Latest news with #Colosseum
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Malaysian family goes on a whirlwind tour of Italy
We'd love to hear what made your holiday so special. Your story – experiences, tips, advice – should be 700 to 800 words long in Word or Text format. Please attach at least five photos (1MB, captioned) in a separate email. There is no payment for submissions, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email star2travel@ with the subject 'Readers Share'. My family and I had always wanted to visit Italy for its rich culture and history. After saving up enough money for a family holiday, we finally managed to tick this country off our travel bucket list recently. Early spring is a good time to head to Italy for Malaysians, as the weather is pleasantly cold and, most importantly, it is still considered the off-peak period for tourism. Our Italian journey began in Rome. There was so much to see here, like the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. If their walls could talk, they'd have a lot of legends and stories to tell, for sure. In the evening we went searching for the famous Trevi Fountain. I think in general, Rome is a pretty safe place; it felt safe for us to walk in the small alleyways at night. However, we did wear waist pouches under our clothing to keep our valuables, as we know that there are many pickpockets who target tourists like us. Much like in Rome, Pompeii offered a glimpse of the ancient Roman empire too. The social classes of the residents back in the day were evident in this city's well-preserved ruins and houses. Despite Pompeii's destruction (caused by the Mount Vesuvius volcanic eruption), its murals and mosaics are still mostly intact after all the centuries. Another must-see destination in Italy is the Vatican City, which is actually considered a country of its own. Since we were there during Lent, the Catholic pilgrims performing their dues at St Peter's Basilica certainly enlivened the atmosphere at this religious site. At the Vatican Museums, we marvelled at the Renaissance art, Roman sculptures and numerous other pieces collected by the church that were on display. Later, I particularly enjoyed my time in Sorrento, a quaint coastal town overlooking Naples. We took a bus from there down to the Amalfi Coast, a popular seaside resort where lemon trees grow in abundance. If the weather is right, you could also sunbathe on the beaches in Amalfi, which has a view of some dramatic cliffs. After a brief stopover in Florence, we picked up our rental car. We had been travelling on public transport to get around before then, and it was fairly easy and accessible, though perhaps not that convenient. The writer doing the classic tourist pose at the Leaning Tower Of Pisa. Our itinerary became more packed from that point, but having our own vehicle meant that we had more freedom to explore off-the-beaten track places. We also drove to the Leaning Tower Of Pisa, which may have been a little difficult to get to with public transport. Later, we took our time to visit the peaceful village of Lucca and even had a picnic there. In fact, so did the locals, who took their riposa (break) seriously. Typically, small businesses will close from noon till 3pm when the owners and workers have their lunch and rest. Groceries are cheap in Italy, especially in rural towns like Lucca. Naturally, we took this chance to have a home-cooked meal in our cosy rented villa. My father, the de facto home chef, cooked. Throughout our holiday, we chased sunsets whenever we could. The last one we managed to see was in Cinque Terre. The sun rays were beaming down on the colourful houses and it was just a beautiful sight to see. In the medieval town of Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet, Juliet's Balcony is perhaps the most popular attraction. But I was there for something else: Gelato. I was lucky enough to find a place that sold 'authentic' gelato, though after quite a few attempts. I did my research on how to spot real gelato. For example, the real thing will not melt too fast or have unnatural, bright colours like blue. After a few scoops of creamy gelato, we continued our journey. Dad finally fulfilled his long-overdue promise to Mum to take her to Venice ... but with me and my sister tagging along! I can see why it's a 'City Of Love', though. There were many couples who opted to go on gondola rides through the city's canals. For me, taking pictures of the Rialto Bridge, old buildings and canals was enjoyable enough. The writer in front of the Duomo di Milano. Our next stop was Milan, one of the world's fashion capitals. We were only here for a short while so we took lots of pictures of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral). We also window shopped for a bit. After having seen glimpses of the Swiss Alps along the road while driving around the country, we were in full view of the majestic snow-capped mountain range in Bellagio. This was along the popular Lake Como, and it was our last day in Italy. My sister was the one who suggested we go to Bellagio, which was a really charming place. Although driving around was easy, we did have a flat tyre ... two, in fact. The second time it happened there was actually a nail in the tyre. Luckily, we managed to resolve them with the help of locals. Our sinful eating was compensated by the long walks we took in each town and city. I'm proud to say that we went way above average with our step count! The views expressed are entirely the writer's own.
