Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona is a four-star luxury hotel is in the bustling center of Barcelona, Spain.

Located within the stylish Born and historic Barrio Gotic Districts, The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona offers easy access to many of Barcelona’s major attractions.

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona features one of the finest social gathering spots in Barcelona  with its luxurious, rooftop Sky Bar.

The trendy and stylish rooftop Sky Bar lounge features a bar, light menu, an infinity pool and breathtaking views of Barcelona.

The four-star Grand Hotel Central consists of 147 guestrooms and suites that welcome its guests to take refuge in a tranquil atmosphere of contemporary minimalist design, providing a stylish urban sanctuary in the heart of Barcelona.

Owner Pau Guardans opened the hotel in 2006 taking inspiration from the grand hotels of the 1920s and international neighborhoods like Soho in New York.

The hotel’s foyer and lobby are accented with wrought iron lamps, stone cornicing, wood floors, and restored antique bronze doors.

The Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona features fine dining at the Avalon Restaurant & Café, under the helm of Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa.

Other hotel services at the Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona include a library, business center and conference rooms.

For additional information, please visit: www.grandhotelcentral.com

Bauer Il Palazzo Hotel

The America’s Cup World Series is a circuit of regattas, which brings Cup racing to several top venues around the world. The popular boat race allows the event participants to train for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, as well as the America’s Cup Finals.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people have the opportunity to experience these competitions up close and in person, thanks to the many locations around the world that host these races. Now is your chance to see the exciting boat race in person!

This May 15-20, 2012 sailing lovers can experience one race of the America’s Cup World Series in Venice, Italy. The best and most unique viewing site will be at the Settimo Cielo, the rooftop lounge of The Bauer Il Palazzo Hotel. This location is the highest vantage point in Venice and found at the Grand Canal Terrace.

The waterside terraces of the Bauer’s exclusively appointed America’s Cup VIP Lounge, will be the best places to entertain friends and corporate guests in occasion of the America’s Cup World Series. These unique positions face the Grand Canal and are located over the St. Mark’s harbor, offering a wonderful view of the Venice’s skyline and water views. The VIP Lounges offer a first class atmosphere and sophisticated look, allowing the guests to enjoy to the fullest the city’s biggest social and sports event of the season.

Bauer Il Palazzo Hotel lobby

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view The America’s Cup World Series regatta from Il Plazzo’s magnificent Settimo Cielo terrace. Tickets can be purchased for 150 euro per person) and customers can enjoy a flute of Italian Champagne Ferrari and savoring the sumptuous gourmet platters prepared by the Executive chef, Giovanni Ciresa.

In addition, the Gran Canal Terrace which borders the scenic Grand Canal, will offer to the guests an oasis of relax and sophistication away from the chaos of the city for a price of 65 euro per person. Here they will not only admire the race but also the will enjoy Italian champagne and a light lunch on the canapes in an outdoor setting designed by Ferrari.

England’s historic region of Yorkshire, has long been renowned as one of the country’s greenest regions, offering a wide variety of amazing sites and key attractions.

Yorkshire has often called God’s Own County due to its vast stretches of unspoiled countryside, Yorkshire is England’s largest county covering the cities of York, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Hull.

With the 2012 Summer Olympics being held in London, here are the Ten Top Reasons to See Yorkshire this year:

1. On Location in Yorkshire – Discover Harry Potter’s England

The stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park will be seen by millions of people all over the world in the new Harry Potter film, The Deathly Hallows, due for release in 2010. Film lovers will have previously spotted Yorkshire’s charms in the first two Harry Potter films which feature Goathland train station, North York Moors National Park, as the bewitching Hogsmeade Station. The picturesque countryside station is almost unchanged since its construction in 1865.

Be Inspired by Yorkshire’s Famous Literary Sisters
One of the world’s most famous love stories, Wuthering Heights is set to hit the big screen in 2011. Those searching for the real experience should seek out the dramatic landscapes that inspired Emily Brontë’s Gothic masterpiece in Yorkshire’s Brontë Country. Experience the wild moors of this dark and passionate tale of love and loss and climb Top Withins where a tumbledown building is thought to have inspired descriptions of Wuthering Heights.

2. Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa – York’s First Five Star Hotel
Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa last month opened its doors to guests, bringing five star hospitality to York. The building, which was constructed in 1906 for the North Eastern Railway Company, is one of the city’s most iconic buildings and it is simply beautiful. The Grand Hotel evokes the golden age of travel, reaching back to the opulence and luxury that people experienced on the Orient Express or Queen Mary, recreated with contemporary flourishes.

3. York Festival of Food and Drink in September
The annual York Food and Drink Festival is the largest event of its kind in the UK and a massive showcase for Yorkshire growers and retailers. For ten days food takes over as the city hosts an extravaganza of specialist markets, chef demonstrations, themed dinners, cookery classes, restaurant meal deals and numerous special events.

4. Yorkshire Gardens
In a bid to promote the region’s vast array of stunning gardens, Yorkshire had its own garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’s Rhubarb Crumble and Custard Garden’ used edible themes to highlight the diversity of the region’s food offering and will be on show at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show (July 13-15) before it is relocated to RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate. RHS Chelsea Flower Show was also the launch pad for the new Yorkshire Gardens campaign, highlighting more than 60 gardens that are open to visitors, from secret gardens to grand stately home landscapes, from mazes to wildflower meadows. (www.yorkshire.com/gardens<http://www.yorkshire.com/gardens>)

5. Yorkshire Pass
The Yorkshire Pass is the UK’s first regional sightseeing pass, offering entry to 75 fabulous attractions, and is available as a one, two, three or six day pass. The crown jewels of Yorkshire’s attractions include world heritage sites (Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal), world firsts (The Deep, a submarium), world famous historic houses (Castle Howard and York Minster) and royal castles (Conisbrough Castle.) (www.yorkshirepass.com<http://www.yorkshirepass.com>)

6. Welcome to Yorkshire Michelin Star Experience
Celebrating Yorkshire’s six Michelin Star restaurants, Welcome to Yorkshire is offering exclusive packages to visitors. The Welcome to Yorkshire Michelin Star Experience consists of planned excursions with detailed itineraries visiting two, three or all six restaurants. Each itinerary offers a scenic journey by helicopter and executive car, staying over in some of Yorkshire’s luxurious accommodation. Whilst experiencing the fine dining at these restaurants, guests will also receive a taste of Yorkshire as the trips incorporate visits to local producers, cheese makers, vineyards and breweries, walking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and more.  (yorkshire.com/michelinstarexperience)

7. Turner Trails in Yorkshire
Welcome to Yorkshire is set to launch Turner Trails in Yorkshire in June 2010. JMW Turner was a frequent visitor to Yorkshire throughout the early 19th Century and the landscapes and historic buildings that inspired over 800 of his works of art have continued to attract visitors to the region to this day. Welcome to Yorkshire’s ‘Turner Trails in Yorkshire’ will bring together over 70 sites across the region; attracting walkers and art enthusiasts to these beautiful locations; enabling visitors to sit and compare today’s views and discover the Turner story.

8. Welcome to Yorkshire Golf Campaign
June 2010 sees the launch of the Welcome to Yorkshire Golf campaign. Yorkshire is home to some of the country’s finest golf clubs, including three that have previously hosted the Ryder Cup – Moortown, Ganton and Lindrick. For golf enthusiasts seeking something new, courses are in a variety of impressive locations from the beautiful Yorkshire countryside to those with dramatic sea views. Featuring a wealth of luxury accommodation visitors to the region can indulge in a range of activities between rounds, including designer shopping and relaxing in a choice of fabulous Spas before heading off for a delicious Yorkshire meal and an evening’s entertainment.

9. The Yorkshire Museum Reopens August 2010
The fascinating early history of York is to be told through groundbreaking research and internationally important collections at the newly refurbished Yorkshire Museum. The might of the Romans, the power of the Vikings and the wealth and romance of the Medieval period will be revealed following an investment of £2million which will totally transform the interior of this remarkable building.

