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Each surface of the chapel is covered with exquisite art, the Last
Judgment is painted on the wall opposite the entrance; the story
of Christ is featured on the North Wall and the stories of Moses on
the South Wall. However the main painting which visitors come to
see is the ceiling fresco by Michelangelo.
Michelangelo was originally commissioned to paint 12 apostles
and ornamental motifs however he was not too enamored with
this idea and eventually was given a free hand to plan the ceiling
painting as he pleased. He constructed a scaffold of his own
invention and painted the masterpiece while lying on his back. He
painted 9 important events from the Book of Genesis down the
center of the ceiling, the most famous being God giving Adam life
with the touching of their two finger tips. Around the outer edge of
the central scenes are paintings of the 12 prophets and Sibyls. In
the four corners of the ceiling are scenes from the miraculous
salvation of the people of Israel.
The chapel is used for mass and other services throughout the
year and there is a permanent choir, the Sistine Chapel Choir. But
the space's most important function is as the Papal Conclave. This
is where the Popes are elected in a conclave of the College of
Cardinals. A chimney is erected from the chapel leading up to the
roof and with the use of different colored smoke a signal is made
when a new Pope has been chosen. Although the cardinals no
longer camp out in the chapel while they come to a discussion,
the chapel is still used as the venue for the voting for the new
Pope.
Piazza Venezia
Although this is not the most beautiful of Rome's squares it is the
most central with several major routes converging here including
Via Corso and Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is located at the foot of
Capitoline Hill next to Trajan's Forum. Piazza Venezia is not a
pedestrian square and the large square sees endless traffic,
including most buses. The square is close to many tourist sites
and most visitors will find themselves crossing this square at some
point in their trip to Rome.
Several important buildings line the square including the Palazzo
Venezia, commissioned by the Cardinal Venezia. The square takes
its name from the palace. The palace was completed in 1464 and
belonged to Pope Paul II, it continued to be the residence of
successive popes until Pope Pius IV. After that it became the
Venice Embassy (Serenissima) and later was acquired by
Mussolini's government. The dictator would give speeches from
the palace balcony. Today it houses the Museo del Palazzo
Venezia.
Other buildings on the square are the Assicurazioni Generali
building (1911); the Monument of victor Emanuel II (Il Vittoriano);
Palazzo Bonaparte, the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte's
mother; Palazzo delle Aste and San Marco Church (1336). During
digging to construct part of the Rome metro line in 2009 the
ancient remains of Hadrian's Athenaeum were discovered directly
beneath the middle of Piazza Venezia.
Trevi Fountain
The Fontana di Trevi is the largest baroque fountain in the world.
The fountain is well known from the Fellini film "La Dolce Vita" and
"Three Coins in The Fountain." Legend has it that if you throw a
coin into the fountain and make a wish to return to Rome, your
wish will be granted. It is situated in the Trevi District of Rome at a
junction of three roads (hence the name tre-three+vie-roads). The
fountain is 26,30 meters high, 49,15 meters wide, 80,000 cubic
meters of water flow through the fountain every day and it is
mostly carved from travertine stone.
The fountain also marks the terminal point of one of Ancient
Rome's 11 aqueducts, Aqua Virgo, which was constructed by
Marcus Agrippa c.19BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The
aqueduct covered 21km to bring fresh spring water into the city
supplying clean drinking water for about 400 years. Agrippa had
the aqueduct built to bring water to the Campus Martius thermal
baths. The name of the aqueduct comes from a legend that tells
of a virgin leading tired and thirsty soldiers to the source of water.
Fountains were, and still are, a regular feature in Rome, by the 4
century there were 1352 Roman fountains. The aqueduct th
suffered damage in 537 when the Ostrogoths attacked Rome but
in the early renaissance period the popes began restoring the
aqueduct fountain.
Palatine Hill
The statue of Ocean stands at the highest and central point of the
fountain, he stands in a chariot pulled by two horses ridden by two
Tritons. One Triton is old and one is young while one horse is
restless and the other calm. To the left of Ocean is a statue of
Abundance and to the right a statue of Health. Above the statues
are reliefs of Agrippa overseeing the construction of the aqueduct
and another of the Virgin leading the soldiers to the water. There
are also allegorical figures and carvings of about 30 types of
plants.
Visitors can see the archaeological findings from the Palatine Hill
on display in the Palace of the Caesars which houses the Palatine
Museum. Other sites on the Palatine Hill include the excavated
ruins of the House of Augustus, House of Livia, Domus Augustana
and the Palace of Septimius Severus.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is located in a valley between Piazza Venezia
and the Colosseum, between the Palatine Hill, Capitoline Hill and
Esquiline Hill. The area was originally marshlands which were
cleared with an ingenious system during the reign of the last
Etruscan kings (until 509BC). The Cloaca Maxima canal was
constructed to drain off the land into the Tiber River. Once the
area was inhabitable it began to develop into an urban center and
for more than 1000 years this was the most important part of the
city. The area's central square, called Foro, was where the Romans
would gather for meetings, trials and trade, the Forum was the
center of life in Ancient Rome. Also in the Forum there were
markets, temples, government buildings, stores and inns.
