Latest news with #RomanHistory
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
How To Spend A Weekend In Cirencester: The Cotswolds
How To Spend A Weekend In Cirencester. getty Cirencester, known as the 'capital of the Cotswolds,' is an ancient market town founded by the Romans—once the second-largest town in Roman Britain after London—today, peppered with swathes of honey-colored independent shops, cute cafés, and fine art galleries. Strolling along its charming cobblestone streets, you'll be troubled not to uncover a myriad of historic jewels, from its gothic parish church of St John the Baptist to Cirencester's Roman amphitheater (open all day; free of charge), built in the second century, for 8,000 onlooking spectators. Or, pay a visit to its Roman-themed Corinium Museum, surf through its Market Place (a Farmer's Market is held every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month), sip a pint at the 15th-century Black Horse—the oldest pub in town—and catch a glorious sunset at Earl Bathurst's 3,000-acre estate, Cirencester Park. But if you're looking to go further afield, Cirencester can serve as the perfect pillow stop while venturing deeper into the quintessentially English Cotswolds—from pretty chocolate-box villages to secret garden spas and gastropub-galore. So here is our guide on where to sleep, eat, and explore in the 'capital of the Cotswolds'—and beyond. Orchard Stable Luxury Cottages Nestled in the Cotswolds village of Ampney Crucis—just over 3 miles from Cirencester—the Orchard Stable is a chic 2-bedroom countryside retreat, set within Ampneyfield Farm, housing two other luxury barn conversions (The Milking Parlour and Haymaker Barn—ideal for group stays). Snaking across a little patio guarded by towering European hornbeams and an apple orchard, you'll reach the pretty barn door of this charming honey-stone cottage. Inside, spill into its cozy, open-plan kitchen-come-living room, elegant and homely, dressed in Cotswolds stone with exposed oak beams, a full-size pistachio kitchen (with a fridge freezer, electric oven, microwave, induction hob, dishwasher, and Nespresso coffee machine), a Victorian writing desk, and little country touches like vintage polo sticks, cricket bat trunks, and Edwardian shoe trees. Here, you can graze on grand feasts, sat at your farmhouse banquette table, or sink into comfy cotton sofas as you peruse Netflix, wrapped in snuggly woolen throws, with a toasty log burner. Orchard Stable Luxury Cottages Step up through an iron-latched door into a second snug living room with cross-stitched sofas, a vintage globe, art deco paintings, and a cool antique leather trunk—all hidden behind long wedgewood-style drapes. Meanwhile, a winding staircase flows into two attic master bedrooms, both evoking snug countryside-chic, with low beams, blown glass lanterns, skylight windows, super king beds (with fluffy woolen throws), and quirky farmyard prints—one with a direct en-suite (and an in-bedroom deep soaking tub) and the other with a small adjacent bathroom wrapped in pretty Parisian tiles with a rainfall shower. A secret door upstairs, however, reveals an iron staircase descending to a beautiful private courtyard—all yours—with whispering birch trees and an aromatic herb garden. This is Cotswolds utopia. Nestled in The Old Kennels of Cirencester Park, Roots + Seeds serves sustainable, farm-to-fork cuisine—utilizing suppliers within a 25-mile radius, alongside home-grown ingredients freshly picked, every morning, from its on-site Kitchen Garden (with a goal to hit 75% home-grown this year). Join for its famous Sunday lunch—grazing on starters like Welsh rarebit crumpet or prawn cocktail—before feasting on its Mixed Roast Sharing Board ($32 per person) made up of tender chicken pies, giant fluffy Yorkshire puddings, pork loin roulade, blades of beef, crispy roast potatoes, and rich creamed spinach. Pair it with tickling cocktails, from the Roots + Seeds Gin and Tonic to Kitchen Garden Chilli Margaritas (made with homemade chili syrup). The Crown Jake Eastham Once a 16th-century coaching inn, The Crown is an award-winning gastro pub in Ampney Crucis, nestled within the 24-bedroom boutique hotel, Wild Thyme & Honey—wrapped in Cotswolds stone, with rustic furniture, antler chandeliers, and cozy crackling fireplaces. As night falls, it offers a low-lit, romantic feel, where couples graze on small plates of 'Nduja Scotch egg, hot honey kissed burrata, and sesame prawn & squid crumpets—followed by glazed pork belly, char-grilled smoked haddock fillet, or a smoky 28-day dry-aged steak burger, cooked over glowing coals, Robata Grill style. Top tip—look out for its legendary Steak Night Experience, held every Friday—and stay overnight afterward in its lavish No. 3 London Road suite ($675 per night). Garden Room The Double Red Duke A 35-minute drive from Cirencester, in the tiny village of Clanfield, The Double Red Duke is well worth the visit—a quintessential Cotswolds pub and boutique hotel—bearing 19 lovingly-furnished rooms (think vintage furniture, Roberts radios, and roll-top baths), a beautiful beer garden with candy-striped parasols, and a snug spa set in a shepherd's hut (double rooms from $250 per night). Saunter along to the Garden Room with sexy olive booths, Greek busts, stained glass windows, and caged lanterns, as waiters—dressed in boiler jackets—whiz around with plates of crab rolls, beef tartare, and