10. The Hepworth Wakefield Opens in 2011
Designed by internationally acclaimed British architect, David Chipperfield, The Hepworth will show for the first time a unique collection of sculptures by Barbara Hepworth – one of the most important sculptors of the 20th Century, who was born and raised in Wakefield. Its bold, modern architecture will be a fitting home for an outstanding collection of British art, featuring work by some of the UK’s best-known artists.

If you plan to visit England this year, be sure do your planning and maximize your travel enjoyment. Read the 100 best things to do in England It’s a great list! Please return soon and follow our luxury blog

For further information about visiting Yorkshire please visit www.yorkshire.com

Further information about visiting England can be found at www.visitengland.com

Il Falconiere – Tuscany, Italy

When searching for art, monuments, museums, culture, history, food, wine, and of course, romance, Italy will always come up top on the short list.  Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo in Tuscany is offering all of that plus a true vineyard experience.

In addition to exploring museums, enjoying good food and learning how to cook authentic Italian cuisine, Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo is also educating its guests on how some of the finest wines are produced and bottled.

Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo spans across about 124 miles in the heart of Tuscany and includes 19 cities such as Cortona, the main cultural and art center of Tuscany; the medieval appeal and culture of Arezzo; and the religious center of majestic cathedrals located in Valdarno.  This region of Tuscany is known for full-bodied wines such as Vinsanto di Chianti, Chianti DOCG, and Cortona DOC.

Established in 2000, Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo is an organization made up of private and public institutions that aim to bring together vineyards and wine companies.  Today, it has grown to a membership of 180 participants, including farms, inns, wineries, wine bars, and restaurants.  Among that list are a small group of villas that specializes in the perfect Tuscany experience.

One of the villas, Il Falconiere Relais & Chateaux, is a classic Tuscan villa dating back to the 17^th century.  The first thing anyone immediately notices is its serene countryside locale and elegant décor.  Each of their twenty rooms is uniquely designed with their own color and décor, representative of classic refinement of Tuscan homes.  Inspired by the famous book and movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, the villa holds daily cooking classes personally taught by the owner, Silvia Baracchi.

Switching gears to Valdarno, the Tenuta il Borro offers a completely different accommodation experience by matching modern hospitality with a medieval setting.  Owned by the Ferragamo family, the Il Borro is surrounded by vineyards and sunflower fields.  Fully taking advantage of the landscape of the Pratomagno mountains, the Il Borro currently has 45 hectares of vineyards, all of which are between 300 and 500 meters above sea level, giving it optimal viticulture conditions for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

The third accommodation variety is the Mannucci Droandi estate.  Unlike the Il Faclconiere Relais & Chateaux and the Il Borro, the Azienda Agricola Mannucci Droandi estate focuses on farming and winemaking traditions.  It’s characterized by a large, square stone farmhouse sitting in wild, unspoiled countryside, where the woods almost dominate the few cultivated areas.

Last but not least of the notable accommodations in the Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo, is the Azienda Agricola La Torre.  The La Torre compound was once Chiassa Superiore’s fortification site, a medieval Lombard castle.  Today, the building is much more approachable with a paved interior courtyard connects the main residence to the adjoining farmhouses.  The Relais consists of five suites, a reception hall, and a historical chapel established in 1756.

Located on the hills of Arezzo, La Torre’s wines are known for having very fruity notes.  In addition to producing wine and olive oil, the sweet “straw wine”, Vin Santo, is also one of La Torre’s specialties.  With food, wine, culture, history, and nature, Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo is a one stop vacation spot that gives you the most complete Italian experience.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

The luxurious Villa & Hotel Majestic in Paris features the stunning 4,800 square-foot MajClub Wellness Centre.

The new luxury spa features revolutionary treatments that were designed by Céline Claret Coquet, the creator of Clé des Champs, which is an organic line of products inspired by traditional Chinese medicine.

Coquet has created an innovative face lifting treatment through the use of acupuncture and gold needles, that provide spa guests with 100% natural rejuvenation.

