When In Room

To many of you who have visited Rome you may well have been in Castel S'Angelo, or may have been past it on the way to the Vatican, however those who have not been to Rome, but have read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, or seen the film, may recognise the name and perhaps the building itself.

I recently visited Rome, after having read the Dan Brown book and seeing the film, and I must admit, as much as I am a culture, history buff, I perhaps wouldn't have visited this very outrageous building had it not been for the large emphasis put on it by Dan Brown. Basically I was intrigued to see the Church of Illumination, in the flesh.

Castel S'Angelo is located approximately a 5 minute walk from the Vatican City, and is actually on the river Tiber, and if you are en route to the Vatican from the East you will either walk by or drive by it (all the coaches/buses go past it). The Castel S'Angelo Bridge leads straight up to it, and gives you a great impression of the size.

The building itself was originally built as a dynasty tomb then converted in to a fortress (well suited due to the shape), finally becoming a papal residence after being noble dwellings, barracks, and a prison.

Now it stands as a cultural monument and museum which is open to the public. It costs 7 Euros but is free if you have a Roma Pass and it is one of the first 2 places you enter, if it is the third or so on, you can enter using the Roma Pass at a reduced price.

You can also hire the personalised tour guide which is computerised and tells you the history of the building. These are very popular throughout Rome attractions and at this one cost 4 Euros each, I suggest you buy one and share.

When you go through the ground outer entrance you find yourself within the wall of the grounds but not in the building, if you turn to your left you find the ticket station and entrance barriers, once admission is paid you can enter. There are toilets just inside the ticket entrance.

You can walk around the edge of the building within the walls, but not the whole 360 degrees. On entering, it is dark, you walk up some steps and enter a fairly large chamber called the Sepulchral Chamber. Inside is quote dark, although there are lights and windows around. It is also a nice break from the intense heat outside and due to the limited light and the stone walls it is very cool.

In the Sepulchural Chamber there is a hollow niche in the back wall which historians think was intended to hold a statue of Hadrian.

To the right there is a ramp which leads to the Mortuary Chamber, which is the heart of the building. Historians say the Chamber was originally all white marble containing the urns of Hadrian and his wife.

The ramp leads up to the middle of the building, it is long and curved around the central part of the building, going round and around. It is quite wide and goes on, around perhaps 3 storeys. When you reach the top of the ramp, you come out to another square chamber and then to the left there are stairs that lead up and out of the darkness.

The terrace is lovely and circles the entire building with great views of the city of Rome and the Vatican. There is toilets up here as well as a terrace restaurant, which looked a little expensive but very quaint and lovely, with tables scattered out on the terrace with vines and flowers overhead and around.

The terrace does have quite large window spaces for those who want to enjoy the view and those who want to take some pictures.

You can enter a stair case and go higher, which leads to the top of the building, another terrace but a large square one, which more great views, there is nothing else up here though. There is a stair case up one side, and one going down the other.

Above your head you can see very closely the statue of Archangel St. Michael, overlooking the terrace and castle in which the name originates from. The statue was created in memory of an ancient legend that if history be told correctly talks of the terrible plague that struck Rome in 590 AD, which ended thanks to the 'apparition of an angel' that appeared above the castle and conceded grace to the town when he sheathed his sword.

The statue is actually quite large, and you can see him from very far away. When up close it is quite intimidating seeing the scale of him. This is the final pointer to the church of illumination, in which the angel is in fact pointing below to the Castel S'Angelo in the Dan Brown story.

Castel S'Angelo has probably become more famous since Dan Browns intervention especially as the Corridoio or Passetto features quite importantly in the Angels and Demons story, this is due to the fact it is the fortified passageway linking the Vatican City to the castle. It is reserved for the Pope, if his escape from the Vatican is required. It is not open to the public, but can be seen like an old fashioned castle wall running between the Castel S'Angelo and the Vatican City.

I really enjoyed the building, mainly because a lot of the ruins in Rome are very samey but the architecture is quite unique at Castel S'Angelo although the round shape does remind me of the Pantheon.

The Colosseum in the centre of Rome - probably one of the most recognisable structures in the world. In 2007 the Colosseum was named one of the NEW seven wonders of the world.

On a recent trip to Rome I visited the Colosseum, back when we booked the trip, this was the first thing both my boyfriend and I had said we wanted to see.

We stayed approximately a 10 minute walk from the Colosseum and had decided on a bus trip to get our bearings. We sat on the bus looking around for any sighting of the famous structure and realised as we turned the corner on to Via Claudia we saw it, sitting at the end of the road in all its glory.

