Rome - The eternal city is calling you...

There are numerous options when it comes to city breaks in Rome, whether you are planning a group holiday, stag do or hen party, a package deal or a wonderfully romantic honeymoon, city breaks in Rome provide the most unforgettable vacation experience and will leave you wanting to return time and time again. The first thing you will notice when embarking on one of the fantastic city breaks in Rome is the incredible architecture that graces this beautiful city. You'll find it interesting in spending some time to discover some of the superb Roman gems that this city is so famous for. The large and very attractive Colosseum was made in 72 AD and, although it's structure is one of almost delicate charm, this imposing piece of architecture was truly built for a great deal more sinister motives. Here the Romans would have enjoyed some very brutal and deadly blood sports involving both animals and men. Around 50,000 blood thirsty spectators could have been seated in this large building and would have entered through one of the 80 ornate archways. An absolute must see whilst enjoying one of the superb city breaks in Rome.

Nothing was ever done on a small scale. It is also certainly worth paying a visit to the Vatican City, actually a city in its own right and home to the pope. Here you will discover the amazing St.Peter's Basilica. This great, domed building houses 45 alters where a plethora of very precious religious art is displayed, the basilica also comes with 11 chapels, a spectacular architectural feat and well worth a good look whilst taking pleasure in one of the great city breaks in Rome. Attached to the Vatican via secret passageway is the Castel Sant'Angelo. The passageway, known as the 'Passetto di Borgo' was once used by popes who were trying to find refuge from city invasions. The famous Vatican Museums are also located here and Michelangelo's breathtaking Sistine Chapel. Keep in mind these beautiful places while having fun in the beautiful eternal city of Rome.

If you would like to book a trip to Rome and a chance to see the amazing sights such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum, please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Antico Forno ai Serpenti - the best pane, pizza and biscotti in town!

Rome’s Monti district is becoming increasing known as one of the best food area's of the city with many food shop openings recently. The most notable opening was that in December of Antico Forno ai Serpenti, a new bakery opened on the corner of Via dei Serpenti and Via Panisperna. The owner, Mr Alessandro Santomauro, a friend of Bellarome Italian Holidays commented:
"It’s a longstanding personal passion of mine, I’m a lawyer by training and I’ll continue practicing. After deciding to open the forno, my challenge was to find a bread maker/baker who could create the high quality traditional products that I envisioned and an architect to restore the space.  Luckily, I met the Conti family who agreed to work with me in this venture. The Conti family are very well known and talented in the art of bread and pastry making. They own the “Antico Forno di Trastevere. Sergio Conti is onsite daily testing and retesting his family recipes making sure our customers receive consistent delicious baked goods while his sister, Elisabetta, supervises the counter."

The name Antico Forno ai Serpenti was the name of the old original forno that was located in the same building, but closed a few years ago. The sign on Via Parnisperna speaks of a time past, of the old forno, so Mr Santomauro decided to keep the name but create a interior space that is visibly different. The forno is chameleonic; you can enjoy cornetti (croissant) for breakfast, lasagna for lunch or a quick after-work aperitivo. The specialities of the forno include pizza bianca (Roman style pizza usually topped with olive oil and salt and sold by weight), pizza rossa (Roman style pizza topped with tomato sauce) and traditional breads from the region of Lazio including cioriola romana (individual size bread) and lariano (loaves made from whole wheat, a natural yeast starter, simple yeast dough, salt and water). For sweets cornetti, ciambellone (bundt cake) and brutti ma buoni (ugly but good gluten free) cookies and of course panettone for the holiday season. 

Antico Forno ai Serpenti uses the the best local products, such as prosciutto di Bassiano and ricotta romana cheese which are both from the region of Lazio.  The forno aims to deliver an all around positive experience to its clients; high quality products, outstanding and friendly customer service and a warm atmosphere.  You can visit Antico Forno ai Serpenti on the corner of Via Parnisperna and Via dei Serpenti, Monday – Saturday from 7:00 am to 10:00pm and Sunday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.
If you would like to book a trip to Rome and a chance to see the most exciting new forno in town, please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Spending Christmas and/or New Year's in Rome

Rome is where Christmas originated and has always been a top city to visit during the Christmas holiday season. The first Christmas mass took place at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the earliest known permanent nativity was created for the Rome Jubilee in 1300. The rich and colourful Christmas season officially opens on 8th December. Visiting Rome during the Christmas season is a whimsical and enchanting experience. You will discover just how pleasurable it is to stroll along the decorated streets of the eternal city; how heart-felt it is to take part in the papal audience on Christmas Day; and how filling it is to taste the scrumptious traditional fare on offer in the city's characteristic osterie. Thanks to the sunshine and the mild climate, it can be a pleasant winter treat to sit outdoors with a steaming cup of vin brulé (mulled wine). Click here for more information on Bellarome’s Rome Christmas package.

Also in Rome, the term "New Year's" just isn't big enough to encapsulate the level of excitement that builds after a joyous holiday season. For Italians, New Year's is the culmination of holiday merriment that has already been underway for weeks. It represents a time for family, a time for community, a feast of holiday food and drink, and symbolizes a time to wash away the past year in the hope of a prosperous New Year. Holiday celebrations in Rome extend through all of December until the 6th January, when the Festa della Befana signals the close of the holiday season. New Year's celebrations usually include open-air concerts, markets, festivals and all night activities in piazzas throughout Italy. At the stroke of midnight, tradition requires that lentils and cotechino are eaten to bring about wealth and prosperity in the New Year. Click here for more information on Bellarome’s Rome New Year’s package.

