Rome empties in anticipation of predicted earthquake - 527

Photo by ♀Μøỳαл_Bгεлл♂ An earthquake predicted to hit Rome on May 11 has caused people to flee the city to avoid the catastrophe, according to a report by the BBC.

The prediction is said to have been made by late seismologist Raffaele Bendandi (he died in 1979), though experts dispute its existence. That said, the BBC said “[t]here are reports of an 18% increase in the number of city employees planning to stay away from work,” though Italian officials have been calling for calm.

The rumor of Bendandi’s prediction has been floating around for months, though the organization honoring him, the Osservatorio Geofisico Comunale:

said they had no record of the much-discussed prediction and have dismissed it as an urban myth. ‘I can say with absolute certainty that in the papers of Raffaele Bendandi there is no provision for an earthquake in Rome on the 11 May 2011,’ Paola Lagorio [president of the foundation].”

In the meantime, Italian officials have been fielding phone calls from citizens concerned about the predicted earthquake and damage, though they’ve downplayed the danger.

Travel Book Review: A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome - 220

I had the chance to review the book A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome by Angela K. Nickerson on a recent trip to Italy.

The book was both helpful and interesting with a well laid-out format. Nickerson’s writing style is well developed and she struck a nice balance between informational prose and compelling biographical narrative.

Various pages contain maps which mark sites of interest, and an ample number of photos make one eager to criss-cross the city in search of

Click to read more ...

BVLGARI Between History and Eternity 1884-2009 - The Retrospective Exhibition

Are you visiting Rome this summer? They don't call it Il Forno (The Oven) for nothing; it gets HOT in the Eternal City, and sometimes it seems there is no rest for the weary traveler. If you'd like to cool down - and check out some jaw-dropping jewels while doing so - then head over to the Palazzo delle Esposizioni on via Nazionale. 

From May 22 until September 13, 2009 the exhibit hall is home to an astonishing - and fascinating - look at the history of world-class jeweller Bulgari, celebrating its 125th anniversary. 

The expertly curated and beautifully presented Bulgari Exhibit is encased in a series of sleek black rooms organized by decade, each with its own musical accompaniment and scenes from famous films and other media in which the jewels play a leading role. And, in the center of it all, the most recent collection pieces to put it all in perspective.

Don't worry about bringing along the guys to this one - the combination of air conditioning, comfortable seating and beautiful actresses dressed to the nines means they will probably want to stay there longer than you will!  And there's a bar and restaurant inside the hall as well, in case honey gets thirsty or hungry.

The exit is maddeningly reached via a series of hallways and directly through the bookstore - follow the signs painted on the floor to find your way, or ask one of the many hall employees who are there to make sure you don't get trapped in the labyrinth.

It's not crowded, it's quiet, it's air conditioned and there are beautiful things to look at. Put the Bulgari exhibit on your must-do list for Rome this summer!

Photo by romephotoblog

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Christine Cantera is a freelance writer and Galavanting Travel News & Reviews correspondent who splits her time between France & Italy. She keeps a blog at Miss Expatria. You can also follow Christine on Twitter.