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A lot of
historical curiosities will attract yourr attention during this visit.
We’ll start with the Coliseum,
also known as the Flavian amphitheater after its iniator Vespasian,
first of the Flavian emperors who had it built in the 1 st century A.D.
It is the largest amphitheater of the ancient world. Fifty thousand
spectators could be seated in the stands to watch the hunts (venationes)
and the gladiator fights (ludi gladiatorii).
The
excursion will go on visiting the
Palatine Hill. The ancient “palatium”, historical residence of
the Caesars, from whose name is derived the use of the term “Palace”, to
indicate a seat of official power. An extended archeological area of the
edifices built by Domitian and rediscovered by archaeologists in the 20
th century.
Inside
this area the Palatine Antiquarium:
the history of the Palatine Hill testified through ritual objects and
the decorations of the Imperial edifices that occupied the area from the
time of Augustus to late Antiquity. In addition there are
protohistorical findings from the first villages and the shepherds’ huts
that gives testimony to the legend the city’s foundation by Romulus.
At the
end of the excursion the Loggia Mattei
will astonish you: a little Renaissance jewel, the work of Baldassare
Peruzzi and his pupils, set among the ancient imperial ruins of the
Palace of Domitian on the Palatine Hill.
We will have lunch in a
characteristic and traditional restaurant or a wine tasting in the
centre of Rome.
In the afternoon a striking visit trough the ruins of the
Roman Forum: public life in
ancient Rome was carried out here, between the closed spaces of the
Basilicas and the open ones of the square itself, between the Senate and
the temples honoring the origins of Rome and its mythical founders.
Our trip
trough the centuries will go on visiting the
Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill):
in the Republican Age the sacred temples dedicated to the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva) were located on this acropolis. The
square now appears in the splendid Renaissance style designed by
Michelangelo in middle of the 16 th century.
The
visit to the Capitoline Museums
will let a indelible impression. These museums contain marble and bronze
statues, paintings and artistic works, the original bronze statue of
Marcus Aurelius (substituted by a copy in the centre of the square) and
a precious collection of Imperial portraits.
Finally
we’ll reach the Caffarelli Terrace:
a place for relaxation and contemplation, directly over-looking the
Roman Forum and the right bank of the Tiber towards the
Gianicolo hill. Perhaps the
most exclusive panorama in Rome. |
