DOCSLIB.ORG

There's No Place Like Rome

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
There's No Place Like Rome f2 rome:InFocusDE 14 16 10/30/08 12:33 PM Page 62 There’sNo Place Like ANCIENT AND MODERN FASCINATIONS UNFOLD ROMEIN ITALY’S INCOMPARABLE CAPITAL CITY. BY STACEY MORRIS Clockwise from top left: Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II; Ponte Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica; Vatican City; Bernini’s Canopy in St. Peter’s Basilica; Piazza Venezia A A A W ORLD | 62 | N OVEMBER /DECEMBER 2008 f2 rome:InFocusDE 14 16 10/30/08 12:33 PM Page 63 [ roman holiday ] ke OLD EY. A A A W ORLD | 63 | N OVEMBER /DECEMBER 2008 f2 rome:InFocusDE 14 16 10/30/08 12:33 PM Page 64 Arch of Constantine and Colosseum FROM THE VANTAGE POINT of one of its seven fabled hills, Rome ated on the east side of the Tiber River, unfolds like a tapestry woven in pale beige clusters accented with terra which bisects Rome like an undulating serpent. The Pantheon is one of the cotta. But beyond the color scheme, the Eternal City is, at its essence, a best-preserved buildings dating back to captivating blend of ancient and modern. Each morning as the sun rises ancient Rome (built by Agrippa circa over timeworn ruins and baroque duomos, city buses, Fiats, cyclists and 27 B.C. as a temple to the gods). After pedestrians jockey to negotiate the bustling streets of the city named being destroyed by fire, it was com- nearly more than 2,500 years ago after the ruler Romulus, who, accord- pletely rebuilt around 125 A.D., and in ing to Roman mythology, founded Rome with his twin brother, Remus. 609 was consecrated as a church by Pope Boniface IV. Used as a tomb since The Roman Republic, which began with its Sistine Chapel, as well as some the Renaissance, it is the final resting about 500 B.C. and eventually domi- monuments and opulent fountain place of painter Raphael and Italian nated much of the Mediterranean squares for good measure. While it may kings Vittorio Emanuele II and region, gave way to the Roman Empire. seem a bit cliché to make the rounds of Umberto I, among others. After the fall of empirical Rome, the such oft-photographed and filmed loca- The Roman Forum, set in the center Holy Roman Empire emerged and tions, the reality is, trodding the ground of Rome, is an intriguing swath of ruins came to dominate most of Europe. The where some of the most famous, and of ancient monuments, temples and empire may be long gone, but tangible infamous, figures in world history once basilicas. Built in the 6th century B.C. remnants have endured, in some cases walked is an experience that’s as fasci- on drained marshland, it’s now one of for millennia. nating as it is unforgettable. Europe’s most visited archeological Even to those who have never ven- sites. Nearby, the Capitoline Hill tured there, Rome evokes familiarity. If Ancient Wonders (Campidoglio) is considered the most only by reputation, it’s understood that With the exception of the grand sacred of Rome’s seven hills. Home to a visit to Italy’s capital will likely entail buildings in Vatican City, such as the sacrosanct Temple of Jupiter (in some combination of the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, most of the city’s which Brutus and his accomplices the Roman Forum and Vatican City ancient ruins and religious sites are situ- locked themselves after murdering A A A W ORLD | 64 | N OVEMBER /DECEMBER 2008 f2 rome:InFocusDE 14 16 10/30/08 12:33 PM Page 65 [ roman holiday ] Julius Caesar), the hill’s current main chapel of the north aisle is home to ing the showing of the spring and fall attraction is the Capitoline Museum, Michelangelo’s Pietàe, and the Vatican collections, you may even encounter a showcasing ancient Roman artifacts, grottoes beneath the basilica house a runway model or two. For shopping including an original 2nd-century B.C. cache of papal tombs, including that of that’s more affordable, climb the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius and John Paul II. For some of the most Spanish Steps and head towards Via the head