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B&B Center of Rome, a few suggested itineraries
Saint Peter's square
is one of the most
popular squares in the world. Located in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica, it’s
always packed with thousands of tourist, pilgrims and believers coming from all over the
world. The square is inside the Vatican City, the city-state of the Papal State,
located on the border of the Old Town, on the west bank of the Tiber. To go to
the Vatican City, take the A line underground and get off at Ottaviano-San Pietro or Cipro-Musei Vaticani stop.
If you are staying at the B&B Vatican Museums,
at the Saint Peter's apartment, at
the Casina by Saint Peter's or at the
Panorama attic, the heart of Rome and of
Christianity is at walking distance.
At beginning of the 16th century the square had a sort of rectangular shape; it
was only in the 17th century that the Popes started thinking about turning a
quite common place like the platea Sancti Petri, into a functional space for the
Basilica. The four-sided Portico del Paradiso was demolished, in order to turn
the space before Saint Peter’s Basilica into a more suitable forecourt for the
big crowds. Several ups and downs lead to the current layout of the square,
framed by the beautiful four-column-deep colonnades designed by Gian Lorenzo
Bernini. The first Basilica was built by Constantine the Great around 320 AD. It
was located near the necropolis hosting the tomb of the martyred saint, which is
still open to the public. Around 1450, the redesign works were assigned to
Bernando Rossellino, then Bramante - who designed a Greek-cross shaped Basilica
- and next to Raffaello, who changed the layout into a Latin cross. In 1547
Michelangelo took over and extended Bramante’s design; he also designed the
42-metre-across dome. The Basilica was later lengthened by Carlo Moderno, who
gave it its current Latin cross shape, and consecrated in 1626.
The Vatican Museums
were founded by Pope
Julius II, a lover of ancient sculpture and contemporary art. After he was
appointed Pope in 1503, Julius II had several works of art placed in the
Belvedere Courtyard, so that both artists and scholars could admire them.
The Vatican Museums currently include ten different museums. However, visitors
also have access to the exhibition rooms of the Biblioteca Vaticana, as well as
to other rooms decorated with Renaissance frescos, including the rooms painted
by Raffaello and, obviously, the Sistine Chapel.
Apart from paintings and sculptures, the museums boast: armors, tapestries,
mosaic works, African art objects, and so on.
We recommend to check the opening hours of the Museums, since they change
everyday and according to festivities. On the last Sunday of each month the
Museums are open from 9:00 a.m. and the entrance is free. If you are staying at
the B&B Vatican Museums you will find the
entrance of the Museums just a few meters away from the B&B.
Castel Sant’Angelo or Mole Adriana is a Roman monument located on the right
bank of the Tiber, in the Borgo district, close to the Vatican City, opposite
the Pons Aelius (now the Ponte Sant’Angelo). Inspired by Augustus’s mausoleum,
it was originally built by Hadrian as an imperial tomb. Work began in 135 AD and
ended in 139 AD, under Antonino Pio. The mausoleum was linked to the Campus
Martius by the Pons Aelius, which was specifically built for this purpose. Soon
after all decorations and coverings were taken off the building, which started
to be used as a fortress. In 403 AD it was added to the Aurelian Walls, then it
was fortified by the popes from the 16th century onwards. It was the popes who
ordered the construction of the “Passetto”, the passageway that links Castel
Sant’Angelo
to the Vatican City. At the same time, the castle was used as a prison, where
Benvenuto Cellini – as well as other people - was incarcerated in the 16th
century. Clemente VII, who miraculously escaped from Carlo V’s lansquenets
during the sack of Rome in 1527, took refuge in the castle, which resisted all
attacks until the capitulation-treaty signed by the pope and the emperor a month
later. After this event, the popes realised how useful the castle was, and began
massive works to convert it into a papal residence. The most important artists
of the time (Antonio da Sangallo il giovane, Raffaello da Montelupo, and
Michelangelo) took part in the restoration works.
The castle was given its current name in 590 AD, after a huge epidemic plague.
Legend has it that Pope Gregorio Magno saw Archangel Micheal sheath his sword at
the top of the castle to indicate the end of the epidemic. As a result, a statue
representing an angel (first a marble statue sculpted by Raffaello da Montelupo
in the 16th century, then a bronze statue made by Pierre van Verschaffelt in
1753) was placed on top of the building to commemorate the event.