Local Italy
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Local Italy
Italy to mark Republic Day with free entry to state-owned museums
The Festa della Repubblica, celebrated every year on June 2nd, commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic as we know it today. It marks the date in 1946 when Italians voted in a referendum to abolish the unpopular, Fascist-aligned monarchy and establish a democratic republic. As the date falls on a Monday this year, people in Italy will be looking forward to a three-day weekend. And while a trip to the beach to take advantage of the expected sunny weather might sound enticing, if you're staying in the city, you'll be able to visit one of the country's many state-owned museums and archeological parks free of charge. These include some of Italy's best-known cultural attractions, which are featured in a list on the culture ministry's website. Those in Rome, for example, will have free access to the Colosseum, the Pantheon (which introduced an entry fee for non-residents in 2023), Castel Sant' Angelo, the Borghese Gallery, and the nearby archeological park of Ostia Antica. People in Florence will be able to visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's David. Venice residents and visitors will have access to Palazzo Grimani and its Accademia Gallery, housing masterpieces by the likes of Tintoretto and Titian, free of charge. And Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera gallery and Cenacolo Vinciano museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, will also open their doors for free. The initiative is related to Italy's free museum Sundays scheme, through which state museums and parks open to the public for free on the first Sunday of every month. That means visitors will be able to access the same sites for free on Sunday, June 1st – though you could miss out on special events or unusual opening hours being offered on Monday in honour of Republic Day. For some of the more popular sites, the ministry notes that you may need to book your place in advance; check the website of the attraction you plan on visiting to see whether this applies.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jennifer Lopez to bring her ‘Up All Night Live' to Las Vegas
(NewsNation) — Jennifer Lopez has announced she will be bringing 'Up All Night Live' to Las Vegas for a monthslong residency. The residency will take place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It will kick off Dec. 30 of this year and will last through March 28. Lopez wrote on Instagram: 'SURPRISE JLOVERS! We're back! I'm doing a residency in Las Vegas! Join me for Up All Night Live In Las Vegas At The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.' This year, not only does she have the Vegas residency, but she will be starting her tour overseas in July. Her 17-stop tour will include places like: Antalya, Turkey Astana, Kazakhstan Abu Dhabi Yerevan, Armenia LA law enforcement agents to take the stand in Diddy trial She is set to travel throughout Spain, Egypt, Poland, Romania, Armenia and Kazakhstan. One music industry insider told NewsNation's Paula Froelich, 'What is she thinking? Does her ego need a packed stadium so bad she will go where no other musician goes, for a reason, just to do her tired old dance moves and lip-sync? This is crazy.' The dates for her 'Up All Night' residency are Dec. 30 to Dec. 31, 2025; Jan. 2, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2026; March 6 to March 7; March 13 to March 14; March 20 to March 21; and March 27 to March 28. 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic rips Trump for pardoning Chrisleys but not him This will be her first time performing since the 121 shows she performed during the 'All I Have' residency from January 2016 to September 2018. Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m. PST. In 2024, Lopez dealt with her Las Vegas show being canceled and her marriage to Ben Affleck ending. Her biopic, 'The Greatest Love Story Never Told,' and her accompanying documentary, 'This Is Me… Now' also didn't do well. Froelich reported earlier this year that Lopez and her ex-husband Affleck haven't been able to sell their mansion, despite it being in a prime real estate area in the Los Angeles area since the fires. One source said in 2024 that the property taxes are $762,000 per year on the pair's mansion. They also said, 'Another $750,000 to insure it and maintain it. So, whoever buys it, they're out at least $1.5 million per year just to keep the lights on.' The home is still on the market for $68 million. Froelich spoke to one insider who said, 'That house is actually worth between $40 and $50 million. It's in a terrible location. Wallingford Estates is a gated community with no guard. Most homes in the area are from the 1970s and are worth between $5 million and $10 million. This is just a huge white elephant.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Fresh off AMAs hosting gig, Jennifer Lopez announces Las Vegas residency
