martedì 25 settembre 2007

Vecchia Roma

Yesterday Rome from Alinari
When you're in Rome don't miss the apointment with the photos in black & white of the ancient Rome at the art gallery of the Alinari Bros in Via Via Alibert, 16/A. Without a doubt i think this is the best way to get a present of the Eternal City!
Yesterday Rome from Alinari
The Alinari photographs are contact printed from the original glassplate negatives housed in the Historic Archive. This manual technique of reproduction is the same used during the 19th century. The prints are made in black and white or they can be sepia toned and they can be also mounted on wood. These faithful reproductions are printed on special photographic paper and manually created in order to offer a product that is of unique quality and prestige. Is also possible to buy on line but if you're in Rome spend time there.... is not a lost time!
Tempio di Vesta as it looks today

lunedì 24 settembre 2007

The river under the alter

Some people say that Rome has not a big historical center...and i seriously ask my self "which Rome have you ever seen?! not mine sure!". Sometime i think we should have 3 life to know Rome's beauties...one in order to see what is "over" our head, one to see what is "in front" and one to see what is "under". But life is only one so, when you're wandering in this beautiful city don't forget to look over, in front and under all at once! Here is an example:
The church of Saint Clement. Over: the beautiful and restored frescos of Masolino da Panicale and the 12 th cent. mosaics of the apse.
Under: two layer of history. The older church built in the fourth century and dedicated to San Clemente, the third pope after St Peter and underneath it again, the roman buildings which are, themselves, made up of different "strati".
In front: when you look in front of you, at the alter, beware and listen....under the very ancient basilica of Saint Clement there is a small underwater river that has a little waterfall! Onetime they were both visible but in late, for reasons of prudence, they were hidden by a wall through which one can still today distinctly hear the noise of running water.
Don't forget...always over, in front and under!

giovedì 20 settembre 2007

I famosi "canterani" di Piazza Sant'Ignazio

Today, in this posts, i would like to join two of my favourite topics: the love for my city and that one for the furnishings. I didn't believe, until few moments ago, that was possible for me join these two subject, but i was wrong!
Have you ever seen that beautiful furniture characterized by rounded and delicate shape the so called style of "Luigi XIV"? Would you have never thought to find, in the center of Rome,
a district where the building have the same shape of that furniture?! Try to imagine.... giant drawers, four plan high!! And well...Rome astonished me once again....we are in the district called "Pigna", in the square of Sant'Ignazio.
The buildings that look onto the incredibly beautiful square of Sant'Ignazio are the famous “canterani”, thus depreciatively named by Filippo Raguzzini because they were made in the shape of the furniture of that time (1650-1750). Despite early critics they are now much admired.
To have an apartment in one of those "canterani" is today a sign of distinction, but few people can today boast themselves for having a similar fortune!!
Tastes change, what today is ugly will become beautiful tomorrow!

Sacra Rota Romana

Two posts ago talking about the "Rota Porphiretica" an "anonimo"reader gave me the idea for this post. I have to admit, i never known, until today, the reason why the Tribunal of the Holy See is called "Sacra Rota". Is a really serious fault for someone who lives in Rome from the birth! Today i have filled up this gap thanks to a blogger friend! :-)
The Tribunal of the Rota Romana was essentially named as such because the judges, called auditors, originally met in a round room to hear cases (look at the picture).
Thank you very much to all those who want to suggest me ideas to talking about!
WELCOME!

mercoledì 19 settembre 2007

The cathedral … that is not Saint Peter’s

Did you ever ask yourself who has been the first Pope of the history?
Who is the first ring of this long long chain of Popes?
The first was the Apostolo Simone
(later called Pietro, dead in the 69 a.c.).
Inside the Basilica of Saint Peter there is the pontifical throne said to be of him (said to be....!), the first Pope. It is placed in a colossal case that rests against the wall of the apse and was built by Bernini in bronze, marble, stucco work, gold and glass, and is sustained by four saints: St. Ambrose and St. Augustine at the front, and St. Anastasias and St. John Crisosthomus at the back. The composition is so masterful that it must be seen during a holiday in Rome!
Further to careful analyses conducted during restoration carried out by a special commission of experts nominated by Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) in 1968, it turned out that the pontifical seat – known as the Cathedral of Saint Peter – only dates back to the IX century! It is too "recent" to belong to Pietro!

