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Fontana di Trevi
| This imponent fountain was conceived by Nicolo Salvi in 1762, inspired by victory archs and roman mythology, in pure baroque style, with a Neptune riding dolphins and sea creatures and cascading waters. Its source is a Ist century BC spring called Acqua Vergine, in honor of a virgin that lead a bunch of thirsty soldiers to the water, the legend says that afterwards, having become faithfull,they came back with their families to live in the Eternal City. Although the most famous and promising tradition of this Fountain is the one related to coins: if one throws a coin over his left shoulder, he will return to Rome quite soon, while if three coins are tossed, that is a promise of love and marriage with an Italian.....this last prediction may explain the reason why the area has nowadays become a "hunting area" for Italian men for flings!Black and white movie lovers will for sure remember this fountain for a glamorous Anita Ekberg's bathing into the fountain in Fellini's La Dolce Vita with a wide-eyed Marcello Mastroianni while admiring the scene....but don't dare to imitate: bathing into the fountain is forbidden and the fine for it is quite hefty! |
Piazza della Repubblica
| Piazza della Repubblica was initially called Piazza Esedra for its shape which follows the curve of the exedra of the ancient Baths of Diocletian. It was build in 1901 at the time of the great renewal of Rome when it became the capital after the unification of Italy. The piazza is domineted by the Fountain of the Naiads with four nude bronze nymphs sculpted by Mario Rutelli which caused great controversary for the excessively realistic sensuality. In the center of the fountain one can see the figure of the fisherman Glauco who's struggling with a fish to defeat the hostile forces of nature. |
Palazzo Venezia
| Palazzo Venezia , on the right of Piazza Venezia, was built in 1455 for Cardinal Pietro Barbo, and was one of Rome's first purely Renaissance creations. Today it serves as a museum, with permanent displays of silver and porcelain works, Flemish, German, and Italian tapestries, and colorful iconic art and as well as periodic special exhibitions that supplement the simple collection. Mussolini used some of the rooms as offices, and the balcony over the main portal may be familiar to history buffs as the place where " Il Duce " addressed huge crowds prior to World War II. |
Arco di Costantino
| This is one of Rome's most important victory archs. This arch was built after Emperor Constantin's victory on October 28 in 312AD against Massenzio in the Milvio Bridge battle. With Constantin's victory Christianism defintely placed itself in the Roman legislationand people, indeed already in 313 AD, Rome was preparing itself to go from the hands of the Caesars to tose of the Popes. Also, the arch's decorations are not dedicated to Capitoline Jupiter, to god to which all imperial and victory feasts were dedicated, but were made with pagan inscription but in Christian sintaxis, totally new in that moment. The arch was made in marble taken from other constructions, the 8 medallions and 4 fragments of historic events are Traian, other 8 medallions with hunting and sacrifice scenes are Adrien's, 8 rectangular riliefs with civil scenes are Marcus Aurelius' and only 2 medallions are Constantin's. For its construction colourful marbles were used but were sequently replaced by classic white marble. |
Maria Maggiore
| The Basilica of Saint Maria Maggiore was built after a dream that Pope Liberio had the night on the 5th of August 352, he dreamt the Holy Virgin asking him to build a church wherever he found intact snow (in August!) on the following morning; the miracle did happen and the Pope decided to build a church over the fallen snow. The Basilica underwent several modifications with the following popes, going from Pope Sisto III to Pope Benedict XIV. The façade was conceived by Ferdinando Fuga and comprehends luxurious mosaics of the XIII century made in an ancient byzantine technique. Thebelfry was built in 1375-76 in romanic style and is the highest belfry of Rome with its 75mt. The Basilica's interior leaves totally breathless, it is 86 mt long, divided into three naves from 40 monolithic columns and the floor in cosmatistic style is estimated of mid-XIIth century. Many other monuments ordered by popes are close to the Basilica's entrance and in its undergrounds one can admire roman ruins from the augustinian era. |
Musei Capitolini
| This antique collection is displayed in two separate buildings. In the Palazzo Nuovo there is a rich collection of Roman sculpture. In the Palazzo Dei Conservatori and Braccio Nuovo there are different reperts, other sculptures and some Renaissance and Baroque art elements as well. The Tabularium, a 1st century BC Roman records hall, has been recently re-opened and offers spectacular views of the Forum, Colosseum and Palatine Hill. |
Piazza Vittorio
| Piazza Vittorio was constucted in 1870 and takes it's name from the first king of Italy. Today it is the one pincipal open food markets in the city. In the centre of the Piazza one finds the gardens with mysterious ruins. Pieces of a roman fountain of the 3rd century A.C. and a curious magic door of the XXVII secolo. |
Colosseo
| One of the major symbols of Rome. Located among the Esquilino, Palatino, Celio and Velia Hills, the Colosseum represents the Ancient Roman power and for the city of Rome it symbolizes its eternity. The Colosseum was started in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasiano and was completed 8 years later by his successor Tito. This massive construction was meant for public shows, animal fights, gladiator combats, sea battles by filling the arena with water and could hold over 55.000enthusiast spectators. Fortunately it has been proved that the Romans did not use to murder Christians in the Colosseum's games! Its underground was for the fighters' preparations or there were cages for the beasts, that were released into the arena for the spectators' and emperor's pleasure. A circular internal network of corridors allowed the spectators to move freely, the outer part of the Colosseum was very elegant yet simple and rational, with 80 archaded entrances,three archaded outer levels each with a different type of column and 5 levels for sitting, important people,such as senators and the royal family, had parted high seats. In the XIXth century a very curious thing happened, the Colosseum was entirely covered with grass, the different microclimes stuck into the stone produced a vast variety of herbs, plants and wild flowers, that botanists studied carefully and sorted out over 420 varieties of different plants,just imagine a green Colosseum! had. |
Circo Massimo
| Cradled in the valley between the Palatine and the Aventine Hills, today's Circus Maximus offers only a grassy shadow of its former glory. Traditionally it was built by Tarquini. In 64 a.C. it was distroyed by the neronian fire and was so rebuilt by Traiano and exended by Caracalla; ever bigger was after Constantino's work. After its construction, more than 300.000 Romans gathered here to watch the breakneck careening of chariots around the quarter-mile track. |
Porta Pia
| Via XX Settembre leads to Porta Pia which was founded in 1561 by Pio IV on Michelangelo's design. In the internal locals you can see The Storic Sharpshooter's Museum while at the external, on the left, a column and a tombstone remaind the point where the Breccia was opened when the Italian troups got in Via XX Settembre in 1870. Just outside the Porta , in the middle of Piazzale di Porta Pia, there's Sharpshooter's Monument, of Morbiducci. From the square you get Via Nomentana and about 2Km along stands the Basilica di Sant'Agnese fuori le mura built in 324 a.C . The apse displays an extraordinary Byzantine-style mosaic of St. agnes with a pair of popes. The Catacombs here, some of the best preserved in Rome, contain skeletons of the saint's followers. |
