Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
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Vatican City is a walled sovereign city-state within Rome it covers 110 acres it is the headquarters of the
Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. The Vatican Gardens, as the name suggests, are gardens within
this walled enclave. The gardens are located in the south and northeastern areas of the city and cover about
50 acres, almost half of the Vatican grounds. Although the gardens are closed to the general public it is
possible to take a guided tour. Those who want to see areas of the Vatican which most visitors don't get to
see or people who are interested in the foliage itself will find this a fascinating tour.
Nicholas II planted the beginnings of the Vatican Gardens when he introduced an orchard, a garden and a
lawn. This event was recorded in several places including a plaque which can be seen in the Palazzo dei
Conservatori on Capitoline Hill. The gardens were originally planted around 1279 and since then have offered
a place for contemplation and meditation for the popes.
The gardens contain vegetation from around the world including Australia, Japan and China. Together with
the exotic plants are those native to Rome and Italy. In the gardens are neatly mowed lawns, paths, seating
areas, pieces of art work, grottoes and water features. Among the trees in Vatican Gardens are pine, cypress,
chestnut and palms. From the gardens there are amazing views of St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City.
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Address:
Some recent additions to the museums include the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Religious Art in 1973 which is on
closes at 6pm
show in the Borgia Apartment; the Vatican Historical Museum (1973) and the Carriage and Automobile Museum. The above list
is only part of the endless Vatican Museums collections and so visitors need to plan their visit very carefully so that they can see
all the pieces which interest them. The Vatican Museums have various routes designed to take in the museum highlights in a
certain amount of time. You could take a 2 hour guided tour of the highlights or spend about 6 hours taking in as much as you
possible. Take into consideration that the museums cover over 14.5km.
Web:
The must-see highlights not to miss are the Laocoon; Caravaggio's Deposition; Raphael's Transfiguration; Aldobrandini
Marriage; The Good Shepherd; Belvedere Torso; work by Raphael; Apollo Belvedere; da Vinci's St. Jerome and of course the
breathtaking Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
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http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums and is named after Pope Sixtus IV (pope from 1471 to
1484). He ordered the restoration of the old Cappella Magna which was carried out by an illustrious list of
artists including Botticelli, Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio. The chapel was inaugurated in 1483 as Our
Lady of the Assumption. Julius II della Rovere (pope from 1503-1513) ordered the refinement and
redecoration of the chapel decoration and employed Michelangelo for the job. In 1512 the work was
complete and the space was inaugurated as the Sistine Chapel. Later in 1533 Michelangelo was asked by
Clement VII to paint the Last Judgment on the altar wall replacing the 15 th century frescoes. In the 16 th
century the entrance wall frescoes were painted again, this time by Hendrik van den Broeck and da Lecce.
More recently in 1979 and 1999 the chapel frescoes were restored.
Each surface of the chapel is covered with exquisite art, the Last Judgment is painted on the wall opposite the
entrance; the story of Christ is featured on the North Wall and the stories of Moses on the South Wall.
However the main painting which visitors come to see is the ceiling fresco by Michelangelo.
Michelangelo was originally commissioned to paint 12 apostles and ornamental motifs however he was not
too enamored with this idea and eventually was given a free hand to plan the ceiling painting as he pleased.
He constructed a scaffold of his own invention and painted the masterpiece while lying on his back. He
painted 9 important events from the Book of Genesis down the center of the ceiling, the most famous being
God giving Adam life with the touching of their two finger tips. Around the outer edge of the central scenes are
paintings of the 12 prophets and Sibyls. In the four corners of the ceiling are scenes from the miraculous
salvation of the people of Israel.
The chapel is used for mass and other services throughout the year and there is a permanent choir, the
Sistine Chapel Choir. But the space's most important function is as the Papal Conclave. This is where the
Popes are elected in a conclave of the College of Cardinals. A chimney is erected from the chapel leading up
to the roof and with the use of different colored smoke a signal is made when a new Pope has been chosen.
Although the cardinals no longer camp out in the chapel while they come to a discussion, the chapel is still
used as the venue for the voting for the new Pope.
