With Florence and Venice, Rome is
the most important touristic destination of Italy. Rome's history extends for 2,800 years,
during its period of splendor(between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476) Rome was
an empire that extended in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. For several
centuries, the Romans controlled the whole of Western Europe, as well as the entire area
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Today Rome is the capital of Italy and the largest city
(it has a population of 2,546,807 (2004) with almost 4 million living in the metropolitan
area). The Vatican City, a sovereign enclave within Rome,
is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope. The historical
center of Rome is identified as within the limits of the ancient imperial walls.
Monument to Vittorio
Emanuele II or Altare della Patria, Roma. It was erected between 1895 and 1911 to honour
Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy.
Palazzo Venezia, Roma. In
the mid-16th century, Cardinal Paolo Barbo began work for the costruction of his residence
incorporating a medioeval tower. After the election of the cardinal to the papal throne
with the name of Pope Paolo II, the palace became the papal palace. In 1564 Pope Pio IV
allowed the ambassadors of the Republic of Venice to lodge in part of the building. In
1806 it became the seat of the French administration by order of Napoleon. It was restored
several times in the 18th and 19th century. In 1924 the palace became a museum of Art and
Archeology. It was also the seat of the Fascist government of Mussolini from 1929 to 1944.
Mussolini set up his office on the first floor of the Palace.
PANTHEON
The
original Pantheon was built in 27 BC under the Roman Republic, during the consulship of
Marco Vespasanio Agrippa. Agrippa's Pantheon was destroyed by fire in AD 80, and the
Pantheon was completely rebuilt in about AD 125, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.
It was totally reconstructed, with the text of the original inscription (referring to
Agrippa) added to the new facade, a common practice in Hadrian's times. The building is
circular with a portico of three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns. It consists of
a huge rotunda preceded by a pronaos. The ceiling of the dome is coffered, and was
originally gilded; in the top of it is a circular opening (oculus) surrounded by a cornice
in bronze, 9 metres in diameter, through which light is admitted. The height from it
to the pavement is 43.20 metres, the same as the inner diameter of the drum. The dome
is the largest surviving from antiquity and was the largest dome in the world until
Brunelleschi's dome of Florence
was completed in 1436.
Pantheon, Roma. The inscription on the
portico of the building reads: "M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIUM·FECIT"
(Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this).
Piazza del Pantheon, Roma.
The "Oculus", Pantheon, Roma.
A circular opening (oculus) surrounded by a cornice in bronze, 9 metres in diameter.
Inside the Pantheon, Roma.
Inside the Pantheon, Roma.
MONTECITORIO
The
Prince Ludovisi, in about 1600, commissioned the project for this palace by Bernini. The
building was completed by Carlo Fontana in 1697. Since 1870 it has been the house of
Parliament and it's a symbol of the unification of Italy. The Montecitorio Palace contains
a collection of more than a thousand paintings and prints from various epochs.
Palazzo di Montecitorio, Roma.
COLONNA TRAIANA
Colonna Traiana, Roma.
PIAZZA DI SPAGNA, SCALINATA DI TRINITA' DEI MONTI
Chiesa di Trinità dei Monti, Roma.
CASTEL SANT'ANGELO o MOLE ADRIANA
Castle
St. Angel was the ancient mausoleum of Emperor Adriano (130 A.D.). This fortress was
intended as a sepulchre for Adriano and its family. In about 520 Theodoric transformed the
building into a prison, a role it was destined for many centuries.
Castel Sant'Angelo on the backgroundd
the Cupola of San Pietro, Roma.
Castel Sant'Angelo, Roma.
Sant'Angelo's bridge, Roma.
Cupola di San Pietro, Roma.
QUIRINALE
The
building was commissioned in 1573 by Gregory XIII as a summer residence for the Popes.
Quirinal palace was the seat of the papacy from Clement XI to 1870, the year in which the
complex was chosen as the palace of the kings of the united Italy; since 1947 it has been
the official residence of the president of the Italian republic.
Palazzo del Quirinale, Roma.
FONTANA DI TREVI
This
Baroque fountain is one of the most famous sights of Rome. The fountain was created by the architect Salvi in the 1732 under
Pope Clemente XII, who continued work begun by Bernini about a hundred years before.
Fontana di Trevi, Roma.
Ponte Rotto, an old Roman bridge (179
BC.) and the River Tevere, Roma.
