The Colosseum or Coliseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built. The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in AD 72, and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir Titus. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (81–96). These three emperors are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named in Latin for its association with their family name (Flavius).
The name Colosseum has long been believed to be derived from a colossal statue of Nero This statue was later remodeled by Nero's successors into the likeness of Helios (Sol) or Apollo, the sun god, by adding the appropriate solar crown. Nero's head was also replaced several times with the heads of succeeding emperors. Despite its pagan links, the statue remained standing well into the medieval era and was credited with magical powers. It came to be seen as an iconic symbol of the permanence of Rome. In antiquity, Romans may have referred to the Colosseum by the unofficial name Amphitheatrum Caesareum (with Caesareum an adjective pertaining to the title Caesar), but this name may have been strictly poetic as it was not exclusive to the Colosseum; The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, and quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine. Although partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and also has links to the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum. The Colossus did eventually fall, possibly being pulled down to reuse its bronze. By the year 1000 the name "Colosseum" had been coined to refer to the amphitheatre. The statue itself was largely forgotten and only its base survives, situated between the Colosseum and the nearby Temple of Venus and Roma. In the centuries to come, the Colosseum was abandoned completely, and used as a quarry for numerous building projects, including the cathedrals of St. Peter and St. John Lateran, the Palazzo Venezia and defense fortifications along the Tiber River. Beginning in the 18th century, however, various popes sought to conserve the arena as a sacred Christian site, though it is in fact uncertain whether early Christian martyrs met their fate in the Colosseum, as has been speculated. By the 20th century, a combination of weather, natural disasters, neglect and vandalism had destroyed nearly two-thirds of the original Colosseum, including all of the arena’s marble seats and its decorative elements. Restoration efforts began in the 1990s, and have proceeded over the years, as the Colosseum continues to be a leading attraction for tourists from all over the world. The Colosseum, together with the Palatine (the ticket is valid for both) is the most visited monument in Italy, so it may take some time to get in the amphitheatre, especially during the Summer months. The Colosseum is open every day all year round, except for January 1st and December 25th.
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The Pantheon from Pantheion meaning "[temple] of every god") is a former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome, on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus. The present building was completed by the emperor Hadrian. He retained Agrippa's original inscription, which has confused its date of construction as the original Pantheon burnt down so it is not certain when the present one was built.
The building is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs.” The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda. Today, the Pantheon is a state property, under Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism. Today, almost 2000 years after its construction, the breathtaking pantheon is a remarkable building to see. The spectacular design, proportions, elegance and harmony are a striking reminder of the architecture of the great Roman Empire. When Michelangelo saw this wonder for the first time he said that it looks more like the work of angels, not humans. The Pantheon's large circular dome with a conventional temple portico front, is "unique" in Roman architecture. Nevertheless, it became a standard exemplar when classical styles were revived, and has been copied many times by modern architects. The great architectural achievement was due to the massive weight of the large dome. Roman engineers lightened the dome as much as possible; not only its thickness progressively decreases, but the materials used in the upper part of the dome were lighter with internal spaces within the dome walls. The decrease in thickness has the effect that while the interior of the ceiling is spherical, its exterior is slightly “flattened”. It is larger than the dome of St. Peter’s basilica but since it seems flattened from the outside it is hard to get a full sense of its dimension. The hole (oculus), 7.8 meters in diameter, is the only source of light and is the connection between the temple and the gods above. Rain occasionally fall through it, but the floor is slanted and drains the water if it manages to hit the floor. In practice, rain seldom falls inside the dome. A lighting effect can be viewed on April 21 when the midday sun strikes a metal grille above the doorway, saturating the courtyard outside with light. The Romans celebrated April 21 as the founding date of the city, and the impressive sight of their Emperor standing at the entrance of the Pantheon surrounded by light coming from inside the pantheon might have been seen as something that, in effect, raised their emperor to the level of the gods and invited him in to join them. The Trevi fountain, inspired by Roman triumphal arches, is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome. The central figures of the fountain are Neptune (God of the sea), flanked by two Tritons. One struggles to master a very unruly "sea horse", the other lead a far more docile animal. These symbolize the two contrasting moods of the sea.