Rome is not the only great place to spend Christmas or New Year’s in Italy, with Bellarome you can also celebrate in many other locations, including Venice, Milan, Verona, Genoa, Naples, Florence, Turin and many more.
If you would like to book a Rome Christmas or New Year’s package deal, please call one of our dedicated team 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Discover Rome’s Latest Great Sight

As one of the best kept secrets in Rome re-opens to the public Bellarome Italian Holidays is encouraging its clients to book holidays to Rome in order to see this beautiful site. Recent work has seen the popular street of Via Santa Maria completely rejuvenated, with the three gardens lying between il Tempio di Vesta and la Bocca Della Verita having been beautifully landscaped.
The first garden offers somewhere for tourists and locals alike to relax and enjoy their surroundings. The recent work has seen the garden raised and its now boasts a beautiful, open lawn.  The second garden is located where the roads coming from Lungotevere meet. This affords easy access to all three gardens from the popular Tiber embankment. The recent renovations have seen this second garden transformed into a small rose garden (or “Roseto”). It features various ancient and rare species and is something special to behold. The third garden, located at the extreme end closest to the Tempio di Vesta, is in the traditional Italian style.
A source at Bellarome Italian Holidays, said,
“The popular street of Via Santa Maria in Cosmedin has been totally transformed. The three gardens located between il Tempio di Vesta and la Bocca Della Verita have been beautifully landscaped… These gardens truly are a beautiful sight”
If you would like to book a trip to Rome, please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday scooter on display in Rome Exhibition

A collection of dresses and other wardrobe treasures worn by Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn – along with the scooter she immortalised in her breakout role in "Roman Holiday" – goes on display on today in Rome. The Vespa scooter on which Hepburn explored the Eternal City with co-star Gregory Peck – the role that shot the petite and stylish British actress to international stardom – is foremost among the items featured in the "Audrey in Rome" exhibition at the Ara Pacis museum. Alongside the green Vespa, the display features Hepburn's oversized sunglasses, scarves and dresses. There are also some 150 photographs of Hepburn in Rome, many of them catching her going about her private life after she settled in the city following her marriage to Italian neuro-psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, with whom she had a son, Luca, in 1970. One shows Hepburn buying flowers; another walking her Yorkshire terrier. Part of the proceeds from the show will go to the UN Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), for which Hepburn served as a goodwill ambassador before dying of cancer in 1993 aged 63. [Source The Telegrapgh at www.telegrapgh.co.uk]

For more details on Rome package deals visit: http://www.bellarome.com/destinations/lazio/rome/rome-package-deals.asp or please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

Milan Fashion week dispute continues!

The organisers of the fashion weeks of New York, London, Milan and Paris are currently at loggerheads with an issue over clashing dates that threatens to destabilise the multibillion-pound global fashion industry. Milan has recently announced that its fashion week next September will overlap those of New York and London, meaning that if no solution can be found, department store buyers and fashion magazine editors would be forced to choose one city over another. Organisers at London and New York are upset with Milan Fashion Week organiser at Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana over this clash, but at spokesman from Milan claim that the blame lies with London and New York: "There is a serious misunderstanding, but if we have to go head to head, then we will."

British and American sources say the deal that was struck in 2008 that decreed that New York's fashion week would begin on the second Thursday of September, then followed consecutively by London, Milan and Paris was meant to stand permanently, but the Italians and French claim it was only agreed for three years. It is believed that New York and London are preparing an appeal to the largest Italian fashion companies for co-operation in changing the dates of Milan Fashion Week. However it is also thought that further pressure will be applied to the Milan organiser as London and New York claim they have already received informal support from some of the industry's largest retail and magazine interests that they will take precedence over Milan. Whichever decision is concluded, relations have been severely will be bruised.

For more details on Milan Fashion week package deals and other packages to Milan visit: http://www.bellarome.com/destinations/lombardy/milan/milan-package-deals.asp or please call one of the Bellarome dedicated team members 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

November/December Special Offers!

	Naples (2 nights) 5 Star Boutique London Gatwick | Grand Hotel Parker | £299 per person 4 Star London Gatwick | Best Western Hotel Paradiso | £199 per person Click here for more details
	Venice (2 nights) 5 Star Superior London Stansted | Hotel Boscolo Dei Dogi | £349 per person 4 Star London Stansted | Hotel Royal San Marco | £299 per person Click here for more details
	Rome (2 nights) 4 Star London Gatwick | Hotel Quirinale | £299 per person 3 Star London Gatwick | Hotel Windrose | £199 per person Click here for more details
	Milan (2 nights) 4 Star London Gatwick | Best Western Hotel Galles | £189 per person 4 Star Copenhagen | Grand Hotel Puccini | £199 per person Click here for more details
	Parma (2 nights) 3 Star London Stansted | My One Hotel Art | £119 per person 4 Star Copenhagen | Hotel Verdi | £179 per person Click here for more details
	Bologna (3 nights) 5 Star London Stansted | Grand Hotel Baglioni Majestic | £319 per person Click here for more details
	Trieste (2 nights) 4 Star London Stansted | Hotel Continentale | £189 per person Click here for more details

To enquire about one of the above deals please call one of our dedicated team on 0844 993 4139 or Click here to send us an enquiry.

We also have many other great holidays in Italy available at www.bellarome.com

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