| Testaccio neighborhood |
Here below we have listed some of those.
Michelangelo Buonarroti Works
| Moses |
- Piazza del Campidoglio
- Porta Pia
- Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
- Statue of Moses and all the composition od the grave for Pope Julius II, located in the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli
Monte dei Cocci - Monte Testaccio
The area of theTestaccio, neighborhood was, at the time of ancient Rome, the area of the river port, where the goods that were necessary for a citi havin one and half million inhabitants were arriving.
Among those goods there were olive oil and wine. They were transported using clay (testaceus in Latin language) vessels, amphorae. The pieces (cocci in italian language) of the broken amphorae were stacked, so forming an artificial hill, having a height of approximately 40 meters. Hence the names Monte dei Cocci and Monte Testaccio. The neighborhood is one of the most popular in Rome, home of the best fans of the football team A.S. Roma, that hade its stadium here in the Thirties. It is full of restaurants, cafè and discos. Discos are moslty located around the hill.
In one of the cafe-restauraunts that is located on the side of the hill along Via Galvani, it is possible to see the stacked pieces of amphorae through a glass wall on the back of the dining room.
Milvian bridge is for sure worth a visit. It is one of the most ancient Roman bridges. The first construction occurred in 206 BC but then it was completely reconstructed in 109 BC. The central portion is still mostly the original one, while the two sides have been reconstructed.
Still wondering why Caius Caestius wanted to be buried in a pyramid? Once you go around Rome and look at the obelisks that are standing all over the city you will realize that Romans were absolutely crazy about everything that was arriving from Egypt. Among all other things, ancient Romans brought to Rome, and to other cities of the empire, several Egyptian obelisks, leaving very few in Egypt. And they did also copies. But we, in Rome, have continued to build obelisks even on recent times, the last one celebrating the new millennium.
Do you want to know more curiosities, to discover something off the beaten tracks, to get ouur recommendations for your stay in Rome?
What you have to do is to reserve your room at Villa Borghese Guest House or in one of our other properties.
| The broken amphorae |
In one of the cafe-restauraunts that is located on the side of the hill along Via Galvani, it is possible to see the stacked pieces of amphorae through a glass wall on the back of the dining room.
Pyramid of Caestius
The Pyramid of Caius Castius is one of the most famous landmarks of the city for Romans. People living close to it are saying that they live "a Piramide". But not all the people form other countries know about it and its funny story.
Its height is 37 meters and it is made of brick-faced concrete covered with slabs of white marble.
It is the burial place of a rich man, Caius Caestius, died approximately 18--12 BC, that, in his last will, wroted that he wanted to be buried in a pyramid like a pharao, asking to his heirs to build it.
Bet he was not so confident that the heirs were going to respect his last wishes.. So he stated that the pyramid had to be completed in no more than 330 days, otherwise the heirs would have lost their onheritance. Obviously the pyramid, wit such a strong motivation, was completed in less than 330 days. And incription at the bottom of the pyramid is mentioning that fact.
Milvian Bridge
| Milvian Bridge |
Apart from that, it was the site of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge among the armies of Constantine and Maxentius. That battle has been one of the turning points of the history. Had Maxentius won, probably the Christian religion would now be considered a form of worship developed in the Middle East in the initial period of the empire and which, after enjoying some popularity, had subsequently disappeared. But Constantine won and the effects are still alive.
Four Sovereign Entities
To my knowledge there is no city in the world that is home to two different sovereign entities.
Well, Rome is the home of four!
- Italian Republic
- Vatican City State
- Holy See
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Obelisks
| Lateran Obelisk |
Do you want to know more curiosities, to discover something off the beaten tracks, to get ouur recommendations for your stay in Rome?
What you have to do is to reserve your room at Villa Borghese Guest House or in one of our other properties.