Several structures remain in the Forum from different periods in
history. The 70 foot high Arch of Septimius Severus, (203AD) to
commemorate the victory over the Parthians. It is adorned with
intricate bas-reliefs. Statues remain from the House of the Vestal
Virgins (Atrium Vestae), which was a 3 story, 50 room residence
which accommodated the virgin priestesses. Several of the
original 20 Corinthian columns from the Temple of Vesta remain,
built on a podium 15 meters in diameter. The Curia Julia was
where the Senate would gather and although there were several
locations over the course of Roman history, the Curia which
remains was constructed under Diocletian in 283AD.
The Rostra was a platform where speeches were made. The
present platform was commissioned by Caesar and made out of
marble, it measured 24 meters wide and 12 meters deep. The
Column of Phocas is the most recent addition to the Forum,
constructed in 608AD to commemorate a visit by the Byzantine
Emperor Phocas to Rome. Other outstanding structures in the
Forum include the Temple of Saturn; Temple of Vespasian and
Titus; Temple of Castor and Pollux; Temple of Antoninus and
Faustina and several churches like the Basilica Julia (54BC);
Basilica of Maxentius (308AD) and Basilica Aemilia (179BC).
Palatine Hill and Palatine Museum
This is one of the famous seven hills on which Rome was founded
and is the most centrally located. From its height of 40 meters it is
surrounded by the Circus Maximus, Forum Romanum and the
Colosseum. Archaeological findings show that the site was
inhabited as far back as the 10 century th BC. Traditionally it was
the site of the Lupercal Cave where Romulus and Remus were
nursed by a she-wolf and so it would have been where Romulus
began building the city (754BC).
Palatine Museum
Palatine Hill was the site of many palaces in Ancient Rome and the
museum holds statues, mosaics and frescoes collection from
excavations of the Palatine villas. In particular the artifacts on
show come from the 1 4 century when the Palatine Hill st th
was at its peak. You can see both art work found in the Palatine
palaces and pieces of the architecture which were rescued, like
parts of columns and even walls. Together with the actual statues
and archaeological findings there are photos of other pieces
displayed as well. On one of the floors of the museum you can see
an exhibit about the prehistoric growth of Rome. One of the most
significant items in the museum is painted decorations from Aula
Isiaca, as well as works from other Palatine buildings like the
House of Augustus, House of Livia and the House of Gryphons.
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Castel Sant'Angelo, also known as The Hadrian Mausoleum,
was constructed 130AD-139AD on the edge of the River Tiber by
Emperor Hadrian for himself, his family and his successors
interment. The mausoleum has a cylindrical colonnaded drum, 64
meters in diameter, on top of an 89 meter wide square base which
was covered with lush planted gardens and trees. Situated on the
right bank of the river, the Ponte Sant'Angelo connects it with the
rest of the city.
Over the years the function and appearance of the Castel
Sant'Angelo changed. In the middle Ages additional towers and
fortified walls were constructed. It became an impenetrable
defensive bastion during the barbaric invasions, and was
incorporated into the city walls (270-275AD), protecting the
northern entrance of Rome. Most of the tombs and precious
decoration were destroyed when the structure became a fortress
in 401 and the royal ashes are thought to have been lost during
the Alaric sacking of Rome.
Galleria Borghese
This art museum is housed within the Villa Borghese Pinciana,
designed by architect Flaminio Ponzio as the suburban home of
Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The home was given extensive
renovations in the 17 century th but dates back to when it was
Scipione Borghese' home (1579-1633). The beautiful home was
used for parties and the adjacent landscaped gardens are as
famous as the house. The house has two floors with 20 rooms, the
architectural and interior design features of the building are an
attraction in themselves. One of the rooms has a trompe l'oeil
ceiling fresco and another has Roman floor mosaics. In the
entrance hall there is a mosaic featuring gladiators which dates
back to 320AD and was found on the Borghese Estate at
Torrenova.
The works of art on show in the Galleria Borghese came from the
private collection of Cardinal Scipione, son of Ortensia Borghese
(Pope Paul V's sister) and Francesco Caffarelli. The Cardinal was a
patron of artist Bernini and an avid fan of Caravaggio. The
collection includes pieces of ancient art as well as Renaissance
and baroque art which re-evoke the Golden Age. The collection
includes sculptures and paintings.
Canova's statue of Pauline Bonaparte (1805-1808) is one of the
highlights of the collection. Among the paintings are 107 works
received by the Cardinal as a gift from the Pope, the paintings had
been confiscated from painter Giuseppe Cesari. Raphael's
Deposition was another personal gift from the Pope and in 1682
Correggios' Danae joined the collection. Visitors can see Bernini's
Apollo and Daphne, Titian's Sacred and Profane Love and works by
Lorenzo, Botticelli, Lotto, Rubens, Savoldo, Bassano and
Domenichino.
Capitoline Hill
This is one of the famed seven hills upon which Rome was built
and it was considered the most sacred. The English word "capital"
is derived from Capitoline. It is located between the Forum and the
Campus Martius and was the site of Rome's first temples, the
Temple of Jupiter and the Capitoline Triad and of the Tabularium,
the city hall of records. Capitoline Hill was the site of many major
events in Roman history, for example after the murder of Caesar,
Brutus and his cohorts hid in the Temple of Jupiter situated on
Capitoline Hill. The hill provided a high refuge from the city below
and was even used to throw political criminals to their death on
the Tarpeian Rocks below. The hill and the structures built on it fell
into ruin and only in the 16 century was it restored to its former
glory. The new th renaissance structures were built on top of the
ancient ones leaving little of the former Empire structures.