The singer used the American Music Awards to reveal 12 dates at Caesars Palace. What happens in Vegas definitely stays in Vegas. Jennifer Lopez parlayed her American Music Awards hosting gig and performance at Fontainebleau Las Vegas into a platform to propel her post Ben Affleck plans: a 12-date Caesars Palace residency that will kick off over New Year's weekend at the end of the year. The 'Jenny from the Block' singer quickly took to Instagram to announce her string of shows shortly after performing at the AMAs, telling fans, 'SURPRISE JLOVERS! We're back! I'm doing a residency in Las Vegas!' The singer is scheduled to perform a dozen shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning with performances December 30 and 31 and January 2 and 3 before returning for eight dates in March 2026. Called 'Jennifer Lopez: Up All Night Live in Las Vegas,' the residency marks return to Las Vegas. From 2016 to 2018, she performed 120 shows at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in a residency that grossed over $100 million across its three-year run. Hosting the AMAs amounted to a dress rehearsal for Lopez. She had eight outfit changes during her solo host of the show and later performed dancing to a medley of her own hits and this year's nominated songs. Tickets for her residency go on sale Friday, June 6 at 10am PDT. Schedule for 'Jennifer Lopez: Up All Night Live in Las Vegas' December 30, 31 January 2, 3 March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Albert Watson Depicts Rome His Own Way in New Photography Exhibit
MILAN — Over the past five decades renowned photographer Albert Watson has had no shortage of blissful moments. From portraying Alfred Hitchcock and Steve Jobs to taking beauty shots of Kate Moss, depicting Las Vegas landscapes and lensing fashion campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Prada and Levi's, his photographic career has brought him to many a place. More from WWD Madison Cox on How He's Transforming the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris A Look at Giorgio Armani's New Exhibition Celebrating His 20 Years of Haute Couture 'A Caged Dog Barks the Fiercest' Documents Mexico City's Eclectic Voices and Personalities For his latest solo exhibition, the largest ever mounted in Italy, Watson trained his lens on an entirely different subject: Rome. He sought to decipher its complexity layered in history and global fascination. 'Roma Codex,' which opens Thursday at the Palazzo Esposizioni Roma, gathers 200 large-scale black-and-white and color images by the famed photographer shot across two years spent wandering through Rome guided, he said, only by his instinct. 'I had to just experience Rome. I didn't want to approach it with preconceived ideas or the pressure of capturing what people expect to see. The city is overflowing with history, but I was interested in what happens in the spaces between the monuments, the energy of its streets, the faces, the movement,' Watson told WWD. 'I'm Scottish, not Roman. That gave me a certain freedom. Like Robert Frank photographing America, I was discovering Rome on my own terms,' he said. Aiming to provide a new perspective on the city, Watson subverted all hierarchies between different subjects. All images — spread across the three main halls of the Roman exhibiting space — have the same scale and are not arranged in thematic order. 'Whether it's the Colosseum or a portrait of a young actor, they all occupy the same visual space. That balance was essential to me,' Watson said. 'I didn't want to organize the images thematically. I like chaos, a kind of controlled disorder. It mirrors how people consume images now. You go from a tsunami to a dog to a fashion photo in seconds on your feed,' he added. To be sure, interspersed amid cinematic views of the Colosseum, Ara Pacis and Villa Medici, among other landmarks, are portraits of personalities and people that are shaping the city's culture and everyday life. They include Alda Fendi; Giancarlo Giammetti; Oscar-winning movie director Paolo Sorrentino; Italian actors Valeria Golino Riccardo Scamarcio, Kasia Smutniak, and Pierfrancesco Favino, as well as ballet dancers Roberto Bolle and Eleonora Abbagnato, and architects Massimiliano Fuksas and Doriana Mandrelli. Shots inside the Rome Opera House's ballet school and underground clubs also contribute to trace Watson's view of the city. 'I didn't want to deliver a predictable portrait of the city. Romans already know the monuments. I wanted to show something else, something they maybe hadn't seen in quite that way,' Watson said. 'I photographed where I felt there was a story. For me, it was important that the monuments and the people carried the same weight… Rome presents itself to you, layer by layer, if you take the time to look,' the photographer said. The exhibition — curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili and promoted by the Assessorato alla Cultura di Roma Capitale and Azienda Speciale Palaexpo with help from Studio F.P. — runs through Aug. 3. Best of WWD Celebrity Style at Coachella Through the Years: Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse and More [PHOTOS] From John Galliano to Paul Smith, Designers Who've Created Christmas Trees at Claridge's The Most Over-the-top Hats From the Royal Ascot Races Through the Years
