A walk through the piazzas

Yesterday I went on a walk with my small group through the piazzas in the northern part of the city. We started by taking the metro to Piazza Della Repubblica where the group was assigned to meet. We walked up through the Pinico Gardens trying to walk on the side of the street that had the most shade because it was such a hot day.

While we were walking through the gardens we noticed a movie set but hadn’t stopped because we didn’t think anything of it. Suddenly a staff crew had stopped us on the side of the road indicating that they were about to shoot a scene from the upcoming movie Angels and Demons. The scene involved various cars and vespas speeding down the street. The first car had a camera tied onto the back of it to catch the action shot. Tom Hanks was supposedly at the shoot but he was nowhere in sight. After we got the signal that it was okay to pass we walked down the Spanish Steps to Bernini’s Fountain of the Barcaccia where the water was safe to use for hydration. The Spanish Steps are supposed to be decorated with beautiful flowers during the springtime but I haven’t seen them yet since I have been in Rome.

We continued walking straight through Piazza Barberini where there stood Bernini’s Fountain of Triton. From here I was nervous where exactly to lead the group because it was difficult to find the street signs in the smaller alleyways. When we arrived at Piazza Della Repubblica I was proud to say that the hand sketched map I had drawn and planned out directions through the piazzas were a success.

My visit to the Sistine Chapel

The Vatican museums took hours to get through and I didn’t even get to look at every piece of art. Some of the masterpieces that I passed while in the museum that I really enjoyed were the Laocoon, and the School of Athens. When I finally got to the Sistine Chapel there were crowds of people taking sitting along the sides of the room admiring all of frescoes that covered the walls. The Last Judgment consumed the entire back wall behind the altar. After seeing the elaborately detailed paintings it was no surprise to me that it took Michelangelo seven years to complete the project. The entire length of the wall was covered in souls of the dead floating up to face God. They were drawn with such detail in their facial features and muscular tones. Even though the painting didn’t reflect the faith of Michelangelo, it was ordered by Pope Paul III Farnese to warn all Catholics to remain faithful during the reformation.

When I looked up to the ceiling of the chapel I noticed the Creation of the Sun and Moon on the side of the painting closest to The Last Judgment. The whole picture was colored in black and white except for the sun and God’s sash clothing. Michelangelo did a great job of displaying the terrifying face of God as he is commanding the sun to light up the earth. I kept looking up at each individual painting and stopped for a couple minutes when I reached the Adam and Eve. In this picture God is reaching out his finger to Adam to pass on the spark of life. Another famous painting in the Chapel is The Original Sin. It was painted to demonstrate a woman whose legs turned into the snake of Satan after Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. There was so much to look at in the Sistine Chapel I could have been there for hours examining the detail of the famous paintings. I’m so happy that I didn’t leave Rome without getting to see the legendary site.

Piazza Information

Piazza del Popolo is one of the most unified squares in Rome. Two of the same Neo-class buildings are located across from each other. An Egyptian obelisk stands in the center of the piazza. The piazza used to hold carnivals where public executions would occur.

Piazza di Spanga was originally used in the 16th century to help transport pilgrims as quickly from Rome’s Porta del Popolo. Today the piazza is filled with Renaissance and Baroque art in its surrounding churches and museums such as Villa Medici and Santa Maria del Popolo. The Spanish Steps are used my tourists and locals to sit and take pictures, read or hang out. Beirnini’s Fontona della Barcaccia is located beneath the steps.

Piazza della Repubbica was a redevelopment taken on when Rome became the capital of Italy after it was unified. Currently there are banks, cafés and agencies that replaced the shops that were once there. Mario Rutelli’s Fontona della Naiadi in located in the center of the square. The piazza is currently used for exhibitions, live performances, movies and lectures.

Piazza Directions

Beginning at Piazza del Popolo, find your way to V. le Gebrele d’Annunzio and walk through the Pincio Gardens. This street will soon turn into Viale d. Trinita. Follow this road straight until you reach a large palace called the Villa Medici. Turn right onto Piazza Trinita dei monti, the street located on the right side of the villa. This road will lead you straight to the Spanish Steps. After descending the stairs you will be standing in Piazza di Spanga. Make a left at the Fontona della Barcaccia and continue walking down Via due Macelli until you reach Largo del Tritrone. After making a right onto the street there will be a fountain in the center called the Fontona dei Tritrone in Piazza Barberini, Continue walking straight making sure to stay on Via Barberini. Turn right onto V. Versilla Salita da Tolerntino. Cross over Via XX Settembre and walk straight down Via Firenze. When you reach Via Nazionale turn left and walk straight into Piazza della Repubblica.

Sistine Chapel

One of the things that I have yet to see in the past five weeks that I have been in Rome is the large frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel. It is the main chapel of the Vatican that contains paintings by Perugino, Botticelli, Signorelli, and of course Michelangelo. The artwork which covers the sides of the walls was finished between 1534 and 1541.

Mostly everyone who travels to Rome comes to see The Last Judgment, completed by Michelangelo in 1541. The fresco that took seven years to complete presents souls of the dead rising to heaven to face the wrath of God. Pope Paul III Farnese commissioned the painting as a warning to those practicing the Catholic Religion to remain faithful during the times of the reformation.

