ROME
Palatine is the most famous hill of Rome tied with its most ancient history. And true, it is here that the first cabins of a square shaped city emerged; then it spread to the neighboring hills. Palatine was chosen for construction of the most important civil and church buildings as well as houses for private persons such as Cicero, Crass, Tiberius Grakh. Afterwards emperors of Rome began to build their residences here. This is how Domus Augustano, Domus Flavia, Domus Transitoria, Domus Aurea and Domus Tiberiana appeared, remains of which remain to this day. Later castles of Gothic kings, numerous Popes and Emperors appeared on the Palatine Hill. In Middle Ages, churches and monasteries were erected here and, finally, in XVI century the biggest part of the hill was occupied by a grand ensemble of Villas and Gardens of Farneze. In XVIII century, archeological excavations began that enabled to find gigantic ruins of Domus Augustiano, splendid art of the epoch of Republican rule and remains of the pre-historical cabins. At the same time, a monumental portal of XVI century opening an entrance into the Farneze Gardens was found.
San Giovanni in Laterano is the cathedral temple of Rome. According to a Latin inscription on the high façade, San Giovanni is also “the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.” The church built around 314 by Emperor Constantine witnessed many historic events. Charlemagne was baptized here in 774; Popes were crowned by the church’s altar until XIX century, and in 1929 Laterano agreements were signed here.
Via Appia is south-east of Rome, not far away from San Giovanni and connects Rome to “the Heel” of Italian “Boot” stretching from the city of Brendizi at the Adriatic coast. This famous military road brought Romans from Rome to Capuia and came into history as the first paved Roman path built in 312 B.C. by Appius Claudius – a Roman statesman, censor, writer, the author of the line “every man is a blacksmith of his destiny.” Along the road monuments of an old necropolis (cemetery of pagan and early Christian time) are preserved. On this same road once Spartacus was led to be executed… The Via Appia Road is a unique place. They say that the gravitation law discovered by the great Newton does not work on a spot 40 kilometers from Rome! An amazing sight opens before one’s eyes here: items that should be rolling down the hill in fact move in the opposite direction!
The most beautiful fountain of the city – the Trevi Fountain – where the Rocco and Baroque styles interfere is a famous site, because of which a small market square Di Trevi became the most crowded one. The fountain was built and rebuilt for one hundred years. In 762, its final version, that belongs to architect Nicola Salvi and has been preserved to this day, appeared. In the center of the fountain is a big statue of god of the ocean Neptune; on the sides – tritons on seahorses symbolizing a sea storm (on the left) and a still (on the right). Statues in a niche behind Neptune depict Health and Abundance, while the statue of the fronton represents four seasons with their gifts (a sculpture by Pietro Bracci). The fountain stands against the background of an arch in Neo-Classic Style, which belongs to Saint Luke Academy. Side protrusions of the fountain imitate natural cliffs, rocks and waterfalls. The name to the fountain that stretches along the whole Palazzo Polium wall was given by three streets that join together at it. Water is brought here from an ancient aqueduct (a bridge construction to send water across a ravine or a river), which was built in XIX B.C. by Agrippa. This place is very popular among tourists, who throw coins inside to come to Rome again.
Piazza di Spagna Square and Scalinata di Spagna Staircase are one of the most outstanding sights in Rome. The Spain Palace Palazzo Spagna (1622), residence of the Spanish ambassador in Vatican, gave a name to this amazing square and the famous staircase located on it. In 1629, a Frenchman Francesco Di Sanctis on money of one French diplomat built beside the embassy the Scalinata di Spagna. And in XVIII century, territory around the square was considered a Spanish domain, crossing of which could be dangerous for an Italian – one could automatically change citizenship and end up enlisted in Spanish army. From of old Piazzo di Spagna attracted people of art and foreign tourists as a magnet. Hotels, studios and cafes attracted such celebrities as Byron, List, Stendhal and Wagner. Scalinata di Spagna finishes Bia Condotti and Piazza di Spagna. There are always many tourists here, who sit down on the steps of the stairway choosing a seat higher to overlook the surrounding areas, to rest and have a snack. This huge ornate construction attracts visitors not only by its size but also by the view above, from where one can see Barcacco Fountain in the form of a half sunk ship (in memory of a flood in 1598) and panorama of north-eastern Rome. And to ascend the stairway is not that easy – hollow steps come together and apart; landings get at times narrower, at times broader causing legs to jump and dance.
The ascend is crowned by French Trinita dei Monti church, which is worth of note for the fact that it has a dome uncommon for Italian cathedrals: two symmetric belfries. The interior of the church is painted by an apprentice of the great Michelangelo, who before that had added “fig leaves” to the frescoes of his teacher in the Sistine chapel in Vatican.
If you come up on Pinco Hill you will see before you Villa Borgeze Park with a museum and Villa Borgeze Gallery. Villa Borgeze Park, the first one of this kind in Rome, was planted between 1613 and 1616 for Borgeze family. Today the park with its ponds, fountains, groves and meadows is a beautiful place for strolls and siesta. The Borgeze gallery once was a casino (a small house) at the Borgeze villa – this was the name of the main building of the Italian countryside manor. Later, this word started to be associated with gambling, which often was the main occupation of owners of such villas. Although by number of exhibits the Borgeze collection is less than many galleries in Rome, it is considered to be the most beautiful one in the city. Many of the works of art of the Borgeze collection were ordered by Cardinal Scipion Borgeze, a nephew of Pope Paul V, and were bought by the State in 1902. Scipion was a patron of one of the greatest Baroque sculptors Bernini, whose many works are presented in the gallery. But the most famous sculpture of the collection is a work by Antonio Cannova: the Statue of Paulina Borgeze, Napoleon’s sister and Camillo Borgeze’s wife. Among the most significant works of the collection are works of Rafael, Titian, Botticelli and Caravaggio.