Michelangelo was commissioned to create long ramp-like steps
(Cordonata stairs) which lead up to Piazza del Campidoglio as well
as a pedestal for an equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Today visitors can see Roman artifacts on display in the Capitoline
Museum. The square is surrounded by the Senatorium, Palace of
the Conservatori and the Capitoline Museum housed in two
buildings (Palazza Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatori.
Michelangelo designed the facades of the three palaces on the
square.
Victor Emmanuel Monument
This monument is also called Altare della Patria, Monumento
Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele, Altar of the fatherland or just Il
Vittoriano. However the locals have nicknamed the monument
"the typewriter", "the wedding cake" and a few other names. The
monument on Piazza Venezia houses the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier and an eternal flame. The monument was erected
following WWI in honor of those who lost their lives in battle. It is
noteworthy, not for its beauty but for its grand scale.
In 1911 Giuseppe Sacconi designed the monument but completed
by several sculptures and architects including Leonardo Bistolfi,
Angelo Zanelli, Manfredo and Pio Piacentini. It was only
inaugurated in 1935. The monument is named after the first king
of unified Italy. The structure is made of marble, there are
sweeping stairways on either side of an intricately carved pedestal
which holds an equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel. The stairs
lead up to a semi-circle of Corinthian columns which resembles a
Roman temple. On either side of the roof of the semi-circular
structure are quadrigas statues of the Goddess Victoria. Visitors
can take an elevator to the Terrace of the Quadrigas to get
brilliant views of the city. The Museum of Italian Unification, the
Shrine of the Flags and a caf are housed within the monument.
Baths of Caracalla
Roman's largest public baths (thermae) were constructed from
212AD to 216AD during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus, also called Caracalla after the tunic he wore. The baths
remained operational for more than 300 years during a period
when the city had over 50 public baths that were used in lieu of
private bathrooms. The baths served a social function as well as
allowing citizens to wash away the dust. Bathing was a ritual
process beginning with a hot bath in the caldarium, then a lukewarm bath in the tepidarium, a cold bath in the frigidarium and
finally a relaxing swim in the natatio or open air swimming pool
followed by a massage or rubdown with scented cloths.
The water was provided by the Aqua Marcia aqueduct which
brought water to the complex reservoirs, it was only when the
water supply was destroyed by the Goths that the baths ceased to
operate. On the lower level a radiant heating system was used to
heat the water by furnaces and tubes. Slaves would spend their
time confined to the lower level, heaving the wood into the
furnaces. The complex covered 27 acres and could accommodate
1600 people who came to use the many facilities it provided like
the gymnasiums, library, stores, landscaped gardens, restaurant
and even brothel.
The baths had marble seating, mosaics on the walls and floors,
fountains, marble and bronze statues and the walls were covered
with polychrome marble and tiled mosaics. Today only the ruins
remain as the baths suffered from marauding Goths, earthquakes
and pieces of the structure were taken to be used in other Roman
buildings. However visitors can still get an idea of the scale and
opulence of the baths from the towering red brick walls, grand
arches, remaining mosaic floors and granite columns.
Museo Capitolino
The Museo Capitolino buildings consist of Palazzo dei
Conservatori, Palazzo Senatorio and Palazzo Nuovo which face
onto the Piazza del Campidoglio located on one of Rome's
Capitoline Hill. The piazza building plan dates back to 1536 when
the design was conceived by Michelangelo but construction
continued over the course of 400 years.
The building was later enlarged to increase the exhibition space.
The Galleria Congiunzione was built beneath the square to link the
three museum buildings. Within the Galleria are Roman
archeological remains from the 2 century which are still in their
original positions. Sala Marco nd Aurelio, a glass covered hall,
encloses the Giardino Romano or Roman Garden.
Remus; Dying Gaul; Cupid and Psyche and the Capitoline Venus. In
the Palazzo dei Conservatori you can visit the Conservator's
Apartment where art is exhibited in rooms with elaborate frescoes,
tapestries and carved ceilings.
San Luigi dei Francesi
The church of San Luigi dei Francesi is the seat of the Cardinal of
Paris, Rome's French National Church, and the heart Rome's
French community. The church is named after Louis IX King of
France. Construction began on the church in 1518 on the orders of
Cardinal Giulio di Giuliano de Medici whose great niece was
married to King Henry II of France. The church is built on the site
of Santa Maria Church, a smaller structure already used by the
French community. The site is also the location of the ruins of the
Baths of Nero and the Baths of Agrippa. The plans for the church
were made by Giacomo della Porta and architect Jean de
Cheneviere began work on the structure, later Domenico Fontana
took over the project and saw it through to the church's
completion in 1580, and consecration in 1589.
Giacomo della Porta is responsible for the church's two level
faade which bears white travertine marble carvings. Thanks to
the immense wealth of the Medici family and the French kings the
church interior is lavishly decorated. The ceiling fresco was
painted by Joseph Natoire; Domenichino painted the cycle of
frescoes in the Polet Chapel; a painting by Francesco Bassano
hangs above the altar and three paintings by Caravaggio
(Michelangelo di Merisi) are the church's main attractions.