Another sculpture shows a young girl (the legendary virgin after whom the aqueduct was named) pointing to the spring from which the water flows. The site originally marked the terminal at the Aqua Virgo aqueduct built in 19 BC. Legend holds that in 19 BC thirsty Roman soldiers were guided by a young girl to a source of pure water eight miles from the city of Rome. The discovery of the source led Augustus to commission the construction of an aqueduct leading into the city, which was named Aqua Virgo, or Virgin Waters, in honor of the legendary young girl. The aqueduct served the hot Baths of Agrippa, and Rome, for over four hundred years. The fountain is worldwide famous, No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Fontana di Trevi, or Trevi Fountain. Located in the Quirinale district of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is known as one of the most stunning fountains in the world. Though it was one of 1,352 fountains in 4th century Rome, the Trevi Fountain has always stood out from the rest. You can already hear its presence from the nearby streets. Indeed, as you get nearer the sound of its gushing waters grows constantly more intense, reaching a crescendo in the square, where you will find the most breathtaking sight. Suddenly, the space seems to open out and you stand before a symbolic representation of this great force of nature, a tumultuous spring that seems to flow out of the ground. The light and shade effects on the marble make the wind seem to bellow through the drapes and locks of the statues, agitating the waves, creating an extraordinarily intense and spectacular scene. In this Baroque creation, the architecture itself seems to come alive with the current of the revitalizing waters. Even the palace in the background blends perfectly with the composition and the game of space and mass gives an air of movement to the entire statue. The central feature of the monument is a chariot in the shape of a shell, drawn by seahorses with Triton as their guide. Before the enormous central niche stands Oceanus. To the side are the statues of Abundance and Salubrity. All around, natural and artificial forms merge together in a representation of rocks and petrified vegetation that run along the foundation of the palace and around the borders of the pool, which represents the sea. Tradition has it that you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the fountain's water basin. You should toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder (or left hand over your right shoulder) with your back to the fountain. You're not allowed to look behind you while you're tossing the coin but the fountain is so large it's basically impossible to miss. It’s estimated that roughly €3,000 is thrown into it every day. This tradition also dates back to the ancient Romans who often threw coins in water to make the gods of water favor their journey or help them get back home safely. A second coin will grand love, and a third will grand marriage. The coins are collected every night and given to an Italian charity called Caritas. Caritas, in turn, use the money for a supermarket program giving rechargeable cards to Rome’s needy to help them get groceries. Perhaps for just that reason, it’s illegal to fish out coins from the fountain. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore or 'Church of Saint Mary Major', is a Papal church and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, from which size it receives the appellation "major". The ancient basilica enshrines the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani, depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary as the health and protectress of the Roman people, which was granted a Canonical coronation by Pope Gregory XVI on 15 August 1838 accompanied by his Papal bull Cælestis Regina.
Pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between the Pope and Italy, the Basilica is within Italian territory and not the territory of the Vatican City State. However, the Holy See fully owns the Basilica, and Italy is legally obligated to recognize its full ownership "the immunity granted by International Law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign States." Situated on the summit of the Esquiline Hill, St. Mary Major is the only patriarchal basilica of the four in Rome to have retained its paleo-Christian structures. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four Major Basilicas, along with the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. Its importance is based on its size, age, and the fact that it is the largest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and also one of the oldest. Tradition has it that the Virgin Mary herself inspired the choice of the Esquiline Hill for the church's construction. Appearing in a dream to both the Patrician John and Pope Liberius, she asked that a church be built in her honor on a site she would miraculously indicate. The morning of August 5th, the Esquiline Hill was covered with a blanket of snow. The pope traced out the perimeter of the basilica in the snow, and John financed the construction of the new church. The Romanesque bell tower, built by Gregory XI after his return from Avignon, rises 75 meters high and is the tallest in Rome. The belfry contains five bells, one of which, "La Sperduta," or "the lost one," rings every evening at nine with its distinctive sound to call the faithful to prayer. To the right upon entering the portico stands a statue of King Phillip IV of Spain, one of the Basilica's benefactors. The central door is made of bronze and was cast by Ludovico Pogliaghi in 1949, displaying episodes from the life of Mary framed by images of Prophets, Evangelists and the four women of the Old Testament who prefigure the Blessed Virgin. To the left stands the new Holy Door, blessed by John Paul II on December 8, 2001. The right panel of the Holy Door shows the Resurrected Christ modelled after the image on the Shroud of Turin, who appears to Mary, represented here as Salus Populi Romani. In the upper left corner lies a representation of the