Monday, September 29, 2008

Hidden and not so hidden treasures of Rome






29 Sett.
I headed to the Capitol for the weekend after my friends left for parts north.
My trip to Rome was filled with new sites and activities and since it was a free weekend for all museums and historic sites, I got to see many new places I might otherwise pass by. The list includes the Via Appia antica where the catacombs are located (left for another time), Piramide which happens to occupy the same wall as the protestant cemetery where Keats and Shelley are buried among other fascinating personages. I visited the ancient Terme di Caracalle which were baths of cold, tepid and hot water with a swimming pool and two gyms which serviced 6-8000 romans a day in ancient times. Also, I visited the museum of oriental art and the church of Santa Prassede where some of the best mosaics in Rome are visible as well as "the column used to secure Jesus during the flagellation". Other sites included the consulate of Malta which is famous for a hole in their door which perfectly frames, with the arbor inside, the Cupola of St. Peters and is near the garden of the orange trees (giardino degli aranci) and a number of little churches like St. Sabina.
The pix are of the above sites with the pyramid St. Paul passed by as he entered Rome visible from the protestant cemetery. The entrance to same where you can see Keats grave and on his tombstone is written "Here lies one whose name was written in water". Then the porta Ostiense with a typical little Fiat 500 in pink driving by, the Terme and finally the mosaics in Santa Prassede.
dds

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