devilled lamb's kidneys. Juicy steak cuts are the real showstopper, however, with what's up for grabs scribbled on chalkboards and crossed out as locals waltz inside and take their pickings—from T-bone to thick Black Angus ribs—served with bone marrow mash or belly-filling chunky chips. Broad Avenue The Bathurst Estate The Grade I listed Cirencester Park has presided as the crowning jewel of the Bathurst Family for over 300 years—set across 3,000 acres, hosting calendar scribble-worthy events from adrenaline-pumping horse trials to the annual Cotswold Show, surrounded by striking sculptures, sweeping loop horse-riding routes (up to 8.5 kilometers) through Oakley and Hailey Wood, and the world's tallest yew hedge (park entry; $5 per person). Visit 'The Mansion,' as it's known locally, built by the 1st Earl (believed to be built on the same site as the original Cirencester Castle) on private tours held on selected days throughout the year ($35 per person), grab some doggy ice-cream from Beano in the Park, or visit the Cirencester Park Polo Club, established in 1894. Boasting 11 polo grounds, a polo academy, and its famous Pavillion Restaurant (serving decadent four-course lunches)—it has hosted some of the most influential figures of the world, from George VI to the Maharaja of Jaipur, the sultan of Brunei and the current Royal Family. The Pig in the Cotswolds Jake Eastham Dwarfing the Cotswolds village of Barnsley, just four miles from Cirencester, THE PIG-in the Cotswolds is a sumptuous Grade II-listed manor house hotel boasting original ornamental gardens designed by Rosemary Verey. Meander along the garden path, and you'll uncover its stone-walled spa, where you can indulge in contouring facials (using Gua Sha stones), volcanic hot stone massages, LED-lamp manicures and pedicures, Himalayan pink exfoliation scrubs, and full-body wraps (massages and facials from $170 for 60 minutes; $210 for 90 minutes). Afterward, retire to the Relaxation Room—wrapped in Cotswolds stone with Turkish rugs, candlestick alcoves, and giant floral murals, as you stretch out on a floral chaise lounge and sip ginger tea with dates and dried apricots for grazing. Or, make use of the outdoor hydrotherapy plunge pool, rattan loungers, and herb-scented sauna and steam room at the Fieldhouse (complimentary access for hotel guests only). Just across the road from the Fieldhouse sits The Village Pub, also owned by The Pig; an eccentric inn (with just six bedrooms) dressed with antique portraits, Hogarth prints, deer heads, and timeworn wingback sofas. Here, you'll devour small plates of pork pies and honey-coated chipolatas—while pub staples include smoked mackerel, devilled eggs, pork chops, or the Village Pub Ploughman's—paired with fine local ales on tap. Housing one of the largest collections of Romano-British antiquities from Corinium, Roman Britain's second-largest city, Corinium Museum (in Cirencester's town center) showcases exhibits from the Roman and Neolithic periods, all the way up to Victorian times—where you'll uncover the tools of prehistoric metal smiths, gawp at Roman mosaics, and discover Anglo Saxon grave goods (tickets from $11 per person). Rowing boat picnic on the Thames Cotswold Canoe Hire Dreaming of a romantic row along the River Thames? Head to the town of Lechlade on Thames at the edge of the Cotswolds (a 26-minute drive from Cirencester), where you can opt for Cotswold Canoe Hire's two-hour Rowing Boat Picnic on the Thames. Drifting along the River Windrush, padded with comfy cushions and wrapped up in snuggly blankets, you'll indulge in a Premium River Windrush hamper—think smoked salmon and cream cheese bloomers, fresh bacon and brie baguettes, homemade scotch eggs and sausage rolls, mini quiches, sweet cakes, and more—as you hear the gentle paddle of elegant swans heading for St Kenelm's Church ($135 per couple). Travelers in London can hop on a 70-minute direct train with Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Kemble. From there, it's a 11-minute cab drive to Cirencester. To book the Orchard Stable, visit For more information on the Cotswolds, visit
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Daily Mail
easyJet launches holidays to underrated Italian seaside town with more than 40km of stunning golden beaches
easyJet holidays has announced that it's launching holidays to an iconic Italian seaside resort. Rimini is one of Italy's leading coastal destinations with more than 40km of beaches along its shore. It's a buzzing destination famed for its lively nightlife scene with dance clubs located in the hills behind the beach. easyJet holidays will offer a range of holidays at three to five star properties in the region. The budget airline will also be offering twice weekly flights to the coastal city from London Gatwick. Rimini's beaches are ideal for holidaymakers who enjoy a lively atmosphere. The majority of its shore is divided into private beaches. Under this system, holidaymakers pay a small fee to hire a sun lounger. It's worth checking out a few different options as some companies will also offer tourists water sports or use of hot tubs at a discounted price. But Rimini is more than just a beach destination. The Italian seaside city has a lot of Roman history to uncover. Rimini's Augustus Arch dates back to 27BC and is a gate set into the former city wall. Tourists can also cross the Bridge of Tiberius which was completed by Tiberius in 21AD. Lonely Planet reveals: 'The majestic five-arched Tiberius' Bridge dates from AD 21. In Roman times, it marked the start of the Via Emilia - the important arterial road between the Adriatic Coast and the Po river valley. 