The Walls and Gates of Rome
The Walls of Rome The Servian Walls If you’re arriving to Rome’s 1930’s Termini Train Station, look to the right as you walk out the front of the station into …
The (not so Spanish) Spanish Steps
Oh the streets of Rome are filled with rubble Ancient footprints are everywhere You can almost think you’re seeing double On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs …
Mussolini’s Architectural Legacy in Rome
Rome is a very old city, by most estimates, over 2800 years old. You can literally wander from the 8th century BC to the 21st century in a day’s walk. The …
Christmas in Rome
Christmas or Saturnalia? In 336, the Roman Emperor Constantine inserted a celebration of Jesus Christ into the fun and frolic of the Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn held annually …
September in Rome – 2015
When the ancient Roman year began in March, at the time of the Vernal Equinox, September was the 7th month. Septum is Latin for 7. A lot has changed over …
Secrets of the Castel Sant’Angelo
At age 59, the Emperor Hadrian returned to Rome and began work on his legacy. He spent most of his life traveling to the extents of the Empire, through Africa, …
The Coliseum – Fact and Fiction
We rent an apartment that (literally) overlooks the Coliseum, the ancient Flavian Amphitheater that first opened in 80 AD. We sit on the terrace every evening and watch ‘closing time’ …
Byzantine treasures of Rome
A short history of Byzantium In 660 BC, Byzantion was an ancient Greek city named for Byzas, one of the many children of Poseidon, there were more than …
The curious tale of the Laocoön and his sons
On January 14, 1506, a farmer named Felice da Fredis was digging up his vineyards in the Esquiline Hill and discovered a concealed chamber. Inside was one of the most …
The Life and Death of Via dei Fori Imperiali: 1932-2015
On October 28th, 1932, Benito Mussolini sat atop his horse, looked out over his newly built ‘Via dell’Impero’ (Road of the Empire) and smiled. He was about to lead the …
Take the A train to Cinecittà
It’s known as ‘Hollywood on the Tiber’, ‘The Dream Factory’ and the ‘House that Fellini built’. It’s one of the most famous movie studios in the world. It’s also less than …
Protect yourselves against Con Artists, Pickpockets and Thieves of Rome
Rome gets over 30 million tourists a year. If you’re a thief, con man or pickpocket it’s a great place to ply your trade. Thieves are mostly looking for naïve, …
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