Piazza del Popolo
Literally translated this is the People's Square, located inside the
Aurelian Walls between the Pincio and the Tevere, this is a large
ellipse-shaped square surrounded by beautiful buildings, and
home to monuments, fountains and grand memorials. The square
leads on to one of the ancient gates in the Aurelian Walls, Porta
del Popolo which was once called Flaminia as the gate leads
through to Via Flaminia. Many pilgrims and traders would arrive in
Rome via Via Flaminia, which was built in 220BC to connect Rome
with the Adriatic Sea. Their first step into the city would have been
onto Piazza del Popolo. In 1562 the gate was built to welcome and
impress the arriving travelers and later Bernini was employed to
decorate the gate.
The most prominent feature of the square is a 23.2 meter high
obelisk placed here is 1589. The obelisk dates back to 1300BC and
was originally from Heliopolis, Egypt. Giuseppe Valadier
redesigned the square in 1815 adding the surrounding walls,
central fountain, sculptures of sphinxes by Giovanni Ceccarini and
placing lions around the obelisk. The square has the Neptune
Fountain at the western end and the Fountain of the Goddess of
Rome at the eastern end. At the southern end stand the
symmetrical churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa
Maria dei Miracoli separated by Via del Corso which leads to
Piazza Venezia. The Santa Maria del Popolo is a church built in
1477 and standing next to the Porta del Popolo.
Via del Corso was called Via Lata during the Ancient Roman Era
and it was the urban stretch of the Via Flaminia which brought
travelers from the Adriatic Sea. In Ancient Rome the road was
used for horse racing, which was done without riders, this
accounts for the road being ramrod straight. Located in the
historic center the straight road is 10 meter wide, 1.5km long and
stretches from Porta del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. Being centrally
located has contributed to it being one of the best known
shopping spots in the city, in fact as far back as the 17 century
the road th was popular with shoppers.
Although you will probably be visiting Via del Corso for shopping
there are a few sites to watch out for. Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is
now used as an art gallery; the San Marcello al Corso church has a
beautiful baroque faade; Museo del Corso hosts temporary
Palazzo Spada
This palace is centrally located in Rome and the back garden looks
on to the Tiber River, it is considered one of the most stunning
Roman baroque residences. Today it is the site of the Galleria
Altar of Peace
In 13BC the Roman Senate had the Ara Pacis Augustae erected on
the Field of Mars in honor of the Emperor Augustus who had
returned victorious from battles in Gallic and Spain insuring peace
in the Roman Empire. Augustus fulfilled the prediction made in the
Roman epic: The Aeneid to " ." Anchises bring back the golden
years to the field of Latium predicted that Augustus would " " and
govern the peoples of the world Virgil wrote "it is a god who
gave us this peace for a god he shall ever ." Over the years the
altar was buried by floods and silt from thebe to me River Tiber
and it was Mussolini who instructed Giuseppe Moretti to
reconstruct and restore the masterpiece. Today a protective
building houses the restored altar.
The square, four sided altar is decorated with mythological figures
and historical scenes of peace and prosperity which were intended
to remind people of the ruler's achievements, competence and the
importance of piety and peace. There are no doors on the
structure which has two entrances; this represents the constant
peace and the piety of the Gods. The stone reliefs on the structure
depict women and children symbolizing Augustus' pro-family
stance; processions show men in togas which represent Roman
citizenship and one of the processions is led by Augustus himself.
Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf are also depicted. An allegorical
scene shows the Goddess Roma sitting on a pile of foreign armor
representing the peace Augustus brought following war.
Along the street there is an indoor farmers market with fresh local
produce. For delicious coffee from a caf that has been in business
for over 80 years visit Castroni at number 196. Some of the
popular stops along the way include Bertozzini for perfumes;
Portofino Caf and restaurant; Angelo Di Nepi women's clothing
boutique; Benetton; Geox for Italian made shoes; Coccinelle for
bags and Swarovski if you are in need of crystals!
Palazzo Barberini
Beneath the ground there are wall tombs (loculi) and niches
(colombari) used to store urns. During the 2 century there was a
Vatican City
Citta del Vaticano is an independent city within the city of Rome, it
is the Papal residence (Apostolic Palace) and the seat of the Holy
See, the headquarters of the Catholic Church. "Vatican City" is the
place with the Pope as its head of state and the "Holy See" is the
central governing organization of the Catholic Church which is
located within Vatican City. The 110 acre sovereign state is
surrounded by walls and approximately 1,000 people live here.
The city-state is financed by the sale of tourist mementos and
entrance fees to the Vatican Museums. The city is named after
Mount Vatican where the city is located. The city is guarded by the
Swiss Guard which was created in 1505, the guards wear bright
colored unique uniforms. You don't need a passport to visit Vatican
City and some areas like St. Peter's Square can be accessed by
just crossing a white line which separates it from Rome.
As early as the Roman Republic (509BC-27BC) the area where the
Vatican now stands was inhabited and on into the Roman Empire
the land was developed. Nero had his Circus of Chariots, Circus
Gaii et Neronis, built here. This became the site of Christian
martyrdom when Christians were put to death in the grand arena.
According to tradition it was in this vicinity that Saint Peter was
crucified c.64-67. The Constantinian Basilica was built in 326 to
commemorate St. Peter. The site gained significance for the new
Christian faith and a palace was constructed in the 5 century. In
592 Pope Gregory declared himself Bishop of th Rome. The popes
played more and more of a spiritual and secular role in governing
the surrounding neighborhoods. Under the Kingdom of Italy the
Papal property was seized and their status was in question from
1861 to 1929. There were ongoing disputes over the ownership of
the substantial Papal property until the issue was resolved in
1929. The Lateran Treaty was signed between the Holy See and
the Kingdom of Italy (led by Mussolini). The treaty gave special
status to Catholics in Italy and independence to the Stat of Vatican
City.
