The Roman metro (called Metropolitana by residents) goes around rather than through the historical city. It has only two lines, Metro A (red)and Metro B (blue), which intersect at Termini Central Station. While the Metro C (yellow)is for the most part still under construction, some stations are already functional.
Trains run approximately every 4-10 minutes, from 5:30 am to 11.30 pm every day (until 0:30 am on Saturdays).
There are hundreds of bus lines, running from 5:30am till midnight. All buses and trams travel in both directions.
In an effort to minimize pollution in the small backstreets of the historic center, the city has established several electric bus lines to navigate alleyways barely wide enough for a Vespa.
After a late night out there are taxis as well as 20 night bus lines which run from 00:30 am to 5:30 am. The main terminal stations are Termini (Piazza dei Cinquecento) and Piazza Venezia. Buses leave from these two piazzas into all directions every 30 minutes. Night bus stops are marked with an owl and you can purchase tickets on board.
Rome has two public airports – Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) and Ciampino.
…Fiumicino Airport
This is Rome’s main airport and is is well-connected with the center during the day by train, bus or taxi.
…Train Transfers from Fiumicino Airport
You can find standard Regional Trains (FLI) departing every 15 minutes from Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes from Saturday to Sunday. They stop at Rome Tiburtina,Rome Ostiense,Rome Trastevere and reach Rome Termini (central train station) in 55 minutes.
These trains take a little longer to reach Termini station but come at a convenient price of 8 Euros or65 Eurosfor a package of 10 tickets (great for big groups!).
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The Leonardo Express provides a direct connection from Fiumicino airport to Rome Termini Station and at only 32 minutes offers the shortest travel time of all (it’s also faster than bus or taxi). It goes every 30 minutes from 6:23 AM to 11:23 PM daily.
For those of you in a hurry to get to Rome a one-way ticket will set you back 14 Euros or 115 Euros at a bulk discount for a package of 10 tickets (25 Euros Cheaper). Not the cheapest option but definitely worth considering if you’re only planning a short trip to Rome and want to make the most of your time.
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You’ll also be glad to know that all children under 4 years of age travel free of charge on both regional trains and the Leonardo Express and of course both options are equipped with dedicated spaces for travelers with reduced mobility
…Rome Airport Shuttles (private companies)
There are several private bus shuttle services you can take to reach the city of Rome which depart from just outside the terminal 3 Exit at the airport. They all offer daily connections (Sundays included) and are definitely a cheaper option. They take about 50 minutes to Termini station which of course is subject to the traffic situation.
You’ll find them by following the blue and white BUS STATION signs at the airport and they’ll take you to:
Termini Station and the Vatican area, Via Crescenzio . SIT shuttle, parking space 1.
Termini Station and Ostiense station. T.A.M. shuttle, parking space 2.
Termini Station. Either Atral or TERRAVISION shuttles, parking spaces 3 and 4.
These buses are a convenient option and cost around 5-6 Euros per person for a one-way ticket depending on the company.
…Rome Airport Taxis
A rather costly option but still convenient if you are several people or have a specific destination in mind which isn’t covered by trains or buses. However, make sure to catch the official, licensed taxis (white cars with a taxi number on the side) and that you are charged the fixed fares listed below.
From Fiumicino Airport to:
Any destination in Rome: 48 Euros
Tiburtina Station: 55 Euros
Ostiense Station: 45 Euros
…Ciampino Airport
Ciampino is Rome’s smaller airport and is mostly used by charter flights and budget airlines such as Ryanair.
Here you will find several private shuttles to Rome Termini that run approximately every 30 minutes, until 11pm at a price of around 5 Euros.The only way to get to Rome Termini after this time is to take taxi at a price of around30 Euros.
Although many sights in Rome are within walking distance or accessible by public transportation, two wheels will give you the freedom to see exactly what interests you in less time.
To really “do as the Romans do” you have to drive around on a Vespa. You’ll have no trouble finding rental places all around the city. The average rental prices are €40-€50 for a one day.
If you’ve read a little about me, you’ll know that I have a real interest in wine, from harvest to tasting and from red to white.
