An important festival on the Rome events calendar, the Festa di Noantri in Trastevere, is a religious celebration that dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. It is held in celebration of the Lady of Mount Carmel and takes place on the first Saturday after July 16th every year. On the day of the festival, a richly dressed statue of the Virgin Mary is taken in a procession through the streets around the Church of Saint Agatha and on towards the Basilica of San Crisogono. The statue is an ancient one, supposedly discovered in the Tiber in 1535. She was donated to the Carmelites at Crisogono, where she became the patron saint of Trastevere. In 1890 she was moved to another local church, Saint Agatha. The return procession includes a journey across the Tiber, to commemorate the site of discovery of the image. The statue is taken in a boat from near Villa Giulia to Ponte San Angelo, where more people join the procession; to move towards the Ponte Sisto, Isola Tiberina and from thereon to Trastevere’s most important church, Santa Maria. The statue is then brought back to its home in the Church of Saint Agatha, on ...

The Pentecost (which in 2010 falls on May 23rd) is a celebration in remembrance of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon the Virgin Mary and the Apostles of Jesus and this tends to be one of the most spectacular and culturally fascinating times to be in Rome. And the most lovely of all Pentecostal rituals takes place at one of the eternal city’s most awe-inspiring buildings: the Pantheon. After a celebration of the Mass on Pentecost Sunday, a shower of rose petals falls through the oculus, or the opening at the top of the dome of the Pantheon. This beautiful spectacle is made possible by a group of firemen who scale the exterior wall of the Pantheon armed with sacks of rose petals—a sight almost as wonderful as what is to take place inside. The petals are meant to represent the Holy Spirit’s descent to earth, and watching them flutter through the haze-like light that filters through the oculus is an incredibly uplifting experience. Visitors are welcome to this event but would be wise to turn up early and seating is generally only available to those attending the mass first (even then many of these are pre-booked). At the end of mass, ...

One of the most universal - yet misconstrued - pasta dishes is Spaghetti alla carbonara. It appears on restaurant menus from Melbourne to Montreal, yet very few make it in the classic Roman way. The origins of the dish also vary, though one of the most common theories is that it was developed in Rome after WW2 as allied troops supplied the local population two American staples: eggs and bacon. The recipe was first published in Elizabeth David’s 1954 classic ‘Italian Food’ and became rapidly popular for its simplicity and versatility (the dish is suitable for brunch, lunch and dinner). But like Chinese whispers, the original message became confused and it grew common for cream, parsley and even cheddar cheese to be added. For an authentic Roman Spaghetti alla carbonara, try this recipe (Serves two): Buy (in Campo di Fiori market for example): 225 grams of pancetta, bacon or guanciale (pig’s cheek) 450 grams dried spaghetti 4 eggs 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Then: Cook spaghetti until it’s al dente (keep the water). Lightly fry the meat until fat is dispersed over the fan and it’s turning crispy. Add the pasta to the pan and toss around, adding a little pasta water as ...

Looking for an art gallery in Rome with an amazing history and a rich collection of artwork? Then head to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj located near the Spanish Steps in Rome. This gallery is home to a wealth of seventeenth century art, collected by the Italian Doria-Pamphilj family. The family, whose umbrella name of Doria-Pamphilj embraces the families of Doria, Pamphilj, Aldobrandini and Landi, is an illustrious and wealthy one, with Popes and Princes among its members. The Galleria Doria Pamphilj was once the home of Pope Innocent X, who belonged to the Pamphilj family. An English heritage line runs in the family and the quarter-English Princess Orietta Pogson Doria Pamphilj and her English husband were responsible for the restoration of the family’s art collection. The collection was opened to the public soon after the collection was restored. Some of the seventeenth century artists represented here includes Annibale Carracci, Jan Bruegel, Caravaggio, Gaspard Dughet, Guido Reni, Claude Lorrain and Guercino. In addition to paintings, the Galleria Doria Pamphilj also houses fine sculptures by Bernini and Algardi. Some of the sculptures in the Galleria Doria Pamphilj collection date from ancient times; the gallery also boasts interesting antique furniture and furnishings on display. The ...

The Piazza Navona is considered by many to be the most wonderful of all of Rome’s piazzas. There are three incredible fountains complemented by the baroque Church of Sant'Agnese. The piazza was once a Roman sporting stadium called Circus Agonalis and bits of the original stadium which was paved over in the fifteenth century can still be seen. Within a short walk of Piazza Navona apartment there are some magical sights: • The Pantheon was built over eighteen hundred years ago and is a classic reminder of the might of Rome. The dome is over forty-three metres high and was the largest dome in the world until the 15th century when the cathedral in Florence was built. The Pantheon has 3 rows of columns and a bronze door that enters into the cylindrical-shaped building. • Piazza Campo de' Fiori translates as field of flowers because it was once a meadow that used to flood regularly. In the 15th century, the piazza was developed and the first construction was the Church of Santa Brigida. There was no uniform architectural style for Piazza Campo de' Fiori so the buildings are varied and individual. For the last 140 years, the piazza has held a fish ...