The History
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The Flavian Amphitheatre also known as the Colosseum was built in 72 AD, it was the first permanent amphitheatre built in Rome.

The Colosseum was started by Vespasian, then inaugurated by Titus in 80 A.D. then finally completed by Domitian.

The reason the name has changed from the Flavian Amphitheatre to the Colosseum was due to the 'colossal' statue situated outside but nearby.
The Colosseum was used for entertainment purposes, it was built to hold 50,000 spectators, with an estimate of 80 entrances. Now that's what I call crowd control! It was used for shows in which the whole of Rome attended. These shows were mainly barbaric, with gladiators fighting wild animals until the death.

The Colosseum covers 6 acres of land.

The Price
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If you have brought a Roma Pass the Colosseum is free if this is one of your first attractions, I would recommend buying the Roma Pass and using it for the Colosseum, especially in busy periods, as June was. Although we had brought the Roma Pass we were not aware on entrance you can actually avoid the main queues for the ticket booths and in fact by pass them completely and use the Roma Pass in the entrance machine, which lets you straight in. From entering to getting in took 2 and a half minutes. We were told outside to expect a 45 minute wait.

(For Roma Pass details, keep your eyes peeled, review to follow when dooyoo have approved it.)

If you opt for the queue and the usual route of buying a ticket it will cost you: 13.50 Euros. They also offer the very popular computerised personal guide, these cost: 4 Euros (approx). I would recommend one, at least one between two. There are many signs around the Colosseum, but the personal computerised tours have a lot more information and answer a lot more.

You can also buy tickets online prior to your trip, I don't know how reliable any of these sites are but there is a desk for internet tickets and again you avoid the large normal queue for everyone else.

Opening Times
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The Colosseum opens at 9am everyday and I would recommend getting there then, to avoid both the queues and the heat. In the summer it closes at 7.30pm, so perhaps going after lunchtime would also be an option.

My Thoughts
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I really enjoyed visiting the Colosseum and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Rome. The price was reasonable, when you compare it with attractions in the UK, and with the Roma Pass it made it affordable and quicker.

There is information around the outer wall of the Colosseum on the first level and although it is interesting it can get boring (there is no proper order, it seemed quite randomly spread out), and this is coming from someone who likes museums and reading information.

I would recommend getting one of the computerised guides as they are more informative.

When outside there are many people claiming to be 'guides' and offering tours for a price, these were approximately 25 Euros each, with the promise of skipping the queue. What a waste of time, you can skip the queue with pre-booked internet tickets or the Roma Pass, besides who knows who these people are, and what knowledge they actually have. I'm not an untrusting person, but unless someone shows me a history degree in Ancient Rome, I don't want to know. It can be annoying when they come up to you, you will see a minimum of 3 'guides' before you get to the door.

My biggest disappointment was the Colosseum at night, I thought it would be absolutely amazing, and while it was ok, it wasn't as lit up as I had seen on promotional materials and adverts. It was reasonably nice to look at, and was lit up a bit, but our camera couldn't pick it up in the dark even with the lights. I suppose they are going for the natural effect. I would have preferred if they'd had lights shining up at it, and the lights in the arches stronger, it would have been more breath-taking.

I think the Colosseum is a must, but you don't need to spend all day in there, I think we were in there about 2-2.30 hours, and that was enough, and we were walking around reading all the information and seeing the displays. Remember to wear sun cream as it is hot and there isn't loads of shade, everybody tries to hide.

Ruins, remember the Colosseum is ruins, and it is hard to imagine it in its full glory so make sure you see the display with how it did look. It is also a shame new bricks and bits have been added as it again affects how you perceive it, but obviously this was required to keep it standing.

An amazing piece of architecture!!

The Sistine Chapel was commissioned in 1475 by Pope Sixtus IV and this is where the name comes from too. It was designed for the Pope, as his chapel and is still used as today. The Papal elections also take place within the walls of the Sistine Chapel, and the important ritual of Conclave.

The entrance to the Sistine Chapel is not visible from the front (or what I call the front - St Peter's Square) you must walk round the walled state going right.

I would say the entrance is virtually half way round the entire state (so directly half way from the entrance at St Peters). I would call this the back. The entrance is quite large and seems purpose built for tourists. It is labelled Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums.

After queuing for 20 minutes we entered and queued to pay for our tickets. This cost 7 Euro's per adult.

