The Arch of Constantine in Rome, is situated next to the Colosseum in the Piazza del Colosseo, close to the bottom of the Sacra Via which leads to the Arch of Titus and the Roman Forum. It was erected in AD 315 by the Senate to commemorate the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in AD 312.The battle of the Milvian Bridge was the decisive moment in Constantine's ambitions to consolidate his power. In Britain, after the death of his father, he had been proclaimed Augustus by his troops, despite having no legal claim to the title. Maxentius also laid claim to the title of "Augustus of the Western Empire". This conflict was finally resolved in the battle of Milvian Bridge, located to the north of Rome. Although outnumbered, Constantine's army was victorious. The defeated Maxentius, died while making his escape, after a bridge across the Tiber, constructed from boats, suddenly collapsed.
After the Battle of Milvian Bridge, this triple-passageway arch was constructed adjacent to the Colosseum to commemorate the triumph. Although the arch was the largest to be erected in Rome for almost a century, its construction becomes less impressive when closely examined, as many of the sculptures had been robbed from earlier monuments. The coulombs, and a number of other architectural features also date from earlier times.
The reliefs originating from the second century were refashioned to honour Constantine by re-carving the heads of earlier emperors with Constantine's features. The reuse of these has been interpreted by some as an indication of Rome's decline during this period.
Over the side arches can be found eight sculptures depicting hunting scenes and sacrifices, these date from the time of Hadrian 117-138. An original portrait of Hadrian has been replaced by images of Constantine and Licinius. Carvings of prisoners on the architraves, two reliefs on the narrow sides of the attic story, and those inside the main arch, date from the time of Trajan 98-117. On the long sides of the attic storey are carved eight reliefs showing scenes of the triumphs of war. These date from the time of Marcus Aurelius 161-180.
An inscription carved into the top of the central arch reads
IMP · CAES · FL · CONSTANTINO · MAXIMO · P · F · AVGUSTO · S · P · Q · R · QVOD · INSTINCTV · DIVINATATIS · MENTIS · MAGNITVDINE · CVM · EXERCITV · SVO · TAM · DE · TYRANNO · QVAM · DE · OMNI · EIVS · FACTIONE · VNO · TEMPORE · IVSTIS · REM-PUBLICAM · VLTVS · EST · ARMIS · ARCVM · TRIVMPHIS · INSIGNEM · DICAVIT · LIBERATORI · VRBIS — FVNDATORI · QVIETIS
On the sides of the arch is carved
VOTIS · X · VOTIS · XX — SIC · X · SIC · XX
The second half of the side inscription tells us that the Arch of Constantine was erected after the tenth year of Constantine's reign. The inscription is interpreted as saying that Constantine has reigned for ten years, so may he reign twenty. The title Maximus, in the main inscription, occurs only on coins that were struck after the tenth year of Constantine's reign. The phrase "INSTINCTV · DIVINATATIS · MENTIS" meaning "by divine inspiration" has been interpreted by some as referring to his later policy of promoting Christianity.
The Baths of Caracalla, that are located to the south of Rome, can be reached on Line B on the metro system, from both Circo Massimo and Piramide stations. These are the ruins of what was once one of the grandest and most elaborate bath complexes in the whole of Italy. Construction of the baths was started in 206 by Septimus Severus, and completed by his son Caracalla, in 217.Water was fed to the baths from a branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct that brought water from the hills close to Subiaco. It has been estimated that 15.000 - 20,000 cubic meters of water per day were required to supply the needs of up to 1,500 bathers at any one time.
Still visible today are the remains of many of the original rooms, including the changing room or apodyteria, the the cold room or frigidarium, the warm room or tepidarium, and the caldarium, which was the steam room. There was also an open air pool for swimming. The building had an under floor heating system called a hypocaust, which was heated using over fifty furnaces.
The Baths of Caracalla remained in use until the invading Goths cut off the supply of water in 537 A.D. In later years, the grounds were used to house pilgrims who became ill during their journey. Since the 1930s, the site has been used for outdoor operatic recitals, the most famous of which being the concert of the Three Tenors in 1990. The number of such events have been reduced over the past number of years, in an effort to help preserve the buildings remains.
