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On the left map, we grouped Places that are located close to each other into small circles. Now, you can locate all Places on the map at the same time. You can also drag & zoom the map.
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page 3 out of 6
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- The Circus Maximus was one of the largest stadiums of Rome that was used to host chariot races among other entertainment events.
The Circus Maximus Since ancient times the Roman culture promoted entertainment and sports. Chariot racing was one of the Ancient Roman’s most popular forms of entertainment and it ... moreled to the establishment of the Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus was one of the largest stadiums of Rome that was used to host chariot races among other entertainment events. The stadium is located within the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills, in Rome, Italy. The original size of the stadium was 621 m long and 118 m wide, and it could accommodate 150,000 people.
The Circus Maximus was developed in the 6th Century BC, during the reign of Tarquinius Priscus who was the fifth king of Rome. The original Circus Maximus was built out of wood and it was designed specifically to race chariots. The very first gates of the Circus Maximus were built in 329 BC. In 174 BC, these gates were rebuilt and seven wooden eggs were placed on top of the spina, which was the central wall in the stadium. These eggs were used to count the number of laps during racing. One egg was removed after each lap. In 33 BC, seven bronze dolphins were added to the spina to serve the same purpose.
In 31 BC, the Circus Maximus was destroyed by a fire. The wooden structure was burnt but was later rebuilt by Emperor Augustus who also added an imperial box on the Palatine Hill. It was then that a large obelisk was added to the spina as a form of decoration. The obelisk can still be found in Rome today, at the center of the Piazza del Popolo. The second fire to burn Circus Maximus occurred in AD 64 during the reign of Emperor Nero. The Circus Maximus was again rebuilt by Trajan in AD 103. The stadium was now built by stones and it was three stories high. The sitting area of the stadium was built in marble. The stadium became bigger and more impressive. The Circus Maximus continued being popular and was used for several events. However chariot races were still the most popular events. The stadium could accommodate up to 250,000 and entry was free. Actually anybody, including the Rome’s poor, could attend the races in the stadium.
The last race to be held at the Circus Maximus was in AD 549. Thereafter, the stadium started becoming a forfeited area. Some of its marble and stones were stolen and used to construct new premises in the area. The decentralization of the area led to the collapse of the Circus Maximus.
Today, the Circus Maximus is just a public park within the centre of the city. The stadium is still used to host some concerts and meetings in Rome, though it is not as popular as it was during the ancient days.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
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The Via Sacra (Latin: Via Sacra) (Sacred Road) was the main street of ancient Rome, leading from the top of the Capitoline Hill, through some of the most important religious sites ... moreof the Forum (where it is the widest street), to the Colosseum.
The road was part of the traditional route of the Roman Triumph that began on the outskirts of the city and proceeded through the Roman Forum. In the 5th century BC, the road was supported by a super-structure to protect it from the rain.[citation needed] Later it was paved and during the reign of Nero it was lined with colonnades.
The road provided the setting for many deeds and misdeeds of Rome's history, the solemn religious festivals, the magnificent triumphs of victorious generals, and the daily throng assembling in the Basilicas to chat, throw dice, engage in business, or secure justice. Many prostitutes lined the street as well, looking for potential customers.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
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Encompassing Saint Peter’s Square are two colonnades which were designed by Bernini to symbolize the embracing maternal arms of the Catholic Church. The colonnades are comprised of ... morefour rows of columns, each column with 1.5 meters in diameter and 20 meters high.
Adorning the rooftop of the colonnades are 140 statues of various saints consisting of former popes, martyrs, evangelists and other Christian figures. The statues were created by Bernini and his students over a span of some 40 years.
On the ground, between the obelisk and each fountain, are marble discs marking the geometric “foci” of the elliptical shaped square of St. Peter’s. When standing on these discs, the columns of the colonnades appear perfectly aligned so that only the closest row of columns can be seen – indicating once again the architectural brilliance of Bernini.
Type: Attraction, Historic
- The Huge statue known as the Pigna (pine) or the Fontana Della Pigna depicts a giant Pine Cone
The Huge statue known as the Pigna (pine) or the Fontana Della Pigna depicts a giant Pine Cone. It is located in St. Peter's, in an area called the court of the Pigna.The Court of ... morethe Pigna is the northern part of the grand renaissance Belvedere Courtyard that stretches between the Papal Palaces to the "palazzetto" which belonged to Innocent VII's . The courtyard was segmented into three parts after the construction of Sixtus V's Library and the Braccio Nuovo of Pius VII. The present courtyard derived its name form the beautiful pine cone statue set into the "nicchone", borders on the south side with the Braccio Nuovo, and on the east it borders with the Chiaromonti Gallery. To its north you can find Innocent VIII's Palazzetto and on the west the galleries of the Apostolic Library are located.
