Hello again! These past few days have been jam-packed with events, orientations, classes, and explorations of Rome – it’s hard to believe it’s only been two days! While these “happenings” have been fun, they have also helped me in the daunting task of getting more situated within and comfortable with the city. Not so fortunately, they also make my daily routine much, MUCH busier. And so, I share with you all tonight some photos I have taken over the past couple of days, as well as my (brief) thoughts on them.
This photo is of the Largo Argentina (ruins) in Rome, where, at the foot of the statue of Pompey, Julius Caesar was believed to be assassinated. Interestingly, this square is also known for its stray cats, who for some reason love spending there time there. In this photo, you can spot two, but I was able to see at least ten cats that evening!The Sant’Agnese in Agone, in Piazza Navona, a beautiful Baroque church. It just so happened that today (6/21) was also a festival of music, so when we arrived in the Piazza, a military band was playing! Just a reminder that things, exciting things, are always going on in this city.Directly facing the Sant’Agnese is a Bernini sculpture called Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or Fountain of the Four Rivers. Each of the four corners represent one of the four known major rivers of four continents: the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Río de la Plata. As is expected of the famous sculptor, the figures are magnificent, and I wonder at the immense skill, study, and effort required to make each appear so real and life-like.My friend Izzy and I in front of la fontana! A breeze was blowing, which, under normal circumstances, would be much appreciated in the hot Roman climate.
Almost everywhere you go in Rome, there are little shrines to the Virgin Mary (Madonna). This one is located in the Piazza Navona, and so far, is my favorite. The inscription reads, “Advocata nostra, ora pro nobis”, or, “Our advocate, hear us/our prayer”, a simple yet powerful prayer.
The Pantheon, once a temple to Roman gods, and now a church to Saint Mary and martyrs. Not even photos can capture how enormous and grand the Pantheon is, inside and outside. It’s hard to believe that the remaining structure is almost 2000 years old!
The main altar in Saint Mary and Martyrs (Pantheon). Tradition holds that the artist Raffaello chose to be buried in the Pantheon because he believed it had the perfect balance between secular and sacred – I must agree. I noticed that, on the altar, there are first-class relics of saints, and, being the Catholic I am, proceeded to explain in detail relics and their significance. I only hope I did not talk her ear off…
To get to our apartment from the UW Rome Center in the Campo de Fiori, we have to cross the Tiber River on the Ponte Sisto. I only recently discovered that, in the distance, you can see the Vatican, and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, which I am very excited to see in person.And finally, a view of my neighborhood in Trastevere. The more I explore the area, the more I see how amazing my little portion of Rome is. Right down the street from my apartment, movies are shown every night in the park (Disney films included!), and there are so many neat shops and restaurants. Here, where the locals reside and live out their daily lives, is the authentic, original Rome.
Grisaffi Family Adventures 