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Roma

Roma, this is one of our favourite cities, you just can never go to Rome enough.

We stayed at the Sant'Angelo, a hotel that has a great location and friendly hotel staff. We have stayed at this hotel a number of times and found its location to be spot on. On this visit we had found they had undertaken some renovations, some of which, in our view, did not enhance the hotel. Rooms on the 3rd floor have tile floors - okay for a beach hotel, but not what one would want in Rome.

Of course, being in Rome means a visit with Marco & Raffaella Parascenzo at Novelli Pen. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year, and that was a reason for a very special pen! See Pens of Note and my new Omas Paragon in celluloid.

We enjoyed a dinner at the Ristorante Settimio All'Arancio - great little restaurant. Good food, reasonable prices and a restaurant with a real Italian "buzz" about it.

For the past few years there has been construction going right by the Ponte Cavour. This year, the construction barriers were down, and the new Museum Ara Pacis was open. The Ara Pacis, meaning Altar of Peace, is a Roman sacrificial altar enclosed in a screen of Parian marble beautifully carved in high relief with allegorical and ceremonial scenes ornamented with elegant plant motifs. For about one thousand years it was not seen. The Ara Pacis was consecrated in 9 B.C.

In Roman times, the Ara Pacis was on the the Via Flaminia, which is now the via Corso in Rome. Parts of the Ara were found in the 16c, more of it was found in 1859 when work was being done on the current palazzo which was now well above where it stood in Roman times. The first excavation took place in 1909.

The museum and the alter are stunning. But also of great interest was an exhibition to honour designer Valentino. The exhibit was interesting with notes and drawings; samples of his creations; even dresses which have been worn by individuals at Academy Award functions - all with information so you knew what was what.