The innovative treatment consists of only three, painless, simultaneous actions. Well trained spa therapists provide their guests with 100% natural rejuvenation.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

Céline Claret Coquet explains, “The first step is an acupuncture session, to relax and harmonize the body’s energy. This is followed by a facial lifting created by acupuncture, which considerably improves the skin’s elasticity by stimulating the facial muscles and encouraging microcirculation. The third step involves a natural beauty prescription using Clé de Champs beauty treatments, optimizing the benefits of the acupuncture lift.”

MajClub Wellness Centre offers other simply scintillating treatments, including deep cleaning facials using extracts of seasonal products to nourish and tone the skin, combined with stimulation of acupressure points to regain balance.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

Bodywork is just as holistic. The “Turina” massage, for example, restores the flow of energy throughout the body by stimulating pressure points, preparing the body to face the challenges of each season.

MajClub Wellness Centre is located in the lower level the Villa & Hotel Majestic hotel. The Centre raises the bar among its closest competitors thanks to the variety and quality of its treatments and facilities.

Additional spa amenities at the MajClub Wellness Centre include: blue-tiled hammams, infrared saunas, a fitness facility with Technogym equipment, a heated indoor lap pool, teakwood chaise lounges for relaxing and more.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

The Villa & Hotel Majestic has quickly distinguished itself as one of Paris’ best properties since its debut earlier this year.

The Villa & Hotel Majestic is a contemporary sanctuary located just steps from the world famous Champs-Elysées. The luxury hotel has 52 guestrooms and suites that offer classic décor with modern accents.

Many of the hotel’s accommodations have spacious private and landscaped balconies that bring the beauty and elegance of Paris to the forefront.

For more information, please visit: Villa & Hotel Majestic

Maison Delaneau

For a beautiful city that enjoys international fame, Antwerp in Belgium offers very few, top level hotels. One exception is the the luxury Maison Delaneau Boutique Hotel.

So, when the premises next to the former Bed & Breakfast “Slapen enzo” became available, managing director Jeanette Doezé dreamt of combining these two buildings into one luxury hotel.

She found a partner in Luc Dheedene, the man behind the best Antwerp hot spots – Verso and Martini Bar.

Jeanette Doezé’s special knowledge of the travel industry and Luc Dheedene’s trend awareness have resulted in a luxury, boutique hotel – Maison Delaneau.

Boutique Hotel
Under the motto of ‘Small is Beautiful’, Maison Delaneau boasts eleven exclusive rooms and suites, some of which are equipped with a Jacuzzi, an open fire, a private garden or sauna. For the interior design they called upon the services of interior architect Stephan Hommerin. The result is a minimalistic, timeless design in which innovative composition goes hand in hand with natural raw materials and state-of-the-art technology. Moreover, most rooms offer a laptop safe, mini-bar and internet facilities.

Delaneau Spa
All reputable luxury hotels boast a spa area for relaxation and beauty care. This is also the case at Maison Delaneau. The spa is like a haven of peace with delightful massage rooms, a hydro tub, a steam room and wet room.

As the first beauty institute in Belgium, the Spa Delaneau also uses products by REN, a name which beauty addicts will undoubtedly be familiar with. This trendy British cosmetics brand is highly popular with celebrities, such as Kate Moss, and has quickly acquired cult status. Deservedly so, because all REN products are free from parabens and other synthetic ingredients. Its bio-active ingredients guarantee visible skin rejuvenation.

Combined with relaxing facial and body care, this is the crème de la crème. The ‘à la carte’ Delaneau Spa treatments appeal to one’s imagination. A small sample of the treatments available include: Serenity (facial pressure point massage), Day is Done (glycolactic peel mask for radiant skin) or Bliss (a deep body massage using hot and cold lava stones).

In view of the fact that the spa area is also accessible to non-hotel residents, we have also designed some faster treatments, which are ideal for enjoying during a lunchtime break. Under the collective name of ‘Small Wonders’, there is, for example, the ‘Quick Fix (a 30 minute pre-party facial), the Sugar Wax, and the ‘Real Man’ (facial for men, lasting 60 minutes).