I would have to say the reason I am so passionate about wines is due to my family background. I am responsible for my parents’ vineyard and it’s been a family tradition for 50 years now. Here is an older photo of them picking grapes.
Here is what a grape-picking session in my vineyard looks like today.
Of course at the end of a hard days work you might find me with friends and family, enjoying a glass of wine around some of Rome’s most beautiful and renown vineyards.
By now you might be wondering what kind of delicious wine-related excursions I can take you on so without further ado, here is a little about the tour:
A wine tasting tour that takes you from the eternal city to the treasures of Italy’s oldest and most distinguished vineyards.Why not take a day-break from the city and discover Rome’s essence from the hilltops of the renown Castelli Romani, “Roman Castles” as you experience history over a glass of fragrance-rich red or white wine with me?You’ll find transport, tour and tasting all organized into a comfortable, full-packaged exploration of the wonders of Roman wine making.Join me on one of my favorite excursions and together lets delve into:
The History of Wine
You will discover the fundamental role that Imperial Rome played in the history of wine culture and how one of the most popular beverages in the world went from a status symbol of the nobles to a pleasure enjoyed by all. Of course, you will also be made familiar with each vineyards’ own background and techniques.
How Wine is Made
From harvest to bottle. Learn the intricate and refined processes of how some of the worldsfinest wines are produced. You will be guided from the choice of grapes through to the harvest and into fermentation. From advanced technologies such as temperature-controlled steel tanks to the antiquity and uniqueness of the french oak barrel, you will discover how each and every wine is given the aromas and fragrances it is so applauded for. No aspect will be left undisclosed and you will leave the famous vineyards having something impressive to say over your next glass of Frascati wine.
Wine Tasting
After you’ve been given an all-round tour of the vineyard, the wine cellar and its barrel room, you will be lead into the show room where you will be offered wines coming from a variety of local grapes ranging from the Malvasia del Lazio, Bellone, Trebbiano giallo, Bombino to the Grechetto as well as foreign grapes such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot.Savor your glass of red or white (or both;) with a side of oven-tarallini, Lariano bread and a variety of farm-made cold cuts and cheeses over a panoramic view of Rome.
Are you looking for an authentic encounter with Italian culture? We all know food and history are inseparable in Italy, which is why you’ve probably already been to an Italian restaurant, perhaps even in Italy. You might even think you now know a thing or two about Italian culture, and let me tell you: you’re well on your way…
but you’ve only just touched the surface.
You see, it’s one thing to take a tour of Rome’s most impressive monuments and make a pit-stop in a restaurant for lunch but it’s another to spend time with Italians in their homes, at the dining table, eating home-made dishes. You simply can’t have the full Roman experience without getting to know the locals over a plate of their own pasta.
So I thought to myself…
“Why not have visitors in Rome meet up with a friendly local family who can give them an insight into the most important and timeless aspect of Italian culture, all while uncovering some of the best-kept secrets of the most lovely cuisine in the world?”
You’ll be surprised to discover just how easy it can be to cook a delicious and healthy meal with seasonal products.
Which brings me to the tour I’ve organised for you…
How about having dinner (and a laid-back cooking class simultaneously) with a real Italian family just like the ones we usually have amongst ourselves?
My friends Barbara, Luca and their son would be more than glad to have you over for dinner. Not only do they love cooking, but they cultivate their own, high quality ingredients. They will show you just how intertwined history and food are.
Barbara has been baking homemade bread for years using her sourdough and flour made from ancient Italian grains. She is also a wine expert. Her husband Luca is an airline pilot within Italy and always comes back home with typical products from the region he has just been to, therefore bringing all the goodness of the country’s cuisine into his own home. His pasta “carbonara” and “amatriciana” are really something special!
Barbara’s homemade bread
They travel a lot and this sparked their love for sharing our culture with others. Thanks to their openness, I am able to offer their hospitality as an added value to my clients! A truly sensory tour!
