Le Méridien Visconti Rome

“Welcome, The Quirinale is one of the primary places in the life of the Italian Republic. Visits to the Palace, open daily to the public and now with access to previously reserved rooms, will lead to the discovery of a heritage of art, history and culture of inestimable value and of testaments to the hard work, creativity and genius of the Italian people. It is also an opportunity to learn about where the President of the Republic carries out his duties, meets the heads of institutions, representatives of other states and international organisations, spokespersons for civil society and citizens. The Quirinale is an active, living palace in our democracy, playing a vital role in the history of the nation, today and in the past, and as such fully deserves its title as the Home of All Italians”.

The MAXXI offers the opportunity to engage with modern and contemporary art through its collection that witnesses the national and international artistic production. A special attention is given to the experiences and realities that are linked to the Italian context.

Work on the celebrated rococo fountain was first begun in 1732 by Nicola Salvi (who beat off competition to be awarded the commission by Pope Clement XII) and was completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. The monument, whose water is supplied by one of the oldest Roman aqueducts, the “Acqua Virgine”, has been sculptured against the backdrop of Palazzo Poli and depicts Triton taming Oceanus’ shell-shaped chariot drawn by sea horses. Before moving off, do not forget to throw a coin in the fountain. Custom has it that travellers doing this will one day return to the eternal city. Those seeking a little romance, perhaps even an Italian love, should then toss a second, third coin to make sure wedding bells will soon be chiming. Not forgetting of course that the fountain provided the splendid setting for the best-known scene from director Federico Fellini’s classic film “La Dolce Vita”: a provocative Anita Ekberg swathed in a long black evening dress calls out for Marcello Mastroianni, “Marcello, Come Here!” as she glides through the fountain’s sparkling waters.

“Il Babuino”, Via Ripetta and Via del Corso are the three main roads flowing into Piazza del Popolo. The square’s fame spread worldwide over the years as a site for public executions, fairs, carnivals, games and competitions and as a symbol of Renaissance papal patronage. The traveller is greeted on his arrival with Bernini’s inscription over the northern gate, Porta del Popolo, (the former Porta Flaminio) “Felice faustoque ingressini MDCLV” (For a happy and blessed entrance); a message left for Queen Christina on her arrival in Rome following her conversion to Roman Catholicism. Today it welcomes the millions of visitors who annually flock here to admire the piazza’s cultural and historical splendour. The piazza’s charm is principally heightened by the twin Churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria di Montesanto, the obelisk (known as the Oblisco Flaminio) which is the oldest and second tallest in Rome and the two Valadier fountains. Standing at one end of this exquisite piazza, designed by Neoclassical Architect Giuseppe Valadier between 1811 and 1822, and alongside the gate, is the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo. Built on the burial site of Emperor Nero, it is an artistic treasure house under whose roof may be found several major works, including two magnificent paintings by Caravaggio. The piazza has over the centuries managed to maintain its very Roman flavour, not surprisingly really given it has always been a favourite haunt for countless figures who have made major contributions to Roman culture: the Dialect Poet Trilussa, Painter Guttuso and Film Director Pier Paolo Pasolini to name … but a very few.

The Trinità dei Monti steps, or Spanish steps, are a truly masterful example the eighteenth-century taste for scenographic works. The steps were built in 1723-1726 by the architect, Francesco De Sanctis. The steps, in travertine, are arranged in a series of 11 ramps (each ramp being made up of 12 single steps). Along their sinuous upward path, these flights of steps diverge and converge and are interrupted by balustrade structures where visitors may pause during their steep climb to admire the view over the city. This imposing construction once provided a link between a part of the city that was, to a considerable extent, occupied by the French and the area below, occupied instead by a colony of Spaniards. More importantly, the steps provided an architectonic space where people could meet up and relax amid pleasant surroundings. After a year of restoration work financed by luxury jeweller Bulgari, one of the most iconic and loved places of Rome has turned to the original beauty.

The imposing Castel Sant'Angelo (Castel of the Holy Angel) is the only building that has followed the development of the city of Rome for about 2000 years, the other Roman monuments have had different destinations, some were reduced to ruins and others were used as quarries to collect materials and recycle them into new constructions. For centuries, Castel Sant'Angelo has undergone several transformations, both from an architectural and structural point of view depending on its use: it was built in the year 123 AD as a mausoleum for e Emperor Hadrian and his family. However, Hadrian died in the year 138 AD, before the construction of the Mausoleum was completed, a year later, Antoninus Pius dedicated the tomb to him and transferred the remains of Hadrian and his wife Sabina to this fantastic monument. In 403 lost its original function and became a military fortress to defend Rome and at the beginning of the eleventh century happened to be the state prison. Years later, in the fourteenth century, after several changes of owners among the Roman noble families, Castel Sant'Angelo tied its luck to that of the popes. In the 19th century it returned to its prison role, until 1906 when finally it became a museum, rich in charm and willing to share its historical grounding with the world. In 1925 it was transformed into the National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo

Teatro dell’Opera di Roma has gained an increase in international prestige over the years, hosting performances by world-renowned artists such as Caruso, Gigli, Del Monaco, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Montserrat Caballé and Raina Kabaivanska, as well as acclaimed orchestra conductors Toscanini, De Sabata, Klemperer, Abbado and the Master Riccardo Musti since 2008. And 2019 season is no exception. From ballet and opera to musicals, concerts and drama, there is something in store for every theater enthusiast.