 | This is a legend now. Once, when the coliseum was fully accessible with no tickets, no security line, no crowds there used to be a cat colony inside the amphitheater. I was a child then. It seems a remote past, a mythological era, but the idea of the coliseum cats still persist today. Since many years the roman cats who are abandoned reside in an another archeological location, in largo Torre Argentina. It is true that we have a cat inside the coliseum, a fiery black cat I have seen in the venue in the past three years. We are fiends. |
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Some 4 years ago, I saw the first rabbit on the palatine hill and since then, while touring with my clients the remains of the imperial palaces; I always look around for them.
The palatine hill is the site of Rome origins... where our story started 28 hundreds years ago. It is where Romulus, Rome founder, created the city. Because of this symbolic value, the hill later become the residence of Octavian Augustus and of the later emperors. The site has majestic ruins and it is fascinating to immerse ourselves in this mixture of history, nature and power. I love the idea that this historical place has new inhabitants now...the bunnies. They are big... brown, grey and black colors, very calm, and not scared of people. I do not know how many rabbits are there, I’m always wondering, as the area is very extensive. I saw them first time in 2015. In 2016, I counted four, but the following year I saw none. I was worried, of course. Then I saw them again last year and few weeks ago. I just love them.
  I Iove Rome and constantly reflect on how, along the centuries the city has been modified by the the Emperors, the popes, the wealthy members of the aristocracy and of the church, and finally the Italian government. I know when streets were opened and why, when squares were embellished, when church were built or remodelled. Why and who decided and paid for all of this amazing urban ornament we can still enjoy now.  I was walking to the subway from the Borghese Gallery today.
I had the beautiful memories of the masterpieces of the art gallery in my mind when I saw this remains of the first city walls of Rome built about 24 hundreds years ago. The servian walls were built to defend the city after the Gaul invasion of 390bc. The circuit was 11 km long and, as you can see, was made of big blocks of vulcanic stone: the tufa.  Incredible and wonderful! I just entered this wonderful building and it was empty ! A real pleasure for the eyes and a touching experience I want to share with you. The fact that it was so early in the morning helped!  One of the two fountains decorating St. Peter's square. Finally the restoration works to clean the colonnade have been accomplished and the square looks beautiful.  Rome had this extraordinary location at the very beginning. The remains of Romulus huts and early settlement are very close to this panoramic terrace that overlooks the river and what later on became the city. The position was strategically dominating the river and the tiberine island: the main way to cross the river.  8.30am, it's freezing and I'm going to work! Many workers are in St. Peter square to ornate the Vatican Christmas tree.  Wednesday September 25, papa Francesco papal Audience seen from the top of castel St Angelo. St. Peter square was full of people! This morning 8.00am workers are placing back in order the thousands chairs used yesterday.   The Circeo national park is the oldest in Italy and an Unesco site. Our home is located in it's mountain near San Felice Circeo. Three baby wild boars who probably lost their mom come every night in our garden. Of course we feed them.  When you enter St. Peter basilica in the afternoon you feel bathed by light. We always remember Michelangelo's dome without realizing, sometime, that the dome is supported on these many windows that makes light becoming the dominating aspect of the church. A connection with the divine similar to the two fingers of Adam and God painted on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.  On the way to work, crossing Navona square I wished to share this beautiful image...  In the distance the Capitol tower seen by via dei fori imperiali  Parking of the headquarters of the national bank BNL this morning:
Plenty of sheep. Isn't it great?  Spring time arrives when the azaleas vases are displayed on the Trinita' dei Monti Staircase, better known as Spanish Steps.
 This view is one of my favorite, I don't know how many times I took a picture from the same angle of the Trajan column in contrast with the doomed church.
Rome is a wonder of artistic contrasts! Wonderful weather today in Rome!
By the Constantine triumphal arch the band of the street policy was performing this morning and enjoying the visitors of the coliseum with beautiful music. Every month they perform in a different roman square. Today it was coliseum square turn.  The famous Keyhole is located in a gateway leading to the Knights of Malta gardens in piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta on the Aventine hill in Rome.
The square was designed by the famous architect and painter Giovan Battista Piranesi, a 18th century famous architect and engraver also known for his romantic etchings depicting Rome, who also realized the palace and the small church called Santa Maria del Priorato, both within the extraterritorial properties. The beautiful and impressive square has splendid decorations rich in obelisks and military trophies full of symbols and references and the famous doorway with the keyhole. |