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St Peter's Basilica is perhaps the holiest and most important church in Christendom, located within Vatican
City on Vatican Hill; it is the heart of the Catholic Church. The location has long been considered holy as the
apostle Saint Peter is believed to have been buried here in 64AD. Peter is considered to have been the first
Pope and so its place in Vatican City is fitting. A place of worship was first established on this site in
c.320AD, in the 15 th century, the structure was enlarged and improved with the help of Leon Battista Alberti
and Bernardo Rossellino. A new structure was created here under Bramante in 1506, and was continued by
Rafael who took over the task. Rafael was followed by Baldassarre Peruzzi and later Michelangelo. Maderno
was responsible for the stunning faade and finally the Basilica was consecrated in 1626. Bernini worked on
the church for 20 years and was responsible for much of the beautiful interior furnishing in the 1600s.
The basilica Latin Cross floor plan has a 186 meter long Nave with 4 aisles and the ceiling is 46 meters high.
There is a 136 meter high dome (thanks to Michelangelo) which is 42 meters in diameter. Visitors can climb
the 491 steps to get breathtaking views from the top. The basilica's faade is 114 meters wide and 47 meters
high with a triple arched portico leading into the atrium which has a central fountain. In total the Basilica
covers 22,000m and can accommodate 20,000 worshipers. Visitors to the holy Basilica approach the
building through the enormous St. Peters Square created by Bernini. St. Peter's is a major Catholic
pilgrimage site and Christians arriving here begin their visit by kissing the big toe of Arnolfo da Cambio's
brass statue of St. Peter on the right side of the main altar.
Within the church there are the angelic faces of 40 types of cherubs created in stone, mosaic and metal. The
statues of 39 saints, the founders of religious congregations, appear along the sides of the Nave and across
the Transept. In all there are 45 altars, 11 chapels and 10,000m of mosaics as well as beautiful marble
floors. Among the valuable pieces of Renaissance and Baroque art in the Basilica is Michelangelo's Pieta in
the first chapel on the right. Other stunning works of art in St. Peters are the bronze baldachin above the
papal altar and the confession (burial crypt) of St. Peter. St. Peter's tomb is one of 100 tombs within the
church; they include 91 popes, kings and queens.
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The expansive St. Peter's Square is located within Vatican City in front of St. Peter's Basilica. In the 1600s
the plaza was designed by Bernini who also had a hand in designing the adjacent basilica. His design was
limited by the constraints of surrounding structures but he managed to create a trapezoid shaped plaza of
grand proportions.
The elliptical shaped open area of the square is surrounded by 284 Tuscan-style Doric colonnades, in 4 rows;
the columns are 13 meters high. The enormous scale of the square and its surrounding columns was
intended to create awe in the worshipers who gather here to receive the Pope's blessing from the church or
Vatican Palace where he often appears to address the crowds. The square is paved in cobbled stones
divided up only by radiating lines created from limestone and zodiac signs so that the obelisks can be used as
a giant sun dial. A red porphyry stone on the paving marks where Pope John Paul II was shot in 1981.
Address: Piazza San Pietro, Rome
An ancient Egyptian obelisk stands at the plaza center, Bernini's granite fountain and a fountain designed by
Carlo Maderno flank the obelisk in the papal courtyard. Visitors enter the square through the Ponte
Sant'Angelo along the via della Conciliazione. St. Peter's Square is a masterpiece in architecture and balance
which inspires a feeling of reverence and spiritual peace.
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Originally a statue of the Emperor riding a chariot like the sun god, would have stood on the central tower this was replaced
later by a statue of an angel, hence the name of the castle. Today an 18 th century bronze statue of the Archangel St. Michael
has replaced the original marble angel and adorns the mausoleum in memory of a plague which raged through Rome in 590AD
only to end when an apparition of an angel appeared above the mausoleum.
When the Italian State was established the fortress was used to house soldiers and today the much loved iconic structure has
been restored and recreated. It is visited by tourists who come to see the National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo. Visitors
approach the structure by following a 400 foot long spiral ramp. Visitors can see the beautiful rooms used by the pontiffs with
delicate frescoes and on lower floors they can see the prisons and torture chamber.