from a giant bronze statue of panoramic views of Rome, climb the Francesco Crispi. Constantine. steps to the top of the basilica’s dome. Perhaps nothing is more emblematic Bear in mind the basilica’s strictly Cuisine alla Romana of Rome than the Colosseum, the enforced dress code, particularly if visit- Rome is a quintessential walking city, ancient but still-standing amphitheater ing during summer months. Shorts, and any combination of shopping and where Romans once turned out in miniskirts and bare shoulders are pro- sightseeing is sure to work up an droves to witness bloody gladiatorial hibited, and entrance attendants won’t appetite. Fortunately, Rome also fights, as well as elaborate stage produc- hesitate to turn away improperly abounds with good cafés and trattorias. tions nearly two millennia ago. dressed visitors. Roman cuisine is simple and rustic in Nowadays, it’s crowds of tourists who The nearby Vatican Museums con- nature, centering on roasted meats and flock to the Colosseum to snap photos tain such a vast assemblage of art, it’s fish with vegetable and pasta side dish- of what remains. Locals love pointing divided into a complex of pontifical es. A signature dish is Saltimbocca alla out that the hallowed site and its now- museums and galleries and boasts Romana, prosciutto-wrapped veal cut- deserted passages and tunnels serve as a everything from ancient Egyptian art lets sautéed with fresh sage in olive oil. feline hotel after sunset for the city’s and hieroglyphics to tapestries, ceram- Although the food in Italy tends to be ubiquitous stray cats. Next to the ics and a sea of famous paintings. If universally appetizing, it’s still a good Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine you’re a diehard art lover and want to rule of thumb when scouting for also cuts an impressive silhouette in the see the collection in its entirety, plan on restaurants to venture at least three Roman skyline. The towering ivory devoting two to three days. And don’t blocks away from monuments or structure carved in high-relief with miss the Sistine Chapel. After a 10-year famous sites to avoid the tourist menus triple portals commemorates the Battle restoration process that concluded in common on some streets. of Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D., which 1994, Michelangelo’s masterful depic- Pasta isn’t the only food for which resulted in Constantine’s conversion to tions of biblical stories are a dazzling Italians are renowned. Some of the best Christianity. kaleidoscope of color. gelato (ice cream) in the world can be It wouldn’t be a visit to Rome with- found in Rome. And java-lovers will out a stop in Vatican City, the sovereign Modern Pleasures city-state within Rome that serves as In addition to its great history and Tiber River and St. Peter’s Basilica the papal enclave. Visitors of all reli- art, Rome is also known for shopping gions will marvel at the grandeur of districts ubiquitous enough to give the St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. The most seasoned retail therapists a run for wide-open square that lies before their money. Many boutiques and gift St. Peter’s Basilica is framed by two stores can be found near the Piazza di mammoth semicircular Doric colon- Spagna, home of the famous Spanish nades topped with 140 statues of Steps. Probably the most celebrated saints. The sprawling space is where shopping corridor is the Via Condotti crowds traditionally gather for just off the base of the steps. You may Christmas and Easter services hoping not actually rack up a string of purchas- to catch glimpses of the pope. Anyone es on this swanky street, known as who has ever watched the televised Rome’s Madison Avenue, where many Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve will top designers such as Versace, Armani recognize the opulent interior of and Prada have boutiques, but window- St. Peter’s Basilica, the centerpiece of shopping is a great way to catch your which is the papal altar. The first second wind. And if you’re visiting dur- A A A W ORLD | 65 | N OVEMBER /DECEMBER 