Annunciation at the Well, a story drawn from apocryphal Gospels, while on the right there is an image of Pentecost. The lower corners display on the left, the Council of Ephesus which proclaimed Mary as THEOTOKOS, Mother of God and on the right, the Second Vatican Council which declared MaryMater Ecclesiae or Mother of the Church. The Papal coat-of-arms of John Paul II, as well as his motto Totus Tuus, lies above the door, while the two emblems further down are those of Cardinal Carlo Furno, archpriest of the Basilica in 2001, and of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The spiritual and sentimental image of the reconstruction of the "Crib" in remembrance of the venerated event of Christ's birth, originated in 432 when Pope Sixtus III (432-440) created, within the primitive Basilica, a "cave of the Nativity" similar to that in Bethlehem. Numerous pilgrims returning to Rome from the Holy Land, brought back precious fragments of the Holy Crib (cunambulum), which are now kept in the golden Confessional shrine. During the following centuries several popes took care of Sixtus III's Holy Cave, until Pope Nicolò IV in 1288 commissioned a sculpture of the "Nativity" by Arnolfo di Cambio. Many changes and reconstructions took place in the basilica. When Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) wished to erect the large Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament or Sistina in the right nave, he ordered the architect Domenico Fontana to transfer, without dismantling, the ancient "cave of the Nativity" with its surviving elements of Arnolfo di Cambio's sculpture. The three Magi, dressed in elegant vestments and shoes in a rough gothic style, and Saint Joseph admire with a sense of wonder and reverence the miracle of the Baby in the Virgin Mary's arms (of P. Olivieri) warmed by the ox and the donkey. Although its architectural details span more than a thousand years, its main layout remains unchanged from when it was first built in the 5th century, making it one of the finest surviving examples of an early Christian church. Inside it’s packed with artistic and religious treasures. Aside from various relics, jaw-dropping stone-work, and the tomb of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the church’s main draws are its invaluable 5th-century mosaics depicting various scenes from the Old Testament. Santa Maria Maggiore’s most prized relics are fragments of the manger or crib used to hold Jesus Christ when he was born. These are kept in a crystal reliquary under the high altar known as the Crypt of the Nativity. A museum below the church contains Roman remains that were found here in the 18th century, including a section of Roman road, a mosiac pavement, two wells, a series of arches and narrow passages cut into the bedrock. The Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano, commonly known as St. John Lateran Archbasilica, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. John Lateran, or simply the Lateran Basilica, is the cathedral church of Rome, and therefore houses the cathedra, or ecclesiastical seat, of the Roman Pontiff. It was Pope's principal residence until the 14th century when he moved across the city to the Vatican.
It is the oldest of and has precedence among the four papal major basilicas, all of which are in Rome, because it is the oldest church in the West and It has the title of ecumenical mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful. The current archpriest, Cardinal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome and the President of the French Republic, is ex officio the "first and only honorary canon" of the archbasilica, a title that the heads of state of France have possessed since King Henry IV. The large Latin inscription on the façade reads: Clemens XII Pont Max Anno V Christo Salvatori In Hon SS Ioan Bapt et Evang; which is a highly abbreviated inscription which translates to: "Pope Clement XII, in the fifth year [of his Pontificate], dedicated this building to Christ the Savior, in honor of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist". As the Cathedral of the Pope qua Bishop of Rome, it ranks superior to all other churches of the Roman Catholic Church, including St. Peter's Basilica, and therefore it alone is titled "Archbasilica" among all other basilicas. The archbasilica is sited in the City of Rome, outside and distanced from Vatican City proper, which is approximately 2.5 mi to its northwest, although the archbasilica and its adjoining edifices have extraterritorial status from Italy as one of the properties of the Holy See, it is subject to the sovereignty of the latter, pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929 with Italy. For a thousand years this monumental cathedral was the most important church in Christendom. Commissioned by Constantine and consecrated in AD 324, it was the first Christian basilica built in the city and, until the late 14th century, was the pope’s main place of worship. It's still Rome’s official cathedral and the pope’s seat as the bishop of Rome. Surmounted by 15 7m-high statues – Christ with St John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and the 12 Apostles – Galilei’s facade is an imposing example of late-baroque classicism. The interior is a breathtaking sight with a golden gilt ceiling, a 15th-century mosaic floor, and a wide central nave lined with 4.6m-high sculptures of the apostles. The pointed Gothic baldachin over the papal altar is said to contain the relics of the heads of Saints Peter and Paul. Behind the altar, the massive apse is decorated with sparkling mosaics. Parts of these date to the 4th century, but most were added in the 19th century. At the other end of the basilica, on the first pilaster in the right-hand nave is an incomplete Giotto fresco. A Forum was the main center of a Roman city. Usually located near the physical center of a Roman town, it served as a public area in which commercial, religious, economic, political, legal, and social activities occurred. Fora were common in all Roman cities, but none were as grand as the fora of Rome itself.
