Perhaps the best known Roman monument, the Colosseum was the Roman amphitheater where gladiator fights and other barbaric activities were held to entertain the people. It is one of the most important architectural works of the Roman period and was able to seat up to 80,000 people. Impressive. Dolce Vita: Nobodyy represents Italian society better than Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, and his 1960 masterpiece La Dolce Vita depicts postwar Italian society in the form of both comedy and drama. A must-see for any lover of film and of Rome. Espresso: This coffee gets its name because of the way it is drunk. There are still cafés in Rome where you can go in, pay for the coffee, take one of the many prepared at the bar and then leave, all in a few seconds. Fontana di Trevi: For many this is the most impressive in all...

Rome through the Eyes of Oscar-Winner

Rome is back on the list of the “top ten” major film cities. This time it was the director Paolo Sorrentino who has managed to depict the authenticity of the Romans. The movie “The Great Beauty” recently won the 2014 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It’s his fourteenth award. So with the excuse to learn more about this film, the director and the Eternal City, we are taking you on a tour of Rome. Sorrentino´s latest film is set in an idyllic setting on Janiculum Hill when a Japanese tourist faints and drops dead while observing the beauty of Rome from the top. You definitely shouldn’t miss seeing one of the best views of the city of Rome. Janiculum Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, is located in the famous Trastevere district, which is known for its bohemian and alternative character. The protagonist of the film, Jep Gambardella is a Don Juan, a writer and seducer of women with a busy life divided between parties with friends, fancy dinners, feasts, etc. But, of course, as the saying goes, all that glitters is not gold. Jep has been trying to ignore that he, like everyone else, is getting older. He realizes he is no longer the person he was and decides to turn his life around. And all this takes place in a setting to envy. The central terrace of his apartment, which overlooks the Roman Colosseum, is pretty hard to beat. Imagine going to a party on this huge terrace looking out onto this illuminated work of art and enjoying a drink by the light of...

The Best Design Apartments in Rome

Rome has plenty and more to show for. Throughout the year visitors flock to the Eternal City to marvel at monuments such as the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Stairs, the…really the list is endless. Visiting the Vatican alone – an entire state on its own in the middle of the Italian capital – will leave you simply speechless. Fascinating about this magnificent city is certainly the combination of the modern and the ancient. Don’t forget you are in one of the most vibrant European cities, but just as you turn a corner you can find yourself travelling back into the ancient times of the Roman Empire. We love the mix between ancient architecture and functional, modern design and that is why we would like to present some of our best design apartments in Rome with some truly stunning interior design: You can stay right next to the Trevi Fountain   ON TREVI 1 Apartment   Or maybe you prefer Piazza Navona is this minimalistic apartment with a modern kitchenette NAVONA DESIGN Apartment   You can also opt for clean wooden design in Rome´s emblematic neighborhood Trastevere. Here you can stay in style in one of the prettiest parts of the city.   SAN CALLISTO Apartment     If you like it colorful and you’re looking for accommodation in Rome for a big group. COLOSSEO Apartment might be just what you need. Up to 10 people have space to sleep....