Walking to the Sistine Chapel is quite far as you have to walk through many passages that include the Tapestry Gallery, this is great and you feel like you're getting your money's worth BUT I do find 20 corridors of very similar things boring (or dragged out), I mean yes the paintings and tapestries are amazing and intricately made or painted but really I've seen 100. I also know being human is to want to be 'top dog' but some of the stuff was disturbing, I know people have fought through the ages but paintings of grown men stealing and stabbing babies from women - is that art? Not in my book, I don't like looking at things like this, no matter who painted it.

After reading Angels and Demons I actually knew a fair bit more about the Sistine Chapel than my other half, we both had previously heard of it and he knew the paintings of Michelangelo were what made it famous, although I just assumed it was another holy room. I was not aware that this is the room where conclave took place and each new Pope was elected.

The Sistine Chapel is amazing and home to the famous painting of the twelve apostles by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II. Originally the ceiling was painted by Piero Matteo d'Amelia. Michelangelo was not happy about having to paint, he considered himself a sculpture and was working on the Popes tomb at the time. Lucky he did really take the opportunity to paint as it has ironically become his most famous piece. There are over 300 people in the work of art. Although this is one of the most spectacular pieces of art in the world today, Michelangelo suffered after 4 years of painting Michelangelo's eye sight was permanently damaged. This makes you really appreciate what it must have been like, stuck in the Sistine Chapel for 4 years, in dark, cramped conditions.

There are many tapestries and paintings to look out and it is a lot to take in.

Michelangelo was also asked back by Pope Clement IIV in 1534 to paint the Last Judgment on the alter wall. There are also tapestries on the walls designed by Raphael (for all you Angels and Demons fans), woven in Brussels in 1515-1519 then taken to the Vatican.

In the Sistine Chapel you are not supposed to talk (which is fine, except people do and the guards or workers shout at them to shut up) this completely ruins the atmosphere and totally lacks respect.

You are NOT allowed to take photos in here (and this is what gets me - why when told you are not allowed a picture, 10 people feel the urge to in fact defy the rules and take one?) This really annoys me as a tourism student I have learned a lot about preservation of these attractions and the reason you are not to take photo's is to preserve it, photo flashes very often affect paintings and colours so don't ruin it for the next generation by being selfish, if you want a picture in your album - google it and get an image. Rant over.

The Sistine Chapel is a must when visiting Rome and the Vatican, it isn't expensive, it's just a shame about the number of tourists, especially with all the corridors leading to the Sistine Chapel, you would think they would stagger entries. When I was in the Sistine Chapel it was over-crowded and ruined the experience a bit. I was more worried about treading on peoples toes than being able to fully appreciate the ceiling.

On a recent trip to Rome I visited the Vatican State - this was mainly due to the fact I had just read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I would have gone anyway but I felt I already knew so much about the state from reading the book. Therefore I was far more interested.

I am not a religious person, never have been, I appreciate those who have faith and beliefs in their own god or gods, I just don't. For me what happens happens.

The Vatican City (state) is located in West Rome, it sits nicely near the bank of the River Timbre and at the front of course is the large front with the Popes balcony, St Peters dome and St Peters Square set out before it (how everyone pictures the Vatican).

It was a hot day and I must admit whoever designed St Peter's Square didn't think about the heat, the ground is dark which in turn becomes very hot. Don't wear think flimsy shoes, you will feel the heat on your soles.

The Vatican has 44 full time residents including the Pope. The Vatican City is walled off and officially the smallest independent state in the world. Not part of Italy. (Even though it's in the middle of it).

The Swiss Guard operate the security for the Vatican City and those chosen are amongst those trained to the highest standard in the world.

St Peters Dome
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St Peter's dome is the large dome you can see from St Peter's Square or anywhere on your approach to the Vatican. It was Michelangelo's last great piece of work, the dome sits on St Peters Basilica (Church). It is a whooping 43 metres in diameter with a 71 metre perimeter. It also has 16 windows.

The dome is accessible to tourists; it can be confusing getting in to the Vatican to see the things you want, as there are many entrances for different parts and attractions.

Entrance to the dome is at the front (St Peter's Square) on the right hand side. You must queue here and then when you enter the front of St Peter's Basilica you must queue to the right hand side (always the longest queue) to gain access to the dome. This costs: 8 Euro's per adult.

The dome provides great views over the city of Rome and the Vatican.

St Peters Basilica
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St Peter's Basilica is the Church of St Peter, the first Pope. It is built on the tomb of Saint Peter who was crucified in 60 AC the resting place of Saint Peter has always raised questions.

Works started in 315 AC and were finished approximately 11 years later. Pope Nicola V decided to restore the Basilica to its former glory after a millennium of history had taken place within its walls. However after his death works were ceased on the command of Pope Giulio II, changing the project into the building of a new cathedral. Since many other alterations and demolitions undertaken over the years, we now have the current, spectacular St Peter's Basilica.

