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The Appian Way
A walk along the original slab stones of the ancient Appian Way is an ideal conclusion to a stay in Rome and a last occasion [...]
Continue reading...The Catacombs
A visit to the Catacombs on the Appian Way allows us to trace the origins of the Christian presence in Rome and to explore one of the fundamental aspects of its identity. The Catacombs are in fact [...]
Continue reading...The Borghese Gallery
Located amidst the greenery of the favourite public park of the Romans, the Borghese Gallery is an authentic artistic treasure chest, the result of the passion for art of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, [...]
Continue reading...Centrale Montemartini
The Centrale Montemartini represents one of the most original and remarkable outcomes of the coexistence of ancient and modern in Rome. Ancient statues from the collections of the Capitoline Museums [...]
Continue reading...EUR
On the way back from Ostia Antica, it is possible to get off the train at one of the stops before Porta San Paolo for [...]
Continue reading...Ostia Antica
The archaeological site of Ostia Antica offers a unique opportunity to complete the image of the ancient city by exploring the aspect of daily life, otherwise difficult to identify among the great [...]
Continue reading...The Vatican City
The Vatican City, independent sovereign state since 1929 (Lateran Pacts), rises on the site where St. Peter was martyred and buried. The first Christian Emperor Constantine, built a splendid basilica there [...]
Continue reading...Piazza del Campidoglio
Ancient seat of the most important temple of the state cult and symbol of Rome “caput mundi”, the Campidoglio has always maintained its importance in the life of the city as centre of the City [...]
Continue reading...The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is the most important archaeological area in the city, the ideal place to understand that having a “historical sense” means, as the [...]
Continue reading...The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum, the most important archaeological area in Rome, extends from the Capitol Hill to the Palatine. As far back as the 7th century [...]
Continue reading...Colosseum
Perhaps no other monument is a truer symbol of the majesty and grandeur of Rome like that of the Colosseum. This icon like the city itself has endured the destructive forces of mother nature and man, but remains a resilient testimony of Roman engineering and architecture. The Colosseum christened ‘Flavian Ampitheatre’ - the [...]
Continue reading...Trevi Fountain
1762 marked the year of completion of the most famous fountain in Rome and one of the most celebrated in the world. The Trevi Fountain, one of the jewels of the Baroque era was actually built to herald the arrival of water from the “Acqua Virgo” acqueduct. In true Baroque Italian style, Pope Urban VIII [...]
Continue reading...Piazza Navona
Walk from the Boutique Hotel Trevi, Hotel Genio, Hotel Sistina or Hotel Eliseo, to this piazza, which like so many in Rome, is overflowing with cafés and bars, allowing you to sit and admire the sumptuous sculptures or numerous artisans. Daily plying their trade here, some have immortalized the surrounding apartments and the piazza itself, [...]
Continue reading...Castel St. Angelo
Castel St. Angelo silently observes you as you cross one of the many bridges of Lungotevere. Its imposing facade is in total juxtoposition to the welcoming arms of St. Peter’s Basilica. Its somber brown walls speak of a history which was anything less than joyful, at best, modestly pleasant. CASTEL (not castle) St. [...]
Continue reading...The Spanish Steps
You may ask yourself what is the allure of the 138 steps which functionally link the Spanish Embassy below with the Trinita dei Monti above? Maybe it is because these steps proclaimed as “ without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in all Europe”, are simply beautiful and can also serve as the perfect [...]
Continue reading...The Pantheon
St. Mary of the Martyrs might seem like another church amongst the hundreds in Rome. However this church has been described as a tomb for the illustrious dead, best preserved Roman building, mathematical wonder, celebrated temple for gods. If you still haven’t guessed, this is none other than the Pantheon. Smaller and more modest than its [...]
Continue reading...Piazza del Popolo
Slip under the great Porta del Popolo from its entrance from Via Flaminia and you will immediately be amazed by the sheer immensity of this square. Ignore the dozens of illegal vendors tempting you with flowers or souvenirs, and march triumphantly to the centre of the square which unapologetically displays an Egyptian obelisk of Rameses [...]
Continue reading...Santa Maria in Trastevere
The basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches in Rome, perhaps the first in which mass was openly celebrated. The basic floor plan and wall structure of the church date back to the 340s AD. This is the queen of the churches in Trastevere. The inscription on the episcopal chair [...]
Continue reading...The Vittoriano
‘Typewriter’, ‘Wedding Cake’, ‘Zuppa Inglese’ are all names devotedly, or in many cases disparagingly used, to describe the monument honoring the first king of unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. This monument, ostentatiously displays itself for all of Rome to see, between Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill. With nothing subtle in the design or construction [...]
Continue reading...Campidoglio
The word is actually a Roman dialect corruption of the original word ‘Capitolino’. If the word still does not ring a bell in your mind, perhaps the ‘Capitoline Hill’ might. Capitoline Hill is one of the original seven hills of Rome and is more famous because of its piazza and surrounding buildings. The history of [...]
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