'These days the bridge still connects Rimini's city centre to the old fishing quarter of Borgo San Giuliano and rests on its original foundations consisting of an ingenious construction of wooden stilts.' As a seaside destination, Rimini is of course also famed for its seafood. Tourists can indulge in fritto miso, fried seafood platters, and linguine alle vongole (pasta with clams). Chief commercial officer at easyJet, Paul Bixby says: 'We're committed to providing a wide range of package holidays to Europe's most loved holiday destinations, which is why we're thrilled to have welcomed Rimini to our selection. 'With sunshine and one of Italy 's largest beaches, vibrant nightlife for couples and rich in history and culture, we're confident that Rimini will be popular with holidaymakers. 'We look forward to expanding our offering as we continue driving progress towards our ambitious growth plans for the year ahead.' And easyJet isn't the only holiday company with eyes on Rimini. British Airways is now operating flights to Rimini on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Neil Chernoff, BA's chief Planning and Strategy officer, said: 'Italy continues to prove hugely popular with our customers, which is why it's our biggest European destination and second globally behind the US. 'Last month, we saw a 10 per cent increase in searches for summer flights to Italy compared to 2023, so we're pleased to be an offering an even bigger choice of destinations.'
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Game Changers: how board games are making a comeback
Board games can be the subject of pure delight or intense anger - some people play them every week; others flat-out refuse. Either way, board games are making a comeback, and author Tim Clare says there's something out there for everyone. In his book The Game Changers, he argues games are a human universal instinct. With examples from Roman anti-cheating devices, to organised crime card syndicates to the combative domestic bonding ritual of Monopoly. Tim's book explains how games help us learn to be better losers and make smarter decisions. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Smoke rising for the American empire
Donald Trump and Nero have, worryingly, much in common, William J Dominik writes. Donald Trump is not just following in Nero's footsteps — he is resurrecting some of the dynamics that damaged the stability and prosperity of the Roman empire. Like Nero, the possibly demented emperor chronicled by the biographer Suetonius and the historians Tacitus and Dio Cassius, Trump uses spectacle, manipulation and lies as tools of power. What is more chilling is that the lessons of ancient Rome are playing out in real time in the United States today. Suetonius, in The Twelve Caesars, describes Nero as a ruler obsessed with public admiration. He appeared in the guise of a singer, an actor, a dancer and a charioteer — as if his role as emperor was nothing more than a performance. Trump's rallies, filled with rhetorical flourishes, chants and self-congratulation, mirror this obsession with the stage. The difference? While Nero performed on the Roman stage, Trump now commands the media stage 24/7 by cultivating a cult of personality that thrives on spectacle. Tacitus, in his Annals, paints a far darker, more sinister portrait. He portrays Nero as a master of manipulation and fear to keep both the Senate and the people in line. When the Great Fire of 64CE ravaged Rome, Nero's response was typical: self-preservation over leadership. While Dio Cassius claims in his Roman History that Nero sang and fiddled with his lyre while Rome burned, the reality is that he focused on consolidating his power even as the city smouldered. In the midst of a crisis, he shifted blame to scapegoats (namely, the Christians) allowing him to maintain control while stoking division. Fast forward to Trump. When the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the nation during his first term, Trump followed Nero's script. He downplayed the threat, attacked the very experts tasked with saving lives and diverted attention away from his administration's failings by fuelling conspiracy theories and attacking "enemies of the people". When the Capitol was stormed on January 6, he performed other familiar acts from the Neronian play script: shifting blame, stirring up violence and offering no real leadership. Like Nero, Trump played to his base by offering it a version of reality that suited his narrative even as the Capitol teetered on the edge of chaos. Dio Cassius critiques Nero for his cruelty and his ability to manipulate the masses. He writes that Nero, though once beloved for his populist rhetoric, grew increasingly tyrannical and distrustful of the Senate as his rule progressed, thereby gradually alienating all who were of any worth. Trump, too, has waged war on institutions and attacked the press, the judiciary and anyone in the political establishment who dares to challenge his perspective and agenda. His war on institutions and the media mirrors Nero's attacks on those who disagreed with him. In both the Roman and American contexts, Nero and