Within the city are 11 Vatican Museums which hold some of the
best art in the world. The Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's
ceiling fresco is also located within Vatican City. There are lush
and extensive Vatican Gardens which take up a large portion of
the city's grounds. The Papal Apostolic Palace, the pope's "home"
is within Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica, a huge and beautiful
church holding priceless works of art is also here. St. Peter's
Square is a huge circular piazza where people gather to attend
see and hear the Pope.
Basilica di San Clemente
The present three tiered Basilica of San Clemente was constructed
in the Middle Ages (c.1100) on the site of a 4 century church
which itself was th built over a 2 century pagan (mithraeum)
temple. Sections of each layer nd of the site's history can be seen
in the church.
The church is best known for its 11 century frescos in the Chapel
of St. th Catherine, depicting the life of St. Clement and St.
Alexius. The frescoes were sponsored by Beno de Rapiza and
Maria Macellaria who are depicted on the faade and on a pillar in
the nave. 12 century mosaics th cover the apse and depict the
cross as the Tree of Life or Triumph of the Cross. The church holds
the tomb of St. Cyril and has a brightly painted coffered ceiling
and stucco detail dating back to 16 century renovations. th
St. Clement (92-101AD) was the 3 successor as Bishop of Rome
after St. Peter; he was the author of the Epistile to the rd
Corinthians (94AD) which attempted to subdue disturbances in the
Church of Corinth. He became a martyr, while in exile in the
Crimea where he was persecuted and thrown into the Black Sea
tied to an anchor. When the water receded a tomb built by angels
was revealed, and his body recovered. Today St. Clement's relics
are kept beneath the church altar and are brought out for
adoration during the Feast of St. Clement (November 23 ). rd
Address: Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, 00184 Rome Phone
Number: 06-7740021 Admission: Basilica free admission,
excavations 5 Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am-noon and 36:00pm, Sun 10:00am-noon and 3-6:30pm Transportation: Metro:
Colosseo. Bus: C3, 85, 87, 117, 186, or 571
2014-2015 visitacity.com All rights reserved. No part of this site
may be reproduced without our written permission.
St. Peter in Chains
The chains which bound St. Peter when he was imprisoned in
Rome and Jerusalem are kept in the gold reliquary in front of the
altar of the Church San Pietro in Vincoli. The story goes that the
chains which held the saint in Jerusalem were given to Pope Leo I
who placed them next to the chains which had held Peter in Rome
and the two sets of chains miraculously joined together. The
church was built for this purpose, to house the sacred chains. The
church underwent several renovations under the reign of different
popes as well as renovations made in 1875.
Apart from the chains themselves the church's other main asset is
Michelangelo's Moses, (1515) a sculpture which was intended to
be one of 40 statues in a grand monument commissioned by Julius
II. However other projects took precedent and the project was
shelved although Michelangelo regarded Moses as one of his best
works. The horns on Moses' head come from the incorrect
translation of the scriptures which they read as "horns" instead of
"radiated." On either side of Moses are statues of Leah and Rachel
also created by the master artist. The central nave of the church
has a curved ceiling created in 1706 and features a fresco by
Giovanni Battista Parodi. The nave is lined with two rows of Doric
columns which came from other ancient sites and the Tomb of
Nicholas of Kues (1440), one of the first to realize the Earth is not
the center of the universe, is also located within the church.
Address: : Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli, 4/a, 00184 Roma Phone
Number: 06-4882865 Admission: Free admission Opening Hours:
Spring/summer daily 7:30am-12:30pm and 3:30-7:00pm,
fall/winter to 6:00pm Transportation: Metro: Colosseo or Cavour,
and then cross the boulevard and walk up the flight of stairs. Turn
right, and you'll head into the piazza, the church will be on your
left
2014-2015 visitacity.com All rights reserved. No part of this site
may be reproduced without our written permission.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
The basilica di Santa Maria in Rome's Trastevere District is one of
the city's oldest churches with parts of the structure dating back
to the 340s and it is thought to have been the location of the first
public mass in Rome. Legend has it that 38 years before Christ's
birth an oil-like substance unexplainably spurted out of the
ground. It was later thought to have been a sign of Christ's coming
and the site was chosen for the church to commemorate this
event. It was also used to house the bodies of Christians rescued
from the Catacombs before the invasion of the Saracens. In the 12
century Innocent II had the church rebuilt with th materials from
the Roman Baths of Caracalla. Later in the 17 century th further
changes were made including modifications to the faade by Carlo
Fontana.
The main historic elements we can see in the church today include
a strip of the original 3 century paving, the Romanic bell rd tower
and a 17 century mosaic of Madonna and child. Other mosaics
from the 12 and 13 century adorn the interior and th th th
exterior walls. Near the altar is the inscription "fons olei (oil well)
which marks the spot where the miracle of the spurting oil
occurred. The church has a gilded wooden ceiling which is painted
with incredible frescoes and an authentic Cosmatesque marble
floor.