Major excavations on the site began in 1824, which unearthed, amongst other things, the famous mosaics which are now conserved in the Vatican museum, although some indication of the magnificence of the the original building can be gained through the remains of what mosaic fragments and pieces of ancient statues still remain scattered around the grounds.
Castel Sant Angelo is located in the heart of the city of Rome, on the banks of the river Tiber. It is close to the Vatican, and is served by the same bus services, including the 40 express from Stazione Terminiserve. The nearest Metro station is Lepanto, on Line A. Opening hours are 9am until 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday.The building was originally built as a mausoleum for the emperor Hadrian, and was completed after his death by his successor, Antoninus Pius. Originally the building consisted of a large square base with a cylindrical shaped top, on which stood a huge statue of the emperor Hadrian. During the mid sixth century A.D. the building was converted into a fortress and became the military key to Rome for the next 1,000 years.
The name, Castel Sant Angelo dates back to when Pope Gregory the Great, during a procession to plead for the end of a plague, saw an angel standing on the top of the castle sheathing its sword. This was interpreted as being a heavenly sign that the plague was about to end. Henceforth, it became known as Castel Sant Angelo. A small chapel was built on top the castle at the spot where the angel was supposed to have appeared. The event is commemorated by a magnificent eighteenth century statue, created by the Flemish artist Werschaffeltof, of the angel sheathing its sword.
During the middle ages, the castle became home to many different noble families up until 1377 when it came under full papal control. The Castel Sant Angelo is linked to the Vatican by an underground passage, known as the passetto del borgo. The passage was used by the Popes in times of trouble to escape from the Vatican to the safety of the castle.
The Castle is divided into five floors, on the first is the start of a long winding ramp of Roman construction. On the second floor can be found store rooms that once contained oil and wheat, and cells from the time when the castle was used as a prison. The third floor, or military floor, consists of two large courtyards. On the forth floor can be found the magnificent papal rooms, here are frescos by artists such as Giulio Romano and Perin del Vaga. On the top floor, there is a huge terrace with magnificent views over the city. Lovers of opera will know that it is from here that Puccini’s Tosca leapt to her death.
The Colosseum is located at the foot of Mussolini's Via dei Fori Imperiali, opposite the Colosseo Metro station. The Colosseum, with originally about eighty entrances, was designed to hold approximately 50,000 spectators. The entrances were numbered, and some of the the Roman numerals above the entrances are still visible. The Roman emperor Vespasian started to build the amphitheatre in 72 A.D. although he died before its completion. It was still not fully finished, when it was opened by Vespasian's son Titus in 80 A.D. with games that lasted for 100 days. The works were eventually completed by Titus's brother, Domitian.The entrances were marked by giant porticoes, over which were gilded horsedrawn chariots. The emperor had his own private entrance, which led under the seats, emerging in the imperial box. Spectators found their way to their seats through numbered arches, although the four main entrances were not numbered. The best seats were on or just behind the podium, located two meters above the arena. The amphitheater is a vast ellipse with tiers of seating, around a central elliptical arena. The arena itself had a wooden floor, below which was a complex of storage rooms and passageways. Eighty walls radiate from the arena and support vaults for passageways, stairways and the tiers of seats. Around the outer edge, there are arcades and stairways linking each level.
The partial destruction of the Colosseum allows us a view of the basement area of the arena. This was not part of the original design and so was not present when the Colosseum opened, but was added later during the rule of Domitian who was emperor between 81 to 96 A.D. In this confined space, a range of animals, fighters, slaves and stagehands worked in almost total darkness. A series of winches and the capstans would have allowed teams of slaves to hoist heavy objects from the basement to the main arena. Marks from the ropes are still visible in the stone lift-shafts.
The Colosseum's exterior is created by three storey's of superimposed arches with semi-circular columns. The design of the columns differ on each storey, with Tuscan at the bottom, then above that, Ionic, with Corinthian style columns on the third storey. The higher fourth storey has pilasters decorated with Corinthian capitals. In between the pilasters, are small rectangular windows, above and between the windows are stone plinths, which once held the masts used to support the awnings, which were installed to help produce shade for some of the spectators. If you look upwards, you can still see the holes through which these vertical masts slotted. The construction was a combination of, concrete for the foundations, travertine for the piers and arcades, the lower two levels had for the walls, tufa infill between the piers. Brick faced concrete was used for the upper levels and for most of the vaults.