2008 f2 rome:InFocusDE 14 16 10/30/08 12:33 PM Page 66 feel as though they’ve gone to heaven since Italians put a high premium on the quality control of their coffee. Whether it’s a latte or espres- so, it’s virtually impossible to get a bad cup. A favorite cof- fee spot for locals and tourists alike is Caffe Sant’Eustachio in Piazza Sant’Eustachio near The Pantheon. The stately gardens and parks that are found through- out Rome lend themselves to another option: dining al fres- co. The choice is made even easier with markets scattered throughout the city that offer a mouthwatering array of fresh produce, freshly baked peasant bread, aged cheeses and cured meats, such as sala- mi and soppresatta. A favorite among which you will find Villa Doria the locals is Trastevere, a hip and Pamphili, the largest public landscaped bustling neighborhood on the western park in the city. Its centerpiece is the bank of the Tiber that brims with opulent four-story villa, also called Villa open-air markets and quaint trattorias. Doria Pamphili, once owned by the Once your picnic lunch is assembled, Pamphili dynasty. The park’s sloping head to nearby Janiculum Hill, on gardens are said to be Rome’s best loca- When in Rome PORTA PORTESE, the famous Sunday morning swap meet located in the Trastevere neighborhood, is one of the biggest open-air markets in Europe and the perfect place to brush up on your haggling skills.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Factsheet St. Peter's Basilica
    www.osram.com 1/3 Facts and figures – St. Peter's Basilica and other lighting projects in The Vatican at a glance LED technology from Osram already has proven its worth for lighting The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square and Raphael’s Rooms. From now on, the unique beauty of St. Peter's Basilica will amaze visitors more than ever. St. Peter’s Basilica o One of the largest and most important Catholic churches in the world o About 27,000 visitors per day o The illumination was digitally simulated on the computer in advance and then implemented without complex test installations in St. Peter's Basilica. o Lighting concept comprises 780 LED luminaires specially developed and manufactured in Wipperfürth, equipped with 100,000 light-emitting diodes from Regensburg and an Osram lighting management system. o Energy savings of up to 90 percent, with a reduction in the number of luminaires by 80 percent o Some domes shine 10 times brighter than before o The highest luminaire was installed at a height of about 110 meters, the lowest at a height of about 12 meters. o St. Peter's Basilica contains the largest mosaic in the world, with an area of approximately 10,000 square meters. This mosaic now shines in a previously unseen beauty. o Various lighting scenarios, from basic lighting to gala lighting, can be digitally controlled, depending on the occasion. o The newly created brightness enables television broadcasts from St. Peter's Basilica in a quality of VHD 4K and UHD 8K without any flickering or bias noise OSRAM Licht AG Marcel-Breuer-Strasse 6,
    [Show full text]
  • An Art Lover's
    INSIGHT DELICIOUSLY TRAVEL AND SMALLER SEAMLESS, EXPERIENCES AUTHENTIC STAY IN STYLE GROUP STRESS-FREE DINING CAMARADERIE TRAVEL AN ART LOVER’S TASTE OF EUROPE 15 DAYS | Departing 26 September 2021 A cultural journey, visiting some of the best art galleries and museums in Europe while enjoying the sights and tastes of a selection of Europe’s most loved cities. INSIGHTVACATIONS.COM #INSIGHTMOMENTS An Art Lover’s Taste of EuropeThe Louvre, Paris Itinerary DAY 1: ARRIVAL ROME DAY 3: GALLERIA BORGHESE DAY 5: RENAISSANCE FLORENCE Welcome to Rome! On arrival AND FREE TIME With a Local Expert, visit the Uffizi Gallery, complimentary transfers are provided to A highlight for art lovers today, a visit one of the oldest and most famous art your hotel, departing the airport at 09.30, to the Galleria Borghese, which houses museums in Europe. Admire works by 12.30 and 15.30hrs. Later, meet your a substantial part of the Borghese Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner in a collection of paintings, sculptures and amongst other masterpieces. Then local restaurant. (DW) antiquities, begun by Cardinal Scipione embark on a sightseeing trip to see the Hotel: Kolbe, Rome – 3 nights Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V who multi coloured marble cathedral, bell reigned from 1605 to 1621. The rest of the tower and baptistry, adorned by Ghiberti’s “Gate of Paradise”. This evening is yours DAY 2: ROME SIGHTSEEING day is yours to explore before joining for dinner at a local restaurant this evening. to enjoy the ambience of this timeless The day is devoted to the Eternal City.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 5 Art Offers a Glimpse at a Different World Than That Which The
    chapter 5 Art Art offers a glimpse at a different world than that which the written narratives of early Rome provide. Although the producers (or rather, the patrons) of both types of work may fall into the same class, the educated elite, the audience of the two is not the same. Written histories and antiquarian works were pro- duced for the consumption of the educated; monuments, provided that they were public, were to be viewed by all. The narrative changes required by dyadic rivalry are rarely depicted through visual language.1 This absence suggests that the visual narratives had a different purpose than written accounts. To avoid confusion between dyadic rivals and other types of doubles, I con- fine myself to depictions of known stories, which in practice limits my inves- tigation to Romulus and Remus.2 Most artistic material depicting the twins comes from the Augustan era, and is more complimentary than the literary narratives. In this chapter, I examine mainly public imagery, commissioned by the same elite who read the histories of the city. As a result, there can be no question of ignorance of this narrative trope; however, Roman monuments are aimed at a different and wider audience. They stress the miraculous salvation of the twins, rather than their later adventures. The pictorial language of the Republic was more interested in the promo- tion of the city and its elite members than problematizing their competition. The differentiation between artistic versions produced for an external audi- ence and the written narratives for an internal audience is similar to the dis- tinction made in Propertius between the inhabitants’ knowledge of the Parilia and the archaizing gloss shown to visitors.
    [Show full text]
  • 1-Day Rome City Guide a Preplanned Step-By-Step Time Line and City Guide for Rome
    1 day 1-day Rome City Guide A preplanned step-by-step time line and city guide for Rome. Follow it and get the best of the city. 1-day Rome City Guide 2 © PromptGuides.com 1-day Rome City Guide Overview of Day 1 LEAVE HOTEL Tested and recommended hotels in Rome > Take Metro Line A to Ottaviano San Pietro station 09:00-10:10 St. Peter's Basilica Largest Christian Page 5 church in the world 10:10-10:40 Piazza di San Pietro One of the best known Page 5 squares in the world Take Metro Line A from Ottaviano San Pietro station to Termini station (Direction: Anagnina) Change to Metro Line B from Termini station to Colosseo station (Direction: Laurentina) - 30’ in all 11:10-12:40 Colosseum Iconic symbol of Page 6 Imperial Rome Take a walk to Arch of Constantine - 5’ 12:45-12:55 Arch of Constantine Majestic monument Page 6 Lunch time Take a walk to Piazza Venezia 14:30-14:50 Piazza Venezia Focal point of modern Page 7 Rome Take a walk to the Pantheon - 15’ 15:05-15:35 Pantheon The world's largest Page 7 unreinforced concrete Take a walk to Piazza Navona - 10’ dome 15:45-16:15 Piazza Navona One of the most Page 7 beautiful squares in Take a walk to Trevi Fountain - 25’ Rome 16:40-17:10 Trevi Fountain One of the most familiar Page 8 sights of Rome Take a walk to Spanish Steps - 20’ 17:30-18:00 Spanish Steps Rome's most beloved Page 8 Rococo monument END OF DAY 1 © PromptGuides.com 3 1-day Rome City Guide Overview of Day 1 4 © PromptGuides.com 1-day Rome City Guide Attraction Details 09:00-10:10 St.
