chiostro del bramante...

the chiostro del bramante is a multi-purpose centre not far from the piazza navona...the complex of santa maria della pace consists of the church, convent and cloister...

this place caught my attention solely based on the little cafe found on its second floor overlooking the cloister...

how something so slick and modern and clean and white and glassy and minimalist found its place here is ingenius...fell in love with the place as its so chilled out - an oasis of abandonment in the centre of roma...

http://www.chiostrodelbramante.it/

capuchin crypt...

a visit to the capuchin crypt can only be described as extraordinary...there is a wealth of writings and literature available on this space so i'm just giving a quick summise...

friars that were part of the community of the church were buried here in earth that was brought from the holy land...when the space was filled, bodies that were a long time dead were dug up and space was then made free for new occupants...the bones of some 4000 exhumed bodies were then used to create designs that cover the walls and vaults of 5 chapels...

the pics sourced from eternallycool.net do this place no justice...

located close to the piazza barberini, on the via veneto - the baroque exterior of the church of santa maria della concezione gives no clues as to what lies in the vaulted crpyts underneath...

as i said a visit can only be described as extraordinary...i was overwhelmed and fascinated...my girlfriend was horrified yet fascinated...

macabre and unique, the purpose of this display is to remind us of the delicacy and tenuos nature of life...summed up by an inscription in the vaults which reads “Quello che voi siete noi eravamo, Quello che noi siamo voi sarete.”...[What you are now we were, What we are you will be]

roberto d'antonio...the graffiti...

i found my pics of the graffiti installation in the hair salon...it just adds another element of style to an already stylish and clean space...is there a trend for griffiti artists creating installations in interior spaces???...i'm not sure...but i do love it in this space...

is it an edgy marketing ploy...is it an attempt to bring the outside in...maybe...what do you reckon...???

if anyone can make out the myspace profile please let me know as i can't seem to find it...

roberto d'antonio...

i aimlessly wandered into this hair salon not knowing what it was...

the busy and chaotic reception area led me to believe it might have been a wine bar or edge gallery of somesorts so i was somewhat surprised to find an edgy hair salon instead...

the simplicity and neatness of the design certainly impressed me and i was taken by the graffitti artist which has been commissioned to create an installation on one of the reception area walls...

http://www.robertodantonio.com/

hotel fiume...

our friends were staying in the hotel fiume so we spent an afternoon here enjoying a few drinks...and i did feel right at home here...it had a distinctively easy going atmosphere yet the furnishings and decor oozed sophistication and glamour...

i've found it very difficult to select any images from any sites...but check out the photo gallery on the hotels web page for the full effect...

the hotel rooms are styled in a very neutral and unoffensive manner...very much so understated in comparison to the hotel lobby and bathrooms...

the bathrooms are striking...black wall tiles with a floral etching and gold gilded mirrors...very glam...

but the wow factor in this hotel is in the lobby...soft volumptious velour furnishings, renaissance style armchairs and dining chairs, a modern interpretation of a renaissance desk for the reception...mirrors, beaded chains...mosaic tiled flooring and hidden cabinetry...

there is also a more intimate lounge area beside the bar...rich colours and textures, wenge furniture and a modern inset fireplace create a cosy little nook which my entourage took full advantage of...
http://www.hotelfiume-roma.com

portrait suites...

what a hotel...eternally cool...

although we didn't stay here we did wander in for a little gander...just around the corner from the piazza di spagna, in the heart of romes shopping area...the perfect place for any fashionista to stay...

''a new style of personalised hospitality where everything is designed to make life more "dolce""...what a quote...and it rhymes to reason...

although we only had a little sneak about this hotel my girlfriend and i were left oohing and aahing at every turn of the stairwell we climbed to reach the rooftop bar...precious silks and tafeta, leathers, woods...neutral tones livened up with vibrant dashes of colour and unusual details of style inspired by shoes...timeless appeal...inspired by the ferragamo heritage (the portait suites is located above the ferragamo mens shoe store)...

http://www.lungarnohotels.com/portraitsuites-HomePageen-121.html

http://www.whatahotel.com/hotels/1897/Portrait_Suites.html

http://eternallycool.net/2008/04/sweet-portrait-suites/

http://www.salvatoreferragamo.it/row/

salotto 42...

salotto 42 on the piazza di pietra is a few streets away from the trevi fountain and the campo di fiori...

i am led to believe the salotto 42 is owned by a swedish model...although i'm wondering is it her own passions and interests in art, fashion, film and music that have influenced the books, cd's nad vinyls that adorn the space...

i've been trying to think of how to describe the super sexy high styled space, with its retro furnishings and distinctly edgy vibe...words like bourgeois and bohemian spring to mind...

definetly one of the places to be seen in rome...and my girlfriend and i certainly enjoyed sipping our cocktails while we reclined on the stylish armchairs...

check out the salotto 42's very cool website below and also another website i found which has some excellent interior shots...

http://www.salotto42.it/

http://ildiamante.exblog.jp/10482479/

cafe della pace...

hi guys...its been a while i know...but i'm back with my posts on rome...

a quick step from the piazza navona lies this cool little bar...while the cafes and bars on the piazza are great if your looking for heavy footfall and plenty of sunshine...the cafe della pace is perfect for a quick break away from the hectic and busy atmosphere on the piazza...

the cafe della pace really is a gem to sit back and take in a slice of rome...the surrounding buildings and their faded yellow and orange renders...

a throwback to the 1950's...i imagine this placae is largely untouched since then...it speaks glamour and sophistication...

known as a gathering place for artists, many artists still gather there to this day to discuss and dispute the arts and literature...

i loved the old cash register that they still use...

check out the website at the bottom of this post for a real sense of cafe della pace...

http://www.caffedellapace.it/