The pine cone was cast out of bronze in the 1st or 2nd century by the sculptor Publius Cincius Salvius. He was identified as its creator because his name was written on the base of the huge pine. The Statue's height is almost 4 meters and on both sides of the pine cone there are bronze peacocks which are copies of the ones in Hadrian's tomb.
Before it was moved to its current location, known as the Court of the Pigna, the statue of the Pine was situated in the Campus Martius. This area is still known today as "Pigna" after this statue. At its previous location it was used as a fountain with the water pouring from holes pierced in the scales of the cone. At the 8th century it was transferred to the entrance hall of the medieval basilica of St. Peter. It was placed decoratively in the middle of the fountain covered by ornate baldachin. We know this because the statue was identified in Renaissance drawings of the hall. Eventually, during the construction of the current basilica, in 1608, the giant pine cone fountain was moved and situated in its current location.
This statue is a beautiful and ancient one and it's definitely worth stopping by and admiring it as it has been part of Rome's landscape for almost 2000 years!
Type: Attraction, Historic
The Chair of Saint Peter is also known as the Cathedra Petri in Latin. Cathedra Petri is a relic that can be found in St. Peter's Basilica. The actual wooden chair is placed inside ... morea beautifully sculpted bronze casing. The casing was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and was built between the years 1647–53. Like in many medieval reliquaries the casing of the chair is in the form of the relic conserved inside it; meaning that it was designed by Bernini to resemble a chair. The Latin word cathedra is used for a chair or throne and denotes a chair or seat in the use of a bishop. The Chair of Peter symbolizes the office of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.
Originally, the cathedra in St. Peter's Basilica was used by the popes. Inside the Chair is a wooden throne, which traditionally, was Saint Peter's throne. However, archeologist G.B. De Rossi, who was the last archeoligist to inspect this relic argued that only the acacia wood skeleton is in fact ancient while the other oak parts attached to the skeleton with strips of iron and ivory, are from Byzantine times.
The pattern on the upholstery of the casing depicts Christ giving the keys of heaven to St Peter. Large angelic figures were placed on both sides of a panel beneath a bronze seat cushion. The cathedra lies on bars that are held by four gigantic bronze figures; these are the doctors of the Church. The doctors are St. Ambrose and St. Augustine of the Roman Church and St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom of the Greek Church. The symbolism of this is That Doctors of the Church are the ones holding up the papcy and the Church.
Above the chair there is a Latin inscription: "O Pastor Ecclesiae, tu omnes Christi pascis agnos et oves" (O pastor of the Church, you feed all Christ's lambs and sheep). The same inscription was written in Greek on the right side.
Two liturgical feasts were celebrated in Rome in honor of earlier chairs associated with Saint Peter. One of these chairs was placed in the baptismal chapel of Saint Peter's Basilica, the other at the catacomb of Priscilla. No surviving chair has been identified as these more ancient chairs.
Berninis Cathedra Petri enclosing the wooden throne of St. Peter in the Vatican
Type: Attraction, Historic, Museum
- Trastevere is rione (region) XIII of Rome. It is a medieval area in Rome which is separated from the central city by the Tiber river.
Trastevere, Rome Trastevere is rione (region) XIII of Rome. It is a medieval area in Rome which is separated from the central city by the Tiber river. Despite its narrow lanes, many ... moretourists are attracted by its liveliness and the beautiful sceneries surrounding it. Trastever means literaly beyond the Tiber. It is the only place in Rome that survived the medieval period. Trastevere has a diverse nightlife and houses several archeological gems, as well as an international body of artists, students and expatriates who love the area’s special picturesque atmosphere and many secrets alleyways.
Trastevere has several historical attractions among them are the following:
Church of Santa Cecilia: this is a historical landmark decorated with beautiful frescoes and mosaics. It also has a fountain that contains a water vessel that lights up during the night. Behind this church, there is a sculpture dedicated to the martyr Santa Cecilia.
Gianicolo: it is also known as Janiculum Hill. If you climb this hill you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Rome. This is the hill became famous in the ancient days because it is where pagan priests used to go to in order to read the omens provided by the flight of birds; from these they would divine the outcome of different events which occurred in the city. The Janiculum Hill was also known as the site of a battle between troops that were under Giuseppe Garibaldi’s command and fought against the French.
Nightclubs: Trastevere is an awesome place to spend some time during the night. There are many lively nightclubs in the area that plays all types of music and keeps people entertained for the whole night. If you want to have some good time out in Rome, then Trastevere is the place to go. Some of the popular clubs in the area are Big Mama and Freni e Frizioni.
Restaurants: Trastevere area is also full of world class restaurants where you can enjoy Roman food at affordable prices. The restaurants offer classic dishes that are not easy to find in any other place. Some of the renowned restaurants in the area include Checco er Carettiere, Osteria Zi Mberto, The Mirror, Ai Marmi, among others. The restaurants offer both in-door and out-door services. The atmosphere at the restaurants is relaxing and soothing.
