Recently in Italy Category

When it comes to art and design, few countries can boast a grander legacy than Italy. There's no denying the genius of those renaissance masters, but frankly, they're starting to feel a bit, well... ancient. On my next trip to Rome, I'd like to see something new. That's why I'll be heading to MAXXI, the recently established national museum of 21st century art.

Designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the angular, concrete structure is devoted to "contemporary creativity." Cultural events and a rich educational program compliment the museum's array of exhibitions devoted to art and architecture. Exciting works by the likes of Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, Gerhard Richter, Sol LeWitt, and Fabio Mauri comprise the museum's collection, and are on view in the exhibition "Spazio," which runs through January 23, 2011. Other current exhibitions feature the video installations of Kutlug Ataman, the works of Italian artist Gino De Dominicis, and Luigi Moretti's architectural masterpieces. The art is spectacular and inspiring, but the building itself is reason alone to visit this marvelous new museum. A gargantuan space defined by geometric shapes, curving ramps, even planes, and long straight lines, Hadid's building is already one of Rome's most extraordinary landmarks. There's the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and now there's MAXXI.

Stay at the elegant Hotel Eden. Set among Rome's verdant parklands and historic villas it's a stroll away from the Spanish Steps. Because after spending the day at such a modern, innovative museum, you know you'll be craving a little bit of Ancient Rome now won't you?

Rome's Teatro Romano di Ostia Antica dates back more than 2000 years to the rule of the Emperor Augusto, but it's still one of the best venues in the city for both classic and modern performances. The open-air 3,000-seat amphitheater is located in the Ostia Antica, the "harbor city" of ancient Rome that contains some of the best-preserved ancient frescoes and artwork in the city, including the Baths of Neptune and Cisiarii. Show up a few hours early for your performance to take a stroll through this ancient city before heading to the beautifully-restored theater. With its series of large masks looking out at patrons, it serves as a centerpiece to this ancient center of art and commerce, so a concert is more than just a concert, it's a trip back in time. It's a fun way to experience Rome as it was a few thousand years ago. Upcoming shows this summer include British prog rockers, Jethro Tull, and art-rock favorite, Patti Smith, performing an all-acoustic set. Starwood has six hotels in Rome, including the elegant St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome.

[image via Ostia Antica]

Visitors to Naples with an interest in history might consider a day trip to the ruins of Pompeii, an ancient city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The area around Vesuvius is a national park where you can traverse a network of walking paths to appreciate the scale of the volcano while taking in scenic views of the Bay of Naples. Walk around for an hour or to and then make your way to the excavation site of the ancient city, which is frozen in time as it was that fateful day. Pompeii was buried until the mid-18th century, when early archaeologists discovered one of the best preserved historic sites in all of Italy. Peer into the House of Mysteries, which was a center for a cult of Dionysus; wonder at the ornate detail of the Stabian Baths, a pristine example of early Roman baths; and take a stroll through the Forum, which is bordered by temples to Jupiter (pictured) and Apollo. Vesuvius is still an active volcano, but don't worry about any lava flows, as it is one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the world, with seismic sensors on hand to give everybody fair warning for the next eruption. Vesuvius National Park and the Ruins of Pompeii are a short drive from the Hotel Excelsior, Naples, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

[image via Museum Victoria]

Right around the time Marie Antoinette was embarking on a date with her infamous destiny, her Habsburg relatives established a small art collection in Milan. Known as the Pinocoteca di Brera, the gallery grew by leaps and bounds during Napolean's reign, when canvases were confiscated from the churches and private collections of Northern Italy. Over a century later, this delightful museum, housed in a 16th century theology college, is one of the finest galleries of medieval and renaissance art in the world.

Enter upon a tranquil courtyard where the footsteps of Jesuit priests once echoed, and slip into the surrounding rooms filled with the works of European masters. Romance radiates from Gallery 37, where Andrea Appiani's angels and gods join gentle paintings by Francesco Hayez, including "The Kiss," witness to many a marriage proposal. Wander through the thirty plus rooms and observe the evolution of art from the 15th to 19th centuries. See Raphael's "Marriage of the Virgin," Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus," and lock eyes with Judas in Rubens' "Last Supper." The breathtaking works of Italian artists abound at this rare museum, but a handful of paintings by the likes of El Greco, van Dyck, and Rembrandt, are a reminder that there is art beyond Italy. Though surrounded by the impressive scenery of this legendary city, it's a fact easily forgotten.

Book the Westin Discovery Experience and get tickets to the Brera Pinacoteca along with your classically stylish room at The Westin Palace, Milan.