Aerial view of the Palatine

One of the many undeniable attractions of Italy’s capital city is its ancient history. But just as you think that you’ve explored every ruin, new architectural treasures are unearthed or unveiled, making a journey into Rome’s glorious past a never-ending discovery.

Among these just-unveiled vestiges of Rome’s proud history are the colossal Arcades of Severus, the newly opened section of the Palatine, one of the seven hills on which Rome was originally built in 753 BC. This hill overlooking the Forum and Circus Maximus can be considered the birthplace of Rome; according to Roman mythology, the city’s founders, Romulus and Remus, were raised by a wolf in one of the caves nestled deep in the Palatine. Whether the story is fact or myth, archeological excavations have provided ample evidence to prove that people inhabited the Palatine (Palatino in Italian) as far back as 1000 B.C.

The renovated arcades are part of an imposing palazzo once belonging to Lucius Septimius Severus, the Emperor who reigned over Rome from 193 until his death in 211 AD.

Aerial view of the Palatine

Are you enticed by the idea of a leisurely walk through the remnants of the Emperor’s palace and his adjacent baths, while imagining what his life had been like during the heyday of the Roman Empire? Our Colosseum and Forum Pass makes it possible, easy and convenient. The arcades can be visited on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (see #21 on the free map that comes with the entrance ticket for the exact location of the "Arcate").

As a matter of fact, in ancient times, the Palatine was a very fashionable neighborhood for the wealthy to live in – not only because of the spectacular views over Rome’s other architectural landmarks, but also because the air was purer at the altitude of 230 feet above sea level than in the city below. No wonder well-heeled Romans like Augustus, Cicero, and Marc Antony built their homes on the hill. Then, as now, when it came to real estate, location was everything!

As you stroll among these ruins, you will be amazed at the ancient Romans’ architectural and engineering skills and wonder how they managed to erect buildings that, at least partially, withstood the ravages of time.

The MACHINA exhibition poster

You will find responses to these questions – and so much more – at the Museo della Civiltà Romana on Piazza Giovanni Agnelli in the EUR district, where a current exhibition "MACHINA. Technology in Ancient Rome" sheds light on the ancient Romans’ truly impressive (even by today’s standards) technological feats that made them the most advanced civilization of their time.

The exhibit, on until the 5th of April 2010, answers many questions a curious visitor may have about the innovations introduced by the ancient Romans. They used a variety of tools and machines such as pulleys and cranes to build aqueducts, sewers, bridges – like the one Julius Caesar famously constructed so he could cross the Rhine – buildings and theaters. The exhibit explains how they used their know-how and ingenuity to develop hydraulics, military technology, agriculture, metallurgy, medicine and other industries, which were unparalleled by other civilizations and had, no doubt, contributed to the greatness of the Empire.

If you are ready to delve into the fascinating world of ancient Romans and find out how they invented and perfected state-of-the-art technology that helped them conquer much of the world, Select Italy’s Consultation Service can book a custom visit just for you.

Allora… andiamo!

The Salina coastline (Photo: A. Grant)

What better way to embrace winter than with a defiant nod to spring and summer? With our new 9-day “Mystery & Fire: Taormina & the Aeolian Islands” tour package, we open up a new door to the most storied Sicilian shore as well as the Mediterranean’s relatively obscure, but arguably most beautiful, archipelago. Select Italy is the only travel company offering a package like this, giving you the chance to experience the tried-and-true as well as something refreshingly new.

Located just off the northern coast of Sicily, the seven volcanic islands in the Aeolian chain include Salina, where part of the Italian-language film Il Postino was filmed, the jet-set playground isle of Panarea, and ethereal Stromboli, with its eponymous active volcano which erupts nightly. All three are included in this unique, un-escorted trip that’s been custom designed for the independent traveler who wants to focus more on the destination and less on the legwork. Normally it could take hours to sort out ferry schedules, choose suitable hotels and identify and book worthy excursions. We have sifted through a sea of choices to present the best possible options, leaving you with more time to explore the elemental beauty of these stunning islands.

Your trip begins in Taormina, near one of the world's most active volcanoes, Mount Etna. Get to know the fashionable city center on your privately guided walking tour and wind down each day at the beautiful sandy beach below the city or in contemplation of fiery Mount Etna from the balconies of your hotel, the 4-star Hotel Villa Ducale.

From Taormina, transportation is provided to the first stop in the Aeolian Islands, Panarea. You will be amazed by the neon-blue waters, chiseled coast and stylish ambience as exemplified by the 5-star Hotel Raya. It’s like Capri without the crowds!