Trastevere also has an excellent museum as the Museum of Rome in Trastevere, located in Piazza Sant'Egidio, which hosts the permanent exhibition dedicated to folklore and Roman dialect poets, but also many temporary exhibitions. But that is not the only museum in the district: the House of Memory and History presents exhibitions and events to keep alive the memory of anti-fascism, Resistance and Liberation war; the Corsini Gallery which is full of historic pictures, the Botanic Garden located in the park of Villa Corsini, etc. The Trastevere area also has many Roman Catholic churches such as San Crisogono, Santa Maria in Trastevere.
On Saturday mornings Trastevere hosts a huge flee market called the Porta Portese. If you like flee markets this is most definitely the place for you as you can find there anything from clothes to antiques and old records.
Type: Historic, Neighborhood
- Piazza Venezia
Piazza Venezia is a square located in the heart of Rome, Italy, at the end of the Via del Corso. The square is surrounded by magnificent sites such as the Pantheon, the Roman Forum
Piazza Venezia Piazza Venezia is a square located in the heart of Rome, Italy, at the end of the Via del Corso. The square is surrounded by magnificent sites such as the Pantheon, ... morethe Roman Forum, Trajan’s Forum, the Capitoline Hill, Palazzetto Venezia, the outstanding monument of Victor Emanuel II, Palazzo Bonaparte (home of Napoleon’s mother), Palazzo delle Aste, and San marco Church among others.The square is normally characterized by the heavy traffic as it forms an intersection of various road sections and therefore you may not find a quiet place to stand in at the square itself but its surrounding areas are full of incredible sites.
One of the outstanding landmarks at the Piazza Venezia is the II Vittoriano. The monument was dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first king of Italy. This monument was built in the 20th century and it completely changed the appearance of the square. During the construction of the II Vittoriano, many structures were demolished and others moved to other sites, among them was the Palazzetto Venezia.
Another structure near the Piazza Venezia is the Palazzo Venezia. This is the building that gave Piazza Venezia its name. It was built between 1455 and 1464 by cardinal Pietro Barbo who later became Pope Paul II. Piazza Venezia is among the most magnificent structures in Rome. This building was first used as a papal residence until when it was handed over to Venice by Pope Pius IV to be used as the Venetian embassy. The Italian government acquired Palazzo Venezia in 1916. It was from this building’s balcony that Benito Mussolini used to address people. Currently, Palazzo Venezia houses Museo del Palazzo Venezia museum which has a collection of historic decorative art including ceramics, sculptures, paintings and tapestries.
Adjacent to Piazza Venezia you can find the Palazzo Generali which was built between 1906 and 1911. This building replaced two palazzos which were demolished in 1900 to give space for the expansion of Piazza Venezia square.
Another incredible structure near Piazza Venezia is Palazzo Bonaparte. The palace was named after Letizia Bonaparte (the mother of Emperor Napoleon I).
During the excavations of the Rome C Metro Line in 2009, ancient remains which were said to be to be the relics of Emperor Hadrian were excavated from the middle of this square.
The whole area of Piazza Venezia is amazing. The place is full of spectacular buildings that can be seen from the square. You can climb the many steps at the Piazza Venezia square and have an overview of the neighborhood. The square is very beautiful and always full of people from all walks of life. When you climb to the top of the stairs, you can see the view of the whole of Rome. You will have an amazing view of beautiful buildings, sites and parks. Transportation to and from the square is very efficient as there are many buses leaving from the square to other parts of Rome.
Type: Attraction, Historic
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- The Vatican and Rome are holy cities to the Roman Catholic Christian faith.
The Vatican and Rome are holy cities to the Roman Catholic Christian faith. Rome is the seat of the Papacy since the 1st century AD and later home to the Vatican, where the Pope resided ... moresince the 14thcentury. Traditionally, the See of Rome was founded by Saint Peter who first held the position of the Pope or Bishop of Rome. According to UNESCO St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican is the largest religious building in the world. Today Rome has a Cathedral and more than 900 Churches and some of the most prominent Catholic churches can be found there as well as many important Catholic institutes. For Catholic believers, Rome is more than a tourist attraction but also a center for pilgrimage and Prayer.
The Vatican is situated in a walled enclave inside Rome. The Pope's residence is also known as the Apostolic Palace and it is located North-East of the St. Peter's basilica.. Since 1984 all of Vatican State is acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site. The main tourist attractions in the Vatican are: St. Peter's basilica, Vatican gardens, St. Peter's Square, and the Vatican Museums with their impressive collections of art, maps and statues. The entrance to the Basilica and Square are free of charge. Note that visitors are asked to dress appropriately when entering the church.