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The Pantheon in Rome was built on the orders of Hadrian between 118AD and 125AD, it functioned as a
temple to all the Roman Gods. The temple was built to replace Marcus Agrippa's temple which had burnt
down in 80AD. The original inscription can still be seen above the Pantheon entrance " Marcus Agrippa son
of Lucius, having been consul three times made it ." The building is in such good condition thanks to
renovations made by the Byzantine Emperor Phocas in 608AD when it was converted into a church. The
church became the final resting place for several Italian kings including King Vittorio Emanuele II, Umberto I
and the artist Raphael who was buried here together with his fiance. The Pantheon architecture was unlike
other Roman Temples and so historians wonder at the buildings use.
The Pantheon faade features a triangular pediment which once would have held sculptured battle scenes.
The pediment is supported by three rows of columns leading into the front portico. From the rectangular front
entrance hall (cella) bronze doors lead in to the main part of the building which is circular. The marble veneer
covering the interior walls was a later addition but the geometric patterned marble floor is the original Ancient
Roman floor.
Within the building intersecting arches rest on piers which support 8 round headed arches. On floor level
there are 8 corresponding bays which house statues. The star feature of the Pantheon is the dome,
supported by a series of arches brilliantly engineered to hold the heavy dome. To further help support the
weight of the dome the walls beneath the dome gradually decrease in thickness. Also the builders used
lightweight materials on the upper part of the structure and heavier, sturdy materials on the lower section.
One of the fascinating qualities of the Pantheon architecture is the proportions of the dome which, if flipped
upside down would fit exactly into the Rotunda. At the highest central point of the dome is an oculus, a
circular opening, which floods the space with natural light. The oculus is lined with bronze and was never
closed. This meant that rain entered the building and drained off of the slightly convex floor into discrete
drainpipes. The interior height and the diameter of the dome are identical at 43.3 meters. Unfortunately we
don't know the name of the architect responsible for all of this precise and ingenious architecture. The
symmetry and mathematical skill used to create the Pantheon has been admired by artists and architects for
centuries and remains an inspiration to artists and designers.
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Although this is not the most beautiful of Rome's squares it is the most central with several major routes
converging here including Via Corso and Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is located at the foot of Capitoline Hill next to
Trajan's Forum. Piazza Venezia is not a pedestrian square and the large square sees endless traffic,
including most buses. The square is close to many tourist sites and most visitors will find themselves crossing
this square at some point in their trip to Rome.
Several important buildings line the square including the Palazzo Venezia, commissioned by the Cardinal
Venezia. The square takes its name from the palace. The palace was completed in 1464 and belonged to
Pope Paul II, it continued to be the residence of successive popes until Pope Pius IV. After that it became the
Venice Embassy (Serenissima) and later was acquired by Mussolini's government. The dictator would give
speeches from the palace balcony. Today it houses the Museo del Palazzo Venezia.
Address: Piazza Venezia, 00186 Rome, Italy
Other buildings on the square are the Assicurazioni Generali building (1911); the Monument of victor
Emanuel II (Il Vittoriano); Palazzo Bonaparte, the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte's mother; Palazzo
delle Aste and San Marco Church (1336). During digging to construct part of the Rome metro line in 2009 the
ancient remains of Hadrian's Athenaeum were discovered directly beneath the middle of Piazza Venezia.
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The Roman Forum is located in a valley between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, between the Palatine
Hill, Capitoline Hill and Esquiline Hill. The area was originally marshlands which were cleared with an
ingenious system during the reign of the last Etruscan kings (until 509BC). The Cloaca Maxima canal was
constructed to drain off the land into the Tiber River. Once the area was inhabitable it began to develop into
an urban center and for more than 1000 years this was the most important part of the city. The area's central
square, called Foro, was where the Romans would gather for meetings, trials and trade, the Forum was the
center of life in Ancient Rome. Also in the Forum there were markets, temples, government buildings, stores
and inns.
Several structures remain in the Forum from different periods in history. The 70 foot high Arch of Septimius
Severus, (203AD) to commemorate the victory over the Parthians. It is adorned with intricate bas-reliefs.
Statues remain from the House of the Vestal Virgins (Atrium Vestae), which was a 3 story, 50 room residence
which accommodated the virgin priestesses. Several of the original 20 Corinthian columns from the Temple of
Vesta remain, built on a podium 15 meters in diameter. The Curia Julia was where the Senate would gather
and although there were several locations over the course of Roman history, the Curia which remains was
constructed under Diocletian in 283AD.
