Built over a demolished 15th century chapel, construction on the Santa Maria di Loreto church began in 1507 by Antonio da Sangallo di Giovane (the Younger) and was eventually completed by one of Michelangeo’s students. You can find it across the street from Trajan’s Column on Via dei Fori Imperiali, a street lined with excavations of ancient Rome.
One of the ten angels adorning the 2,000 year old Ponte Sant’Angelo which crosses the Tiber River in Rome. In the 1600’s, Bernini was commissioned to add ten angels to the bridge. Although he designed and positioned them, they were for the most part sculpted by his students. This one is called The Throne with the inscription: “Tronus meus in columna,” which means “My throne is upon a column.” Bernini designed each angel to be seen from three points of view by persons crossing the bridge.
These attentive sentries are guarding an entrance to one of the lovely gardens in Rome’s huge Villa Borghese park. Dragons are a symbol of the famous Borghese family.
The water is fine! Clear, cold, and pure. It’s the guardians you must watch out for. This bubbling fountain is opposite the Galleria Borghese which houses a fantastic collection of sculptures, painting, and other art pieces. Dragons and eagles, ubiquitous throughout the Villa Borghese park, are symbols of the Borghese family.
These whimsical seahorses were as thirsty as we were after walking from the Pantheon to the Villa Borghese, an expansive verdant oasis in the midst of the pandemonium of Rome. The Bernini-esque Fontana dei Cavalli Marini (Fountain of the Sea Horses) was sculpted in 1791 by Cristoforo Unterberger.
In this most famous of Roman fountains, Neptune stands regally at the helm of the waters, flanked by Abundance and Salubrity. Tritons and seahorses frolic below. We fling coins over our shoulders every time we’re here and we attest the magic works…we return again and again to this most amazing city.
On our way back to our apartment after spending the day at the Catacombs and the Appian Way, we swung by the Trevi Fountain. Dad wanted to see it by day. Always teeming with tourists, an early morning visit would be worthwhile.
Today was Mom’s birthday and we went scouting for a good restaurant for later on that evening. We found a perfect looking one near Campo dei Fiori, but it was closed. An old man tottered on a rickety ladder as he painted the front of the building next door; he mumbled the restaurant would be closed until the following week. As we turned to leave, we heard a honk and turned around in time to see our taxi-driver from the airport waving madly at us from his vehicle! We waved back enthusiastically, marveling at the coincidence of seeing him among all the people in Rome.
That evening, feeling like a pack of Rome’s feral cats in search of dinner, we happened upon an Osteria near the Pantheon not too far from home and we ate outside again in the warm, Roman evening. We quietly sang Happy Birthday to Mom in English.
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As you stand gaping open-mouthed at the Trevi Fountain, force yourself to turn around. You will be greeted by the incredible facade of the Church of Saints Vincenzo and Anastasio. It is believed that the original church on this site was built in 625 and the present church in the mid-1100’s. French Cardinal Mazarinus (Mazarino) restored it in 1650 for the Holy Year. For centuries this church served as a Papal parish. I’ve been told it holds the hearts and lungs of 22 popes.
“At this time, because of Rome, I should note an item we will always remember about Italy, and that is the drivers. All those vehicles running crazily about and all at seemingly top speed with motor scooters whipping in and out of traffic with only what seems to be an inch and a half of clearance. Driving in Italy is not for the timid, but can be a lot of fun so long as you are not the driver. Our daughter, Melinda, drove like a true Italian.” — Mario Brovelli, from Dad’s Words.
The Palazzo di Giustizia, the Justice building that houses the Supreme Court of Appeals in Rome. Italians also refer to this building as the Palazzaccio “due to the harsh lines and excessive decoration.” Perhaps the harshness extends beyond the architecture…
Melinda takes you to Sicily and climbs a volcano. Wander through narrow, cobbled streets, seaside towns and ancient ruins on the Italian island of Sicily and the Greek Peloponnesian Peninsula at Melinda Trips 2007: Sicily and Peloponnese.