Barbara and Luca are also car collectors. They own two old-timers: a 1967 Fiat 500 and a 1969 Fiat Spider 124, just like the one driven by Vittorio Gassman in the famous movie “Il Sorpasso” (The Takeover). They would be more than happy to take us for a ride after dinner to conclude this very Italian day!
If you’re ready to act on your curiosity, just let me know and we can schedule a dinner at their house, perhaps after one of our tours. The table is set and we’re expecting you…
The south of Italy holds many popular and hidden gems that all deserve to be visited and experienced but we all know how difficult it is to carve out a decent chunk of time from our busy lives to relax and reconnect with ourselves.
This is why I have put together a southern Italy itinerary which:
Allows you to choose from various departure times every day, making it as flexible as possible for you
Is ideal for families and/or small groups
Provides a private and experienced tour guide for each part of this beautiful trip down south
Don’t feel like visiting all the places I suggest below? No problem, your tour can be fully customized to your specific needs and interests ahead of time.
4 days might not seem like many but it depends on your point of view. How we experience such a short holiday is what is most important and we will do our best to optimize and customize your schedule to get the most out of it and create a few unforgettable memories of your trip to Italy. It’s worth noting that I am from the area and the best part about a local guide is that you actually CAN get straight to the essence of a culture even in a short amount of time.
Using a car, we will explore the south of Italy and all its beautiful aspects: art, food, wine, traditions, culture and nature, all in just 4 days!
Day 1 – Pompei, Alberobello and a night visit to Lecce including a stay in the city’s most beautiful hotel
Our trip begins with a meeting by the entrance of Pompeii where a private local tour guide will give us an unforgettable walking tour of this UNESCO world heritage site.
We will stroll through the ancient city once buried by a blanked of ash and lapilli coming from the Vesuvio’s sudden eruption in 79 A.D. Pompei was only uncovered 1700 years later and almost as if by an enchantment, remained a crystallization,depicting the last moments of a typical day in the early imperial age.
As you walk through the city, you will hear how in 79 A.D, the Vesuvius erupted and killed 20,000 inhabitants of this Roman city with its lava on a summer’s day as if it were any other. Almost 2000 years later, the ruins of shops and the streets conserved by the lava leave us with a fascinating panorama of what a typical day in ancient Roman life looked like.
Admire the ancient walls of the city as well as its harbor and take a stroll through the ruins which have been petrified in time a long time ago to see the main sites.
Explore the center of Pompeii which is just as impressive as the Roman Forums and let yourself be enchanted by the stories of daily life as you walk along the roads, through the plazas and by the old shops and buildings.
Observe the blocks of stone covered in slurry that once served as stairs connecting the city and admire unforgettable monuments such as Apollo’s Temple, the “Macellum” Market and the public scales.
Visit the ruins of bakeries and typical stone markets of the era when food and drink was once kept in pots where people would have stopped by for a snack throughout their day.
See the molds of victims within the Forum of Pompei and visit other important ruins like the Baths (where residents would socialize whilst bathing) and the “Lupanare”, a brothel containing splendid frescoes that can still be seen today.
You will also visit one of Pompei’s theatres where the masses would gather to enjoy performances from bloody gladiator battles to games and spectacles.
After our trip to Pompei, we will stop for an aperitif and some lunch in local restaurants serving freshly caught fish of the day as well as meats, vegetables and fruits grown in the area.
On we go to Lecce…
Once in Salento, the city of Lecce is a must-see.
We are in the south folks, far down south. Let’s suppose you’ve decided to visit in the summer, some light luggage, a pair of comfortable sandals and a large hat to protect you from the sun are more than enough to visit this beautiful city.
We will be proceeding towards the center of the baroque city and let ourselves be wound up by its people and their welcoming spirits and hospitality which define it. You will be able to admire Lecce’s white limestone which was used to construct most of the structures we will be visiting. We will enjoy a stupendous view of the Roman amphitheater’s arena and at the same time be astounded by the scents of fresh bread, Lecce’s famous “pizzi” – Lecce’s garnished olive, onion or caper breads – and a cup of freshly ground coffee served in Lecce’s summer version: with a drop of almond milk and ice.
