Rome’s mayor lights up the “Peace Tree”, December 9th, 2025

Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri lit up the “Peace Tree” in Piazza del Campidoglio (the Campidoglio is one of Rome’s famous seven hills).

 
The square itself which is also home to the world’s oldest museum, the Capitoline Museums, was designed by Michelangelo.  The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (a copy as the original version is inside the Museums) is centre-stage of the square.   Background music was provided by a kids’ choir and the band of Rome’s local police department. 

 
In conjunction with that event the world-famous Coliseum was lit up on Tuesday evening with a message regarding Italy’s national cuisine as the very first nation to be awarded UNESCO’s status (the choice was made on Wednesday morning in India during the U.N.’s cultural body’s assembly in New Delhi). 

Italy’s Prime Minister was naturally elated at the latest and prestigious honor regarding Italy’s “intangible cultural heritage” (her government worked on pursuing UNESCO's recognition shortly after coming to power in October 2022).  

 
The award also emphasises the links between traditional Italian food, culture and lifestyle, describing it as a convivial social tradition/ritual which brings families and communities together.

Rome’s “Ara Pacis Museum” hosts Impressionists’ exhibit, December 3rd, 2025

Rome’s central “Ara Pacis Museum” (the Augustan “Alter of Peace”.  It was commissioned by the Roman Senate to celebrate the peace and prosperity that was brought during Emperor Augustus’s reign.  It was commissioned in 13 B.C.) is currently hosting the “Impressionism and Beyond.  Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts” exhibit. 

 
Fifty-two extraordinary works of art are on hand from Detroit’s Institute of Arts, some which have rarely been seen abroad.  Artists include Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso (six of his paintings are on display), Henri Mattise (three paintings), Max Beckmann, Camille Pissaro, Amedeo Modigliani and Alfred Sisley, just to name a few.

 
Other famous artists that are on hand and which are also part of Detroit’s collection are Max Liebermann, Wassily Kandinsky, Erich Heckel and Emil Nolde.

 
The exhibit will run until May 3^rd, 2026.