The Mamertine Prison, otherwise known as the Tullianum, is located on the east side of the Capitoline Hill, adjacent to the Roman Forum, and near the Arch of Septimius Severus, and below the church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami. The prison consisted of two vaulted chambers, one above the other. The lower chamber is often referred to as the "Tullianum" as it is thought that the room was originally constructed to be a water cistern.The name "Mamertine" originates from medieval times, probably to reinforce the claimed connection to the legends surrounding Saint Peter. The ancient Romans simply called the site "carcer", which is commonly translated to mean "prison". The "carcer" the only prison in the ancient city, and was reserved for important state prisoners, often prior to their execution.
The legend that Saint's Peter and Paul were imprisoned here seems to stem from fifth century, although this does not exclude the fact that it may be true. It is possible that Paul could have been imprisoned here before he was executed at Aquas Salvias, and Peter before his execution in Nero's circus on the Vatican Hill. Paul wrote about his imprisonment several times in his letters, for an example see Philippians 1:13. The legend regarding the spring, where Saint Peter is supposed to have caused the spring to well up in the prison so enabling him to baptize his fellow prisoners, originated from much later times.
The upper room, which is on a level that was once the ground level of the prison in ancient times, is thought to date back to the second century B.C. The walls are made of blocks of tufa on which there is mounted a plaque on which are the names of the prisons most celebrated prisoners. At the back is a small alter with busts of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Originally access to the lower room was gained by throwing or lowering prisoners through a hole in the floor. Nowadays for safety reasons the hole is covered b a metal grate, with access to the lower floor being gained via a set of comparatively modern steps.
The circular lower room or Tullianum, is where the condemned prisoners were thrown and sometimes strangled. Here can be seen a small altar, backed with a relief of Saint Peter baptizing his fellow prisoners. On the front of the alter, standing out against a red marble background is the upsidedown cross of St. Peter, depicting that he was crucified upsidedown. In the floor in the front of the alter is a round opening leading to the spring, the water from which it is said, Saint Peter baptised his fellow prisoners, and guards.
The Palatine Hill is some 70 meters high with views of the Roman Forum on one side, and the Circus Maximus on the other. The site is now a large open-air museum which tourists can visit during the daytime. The entrance can be found near the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum.It is thought that Rome has its origins on the Palatine. Recent excavations have shown that people have lived on the site since approximately 1000 B.C. According to Roman mythology, the Palatine hill was where Romulus and Remus were found by a female wolf that kept them alive. After which, according to this legend, a shepherd named Faustulus found the infants, and with his wife Acca Larentia raised the children. Later when they were older, Romulus chose this site to build the city of Rome.
With the development of Rome and the continued embellishment of the Forum, the Palatine, due to its close proximity to the seat of power, it became "the place to live". Here the air quality was much better. It also has the benefit of splendid views. So it became the place for the very powerful and wealthy chose to build their homes. The future emperor Augustus was born on the hill in the consulate of Cicero. Eventually the emperors took over the hill completely. Domitian had his architect, Rabirius, radically re-landscape the hill and had many new buildings constructed.
The Palatine became the place where the powerful and wealthy retreated to build their homes and relax. Among the ruins on the hill can be found, the Domus Flavia, the Domus Augustana, the Baths of Septimus Severus, and the House of Livia.
At the top of the hill, overlooking the Forum, are the Farnese Gardens. Designed by the Renaissance architect Vignola, the Farnese Gardens, in Italian Orti Farnesiani, were created for a member of one of the great papal families, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. The gardens contain many varieties of plants including , boxwoods, orange trees, rose bushes, and oleanders. Once the Farneses died out, most of the villa was dismantled and the gardens fell into disrepair.