Trump, respectively, have viewed the control of information as the key to maintaining effective control and power. Both Nero and Trump are known for employing loyalists who carry out their whims without question. Nero's advisers were hand-picked for their ability to flatter, not challenge. Dio Cassius recounts that those senators who listened attentively to Nero and loudly cheered him were commended and honoured; the rest were denigrated and punished. Trump, too, surrounds himself with sycophants who serve his interests, even when it means sacrificing integrity or competence and seeks retribution against those who speak out against him. The parallels are uncanny: a leader who demands unwavering loyalty, punishes dissent and puts personal power above the good of the state. Perhaps the most striking similarity comes from Nero's final days. Suetonius famously records that as Rome burned around Nero, he declared, "What an artist dies in me!" His sense of grandeur and self-worth was such that, even in his destruction, he saw himself as a misunderstood genius. Trump, too, sees himself as both martyr and saviour. He is not just a politician: he is the sole voice of the "forgotten" people, misunderstood and persecuted. His defiance against legal accountability, his false claims of a stolen election and his relentless pursuit of revenge all point to a narcissistic sense of self-importance — just like Nero's. The most terrifying lesson from Rome is that the republic does not fall in one dramatic act. It dies slowly, from within, as the pillars of societal and institutional norms are eroded by a leader who sees them as obstacles to personal glory. Nero's reign left a legacy of division, cruelty and distrust. The United States risks the same fate under Trump. He does not just challenge the norms of democracy — he subverts them in an attempt to remake them entirely by rewriting reality to fit his vision. Rome survived Nero, but it did so at a cost. The empire was never the same after his reign. We are at a crossroads now, with Trump's rise threatening the same kind of moral and political decay. America has a choice: It can wake up to the lessons of Rome or continue down the path of political, social and economic decline. The flames are here — and they are being fed by the very leader who claims to "drain the swamp". The pillars of the American republic are still intact despite the assault on the Capitol, but the foundation is eroding. America may not yet be the Rome of 64CE, but with the smoke on the horizon looking strikingly similar, the fiddling has already begun. ■William J Dominik is an emeritus professor of classics at the University of Otago.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- The Sun
European destination with new BA flights that used to have ‘dolphin currency' and has the best beach in the world
A EUROPEAN destination that used to have a 'dolphin currency' and is close to the world's best beach is now even more accessible from the UK. British Airways will soon launch flights to Olbia - a coastal Italian town located in Sardinia. Whilst known for being a port and airport town, Olbia has a long history. In fact, the town used to have a dolphin currency, which was dolphin-shaped coins, also known as Olbia dolphins. Originally used as sacrificial objects for the worship of Apollo, the Olbia dolphins were later used as a form of currency for the ancient Greek colony of Olbia, before coins existed. At its historic core, Olbia has an archeological museum and two churches. The museum was first opened in the 1980s, but since has been a work in progress since. It is home to local artefacts, from Roman amulets to pottery, and even the relic of a Roman vessel discovered in the old port. The Chiesa di San Paolo church is built on the site of an ancient temple, has a multi-coloured dome and a stone exterior. The town's other significant church - the Basilica minore di San Simplicio - sits just outside the heart of town and is a Romanesque granite church dating back to the eleventh century. Away from the more historical attractions is Corso Umberto - a lively shop-lined street, which leads uphill from the waterfront. Piazza Margherita is also well-known in the town and is often considered the hub of the town. I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds Many narrow lanes lead off this hub, featuring old buildings and little squares. In the summer months, visitors can head out on a day-long boat excursion to explore the coast and nearby resorts. The town boats plenty of places to stay and places to eat, so visitors won't be short of choice. Many of the town's restaurants serve local dishes, including locally-made wine. Away from Olbia town, Sardinia also boasts the world's best beach. Recently named on the top 50 best beaches in the world list, Cala Goloritzè features unique rock formations and white sand and pebbles. The beach is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Olbia, so would be a good day trip when exploring the rest of the Sardinina. Flights direct from the UK take around two-and-a-half hours. The new British Airways direct flight route from London City to Olbia, Sardinia will operate weekly from May 25 and increase to twice weekly from July 16 to September 28. Also in Italy is a little-known town, which has been dubbed the 'city of ice cream', with £15 UK flights. Plus, the European seaside town is selling breaks for 84p. 4