    [Show full text]
  • A Historical Aspect of the Restoration Measure, Distinctions of Original and New Architectural Materials : a Case Study and Spreads in Italy and in the World
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE A Historical Aspect of the Restoration Measure, Distinctions of Original and New Architectural Materials : A Case Study and Spreads in Italy and in the World 著者 大場 豪 号 59 学位授与機関 Tohoku University 学位授与番号 工博第5122号 URL http://hdl.handle.net/10097/62696 おお ば ごう 氏名 EA 大 場 豪 授与学位 A EA 博士（工学） 学位授与年月日 A EA 平成２７年３月２５日 学位授与の根拠法規 学位規則第 4 条第 1 項 研究科，専攻の名称 東北大学大学院工学研究科（博士課程）都市・建築学専攻 学位論文題目 A EA A Historical Aspect of the Restoration Measure, Distinctions of Original and New Architectural Materials: A Case Study and Spreads in Italy and in the World 指導教員 東北大学准教授 飛ヶ谷潤一郎 論文審査委員 A EA 主査 東北大学教授 飛ヶ谷潤一郎 東北大学教授 石田壽一 東北大学教授 五十嵐太郎 論文内容要旨 A E The distinction of original and new architectural materials is the restoration method especially applied for reassembling archaeological monuments. These members are distinguishable, for examples, by means of using different types of architectural members or of sculpturing the newly inserted parts plane unlike the original ones with detailed ornaments. According to the Venice Charter―the international guidelines on the restorations of monuments and sites―, it regards the former material as a respectable 1 element to achieve the intervention goalP0F .P The genuine also has an important role; it is one of information sources to evaluate the authenticity of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. These roles testify values of original materials in Europe where many historical buildings contain durable materials such as stone and bricks. In order to comprehend their importance historically, this dissertation deals with following steps until the restoration measure became the global method.
    [Show full text]
  • UF in Rome Language and Culture Invites You to Imagine What Your Summer of 2019 Could Be Like! Here Are Some of the Highlights O
    UF in Rome Language and Culture invites you to imagine what your summer of 2019 could be like! Here are some of the highlights of the first week of our outstanding study abroad program… Friday: Arrive in Rome jet-lagged but excited! Check into your apartment, located just off of Piazza di San Cosimato in the heart of the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome. Meet in the piazza in the late afternoon and walk together to the beautiful American University of Rome for orientation. Begin to get to know your classmates, followed by our first group dinner! Saturday and Sunday: Explore your new neighborhood, get to know your roommates, and have your first gelato (of many more to come!) Venture out and see if you can make your way to the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, Piazza di Spagna, and the Coliseum – to name a few! Piazza di San Cosimato American University of Rome Monday: Sleep in! Then meet up with other students to walk to school for the first day of classes. The course selection includes Beginning Italian I and II, Italian Cinema and Culture (taught in English), and Daily Life in Ancient Rome. All courses are taught by UF professors. Tuesday: The morning is free. Explore! Try picking up some fabulous fresh fruit and cheese at the open-air market in Piazza di San Cosimato before heading to class. You will be amazed by the flavor of the produce! After class, be adventurous and try a new restaurant for dinner, or explore a supermarket and cook your first meal at home.
    [Show full text]
  • Zaha Hadid the MAXXI Museum of 21St Century Arts, Rome David
    Auditorium (2002) which has become a centre for music in Rome, with its three beetle-shaped concert halls arranged around an open-air amphitheatre. The other major architectural intervention in Rome is Richard Meier’s controversial Ara Pacis Museum (2006). So the MAXXI is the third post-Jubilee Year building to make it to construction. Quite an event. They are the first new public works in Rome for over sixty years. “The Eternal City” is the eternal nightmare for anyone trying to build in Rome, unless you are Mussolini, tearing up the housing between Colosseum and Piazza Venezia to make space for your triumphalist military parades, or flattening the huddle of medieval dwellings around St. Peter’s to make way for a road to symbolise reconciliation between Catholicism and Fascism and spoil Bernini’s Baroque surprise: the embrace of his twin colonnades suddenly opening out from crowded buildings. Building anything in Rome is a challenge because the city is a palimpsest of overlapping cities, like an ancient manuscript with layers and layers of inscriptions scratched off its skin, written over or crowded with marginal notes made by different scribes in different centuries. Just imagine: baroque façades, Egyptian obelisks, Renaissance domes, early Christian mosaics, post-unification palazzi and the chaos of noisy traffic everywhere. If you have been to the basilica of San Clemente you will have seen a twelfth-century church built over a fourth-century basilica, above a Roman domus and Zaha Hadid Mythraic temple at street level, ending abruptly at The MAXXI Museum of 21st Century the edge of the excavation where, many feet below Arts, Rome ground level, a wall of rubble at the end of a barrel vault denies the view of the rest of the second David Brancaleone century city.
