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, …
Finding Pompey’s Theater in the Campo Marzio
Walk along the Piazza di Grotta Pinta. It’s a small horseshoe curved street off the via dei Chiavari near the Campo dei Fiori, one of Rome’s great marketplaces. The curve …
Eating well in Italy (the more you know, the less you pay)
For a foodie or gourmet or buongustaio, Italy offers a number of 3 star Michelin Restaurants. You could spend €220/per person for the 9 course tasting menu at ‘La Pergola’ …
Saving the Mausoleum of Augustus
December 2014 In 2014 the City of Rome celebrated the Bimillennial (2000th) anniversary of the death of the Emperor Augustus. He died on August (of course) 19th, 14 AD, after …
Nero’s Golden Palace is Open (Again)
The Domus Aurea is open. These are words rarely heard in the past 1,950 years. After the great fire of Rome in 64 AD, Emperor Nero rebuilt his Transitory Palace …
2014 – The Paris World Fairs and the 7th Arrondissement
In 1765 , a grassy field near the ‘Ecole Militaires’ (military training school) was trimmed and cut into what became the ‘Champ du Mars’. It was named after Mars, the …
Venice and the treasures of the 4th Crusade
From the 11th-16th centuries, Venice was the Master of the Sea, the Merchant to World and the greatest Naval power in Europe. She was known as ‘La Serenissima’, ‘Il Stato …
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