View from the Hotel Villa Ducale, Taormina

The mystery of this breezy archipelago intensifies on Stromboli, where from the comfort of La Sirenetta Park Hotel (the island’s finest), you get an eyeful of the mighty volcano known as the “Lighthouse of the Tyrrhenian Sea.” That’s because every night, lava erupts from the top and streams down the Sciara del Fuoco, the slope of fire, into the wine-dark sea. It’s electrifying, primordial, and – lest there be any trepidation about proximity to a lone mountain of such fiery temperament – under scientific observation every second of the day.

As active as Stromboli is, that’s how hushed – and extinct – are the two lofty volcanoes that form the spine of Salina. You arrive via another hydrofoil for a transfer to the village of Malfa and the seaside Hotel Signum, with its heavenly indoor-outdoor spa featuring a variety of sybaritic mineral-rich thermal pools and authentic fango (Italian mud) treatments. Say arrivederci to stress, and ciao to unbridled Mediterranean bliss.

The “Mystery & Fire: Taormina & the Aeolian Islands” vacation package is at present the only package on the market to focus exclusively on this fascinating corner of Italy. Transportation between Sicily and the Aeolian Islands by land and water is included in the package price. If you're looking for transportation with an even more stunning view, helicopter transfers to and between the islands may be substituted upon request and for an additional charge. For complete package details and to make a booking, call us at (800) 877-1755 or visit our website.

Poster for the celebrated movie

Teens, tweens and Twi-hards everywhere will love our new Twilight Tuscany Tour vacation package. Stephenie Meyer’s blockbuster Twilight series has attracted legions of dedicated fans (over 70 million books sold to date) and when the series' second volume, New Moon, was made into a movie, “Twilight Fever” exploded across the planet. Sunny Italy is a key location in New Moon so we created this exclusive four-day package for young vampire aficionados and their Italophile elders, too.

The Twilight Tuscany Tour follows the fictional teenage pair, Bella and Edward, on an exciting odyssey through a mysterious and historic corner of Italy. You’ll have guided tours of the enigmatic settings for both the book (Volterra) and the movie (Montepulciano), and get insider tips on all the can’t-miss monuments, restaurants and shops along the scenic, 70-mile route that separates the two towns.

Montepulciano from the sky

First stop is Volterra. One of the 12 Etruscan power centers from the sixth to fourth century B.C., this town boasts a splendid collection of that civilization's artifacts in the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum. The Twilight Tuscany package includes a visit to the museum; in fact, the aim of the three guided walking tours is to sandwich history between the fiction – vampires and Etruscans are presented as part of the city's dark tradition.

Volterra's economy flourished because of the rich deposits of alabaster, iron and salt in the area, and its medieval center remains one of the best preserved in Italy. You’ll get a privileged view of these monuments since the welcome dinner on the day of your arrival takes place in the halls of an ancient palace, while the next night you’ll dine under the vaulted ceiling of a local trattoria. In addition, the secrets of the alabaster carver’s art will be revealed to you when you visit an alabaster studio to watch the craftsmen at work.

Are these vampires on parade?

Montepulciano, acclaimed for its red wine (the prestigious vino Nobile di Montepulciano), is a medieval hill town straight out of central casting. Parts of Under the Tuscan Sun were filmed in here, and when the New Moon shoot took place last July, this tranquil town of 15,000 inhabitants was invaded by paparazzi from around the world. They hoped for candid shots of the young cast enjoying la dolce vita, particularly Robert Pattinson and his co-star Kristen Stewart. Although they've only recently confirmed their off-screen romance, "Robsten" – the Brangelina of the teeny-bopper set – are thought to have become a couple in picturesque and romantic Montepulciano.

An aperitivo at Robert Pattinson’s favorite local wine bar greets you upon arrival in Montepulciano. The enoteca is right off Piazza Grande where the filmmakers built a fake fountain to accommodate Meyer's story line (there isn't one in Volterra's main square, either). You’ll also get an inside look at the 16th century Palazzo Ricci, the movie set for the Volturi's hidden lair.

Film buffs are sure to delight in this exclusive tour. Moreover, the world-famous wines and delicious food of this ravishing corner of Tuscany will appeal to die-hard Twilight fans and their parents, too, making the Twilight Tuscany Tour the perfect vacation component for the whole family. The package starts at $953 per person and includes two nights at a three- or four-star hotel in Volterra, one night at a similar hotel in Montepulciano, three buffet breakfasts, a welcome dinner and three thematic walking tours in Volterra, a guided walking tour of Montepulciano and much more.