    [Show full text]
  • Life in the Roman Empire a Roman City Typically Had a Forum
    CK_3_TH_HG_P091_145.QXD 4/11/05 10:56 AM Page 133 himself. Commodus spent much of his time not governing but racing chariots and fighting as a gladiator in the amphitheater. He fought hundreds of times and Teaching Idea killed lions, panthers, and elephants—and men—by the scores. In his famous his- Roman homes were lit with terra- tory, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the historian Edward Gibbon memo- cotta or bronze lamps. Have students rably described the character of Commodus as a man more intent on pursuing his make their own lamps using the own pleasure than leading his people. directions on Instructional Master 22, Commodus was strangled to death in his bath in 192 CE. After his death, the Making a Terra-Cotta Lamp. After Senate ordered that all mention of him and his reign be expunged from the doing this activity, have students records. write a description of why it would be important to have these lamps in a Another famously wicked emperor was Nero, who ruled Rome well before Roman house. Compare and contrast Commodus, from 54–68 CE. Nero was given a good education—his tutor was the the use of these lamps to the lights philosopher Seneca—but he used his powers as emperor to suit his own purposes. that students use in their own homes. In the second year of his reign, he grew resentful of his mother’s attempts to con- What are the similarities and differ- trol him and began scheming to get rid of her. After having his mother murdered, ences? What are the advantages and he later murdered his wife and then married his mistress.
    [Show full text]
  • Ovid, Fasti 1.63-294 (Translated By, and Adapted Notes From, A
    Ovid, Fasti 1.63-294 (translated by, and adapted notes from, A. S. Kline) [Latin text; 8 CE] Book I: January 1: Kalends See how Janus1 appears first in my song To announce a happy year for you, Germanicus.2 Two-headed Janus, source of the silently gliding year, The only god who is able to see behind him, Be favourable to the leaders, whose labours win Peace for the fertile earth, peace for the seas: Be favourable to the senate and Roman people, And with a nod unbar the shining temples. A prosperous day dawns: favour our thoughts and speech! Let auspicious words be said on this auspicious day. Let our ears be free of lawsuits then, and banish Mad disputes now: you, malicious tongues, cease wagging! See how the air shines with fragrant fire, And Cilician3 grains crackle on lit hearths! The flame beats brightly on the temple’s gold, And spreads a flickering light on the shrine’s roof. Spotless garments make their way to Tarpeian Heights,4 And the crowd wear the colours of the festival: Now the new rods and axes lead, new purple glows, And the distinctive ivory chair feels fresh weight. Heifers that grazed the grass on Faliscan plains,5 Unbroken to the yoke, bow their necks to the axe. When Jupiter watches the whole world from his hill, Everything that he sees belongs to Rome. Hail, day of joy, and return forever, happier still, Worthy to be cherished by a race that rules the world. But two-formed Janus what god shall I say you are, Since Greece has no divinity to compare with you? Tell me the reason, too, why you alone of all the gods Look both at what’s behind you and what’s in front.