The Roman Forum or Forum Romanum or Foro Romano in Italian is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. Originally a marsh, the Romans drained the area and turned it into a centre of political and social activity. The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic centre. It was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million sightseers annually In the area around the Forum, the city was also home to markets, shops and taverns. You could also find the typical Termopolia, which were the ancient equivalent of today's fast food restaurants. In short, the Forum was the heart and soul of city life. It was in Caesar's time, when Rome has become the capital of a vast empire, that the Forum became a place for celebrations and in the Imperial era it was the symbol of the Empire. The Legend goes that one of the first acts of Romulus, the city’s eponymous founder, was to establish a fortification wall around the Palatine Hill, the site of his new settlement. The Capitoline Hill, opposite the Palatine, emerged as the city’s citadel (arx) and site of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, among others Iron Age populations had used the marshy valley separating the Palatine and Capitoline hills as a necropolis but the burgeoning settlement of archaic Rome had need of communal space and the valley was repurposed from a necropolis to a usable space. This required several transformations, both of human activity and the natural environment. Burial activity had to be transferred elsewhere; for this reason the main necropolis site shifted to the far side of the Esquiline Hill. The second century B.C.E. saw the creation and introduction of a unique Roman building type, the basilica. The basilica was a columnar hall that often had a multi-purpose use—from law courts to commerce to entertainments. Roman planners came to prefer them for lining the long sides of open squares, The advent of the principate of Augustus (27 B.C.E. – 14 C.E.) brought about additions and renovations to the Forum Romanum. With the deification of Julius Caesar, Augustus’ adoptive father, a temple dedicated to Caesar’s cult (templum divi Iulii) was constructed on the edge of the forum square. Augustus restored existing buildings, completed incomplete projects, and added commemorative projects to celebrate his own accomplishments and those of his family members. In this latter group, the Arch of Augustus (#16 above) and the Porticus of Caius and Lucius are notable. The former was a triumphal arch celebrating significant military and diplomatic accomplishments of the emperor, while the latter honored the emperor’s grandsons. The monument that is considered to be the final ancient structure erected in the Forum Romanum is a re-purposed monumental column set in place by the emperor Phocas in August of 608 C.E. A major earthquake in 847 C.E. wreaked considerable damage on remaining Roman monuments in the forum and in its environs. During the Middle Ages ancient structures provided reusable buildings materials, as well as reusable foundations, for Medieval structures. While the Forum Romanum was the main forum of Rome, there were several other fora located throughout the city. Each of these fora had a specific purpose unto themselves. These included the Forum Boarium (the cattle market), and several Imperial Fora. Roman Emperors such as Augustus and trajan built the Imperial Fora, usually with the spoils of war, in order to celebrate themselves and their victories. The Forum was one of the important centers of Roman daily life. But the Forum had another purpose that we might find unusual. It was in the Forum where anyone who felt like it could stand and talk to the crowd and express their views on any subject. This was called Orating and the Romans loved it. Teachers of speech-making would bring their students to the forum and assign them to try and convince the crowd that a specific idea was the correct and proper idea. Politicians gave speeches here. Any adult male Roman citizen could speak in the Forum. The ancient Romans were great orators. The job of their orators was not to argue, but to argue persuasively! People thronging the Forum would stop and listen to anyone Orating, then wander away to do their shopping, and perhaps leave a gift at a temple for one of their gods. For tourists looking to be in the cuore (heart) of it all, the best place to be in Rome is in the centro storico. Indeed, the historic center of the city is where a chunk of the Eternal City's main attractions are located. There are an endless amount of things to see and do in the historic center of Rome.
