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Rome

By admin 11/12/2010 15:55:00

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The eternal city of Rome requires little introduction. No other city in Europe boasts such a wealth of diverse and fascinating sights. The wonderful and varied mix of architecture combines with a unique atmosphere to create a most memorable holiday experience.

From the ancient monuments of Rome, to the classical images of the Renaissance and the bold architecture of the baroque, there is something of interest literally around every corner. Rome is a city that demands to be explored with a guide, at least the first time, as there is too much to miss! The list of places to see is almost limitless but the must-dos include; The Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, The Pantheon and St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican: The Colosseum – without doubt one of the most famous icons of Rome. Perhaps the best preserved of the monuments of ancient Rome, this huge marble structure was built to hold more than 50,000 spectators who witnessed the slaughter of wild beasts and bloody contests of might by gladiators. Built in the first century, it was not for several hundred years that the structure was referred to as the Colosseum, being known as the Flavian Ampitheater, after the three emperors of the dynasty who had overseen its creation. Completed in the reign of Dometian (AD81-96), it was a feat of engineering and work of architecture which would be hard to match in the modern era.
A vast mass of stone with an original circumference of a third of a mile, it was constructed on marshy ground and designed to enable a crowd of 50,000 to enter, find their seats and disperse with ease by its eighty exits. The Colosseum has been admired through the ages, but was perhaps described best by Byron in “Childe Harold” – Arches on arches! As it were that Rome, Collecting the chief trophies of her line, Would build up her triumphs in one dome, Her Colosseum stands, the moonbeams shine.....
The Colosseum is located in the heart of Piazza del Colosseo on the B (blue) metro line. Colosseum admission fee: Full ticket - €15.50 EU reduced ticket - €10.50 (available only for European citizens aged between 18 and 25) EU complimentary ticket- €4.50 (available only for EU citizens aged above 65 and under 18) Opening hours: Mid February - mid March: 9 AM - 4.30 PM Mid March - end March: 9 AM - 5.00 PM End March - end August: 9 AM - 7.00 PM End August - end Sept.: 9 AM - 6.30 PM End Sept. - end October: 9 AM - 6.00 PM End October - mid March: 9 AM - 4.00 PM
Spanish Steps Walking through the districts of Rome you could find yourself walking down the Spanish Steps without even noticing as they create a thoroughfare from the Trinità dei Monti ( a beautiful Baroque Church which offers stunning views over Rome) down to the Piazza di Spagna. The steps are a beautiful example of Italian Baroque style and the design was no accident.
Specifications guided that the whole extent could be seen from a distance, and the three flights and three landings were an allusion to the church of the Trinity to which it leads. It was also a site that should be suitable for strolling and festive occasions which it achieves even today. Located in the heart of Rome, the steps were described by Dickens as the rendezvous of all artists’ models, of all ages and dress, waiting to catch the eye of a tourist with artistic pretensions.
Keats-Shelley Memorial House Located on the right of the steps is the Keats-Shelley Memorial (Piazza di Spagna No. 26), the house where the poet John Keats died in 1821. Exhibits include relics of the romantic poets, and a library composed of works devoted to Keats, Shelley and Byron. Opening hours are: Monday to Friday 10.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 18.00 Saturday 11.00 to 14.00 and 15.00 to 18:00. Admission is €4.00 per person, reduced rate €3.00 for under 18s and over 65s, no charge for children under 6. Guided tours in English can be arranged for groups by appointment. NEAREST METRO STOP – SPAGNA on LINE A The Trevi Fountain One of Rome’s most famous landmarks and renowned romantic nightspots, it is tucked away in the narrow streets of Rome and quite easy to stumble on by accident. A smaller version of the fountain had stood nearby, but in a grand scheme which evolved over numerous years and which was initially financed by a tax on wine, the Baroque masterpiece we see today was created.
It is generally agreed that the fountain takes its name from the three streets (the tre vie) which meet in the tine piazza. The fountain covers the wall of a palace and is a fantasy of gods, goddesses, tritons and dashing steeds set amongst a rushing cascade of spring water. Created by Nicola Salvi, who died in the process, it was completed in 1762, 30 years from the day the concept was approved.
An iconic location it is perhaps best know worldwide as the fountain where Anita Ekberg cooled off in the movie “La Dolce Vita” and whilst the original tradition was to drink from the fountain to guarantee a return to the city, the more modern tribute requires a coin to be thrown into the fountain before your trip to Rome is over!