The Rostra was a platform where speeches were made. The present platform was commissioned by Caesar
and made out of marble, it measured 24 meters wide and 12 meters deep. The Column of Phocas is the most
recent addition to the Forum, constructed in 608AD to commemorate a visit by the Byzantine Emperor
Phocas to Rome. Other outstanding structures in the Forum include the Temple of Saturn; Temple of
Vespasian and Titus; Temple of Castor and Pollux; Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and several churches
like the Basilica Julia (54BC); Basilica of Maxentius (308AD) and Basilica Aemilia (179BC).
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Palatine Museum
The Museo Palatino is located on Palatine Hill within the Palace of the Caesars and houses archaeological findings from
Palatine Hill. The artifacts in the museum date back to Iron Age tombs proving that Palatine Hill was probably the first
th
settlement in Rome. There are the remains of huts dating back to the 8 century BC, the traditional date of Rome's
establishment by Romulus. Thanks to the ongoing excavations items have been uncover which allow us to trace the progress of
Rome from its beginnings, through the Republic Era and into the Roman Empire and late ancient periods. Findings on the hill
show fortified walls, drainage systems, temples and palatial villas.
Palatine Hill was the site of many palaces in Ancient Rome and the museum holds statues, mosaics and frescoes collection
from excavations of the Palatine villas. In particular the artifacts on show come from the 1 st 4 th century when the Palatine Hill
was at its peak. You can see both art work found in the Palatine palaces and pieces of the architecture which were rescued, like
parts of columns and even walls. Together with the actual statues and archaeological findings there are photos of other pieces
displayed as well. On one of the floors of the museum you can see an exhibit about the prehistoric growth of Rome. One of the
most significant items in the museum is painted decorations from Aula Isiaca, as well as works from other Palatine buildings like
the House of Augustus, House of Livia and the House of Gryphons.
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Circus Maximus or Circo Massimo was the first and biggest arena/stadium in ancient Rome where the
citizens would gather to watch chariot races, gladiator fights, processions and major events. The stadium was
constructed in the valley between the Palatine Hills and the Aventine Hills. The venue continued to operate
for nearly a thousand years and at its height could accommodate an audience of a quarter of a million people.
The Circus Maximus became the model used to build other arenas throughout the Roman Empire.
The Circus Maximus grew and changed over the years starting in the 6 th century BC when the Emperor
Tarquinius Priscus had a race track created. Later significant developments came with the construction of
permanent gates in 329BC and new gates in 174BC. To keep track of the number of laps the chariots had
made 7 wooden ovals were placed on the spina (central wall of the arena) and for each lap an oval was
removed. Later in 33BC the egg shapes were replaced with 7 bronze dolphins. Following a fire in 31BC
Emperor Augustus had renovations made and included an imperial box. The wooden structure was burned
down again during Emperor Nero's reign in 64AD and finally, after a third fire the arena was rebuilt in 103AD,
this time in marble.
The new 3 story marble Circus Maximus was of grand proportions, the elongated oval shaped complex was
600 meters long and 150 meters high. The venue operated with great success until 549AD when the last race
was held.
Today visitors to the site of the Circus Maximus can only see the remains and outline of the structure within a
public park. Over the years the structure decayed and was covered with soil and waterlogged. Some
elements of the structure were used as building materials for Middle Ages and Renaissance structures. One
of the elements rescued from the remains was an obelisk which now stands in Piazza del Popolo. This grand
historic venue is still used occasionally for performances, events and concerts like the Genesis concert of
2007 which was attended by 500,000 people.
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Roman's largest public baths (thermae) were constructed from 212AD to 216AD during the reign of Emperor
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, also called Caracalla after the tunic he wore. The baths remained operational for
more than 300 years during a period when the city had over 50 public baths that were used in lieu of private
bathrooms. The baths served a social function as well as allowing citizens to wash away the dust. Bathing
was a ritual process beginning with a hot bath in the caldarium, then a luke-warm bath in the tepidarium, a
cold bath in the frigidarium and finally a relaxing swim in the natatio or open air swimming pool followed by a
massage or rubdown with scented cloths.
The water was provided by the Aqua Marcia aqueduct which brought water to the complex reservoirs, it was
only when the water supply was destroyed by the Goths that the baths ceased to operate. On the lower level
a radiant heating system was used to heat the water by furnaces and tubes. Slaves would spend their time
confined to the lower level, heaving the wood into the furnaces. The complex covered 27 acres and could
accommodate 1600 people who came to use the many facilities it provided like the gymnasiums, library,
stores, landscaped gardens, restaurant and even brothel.
