The Matthew Online

Hundreds of cats in ruins!

By Clara Peters

ROME, April 8 — Largo di Torre Argentina, holding some of the most ancient ruins in Rome, has become the new home for hundreds of the city’s quarter-million stray cats.

The Cat Sanctuary, located in the downstairs of Largo Argentina, is a non-profit organization run by volunteers that take in all cats that need a home and good care. The sanctuary’s main goal is to lower the city’s homeless cat population by sterilizing as many cats as possible to decrease re-production. 

The sanctuary was co-founded by Silvia Viviani and Lia Dequel in 1993. In 2001, the sanctuary sterilized 850 cats. In 2007, the number jumped to 3,722, according to sanctuary statistics.

Because the sanctuary cannot care for all of the city’s cats, they frequently have to let go those that have been surviving well on their own after the sterilization and vaccination process. In 2007, 1,598 cats came to Largo Argentina, and 1,389 left healthy and sterilized.

“Our main goal here is to decrease the number of homeless cats in the city by sterilizing as many cats as possible as to slow down reproduction,” says Amanda Bush, a Cat Sanctuary volunteer.

 

Rome puts a price on its history

By Graciela Chahin

ROME, March 25 — For tourists and study-abroad students planning to visit the Roman Forum, the number one thing to bring is cash.

On March 10, the city began charging an entry fee to this ancient Roman neighborhood. Officials said the fee had been introduced for security purposes -- a fee will control of who goes in and will help diminish pick-pocketing and vandalism. The money charged would also go towards new excavations and restorations in the Forum and other locations.

The ticket is 11 euros for adults, 6.50 euros for European Union members between the ages of 18-24 and free for European Union members under age 18 and over 65. It is valid for two days and includes a visit to either the Colosseum or the nearby Imperial Forum on the Palatine Hill.

Henry James returns to Rome

By Emily Finkelstein

ROME, March 25 — Henry James’ novels, characters and inner turmoil were on display in John Cabot University's Aula Magna auditorium last week in a lecture entitled “Roman Fever”  hosted by literary expert Dr. Kate Brooks.

Brooks, a New York University professor of 19th and 20th century literature, spoke Tuesday to a crowd of John Cabot University students, faculty and visitors. With distinct inflections, she spoke of James’ endless love/hate relationship with the Eternal City and its effect on his works.

“I aim to convince you that Henry James is the most important novelist,” said Brooks. Listeners seemed to be either sharing Brooks’ passion or desperately attempting to keep up with it.

Rome hosts a festival for beautiful minds

By Sara Patterson

ROME, March 14—If you thought mathematical puzzles were nothing more than the preferred torture weapons of overzealous high school Algebra teachers, one festival happening in Rome this weekend may change your mind.

The second annual Festival of Mathematics at the Auditorium Parco della Musica kicked off yesterday morning with a day full of mathematics games, shows, and lectures. Bright minds of all ages crowded around staff members who engaged the audience with riddles and demonstrations.

The festival will continue through Sunday when John Nash, Nobel Memorial Prize winner and subject of the academy award winning film “A Beautiful Mind” will speak on game theory and living with schizophrenia. Each day, topics ranging from “math with superheroes” to “math and magic” will present a new way to look at the subject.

 

JCU student to lace up for this weekend's Rome Marathon

By Amanda Baker

ROME, March 12 – John Cabot University student Kent Harding will completes his preparations to explore the city in an unusual way -- while running in The Roman Marathon this Sunday.

Harding, a 21-year-old visiting student from Michigan State University, has not been doing the expected rigorous training for the Maratona della citta' di Roma. While he has been working on sustaining his endurance with three- to ten-mile runs for three days a week, he has not followed a strict diet or done any other special preparations.

For Harding, the purpose of the marathon is simply to test his abilities with minimal training. As it is his first marathon, Harding would like to see where he stands as a beginner.

“There is no better time than now. I might as well see how I do for this first marathon and use it to improve for the next," said Harding (pictured above). 

Blessed motorists still zipping through Rome's streets

By Meagan Haessig

ROME, March 11 - Roadway safety is promised to religious drivers every March 9 during the annual "blessing of the cars" event held at Santa Francesca Romana church outside of the Colosseum. Due to the high volume of automobile accidents on Italian roads and the well known fact of Italians’ haphazard driving habits it's a blessing many Italians feel is necessary. 

This day accompanies the feast day of Saint Frances, who was declared patron saint of motorists in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. The 14th Century saint, the legend reads, was kept safe in her travels by angels.      

 

Mysterious group dashes through Rome in the footsteps of Caesar

By Kriste Marciulionis

ROME, March 10 -- Silhouetted by the Roman Forum, the Roman House Hash Harrier hounds stretched their legs on Sunday, preparing for their biggest chase of the year.

The House Hash Harriers is a phenomenon that began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1939 by a group of British colonial officials and expatriates. It was an offbeat variation of the “hare and hounds” game, where the colonial “hounds” set a chalk trail leading a path with clues and riddles to be followed by the group of “hares”. Eventually their chase led to the rewards of the hash house, a pub where beer and food was readily supplied as the prize for completing the race.

Catholics in Rome prepare for Holy Week celebrations

By Melissa Colabraro

ROME, March 10 – Starting March 16, Palm Sunday in the Catholic tradition, the streets of Vatican City will be crowded with pilgrims gathering together to begin celebrating Holy Week. 

People from all around come to what is known as the smallest country in the world for the festivities of Holy Week.

Beginning on Palm Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI will be saying a Holy Mass in Saint Peter's Square; the procession begins at 9:30 a.m. for the blessing of the palms followed by the procession.

To walk or not? Escalating Roman cab fares leave little choice

By Marci Schwartz 

ROME, March 10 — Roman taxi drivers' demands for an 18 percent fare increase went into effect in January, leaving locals and tourists with much less change in their pockets. 

The taxi drivers say business has been in a slump since an additional 1,800 drivers became eligible for a permit two years ago. Not that anybody in Rome would notice the difference. For every 21 cabs, there are 10,000 possible passengers in Rome, The New York Times reports.  That's abysmal by capital city standards, but Roman cabbies see this as healthy competition. 

Un-romantic in Rome? Yes, there's a table for you

 

By Marzia Ferraris

ROME, Feb. 15 - Valentine's Day is a day for couples to display their love publicly, going out for dinner, showering each other with gifts and, maybe, feel more in love than ever.

What about people without a special someone?

Meet Massimigliano Pellegrini,  co-owner of Forte e Chiaro, a Trastevere restaurant that created an occasion for singles and protesters alike. The idea?  'Anti San.Valentino' , for single men and women who desire to enjoy their evening. Alone.

Pellegrini, a 28-year-old Roman, has been running Forte e Chiaro for four months. The menu has few dishes, but the quality is guaranteed gourmet.

For ‘Anti Valentines day’ dinner there two menus, designated as "menu 1" and "menu 3". Basta "2" for this evening, Pellegrini explained.  Forte e Chiaro is known to do things differently from the other usual restaurants in the ancient part of Rome. They like to be unique, and noticed for their originality.