I’ve organized for you to stay in the city’s most beautiful hotel before continuing our trip to Gallipoli the following day.
Day 2 – Gallipoli, Otranto, Wine-Tasting, Olive Groves, the Beautiful and more…
Our sensory tour will take us from the tasting of wines and typical Salentine dishes to the discovery of rural architecture, calm waters and splendid white beaches.
Discovering the city of Gallipoli…
Gallipoli is a city on the ionic coast which shows clear signs of Greek roots and history. Our tour will take us through the picturesque fish market by the harbor to see fisher’s traps and filled nets and through the typical narrow alleyways of the historical center.
If there is one thing we must do here, it is to stop to have lunch in one of the many “trattorie” along the sea to enjoy a plate of “frutti di mare” cold seafood with a dash of lemon accompanied by a glass of ice-cold white wine from the area. If you are curious, we can sample a plate of sea urchins,oysters and a plate of various fried seafood to make for an unforgettable taste of the area.
Gallipoli was once a very wealthy city. In 1600, ship after ship would unload barrels of Salentine olive oil to even the northern-most European cities on a daily basis. This city was one of few producers and their oil’s quality was very high. So high, in fact, that it was listed in London’s stock market at the time. Nonetheless only very few rich families oversaw and profited from its production, while the majority of the population suffered at the hand of the wealthy. Most of these big families lived in huge buildings and had dug underground oil mills beneath them, where poor laborers were kept calm with camomille tea to have them work day and night just to keep this lucrative business going. Several of these buildings have been transformed into luxurious resorts but many of the oil mills remain preserved for us to see during our visit of the city.
Otranto
After a typical lunch in Gallipoli we will proceed to Otranto, the most eastern city of the entire Italian peninsula and one of the country’s jewels which is absolutely worth visiting.
Its narrow streets are aligned with retro-style boutiques displaying handicraft you can’t find anywhere else in the world. No one has ever left the city without first purchasing at least a pair of handmade leather sandals, a handbag, a crochet bikini or a typical doll made from local ceramic. At the city’s highest point we will have the possibility to visit the cathedral and its striking scenic interior: a beautiful and mysterious floor mosaic and the chapel containing the bones of the 800 martyrs from Otranto, killed by the invading Turks 500 years ago for refusing to deny their faith and convert to Islamism. To top it all off, Otranto is one of the cities in Puglia and all of Italy to have received the most recognition for its beauty, the cleanest seawater as well as for its services and accessibility to visitors.
“La Quercia Vallonea”
On the way back from Otranto you will discover that there is also world of monumental trees in Salento and among them are some very rare ones. While the region of Puglia is well-known for its olive trees, it is also home to an imposing natural beauty: the “Quercia Vallonea”, also known as “La Quercia dei 100 Cavalieri” (The Oak of the 100 cavaliers). At 19 meters height and 900 years of age this tree is one of the oldest and biggest of its kind. According to legend, it was big enough to shade Federico II and his 100 men from the scorching sun while in transit. On request we can gladly make a pit-stop to admire this one-of-a-kind tree as it is on the way to our next stay.
We will tuck in for the night at one of the old farms in the area which has been restructured into a welcoming residence. Here you will be able to savor the essence of the region through organic products accompanied by excellent wine produced in the area.
“Do you want to see the best that Rome has to offer but are short on time? Are you not sure what’s worth seeing or even where to start on such a tight schedule?”
What exactly is the best of Rome? For some it is taking photos at Salvi’s overly detailed Trevi Fountain we know from a series of timeless films while for others there is nothing like sitting on one of the 135 Spanish Steps on a warm Roman day, admiring the lively plaza with family and friends. Some even travel all the way to Rome just to take a peek through the Aventine Keyhole, neatly placing St. Peter’s Dome in the center of its view. There is really an abundance of monuments worth giving first place to and there isn’t always enough time to really know what’s worth seeing on such a tight schedule. Even some of the proudest Romans who have been living in this city their entire lives can’t truly say they’ve seen it all. If you’re not from here, it is hard to organize a successful full-day trip when you don’t know the city’s layout, nor the best order or the right time of day to see each monument. Luckily, I’ve come up with a solution for the needs of those who want to get the most out of their trip to Rome.