For a sublime example of the Eternal City's most beautiful piazzas, visitors have plenty to choose from in the centro storico: Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna to name a few This area, known in ancient Roman times as the Campus Martius, was outside the city centre, a low-lying area that was mostly given over to barracks and sporting arenas, together with several temples, including the Pantheon. Later it became the heart of the Renaissance city, and nowadays it’s the part of the town that is densest in interest, an unruly knot of narrow streets and alleys that holds some of the best of Rome’s classical and Baroque heritage and its most vivacious street- and nightlife. In Rome, there are a slew of great trattorie, pizzerie and outdoor café scene, especially in the centro storico. While there's great selection of restaurants to choose from in the historic center, For some pizza on the run, before you head on over the Pantheon, check out Da Remo's pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). Remo makes the best pizza with salame, pumpkin and/or pancetta. The calzones aren't too shabby either! Giolitti is a historic gelateria that features all of the classic flavors. Meanwhile, Il Gelato serves up flavors that will tantalize your palate (over 100 different flavors to choose from)! Looking to paint Roma red? The centro, is definitely the place to do it. From pubs to clubs, the historic center of the city offers a wide array of nightlife for all tastes. Pubs are also popular places thanks to its pub grub and live music. Some of the hottest dance clubs can also be found in the centro storico. Though the scene is much smaller, than say, Testaccio where the hub of Rome's nightlife is located; there are several clubs contending for a prime spot on Rome's movida scene. Most of the best shopping is concentrated around Via del Corso near the Spanish Steps. If you're looking for high-end fashion, you'll want to hit up Via dei Condotti. It's considered the Rodeo Drive of Rome. In and around this street, you'll find high-end fashion names like Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton and various others. For smaller, more exclusive haute-couture brands, one can check out streets such as Via Frattina and Via del Babuino for the best boutiques. Perhaps, you prefer shopping for fresh food or just want to browse through one of Rome's famous street markets? The most famous of all is the Campo de' Fiori market. Not only can you pick up the best and freshest produce and flowers, but you can also witness vendors turn the sale of an eggplant into a theatrical performance! The market is open Monday through Saturday and is definitely worth at least a stroll. Once you have visited the area of the Forum, the Colosseum, and the Vatican, the other really “big stuff” and “fun stuff” can be covered with a stroll through the cobbled side streets of the historic centre. Piazza Navona is a plaza or square in Rome. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans went there to watch the games, and hence it was known as "Circus Agonalis" or competition arena. It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone to navone and eventually to navona.
The Piazza Navona is situated in the historic center of Rome, west of the Pantheon. It is one of Rome's liveliest squares, with many outdoor cafes, restaurants and night clubs in the neighborhood. Defined as a public space in the last years of 15th century, when the city market was transferred there from the Campidoglio, Piazza Navona was transformed into a highly significant example of Baroque Roman architecture and art during the pontificate of Innocent X, who reigned from 1644 until 1655. It features important sculptural and architectural creations: in the center stands the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers, topped by the Obelisk of Domitian, brought in pieces from the Circus of Maxentius; the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone and the Pamphili palace. Piazza Navona has two other fountains. At the southern end is the Fontana del Moro at the northern end is the Fountain of Neptune. The main attraction in Piazza Navona is the Fontana die Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). The fountain was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for Pope Innocent X. The base of the fountain is travertine rock which supports the four river Gods. Above the Gods is an ancient Egyptian obelisk with a dove and Pamphili. The Fontana del Moro or Fountain of the Moor, is located on the southern end of the square. The fountain was originally designed by Giacomo della Porta in 1575 with a dolphin and four Tritons. However, in 1653 the statue of the Moor was added by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. During 1874 the original statues were moved to the Galleria Borghese. The current statues are replicas. The third fountain of Piazza Navona is located on the north end of the square. The Neptune Fountain was formerly called the Fontana dei Calderari due to the many blacksmith shops located on the street near the fountain Of all Rome's piazzas, this isola pedonale (pedestrian precinct) is one where the liveliness of Roman life is most tangible. It has long been a meeting place for the inhabitants of Rome. The piazza revolves around the open-air-cafés and the seasonal fairs. Of these the most popular is the one held in December and early January where toys and crib figures are sold. Its theme if the Feast of Epiphany as well as Christmas, so la Befana (the Epiphany witch, who his roughly the Italian equivalent of Father Christmas) features prominently. In the summer the piazza provides a continous festival of painters, caricaturists, fortune-teller and buskers, who entertain visitors until the small hours. The Palatine Hill, Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus or Palatino is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the location of the cave, known as the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were found by the she- wolf Lupa that kept them alive. Another legend occurring on the Palatine is Hercules' defeat of Cacus after the monster had stolen some cattle. Hercules struck Cacus with his characteristic club so hard that it formed a cleft on the southeast corner of the hill, where later a staircase bearing the name of Cacus was constructed.
