It’s hard to believe that the Roman Forum used to be a city center. Once upon a time, all of Rome gathered in this collection of shops, courts, temples, basilicas and government offices. The forum was the place for triumphal processions, elections, speeches, trials and even gladiatorial matches. The forum was originally developed in the […]
Tag Archives | Italy
Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio
This Baroque Roman Catholic church was dedicated to Jesuit founder Ignatius of Loyola. It was constructed in the 16th century and functioned as a rectory church to adjacent Collegio Romano. The college quickly outgrew the original church, so in the 17th century the massive structure we see today was built. This church has a Latin […]
Roman Food
When in Rome, you will spend an inordinate amount of time and energy stuffing yourself silly. Here’s a quick round-up of commonly encountered Roman specialties: Potato Pizza – I don’t like potatoes, but I like this. Potato pizza is one of the only things I remember from my trip to Rome 20 years ago. Then, […]
Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio a Trevi
Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio may look like an ordinary church, but it contains a rare treasure: 25 popes’ embalmed hearts. In marble urns. This was originally the parish church for the Quirinal Palace, which was built as a papal summer residence (it’s now the president’s home). The popes who inhabited the palace, from Sixtus V […]
Il Vittoriano
You can’t help but continually encounter Il Vittoriano, this monstrosity that sits like a giant iceberg amongst blocks of old, mid-rise structures. Turn a corner, there it is. Catch a ride in a taxi, there it is. It seems easy enough to avoid Piazza Venezia, the square in which it is located, but somehow you […]
Piazza San Pietro
Bernini strikes again, this time on the largest canvas, Piazza San Pietro, in the smallest sovereign state, Vatican City. The vast square, measuring 340 meters x 240 meters, contains 284 columns. 140 saints are perched above. The two semi-circular colonnades represent the motherly arms of the church. The 25-meter tall obelisk is from Heliopolis in […]
Fontana di Trevi
You will never be alone at the Trevi Fountain. No matter what time of day, there will always be at least a couple of other people mulling around, enjoying the view. Rome’s most famous, most enormous baroque fountain (26 meters high x 20 meters wide) was built in the 18th century at the junction of […]
Da Francesco
We were told a queue forms quickly at this tiny restaurant, so we got there at 8.00 p.m. Already, the outside tables were occupied. No worries – there was an available spot inside at one of the cramped tables in the small dining room. The waiter was friendly, though he didn’t speak that much English. […]
Arco di Costantino
Arco di Costantino, or Arch of Constantine, looks pretty good for having been around since A.D. 312. It was built to commemorate Constantine I’s victory over Maxentius. The arch contains sections from other sculptures: the lower stonework dates from Domitian’s reign (A.D. 81-96) and the eight large medallions depicting hunting scenes are Hadrianic (A.D. 117-138). […]
Fontana del Pantheon
One of my favorite things about Rome is the fountains. Every square is adorned with the lavish sculptures, and they oftentimes have as much history as the surrounding buildings. If you feel like you see a fountain at every turn, you do. Altogether, there are 280 fountains in Rome. The original Fontana del Pantheon was […]