The Pantheon, one of Rome's top tourist attractions, is located in Piazza della Rotunda, in the heart of the Centro Storico. The Largo Argentina bus and tram stops are just a couple of minuets away, with the nearest metro station, Spagna, being about a 15 minute walk. The Pantheon was built as a Roman temple and later consecrated as a Catholic Church.The original Pantheon was built in 27 to 25 B.C. during the third consulship of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, but was destroyed by fire in 80 A.D. Date stamps on the bricks indicate that the current building dates from about 125, and was built during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Although the building was totally reconstructed, an inscription that was on the original Pantheon was added to the facade of the new Pantheon. The inscription reads M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIUM·FECIT, "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this". The building was later repaired by Septimius Severus and Caracalla. In 609 the Byzantine emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface IV, who re-consecrated it as a Christian church, the "Santa Maria ad Martyres" or the "Church of Mary and all the Martyr Saints". A title that it retains to this day.
The dome rests on a cylinder of masonry walls. Hidden voids and the interior recesses allows for a lighter construction, and giving an effect of not so much a solid mass, but more like three continuous arcades, which correspond to the three tiers of relieving arches visible on the exterior of the building . Originally, these exterior walls were faced with fine marble which, over the course of the centuries, has been removed.
The dome itself is constructed through the use of stepped rings made from solid concrete with gradually less and less density the higher you go. To make this possible, lighter aggregate was used, including pumice, also the dome's thickness diminishes the nearer to the top you get.
The Piazza Navona is situated west of the Pantheon in the historic centre of Rome. This is one of Rome's liveliest squares, with many outdoor cafes and restaurants. The square was constructed on what was the former Domitian's stadium, built by emperor Domitian in 86 AD. which has given the square its long oval shape. The stadium was paved over in the 15th century and the Piazza Navona was created. There still remains beneath the square, some remains of Domitian's stadium. Guided tours to this fascinating underground world are available, and start at the Piazza Tor Sanguigna 13.The Piazza Navona became a city market in the 15th century, and continued as such until the 1800's. It is common to find street vendors selling tourist souvenirs, and an abundance of artists offering to sketch you for a small fee. The square is a popular meeting place for both locals and visitors alike, and is a pleasant place to just sit with a drink in one of the cafes that face onto the square, and just watch the world go by, but be warned, as with many popular locations, prices here are well above the average.
The Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone which looks onto Piazza Navona, was originally the chapel of the Pamphili family, who lived in the building next door. It was built in the 17th century on a site that had been a place of worship dedicated to St Agnes, who was martyred in the piazza. Carlo Rainaldi started the construction, and was later succeeded by Borromini, who retained his predecessors interior designs, but modified the facade which were adorned with columns and the addition two bell towers. The interior is rich in statues, gilded stucco, frescoes, and marble altarpieces, all are works of Bernini's pupils.
In the centre of the square can be found the largest of three fountains in the Piazza Navona, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers. Constructed between 1647 and 1651, the design was first commissioned to Borromini, but was later taken over by Bernini. The fountain consists of four figures, representing the rivers, Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio della Plata. The statues surround an obelisk that at one time was located at the Massenzio Circus. All three fountains in the Piazza Navona are fed by the Aqua Virgo aqueduct.
The Fontana Del Moro, or Moor Fountain, is located at the southern end of the Piazza Navona, and takes its name from the group of figures representing an Ethiopian fighting with a dolphin. The work was sculptured in 1654 to a Bernini design. The masks and sculptures of the tritons are copies of the originals which can now be seen in the gardens of the Villa Borghese.
Fontana del Nettuno or Fountain of Neptune, is located at the northern end of the Piazza Navona. This fountain was commissioned to Giacomo della Porta in 1574, and as with the Fontana del Moro on the southern end, the material used was Portasanta, which is a rose marble. Della Porta's designed the two fountains to be similar in appearance, with tritons and large masks, but the project was never completed and for about 300 years the fountain remained undecorated. Without anything to identity the fountain, the local residents named it the Fontana dei Calderai or Fountain of the Coppersmiths. Finally in 1878, Antonio Della Bitta was commissioned to carve the statue of Neptune slaying a giant octopus, and Gregorio Zappala carved the group of 8 sea figures playing in the basin, two sea horses, two cherubs, two dolphins, and two Nereids or sea nymphs, and so the fountain was renamed, Fountain of Neptune.
