Latest news with #Michaelangelo
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
World waits for conclave date after Francis laid to rest
It was inevitable that the death of Pope Francis would lead to rumination about a successor. Now that that he has been laid to rest, speculation has intensified as the world waits for a start date to the conclave. Rome entered a nine-day period of mourning on Saturday which involves prayers and masses for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. It also gives cardinals who may not already be in Rome, time to travel for the conclave, which must begin 15-20 days after the death of a pope. The next conclave could begin between 6-11 May, or sooner if the cardinals agree. General congregations are held in the lead up to a conclave to allow cardinals speak freely about the church and what they're looking for in a papal candidate. It's widely reported that Francis secured his election when he spoke briefly about the future of the church and its pastoral priorities at a general congregation. The gatherings are important because they enable cardinals to get to know one another. Four general congregations have already taken place at the Vatican in last week, since the death of the Pope. The fifth congregation is taking place this morning and a start date for the conclave could emerge from the meeting. Of the 135 voting cardinals, 108 were appointed by Francis in recent years from all corners of the globe. Travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed in-person introductions at the time, which is why the current congregations are particularly significant. The word 'conclave' comes from the Latin 'cum clave' - meaning 'with a key' which reflects the tradition of locking the cardinals away until they make a decision on a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Pope Francis's election in 2013 was swift - secured in two days after five rounds of voting. Previous centuries have seen conclaves last for months and even years. While the Holy Spirit is central to the secretive voting process, it does not occur without some soul-searching. Lest it be forgotten, women who make up half of the Catholic Church's faithful, are not in the room. What will be in the room is Michaelangelo's 'Last Judgement' fresco, looming large over the cardinals as they vote. They will be choosing a spiritual leader at a time of significant global turmoil. The importance of their decision underscored by the photo depicting Presidents' Trump and Zelensky in discussions on the day of Pope Francis's funeral. What makes the conclave particularly intriguing is the oath of secrecy taken by the cardinals. The prospect of more than 100 men making a significant decision under lock and key without it being leaked to the press is almost unheard of today. Indeed, the upcoming conclave will be the first in a world that AI, social media and smart phones dominate. However, the central form of communication will be through smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel to the crowds in St Peter's Square. Those signals - black smoke for waiting, white for a new pope - will mainly be communicated through social media. Will their time of contemplation in the Sistine Chapel result in the next 267th pope prioritising a pastoral approach to his papacy or could Catholics see a return to more conservative values? We Are Church International, which is seeking reform of the Catholic Church, has called on the cardinals to reform "with courage and vigour". In a statement, it said that it was the only way to truly overcome the internal and external crises of credibility in the Roman Catholic Church triggered by sexualised violence, clerical abuse of power, discrimination against women and self-centeredness. It's not known how long the conclave will take, but considering that these men aren't overly familiar with one another, it could take longer than Jorge Bergoglio's election in 2013. If there's no clear winner after 33 rounds of voting, there will be a run-off between the top two candidates, but the winner must attain a two-thirds majority.