The architecture, sculptures, painting and detail throughout the whole basilica is quite extraordinary and amazing, I don't find churches appealing but the work and detail inside this building is quite breath taking.

Today the basilica is able to house 20,000 people in to the most famous church in Christianity and the house of god.

Entry is free.

Sistine Chapel
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The entrance to the Sistine Chapel is not visible from the front (or what I call the front - St Peter's Square) you must walk round the walled state going right.

I would say the entrance is virtually half way round the entire state (so directly half way from the entrance at St Peters). I would call this the back. The entrance is quite large and seems purpose built for tourists. It is labelled Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums.

After queuing for 20 minutes we entered and queued to pay for our tickets. This cost 7 Euro's per adult.

Walking to the Sistine Chapel is quite far as you have to walk through many passages that include the Tapestry Gallery, this is great and you feel like you're getting your money's worth BUT I do find 20 corridors of very similar things boring (or dragged out).

The Sistine Chapel is amazing and home to the famous painting by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II.

In the Sistine Chapel you are not supposed to talk (which is fine, except people do and the guards or workers shout at them to shut up) this completely ruins the atmosphere and totally lacks respect.

You are NOT allowed to take photos in here either.

Tombs of the Popes
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The Tombs of the Popes was quite surreal and weird, I have since learned there is a webcam watching and streaming live over the internet - I find this odd due to the nature of the attraction.

The Tombs of the Popes is pretty much what it is called - the many tombs of the previous Popes. You walk down a corridor in to a chamber that is mostly white and clean. It is not eerie.

The tombs of various Popes are laid out on each side of the walk way around the chamber.

The strange thing is each tomb seems quite elaborate and extravagant until you reach the most recent which was John Paul II (1978-2005), his tomb, is a slab of marble, that lies pretty much flat on the floor, there is no sculpture of him, it wouldn't look too out of place in a normal cemetery. It was quite disappointing as he was the Pope when I was born and the one I have seen on TV before he died.

Entry is Free.

The Vatican Museums
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The Vatican Museums contain paintings, sculptures and other masterpieces collected by the Popes throughout their rein.

The Sistine Chapel is technically part of these Museums.

The Museums are open every weekday morning and early afternoon to the public in the summer months.

These are a collection of different areas named specific museums relating to what is in them. Some of them are:
Pinacoteca
Raphael's Rooms
Egyptian Museum
Etruscan Museum
Gregorian Profane Museum
Chiaramonti Museum - Braccio Nuovo Gallery
Missionary Ethnological Museum
Chariot Room

And many more. There is also a workshop for the restoration of paintings etc which includes a scientific laboratory.

Entry is Free every last Sunday of each month otherwise there is a charge.

My Thoughts
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I liked the Vatican City, it was interesting and it owns the most amazing architecture, paintings, works of art, you name it, they own it.

They have the largest catalogue in the world, and although barely anything is on display, there is more than enough to look at.

It is annoying how you have to pay separately for different parts of attractions but I suppose this helps when you don't want to visit certain areas, so you can just pay as you go. I just didn't like all the different queues.

If visiting Rome you MUST visit the Vatican City, I can't explain how thoroughly interesting and mesmerising it is, so take my word for it, as the saying goes - when in Rome.

A lot of the Vatican City isn't on display and you can understand that, simply because it is the Pope's home. But it did get us thinking, he must get lost in all the corridors (it's big and confusing) and b) does he have camera's everywhere and watch and laugh at the tourists?

A very good experience and if you don't want to go in for the religious aspect, go in to get out of the sun. You might enjoy it and surprise yourself.

**WARNING**
YOU MUST WEAR KNEE LENGTH SHORTS - YOU CAN QUEUE BUT THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN!!!
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SHOULDERS COVERED TOO - TAKE A PASHMINA!

I recently went on a trip to Rome, my first trip in fact to Italy, I love culture and history so this city was a must on my list.

Location
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The Clarin Hotel is a 2 star hotel situated in Via Palermo, a street central to the city centre although on the Eastern side, and approximately a 5 minute walk from Termini Station and a 10-12 minute walk to the Coliseum and many other attractions.

I would recommend getting the train from the airport (either of them) to Termini Station as the hotel is 2 roads away from the station, and as long as your case has wheels or bag isn't heavy you'll be fine walking it.

How, where and why to book
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I ended up booking the Clarin Hotel via the intermediary Lastminute.com and I don't know how much they charge in commission but I still found it reasonably priced.