The Roman Forum, is now a major tourist attraction, it starts near the Colosseum and continues all the way to Piazza Venezia. This is a large and complicated site, and in a much ruined state, to get the most out of your visit, it is advisable to read up a little on what is there to be seen. To help find your way around, go armed with a good map.The forum is the place where public meetings were held, important announcements made, and where famous orators would speak. Forums could be found in every city in the Roman Empire. Rome itself had more than one forum, but only the first forum was called Forum Romanum, or Roman Forum. Emperors recognizing the social importance of the forum, would build new ones in their own honour.
Originally the area on which the Roman Forum is built was a swamp, the area was used as a cemetery by the people who lived in nearby villages. During the 6th century B.C. the Etruscans who were the first kings of Rome, unified all these villages into the city of Rome, they drained the marshes, and soon, shops and temples were being built. But, it was during the 2nd century B.C. that the merchants and their shops were moved to other parts of the city, and the Forum became the civic and legal centre of Rome.
Some of the major attractions to be explored are, the Arch of Septimius Severus, which is one of the best preserved structures in the Forum, it contains the remains of an inscription to Septimius and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. The Rostra, which was used for public speaking, and was the place where Mark Anthony delivered his speech after the assassination of Julius Caesar. There are the brick remains of the Senate building, known as the Curia. The Basilica Aemilia, where taxes were collected. The Temple of Julius Caesar, that was erected to his memory by the emperor Augustus. Then there are the three remaining columns from the Temple of Castor and Pollux, which is the oldest temple in the Forum, dating from 484 B.C. Other major ruins include, the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Venus and Roma, the Basilica Julia, the Arch of Titus, the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, and the Tabularium, which was where all the official records were kept.
Saint Peter's Basilica, is located within the walls of the Vatican, in Saint Peter's square, or Piazza San Pietro, It is a principle tourist attraction for visitors to Rome. Surprisingly, it is not the Pope's official ecclesiastical seat, this is Saint John Lateran, but Saint Peter's Basilica is his principal church, where most Papal ceremonies take place, this is due to its size, proximity to the Papal residence, and its location within the City walls of the Vatican.It is claimed that St Peter's Basilica was built at the site of Peter's crucifixion. Beneath the main altar there is another altar dedicated to St Peter. Recent excavations have discovered a burial chamber beneath this altar containing a skeleton, with its feet missing. Some archaeologists, amongst others, have suggested that these are the actual remains of Saint Peter. It is also claimed that a piece of plaster which had come off the marble lined repository in which the bones were supposed to have been buried in, bore the Greek inscription, PETROS ENI, "Peter is within".
The interior, which includes 45 altars, has been decorated by many famous artists. Some of the most important works in the church are the Pietà by Michelangelo, the papal altar and the Throne of St. Peter, both by Bernini, and the Monument to the Stuarts by CanovaIt.
The dome or cupola was designed by Michelangelo, when he became chief architect in 1546. When he died in1564, the dome had only been finished as far as the base on which domes itself sits. Between 1585 and 1590, the architect Giacomo della Porta, with the help of the predominant engineer of the time, Domenico Fontana, constructed the dome. The following year Fontana built the lantern, and in 1593 the ball was placed in position. Michelangelo did not design the dome as a hemisphere, but as a parabola. On top of the paired Corinthian columns ribbing has been built that appears to be part of the drum, but in fact they stand proud of it more like buttresses. These help to contain the outward thrust of the dome's weight. The vaulted dome rises to Fontana's two stage lantern, which is capped with a spire.
Tourists visiting Rome will, no doubt have the Vatican at the top or very near the top of their list of "must see" sights. One of the main attractions within the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel. It is located in the southwest corner of the old medieval part of the Apostolic Palace, in the very heart of the Vatican. It takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere. Sixtus started an ambitious programme of decoration within the chapel, by employing a team of the most prestigious artists of the day, including Botticelli, Signorelli, Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli and Perugino. Their task was to cover the upper walls with frescoes depicting episodes from the lives of Moses and Christ. The ceiling vault was painted dark blue, and covered with gold stars.