The Independent
12-02-2025
- The Independent
Rome is more family-friendly thank you think – these are the best things to do on a budget
Most primary school children will learn about Ancient Rome at some point in the curriculum, coming home with tales of gladiators, emperors and what occurred in the Colosseum. Completed in AD80, the ancient epicentre of the Eternal City holds a magical appeal for everyone who's ever been told about the spectacles that occurred in the arena. While only one of my four children is old enough to have learned about the Romans, such was his enthusiasm for the subject that I found myself searching for flights to Rome over half term. I also figured that my six-year-old, four-year-old and two-year-old would study the same subject at some point, and could approach it with first-hand experience of having seen the Colosseum walls for themselves. I couldn't believe the price: during school holidays, when flights are notoriously higher, the figure in front of me was £40 per person, return, on WizzAir. At that point, I hit the book. From the ancient Pantheon to the beauties of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Salvi's Trevi Fountain, there's beauty and history at almost every turn in Rome. I was cautious about navigating these turns, and the ancient cobbled streets, with a large double buggy containing my two youngest children, but I figured that finding a hotel within walking distance of some of the main attractions would cut down on how far I had to push my double chariot, and that it would be a good way of working up an appetite for some of the city's pasta dishes. And to cut down – and in most cases avoid – queuing up with four impatient children, we booked slots for the majority of tourist attractions in advance. With some advance planning, it's easier than you might imagine to have a budget-friendly family break in Rome that will please travellers of all ages. When is the best time to travel to Rome? If you want to avoid the crowds but still want pleasant conditions to walk around Rome, September and October, and February and March, tend to be sunny and not too busy. The temperature regularly tops 30C in July and August, but most hotels are prepared for this with rooftop bars and outdoor swimming pools. Best family-friendly hotels in Rome A few steps away from the delights of the Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, Mama Shelter makes for an excellent base for anyone who wants to spend less time walking and more time sightseeing. When it comes to rest, it's one of the few hotels in Rome with an indoor pool, which children are allowed in all day – plus it's a beautiful space with pink walls, turquoise waters and gold detailing on the ceiling. There's also a sauna and steam room for adults to nip into when the other parent has control of the kids. Most of the rooms have an interconnecting option, and all come with an excellent in-room entertainment system that includes a free movie channel in English, so you can treat the little ones to some Disney at the end of a long day. For the convenience of a hotel with a 24-hour reception and the flexibility of a holiday apartment, Aparthotel Adagio Rome has several one-bedroom apartments. Ideal for families, these have a sofa bed (and places to arrange travel cots) in the living room and a comfortable king-sized bed in the bedroom. All apartments have in-built kitchenettes so you can save on eating out, or buy some ingredients to make packed lunches for the day and store them in the fridge. Best things to do with kids in Rome Colosseum Whether your child likes performing, thinking or exploring, going inside the ancient walls of the Colosseum offers a chance for them to imagine life in the amphitheatre and to burn off some energy exploring different levels. Advance planning is vital to ensure a smooth visit, as the Colosseum welcomes around four million visitors a year, which is equivalent to around 16,000 every single day of the year. You can book a timed entry slot online up to one month before your visit, allowing you to bypass all queues and walk straight in. The full experience includes entry to the arena floor and the underground vaults as well as access to the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – we spent around three to four hours. Adults €24, children go free; Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Even if your child isn't particularly into art, there's so much to look at on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel that it's enough to render even the most hyperactive child speechless – allowing parents to have a moment of reflection. While there are several guided tours offering to walk you around and talk through the details, if you have younger children you'll have more flexibility walking around by yourself (and save money, too). Children under seven go free, and you can pay extra to guarantee a time slot. Just be warned that there's no flexibility on the slot and security pays close attention to the time written on your ticket, so you do have to get there exactly on time if you want to 'skip the line'. Adults €20, children €8, with 'skip the line' entry €5; One of Rome's biggest and most beautiful landscaped gardens, Villa Borghese is a great place to let kids run around and decompress after a day of the city's sights dazzling them. If you have some time to spare, it's worth spending a morning or afternoon at the affordably priced zoo, where you can see giraffes, zebras and elephants up close. In front of the