Delaneau Salon
Hotel guests enjoy an extensive breakfast in the lounge; an open lounge with a crackling open fire that creates a cosy atmosphere to retreat to on cold days. Non-hotel residents can also use this room to escape from busy city life and enjoy an afternoon tea in a pleasant setting. Delaneau Salon is also perfect to meet up with people for a pre-dinner drink. Its exclusive wines, champagne and exquisite nibbles will tempt even the most demanding of gourmets.

Maison Delaneau
Karel Rogierstraat 18-20, Antwerp
Tel +32 (0)3 216 27 85
info@maisondelaneau.com

Courtesy of: La Plage Resort

Isola Bella is Sicily’s famous nature island preserve.

Italy’s Ragosta Hotels Collection has combined “luxury with nature” with the launch of its chic new boutique resort, La Plage Resort.

La Plage Resort was created to attract the growing travel trend of up-market travelers seeking an extraordinary hospitality experience that incorporates elements of their own lifestyles, including modern yet stylish accommodations and innovative dining options.

La Plage Resort will open as a five-star boutique property with only 61 guestrooms and suites.

La Plage Resort was designed by the architecture firm of Pantha, and created on the philosophy of “luxury based on nature.”

The luxury resort is located in a secular pine forest, and all design aspects and furnishing feature natural elements such as stone, woods and plants.

Below are some of La Plage Resort amenities:

Guestroom and Suites:
* Standard Rooms
* Bungalow Garden View Rooms
* Bungalow Sea View Rooms
* Deluxe Bungalow Sea View Rooms
* Suites
* Deluxe Suits

Dining:
* Fusion Restaurant featuring Italian and Asian cuisine overlooking Isola Bella
* Lounge Bar located near Fusion Restaurant
* Seaside Bar with refreshment services
* Reception halls with accommodations for up to 200 guests

SPA/Fitness:
* On-site ExPure SPA facilities featuring four-person Jacuzzi, emotional shower, Turkish bath, massage room, relaxation area with tea corner and Panoramic solarium
* Gym

Additional services and signature amenities at the resort include: in-room customized toiletries from ExPure SPA, Amaretto Lazzaroni cookies, luxurious linens, robes and towels.

In addition to enjoying the uber-luxury items in the guestrooms and villas travelers will be able to customize their hotel stay in the manner in which they are accustomed but with an element of surprise and pure decadence.

For additional information, please visit La Plage Resort

Courtesy of: Blue Palace

If mountains could grow hotels, then the Blue Palace in Crete would certainly be one such case, magically combining rugged, arid mountains with the warm, turquoise ocean, the cool breeze drifting in from the bay with the warmth of the rocks from which the villas, bungalows and private suites seem to have formed naturally over time.

There are few places on earth where infinity really seems to be something tangible that you can experience, yet at the Blue Palace, infinity is just a step through your veranda doors and into your private pool.

The Blue Palace is nestled within a picturesque, quiet bay that exemplifies the natural beauty that is Crete. With the well known coast of Elounda on one side, the ancient and majestic relics of Spinalonga Island on the other, the 251 stylish and contemporary rooms and villas enjoy one of the most remarkable locations.

Carved from the rocks down which the bungalows and villas appear to tumble towards the warm ocean, every room and every villa enjoys magnificent ocean views. With most villas and suites having their own private infinity pools, you can quite literally step from exquisite comfort to infinity in a single breath.

The Blue Palace has truly been designed to provide the perfect retreat to help calm and relax both the body and the mind, with infinity pools and a white pebbled beach both providing escape, and the exclusive Elounda Spa where thalassic pools are filled each day with fresh heated seawater drawn directly from the Cretan Pelagos, providing the ultimate in relaxation and therapy.

The Elounda Spa provides a range of Thalassotherapy treatments and is situated on the white pebbled beach on three levels, offering unbeatable indulgence that’s guaranteed to wear away the troubles of the other world you used to worry about. The other world seems to grow faint as the serenity and peace combines with the outstanding natural beauty of the resort to provide an experience which is likely to stay with you for a very long time.

But whilst all this luxury feeds the soul, the body needs feeding too – and the Blue Palace does not disappoint here either. In fact, with five restaurants to choose from you may find that deciding which one to choose each night is the most stressful part of your stay!