Address: Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, 00153 Rome Phone
Number: 06-5814802 Admission: Free admission Opening Hours:
Daily 8:30am-9:00pm Transportation: Bus: 23, 280, or 780
2014-2015 visitacity.com All rights reserved. No part of this site
may be reproduced without our written permission.
National Gallery of Modern Art
The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Modrena offers a break from the
constant ancient art of Rome and a look at modern and
contemporary art. The museum holds work from the 19 and 20
century and includes a th th collection of Dadaist paintings. The
museum dates back to 1883 and it has changed location several
times since being opened. Today it is housed within an impressive
historic building. The museum also has a caf on a terrace
overlooking beautiful gardens.
The museum has 75 rooms holding the world's largest collection
of 19 th and 20 century Italian artists as well as works by leading
international th modern and contemporary artists. Italian artists
represented in the collection include Burri, Colla, Capogrossi, De
Chirico, Guttuso, Fontana, Pirandello, Turcato, De Pisis and
Manzoni. The collection includes works by international artists
including Monet, Mondrian, Degas, Cezanne, Kandinsky, Duchamp,
Klein, Andy Warhol, Picasso, Monet, Pollock, Rodin and Van Gogh.
The styles and genres of the modern art range from symbolism
and Avant-guarde to neo-realism and everything in between.
There are paintings and sculptures in various medium. Rome has
several other modern art museums, the most recently opened
being the MAXXI, but this museum has the most expansive and
impressive collection including galleries for temporary exhibitions.
Address: Viale delle Belle Arti, Roma, Italy ? Phone Number: 0632298221 Admission: 10 Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am7:30pm Web: http://www.gnam.arti.beniculturali.it. Transportation:
Bus: 19, 95, or 910
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may be reproduced without our written permission.
Santa Maria del Popolo
This church located on Piazza del Popolo was constructed in 1099
to scare off the ghost of Emperor Nero (who was buried nearby) as
locals were complaining that the evil old emperor was haunting
them! So a chapel was erected on this site, later in the 1400's the
original Romanesque chapel was expanded by Pontelli; in 1505
Bramante expanded the church further and in 1513 the now
legendary artists began working on the interior dcor.
The church is a treasure trove of renaissance and baroque art by
many of the great Italian masters like Bernini, Raphael,
Pinturicchio and Carracci. In the apse are Rome's first stained
glass windows and two tombs carved by Sansovino. The Chigi
Chapel is one of the highlights of the church and was designed
and painted by Raphael. Sebastiano del Piombo was responsible
for the altar piece, the Nativity of the Virgin, and Lorenzetto
sculpted the bronze altar front and carved the statues of Jonah
and Elijah. Bernini created niche statues of Habakuk and the angel
and Daniel for the Chigi Chapel as well as the pietra dura skeleton
which you can see set in the floor. Bernini also had a hand in the
baroque parts of the building's faade. Two of the baroque
masters, Annibale Carracci and Caravaggio painted the
Assumption of the Virgin and the Crucifixion of St. Peter
respectively. This is only a fraction of the art work you can
discover in this hidden gem.
Address: Piazza del Popolo, 12, 00187 Rome, Italy Phone Number:
+39 06 361 0836 Web: http://www.smdpparish.org
2014-2015 visitacity.com All rights reserved. No part of this site
may be reproduced without our written permission.
National Etruscan Museum
The Museo Nazionale Etrusco is within the 16 century Villa Giulia
which th was built as a country home for Julius III. The stately
palace home had incredible gardens which were designed by
Vignola, Vasari and with a little help from Michelangelo.
The collection includes Etruscan art and artifacts from the
Etruscan culture which pre-dated the Roman Republic. The
collection includes Etruscan sculptures, bronze pieces, vases,
jewelry and sarcophagi. The Etruscan civilization came from the
area we now know as Tuscany and their unique culture flourished
from c.800BC until being assimilated in to the Roman Republic in
the 4 century. Other cultures which were present in the areas th
surrounding Ancient Rome are represented in the museum. There
are antiquities from the Latium area (the area where Rome was
first established); Umbria and from the Faliscan civilization which
came from the area now known as Lazio.
The collection includes a terracotta polychrome bust; handcrafts
which were uncovered in excavations carried out in Lazio and
Tuscany. Some of the highlights of the museum include the Dawn
Faliscan Crater, dating back to the 4 century; the Cista th Ficoroni
(a bronze urn with paw feet) and the Apollo from Veio. The 6
century Couple Sarcophagus (Sarcofago degli Sposi) th discovered
in Cervetreri is a terracotta funeral tomb/coffin with the touching
sculpture of a bride and groom arm in arm reclining as they would
have done at a Roman dinner.
Augustus's Mausoleum
This was the family tomb of Rome's first emperor, Augustus.
Originally the tomb resembled an artificial round, terraced hill with
trees on the upper terrace in imitation of the tombs of leaders
Augustus admired. The tomb broke convention by being built
within the city when at the time all burials took place outside of
the city.
The architect is unknown but the structure can be dated back to
25BC. In 14AD Augustus was interred here. Other members of the
imperial family were buried here including Augustus' nephew,
mother, sister Octavia and even Poppaea, Nero's wife and Nerva
in AD96.
