ROME www.culturesandart.com

Memories of the eternal city...

Roman Forum located between the Palatine and the Capitoline hills, was the political and civic center of the Roman Empire. It stretches along the Via Sacra, for about one kilometer, till the Coliseum.

Roman Forum Dating back to 125 BC, its definitive organization, begun by Julius Cesar, was completed under Augustus and finished in 29 AD with the conclusion of Divine Julius Temple to him dedicated.

The Colosseum and the Arch of Titus

Roman Coliseum an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, and one of the greatest works of Roman Architecture and Roman engineering.

Roman Coliseum With 50,000 seats, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

Arch of Titus (detail) Constructed by the emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus.

Arch of Titus All in pentelic marble, with a single arched opening, is located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum.

Circus Maximus Ancient hippodrome and mass entertainment venue, situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest circus in ancient Rome.

La Bocca della Verità "the Mouth of Truth“ is an image of a man-like face, located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, its most famous characteristic is its role as a lie detector. Since the Middle Ages, it was believed that if one told a lie with one's hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it would be bitten off.

The Pantheon originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, has been rebuilt circa 126 AD during Hadrian’s reign.

The Pantheon The Pantheon is the oldest dome structure in Rome; since the VII Century is been utilized as a Roman Catholic Church.

Fontana di Trevi built in 19 BC where originally was the junction of the three roads (tre vie) it has been moved to its present place (opposite the Quirinal Palace) in 1629 by Bernini. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city.

Piazza di Spagna - Fontana della Barcaccia Fontana della Barcaccia de Bernini in the Piazza di Spagna – in the background the steps rising to Piazza Trinità dei Monti.

Piazza di Spagna – Via Condotti Via Condotti, the most elegant shopping place in Rome, begun as such with the opening of Bulgari’s atelier in 1905 . Now, in addition to Valentino, other designers such as Armani, Hermes, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo all have stores on Via Condotti.

Fashion at Via Condotti

Campo dei Fiori Piazza which name, no longer appropriate, was first given during the Middle Ages when the area was a flowering field with some vegetable gardens. Nowadays it's a marketplace where, every morning from Monday to Saturday you can buy fruits, vegetables, spices, fish and tourist items like T-shirts .

Piazza del Campidoglio Piazza designed by Michelangelo by 1530 for Pope Paul III. The building behind the top of the steps (with the tower) is the Palazzo Senatorio – Rome's City Hall.

The Cordonata a shallow stepless ramp, designed by Michaelangelo as well, leads from Via del Teatro Marcello up to the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Heaven’s Altar).

Piazza del Campidoglio at the top of the ramp there are the mythical twins Castor and Pollux statues, placed there in 1583.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona The Fontana del Nettuno in the Piazza Navona in Rome, one of three magnificent fountains on the square.

Castel Sant’Angelo The Mausoleum of Hadrian, known as Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family; now a museum.

Rome and its churches View from the Altare della Patria – the National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II.

Piazza della Repubblica It is situated at few meters from Termini Station, facing the Dioclecian Baths. One of the most important streets of Rome, Via Nazionale, begins at this place.

Vaticano Vatican City is a sacerdotal-monarchical State, ruled by the Bishop of Rome — the Pope. A sovereign city-state which territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, is the smallest independent nation in the world.

Saint Peter’s Basilica See of the Catholic Church, is the largest amongst all Christian ones, holding 60.000 people,

Saint Peter’s Basilica and it is situated at the same local where the first one was erected in 132 AD — in the place where St. Peter was crucified and buried.

Quirinal Palace Steps leading to the Palazzo del Quirinale, built in 1573 by Pope Gregory XIII — once home to popes, now to the President of Italy.

Via Apia Is one of the main military roads of ancient Rome. Its name honors the memory of Apio Claudio Cego, Roman politician that begun its construction in 312 BC.

Terme di Caracalla The Baths of Caracalla were public baths, built between AD 212 and 216, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla. The extensive ruins have become a popular tourist attraction, and stage for majestic theatral and musical events.

Villa Borghese The Galleria Borghese houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities, which was begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese – an early patron of Bernini and an avid collector of works by Caravaggio.

Villa Borghese Temple of Asclepius - A reproduction of an ancient Greek temple, which was installed at the villa as a decorative landscape feature during the 1800s.

Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele Built to honor Victor Emmanuel II – first king of unified Italy – is located between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill; inaugurated in 1911 was completed in 1925

Piazza del Popolo An Egyptian obelisk, built by Ramses II and brought to Rome in 10 BC, stands in the centre of the Piazza. It is the second oldest and one of the tallest obelisks in Rome (36 m including its plinth).

Via Veneto Built by the end of 8th Century, owns part of its fame to have been the center of the mundane life in the years 50 and 60, thanks to the several bars and hotels that hosted celebrities and, mainly, as scenery for Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Via Veneto with elegant cafés such Bussi and Rosati and the famous smart hotels Majestic, l‘Eden, l‘Excelsior and l‘Ambasciatori Palace at the early years of 20th Century , had its bullish era in the years 50 and 60; today remains charming and sought for, but back as an usual street.

Via Veneto Legendary bar that evokes “La Dolce Vita”: Sinatra singing at the piano and stars strolling by this glamorous and elegant bar. Still today one can dive in Via Veneto’s magic through the fascinating Harry’s Bar.

Via Veneto Hotel Excelsior

“Le macchine Italiane” Italian cars parading by Via Veneto’s region…

One of Rome's most charming areas, Trastevere One of Rome's most charming areas,

Trastevere a district that preserves till today its old characteristics, with narrow stone paved streets surrounded by authentic medieval households.

Trastevere And, last night’s memories are of a dinner in a typical restaurant by Tiber margins,

to then leave towards Atlantic’s crossing at the song’s sound that will never cease our soul move:

Arrivederci Roma...

Arrivederci Roma...

delzadfer@hotmail.com Brazil – São Paulo – V / 2009 Photo imagery – from Internet, with credits to authors Music: – Arrivederci Roma - Jackie Gleason Orchestra Research, compilation and format : Delza Dias Ferreira delzadfer@hotmail.com Collaboration and English version: Flavio Musa de Freitas Guimarães Brazil – São Paulo – V / 2009 www.culturesandart.com