zoo, there's a small tram that takes you around the park at a leisurely pace. On the weekends, there are pony rides outside the Cinema dei Piccoli with ponies of all sizes, including some adorable miniature ones. They'll give you helmets so you can simply rock up and ride. Best family-friendly restaurants in Rome There is no shortage of pizzerias in Rome, but if you want one that the whole family will enjoy, a good bet is the Mama Shelter Pizzeria. With marbled details, XXL Roman columns and a gigantic wood-fired oven, there's a lot to look at as you wait for dinner to be served. Over-18s will appreciate the imaginative cocktail menu that allows while youngsters will undoubtedly enjoy the classic tiramisu dessert. For the famous regional dish of carbonara, a great wallet-friendly option is Pasta e Vino, where you can see the pasta made fresh in front of your eyes in a rustic setting with exposed brick walls and wooden tables. Carbonara big enough to feed two is €12.90 (£10.75). If you want to try something different from pizza and pasta, Il Secondo Tradizione specialise in meat and fish dishes. Rome is 30 minutes by car from the beach, and locals love their fish. Il Secondo Trazione caters mainly to those who live in the city rather than tourists, making it a great way of experiencing something local. Finish with some traditional Italian gelato at one of the city's many gelaterias. Cremaria Candia serves up some soft, creamy gelato with especially appealing flavours for chocoholics, including Snickers and Oreo. The tiramisu flavour tastes just like the actual pudding. Where to shop with children From big-name brands to smaller boutiques, you could easily spend a whole day shopping in Rome. However, if you're with children who have short attention spans, head straight to the department store La Rinascente, near Villa Borghese, to look at fashion and beauty items from several different brands in one place. Then, if the kids behave themselves, treat them at Citta Del Sole — where you can find traditional, STEM and interactive toys for all ages. How to get there At two hours flying time from the UK, you can wake up at 7am and be in Rome in time for lunch. Airlines flying to the Italian capital include easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2 and Wizz Air. With all this competition for tourists, flight costs are very reasonable: Wizz Air flights cost us a total of £250 for six passengers, and that included an outbound flight on Valentine's Day. The Vatican museums are completely free to enter on the last Sunday of every month. Walk fast past the gift shops inside attractions – the price of postcards and mugs inside the Colosseum is about 10 times more expensive as the same souvenirs at a streetside newspaper kiosk.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- The Independent
Rome is a surprisingly family-friendly city - here's what to do on a budget
Most primary school children will learn about Ancient Rome at some point in the curriculum, coming home with tales of gladiators, emperors and what occurred in the Colosseum. Completed in AD80, the ancient epicentre of the Eternal City holds a magical appeal for everyone who's ever been told about the spectacles that occurred in the arena. While only one of my four children is old enough to have learned about the Romans, such was his enthusiasm for the subject that I found myself searching for flights to Rome over half term. I also figured that my six-year-old, four-year-old and two-year-old would study the same subject at some point, and could approach it with first-hand experience of having seen the Colosseum walls for themselves. I couldn't believe the price: during school holidays, when flights are notoriously higher, the figure in front of me was £40 per person, return, on WizzAir. At that point, I hit the book. From the ancient Pantheon to the beauties of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Salvi's Trevi Fountain, there's beauty and history at almost every turn in Rome. I was cautious about navigating these turns, and the ancient cobbled streets, with a large double buggy containing my two youngest children, but I figured that finding a hotel within walking distance of some of the main attractions would cut down on how far I had to push my double chariot, and that it would be a good way of working up an appetite for some of the city's pasta dishes. And to cut down – and in most cases avoid – queuing up with four impatient children, we booked slots for the majority of tourist attractions in advance. With some advance planning, it's easier than you might imagine to have a budget-friendly family break in Rome that will please travellers of all ages. When is the best time to travel to Rome? If you want to avoid the crowds but still want pleasant conditions to walk around Rome, September and October, and February and March, tend to be sunny and not too busy. The temperature regularly tops 30C in July and August, but most hotels are prepared for this with rooftop bars and outdoor swimming pools. Best family-friendly hotels in Rome A few steps away from the delights of the Vatican Museums, St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, Mama Shelter makes for an excellent base for anyone who wants to spend less time walking and more time sightseeing. When it comes to rest, it's one of the few hotels in Rome with an indoor pool, which children are allowed in all day – plus it's a beautiful space with pink walls, turquoise waters and gold detailing on the ceiling. There's also a sauna