The base of the cylindrical drum shape was 88 meters in diameter
and the circular shape had a concrete outer wall surrounding
similar walls and radiating walls forming interior concentric
compartments. These compartments would have been filled with
earth. The heart of the structure contained the sepulchral
chamber which could be reached via passageways. The structure
was topped by a dome and is thought to have had a second
terraced level reaching 44 meters high. The sepulcher would have
been the largest in the Roman Empire. The mausoleum was
surrounded by beautiful groves and parklands which were open to
the public.
Over the years the mausoleum was used as a fortress, garden and
as a venue for bullfights, circus performances and concerts until
restoration began under Mussolini who identified himself with
Augustus. Today visitors can see the overgrown ruins of the
mausoleum's brick inner core.
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
In 1763 the rivalry between the Borghese, Colonna and Doria
families over who would succeed the son-less Girolamo Pamphilj
ended when Clement XIII granted Prince Giovanni Andrea IV Doria
the name, property and all rights to the Pamphilj inheritance. With
this honor and all its riches the new heir was compelled to reside
in Rome and so he moved with his wife, to the palace on the
Corso. In this way the Doria, Pamphilj, Landi and Aldobrandini
families were united through marriage over the years. The
Orto Botanico
Rome's botanical gardens are located on the slopes of Rome's
Gianicolo Hill (Janiculum) west of the Tiber. The gardens began as
a medical herb garden planted by Pope Nicholas III in the 13
century. In 1833 the th gardens were officially created as part of
the Palazzo Corsini gardens.
The gardens are administered by Sapienza University of Rome;
they cover 12 hectares, have 2,000m of greenhouse space and
are home to 3,000 species of plants. The gardens are crisscrossed with clearly marked paths for visitors to wander among
the fragrant plants and vegetation. Each section of the gardens
has been cultivated to resemble the plant's original surroundings.
Among the exhibits and gardens is a Garden of Scents created
specifically for the blind, the garden has Braille signage as well.
The paths have been made accessible for those in wheelchairs
and the gardens provide battery-powered chairs for use by
disabled visitors. The various plants include tropical; carnivorous;
a Japanese Garden; bamboo grove; the Valley of ferns; Avenue of
Palms and a Mediterranean forest which overlooks the city. Within
the gardens is the Monumental Staircase with cascading gardens
down the middle, the stairs divide a series of fountains the
Scalinata delle Undici Fontane (Zampilli). There are also
architectural elements on the site like the Baroque Fountain of the
Tritons.
Note: The Botanical Gardens are closed for the entire month of
August.
Porta Portese
Porte Portese is an ancient gate in Rome which was constructed in
1844 as part of the Janiculum Walls. The Janiculum Walls get their
name from the hill where they are located. The high hill is often
referred to as the "8th" hill of Rome and it is believed to have
been the site of ancient temples to the god Janus. Due to its
strategic position overlooking the city is has been valued as
strategic point for centuries. Ancus Marcius (642BC-617BC) joined
Janiculum Hill to the city center with the Pons Sublicius crossing
the Tiber River, he also added fortifications to Janiculum to
incorporate the hill into the city. These original walls were
incorporated into the Aurelian Walls in 271AD-275AD. Later in
1644 Pope Urban VIII (1641-1643) commissioned architect
Marcantonio de Rossi to build the Walls of Janiculum to reinforce
the city's defenses in preparation for the War of Castro. Janiculum
Hill was the site where Giuseppe Garibaldi fought the French in
1849 and the hill bears several monuments and historic ruins
related to this period in history.
The Porta Portese is the starting point of Via Portuense which once
connected Rome with its artificial port, Portus. The gate in the
Janiculum Walls replaced a previous gate, Porta Portuensis. The
gate has a tall central arch through which traffic still flows. Above
the arched entrance is the coat of arms of Pope Innocent X and on
either side of the arch are niches meant for displaying statues,
these are flanked by columns.
At noon everyday a single cannon is fired from the hill. Visitors can
follow the Passeggiata del Gianicolo Avenue across the entire hill
to Piazzale Garibaldi and take in the beautiful scenery, historic
sites and views across the city. Apart from the brilliant views
people come to Porta Portese to visit the historic Roman Flea
Market which is held here on Sunday mornings. Here you can pick
up some interesting and unusual items.
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
This is a 5 century church constructed over the home of St.
Cecilia, a 3 th century martyr who's murdered body was found on
this spot. Apart fromrd being a Christian martyr who defied Roman
decrees against Christians, she is also the patron saint of
musicians.
Her body is thought to have been interred in the Catacombs of
Callistus. The present day church was built c.820 on the orders of
Pope Paschal I who had Cecilia's relics brought to the church and
Villa Farnesina
This renaissance villa in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood stands
opposite Corsini Palace on Via della Lungara. It was created in
1509 when Sienese banker, Agostino Chigi (Magnifico)
commissioned Baldassarre Peruzzi for the project. At the end of
the 16 century Cardinal Alessandro Farnese th purchased the villa
and in 1714 it became the property of the Bourbon family. The
Ambassador of Spain rented the property and in 1928 the villa
was bought by the Italian State and became the Reale Accademia
d'Italia. In 1944 the Lincei academy took over the villa. The villa is
best known for its stunning frescoes by Raphael Sanzio, Giulio
Romano, Sabastiano del Piombo, Giovan Francesco Penni,
Giovanni da Udine and Giovanni Bazzi. During the 16 century
lavish banquet were held here and the crme de th la crme of
Roman society visited the villa. The most famous of these formal
dinners was the celebration of St. Augustine's Day in 1519.
