The Square that Nobody Wanted
by mrclay2000
The Piazza del Popolo at the north end of the city is the first thing to greet people entering through the Porta Flaminia. Access to the Villa Borghese is just outside the gates from this square, which has the four lions gurgling acqua beneath another obelisk. At times the square is used to display new cars, and motorcycles often choke the environs. The square has some great overlooks on its perimeter, and two thoroughfares going straight to the Spanish Steps and the Piazza Venezia, but otherwise this square attracts the people who have no other square to use. Personally I like the place, but not because of its crowd of outcasts and misfits. Without much merit of its own, it is closely associated with the dearest parts of Rome.
The Crypt of the Capuchins -...
by Bec
The Crypt of the Capuchins - this eerie place houses, or contains, the bones of monks. Basically you walk along and see five rooms which have bones stuck on the roof and walls as well as the skeletons of dead monks in their robes. It was a real honour for the monk to have their remains displayed in this place... It's creepy but definately different.
combine busses and metros
by jurkka
Use busses for one stop or few to get around, if you have the week ticket.
you can always take your chances without ticket, no one will notice unless ticket inspectors hit...
i learnt the bus lines fast by just jumping in bus and jumping off immediately when they started to turn on wrong direction.
Do avoid busses and metro in rush times (7.30am to 8.30 am, 4-6pm), and dont get yourself inside too crowded ones.
"Sexy Wine"
by nyonnetti about Miscellanea
This was a fun little cafe just a block or so away from the Pantheon. Located on a quiet little back alley, it offered everything I love about eating in Rome. The food was cheap and the service was welcoming, as this restaurant caters to students. We found it in our Rick Steves' guide book and if you put your guide book on the table they will give you a free glass of "sexy wine." It was a lot of fun and it had the best bread I ever had! Caprese con prusciuto crudo- this was one of the best meals I had in Italy. It is fresh prosciuto, mozzerella, and basil. Add some balsamic and olive oil with the bread and what more could you ask for?
The Colosseum
by Nina.M.
The Colosseum ,or Flavian Amphitheater,was built by Vespasian,who wished to restore to the people the area that Nero had transformed into a lake and incorporated in his immense Domus Aurea(Golden House).It was still incomplete when it was inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD with games that lasted for a hundred days and saw the slaughter of at least 5000 beasts.The construction work was completed by Domitian.The colosseum was transformed into a fortress in the Middle Ages ,and became a quarry for materials until the mid-18th century,when Pope Benedict XIV conscretated it to the Passion of the Christ by setting up the Stations of the Cross around the arena.Since then many restorations have been carried out,including the exemplary one by Raffaele Stern who blocked the "crumbling" arches with a brick retaining wall.The exterior and main load-bearing structures were built in travertine opus quadratum ,and the remainder in tufa,brick and limestone opus quadratum.The Colosseum is elliptical in shape,and measures 188 by 156 meters.The exterior is composed of three orders of eighty arches,each supported by pillars framed by demicolumns,and culminates in an attic with Corinthian pilaster strips surmounted by corbels,high 48.50meters.In the stone facing of the attic one can still see the slots for the poles that supported the enormus velarium,an awning that was used to cover the arena.The seating was arranged according to rank ; the lower tiers,reserved for the patricians,highest to the plebs.The arena was divided from the rest by a podium and balustrade.The Colosseum has a seating capacity that ranges from 40.000 to 73.000
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What remains of Basilica Giulia today
Temple of Saturn & Temple of Concordia(right)
Il Vittoriano at night
At the entrance of Villa Borghese
