Festivals Celebrations & Protests, Rome

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Marcel mesmerizes - capitavates - entertains crowds in Piazza Navona. He knows the history of the Piazza as well as he knows the palm of his hands - home to his vast array of puppets. One of the most intriguing shows I have seen - in or out of the formal theatre setting. His family of hand puppets perform joyful animation for you as he interacts with them. We caught his show early on a Saturday evening and he had a crowd of people engaged - a social event in Piazza Navona. Take a photo with Marcel - send it to him - he will add it to his website. We love him!
Look for him - visit his extensive, entertaining website.

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“A husband and wife ought to continue united so long as they love each other. Any law which should bind them to cohabitation for one moment after the decay of their affection would be a most intolerable tyranny, and the most unworthy of toleration.”
— Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Shelley saw the world through a poet’s eyes that included love and marriage. His views were radical for the early 19th century, but they gained popularity in the 20th. Shelley is buried in Rome, in Cimitero acattolico, the Non-Catholic Cemetery, also known as the Protestant Cemetery (see von.otter’s Rome Travelogues #3 “The Protestant Cemetery: So Sweet a Place” for a photo of Shelley’s grave)

It is said to be good luck to see a bride on her wedding day.

When in Rome in the spring it seems that every day is a day for a wedding, and with so may churches every area of the Eternal City plays host to a ceremony on any one day of the week.

We saw brides at the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo on the Caelian Hill (photo #1); at Santa Maria in Dominica (photos #2 & #3), also on the Caelian Hill; and at Santa Cecilia in Trastevere (photo #4).

My favorite bride photo is that of the woman ascending la Cordonata of the Campidoglio (photo #5). It appears as if the 1877 bronze of the Mediaeval Roman politician Cola di Rienzo (1313-1354) is either blessing or warning the woman on the brink of her marriage ceremony at Santa Maria in Aracoeli. This spot, between the steps leading to Santa Maria in Aracoeli and the Campidoglio’s Cordonata, is where Rienzo was hanged.

The Appia Antica serves as a popular Sunday lunch picnic site for Roman families - following the half-forgotten pagan tradition of dining in the presence of one's ancestors on holy days. A 1990s initiative closed the Via Appia Antica to cars on Sundays, brings out the picnickers and bicyclists -- along with in-line skaters and a new Sunday-only bus route to take you there.

who speak some italian, can visit this blog that I've found very useful for who is going to Rome
http://www.ulysseholidays.com/blog-roma-eventi
Cultural events, art exhibitions, cinema, italian delicatessen, musical concerts, holidays events and other information for tourists

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The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to The Unknown Soldier of Italy World War I
By virtue of a joint resolution of Congress, approved 12.October.1921, the Medal of Honor, emblem of highest ideals and virtues, is bestowed in the name of Congress of the United States of America upon the unknown, unidentified Italian soldier to be buried in the National Monument to Victor Emanuel II, in Rome …
The opening from U.S. War Department General Orders, No. 52, 1.December.1922

HOW THE UNKNOWN IS KNOWN That portion of the Victor Emanual Monument where the unidentified soldier rests is known as Altare della Patria. The solider’s remains were selected by the mother of an Italian soldier who never returned home, and was counted among the thousands missing. Her own son was most likely interred somewhere in an unmarked grave, perhaps even in a mass grave.

Members of different branches of the armed forces rotate the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We saw this change around Noon on a Saturday in late May. It lacks the pomp of a Buckingham Palace guard change; with good reason this occasion is much more solemn.

The Parchment with the Papal Blessing is something we donate to special people we love and care. Any important occassion can be a good reason to order one of this to the Vatican.
Somebody as to go there personally to make the request, choose the model and provide full details of the person or couple who will get it.
Go to the Sant'Anna door at the Vatican and ask for the Elemosineria Apostolica. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am till 12.

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You can't go to Rome and not see the Pope, at least that's what they say here in Portugal!

The first time I went to Rome, it was August and the Pope had left to his summer residence, in Castel Gandolfo, so I didn't get the chance to see him.

Even though I'm not a very religious person, being at Saint Peter's square and entering the basilica does make me feel something. And so did seeing the Pope at the sunday Angelus, and all the people gathered in the square.

It happens at noon, every Sunday (except when he is in Castel Gandolfo) and there are big screens focusing the tiny window where he stands. Don't get there too late, though - it lasts only about 10 minutes.

The other possibility, which I didn't have time to do yet, is to attend the mess during the week - but you need to get the tickets before.

We like Santa - but we wait for the Befana - or if we have not been that good, we don't anticipate her arrival on the Eve of Epiphany January 5th, or the morning of January 6th. She is a witch-like character who rides around on a broom. The legend is that the Three Wise Men, I re magi, stopped at Befana's hut to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem and asked her to join them.
She said no, she was too busy. Later a shepherd asked her to join him in
paying respect to the Baby Jesus. Again, Befana said no. Later when it
was dark, she saw a great light in the sky and she thought maybe
she should have gone with the Wise Men. So, she gathered some toys
that had belonged to her own baby, who had died, and ran to find the
kings and the shepherd. But Befana could not find them or the stable.
Now, each year she looks for the Christ Child. And each year since
she can not find him, she leaves the gifts for the good children of Italy
and pieces of charcoal for the bad ones.....