Roman Holiday

I’ve had some complaints about not blogging yesterday. Being an internet sensation can be so stressful. Fans can be so demanding.

So I’ll get started……but here’s something to watch while I sort out some photos. I’ll update progressively…

So yesterday…..

First up it was a walk up the Corso to the Piazza Venezia then up the Capotoline Hill, through the Bascilica di Santa Maria to the Musei Capitolini. The museum got its collection underway in 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV donated a set of bronzes as he was trying to get remove pagan images from the Vatican. It’s quite an amazing collection with items from Etruscan era onwards.

img_3487

img_3488
The statue of Marcus Aurelius in the piazza outside the museum is a copy which was put there in 1981 when the original was brought in for restoration and rehousing inside. It was first erected around 175 BC in the forum. It moved around a bit until 1538 when it becam part of Michangelo’s redesign.
img_3489
Of course some other great statues. Especially the She Wolf with Romulus and Remus which dates form the 11/12th century and the Dying Gaul (Celt). The latter is a Roman copy of an earlier Greek version. Napoleons did nick off with it but it was returned in 1816.
img_3490
After the museum it was time for a walk up to the Colooseum which is looking great having been very well cleaned up. Decided not to battle to the queues to go in. Not only were they long, the mild morning which had seen us going out without jackets was disappearing with threatening clouds so it was a wander back to the hotel to collect more layers, lunch in a little crepe place and then we headed off in separate directions.
img_3491
My wandering took me past the Spanish Steps to the Piazza del Popolo and onto Augustus’ Mausoleum. Its in desperate need of restoration. It was supposed to be restored for the 2000 anniversary of Augustus’s death. But that has come and gone. Surely there is some obscenely rich billionaire out there who could cough up a few million to sort this out? Across the Tiber for a bit and the crossed back by the Courts of Justice – with the horses on top.
img_3492
Back across the TIber I decided to follow my nose. Ended up in the Campo de Fiori which is an outdoor flower and food market. They were just packing up for the day. Ended up with the familiar sight of the Altare della Patria / Victor Emmanuel Memorial just a the sun was setting. Back to hotel. Dinner over at a little restaurant in a square behind the Pantheon. Didn’t take photos of the food. Calamari again for me and salmon for JU. Preceded by crostini and followed by tiramisu for me and pannecotta for Ju.
img_3493
Today we headed off to walk to Trastevere – the other side of the Tiber. Walked part the Pantheon which blessedly had no queues, compared to other days so popped in. It is an amazing building. Built around 120 AD its the largest unreinforced concrete dome. Obviously started life as a temple but became a church in 609. In renaissance times it became a burial place for the famous. The main memorials now are for Victor Emmanuel II and his son Umberto I and wife Margherita.

img_1927img_1928

img_3494

img_3495
From Trastevere it was back over the Tiber past the Cicus Maximus to the Palatine. Massive retaining walls in places from Roman to modern. The Circus Maximus retains it shape but not a lot else. Takes a bit of work to imagine Ben Hur whipping round in his quadriga. At this point, as we often do, we headed in different directions. Me up to the remains of the palaces on the Palatine and Ju townwards to inspect other glories of Rome.
img_3496
The Palatine remains cover a huge site. According to legend Romulus and Remus lived here until their famous falling out. Certainly they have found remains from the 10 century BC. Assorted Roman Emperors built palaces and temples here. In the 16th century Cardinal Farnese got control of a large part of the site and filled in many of the ruins to create a garden. There are still lots of s=excavations going on and I suspect it will be one of those jobs without end.Maybe when I have my apartment in Florence I could come down a couple of days a week and do volunteer work. Just give me a little corner to tickle away at. Though only in Spring  or Autumn – summer to hot and clearly nothing happens in winter. Then a wander back to base. Simple spaghetti meal around the corner tonight. Followed by a lemon sorbet ice cream – as you do when its 3 degrees.
img_3498
This dome appears quite often!

 

Leave a comment