Recently in Rome Category

From now through December 2, 2009, it will be all but impossible not to experience cutting edge art in Rome. That's because the Romaeuropa Festival 2009 is in full swing, bringing the latest theater, dance, and contemporary art to venues throughout this ancient city. One of the biggest festivals of its kind in the world, Romaeuropa boasts more than 1,150 shows by 6,000 artists from over 40 countries, so there's a pretty good chance you'll find something you like. Among this year's highlights are the Mansaku-no-kai Kyogen Company, which performs Kyogen, one of four classical Japanese theatrical forms. Their intricate costumes and carefully choreographed movements praise human nature and inject plenty of levity into the drama. Classical music aficionados will appreciate L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, a hip young orchestra that's renowned for its rendition of Mozart's The Magic Flute. The dance program is similarly robust, with appearances by classically trained Japanese dancer and choreographer Saburo Teshigawara and the elegant ballet of Myriam Gourfink, who cites the respiratory techniques of yoga as the source of her endeavors. The theme of this year's festival is 72 Days of Cultural Pulsations, and if every performance is as electric as these promise to be, the city will keep buzzing for weeks afterward. Starwood has hotels throughout Rome, including the St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome.

The great city of Rome has provided a backdrop to some of the most famous moments in cinema history, from screen siren Anita Ekberg's famous dance in the Trevi Fountain in La Dolce Vita to Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn's comical adventures in Roman Holiday. This fall, it will be the setting for one of the biggest film festivals in the world. The International Rome Film Festival is still relatively new to the scene, celebrating its fourth anniversary this October 15-23, 2009, but in its short lifetime it has quickly become one of the most influential festivals on the circuit, drawing scores of filmmakers, actors, and cineastes to this historic city. Organizers are planning a mix of "popular vocation and quality culture," with films, retrospectives, meetings, and plenty of high-wattage star power. A total of 18 films will be screened - twelve in competition and six out of competition - in venues throughout Rome, including the Renzo Piano-designed Auditorium Parco della Musica, a cutting-edge performance space with pitch-perfect acoustics. More than a few cinema legends will be on hand giving talks and participating in round table discussions, including David Cronenberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, Olivier Assayas, Peter Greenaway, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Viggo Mortensen, Al Pacino, and Sophia Loren. When Sophia Loren attends a film festival in Rome, you know it's a big deal. For a complete schedule of films and other events, visit the festival website. Guests at the St. Regis Grand, Rome, or any of Starwood's Rome properties might appreciate this exciting celebration of cinema.

The sidewalks and squares of Rome will become the world's largest stage this September as a unique outdoor festival brings free live theater to some of the city's most beautiful public spaces. The International Urban Theater Festival (September 9-13) is designed to expose audiences to a mix of traditional and experimental performances, with emerging and established playwrights, actors, and directors presenting works of comedy, tragedy, and everything in between at impromptu venues throughout the city. Presented by the Abraxa Theater Company, performances will break out anywhere, from the lovely paths and gardens of the Giardino degli Aranci to the bustling streets of the business district, and a blending of the actors and audience is commonplace. Watch out for impromptu guerrilla performances, which organizers feel are necessary to achieve the "carnivalization" of the city. Before long, the line between drama and real life may disappear entirely. Starwood has six hotels in Rome, including the luxurious St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome.

[image via Abraxa]

Just 30 kilometers from Rome is the hill town of Nemi, one of the most picturesque and unspoiled comunes in all of Italy. A peaceful counterpoint to the hustle and bustle of Rome, Nemi has two major claims to history. Its namesake lake was the focus of the Cult of Diana, who believed it served as a "looking glass" for the goddess of hunting and wilderness. Later, the notorious emperor Caligula built several opulent barges that he used on the lake, the remnants of which remain today. But if that's not enough to justify a visit to this charming town, how about its annual Strawberry Festival? Every May and June, it draws visitors from all over the country to sample its sweet local strawberries at the Sagra delle Fragola. The small, wild strawberries grow abundantly in the rich soil of the volcanic crater, and during the festival, local restaurants use the mild, balanced berries in recipes that range from sorbet to fruit salad to the always popular strawberry liqueur. Sounds like a sweet way to absorb ancient Roman history. Nemi is an easy day trip for guests at the St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, or any of Starwood's Rome properties.