Here are some photos of my very quick trip to Rome.
I made the trip to rendezvous with my son Jackson, who is in the midst of a long Euro odyssey. We were joined in Paris days earlier by Niall and the three of us traveled together to Rome.
The Flavian Amphitheatre. (or...the 'Roman Coliseum') I'm pretty sure you cannot get a crappy photo of this magnificent building. On this night, we arrived in our rented quarters just as the sun began to set and we stayed on our feet, exploring the ancient sites until about 3AM.
'Ponte Rotto' or, "Broken Bridge". This is the remainder of the ancient Pons Amelia, which once crossed the Tiber just beyond the Isla Tibernia (Tiber Island). One isolated arch remains of Rome's ancient, first great stone bridge. Since seeing the broken bridge 40+ years ago, I have always fantasized climbing it. The three of us briefly considered and rejected that concept on this night!
Just leaving St. Peters Basilica after the full Vatican experience. This orange glow is real, btw...and SO beautiful. That's Jackson on the left and Niall on the right.
Inside Michaelangelo's great dome above St. Peter's Basilica.
When someone is visible walking on the catwalk beneath that row of clearstory windows you realize the letters on that facing ring are each far taller than a man.
Bernini's bronze pergola in St Peter's Basilica. Pope Urban VIII commissioned Gianlorenzo Bernini to design and build the Pergola...then stole the necessary bronze for the job from the ancient Roman Pantheon! Read this fascinating piece about the inspiration Bernini found for this project in the birth of his sister's child, which he witnessed on a night while designing this great work! Chapel Domes - Interior of St Peter's (stpetersbasilica.info)
Michaelangelo's Pieta.
Its a crappy photo, because its so far from viewers...and behind glass. This was the only piece Michaelangelo Buonorotti signed during his long life. Unbelievably, he completed it when he was only 23 years of age. When he delivered it to St. Peters he hung around and listened to the conversation it inspired among visitors and critics, who wrongly speculated as to who the artist must be. This was more than the legendarily emotional young man could stand...so he returned later that night and carved into the sash between Mary's breasts: "Michaelangelo did this"! Obviously the Pieta's security is necessary...but I'd love to get a closer look and run a hand over this stunning work: Vatican marks anniversary of 1972 attack on Michelangelo's Pieta | Reuters
Donato Bramante, the famed renaissance architect (Commissioned by Pope Julius to build St. Peter's Basilica) designed these magnificent stairs at the Vatican museum. Notice the two yard-birds walking at the top of the frame!
Raphael's 'School at Athens' fresco'd in the 'papal apartments'. Raphael and Michaelangelo did NOT like each other. Their professional jealousies kept them as fierce rivals for papal commissions...But when Raphael gained access to Michelangelo's unfinished Sistine ceiling, against the master's wishes, he solemnly realized Michelangelo's superiority and made this piece...the greatest of his life...a tribute to the brilliance of his great rival. Rivals- Raphael vs. Michelangelo — ArtCurious (artcuriouspodcast.com)
The 'Belvedere Torso' is a classic Greek sculpture unearthed during the renaissance that effected Michelangelo greatly. One can easily see the inspiration it held for his frescoes in the Vatican....His 'creation of Adam' in the Sistine ceiling and his 'St. Bartholomew' in 'the last judgment' are both obviously inspired by this beautiful, ancient fragment. There is also a story that the nearly 90 year old Michelangelo made a long, final pilgrimage to see and appreciate the piece once more during the last months of his life. Michelangelo’s Inspiration: The Belvedere Torso | by Christopher P Jones | Thinksheet | Medium
A beautiful Ancient Roman portrait sculpture of the great republican era Roman statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Without Cicero's letters written to his friend Atticus (living in Athens) we would know far, far less about Ancient Rome than we do. Even the first emperor Augustus, who counted Cicero a bitter rival commented when asked about Cicero after his death: "He was a great lover of his country". Letters of a Philosophical Statesman - Claremont Review of Books
The Roman Pantheon. Probably designed and built by the great ancient architect, Apollodoris of Damascus, as commissioned by the emperor Trajan...although nobody knows for sure. What is certain is that this is the best preserved great structure of all antiquity. After spending a couple of hours considering Trajan's forum and Apollodoris' confirmed works there, I am now pretending that my opinion that it was Trajan and he, not Hadrian, who built the Roman Pantheon...uh...matters. The Pantheon (article) | Middle empire | Khan Academy
This is the balcony facing the Piazza Venezia where the fascist leader Benito Mussolini famously delivered his public addresses before and during WWII. As you can see in comparing the historical photo to mine...the stone 'fasces' at the edges of the stonework surrounding the building's opening have been removed at some point...But I did see and wonder about a LOT of fascist symbology in public works during my days walking around Roma this time. Read: Why Are So Many Fascist Monuments Still Standing in Italy? | The New Yorker
OK back in the Pantheon. This was a very hot, early afternoon with the sun nearly straight up in the sky. The oculus is the only source of light in the Pantheon and it does just fine illuminating all within. It was also pretty cool inside. You could also see a cool, faint beam between the oculus and the spot it casts on the interior dome and walls, but I couldn't photograph that for some reason. 'Masses' with incense smoke, etc must be dramatic in here.
Jack and Niall. Very cool cats on a VERY cool street.
Here is a close up of Trajan's Column....
...and here's the whole picture. This was a beautiful night and walking around this area was really exciting and beautiful. Take a look at the attached, which describes the amazing construction of this beautiful piece! Construction · Column for Trajan · Piranesi in Rome (wellesley.edu)
This is Trajan's Market in Trajan's forum. This is basically the world's first retail mall. Inside, there is a long, curved main hall with retail storefronts facing from 2 directions. Basically this is the ancient model for 'Northgate'. Trajan built his forum at a time when imperial Rome was struggling with the awesome task of managing and administering to it's gigantic empire. (Indeed, Hadrian, who followed set out to reduce the empire's size and holdings as his first task.) The story of how Rome afforded Trajan's lavish forum is actually told in the winding cartoons of the column. These relief sculpted panels describe Rome's sacking of the gold-rich state of Dacia. (modern day Romania+) That's what I have for now. Thanks for reading. Take a look at the next post, which will show some photos of my Paris days, which preceded Roma!