rome blog

Summer holidays are almost over… But don’t worry! Finally the famous autumn festivals of Rome are coming, to celebrate the start of a new season. A lot of countries have festivals and traditional feasts to celebrate the arrival of autumn. We change our eating habits and slowly people start to adapt to a new rhytmn, aware of the fact that vacation is over. They go back to work, children back to school, etc….

But the end of summer doesn’t mean that everything ends, that there are no more parties and we should all stay in home to watch television. In fact, this is only the beginning of new times and new parties! Millions of festivals are about to start, where you can taste local wines and not to forget traditional autumn specialities like chestnuts. Let yourself be swept away by the enchanting scenery of little villages between the hills, mountains or simply by the streets that are filling with new people and different smells. You will love it!

Around this time, a lot of villages near the Italian capital host interesting fairs and autumn festivals. In general everything is organized untill the smallest detail, with regional food, typical music and performances. If you haven’t experienced one of these celebrations, you haven’t lived the true Roman tradition. Rome and her surroundings offer you a wide range of traditional feasts and folklore.

For example, 29th of september, the inhabitants of Marino celebrate the Grape Festival. Marino is the site of the Roman castles, a little town about 37 Km from Rome. This festival has been held since 1930, but its roots date back to 1571 when the fleet of the “Holy Alliance”, led by Captain Marcantonio Colonna, defeated the Turks. The grapes are carried through the streets in big wagons, and later handed out. This happening is accompanied by lots of cultural events and shows.
Meanwhile, from 23rd of october until 26th of october the ‘Sarga de la castaña’ is taking place – the festval of chestnuts. The city of Segni (65 Km from Rome) celebrates this festival every year because chestnuts are considered very nutritive. The festivities take place along the main street, where the shops and wineries offer local products. During night there is live music, and you can see some funny skits.

So what do you think? Looking forward to an autumn break and visit the beautiful city of Rome? Rent the best apartments in Rome, and discover not only the magic of the eternal city, but as well its surroundings.

Here it comes again! The fourth edition of the International Rome Film Festival 2009 will take place from October 13th to October 23rd. This event has become over the years an indisputable and very apreciated festival by the general public. The Official Selection has chosen 12 films for the official competition and another 6 out of competition, which will include premieres of international films and great events that will count on the best in national and international stars of the world of cinema and film.

The films will compete for the Marc ‘Aurelio Awards. An international jury composed of seven members, all from the world of cinema and art , will be bestowing the Golden Marc ‘Aurelio Award for best film and two Silver Marc’Aurelio for the best actress and the best actor. The jury will be presided by the Czech director Milos Forman, author of award-winning works such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Hair, Ragtime, Amadeus or Larry Flynt.

As in the previous edition, the public will choose the best movie giving the Gold Award to the Best Film by electronic voting, which will take place after all projections. One of the famous international artists who is sponsoring this event is Meryl Streep. She is this year’s guest at the Festival and will present the films out of competition in the Official Section and take her Golden Marc ‘Aurelio for her career in cinema. Sean Connery, Sophia Loren and Al Pacino have won the same award in recent years.

Among the Italian titles that take part in the Official Section of the Festival are: Viola de Mar by Donatella Mallorca, with Valeria Solarino and Isabella Ragonese. It is based on the new Giacomo Pilati novel (Minchia), which tells a love story between two women in patriarchal Sicily in the year 800. The other title is “Alsa la testa” by Alessandro Angelini played by Sergio Castellitto, in the role of a father who brings his teenage son into the world boxing.

What are you waiting for? Book your trip to Italy, and rent the best apartments in Rome. Don’t miss this incredible International Rome Film Festival 2009.

While it’s true to say that the Italian gay movement is still lethargic compared to their Western European neighbours, it is also true that it is slowly emerging despite the presence and influence of the Catholic Church. In recent years Rome has noticed an increasing tolerance toward the gay community. So much so, that in 2007 the first gay street was inaugurated in the city. Over time many new gay bars have opened, too.

Good proof of the increasing visibility of the gay world is the celebration of the Gay Village festival, one of the more consolidated gay events you’ll find across Europe. From September 3rd to September 5th all kinds of activities related to the gay scene are celebrated: from theatre, through concerts, movie passes, parties etc.

The famous Roman “Gay street” is located in the central San Juan de Letrán street, near the Colosseum, and it supposed a great triumph for the gay community that had a new place where to meet together. Now hundreds of gays and lesbians spend their weekend nights in this famous “Gay Street”.

Other gay clubs or bars in the capital are: the L’Alibi (Via di Monte Testaccio, 40), a classic with over 40 years of history where the best house music is played; the Coming Out (Via San Giovanni in Luterano, 8); is a mixed bar with most pleasant atmosphere and where many events are held. The Hangar (Via in Selci 69) deserves a special mention because it was the first gay bar in the city. With an international and hot atmosphere, it appears in all the tourist guides of the city and is always full! The Max Bar (Via Achille Grande, 7) has a very varied public and from all ages; the Frutta e Verdura After Hour (Via Placido Zurla, 68) is the most popular gay club in Rome; finally, the Apeiron (Via dei Quattro Cantón, 5) is an exclusively men’s bar where men perform strip-tease. It is necessary to have an annual pass to get in.

But Rome hides many other attractions besides its gay life. Its incredible archaeological remains will leave you speechless: the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain or the Roman ruins are just some of its many wonders. Not to mention its delicious cuisine! Stay in these apartments in Rome, the best and cheapest in the whole city.

Today the Gothic subculture is associated with the Goth music and fashion. In fact, young people who are fans of the gothic genre, usually dress in black, and use makeup with colours like black, dark blue or dark red. The Gothic music is composed of different styles, but the trend it usually follows are dark and gloomy sounds. The clothes are a mixture of punk fashion, gothic dresses, androgynous clothes or inspired in the Renaissance and Victorian fashion, or even a combination of all these styles.

From the beginning of the 80’s up to the 90’s, the members of the Gothic movement were called Grufties (creatures of the tomb) and they emerged in Germany. In fact, they were a fusion of the gothic genre and the New Romantic influence. With this merger, there arose the first stage of the dark culture, later re-baptized as the Darkwave culture. These young people love punk music, which over the years has evolved assuming new forms. Today we can say that this cultural movement is known as the Gothic culture. The gothic fashion is often confused with the heavy metal fashion, especially when they dress in black trench coats or use corpse paint, that is often associated with black metal music. They are also confused with the emo urban tribe, especially those who wear black sweatshirts and converse shoes. To clarify the term, the Gothics are those who dress in a Victorian style.

Like in many other big cities, in Rome there are many young people who love this genre, and because of that there are many gothic shops and restaurants.

We may mention some places to visit if you’re in the beautiful city of Rome, such as: Noche Krypta gótico, Jungla Club, Konfession, Velvet Club, Negro salida… But there are not only clubs to spend unforgettable nights out in Rome, there are also incredible shops and great flea markets to buy something new and gothic.

If you’re a Gothic fashion fan or even if you are simply curious to discover a new lifestyle or genre, rent the best apartments in Rome. You will certainly learn more about the gothic urban tribes!