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April 17, 2013 · 11:23 am

How to Decipher the Eternal City of Rome

Piazza della Bocca della Verità – Street sign in Rome R. XII, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The belltower of S. Maria in Cosmedin towers over the fountain like a medieval skyscraper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ROME is the Eternal City; her history is complex and spans two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

Rome (Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn)

To understand how it earned this name, visit four principle areas:

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1. Tour Ancient Rome: Visit the Forum Romanum (Foro Romano); the Palatine (Palatino); the Imperial Forums; the Colosseum; and the Capitol.

Though in ruins, the Flavian Amphitheatre, now known as the Colosseum, still stands today (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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2. Tour Medieval Rome: Visit Trastevere; Santa Maria in Trastevere; the Basilica Santa Cecilia; Santa Maria in Cosmedin and la “Bocca della verità”; and San Clemente.

Roma – Piazza Bocca della verità-fontana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deutsch: Die La Bocca della Verità (Mund der Wahrheit) in Rom English: La Bocca della Verità (the Mouth of Truth) in Rome Français : La Bocca della Verità à Rome Italiano: La Bocca della Verità a Roma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

3. Tour The Vatican City: Visit St. Peter’s; St. Peters Square and the Vatican Museums.

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4. Tour Baroque Rome (Il Barocco): Learn about Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his relationship to Piazza Navona, his elephant Obelisk in front of S. Maria sopra Minerva.

The Pulcino della Minerva, a famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini elephant sculpture, a base supporting one of the eleven Egyptian obelisks in Rome. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Then find out about Francesco Borromini and his S. Ivo alla Sapienza. Next, understand the contributions of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio by visiting San Luigi dei Francesi, Sant’Agostino and Santa Maria del Popolo. No Baroque tour would be complete without visiting the Galleria Borghese.

Roma, Villa Borghese, Galleria Borghese, facciata. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Rape of Proserpina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. The sight and sounds of Modern Rome surrounds you!! Enjoy the food and wine in this glorious Eternal City.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Ecstasy of St. Teresa, 1647-52 (Photo credit: profzucker)

Image via Wikipedia

I have written posts about all of these amazing periods, people and places. Read my blog posts and join me for a tour the the Eternal City.

I have included some of my related posts for your enjoyment.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

Bernini’s Church of Sant’ Andrea al Quirinale in Rome was his Favorite (vinoconvistablog.me)
Borromini’s Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome (vinoconvistablog.me)
San Marco is the Church of the Venetian Community in Rome (vinoconvistablog.me)
Rome, Italy : Happy 2,763rd Birthday (the-tin-man.com)

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Filed under Attractions in Rome near the Capitoline Museums, Italian Architecture, Italian art, Italy, Italy Travel Guides, Roman Amphitheater, Roman Architecture, Roman Emperors, Rome History, Rome Italy, Rome's Spectacular Piazzas

Tagged as Colosseum, Francesco Borromini, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Gianlorenzo Bernini, Peter, Rome, San Luigi dei Francesi, Santa Maria, Santa Maria del Popolo, The History of Rome, Trastevere

January 25, 2012 · 3:35 pm

Rome’s Spectacular Piazzas with Amazing Churches and Sumptuous Fountains

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Rome‘s Spectacular Piazzas and quintessential squares are brimming with interesting historical and architectural landmarks. My favorite destinations in Rome involve Piazzas, Churches and Fountains.

Here’ are a few of my absolute favorite Vino con Vista Piazzas in Rome with sumptuous fountains and amazing churches:

1. Piazza Navona and Saint Agnes in Agony. Sant’Agnese in Agone is a 17th century Baroque church in Rome.

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Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

The church faces Piazza Navona‘s Fountain of the Four Rivers. This is where Saint Agnes was martyred in the ancient Stadium of Domitian during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian on January 21, 304.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

2. Piazza del Popolo and Santa Maria del Popolo:

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Santa Maria del Popolo is an Augustinian church located in Rome, Italy. It occupies a prominent position in the Piazza del Popolo.

Image by mararie via Flickr

The church includes works by famous artists, architects and sculptors including: Raphael, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Caravaggio, Pinturicchio, Andrea Bregno, Guillaume de Marcillat and Donato Bramante. This square also houses twin churches across from Santa Maria del Popolo.

3. The Spanish Steps and Trinita dei Monte and Colonna del Immacolata:

The church of Trinità dei Monti is famous its commanding position above the Spanish Steps which lead down to the Piazza di Spagna.

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The church and its surrounding area belong to the French State. In 1789, Pope Pius VI erected the obelisk (Obelisco Sallustiano) in front of the church. To see all the obelisks of Rome click here. The Scalinata has 138 steps and is the widest staircase in Europe. The Boat Fountain at the base of the stairs was designed by Pietro Bernini, the father of Gianlorenzo Bernini.

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4. Piazza della Republica and Fontana delle Naiadi:

The fabulous fountain in this square was originally the fountain of the Acqua Pia and was commissioned by Pope Pius IX in 1870. I love the graceful sculptures of Naiads by Mario Rutelli from Palermo. The naiads represented are the “Nymph of the Lakes (holding the swan), the Nymph of the Rivers (stretched out on a monster of the rivers), the Nymph of the Oceans (riding a horse that symbolizes the sea), and the Nymph of the Underground Waters (leaning over a mysterious dragon).”

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Piazza della Republica is located at the summit of the Viminal Hill next to the Termini station. Visit the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. It is directly in front of the fountain.

English: View on Piazza Barberini and the Trit...

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5. Piazza Barberini is located on Quirinal Hill. At the centere of the piazza is the Bernini‘s Fontana del Tritone or Triton Fountain. You can also find Bernini’s Fontana delle Api at this location. A short walk from the square on Via Venato will bring you to the lovely church of Santa Maria della Concezione where the bones of 4000 friars adorn the ossuary of the church. The cemetary is located directly below the chapels on the right side of the church. Two of the chapels have soil from the Holy Land. A sign in the final alcove reads: “You are what we once were; you will be what we are now.”

This church was founded by Cardinal Antonio Barberini and his tomb is in this church. The church is commonly refered to as The Church of the Capuchin Friars.

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English: Tomb of Saint Felix of Cantalice, in ...

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Image via Wikipedia

Walk up the hill and visit the the Palazzo Barberini. This Baroque palace is brimming with magnificent art! It is located at Galleria Nazionale D’Arte Antica, at Palazzo Barberini, Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13.

Check out Caravaggio’s magnificent painting of Narcissus. This rendition of the Greek mythological figure is damned for not returning the love of the nymph Echo.

He sees his own reflection in a pool of water. He is so captivated by his own reflection that he falls in love with himself and drowns in the pool.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Italy Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com. Buon Viaggio–