At the very top of the resort, boasting the most astonishing views across the Aegean Sea is The Olea Main Restaurant. The award winning L’Orangerie is where you’ll be able to choose from a range of Mediterranean dishes which use locally sourced ingredients, in addition to an enviable wine list.

Alternatively you may choose the Blue Door right on the water’s edge where the day’s catch will be served up with a traditional Greek salad, for a dining experience that’s one of the freshest possible. An Asian dining experience is available at the aptly named Asia Blue, where the menu includes dishes ranging from Chinese and Polynesian to Thai and Japanese.

The experience of staying at the Blue Palace – Crete, is one which might be considered the closest possible opportunity to fulfill William Blake’s suggestion to ‘Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.’

Relais Paradiso is located along the shores of the idyllic Amalfi Coast in Italy. Relais Paradiso, a five-star hotel invites travelers to enjoy the very best it has to offer with its unique all-inclusive package concept.

From world-class cuisine, luxury accommodations to truly personalized service and much more, guests can experience the ultra-exclusivity of the luxury boutique resort for just the cost of a night’s stay.

The Relais Paradiso All-Inclusive Package features deluxe accommodations in the hotel’s well-appointed guestrooms overlooking the town of Vietri sul Mare and the pristine Bay of Salerno.

In addition, Relais Paradiso hotel guests will enjoy the gastronomic pleasures of the Amalfi Coast as the package features a complimentary buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by the resort’s executive chef who focuses on incorporating only the freshest seasonal ingredients indigenous to the region.

A true highlight of the luxury hotel package is the Privilege White Card that is presented to each hotel guest.

This card, which is valid for one year at all Ragosta Hotels, provides guests with complimentary late check-out/early check-in, a welcome cocktail, complimentary newspapers, 10 percent reduction on SPA treatments and 10 percent reduction on events at all Ragosta Hotels.

The All-Inclusive Package also includes complimentary transfers to and from Vietri sul Mare to the beach, room service, mini bar access, a complimentary Sun Care Set and much more.

Relais Paradiso All Inclusive Package:
€240 per person, per night for 1-2 night stay or €205 per person, per night for a 3 night minimum stay.

Package Inclusions:
* Guestroom Accommodations
* Daily Buffet Breakfast
* Lunch and Dinner (beverages included, served in glass)
* Privilege White Card: provides guests with late check-out/early check-in, welcome cocktail, complimentary newspapers, 10 percent reduction on SPA treatments and 10 percent reduction on events at all Ragosta Hotels Valid one year
* Welcome Champagne Cocktail
* Personalized Service
* Room Service
* Mini Bar
* Internet Connectivity
* Transfer with driver to and from Vietri sul Mare and the beach
* Refreshing Sun Care Set
* Complimentary Access to Panoramic Outdoor Swimming Pool (from May to September)

Relais Paradiso offers guests a unique hotel concept in the spectacular Mediterranean town of Vietri sul Mare. In keeping with Ragosta Hotels Collection mantra, guests of the luxury property are invited to “define their lifestyle” with the hotel’s chic offerings such as its chic rooftop pool, exclusive executive lounge and its 24-hour honor bar, featuring cocktails, coffee, wine, beer and champagne.

Upon opening in August 2009, Relais Paradiso Hotel features 22 spacious guestrooms and suites with panoramic terraces overlooking the pristine Bay of Salerno and the lush landscape of the fragrant and colorful Amalfi Coast.

Additional in-room amenities include plasma-screen televisions, a courtesy collection by ExPure SPA, complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity, fresh local flowers and much more. During their stay, guests will enjoy truly personalized service from a welcome Champagne cocktail to personal car transfers to the nearby town of Vietri sul Mare.

In addition to its luxurious guestroom accommodations and amenities, the hotel features an expansive outdoor area with suspended gardens, solarium and a panoramic outdoor swimming pool. Dining facilities include a hip yet relaxing Lounge Bar, the Lounge Restaurant, which features Mediterranean cuisine, as well as the Honesty Bar, which is located in the hotel’s foyer and is open 24 hours a day.