Piazza Navona Crossing the Tiber on Ponte Sant’Angelo e going left, you get
to Piazza Navona. This Baroque piazza has the shape of an arena, since it was
built on the Stadium of Domitian, whose ruins can still be admired in the
adjacent church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, which was designed by the architect
Francesco Borromini. In the piazza there are three fountains: Fontana del Moro,
Fontana di Nettuno and in the centre Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fontana dei Fiumi
(portraying the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata). By
tradition, the square swarms with toy and candy stands between the beginning of
December and the Epihany.
We suggest exploring the alleys near Piazza Navona, where you can still
experience the atmosphere of medieval Rome. For example, in Via dei Coronari and
Via dell’Orso you can still find the first-class, traditional antique restorers’
and goldsmiths’ workshops.
Campo de’ Fiori is at walking distance from Piazza Navona. During the
stroll, take a moment to see Pasquino, the most famous talking statue in Rome,
whose character became one of the city’s distinguishing features between the
16th and the 19th century. Anonymous satirical poems on the main public people,
including popes, used to be placed at the foot or, more often, around the neck
of the statue. The poems - known as “pasquinate” – were distinguished by a
challenging tone showing the people’s discontent against the church and the
state. Legend has it that the name the place comes from Flora (a woman loved by
Pompeo who built his theatre nearby), or more likely from the fact that in the
15th century the piazza was simply a meadow. Since 1869 the place has hosted a
market, whose folk atmosphere was made famous by the movie Campo de’ fiori
(1943), starring Anna Magnani and Aldo Fabrizi. The
Farnese apartment is a
charming flat located just between Piazza Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Farnese, in
vicolo del Gallo.
Nowadays, the several bars and pubs offering food and drinks at a reasonable
price make Campo de’ fiori one of the most popular night destinations among
Italian and foreign young people.
The Pantheon is the result of the best architectural techniques of
ancient Rome.
The simple, harmonious structure was conceived as a sphere inside a cylinder,
since the height of the dome and the diameter of the interior circle are the
same.
Inside, you can fin the tombs of several famous artists, like Raffaello, as well
as of many kings and queens of the Kingdom of Italy. Opposite the Pantheon,
there is the Piazza della Rotonda, boasting a fountain by G. Della Porta.
Built by Marcus Agrippa in 25 b.C. and rebuilt by Hadrian in 120 AD, the
Pantheon underwent several transformations: for example, it was used as a
Christian church in 609 and a fortress during the Middle Ages. If you would like
to be in this area, you could lodge at the cozy
Tartarughe apartment, located at the
entrance of the ancient Ghetto, close to one of the most beautiful little square
of the historical centre, piazza Mattei, also known as Piazza delle Tartarughe.
The Spanish steps, known for its stairs by Francesco De Sanctis (1723-26) and
the famous boat-shaped “Barcaccia" fountain designed by Pietro Bernini and his
son Gian Lorenzo in 1629, Piazza di Spagna/Spanish Steps is a meeting point for
both local people and tourists. The church Trinità dei Monti built by Louis XII
King of France in 1502 is located at the top of the stairs, while on the left
there is Villa Medici sul Pincio, the current premises of the French Academy.
The streets boasting the most famous designer shops, as well as the major
historical and cultural sites, start from Piazza di Spagna and follow to a
radial layout. Via Margutta for example, which is very close to Piazza di Spagna,
is famous for the local artists.
The Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is
the most famous Roman amphitheatre. Located in the heart of Rome, and capable of
seating 50,000 spectators, it was the biggest, most important amphitheatre
during the Imperial period. It was used for gladiatorial combats, as well as
other public events, such as hunting festivals, commemorations of famous battles
and plays based on classical mythology. Located on the East border of the Roman
Forum, its construction began between 70 AD and 72 AD, under Vespasian, and
ended under Titus, although further changes were made during the reign of
Domitian. The amphitheatre is ellipse-shaped, comprises a 527-metre perimeter,
and is 188 metres long and 156 metres wide. The wooden arena floor was 86 metres
by 54 metres with a total area of 3,357 square meters. Nowadays, the Coliseum
is 48.5 meter high, although it originally reached 52 meters.