No visit to Rome is complete without a thorough exploration of the ancient city, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. This majestic hill towers over the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus, the ruins of its ancient palaces still visible from a distance. It was once the home of emperors and the site of temples, The Palatine is also something of a green haven. Wild flowers grow among the ruins, and you might spot a rabbit scampering across the hill. Come here for a picnic, or to seek shade beneath the trees in the Farnese Gardens. Even at the height of the tourist season, the Palatine is surprisingly peaceful, so it’s a good place to escape the crowds. And then there are the views – perhaps the best in Rome. On one side, you can admire the Circus Maximus from high up, and look across to the Aventine Hill on the other side of the valley. But the most spectacular views are on the other side, where you can see the labyrinthine ruins of the Roman Forum in their entirety, the Colosseum, and the Capitoline Hill. The Palatine was desirable for a number of reasons – the mythical associations, the central location, the spectacular views of the city, the cooler temperatures in the summer, and the cleaner air. The residents of the Palatine got the best of both worlds, living in the center of the city without having to endure the noise and dirt of the streets below. During the Republican era, many wealthy Romans lived in luxurious villas on the Palatine. The hill later became home to Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, as well as Tiberius and Domitian. These emperors are responsible for most of the impressive ruins we see today, including the Flavian Palace, the Stadium of Domitian, and the House of Augustus. Other vast constructions, such as the Temple of Apollo (built on the orders of Augustus), and the mysterious decorative building known as the Septizodium, have disappeared, hardly leaving a trace of their existence. The Palatine Hill is littered with ruins from ancient palaces and other buildings. At the southern end, bordering Circus Maximus, are the remains of the palace of Septimius Severus, Roman emperor between 193 and 211 AD. Adjacent to the palace lie the ruins of the Baths of Septimius Severus. The stadium was built together with the Palace of Domitian, which formed the heart of the Palatine Hill. For three centuries the palace, built in 81 AD, held the title of Rome's largest palace. Domitian's Palace was constructed between two crests after the tallest one - the Palatium - was topped off and the ground used to level the hilltop. The palace consisted of two wings: a private one (the Domus Augustana) and a public one (the Domus Flavia). Remains of both wings can still be found. House of Livia, one of the best preserved houses on the Palatine Hill. The house dates back to the 1st century BC and was the home of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia. Archaeologists also discovered remains of an early settlement on the Palatine Hill, probably dating back to the times of the first king of Rome, Romulus. Hence this site is known as the Hut of Romulus. At the north-west end of the Palatine Hill are the ruins of the Palace of Tiberius (aka Palace of Caligula), built in the 1st century AD. Later, a 16th-century cardinal turned the hill into the Farnese Gardens, incorporating the ruins into a tree-shaded park of terraces, lawns, flowerbeds, pavilions, and fountains for social occasions. The alluring combination of some of Rome's most imposing remains, framed by trees, with views over the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and other Roman landmarks makes this a popular tourist attraction, especially for those tired of the crowds below. When you walk through the still-impressive ruins of these palaces, temples, and public buildings constructed under Augustus and his successors, you are walking through the history of the Roman Empire. The Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery is an art gallery in Rome, housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction. The Galleria Borghese houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities, begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V.
Scipione Borghese was an early patron of Bernini and an avid collector of works by Caravaggio, who is well represented in the collection by his Boy with a Basket of Fruit, St Jerome Writing, Sick Bacchus and others. Other paintings of note include Titian's Sacred and Profane Love, Raphael's Entombment of Christ and works by Peter Paul Rubens and Federico Barocci. The Galleria Borghese includes twenty rooms across two floors. The main floor is mostly devoted to classical antiquities of the 1st–3rd centuries AD including a famous mosaic of gladiators found on the Borghese estate at Torrenova, on the Via Casilina outside Rome, in 1834, and classical and neo-classical sculpture such as the Venus Victrix. Its decorative scheme includes a trompe l'oeil ceiling fresco in the first room, or Salone, by the Sicilian artist Mariano Rossi makes such good use of foreshortening that it appears almost three-dimensional. The museum displays, in addition to Bernini's above mentioned works Proserpine's rape, Apollo and Daphne, David throwing a sling also Roman time wonderful works sleeping Hermaphroditus, as well as the famous Lying Venus by Canova, portraying the beautiful features of Maria Paola Bonaparte. Maybe Caravaggio's best works are displayed in Rome's Borghese gallery: the Madonna of the Grooms, St. Jerome, St. John Baptist, David with Goliath's head. Young man with a fruit basket, the little Bacchus: Borghese gallery in Rome also hosts works by Annibale Carracci, Francesco Albani, Guido Reni, Guercino, Antonello da Messina ("portrait of a man"), Domenichino ("Diana's hunt"), Bronzino ("St. JOhn Baptist"). |
Rome Private ToursThere are plenty to do in Rome, Italy. Here is our recommended points of interest for Groups of friends and family to get together and enjoy. Categories
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