The entrance to the villa leads into the Loggia of Psyche decorated
with frescoes by Raffaello and his pupils. The Room of the Frieze is
painted with frescoes depicting mythological scenes by Peruzzi.
The Hall of Galathea is home to Raffaello's fresco of the Triumph of
the Nymph Galathea. On the upper level the Salone delle
Prospective was designed by Peruzzi. Agostino Chigi's Alcove is
painted with scenes from the life of Alexander of Macedonia
including the Marriage Between Alexander and the Persian
Princess Roxane.
Galleria Colonna
Villa Gregoriana
Villa Gregoriana is a park located in a steep valley at the foot of
the acropolis of Tivoli. As a result of the flooding of the Aniene
River in 11826 the local houses were destroyed and on the orders
of Pope Gregory XVI the water was diverted creating a waterfall.
The river bed, banks, caves, ravines and calcareous formations
together with the natural surroundings and archaeological ruins
became the Villa Gregoriana Park. The force of the river was an
issue for many years and archaeological findings have discovered
evidence of 12 manmade hydraulic structures including ditches,
locks, canals and aqueducts. In addition there are the remains of
bridges, mills and walls which were used in attempts to control the
flow of the river.
In 1832 it was decided to build two Gregorian Tunnels, 300 meters
long and 10-7.2 meters wide. The tunnels were dug into Mount
Catillo to move the water and protect the residential areas from
floods. The project was completed in 1835 included the
construction of Piazza Rivarola, Piazza Massimo, Ponte Gregoriano
and the park itself. The waterfall flows down from the Vesta and
Sibyl Temples and lands in front of the Cave of Neptune and then
flows on to the Cave of the Sirens. The park is full of both natural
and manmade gardens including woodlands, oak, cypress and
pine trees. The Aniene Valley and Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli is a
UNESCO designated site.
Villa Lante
Villa Lante is the garden attached to two houses in Bagnaia, a
small town near Rome. The first home was commissioned by
Cardinals Gambara and the garden designed by Il Vignola
(Giacomo Barozzi) in collaboration with Pirro Ligorio and Thomaso
Chiruchi who was responsible for the hydraulics. 30 years after
Gambara's home had been built in 1587 his nephew Cardinal
Montalto had his home built on the grounds and continued the
construction of the gardens.
The garden is laid out in perfect proportion using Andrea Palladio's
concept of the squared circle. The garden designers took
inspiration from several famous gardens including the Belvedere
at the Vatican, the Villa d'Este, Hadrian's marine theatre and the
isolette at the Boboli. There are a series of terraces, each with
water features. Ingenious mechanical hydraulic engineering was
used to design spurting water, fountains, grottoes with flowing
water and ponds. Other water features include cascading water
flowing over terraced steps.
Montemartini Museum
Musei Capitlini Centrale Montemartini is housed within the
Giovanni Montemartini Thermoelectric Center, an incredible piece
of modern industrial architecture which is juxtaposed to the
classical art the museum displays. The works are displayed with
the old machinery and electrical equipment of the former plant as
a backdrop. Monumental complexes and structures have been
recreated to showcase the progress from the Republican Era to
the Late Imperial age. Because of the unique display space the
museum is used for ongoing experiments in museum display
methods.
The museum has 4 areas: In the Atrium you can learn about the
museum's history and see several extremely large and heavy
pieces of sculpture. In the Hall of Columns there are pieces from
the Complex of San Lorenzo; the Esquiline Necropolis; funeral and
domestic items and busts and sculptural portraits from the LateRepublican Era. In the Hall of the Machines there are copies of
Greek busts; pieces found on the Celian Hill; a reconstruction of
pieces of the Temple of Apollo Sosiano; Campidoglio and pieces
from the sacred precinct of the Largo Argentina including
fragments of a colossal female acrolith 8 meters high. In the Boiler
Room are sculptures found in the Gardens of Sallust; Gardens of
Licinius; House of Fulvius Plauziano; the Esquiline Gardens and the
House of the Via Cavour.
Villa Torlonia
"Villa Torlonia" refers to the Torlonia Estate which consists of the
Casino Nobile (palace), Casino dei Principi (House of Princes),
Casina della Civetta (House of Owls) and the surrounding gardens.
Although the word "villa" actually refers just to gardens. The
gardens and now Villa Torlonia Park were designed by neoclassical
architect Giuselle Valadier in 1796 and completed by his son
Alessandro. Caretti took over the design and added several
structures like the False Ruins, Tribuna con Fontana and Temple of
Saturn. The Estate was rented to Mussolini from 1925 to 1943 and
having stood unused for several decades it is now a museum.
The museum housed in the palace includes pieces from the
Torlonia collection, sculptures by Bartlomeo Cavaceppi, pieces of
furniture from the Torlonia family homes, plaster reliefs by Antonio
Canova and a reconstruction of Giovanni Torlonia's bedchamber
which was used by Mussolini. The gardens feature a manmade
lake and symmetrical avenues which spread out around the
buildings. 3 and 4 century Jewish catacombs were discovered rd
th beneath the gardens in 1919.
The House of Owls was designed in 1840 by Jappelli, there are two
buildings connected by an underground passage and a wooden
gallery. There are 20 rooms, 54 pieces of stained glass and there
are owl motifs throughout. The building has been frequently
renovated since 1916 and little remains of the original
appearance.