The baths had marble seating, mosaics on the walls and floors, fountains, marble and bronze statues and the
walls were covered with polychrome marble and tiled mosaics. Today only the ruins remain as the baths
suffered from marauding Goths, earthquakes and pieces of the structure were taken to be used in other
Roman buildings. However visitors can still get an idea of the scale and opulence of the baths from the
towering red brick walls, grand arches, remaining mosaic floors and granite columns.
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This art museum is housed within the Villa Borghese Pinciana, designed by architect Flaminio Ponzio as the
suburban home of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The home was given extensive renovations in the 17 th
century but dates back to when it was Scipione Borghese' home (1579-1633). The beautiful home was used
for parties and the adjacent landscaped gardens are as famous as the house. The house has two floors with
20 rooms, the architectural and interior design features of the building are an attraction in themselves. One of
the rooms has a trompe l'oeil ceiling fresco and another has Roman floor mosaics. In the entrance hall there
is a mosaic featuring gladiators which dates back to 320AD and was found on the Borghese Estate at
Torrenova.
The works of art on show in the Galleria Borghese came from the private collection of Cardinal Scipione, son
of Ortensia Borghese (Pope Paul V's sister) and Francesco Caffarelli. The Cardinal was a patron of artist
Bernini and an avid fan of Caravaggio. The collection includes pieces of ancient art as well as Renaissance
and baroque art which re-evoke the Golden Age. The collection includes sculptures and paintings.
Canova's statue of Pauline Bonaparte (1805-1808) is one of the highlights of the collection. Among the
paintings are 107 works received by the Cardinal as a gift from the Pope, the paintings had been confiscated
from painter Giuseppe Cesari. Raphael's Deposition was another personal gift from the Pope and in 1682
Correggios' Danae joined the collection. Visitors can see Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, Titian's Sacred and
Profane Love and works by Lorenzo, Botticelli, Lotto, Rubens, Savoldo, Bassano and Domenichino.
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Although English speakers may expect this to be a villa house, it is actually a garden, the largest public
landscape park in Rome. The park is situated where a vineyard grew until 1605 when Cardinal Scipione
Borghese decided to have it made into a park. He employed Domenico Savino da Montepulciano, a well
known landscaper. The garden originally had a very geometric design but later natural elements were
introduced. The artificial lake was added in the 18 th century, it marks the center of the park. An Ionic Temple
dedicated to the God of Healing stands on a small island in the lake. The park remained the property of the
Borghese family until 1903 when the municipality acquired the land and the park was opened to the public.
The 1911 the World Exposition was held in the Villa Borghese, each country was represented by a
semi-permanent pavilion building constructed especially for the exposition. The British School building which
was designed by Edwin Lutyens remains together with several other pavilions.
Today the park covers 148 acres and within the park grounds are several buildings, a lake, temple, fountains,
statues and museums. The best known of the park museums is the Museo e Galleria Borghese housed within
the former Borghese family home. There is also the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna and the Museo
Nazionale Etruscan housed within the Villa Giulia (1553). The park has an amphitheatre, the Piazza di Siena
and an 18 th century arch, the arco di Settimo Severo.
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11:30 National Gallery of Ancient Art / The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
Visit Duration: 2 hours
1.5 KM, 19 minutes walking from Villa Borghese
This outstanding museum is housed within the equally stunning Barberini Palace which boasts The Triumph
of Divine Providence, a ceiling fresco by Pietro da Cortona. The central Gran Salone, where the ceiling fresco
is located, was designed by Bernini who also designed the building's faade. Other talented architects also
had a hand in the building design, like Cortona who designed the theatre wing (now demolished) and
Borromini who designed the spiral staircase.
The main part of the art collection consists of work by Italian artists dating from the 13 th century to the 18 th
century and including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, Filiop, Lippi, Lotto, Raffaello's Fornarina,
Michelangelo and Canaletto. There are a number of works by international artists like Ruben and El Greco.
The collection includes paintings, sculptures and works in other medium.