My Best of Rome Tour is perfect for:
Anyone on a tight schedule, especially those in Rome just for a weekend.
Anyone who wants to get the most out of their trip to Rome
Anyone with little time who isn’t sure what’s worth seeing.
The Tour…
In my opinion (but also by popular demand) the places you’ll most likely want to see are:
Trevi Fountain
The Spanish Steps
Piazza Navona
The “Vittoriano” with a breathtaking view of Rome, the Roman Forum and the Imperial Forum
The Aventine Keyhole and Terrace as well as Mascherone’s Fountain located there
Campo de Fiori Square
Ara Pacis
Remember this tour is about you and your best of Rome. It can be highly personalized to your liking and we will do our best to see any other monuments which are not on this list if you prefer.
Let me tell you a little more about “The Best of Rome”…
Trevi Fountain
The “Fontana di Trevi” – or Trevi Fountain in English -is a monumental fountain in Rome, built to exhibit the end of an acqueduct, spanning from outside the city to its centre. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most intricate of its kind in the world. Tradition says that if travellers about to depart the city throw a coin over their shoulder and into the fountain, they are blessed with a safe return to Rome. The fountain is famous worldwide but many people do not know the long history and secrets behind its construction. It is time to do justice to this extraordinary masterpiece of Italian art.
The place where the fountain stands today was once merely a simple outlet of a 21 km-long acqueduct constructed by Marcus Agrippa around 19 BC. The acqueduct was heavily damaged during the barbaric invasions in 537 AD and not much was done to the fountain until a millenium later. During the early renaissance, popes started decorating the ends of the acqueducts they had restored and created thousands of fountains all around the city but this one was very special. At first, Pope Nicholas V had Leon Battista built a new fountain. It’s earliest representation looked somewhat like this:
The fountain in 1453 after the recostruction by Pope Nicholas V
The fountain saw a lot of work over the next 200 years and then Pope Clemens XII held a contest for a new design in 1730. Many important architects participated; Luigi Vanvitelli, Pietro Bracci, Giambattista Maini, Edme Bouchardon, Lambert-Sigisbert (Adam the Elder), Ferdinando Fuga and Giambattista Contini but against all odds, it was Nicola Salvi who won the contest. While he wasn’t the last architect to work on it, today the fountain looks unquestionably different. See for yourselves.
The majestic Trevi Fountain today
Spanish Steps
In the 17th century the famous Trinitá dei Monti church which overlooks the Spanish Square was under French ownership. It was they who ordered the construction of a massive, elegant staircase to connect the church to the popular plaza beneath it. A design competition was held in 1717 and the staircase construction was entrusted to a rather unknown architect, Francesco de Sanctis.
While the steps were initially named after the Church and its plaza at the top of the staircase, they were renamed to match the lower and more popular Piazza di Spagna. The square itself was called the Spanish Square because the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See was located there. The reason why the piazza has become one of Rome’s most popular gathering places is no coincidence. Due to its beautiful and artistic surroundings, the area has always been highly appreciated by painters and poets. The French Academy – where some of France’s most talented artists, writers and musicians worked – was founded nearby in the 7th century. The artists’ presence attracted many beautiful women to the area, hoping to become chosen as an artist’s model. This in turn, attracted rich Romans and travelers, looking for a wife or a mistress. The many rich people in the area meant that many beggars soon found the place and quickly the steps became crowded with people from all kinds of backgrounds. The Spanish steps have been a traditional and very popular meeting point ever since.
While the steps are the main attraction on the site, visitors should also pay attention to the many beautiful buildings in the area. Another thing to take note of is the beautiful baroque fountain called “Fontana della Barcaccia” at the lower end of the stairs. Bernini’s fountain of a sinking ship was built to represent a folk legend. It is said that a fishing boat was carried away to this exact spot during the the Tiber´s flood in the late 16th century. Throughout history, the Spanish Steps have been restored several times. The square was already one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city during the Renaissance period and it still is to this very day.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is one of the most famous and arguably the most beautiful of Rome’s many squares. The large and lively piazza features no less than three magnificent fountains and the Baroque church of Sant’Agnese in Agone.
