The Legend of Santa Cecilia

The church of Santa Cecilia is located about a 5 minutes walk from Hotel San Francesco and it definitely worths a visit

As per the legend, the house is built on Cecil’s family house “a distinguished virgin, born from a noble roman lineage”, suffering her torment around 22 AD.

Santa Cecilia - Stefano Maderno

The Golden Legend claims Pope Urbanus I, having converted her husband, Valeriano, witness of her martyrdom, “undertook Cecilia’s body admist bishops’ and hallowed her house turning it to a church, as by her request”

The Titulus Caeciliae is indeed already witnessed from V century. At the beginning of IX century Pope Pasqualis I, great relics’ recoverer and churches builder (Santa Maria in Domnica, Santa Prassede), had a Vision of Cecilia in dream, revealing her burial, He requested to build the basilica on the previous one and transferred her body.

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In 1599 during the renovation works by cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati, the marble tomb was opened and inside of the coffin, they found the body almost intact with white clothes and the signs of the wounds on the neck.

The event was considered so miraculous that the pope went to note it personally.

He commissioned the sculptor Stefano Maderno playback of the figure as it had been found. The exceptional work in marble which bears witness to the event is currently on display under the main altar

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One of the best gelato in Trastevere? Fata Morgana!!

Fata Morgana

Organic, home made ice cream in Trastevere

Forget about traditional flavors as “Stracciatella”or “Pistacchio”.
In her ice cream lab, Maria Agnese Spagnuolo, well known as “Fata Morgana”, combines only the best ingredients. The end result is a perfect and unusual mix of flavors as “Basilico + Noci + Miele” (basil, nuts and honey) or “Crema di mais + Pop Corn caramellato” (mais cream and candied Pop Corn). Last but not least, all flavors are made with fresh fruit, flowers and spices, which means 100% organic.

So, if you need a refreshing break around Trastevere, definitely go there.

Despite the small size of the shop you will have the possibility to join your ice cream, sitting in Piazza San Cosimato, experiencing the essence of Trastevere.

Personally, I recommend you “Green tea Matcha”, against muggy and “Pollicina”, made with violet liquor,rosebud, nuts and fresh milk. It tells about the story of Pollicina, a girl tall like an inch, sleeping in a nutshell, having flowers of violets as mattress and rose petals as blanket.

Fata Morgana
Via Roma Libera, 11 00153 Roma
Every day  09:00 AM – 00:00

This post has been edited by our receptionist Cecilia

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A Bernini's masterpiece just around the corner

Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni - Gian Lorenzo Bernini 1674

The Ecstacy of Beata Ludovica Albertoni

The Church of San Francesco a Ripa, just beside the Hotel San Francesco, contains one of the most beautiful sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini: The Ecstasy of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni - 1674

The entrance is free, as for all churches of Rome, and the statue is located in the last chapel of the left side, The Altieri Chapel. 
Blessed Ludovica Albertoni was a noblewoman who dedicated her life assisting poor of Trastevere after the died of her husband. 

How to reach it from the hotel 

Once out of the hotel walk right until the square and you will find the church on the right side

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