The Colosseum was used for about 500 years, until the 6th century A.D. when,
according to our current information, the last plays were performed. After that,
it was used for several purposes: a dwelling, a place of worship, a fortress, a
Christian church, and a source of building material. Despite the serious damages
caused by the earthquakes and the use of its stone slabs to build other
buildings over the centuries, this imposing monument is the iconographic symbol
of the Imperial Rome, and remains one of the most beautiful and best preserved
examples of Roman architecture. Today, it’s one of the most popular monuments in
Rome.
If you keep walking on the left of the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier in Piazza Venezia towards San Pietro in Carcere (you can take
both an ancient Roman road and the more comfortable stairs), you will reach a
terrace overlooking the Forums. From here you can sit on the church stairs and
enjoy a unforgettable night view of Rome.
Tip: in order to avoid long queues at the entrance, buy the tickets at the
Palatino points of sale in Via di San Gregorio o near the Arch of Titus.
Trastevere
is an extremely well-liked area both by Romans
and visitors. During the day it has the busy
look of a small Italian town, with small shops, artisans,
markets, people chatting and drinking their cappuccino. In the
evening it turns into the most lively area in the city, with
restaurants, pubs, wine bars and pizzeria of any kind. Beside
the night life there are of course many things to see in
Trastevere and many places of interest to visit, but the best
suggestion I can give you is to take a long walk and get lost
in its narrow streets, you will see one of the best and non
contaminated medieval architecture of Rome, where live together
clothes hanging from the windows to dry and spectacular
penthouses, people that live in the area since always and new
inhabitants coming from all over the world: in Trastevere there
is place for everybody. In this area you can comfortably lodge
at the Trastevere apartment,
at the Roofs of Trastevere
apartment or else at the nice
Santa Cecilia apartment.
Imperial Forums The Roman Forum is the most important archaeological site in
Rome, extending from the Capitoline Hill to the Palatine Hill. Already in the
7th century b.C., this area teemed with political, trade and religious
activities. Despite the several new buildings, the reconstruction of the old
ones, and the many monuments that were added as decorations, the Roman Forum was
never characterised by a coherent style. However, under Caesar and Augustus, the
construction of Basilica Giulia and the rebuilding of Basilica Emilia on the
long sides of the Forum gave the place some uniformity. Later, the Imperial
Forums were added to the original square: the Forum of Caesar, the Forum of
Augustus, the Forum of Nerva, the Forum of Vespasian and the most imposing
Traian Forum, whose Column and Markets survived to the present day. During the
Fascism, the Via dell’Impero (the current layout of Via dei Fori Imperiali) was
added. This straight road joining Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum was used for
military parades, while nowadays it hosts the celebrations of the Italian
Republic Day on 2nd June. The building of the road (now commonly known as “The
Forums”) gave rise to several controversies regarding the construction of a
modern structure (a car road) in an area boasting one of the highest
concentrations of archaeological treasures in the world. On the other hand,
those in favor of the road were of the opinion that it represented an
incomparable tourist route.
Capitoline Hill Since the foundation of the city, this famous hill was the
headquarters of Rome’s municipal government and city council, and it was also
the place where public celebrations took place. Three buildings border the
square designed by Michelangelo: the central building, Palazzo Senatorio, houses
the offices of the municipal administration, while the side buildings, Palazzo
dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, house the Capitoline Museums and their
beautiful treasures. More than 200 masterpieces painted by famous artists such
as Titian, Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, Guercino, Rubens, and many more
between the 16th and the 18th century are exhibited in the picture gallery.
Tiziano, Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, Guercino, Rubens, and many more. In the
centre of the square you can admire a copy of the bronze statue of Marcus
Aurelius, which survived destruction because it was thought to represent the
Christian emperor Constantine. The base was made by Michelangelo, while the
original statue can be found in the nearby Museums.
A walking path recently opened to the public joins Piazza del Campidoglio to the
terraces of the Vittoriano, where you can enjoy an incomparable 360-degree view
of the city. The Vittoriano, also known as the Monument of King Victor Emmanuel
II of Savoy, the first King of Italy, is opened to the public both inside and
outside (the Sacrario delle Bandiere and the Museo del Risorgimento). Visits are
free. The monumental complex was inaugurated in 1911 during the celebrations for
the first 50-year-anniversary of the unified Italy. Since 1921, it holds the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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