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a shallow barrel vault, about 40 m long by 13 m wide, with windows in both long sides which cut into the vault so as to produce a series of pedantries between the windows, which are surrounded by lunettes, and have triangular shaped areas, called spandrels, above them at the junction of wall and ceiling. The central part of the vault is almost flat. In 1506, Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to redecorate much of the chapel. He completed the famous ceiling frescoes in 1512 Commissioned by Julius II in 1508-12, Michelangelo frescoed the vault with scenes from Genesis. Together with the older frescoes of the lives of Moses and Christ, these provided a complete history of Man, from creation to redemption. Michelangelo was later commissioned by Pope Paul III to continue the story with a fresco of the Last Judgement over the altar.The architectural plans for the chapel were drawn up by Baccio Pontelli, with the construction work being done between 1473 and 1484. During this time, the work was being supervised by Giovannino de Dolci. The first mass in the Sistine Chapel was celebrated on August 9, 1483, At this ceremony, the Sistine Chapel was consecrated, and dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
The Sistine Chapel becomes the centre of attention when the time comes to elect a new Pope. The pope is elected in a process called a "conclave." The word "conclave" is derived from two Latin words which mean "with a key." It referred to the practice of locking the cardinals in a somewhat confined space, and not allowing them to emerge until they have elected a new pope. The rules governing the conclave, have since been changed and the cardinals are no longer confined to the Sistine Chapel, for both day and night throughout the election process. They are now assigned more comfortable living quarters in a suitable location within the Vatican. For the duration of the conclave, a chimney is installed in the roof of the chapel. after each vote, the ballot papers are burnt. If the ballot was unsuccessful, then the chimney emits black smoke. Once a new Pope has been elected, the smoke emitted from the chimney is white. Nowadays, to maintain security and the secrecy of the conclave, the chapel is carefully searched to ensure there are no bugs, recorders, or cameras, present.
Many of the works of art within the chapel were in need of restoration, so in 1980 a programme of test cleaning and restoration work on Michelangelo's frescoes was initiated, a year later full scale work started, and was completed in 1994. After this the cleaning of the chapel frescoes by Botticelli, Perugino, and other painters was carried out, and completed in 1999
The Scalinata di Spagna, or Spanish Steps, are located in an upmarket area of Rome, and join the Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinita dei Monti with its twin towers that dominate the skyline. The church was built in 1502 by Louis XII, next to St. Francis di Paola's monastery. The Spanish Steps are usually very crowded during the summer months, with tourists just sitting, chatting, and taking a rest from visiting the designer shops that litter the area. It may seem like a good place to eat a picnic lunch, but the Italian authorities, in an attempt to keep the area clean, have banned visitors from eating whilst sitting on the steps.The staircase has been constructed using 138 steps. Designed in 1723 by Francesco De Sanctis, and funded by a French diplomat Stefano Gueffierwas, the steps are a mix of curves, straight flights, vistas, and terraces. The steps have needed to be restored many times over the years, with the latest restoration being in 1995. The Spanish Steps got their name from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See which was located in the piazza.
During the 18th century, the Spanish Steps became a meeting place for both artists and models. These days, located to the right at the base of the steps, is a house where the English poet John Keats lived and died. The house is now a museum dedicated to his memory.
Tiber Island or Isola Tiberina, is connected to the mainland by means of two ancient roman bridges. On the western side, Cestius Bridge or Ponte Cestio, built in the 1st century B.C. connects the island to the Trastevere district. The bridge has been damaged and restored several times due to flooding. In the late 19th century, the bridge had to be completely rebuilt, many of the original parts were used, but the shape of the bridge was altered, in order to fit the new protective walls that had been constructed along the Tiber’s banks.Records indicate that the island has always had a medical association. The island was once home to an ancient temple dedicated to Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, and to this day a hospital is based on the island.
