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Dolce Idea: A Sweet Idea in Trastevere

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Several months ago we had the sweetest clients who gave us the nicest gift of assorted chocolates.  I’ve mentioned it a few times before, but I am a complete lover of chocolate. I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic, so you can imagine my excitement when we received such a thoughtful gift.

Fast forward to last week.  I was walking down a side street in Trastevere, one I had walked numerous times before, but this time I noticed a familiar logo.  It was the logo from the chocolate shop where our lovely gift came from.  Of course, I had to take a detour and enter inside.  The name of the shop is Dolce Idea, and let me tell you, what a sweet idea it was to go inside!

 


There was an assorted array of chocolates displayed behind the glass counter, which immediately started my mouth watering.  The small, specialty chocolate shop was also filled with a rainbow of pastel and brightly colored wrapped chocolate eggs in preparation for Easter (known as Pasqua in Italian).  This shop has some of the prettiest decorated eggs I have seen in Rome so far.  They even had small chocolate bunnies, like in the States (not the norm here).

If you are looking for an Easter gift, or just want to spoil someone (or yourself) with tasty chocolates and beautiful edible treats, be sure to visit Dolce Idea.

 

Dolce Idea
Via San Francesco a Ripa, 27
Roma, 00153 (in Trastevere)
Telephone: 06 5833 4043
http://chocolate.dolceidea.com/

Digital Representation of Ancient Rome

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Below is a fun video I stumbled across.  It is a digital representation of ancient Rome from 320 AD.  It is intriguing to think what life and the city of Rome must have been like so many centuries ago!  Hope you enjoy! 

 

 

Lux In Arcana: The Vatican Secret Archives Revealed

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Photo courtesy of  http://www.luxinarcana.org
One hundred original documents from the Vatican Secret Archives are now on display at the Capitoline Museums in Rome from March through September.  The documents have been sealed in the Pope’s archives for 400 years, and this is the first time they have been made available for the public to view (and may possibly be the only time), or have even left the confines of the Vatican City walls. 
 
Some of the documents available for viewing at the exhibition include:
  • A handwritten note by Marie Antoinette of France while she was in prison
  • Proceedings from the heresy trial of Galileo Galilei on his scientific theories
  • A letter from Michelangelo to the bishop of Cesana regarding the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica
  • An appeal by the English Parliament asking the Pope to annul Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon
  • A letter written on silk from Empress Helena of China to Pope Innocent X, dated November 4, 1650.
  • A letter from Abraham Lincoln to Pope Pius IX
The documents will be on display at the Capitoline Museums, located in Piazza del Campidoglio, until September 9, 2012.  The exhibition is open Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with last admission at 7:00 PM.  Regular tickets are €12, and include entrance to both the exhibit and Capitoline Museums.  For further details, you can visit the official exhibition site by clicking here (available in English and Italian).  

 

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Why Rome?

Theatrical Light Show in Piazza del Popolo

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During Carnevale, we really enjoyed the parades, fireworks, horse show and the various entertainment in the piazzas, but one of our favorite things was the theatrical light shows displayed on the gateway, Porta del Popolo, located in Piazza del Popolo.

Porta del Popolo on a regular day. 


A little history on the gateway:  Piazza del Popolo, known as the people’s square, was the entrance and first impression visitors received when arriving to ancient Rome.  The Via Flaminia, built in 220 BC, was the road built to connect Rome to the Adriatic Coast, and was one of the most important roads leading to Rome.  A gateway connected Via Flaminia to Piazza del Popolo.  The large gateway was originally known as Porta Flaminia, but was later renamed Porta del Popolo (this is the name used today).  The gateway we see today was reconstructed by Bernini (yes, the same Bernini who constructed the magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona) and Pope Alexander VII in 1655.

During the light shows, images bounced around to the beat of the lively music, and it was a lot of fun to watch as the ancient gateway seemed to come to life.

You can see a video of one of the theatrical light performances below.  Be sure to watch until the end for the finale.  Hope you enjoy!

 

The Close of Carnevale With Fat Tuesday Fireworks

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Below are a few photos and a short video from the fireworks display the city of Rome put on in Piazza del Popolo for the finale of Carnevale the night of Fat Tuesday (known as Martedi Grasso in Italian).

I apologize for the quality not being the best, but hopefully you will be able to get a feel of the festivities.  Hope you enjoy!