Bramante’s perfect proportions
Hidden in the small cloister of St Pietro in Montorio on the Janiculum hill, Bramante’s Tempietto (little temple) is considered as the High-Renaissance masterpiece encompassing all the ideals and ideas … Continue reading
Piazza di Spagna
My favourite time to go to Piazza di Spagna is early in the morning, between 8 and 9 am, before it gets too busy. The light is already quite bright, … Continue reading
Rome’s best swimming pool
Finding a swimming pool in Rome is no easy task. There are a few but they tend to be part of rather outdated yet expensive private sports clubs. One of … Continue reading
An olive grove in the middle of the city
Italy is well known for its many monasteries, usually located in beautiful and peaceful settings to favour a life of meditation. However, one such monastery exists in a very urban … Continue reading
A shining light from the Dark Ages
For a period of a thousand years, from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 to the 15th century Renaissance, Rome went through its own dark ages. The city … Continue reading
The Caravaggio enigma
The early 17th century painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, was somewhat rediscovered in the 20th century, when he became highly fashionable again. His dark and powerful style of painting corresponded … Continue reading
Italy celebrates…
All shops and offices are closed today in Rome for the 150th anniversary of the Italian Unity. On that very day in 1861, the newly formed Italian Parliament proclaimed Vittorio … Continue reading
The weight of tradition
Rome is a city of traditions, a city of the past, where rituals stay alive century after century. Among the odd ones in my view is the celebration held every … Continue reading
Relaxing in a thermal pool
Italy is well known for its thermal baths and spa resorts. After all, the tradition started two thousand years ago, when the Romans developed sophisticated water systems and aqueducts. The … Continue reading
Creating heaven on earth
The villa d’Este in Tivoli on the outskirts of Rome is famous for its amazing 16th century terraced gardens, which on a steep hill of only about four hectares, include … Continue reading
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