    [Show full text]
  • 75. Sistine Chapel Ceiling and Altar Wall Frescoes Vatican City, Italy
    75. Sistine Chapel ceiling and altar wall frescoes Vatican City, Italy. Michelangelo. Ceiling frescoes: c. 1508-1510 C.E Altar frescoes: c. 1536-1541 C.E., Fresco (4 images) Video on Khan Academy Cornerstone of High Renaissance art Named for Pope Sixtus IV, commissioned by Pope Julius II Purpose: papal conclaves an many important services The Last Judgment, ceiling: Book of Genesis scenes Other art by Botticelli, others and tapestries by Raphael allowed Michelangelo to fully demonstrate his skill in creating a huge variety of poses for the human figure, and have provided an enormously influential pattern book of models for other artists ever since. Coincided with the rebuilding of St. Peters Basilica – potent symbol of papal power Original ceiling was much like the Arena Chapel – blue with stars The pope insisted that Michelangelo (primarily a sculpture) take on the commission Michelangelo negotiated to ‘do what he liked’ (debateable) 343 figures, 4 years to complete inspired by the reading of scriptures – not established traditions of sacred art designed his own scaffolding myth: painted while lying on his back. Truth: he painted standing up method: fresco . had to be restarted because of a problem with mold o a new formula created by one of his assistants resisted mold and created a new Italian building tradition o new plaster laid down every day – edges called giornate o confident – he drew directly onto the plaster or from a ‘grid’ o he drew on all the “finest workshop methods and best innovations” his assistant/biographer: the ceiling is "unfinished", that its unveiling occurred before it could be reworked with gold leaf and vivid blue lapis lazuli as was customary with frescoes and in order to better link the ceiling with the walls below it which were highlighted with a great deal of gold’ symbolism: Christian ideals, Renaissance humanism, classical literature, and philosophies of Plato, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Main Groups of People Settled on Or Near the Italian Peninsula and Influenced Roman Civilization
    Three main groups of people settled on or near the Italian peninsula and influenced Roman civilization. The Latins settled west of the Apennine Mountains and south of the Tiber River around 1000 B.C.E. While there were many advantages to their location near the river, frequent flooding also created problems. The Latin’s’ settlements were small villages built on the “Seven Hills of Rome”. These settlements were known as Latium. The people were farmers and raised livestock. They spoke their own language which became known as Latin. Eventually groups of these people united and formed the city of Rome. Latin became its official language. The Etruscans About 400 years later, another group of people, the Etruscans, settled west of the Apennines just north of the Tiber River. Archaeologists believe that these people came from the eastern Mediterranean region known as Asia Minor (present day Turkey). By 600 B.C.E., the Etruscans ruled much of northern and central Italy, including the town of Rome. The Etruscans were excellent builders and engineers. Two important structures the Romans adapted from the Etruscans were the arch and the cuniculus. The Etruscan arch rested on two pillars that supported a half circle of wedge-shaped stones. The keystone, or center stone, held the other stones in place. A cuniculus was a long underground trench. Vertical shafts connected it to the ground above. Etruscans used these trenches to irrigate land, drain swamps, and to carry water to their cities. The Romans adapted both of these structures and in time became better engineers than the Etruscans.
    [Show full text]
  • Ist. Arts & Culture Festival First Global Edition Kicks
    IST. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL FIRST GLOBAL EDITION KICKS OFF IN ROME, ITALY ON MAY 31 ISTANBUL ’74 C o - Founders Demet Muftuoglu Eseli & Alphan Esel i to Co - curate IST.FEST.ROME With Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Nico Vascellari Demet Muftuoglu Eseli & Alphan Eseli , Co - Founders of ISTANBUL’74 launch the first global edition of IST. Arts & Culture Festival i n the city of Rome , the artistic an d cultural center of the world that has played host to some of the most impressive art and architecture achieved by human civilization , on May 31 st - June 2 nd 2019. Co - c urated by Demet Muftuoglu Eseli, Alphan Eseli, with Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Nico Vascellari , the IST.FEST. ROME will bring together some of the world’s most talented and creative minds , and leading cultural figures around an inspiring program of panels, talks, exhibitions, performances, screenings and workshops while maintaining its admission - free format. IST. FEST. ROME will focus on the theme: “Self - Expression in the Post - Truth World.” This edition of IST. F estival sets out to explore the ways in which constant changes in our surrounding habitats affect crea tive minds and artistic output. The core mission of the theme is to invoke lively debate around the struggle between reality and make - believe while acknow ledging digital technology and its undeniable power and vast reach as the ultimate tool for self - expression. IST.FEST.ROME will be presented in collaboration with MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts , the first Italian national institution dev oted to contemporary creativity designed by the acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid , and Galleria Borghese , one the most respected museums over the world with masterpieces by Bernini and Caravaggio in its collection.
    [Show full text]