Rome By Night
The old saying “When in Rome do as the Roman’s do” is good advice. Rome is such a lovely place to stroll and the Romans are out in numbers to enjoy the summer nights.
One place to experience this local nightlife is at Piazza del Popolo, once Rome’s northern gate. Every night crowds of Italians stroll and shop, with their teenagers working hard to be cool as they wander about the piazza.
The obvious destination from there is Piazza di Spagna, which is full of people day and night with its piazza and its famous steps – which attracted Goethe, Joyce, Byron, Shelley and Keats. Piazza di Spagna is largely its own enclosed universe, which feels even more insular at night, with a vertical exit signaled by the illuminated Fountain of the Barcaccia, a fanciful fishy barge, up the Spanish Steps to a glowing obelisk in front of the double towers of the church of the Trinità dei Monti.
For a more literal sense of the Roman night as theater, go south to the Trevi Fountain. This is one place that cannot be missed as art, spectacle and cultural icon. In front of your eyes Oceanus stands gleaming mightily as he tames the waters, a metaphor for the great feat of the aqueducts that brought water to the city. But inside many minds, no doubt, runs the famous night scene in Fellini’s “Dolce Vita” of Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni stepping into the fountain. A dip, though, even if you look as great as they did, will land you in trouble, no matter how hot it is.
Tweet read moreWhen in Rome Find the Hidden Treasures
Spotlight On Rome’s Hidden Treasures
It has been said that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and so it stands to reason that you can’t see and do everything in this amazing city during your 8 days. You know by now that the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peters, the Vatican and the Pantheon are must-see items.
And yet, there are treasures a bit off the beaten path that are worth a look. You want lasting impressions? Visit the church of Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola, the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the church of San Luigi dei Francesi.
Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola is located in the city center off of Via del Corso and not far from Piazza Venezia. Enter the church and view its impressive dome located near the front altar. Take a few steps forward. Guess what? The dome is an optical illusion painted on a flat wooden surface. Visitors often enjoy shifting positions in the church to understand at what point the dome begins to appear flat.
San Luigi di Francesi is located in the city center near Piazza Navona. It is the French national church that was built in the 1500s and is the home of three famous Caravaggio paintings: the Calling of St. Matthew,” “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew” and “St. Matthew and the Angel.”
Santa Maria degli Angeli is located in Piazza Reppublica, which may be reached with Metro A. A fellow by the name of Michelangelo planned out this church along the ruins of the ancient Roman baths of Diocletian. The beautiful thing? These sites are free.
Tweet read moreCarlino’s Restaurant Italian Handmade Sausage Recipe
Toast fennel seed about 5 minutes in medium sized, heavy sauté pan over medium heat. Constantly move fennel seeds around in pan until they start to turn light brown. Set aside to cool. Once cool, grind seeds and combine with salt, pepper, wine and chopped parsley in medium mixing bowl. Add pork and blend thoroughly. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Grind the pork using the fine blade of the grinder. Lubricate stuffer and stuffing attachment with shortening and load casing onto attachment, clipping end with a clothespin. Stuff meat into casings, trying to avoid air pockets. After stuffing is finished lay out on counter and tie off end. Pinch and twist to form 4-inch sausages. Wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
Sauté over medium heat in a heavy saute pan with 1/4-inch of water. Bring water to boil, put on lid and cook for 10 minutes.
Remove lid and continue cooking over medium heat, turning every 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. Sausage should reach an internal temperature of 150 to 156 degrees F.
Carlino’s Restaurant creates its handmade Italian sausages daily using this family recipe passed down through the centuries. Please visit us at 204 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola, NY to try Carlino’s mouth watering sausages for yourself.
Tweet read moreThe Sistine Chapel Tour
What do you think of when you hear the word “Rome”? Chances are the word evokes images of history – the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican. When you win this opportunity of a lifetime, and decide what to see, near the top of the list no doubt will be the vaunted “Sistine Chapel.”
You may want to spend an afternoon here and imagine what it was like when Michelangelo worked here.
Key things to remember: the Sistine Chapel is at the end of a series of Vatican Museums that you must first go through in order to reach the Chapel.
Tweet read moreSpotlight on Vatican City
Vatican City
The excitement is palpable today as we take a stroll through the Via della Conciliazione, the route to Vatican City, a place like none other in the world. Men and women, young children, middle aged and in their golden years, pilgrimage here to experience the deep rooted spiritual connection common to those who have come before to bask in the glory.
Nothing demonstrates the profound spirituality of Christianity today more than this holy land that sits on top of a walled enclave of 110 acre within the city of Rome.
Vatican City, established in 1929, is the sovereign territory of the Holy See and the location of the Pope’s residence, referred to as the Apostolic Palace.
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is Rome’s largest Baroque fountain and the most famous fountain in the world.
The Fountain gets its name from being located at the junction of three roads (tre vie) and marks the end point of aqueducts which supplied water to ancient Rome.