Since February 1929 Vatican City State is a sovereign state of the Holy See. This was established by the signing of the Lateran Treaties. The Vatican's status as a sovereign State is recognized universally.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic
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The Pontifical Swiss guard is a group of Swiss Guards that guard the Vatican City State and the Pope. The Pontifical Swiss guard protects the Pope and its area of operation is in the ... moreVatican, which is the home to the Roman Catholic Pope.
The Pontifical Swiss guards are known for their helmets and striped uniforms and they have become one of the most outstanding traditions of the Vatican. These Uniforms originated in the Renaissance. The current Swiss Guard's three colored dress uniform is designed to look like the guard uniforms of that period. Every uniform is sewn individually for each guard. The Vatican was often attacked by outsiders before it became a state. Due to the fact that Vatican City is in the center of Rome and the Pope's household was situated there the Pope's life was constantly exposed to danger. This led to the establishment of the Pontifical Swiss guard.
Following an alliance with the Swiss confederation the first group of the Pontifical Swiss guards was welcomed into Vatican City on the 22nd of January, 1506 by Pope Julius II. The group contained 150 guards. Ever since, the Swiss guards have served as the Vatican military force known as the Pontifical Swiss guard.
Not anyone can qualify to be a Vatican Swiss guard. There are requirements which must be met for you to qualify as a Vatican guard. First, you must be a Catholic, you must have a Swiss citizenship, and you must be a single male aged between 19 to 30 years. You must have completed basic training with the Swiss military and you should be able to obtain a certificate of good conduct. Candidates must also have a high school diploma or a professional degree, should be at least 174 cm. If someone wants to be chosen as a Swiss guard he must go through a process of application. There were suggestions that female candidates be considered for recruitment as Swiss guards. This is not yet a possibility but that maybe it will be in the future. The guards are allowed to marry after serving for some years at the Vatican.
The Vatican Swiss guards have official uniforms of blue, red, orange and yellow colors. The uniforms are tailored inside the Pontifical Swiss Guard barracks. The guards also have some equipment: both traditional and modern arms including a sword, command baton, flamberge, partisan, cuirass with spaudlers, etc.
The Pontifical Swiss guards also perform ceremonial duties. Because of on their responsibilities at the Vatican City, the role of the Vatican police is very crucial to the operation of the Vatican. When you enter the gates of Vatican City, you will meet the Vatican Swiss guard who will check you and give you directions on where you want to go. The guards also work closely with the Pope. During the public masses, these guards are the ones responsible for the overall security of the Pope.
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- The Vatican's post office was established on the 11th February 1929 and it has continued to offer its own postal services ever since then.
The Vatican's post office The Vatican's post office was established on the 11th February 1929 and it has continued to offer its own postal services ever since then. The first equipment ... morethe post office used was donated by the Italian government. First, the Vatican's post office services were only provided within the Vatican City. But the services expanded and it became possible to start sending mail throughout Rome after the Vatican City had became a member of the Universal Postal Union on the 1st of June 1929 and signed a postal agreement with Italy on the 29th of July of the same year. The official stamps of Vatican City are produced under the authority of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State
Do you still use "snail mail?" even if you don't, a postcard with a Vatican stamp is a lovely gesture to your family and/or friends. The Vatican’s Post Office is open to everyone who wishes to send mail both within and outside Vatican City. The office is open during most part of the days and also depending on the season. During winter season, the opening hours of the Vatican Post Office are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.; Monday to Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Saturday. During summer season, the opening hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Monday to Saturday. The office remains closed on Sundays. The Vatican's post office also has its branches in St. Peters Square and in the Vatican Museums.
Apart from the usual postage stamps sold by the Vatican's post office, you can also find some special stamps at the Vatican post office. These stamps encompass features related to specific occasions. For example, during the resignation period of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, the Vatican's post office issued special cancellation stamps to mark the end of the Pope’s papacy. This special postmark showed Pope Benedict XVI in the foreground with his arms raised in a greeting. In the background of this special stamp was dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and it was encrypted with the words: “Pope Benedict XVI Renounces the Petrine Ministry. Vatican post, 28.2.2013,” written in Latin.
The Vatican also sells some special types of stamps and envelopes that are made only when there is no Pope (Sede Vacanta). These stamps are considered by the Vatican's post office as “special stamps” because they are issued only when the Pope is not in his place. In most cases, these stamps are very high in value and purchased in bulk by stamp collectors not just for economic value but also because they are more valuable since they symbolize a very crucial period for the Roman Catholic Church.
Funnily enough, in Italy many Romans travel to the Vatican City Post Office to post their critical letters as a result of their distrust for the Italian postal systems. The Vatican's post office sends millions of letters every year and its services are more reliable. In fact the Vatican City’s postal system was to be “one the best postal systems in the world”, by the Universal Postal Union. The Vatican's postal code is 00120.
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Attractions, things to see and places of interest .
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