I have been on city breaks before where we have skimped on spending loads on a hotel in the centre and ended up suffering and having to wait for buses/trams/taxi's to take us in and out. Which ends up costing a bomb.

So I decided this trip we would pay the money and stay in the centre or walking distance to it to avoid being stuck 20 minutes out and not being in the thick of it, all over a few quid.

My main criteria was price and location, in that order. I am not a snob but would not stay in a hostel, just because I couldn't, I wouldn't feel comfortable. The Clarin Hotel was on a number of hotel booking sites and looked reasonable even for a 2 star hotel.

Price
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The price was £111 for 3 nights' accommodation, in a double room, with breakfast. The price was for the room not each. At £37 a night, we couldn't knock it. So I booked it through lastminute.com (in future I will definitely check out the website direct and preferably book direct).

The Hotel
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When we arrived in our transfer to the hotel, we were confused to see a Clarin Hotel sign by the front door, saying the hotel was on the 2nd floor. I have never come across this before, where a hotel didn't consist of the whole building but it was fine, we entered, walked up 2 flights of stairs (there is an old wooden lift but it looked scary - but it wasn't too bad as we later found out).

On the second floor there was a glass door both to the right and left so we could see in, the sign for the hotel was on the right, so in we walked, to the left is a lounge/luggage waiting area with a TV, straight in front is a small restaurant with tables and chairs, and to the right was a corridor and a reception desk, with a lovely old Italian guy sitting behind.

We presented the guy with our lastminute.com pre-paid hotel voucher and he proceeded to check us in, and give us our key, Room 124, follow the corridor round to the right and it was the first room. We were told breakfast was between 7-9am (not that we were planning on making it) and that if the main door downstairs was shut to buzz up and we'd be let in at any time, someone was behind reception 24 hours a day.

Our room
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We then went off to find out room. We opened the door to our room and found it was a basic but clean room, and not overly large.

The room contained a wardrobe and a desk with a chair. It also had a fan (lucky cause I didn't even think about air conditioning - which there was none, in the traditional a/c unit in the room kind of way). There was also a double bed with two bedside tables. The room was square with an alcove where the very large window was, it had large shutters and curtains that sectioned it off from the room. The large window was a great feature, I like natural light.

The room was quite light and although the furniture was dark wood the walls and bed sheets/curtains were light, pastel coloured pinks and yellows. Not my choice of colours but it was ok.

There was a door that lead to the bathroom, which was tiny, it was a thin long room that had a toilet to the right a sink straight in front and a shower to the left. I am relatively small at 5'2 and petit and even I found it hard to shower without knocking my elbows on the walls, I honestly don't know how my other half managed it being 6'1 and of a larger frame than myself.

The bathroom was clean although the shower was rather old and the water came out a bit all over the place, but it was perfectly useful and had a good water pressure (always important in a shower).

In the bathroom was, 2 shower caps, 2 bars of soap (mini ones) and 2 shampoo sashays.

On the bed was a sheet and an over through, which I ended up under because the fan did get quite cold through the night. We also had one pillow each, they weren't the most plump but good enough. The bed itself was comfortable although not a large double.

The hotel was mainly quiet although one evening I could hear the neighbours chatting away well in to the early hours but that was because I had the window wide open. Not the fault of the hotel.

Our room was also on the inside of the building facing a courtyard type thing rather than the road. But I don't think I would have minded being on the either side as the hotel in on a pretty quiet road in a quiet area.

The breakfast was typical continental, with coffee and tea available as well as juices, cereals, toast and croissants. The staff would be there to serve and were very friendly and helpful, although we did only make breakfast once (I'm not a morning girl).

The staff were excellent always helping and being very friendly, on our last night the old Italian guy suggested a restaurant down the same road, and openly told us his friend owned it, and said it was good, and to mention the Clarin Hotel.

We went to Pasta Love (the recommended hotel) and had the best, most authentic, and cheapest meal (without mentioning the hotel) and it was the by far the most enjoyable meal of the holiday. We stupidly ate at the Hard Rock Cafe (real Italian experience I know).

On the day we left, we were told we could leave our bags in the lounge area, there is no cupboard or anything and these could have been taken, although there is someone behind reception 24 hours a day. But it felt safe, we left our cases and they were fine, this was from 9am-1pm.

Overall
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I would totally recommend a weekend to Rome to anyone who is interested, I would also say this hotel is not 5 star, top notch quality, but it is clean, a good location, it is reasonably priced and the owners/workers are great.

To look at the hotel or book direct their website is: www.clarinhotel.com