9 Days

9 days until we leave to go back to the States! So exciting!

Photography: A Guided Walk of Rome

-Click on the photo to make it larger-
For this walk we’ll be starting out at Piazza del Collegio Romano.
-Head southwest through the Piazza until you see Via della Gatta on your left
-Turn left on Via della Gatta and continue down this street until you get to Via del Plebiscito.
-Turn left on Via del Plebiscito
-Keep walking until you read Piazza Venezia, which will be on your right.
-This is a great place to snap photos. The monument is the Vittorio Emmanuel II monument and it is a massive marble structure. A 200mm lens would offer some great shots of the winged angels on chariots that are placed on top of each side of the monument.
-Keeping the giant monument on your right, catch Via dei Fori Imperiali and walk about ten minutes until you see the Colosseum.
-This whole road offers some great shots of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, which is on your right. The Forum is a great place to snap some shots of ancient Roman architecture and ruins.
-Once you are at the Colosseum, decide if you want to go inside or stick outside. Both choices can lead to great photos. From the inside, use the sky as a backdrop and switch into black and white. From the outside, use the busy streets surrounding the Colosseum as a backdrop and shoot away.
-Next, walk to the giant arch that is located behind the Colosseum, and in between the Forum and the Colosseum. This is the Arch of Constantine. If you are lucky you will find a wedding being conducted under the arch. This can allow you to take some great pictures! Once again, black and white might be the way to shoot here. But the choice is yours.
-Next, walk under the arch away from the Colosseum on Via de San Gregorio.
-Walk until you reach Piazza Porta Capena
-Turn right, and look to your left. This is Circus Maximus
-Circus Maximus is the location of the ancient Roman chariot racing stadium
-This is a great place to shoot on a sunny day. If you’re lucky (again), Romans will be picnicking and socializing in and around this huge park type area. Snap on a wide angle lens, just to make sure you get it all in there.
-Keep walking straight, keeping Circus Maximus on your left
-At the end of Circus Maximus is Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Take some pictures of this church. It’s a beautiful structure
-Cross the street towards the river, which is directly in front of you.
-You will see a fountain just before you reach the river. This is the Fountain of Triton.
-The fountain of Triton is a great place to sit and enjoy the noises of the city. Use sun to your advantage to get some shadow photos of the fountain.
-Walk behind the fountain and turn right onto Lungotevere dei Pierleoni
-Continue up Lungotevere dei Pierleoni until you read Ponte Fabricio, which is the walking bridge that leads to the Tiber River Island.
-Once on the bridge, be sure to take some photos of up-river and down-river.
-Cross onto the island and shoot from the island looking up at the bridges on both ends.
-Lastly, grab some gelato at one of cafes on the island and spend an afternoon sitting on the banks of the river, taking it all in. Of course, take some pictures at the same time.

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican museums are some of the most famous museums in Rome, and for good reason. Inside this museum you will access to some of the worlds best art that was commissioned by some of the most influential Popes of all time. The most famous of these is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II and was completed between 1508 and 1512. The main panels on the ceiling depict both Old and New Testament events such as the creation of the world and the fall of man. Also in the Vatican museums is Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, which was unveiled in 1993 after years of restoration. The painting shows the dead rising up to face God on judgment day. Pope Paul III Farnese chose this as a warning to Catholics to stick to their faith during the reformation. There is a charge to enter the Vatican museums, and it depends on what time of the year your visit occurs. During the summer months (the tourist season) the museum is open from 8:45am to 4:45pm. Check the times before you go. The museums are free on the last Sunday of each month. If you plan to go on the last Sunday arrive early as the line will go outside and snake its way through Saint Peter’s Square.

Gallery Doria Pamphilj

The Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is a beautiful Palazzo located in central Rome and is the location of the Doria Pamphilj Gallery. The building itself dates to around 1453 with various expansions happening from 1601 and 1647. The gallery charges an admission to gain access to over 400 paintings from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Among some of the art in the gallery you will find earlier Carravagio paintings such as Rest During the Flight into Egypt. Also inside the gallery is the private apartment that was once used by the family and it still contains furnishings and art that were originals during the periods when the family lived there. Outside the gallery is the Piazza del Collegio Romano, which is where we have class at everyday, right next to this gallery. The gallery itself was noted as one of Rome’s best galleries by DK’s Eyewitness Guide: Rome 2008. This is a must visit for anyone spending any time in Rome. The gallery is open 10am-5pm Monday-Wednesday.

All About Trevi

So throughout the summer I have been writing about The Trevi Fountain, but I never really explained what it is or how it came to be. So here we go! The Trevi Fountain is located about a 10 minutes walk from our school, here in Rome. The fountain itself is 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide and features a wide array of Baroque style architecture. Originally, the fountain was designed by Bernini but was torn down and replaced in 1762 with the current design, done by Nicola Salvi. He died in 1751 but work continued under the initial plans that were drawn up. In 1998 the fountain was refurbished and circulating pumps were installed, although a certain percentage of the water in the fountain still flows from the original source some 8 miles outside of the city. Interestingly enough, the name Trevi comes from the fact that the fountain is situated at the intersection of 3 roads (tre-vie) in a beautiful piazza. So, if you ever find yourself in Rome please visit the Trevi Fountain. Also, legend has it that if you throw a coin over your shoulder it will guarantee you a trip back to Rome. Give it a shot!

Viale Di Trastevere

I’ve been spending more and more time on Viale di Trastevere (and Trastevere itself), and for many good reasons. The weather has finally started to break here, and more and more people are coming into the city for the summer (the tourist season). Dom and I explored a new area the other day down by one of the bridges that crosses into Testachio, which is where our graduate assistants are living this summer. We picked up some gelato from the local gellateria and parked ourselves on a bench on the street corner and just watched people. I have noticed that Rome is a great place to people watch, and that Trastevere could be the “people watching capital” of Rome. There are no tourists here. I have heard from everyone (including locals) that the tourists tend to stick on the Rome side of the Tiber River, leaving Trastevere to the Roman natives. Anyways, we found a new favorite place to eat in Trastevere. It’s called Pizza Portese and it is fantastic! They have more than just pizza, they roast chickens, they sell bread, they have all types of lasagna, calzones, and many other items. The owners are great. They know that we’re American (we’ve been frequenting this place a lot lately) so they attempt to speak English as we attempt to speak Italian. In the end it all works out. After we get our pizza we go outside, lean against the wall and enjoy the authentic Roman taste as we watch hoards of Italians go about their daily, hectic lives.

Boys Town of Italy: Part II

On Friday June 13th we had the chance to visit Boys Town of Rome, which is a self-governing orphanage, located about ten miles from downtown Rome. I was so shocked at how welcoming and receptive they were to the arrival of 50+ Penn State students. At first I felt a little awkward walking around and looking at stuff, because I don’t think I would like people coming into my house and hanging out in my backyard just to witness something that, to the boys, is a part of everyday life. But this changed when we saw how excited the Mayor (a 16 year old from Morocco) of t he city was to have us in his town. They took us around the city and showed us everything from their winery to their bank to their assembly hall to their restaurant, all of which is governed and run by the boys (with adult supervision in some levels, as required by Italian law). Surprisingly their living quarters were very new looking and very comfortable. School was out for the summer but we got to tour their classrooms in which they learn computer programming, video editing, ceramics, auto mechanics, stained glass making, and many others. In the middle of our tour the boys hosted us for coffee, Coca-Cola, pastries, and other food items in their restaurant. This was a great chance to interact with the boys and learn about them and where they come. All in all this experience was extremely positive and I recommend visiting Boys Town if you ever find yourself in Rome. Ciao!