Piazza Navona A marvel of light and sculpture, this is the most picturesque square in Rome, featuring three stunning fountains, a beautiful church and surrounded by ochre-washed houses, cafes and restaurants. It was the site of Circus Agonalis, Dometian’s stadium and the piazza marks the area for the races in the stadium. Fountain of the Four Rivers A masterpiece designed by Bernini, the figures representing the four great rivers of the world – the Nile, Danube, Ganges and Plate. Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone Located on the western side of the piazza, it is according to legend built on the spot where the thirteen year old saint began her martyrdom in the year 304, being stripped naked before the crowds of the stadium as punishment for refusing to marry, before the miraculous growth of her hair concealed her nakedness. In the vaults under the church some fragments of Roman pavements suggesting that the vault walls formed part of the substructure of Domitian’s stadium.
The Pantheon The Pantheon is the best preserved of all Ancient Roman structures and whilst the inscription which appears on the portico bears tribute to Marcus Agrippa as the builder of the structure, it was in fact Hadrian who was responsible for the structure we see today having rebuilt the temple in around 125AD.
It is roofed by what was still the greatest dome in the world until the 20^th Century, with its diameter of 43.3 metres just under a metre bigger than St. Peter’s. There is a harmony to the building which is clear when you enter the doors and this is due to the diameter of the dome being equal to the height of the building. It was consecrated as a Christian site in 609AD and houses the remains of some of Italy’s greatest artists, the most famous of which is Raphael, and the Pantheon was chosen as the mausoleum of Italy’s kings after reunification. The hole in the centre of the dome, which is a full 9metres across, illuminates the inside of the inside of the building with shafts of light which is perhaps conformation of the proclamation by Michelangelo that the Pantheon was of “angelic, not human design”. A Roman proverb states that anyone who comes to Rome and doesn’t see the Pantheon “goes and comes back an ass”. It is located in Piazza della Rotonda about 15 minutes walk from the Spanish steps. Open: Mon-Thu 9am – 7pm, Sun 9am-1pm Entrance is free.
St Peter’s Basilica Located in the Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica overlooks Piazza San Pietro, and is the grandest and no doubt the largest church in the Christian world. The site has been venerated since the crucifixion and burial of St Peter here in the first century and the Constantine church was built on the site a little under three hundred years later. A millennium later the Constantine church was showing signs of collapse and after a brief restoration by Bernado Rossellino in the early 15^th century, the original construction was demolished and the first stones of the church we see today were laid in 1506 under the direction of Bramate. Michelangelo was largely responsible for the dome but his death in 1564 meant he was unable to complete the work. His successor Giacomo della Porta finished the dome in 1590. The fact that the work of one artists or architects does not dominate the construction gives the church a unique and spiritual elegance. St. Peter’s is a treasure trove of relics and art, including Michelangelo’s pieta which was completed when he was just 24, and Bernini’s baldacchino which was cast out of 927 tonnes of metal removed from the Pantheon roof in 1633. Opening Times Basilica: Summer - Daily 9am-6pm Winter – Daily 9am – 5pm Treasury: Summer - Daily 9am-6pm Winter – Daily 9am – 5pm Dome: Summer – Daily 8am-6pm Winter – Daily 8am – 5pm
Entrance Fees: Basilica – Free Treasury – €5 Dome – Stairs €4 Elevator €5 Dress Code – Please note that a strict dress code applies to all visitors : no shorts or skirts above the knee and no bare shoulders.
The Borghese Gallery – offers visitors a glimpse at major works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Canova, Raphael and Rubens. After an extensive fourteen year restoration programme, the architecture and decoration of the gallery create the perfect setting for the magnificent paintings and sculptures. Galleria Doria Pamphilj – has the greatest concentration of paintings of any palazzo in Rome. It is well worth searching through the dimly lit rooms to find the pearls of the collection, which include works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Caravaggio, Titian and Claude Lorrain, as well as portrait of Pope Innocent X Pamphilj by the Spanish artist Velazquez. Capitoline Museum – both the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori were designed as twins by Michelangelo. The collection of ancient art in the Capitoline museums is breathtaking. Even if sculptures have never before moved you, a visit to these rooms and hallways will convert you.