Salvador Dali seemed to have a perverse affection for the classical and stern. He takes a serious-looking clock, a revered Greek statue and then proceeds to twist them, cut hem, melt them.

It was only logical then for Dali to feel a keen interest in the most stern, classical city in the world: Rome. An exhibition at the Complesso del Vittoriano explores the relationship beetwen the Eternal City and the painter and the results are, well… surreal.

Visiting the exhibition you will see on display a Vespa that Dali painted and will learn about his exhilarant antiques in Rome: he gave a press conference in Latin even though he didn’t speak the language, insisted on working on a painting with a rhinocero and visited the biennale of Venice sporting a gun.

No other artist has had such a profound influence in the art as we understand it and, all his irreverence non withstanding, no other artist has shown the same amount of faith and affection for the classical. In a paradoxical way the most blasphemous painter of its time turns out to be the best guide to the most pious city in the world.

The Exhibition Dali, Un Artista, Un Genio will be open at the Complesso Del Vittoriano (Piazza Venezia) until July the 1st, 2012.

On Sunday, May 20th at the Olympic Stadium in Rome at 9 pm FC Juventus and SSC Napoli will play the final of the Italian Cup.

Napoli defeated Siena 2-0 to reach the Italian Cup final on a 3-2 aggregate and will face Juventus in the May 20 final where they will look to end their 22-year wait for silverware.

Juventus, unbeaten this season in Serie A and who squeezed past league leaders AC Milan in the Cup semi-finals, will play in the final on May 20.

Via del Boschetto and Via Dei Serpenti are located just off Via Nazionale (the big avenue that starts on Repubblica square, just beside Termini). The area is right in the center of the City, but is quiet and the atmosphere is easygoing. During the evenings you can see people sitting beside a fountain, having a beer, just like the more radical crowd do in San Lorenzo.

There are many places to eat and even some pleasant surprises: a takeaway Sushi place, a Japanese restaurant and a couple of Indian restaurants. If what you are after is Italian food you can try Osteria al 16, on Via del Boschetto 16. I have been there with friends a couple of times and I have never been disappointed. If like me, you enjoy a hearty meal, you will appreciate the spaghetti all’amatriciana (spaghetti with tomato sauce and bacon) and the meatballs with tomato sauce.

The best is that this area is just a blocks away from the Colosseum, so if you are in the mood you can walk over there to put a perfect ending to your Roman serata.

And don’t forget to send me a line to tell me about your adventure, and to check our websites to get the best deals for accommodation in the best Hotels in Rome!

As every year, the Rock in Roma festival will bring to the city some of the most popular bands. An incredible opportunity to enjoy some of the best rock in the world!

There are many concerts scheduled, but here you have our picks:

Portishead: 27/06/12

Seeing the Godfathers of trip-hop live is an experience you shouldn’t miss!

The Cranberries: 07/06/12

The Irish band defined the sound of pop rock during the nineties, and they show no signs of slowing down.

Morrisey: 07/07/12

You cannot go wrong with the Moz.

Justice: 08/07/12

Daft Punk with a vengeance. The Frenchmen have gladly taken the title of definers of Euro electronic music.

Foo Fighters: 31/07/12

You cannot get more rock than David Grohl. Not happy with being already part of rock history as the drummer of Nirvana, David keeps rocking with his own band, where he plays guitar nad sings.

You can check the full schedule at www.rockinroma.it. The venue for the festival is the Cappannelle Racecourse.

Don’t forget to contact us to get the best accommodation in the Eternal City!

The All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby team, will play a test match against Italy in Rome on 17 November, according to the Italian Rugby Federation. The New Zealand national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport. The All Blacks are the Rugby world cup champions, the IRB’s current Team of the Year, the leading points scorers of all time and the only international rugby team with a record winning margin against every test nation they have played. The All Blacks have held the top ranking in the world for longer than all other countries combined and in over 100 years only five test rugby nations have ever beaten New Zealand.

