The pretty Hotel Giada is located in a prestigious and central position in the historical centre of Rome, in the Esquiline district. The Esquiline was the largest of the Seven Hills of Rome. Its claim to fame comes from Nero who built his
St. Mary Major |
Domus Aurea (golden house) upon it. Before the Empire, the eastern end of the Esquiline was used for dumping refuse and the burial pits (puticuli) of the poor. Criminals were executed by the Esquiline gate. Burial was forbidden within the city proper and the burial area of the Esquiline was outside the city walls. For health reasons, Augustus had the burial pits covered over with soil to create a park called the Horti Maecenatis (Garden of Maecanas). The Colosseum, Temple of Claudius, and Baths of Trajan were located on the Esquiline area as well. Landscape of the district is
St. Mary Major Basilica: of all the great Roman Basilicas, this is the most successful blend of different architectural styles. the cosmatesque marble floor and delightful Romanesque bell tower, with its blue ceramic roundels, are medieval. The Renaissance saw a new coffered ceiling and the Baroque gave the church twin domes and its imposing front and rear façades. The mosaics are S. Maria’s most famous feature. The most important and imposing symbol of Rome is for sure the
Colosseum, reachable in a pleasant walk of 10 minutes: In 72 AD, Emperor Vespasian decided to devote part of the area occupied by
Trevi Fountain |
the Nero's Domus Aurea to public entertainment, and built the biggest Roman amphitheatre in the world: the Colosseum. This Flavian amphitheatre took its name either because it stood near the statue of Nero, the "Colosseum", or because of its own colossal dimension. Three types of columns support the arcades and the walls are made of brick and volcanic tufa faced with marble blocks. Colosseum is well-known for the spectacles organised in it, consisting in duels between gladiators and wild animals. These spectacles went on for centuries and were banned only in 404. From the Colosseum starts the enchanting
Roman Forum: it was the civic and political hearth of Roman Empire, tracing nowadays, with its few columns and ruined walls, 12 centuries of history. The Forum had many functions: it was in the same time the reference for daily life, politics and religion. In about 550 BC this valley became a real square at the centre of a town. The last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, was thrown out in 509BC and the Consulate was instituted. The Republican era had begun: Rome began to develop into an Empire. In a pleasant walk or by 2 subway stops (less than 10 minutes), you can also reach other symbols of Rome: the
Trevi Fountain and the
Spanish Steps. The first is a Baroque masterpiece: it has a scenographical effect, guaranteed by the restricted space of the surrounding, which presents itself as a theatre. The central niche depicts Neptune riding a chariot driven by
Naiadi's Fountain |
sea horses and the water flows over rocks before collecting in a pool below. According to legend, if you throw a coin into the water by expressing a wish, the wish will become true and you will certainly return to Rome. The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna are some of Rome’s most famous sights, due to their popularity as meeting point and to the position at the heart of the city’s shopping area. From the upper terrace there is an excellent view of the city.
Close to the Hotel there is the beautiful
Piazza della Repubblica and the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. In Piazza della Repubblica lies the
Naiadi’s Fountain by Mario Rutelli (1885) that features four naked bronze nymphs that represent water in its various forms. The church dedicated to
St. Mary of the Angels, was constructed by Michelangelo in 1563 with the building material from a part of the Baths of Diocletian.
The place in which is the Hotel Giada is very well equipped with public transportation: just about 150 mt from the hotel there is the subway stop of “Termini” (Line A and Line B) and many bus lines that will connect you to all the major sights of the Eternal City in a very short time.
So, let’s start visiting Rome from the Hotel Giada and have a nice holiday!