The reason for the square’s oval shape is that it was built on the former Stadium of Domitian, built by Emperor Domitian in 86 AD. The stadium once had a larger arena than the Colosseum and was mainly used for festivals and sporting events. In the 15th century the stadium was paved over to create “Piazza Navona” but remnants of Domitian’s stadium are still visible around the area. The main attraction is the trio of fountains that adorn the square. The central and largest fountain is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers). It was constructed between 1647 and 1651 on request of pope Innocent X. The fountain’s design was first commissioned to Borromini but was ultimately handed to his rival Bernini.
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers)
The two other fountains on the piazza are the Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune fountain) and the Fontana del Moro (Moor fountain) on either ends of the square. The Fontana del Nettuno, also known as the Calderari, was built in 1576 by Giacomo della Porta. The statues of Neptune surrounded by sea nymphs were added in the nineteenth century. The Fontana del Moro was also built by Giacomo della Porta. The central statue of a Moor holding a dolphin, a design by Bernini, was added in the seventeenth century. The tritons are nineteenth-century additions.
Sant’Agnese in Agone’s church
Another highlight of Navona square is Sant’Agnese in Agone’s church. It was commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1652 and built on the site where according to legend St. Agnes was stripped naked but miraculously saved from disgrace by extraordinary growth of hair.
Street artists on Piazza Navona
Also known as the artists’ square, Piazza Navona today is a popular meeting point and a perfect place to take strolls though Rome’s center while admiring several artists’ work.
The “Vittoriano” and its terrace, allowing for a Breathtaking view of Rome and The Roman Forum
Inspiring and overwhelming, for any Roman the Vittoriano is both a symbol of the nation’s pride yet controversially also an “out-of-place” and invasive monument on piazza Venezia, and for good reason. It was built between 1885 and 1911 to celebrate the unification of Italy as a nation and dedicated to the first King of the nation, Vittorio Emanuele II. While in itself the building is a massive statesmanlike construction surrounded and furnished with statues and fountains from all over the country, its sheer size and grandeur actually overshadow some of the more ancient wonders nearby such as the Roman and Imperial Forums.
The “Vittoriano” and the neighbouring Forum
Its taint on the ancient city doesn’t end there, especially when considering the ruins and medieval churches that had been destroyed to grant its construction. Not to mention it’s bright and unspoiled color, which clashes with those of older buildings one is used to seeing in Rome. So much in fact, that the impeccably polished white marble used to build it has earned it the nickname “Wedding Cake”. But there is a lot more to the “Vittoriano” than meets the eye.
The building from afar. Impressive, yet out of context. As the Romans called it a “Wedding Cake” protruding into the skyline.
Even though the Vittoriano’s imperial twentieth-century style may seem intrusive on Rome’s ancient flair, its tall terraces actually add a whole new experience for visitors. Even if you feel no such patriotic awe or affection, the Vittoriano’s terraces offer a look into the nearby Roman and Imperial Forums it overshadows, allowing us to admire their constructions in totality. The up-most level, reachable thanks to an elevator, provides the best view over Rome from between two crowning statuary groups.
Needless to say the features of this monument contribute to its patriotic image. Guarded by soldiers, a flame burns on the front terrace of the monument to mark the grave of an unknown soldier; this is the Altar of the Fatherland, the Altare della Patria. The massive gilt bronze equestrian statue is of Vittorio Emanuele II, king of Sardinia anf first king of Italy. The other statues and decorations ornamenting the monument all have allegorical significance: the statues around the base of the equestrian statue represent fourteen historically-important Italian cities; The two quadrigae on top symbolise Liberty and Unity.
The “Altare della Patria from up close
Aside from its impressive exterior, the building also graces us with its lavish halls on the inside, hosting a series of exhibition rooms and most importantly, the “Museo del Risorgimento”, dedicated to the unification of Italy.