and steam room for adults to nip into when the other parent has control of the kids. Most of the rooms have an interconnecting option, and all come with an excellent in-room entertainment system that includes a free movie channel in English, so you can treat the little ones to some Disney at the end of a long day. For the convenience of a hotel with a 24-hour reception and the flexibility of a holiday apartment, Aparthotel Adagio Rome has several one-bedroom apartments. Ideal for families, these have a sofa bed (and places to arrange travel cots) in the living room and a comfortable king-sized bed in the bedroom. All apartments have in-built kitchenettes so you can save on eating out, or buy some ingredients to make packed lunches for the day and store them in the fridge. Top things to do with kids in Rome Colosseum Whether your child likes performing, thinking or exploring, going inside the ancient walls of the Colosseum offers a chance for them to imagine life in the amphitheatre and to burn off some energy exploring different levels. Advance planning is vital to ensure a smooth visit, as the Colosseum welcomes around four million visitors a year, which is equivalent to around 16,000 every single day of the year. You can book a timed entry slot online up to one month before your visit, allowing you to bypass all queues and walk straight in. The full experience includes entry to the arena floor and the underground vaults as well as access to the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – we spent around three to four hours. Adults €24, children go free; Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Even if your child isn't particularly into art, there's so much to look at on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel that it's enough to render even the most hyperactive child speechless – allowing parents to have a moment of reflection. While there are several guided tours offering to walk you around and talk through the details, if you have younger children you'll have more flexibility walking around by yourself (and save money, too). Children under seven go free, and you can pay extra to guarantee a time slot. Just be warned that there's no flexibility on the slot and security pays close attention to the time written on your ticket, so you do have to get there exactly on time if you want to 'skip the line'. Adults €20, children €8, with 'skip the line' entry €5; One of Rome's biggest and most beautiful landscaped gardens, Villa Borghese is a great place to let kids run around and decompress after a day of the city's sights dazzling them. If you have some time to spare, it's worth spending a morning or afternoon at the affordably priced zoo, where you can see giraffes, zebras and elephants up close. In front of the zoo, there's a small tram that takes you around the park at a leisurely pace. On the weekends, there are pony rides outside the Cinema dei Piccoli with ponies of all sizes, including some adorable miniature ones. They'll give you helmets so you can simply rock up and ride. Best family-friendly restaurants in Rome There is no shortage of pizzerias in Rome, but if you want one that the whole family will enjoy, a good bet is the Mama Shelter Pizzeria. With marbled details, XXL Roman columns and a gigantic wood-fired oven, there's a lot to look at as you wait for dinner to be served. Over-18s will appreciate the imaginative cocktail menu that allows while youngsters will undoubtedly enjoy the classic tiramisu dessert. For the famous regional dish of carbonara, a great wallet-friendly option is Pasta e Vino, where you can see the pasta made fresh in front of your eyes in a rustic setting with exposed brick walls and wooden tables. Carbonara big enough to feed two is €12.90 (£10.75). If you want to try something different from pizza and pasta, Il Secondo Tradizione specialise in meat and fish dishes. Rome is 30 minutes by car from the beach, and locals love their fish. Il Secondo Trazione caters mainly to those who live in the city rather than tourists, making it a great way of experiencing something local. Finish with some traditional Italian gelato at one of the city's many gelaterias. Cremaria Candia serves up some soft, creamy gelato with especially appealing flavours for chocoholics, including Snickers and Oreo. The tiramisu flavour tastes just like the actual pudding. Where to shop with children From big-name brands to smaller boutiques, you could easily spend a whole day shopping in Rome. However, if you're with children who have short attention spans, head straight to the department store La Rinascente, near Villa Borghese, to look at fashion and beauty items from several different brands in one place. Then, if the kids behave themselves, treat them at Citta Del Sole — where you can find traditional, STEM and interactive toys for all ages. How to get there At two hours flying time from the UK, you can wake up at 7am and be in Rome in time for lunch. Airlines flying to the Italian capital include easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2 and Wizz Air. With all this competition for tourists, flight costs are very reasonable: Wizz Air flights cost us a total of £250 for six passengers, and that included an outbound flight on Valentine's Day. The Vatican museums are completely free to enter on the last Sunday of every month. Walk fast past the gift shops inside attractions – the price of postcards and mugs inside the Colosseum is about 10 times more expensive as the same souvenirs at a streetside newspaper kiosk.