Visitors to the museum can also see the rococo apartments, the Gallery of Decorate Art, furnished with
precious objects by Cornelia Cosstanza Barberini who lived here with her husband Prince Giulio Cesare
Colonna di Sciarra. The apartments are furnished and decorated as they would have been when the couple
lived here and the walls and ceilings are adorned with beautiful frescoes.
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In the 17 th century the French had initially proposed a plan to build the Spanish Steps and top it off with a
statue of King Louis XIV. However there was opposition from the pope and the plan was only carried out in
1723-1726, but without the addition of the statue. The designer Francisco de Sanctis was chosen for the job
and the 137 step flight of stairs was built drawing on the technique of terraced garden stairs. The stairs
signified the peace between the Spanish (below) and the French in the square above. The steps are one of
the most romantic places in Rome (and the widest staircase in Europe) and attract a lot of attention from
tourists. In May the steps are decorated with azaleas and once a year there is a fashion show here when the
steps become the catwalk.
At the bottom of the steps is Piazza di Spagna, the Spanish Square got its name from the Spanish Embassy
which stood close by in the 17 th century.
Address: Via dei Condotti, Rome, Italy
The Piazza della Trinita dei Monti is the square at the top of the steps, named after the church which stands
on the square. An obelisk stands in front of the church, it was brought to its present location in 1788 from the
Gardens of Sallust. Also on the Piazza della Trinita dei Monti is the Colonna dell'Immacolata or the Column of
the Immaculate Conception. The column was recovered from beneath a monastery in 1777 and brought to
this piazza in 1857. The statue of Mary which sits atop the column was a later addition. One of the prominent
buildings on the square is the Villa Medici.
However the most prominent feature of the Piazza della Trinita dei Monti is the Trinita dei Monti Church.
Originally a small chapel stood here but following a commission by Louis XII a new, bigger and better church
was completed in 1585. The church has a renaissance faade although most of the architecture is in the
Gothic-style. There are two bell towers each with a clock, one shows French time (international time) and the
other once showed Italian time but now has a sun dial. Within the church are several frescoes including work
by Daniele da Volterra, Michelangelo pupil.
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Admission: Free
Opening Hours: 24/7
The Piazza di Spagna is the Spanish Square from which the Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti)
dramatically sweep up towards a higher level where the French Church or Trinita dei Monti is located.
The 18 th century square has an irregular shape and extends to the foot of Pincio Hill. The square features
the Fontana della Barcaccia created by Bernini created in 1598. The center of the fountain is a statue of a
small boat and inspiration came from the 1598 flooding of the Tiber River when a boat really did get stranded
on the square. Some of the buildings surrounding the square include the former home of English poet John
Keats, which is now a museum and the 15 th century palace of Lorenzo Cybo de Mari. The Piazza di Spagna
is the meeting point of some of Rome's most elegant and glamorous streets like Via Condotti and Via del
Babuino. The surrounding streets feature top haut couture stores like Gucci, Prada and Valentino. Note that it
is illegal to sit and eat your lunch on the steps.
Address: Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy
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Piazza Navona is an elongated oval-shaped public square in Rome, it was built on the former Stadium of
Domitian (the remains of which can still be seen on guided tours from Piazza Tor Sanguigna13). The original
name was Circus Agonalis or Circus Agonalis. The Piazza was paved in the 15 th century and used as a
market place and a venue for special events including mock naval battles. Today is a lively and popular social
meeting point in the numerous cafes, restaurants and places of entertainment which line the square. The
square is the venue for many annual fairs and festivals. The Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone (1670)is also
on the square and is perhaps the sources of the square's present name.
The main attractions of the square are the three fountains, the most famous being Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
The Fountain of the Four Rivers was completed in 1651 and although originally the artist Borromini was
commissioned, ultimately Bernini took over the design. The fountain features an obelisk brought from the
Massenzio Circus and surrounding the fountain base are figures representing four great rivers: The Nile,
Ganges, Danube and Rio de la Plata.
The Neptune Fountain (Fontana del Nettuno) or Calderari was designed by Giacomo della Porta and
constructed in 1576. Further statues of Neptune and the sea nymphs were added in the 19 th century.
The Fontana del Moro was also created by della Porta. The central statue was designed by Bernini in the 17
th
century and features a Moor and a dolphin. The Tritons (male mermaids) were added in the 19 th century.
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