The impressive monument by night
Majestic or pretentious? Breathtaking or overwhelming? That is for viewers of the monument to decide. One thing is for sure: The Vittoriano makes up for its nosy imposition on Rome with an endless series of majestic features, making it well worth a visit to decide for oneself.
The Aventine Keyhole
Peek through this keyhole on a piazza designed by Piranesi in 1765, and you will see a garden path that ends with bushes perfectly placing St. Peter’s dome in the center of its view.
The Aventine Keyhole peeking directly onto the dome of St.Peter’s Basilica
What you are peering though are the gardens of the Villa del Priorato di Malta, one of the Roman properties belonging to the famous Knights of Malta. This is one of the last surviving orders of knights left over from the Crusades. The knights left their late medieval home on the island of Malta long ago and their headquarters are now here in Rome. This Aventine villa is actually home to the Order’s ambassadors to Italy and the Holy See. The Italian state recognizes the sovereignty of this ancient Military Order, which means there are actually three nations and three national capitals contained within Rome: Italy, the Vatican, and the Knights of Malta.
Campo de’ Fiori Square
The square’s name can be directly translated as “field of flowers”, as it once was in fact nothing but an unused meadow between Pompei’s theatre and the Tiber River. The area remained undeveloped for many centuries as the neighbouring river was prone to flooding Santa Brigada Church was constructed there in the 15th century, marking the beggining of the square’s development. After the Orsini palace and the “Palazzo della Cancelleria” were erected there as well, the city finally had reason to pave the area and officially call it a square.
Campo de Fiori’s market in the early morning[/caption]
For centuries, criminals and so-called heretics were publicly tortured and executed at Campo de’ Fiori. Giordano Bruno was one of the more well-known figures executed on this square. He was executed by the Roman Inquisition because the ideas he spoke of were “dangerous”. The Dominican friar was one of the first to realize that stars are actually suns in the universe. In 1887, sculptor and freemason Ettore Ferrari designed a statue of Bruno. It was placed in the piazza, facing the Vatican as if to defy all it stands for. Bruno is now considered an advocate of the right to free speech.
The Square by night and Giordano Bruno, standing in defiance of the Vatican[/caption]
Like for many other public areas in Rome, the architecture at Campo de’ Fiori was never validated and therefore explains for the discontinuity in the style of buildings surrounding the square. However, the square’s many colors and facets contribute to its liveliness, making it an intriguing experience by day and night.
Some of the market’s fresh products
In the mornings, it hosts a daily vegetable and fruit market. By night, the orange-lit square comes to life again as its many surrounding restaurants and bars make it an appealing location for dinner and drinks.
Ara Pacis
The altar was originally named Ara Pacis Augustae after Emperor Augustus but is often just referred to as “Ara Pacis“. The altar was commissioned by Augustus in 9 BC as the Altar of Majestic Peace to celebrate his victories in Gaul and Hispania (now France and Spain). More importantly, it is a celebration of the establishment of peace in the Roman Empire, achieved as a result of the “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace) period from 27 BC to 180 AD. In its time, it was considered one of the most important monuments in Rome.
The Ara Pacis is now held within the Ara Pacis Museum
The altar is located in what was once known as Campus Martius, an area in the flood plain of the Tiber river. It was strategically placed so that the shadow of the obelisk on Campus Martius (now Piazza di Montecitorio) would fall on the Ara Pacis on the birthday of Emperor Augustus.
The center female figure meant to be Mother-nature at or even “Peace” surrounded by her benefits, the children and the fruits of the earth.[/caption]
The Ara Pacis was sculpted from white marble. The scenes found on the altar depict traditional Roman piety. The emperor and his family are prominently represented on the altar’s sculptures. There are also several figures of priests and other individuals wearing laurel crowns of victory. The actual altar table, decorated with sculptures of winged lions used to be inside the Ara Pacis.
This sculpture engraved into the Ara Pacis shows a procession of priests. When a Roman was acting as a priest he would pull the folds of the toga over his head.
The most notable fact about the figures is that they are a classic example of Roman sculpture. Unlike Greek sculpture, the figures actually resemble real individuals and are not idealized.