Although most of the crowd’s attention is captured by The Last Judgment, there are other fresco cycles that begin at the end of the chapel near the altar. Each fresco contains scenes which correspond to the central masterpiece of Michelangelo’s. These wall frescoes include the Punishment of the Rebels and the Temptation of Christ by Botticelli. Also covering the sides of the Sistine Chapel is Perugino’s Handing over the Keys to St. Peter, and the Crossing of the Red Sea by Rosselli.

Eyewitness Guide, pg. 244

The National Gallery of Ancient Art

The National Gallery of Ancient Art in Rome, Italy contains legendary artwork in two different locations. The gallery is split into two sections including Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Corsini.

Palazzo Barberini was built for the Barberini family in Rione Trevi between the years 1625 and1633. Most of the art that is showcased in the gallery dates back to the 13^th and 16^th centuries. The Allegory of Divine Providence and Barberini Power was decorated by Cortona to worship the family and their success. The fresco containing the bees and suns, which were the symbols of the Barberini family, is a site that many tourists would find worth their time.

Palazzo Corsini is located in Trastevere next to the Villa Farnesia and houses later masterpieces of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Most of the artwork found in the Corsini family gallery was given to the state. If you enjoy landscape, religious, and historical art this is probably a good place to visit. Both galleries include famous pieces from Bernini, Caravaggio, Tiziano and more.

Eyewitness Guide pg. 51

"Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica." Wikipedia. 19 may 2008. 16 Jun 2008 .

The Gardens at Pincio Hill

Beginning at Piazza dei Cinquecento, located in front of Rome’s central train station, turn left onto L. Einaudi and continue to walk until you reach Piazza della Repubblica. Proceed straight onto Via E. Orlando as it turns into Via L. Bissolati. There are two churches on either side of the road, Santa Susanna on the left, and the church of Santa Maria della Vittorio on the left. These churches indicate the start of Via L. Bissolati. Keep walking straight through Via Vitt. Veneto and turn left once you come to Viale dell’ Muro. The Pincio garden is located below Viale dell’Obelisca.

Pincio Hill can be found above the famous Spanish Steps. The gardens look down to Piazza del Popolo. Tourists normally tour the grounds when the sun is setting. The area is filled with planted palms, pines and evergreen oak trees that surrounding Egyptian-style obelisk. This peaceful place provides a relaxing and social setting for locals and tourists on a daily basis.

View from the Pincio Gardens

Making your way to the Trevi Fountain

From Piazza del Cinquecento, in front of the central train station in Rome, begin traveling to the Trevi Fountain by making a left onto Via L. Einaudi. Once you reach Piazza della Repubblica continue walking through Via E. Orlando. The Santa Maria della Vittorio church is on the corner of the street where you will turn left onto Via XX Settembre. Next, make a right when you see the road sign which reads Via d. Quattro Fontana. There will be another church on the left across the street if you are not able to locate a road sign. After coming to the Fontana del Tritone, make a left onto Via del Tritone. When you reach Palazzo Poli turn left onto Via Poli. If you see the church of Santa Maria in Via on Via del Tritone then you have missed Via Poli by walking to far. Immediately after turnig onto Via Poli you should see the large marble fountain.

Tourist are crowding the area around the fountain, snapping pictures of the elaborate statues which are standing above the clear, flowing water. The statues represent Neptune and two tritons on his sides. Local residents usually sit around the space while trying to relax and read their books. The fountain is surrounded by tiny shops filled with Italia merchandise shops and small cafés. The area is generally noisy during most times of the day. Shinning coins lay at the bottom of the water from those who have thrown the euros over their shoulder as they made a wish.

Touring the Appian Way

Catacombes: Hilary Hannan, Juliana Haviland, Nicole DiMeglio, Brooke Hersh, Mia Briceno.

Starting from Stazione Centrale Roma Termini Station, take the Archeobus. It is a bright green, open air bus, with a “hop on, hop off” system. It picks you up at the station, on the half hour, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and travels along the Appian Way, with 11 stops. The information we found and details about each stop can be found at Archeobus Route.

Tickets cost 13 Euro for adults and kids under 5 years old are free. They can be purchased online, on board, or at the Termini Station. We suggest that you purchase the tickets online, as there seems to be online discounts available.

Stop number 8 is Catacombe di San Callisto. We suggest you get off the bus and explore this catacomb. The hours are Thursday through Tuesday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. It opens again at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays and in February. It takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete the tour. Tickets cost 6 Euro for adults, 3 Euro for children under 15 years old and students and free admission for children under 6 years old. The information we found and more can be found at Home Page of San Callisto. After you finish you can either continue walking down Appian Way to our next suggested stop, the Catacombe di San Sebastiano, or hop back on the Archeobus. It will be the next stop on the bus tour.

Stop number 9 will drop you at Catacombe di San Sebastiano. The hours of operation and ticket costs are the same as mentioned above.

The Catacombs of San Callisto span from four different levels which include the crypt of the popes and the crypt of Santa Cecilia. The rooms which are of great importance in the Catacomb contain stucco and frescoes and can be reached by traveling through small hallways of volcanic remains. Also along the Appian Way is the Catacomb of San Sebastiano which can be identified with dull frescoes and graffiti. Although the catacombs seem to be a major tourist site, there are also basilicas located above the Christian tombs.