RomAbout

23/02/2023

Looking for something different to do in Rome? Spice up your trip with some ghost stories while discovering the city at dawn:
BOOK HERE: https://romabout.com/tour/ghost-tour-of-rome/

02/10/2022

02/10/2022

13/04/2022

Easter traditions in Italy
https://romabout.com/easter-traditions-in-italy/

12/03/2020

https://romabout.com/the-coronavirus-italy

Christmas in Rome is a magical event. Festive lights begin to be put up starting in November. With this festive season comes a few Roman traditions.

27/01/2020

CARNEVALE traditions & celebration in Italy!
The end of January marks the beginning of Carnevale in Italy. Carnevale (also known as Carnival) is steeped in tradition. The tradition began in ancient Greece and Rome with celebrations to the God Bacchus (Greek) or Saturn (Roman). Though some believe it originated even earlier with honoring the coming of spring where participants would paint their face and body and begin the festivities of ritualistic dancing and chanting. According to some scholars, the Greeks and Romans kept this tradition alive though slightly different. Instead of honoring the coming of spring they rejoiced over fertility and the rebirth of nature. Though in every celebration, at its core was the transformation from winter to spring.
Carnevale is still celebrated centuries later with this idea in mind. In Italy, during the renaissance, masks were adorned and extravagant parties were thrown just before Lent. The idea at this time, was to party as excessively as possible before giving up on simple pleasures for the religious holiday. This meant drinking profusely, eating the best one had to offer and seducing unsuspecting ladies in masks.
Presently, Rome has no shortage of Carnevale traditions which last for days. One of the most well-known being the numerous parades held around Rome’s center. From Piazza Navona to Via del Corso, you’ll find parades full of masked performers and actors dressed in jester makeup. The most famous characters are “Rugatino” an overly-confident braggart from Trastevere, “Cassandrino” a nobleman, “Meo Patacca” a beloved young boy and “Don Pasquale” a wealthy old man. You’ll also see horses and carriages reenacting the Berber horse race, arguably the most important event of Carnevale until 1874 when it was abolished for safety reasons.
In addition to watching the parades around Piazza Navona, take a stroll to Piazza del Popolo to witness a fireworks display, street performers and families all dressed up and throwing confetti in all directions. Don’t forget to try the Carnevale foods such as frappe, fried dough with powdered sugar (much like funnel cake), or Castagnole, fried balls of dough that can be stuffed with Nutella, sweet ricotta or crème.
Though as we all know, the most recognized party is held in Venice. The more modern originators of the tradition. Carnevale in Venice is city wide and lasts weeks. This year Carnevale will begin on February 8th and end on February 25th with the official Carnevale dinner and ball. Entry to this epic event will cost you no less than 500 euro per person. If this is a bit too steep for you, don’t worry not every event is so exclusive. On any given day of the festivities you’ll find parades, dancing, drinking and plenty of eating in the streets.
If Rome or Venice are not within reach, have no fear, nearly every town no matter how big or small will have some party in celebration of Carnevale with all the typical festivities and street foods. So, no matter where you are in Italy, you’ll have no trouble finding an unforgettable party to attend during this time.
Katie Anne

14/12/2019

Christmas in Rome is a magical event. Festive lights begin to be put up starting in November. Little by little all of Rome turns into a light show. The season is officially kick started on December 8th the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, not only are lights seen in every corner of ancient Roman streets, but a nativity (known as presepe di natale in Italian) is set up in front of the Vatican and all over the city in stores and churches, Christmas trees are constructed in Piazza Venezia, Piazza Spagna, and Piazza San Pietro (best known as the Vatican). In addition, winter festival markets can be found scattered around the city, some of the most popular ones are Piazza Navona and Piazza Mazzini in the Prati area.
Leading up to the holidays, Rome has may events and festivities to consider attending. In addition to the winter markets, travelers should add ice skating to the list of things to do. Ice rinks are set up around Rome. The most popular ones are at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and Castel Saint Angelo. For a small price you can ice skate for hours. Also, near Castel Saint Angelo, a Christmas market is set up, don’t forget to grab some roasted chestnuts while you’re there. Make sure to allow time to visit Santa Maria Maggiore, for the permanent nativity. This nativity is carved in marble by Arnolfo di Cambio in the late 13th century. Below the altar is a reliquary which supposedly has pieces of the original manger. Also, the bells are rung at midnight to alert all to the start of Christmas.
With this festive season comes a few Roman traditions to accompany the celebrations. In true Italian fashion, one of the most important traditions for Christmas is having the right food. For example, on Christmas Eve Italians don’t eat meat. The tradition is to have a fish dinner some Roman families have as many as seven courses of fish; including eel, octopus, and shellfish. Following dinner, multiple desserts are a must! The most common are the sweet breads panettone (which has dried fruits inside) and pandoro (sweet bread dusted with confectioner’s sugar), as well as mostaccioli (spiced nut pastries). After all courses are finished, typically families will go to midnight mass at their local church or at Saint Peter’s Basilica. On Christmas Day another feast ensues. Typical foods such as lasagna, pasta, roasted meats, and plenty of dessert are consumed. Between lunch and dinner families usually gather to play tombola better known as bingo. However, if spending dinner at home isn’t quite what you have in mind, you won’t be the only one. Many Italian families choose to dine out for the holiday so it’s best to make reservations well in advance.
Another typical seasonal tradition in Rome is Bagpipers playing in the streets. These are meant to depict shepherds from ancient times who would travel down from rural villages in the mountains to Rome and other major cities and play their bagpipes for extra income. As legend tells it, some bagpipers played for the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. Now, bagpipers often stop at nativity scenes for a few minutes of silent homage.
Finally, one can’t mention Christmas traditions in Rome without mentioning Befana the good (yet still ugly) present bringing witch. She brings children presents on Epiphany Eve. The tale goes that the three wise men invited her to join their search for Christ. She declined due to too much housework but later changed her mind and has been looking for the child since, while leaving presents for any good children she comes across. Katie Anne

13/06/2019

You'll find a statue of Marcus Aurelius riding a horse in Piazza del Campidoglio. The statue now standing there is a replica what was made in 1981 due the original was taken down for restorations.
The original statue now standing in Palazzo dei Conservatori.
Campidoglio was previously devoted to the god of Saturn. This has been a center for both religious as well as political stories of the early years.
Today the Michelangelo’s square houses the headquarters of the wonderful Capitoline Museums and Rome’s Mayor Offices.

10/06/2019

09/06/2019

Guided tours to Colosseum with Skip-the-line entrance
www.romabout.com

09/06/2019

A symbol of Rome since ancient times - The Capitoline Wolf (Italian: Lupa Capitolina). It's one of the most recognizable icons of ancient mythology. The sculpture depicting a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome. The sculpture shows a she-wolf suckling the mythical twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

09/06/2019