Lazio

ROME WRAPPED IN MYSTERY: 
A visitor can’t come home without visiting first S. Maria della Concezione’s church, also knows as “the Cowl-friars’ church” of Veneto road. It was built very close to the Barberinis’ Palace, between 1624 and 1630, under the Pope Urbano VIII. Its peculiarity is due to the adjacent cryptal colonnade, adorned with almost 4000 bones of friars died between 1528 and 1870, disinterred from the Cowl-Friars’ cemetery. In the inner crypt, formed by several interconnected chapels, we find mummified-corpses of the friars wearing the typical sackcloth. It is not quite easy to well describe the emotional sensation that occurs while visiting this place. The Chapels are entirely decorated with human bones, composing garlands, stars and chandeliers. The corpses are obviously chemically treated, to allow their preservation in the years. It is a real historical trip.

The magnificent Domus of Valentini Palace: there are about 18 ms’ soil from where Romolo and Remo used to walk up to where we walk now! 18 meters of amazing things the subterranean organization of Rome is in charge to discover. One of the most extraordinary among those is the Valentini Palace’s Domus, an old-family rich and ambitious imperial mansion. Here it is possible to go through an interactive guided route. The visitor sees walls, old rooms, thermal baths, decorations and furniture of the ancient Rome through a virtual tour around the Domus. There also is a plastic model of the area, Valentini Palace, which helps the visitor in locating the various areas.

The Jazz House: situated in Porta Ardeatina’s boulevard, in the innerside of a marvellous park. Why is it so beautiful? Because its motto is “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing”, quoting Duke Ellington, its nights and musical events offer a beautiful atmosphere and a lot of fun.

CONTEMPORARY ROME:
Between the Parioli area and the Olympic Village’s hill you will be able to glimpse the Renzo Piano’s Auditorium, the core of musical encounters. Not far from there, in Flaminio district, the Anglo-Iraqui architect Zaha Hadid, first woman winning a Pritzker prize, designed the MAXXI, the XXI Century National Museum of Arts, close to the Montello’s barracks area. Travelling around the modern Rome you absolutely need to visit Eur district. Even being a little out of usual touristic tours, you don’t want to miss visiting Tor Tre Teste district. Here there is the “Third Millenium Church”, the Dives Misericordia, by the American Richard Meier. To discover contemporary Rome, not only means to visit the historical districts but also includes the discovery of more young and community district as Testaccio, Ostiense and Garbatella districts where cinema people and designers often contend to grab exclusive lofts.