It will be the first time that the All Blacks have played at the 72,000-seater Stadio Olimpico, as the last time Italy hosted the formidable squad from down under was in 2009. That game was played in Milan’s S. Siro stadium in front of 81,000 spectators, and the All Blacks won 20-6. The last time the All Blacks played in Rome was at Flaminio Stadium – currently no longer being used by the FIR – when they hammered the Italians 59-10 in 2004.

The champion team is known for performing the fearsome “haka” (a traditional M?ori challenge) before each international match. During their northern hemisphere tour, the All Blacks will play Scotland on 10 November, then Italy, Wales and England over the following Saturdays.

Italy plans to face Tonga on 10 November in Turin, and Australia on 24 November in Bologna.

For more information about the city and to get the best rates in accommodation, send us an e-mail or check our website!

Our Blogger: Joseph

In the summer, the concerts move out of doors to the lawns of the park surrounding the villa. This is a wonderful way to spend a relaxing sunny afternoon in the eternal city that is Roma. Make sure you don’t miss out and you can find the villa in Viale di Porta Ardeatina, 55 (near the Baths of Caracalla).

And as always, remember to contact us at Hotel Des Artistes for more information and some really great deals on accomodation.

Hope you enjoy, Liam.

Each section of the exhibition is devoted to one of the four main themes Love, Work, Peace and Health.

Love, which possibly every creature on earth feels in some form, is a very powerful emotion. It can make us do crazy things, cripple us with fear, give us a feeling of being lighter than air and as strong as an ox.

Work is an essential part in the life of all creatures, whithout which we would never have acheived anything and thus, possibly, never feel real satisfaction.

Peace, the dream of so many, to live in a truley peaceful world. Yet it is one of the most diificult things for humanity to achieve.

And finally, Health, a true necessity for every single living being. More than simply, not being ill, but a keystone to our physical and mental well-being.

The exhibition features photographs from all over the world that have been taken by the finest photographers of the National Geographic. It captures each of the four themes in a vast array of different circumstances and is one of the greatest photographic exhibits to be seen, so make sure you don’t miss out.

And remember to contact us at Hotel Des Artistes for more information and some great deals on accomodation, you can also follow our deals on facebook.com/hoteldesartistes.

Thanks for reading, Liam.

In 1999, at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Harper met Jack Johnson, who was unknown at the time, and took a demo with 12 of Johnson’s songs which Harper then gave to his Producer, J.P. Plunier, whith whom Johnson recorded his first album. Since then they have collaborated several times with wonderful results.Since the beginning of his career, he has had many other collaborations with stars such as John Lee Hooker, Vanessa De Mata, Led Zeppelin’s Paul Jones and Beth Orton and has made himself into an international star.

And now you have the chance to see him play live in the Ippodromo Capannelle in Via Appia Nuova, 00178, Rome, so don’t miss out on this great experience. Andremember to contact us at Hotel Des Artistes for more information and great deals on accomodation.

Thanks for reading, Liam.

In their plays they re-enact the fortunes and misfortunes of the Roman Empire, the talented group sums up 1000 years of history in a humorous 40-minute play. So for abit of comedy with a monty python slant and some history thrown into the mix, you should definetly check them out.

And don’t forget that you can contact us at Hotel Des Artistes for more information and some great deals on accomodation.

Hope you enjoy, Liam.

The Vatican Museums are giving a great opportunity to everyone of us  for the fourth consecutive year. A great chance to visit the museums at night , be the one to see the sunset from the Vatican and also other Museums are going to be available as the Museum of Pio Clementino ,The Museum Egizio , the Superiors Gallery, San Rafael’s Rooms , some Rooms of the Borgia’s Apartment, The Collection Of Modern Religious Art.and the unforgettable Sistine Chapel.

This event is due to have great success as in the previous occasions it has been held.

The opening of the museums at night will take place every Friday  starting the 4^th of  May  2012 and will end the 26^th of October 2012, (except August.)

The entrance schedule is the following :

From 19.00 to 23.00 last entrance is at 21.30 Remember, every Friday!

And don’t forget to contact us to get the best accommodation in the Eternal City at the most affordable rates!