Testaccio
Testaccio is the name of the twentieth district of Rome. The name comes from the so-called "mount" (Mons Testaceus): 35 meters of fragments of pottery (testae, in Latin), and various debris, accumulated over the centuries as remainders of the transport heading to the port of Ripa Grande (Emporium).
The Emporio port worked since Roman times, and was the landing point of goods and raw materials (primarily marble, grain, wine) that arrived by sea from the port of Ostia, went up the river on barges hauled in by buffaloes which in 1842 were replaced by steam trailers.
Over the centuries, the shards of amphorae, which were used to contain wheat and liquid foods during transport, accumulated in a hill, hence the name - ancient - of Monte Testaccio or Shards Mount (“Monte dei cocci”), and the choice - modern - of the amphora as a symbol of the district. The number of stacked jars is estimated at around 25 million.
The empty jars that had contained mostly oil were broken into pieces and arranged neatly to provide stability in a stepped pyramid and sprinkled with lime to prevent odors due to decomposition of organic residues.
The marbles, which gave the name to the street Marmorata that connects the port of Ripa with Porta San Paolo, were the ones the Romans continued to import from all over the Mediterranean sea till the end of the empire, and that with the decay of Rome remained unused in large quantities, “res nullius”, for centuries as open quarry of semi-finished products of value.
Until the restoration and urban redevelopment begun after 1870, which assigned this area and along the Ostiense down to the basilica of St. Paul to industrial activities and "heavy" services (railways, slaughterhouse, general markets, gas factory moved here from Circus Maximus), the area, despite being located inside the city walls, was populated by poor farmers and shepherds, subject to floods of the Tiber and infested by malaria, which was beginning at the gates of Rome.
Trastevere
The Trastevere is the ideal place for losing yourself in its colourful streets, squares and vast gardens, such as those of Julius Caesar, where apparently Cleopatra once lived. Once inhabited by craftsmen, fishermen and traders, it is now one of the city´s most characteristic neighbourhoods, where the visitor to our House can walk and look around.
The Coliseum and the Roman Forum
The Coliseum is a true Roman architectural marvel, with a capacity for 60,000 spectators and the symbol of the famous fights between gladiators and wild beasts. The Forum was the centre of the political, religious and commercial life of Ancient Rome. If you come to our hotel in Rome, you simply must visit the via Sacra [Sacred Road], once the site of religious processions and victory marches.
Piazza Navona and Fontana di Trevi
During your stay at our hotel in Rome, you must also visit the Baroque works. The Piazza Navona is one of the typical squares of Baroque Rome, with its ever-full terrace cafés. It boasts the Fountain of the Four Rivers, which represents the giants of the epoch: the River Plate, the Danube, the Ganges and the Nile. And visitors should not forgot to throw in the mandatory coin into the waters of the Fontana di Trevi to make sure that they will return to the Eternal City one day, where they will always have a place in our House.
Piazza di Spagna
The Piazza di Spagna, with its large staircase, has always been a meeting point, not just for Romans, but also for foreign visitors and artists. The square is also the point of departure for the most famous streets, such as via Condotti, packed with shops selling all the international fashion brands.
The Vatican
By staying at our House you can also make the most of the opportunity to visit this state, which has been independent since 1929, erected on the site where Saint Peter the Martyr suffered and was buried. In the 4th Century AC, Constantine, the first Christian emperor, together with Bramante, Michelangelo and Maderno, built a splendid basilica, which was successively rebuilt until it was consecrated in 1626.
St. Peter's Basilica
No photograph could ever convey the impact of this magnificent building on visitors, the splendour of its decoration, the works of art it houses, such as Michelangelo's dome and the great Saint Peter's Square. Whether you come to our House on a pleasure trip or for spiritual reasons you must come to admire this basilica.
The Vatican Museums
Any stay at our hotel in Rome is a fine opportunity to enjoy the city's art and culture. The fruit of centuries of collecting and papal commissions, the city has Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan and Renaissance art treasures, such as the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.
Castel Sant’Angelo
The Road of the Conciliation leads to the Castel Sant'Angelo, the fortress of the popes, erected in the Middle Ages over the remains of the tomb of emperor Hadrian (2nd Century AD). Close to the Trastevere area, we would propose a walk through the nearby streets, finishing at our hotel in Rome, for which purpose the best time of day is dusk.