On the eastern side, Fabricius Bridge or Ponte Fabricio, connects the island to the Ripa district. This bridge was built a few years earlier than Cestius Bridge and is the oldest bridge within the walls of Rome. This bridge is often referred to as the Ponte Quattro Capi or Four Heads Bridge, as on each side, a four-headed figure has been carved. These carvings, are not part of the original structure, but were placed there in the late 1500’s, by pope Sixtus V, during a major restoration of the bridge.
In the chapel of the Church of Saint Bartholomew, a large cannonball can be seen lodged in the wall where it struck during the siege of Rome in 1849. At the time the cannonball hit, the building was full of people, none of whom were hurt. The cannonball, known as, "of the miracle" was left in the wall as a reminder of the incident.The Church of Saint Bartholomew on Tiber Island, was constructed in the 10th Century by Otto III, but the original building was destroyed by a great flood, and so in 1624 the church was rebuilt. Inside the main body of the church, there are 14 granite columns, and close to the alter can be seen a Byzantine fresco depicting the enthroned Virgin with Jesus. Two wings were later added which housed a Franciscan convent.
Just down river stands the remnants of a bridge that is now popularly referred to as the Ponte Rotto or Broken Bridge. Only one span remains of what was one of the oldest stone bridges in Rome. Constructed in 142 B.C. the bridge was largely destroyed at the end of the 1500's as a result of violent flooding.
Located in the historic centre of Rome, is what must be the most famous and spectacular fountain in the city, and hence, one of the cities most popular tourist attractions. The Trevi Fountain derives its name from its position at the intersection of three roads (tre vie). The Trevi fountain stands at the end of the Aqua Virgo, which is one of the ancient aqueducts that supplied fresh water to Rome since 19 B.C. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs, which is situated over 20 kilometres away.There has been a source of water at this site for over a thousand years, although it was not until 1485 that Pope Nicholas V commissioned Gianlorenzo Bernini to create the fountain, but the project had to be abandoned when Pope Urban VIII died in 1644. Then in 1732, Niccolò Salvi was employed by Pope Clement XII to continue with the work, with the result being the Baroque masterpiece that completely dominates the little square today.
The sea god Neptune in a chariot in the form of a shell dominates the centre of the fountain. The chariot is pulled by two sea horses, with each sea horse being guided by a Triton. According to legend, anyone who throws a coin into the water is guaranteed to return to the Eternal City of Rome. The coin should be tossed over your shoulder while you are standing with your back to the fountain.
Villa Borghese, located in the centre of the city, just north of the Spanish Steps, with its main entrance at the Piazza del Popolo and Porta Pinciana. is the largest public park in Rome. Created by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 1600's, this elegant park has a lake, plus number of temples, fountains, statues, and several museums.In 1911 the World Exposition was held in the park, and several of the pavilions built at that time still remain, probably the most impressive of these is the British School, built from a design by Edwin Lutyens, who was one of England's greatest and most prolific architects. The park also contains the Piazza di Siena which is an amphitheatre, an 18th century arch, the arco di Settimio Severo, and a botanical garden.
If you are on foot, the park can be reached via a pedestrian tunnel that runs from the entrance to the metro station at the Piazza di Spagna, to the front of Villa Borghese at the top of the Via Veneto.
The area was originally a vineyard, then in 1605, a nephew of Pope Paul V, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, commissioned landscaper Domenico Savini to design a park. Then from an original sketch by the cardinal, architect Flaminio Ponzio built a villa. The park, which was originally created to a very formal design, was later laid out in a more natural way. At the end of the 18th century in the middle of the park, a lake was created, and in that lake, an island was created, a small Ionic temple dedicated to Aesculapius, the God of healing, was built on the island. In 1903 the city obtained the Villa from the Borghese family, and for the first time, the park was opened to the public.
The collection began with the gallery's founder, Scipione Borghese, who by the time of his death in 1633 had accumulated some of the greatest art treasures of all time. The collection suffered when Napoleon's sister, Pauline, who married Prince Camillo Borghese in 1807, sold off most of the collection. Today many of those works of art from the original collection can be seen in the Louvre museum in the city of Paris. In 1997, after a major renovation, the Galleria Borghese was reopened. Today on display are such masterpieces as Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, Titian's Sacred and Profane Love, Raphael's Deposition, and Caravaggio's Jerome.
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