For additional information and reservations, please contact Ragosta Hotels at www.ragostahotels.com or +39 089 763 4111

The romantic and mind blowing atmosphere of the famous Spanish Steps are one of the most popular sites and most visited areas in Rome.

Its 138 steps full of class and elegance, brightens up the square bringing life and energy to this great area. Built in the late 1700s, this area attracts and is still frequented by locals and tourists to absorb its magnificent atmosphere.

The Spanish Steps in Italian are called “Scalinata”. These are famous set of steps in one of the most well known areas of Rome. Despite of its name, the famous Spanish Steps were actually built by the French.

“Scalinata di Spagna” was built between 1723 and 1725 by tienne Gueffier, a French diplomat. It’s easy to recognize it at the Piazza di Spagna square rectangle like shape.

The Piazza di Spagna is one of the most popular tourist sites in Rome. The Scalinata is without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe.

At the base of the Piazza is the Early Baroque fountain called “La Fontana della Barcaccia” (“Fountain of the Old Boat”), built in 1627-29 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Legend has it that, Pope Urban VIII had the fountain installed after he had been impressed by a boat brought here by a flood of the Tiber river.

Bernini is said to have used the Boat as a sign of safety from floods from the Tiber River.

The steps are covered by pots of beautiful “Azalea” flowers in spring (flowering shrubs are part of the genus Rhododendron and subgenus Pentanthera), Romans named them “Garden Stairs”.

A sign that the Summer is fast approaching. The weather in Rome can get quite hot, even in the Fall. So the many cafes, shops and restaurants near the Spanish Steps are always popular full of people absorbing this fine, elegant atmosphere.

Eating on the stairs is forbidden by Italian regulations, anyway you will probably still see some people having a “tramezino” (Typical Roman Sandwich) and a cold drink when everything is calm and peaceful.

Spanish Steps turned into a meeting point and the place where to take a romantic or scenic ride in a carriage pulled by a horse. At the very first step to the right, is the house where John Keats (the English Poet) lived and died in 1821.

Today there is a museum open to the public dedicated to his memory, full of memorabilia of the English Romantic generation.

Halfway up on the right is where Bernardo Bertolucci directed Besieged (1998) and where The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone was filmed as well.

American singer/songwriter Bob Dylan refers to the “Spanish Stairs” in his classic “When I Paint My Masterpiece” (1971). Today modern terraces lay in perfect harmony with the surrounding baroque context.

When visiting Rome, enjoy the Spanish Steps on your trip. Rent an accommodation near the Spanish Steps and get the best Rome has to offer.

Author: Sarah Dudleymore

Vatican City

The amazing city of Rome, Italy raises so many eyebrows when mentioned. This magical city has a long history. The civilization of ancient Rome was the largest the world had ever seen.

Rome the “Eternal City,” has long been a sacred place and internationally, it has been an important city dating back to ancient times.

Rome is about 31 centuries old and is often discussed equally between both its historical and religious past.

We feel the best way to see the city is by walking around its ancient streets, just like Romans many hundreds of years ago did. But first you need to get there.

You have two choices when arriving by air – the Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) and the Ciampino airports are the two options to choose from.

The Fiumicino airport is considered the main airport that provides international flights all over the world. The Clampino airport is smaller than the Fiumicino, and offers less expensive and budget airlines, as well as charter lines.

Arch of Constantine

Once you arrive, you’ll find several options of transporaton: buses, trams, trains, taxis, and subways. One tip is make sure you always get the metered fare and not the negotiated fare when you ride in a taxi.

Provided your taxi driver suits you, you can hire the driver as a travel guide, so he or she can make sure you don’t miss any points of interest.

There are many, many hotels in Rome, in a wide variety of price ranges. Staying at a hotel near the center of the city will allow you to walk to most places, despite Rome’s size. Of course, you might spend less money if you stay further away from the city and are willing to take public transportation to your destinations.

Rome has some amazing history and if you are traveling to Rome to see some of the historical sites, then you cannot miss the St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican.

At the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Arch Of Constantine and Palantine Hill, you will also view many of the most amazing and ancient Roman architecture.

Roman Colosseum