How I have got lost in Rome...

People say that we have only one true love in our life. Only one chance for happiness. Do you believe in that? If this is a true I already find my love and this love is Rome...

Vatican - picture which I took from a plane

The Rome have been always ‘must to see’ on my list places to see before I die. I don't know why, I have never had opportunity to go there. It’s just one step from UK. In this year came the 29th year when, I exist on this world so I thouth 'now or never'. This is last year of my 20's. It needs to be the best year in my current life – the year when, my all dreams will come true. I did not need to think long. I booked tickets, packed a suitcase and went, to celebrate my birthday in the most extraordinary place in the world.

La Galleria Nazionale

Part of you think that I am crazy because it is 'just' a Rome. Probably, a lot of you have already been there. But for architecture freak like me, it is a big think. The place where Michelangelo, Giovani Lorenzo Bernini and many more have find inspiration, inspired me too.

St. Peter's Squere

Before I went I had crazy week. I changed a flat, was working a lot and literatury, I had time to nothing. I promised myself that my trip will be in 100% prepared and I will have plan for every singl minute to sqeeze the city like a lemon, and see everything, what is to see. Unfortunately, lack of time has changed my plan. At the end whatever happens, I decided to leave it all to chance.

I woke up at 3am and went for my jurney….

Quinin

I have spent only 3 days in Rome. My Italian friends was sure that I will be able to see everything or even more. I was happy and full of trust. Unfotunately, I did not see even half of what I was planning to see.

Castel Sant'Angelo

I can summarise my trip as a huge lost of way. Rome is full of short, small streets which name you cannot find in the map. This makes that it is impossible to follow the plan of the town. You can do only one thing – get lost in the city.

Venecia Squere. View from The Altar of the Homeland

Rome has long and complex story that extends thousands of year and it is not possible to explanin everything in one post. I don’t want to make you bored by telling about all history. I will take you for a walk from north till south along Via del Corso. Probably, this is the most popular destination for turists and personally, my favorite story about Rome.

Map of our walk

1. Via del Corso and Piazza del Popolo - how it started.

The main changes in urban structure of Rome was made in Baroque. There initiator was Pope Sixtus V. His pontificate was short because only for five years (1585-90) but while this time he was able to manage the direction of redevelopment of the city which was realised for several hundreds years. His idea was to linkt all main churches in the city which were and they still are the popular destination of pilgrimages.But he needed help. Thus why, he involved Domenico Fontana to create the new structure of grid of streets. They located 4 obelisks across the city that allowed clear visual connections and movement between them. They work is easy to read in the plan of the town till now.

St Peter's Squere - one of the obelisc located by Sixtus V

One of the obelisc is located in Piazza del Popolo, giving a beggining of urban composition created by Pope. The obelisc was moved from Circus Maximus in 1589. The most characteristic point of the squere is two twin churches - Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. Unfortunately, when I was there one of them was rebuilding and cover by Huawei's bilboard.

Piazza del Popolo

2. Next stop – Fontanna di Trevi.

Fontanna di Trevi is very popular destination for turists. When I reach the fontaine first time on Thursday evening, the amount of people made impossible to come into the squere. Thus, I decided to come back later to have opportunity, to take a picture for you and say my birthday wish, to come back to Rome as fast as it's possible. Maybe, I should not tell you about that because it will never come true. Nevertheless, my coin went to the water so my deal with fountain is done.

Some people say that it's the most romantic place in the city. I am not sure if you can find romantic intimacy there but for sure the fontaine makes big impression. Probably because this huge sculpture (20x26m) is squeezd into the tiny squere. Current version is designed by Nicco Salvi. The main point is Neptune with half-horse and half-fish creatures which symbolised two states of sea – calm and storm. What is interesting the fontaine looks like a building facade but it’s just an illusion.

Fontanna di Trevi

3. Pantheon

Every turist guide tells you that pantheon is the best preserved antique building. I can not argue with this fact. It is because in 609 the building was given as a present to Pope Boniface IV, who adapted it to Christian Church. The pantheon got new name and since then, it’s Santa Maria ad Artyles. What is unique, in this building, is dome. Its diameter is around 40m. It was the biggest construction in the world for over 1300 years. Thus, it made inspiration for next generation.

Intersection of Pantheon

I am not an ice-cream fan and didn't understand why everyone enchourge me to try italian one. But I decided to taste them in last evening. I choosed ice cream parlour next to Pantheom. The ice-cream was yoummy. They disappeared in one second and I went directly for next portion.

Entrance to Pantheon

4. Piazza Venecia

Via del Corso is closed by Piazza Venezia where we move to XX century. That time, the historic housing was removed, to make space for The Altar of the Homeland designed by Giuseppe Sacconi. The huge construstion erected in 1911, to celebrate union of Italy. The size was supposused to be a counterbalance for cleric Rome.

Foro Traiano

Altar of the Homeland

Author tried to show Italy in allegoric way. We can find, for example, group of sculptures which present: thought, momentum, agreement; fountains: Adriatic and Tyrrhenian sea. Only the statue of Victor Emmanuel II is not show in symbolic way.

The statue of Victor Emmanuel II

5. Via dei Fori Imperiali

In 1921 Benito Mussoliny made National Fascist Party and just one year later he took the power of country. In 1937, he announced rise of Second Roman Empire. The new authority needed the new urban frame. Thus Mussolini, following Syxtus V, started changed urban landsape of Rome. His residence was Venezia Palace and from there, he addressed the nation. He decided to remove all medieval buildings between Venezia Squere and Colosseum to make a space for a people. Now, this place is only a sad monument of conceit.

Via dei Fori Imperiali. View from Piazza Venecia toward Colloseum

6. Colloseum

And finally, ikon of Rome and one of the most famous building in the world - Colosseum. Built around 80 A.D. , the Roman Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever constructed and was used for gladiator fights, executions, dramas and even mini sea battles.

Colloseum - view from Via dei Fori Imperiali

Colloseum - view from a plane

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!!