It is probably the Carolingian throne brought to Rome by Carlo il Calvo in 875 when he was crowned in the basilica by Pope Giovanni VIII (872-882).

martedì 18 settembre 2007

The "Coronation Wheel"

A holiday in Rome can be the occasion to discover tucked away corners of the Eternal City. Rome is so rich in things to see, that tourists are often forced to limit themselves to visiting the more celebrated monuments.
Few are those who, having come to Rome for a holiday, notice, in the Basilica of Saint Peter, a great disk in red porphyry, set in the pavement just past the door to the aisle. This is the famous "rota porphyretica" or wheel of coronation, that comes from the old Saint Peter’s, the ancient basilica built by Constantine. It was on this stone that stood the emperors when they were crowned by the popes. On this great wheel, opportunely preserved, knelt the great Carlo Magno, king of the Franks, the eve of Christmas of the year 800 when Pope Leo III (795-816) crowned him "Roman Emperor" (so was he acclaimed by all those present), placing the Imperial Diadem upon his head.

On that same wheel numerous other emperors were also crowned, among them Lotarian I, Ludvic II, Lambert of Spoleto, Berengar, the two Ottonians, Frederick Barbarossa and Frederick II.

We apologize but we were unable to find an image of the "rota" on the web, we swear you that, as soon as possible, we’ll take a picture by ourselves and we’ll put it on the blog immediately!

lunedì 3 settembre 2007

La Villa Romana

Many posts ago we talk about the meaning of "Domus" & "Insula" as a typical roman building and as the names for the A Night in Rome apartments, today we're going to talk about.... "Villa", yes because we're going to have another apartment and this is its name!!
Now we have 3 little "babies" to make your holiday an unforgettable esperience! ;-)

The ancient building called "Villa" was built in Rome in the III century B.C. and originally it was the country house of the roman highest social classes. The richest romans, who lived in the Domus when they were in Rome, in their country possessions could have one or both these kinds of buildings: the "Villa Rustica" or the "Villa Urbana".
The first one (Villa Rustica ) was a real country farm while the second (Villa Urbana), which rose near the city, was similar to the Domus building but much more sumptuous. It was used to give romans a quite and relaxing stay near the city.

The Villa rose with a great number of galleries supported by long rows of columns which guaranteed to romans long walks by feet ,in litter, or by horse on bad weather days.
It was equipped with "triclini" for the summertime in a wide open space, and "triclini" for the winter season, in a closet one, rooms for the diurnal rest (the so called "cubicula"), studium rooms, swimming pool to swim (the so called "piscina natatoria") and a bathroom supplied by calidarium, tepidarium and frigidarium as the large public terme. All the building was surrounded by a land, partially cultivated as a hortus and partially adorned with flowers, fountain games, plants and statues as a garden.

A Nihgt in Rome Villa is our small pearl in the center of Rome Testaccio, certainly it has not private gardens with water games and statues but anyway it has its public gardens adorned by plants, threes and games for the babies! ;-)
It also does not have either tiepidarium calidarium or frigidarium or the private swimming pool but is a really wide and bright apartment with two balcony from which you can see the dawn and the sunset, in one of the most beautiful “quartieri de roma” !! Do you want to see the typical and popular roman neighbourhood?! Try Testaccio.....what your ears are going to hear is not the spoken italian but the authentic spoken romanesco!!
We hope to have you as our guests soon!!!
Try the original "romanesco" taste, stay with us!