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Rome
The Colosseo, originally called Flavio’s Amphitheatre or more simply the Amphitheatrum, is Rome’s most famous amphitheatre and is located right in the heart of the
city. With a capacity of up to 50,000 spectators it is the largest and most important
ancient Roman monument that has been left standing to our days. It was used for
performances with gladiators and other public events like hunting, re-enactments
of famous battles and plays based on classical mythology. The Colosseo, and the
entire centre of old Rome, was put on the list of the UNESCO’s World Heritage
Sites in 1980.
St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is a Catholic basilica in the Vatican City, and stands on the
monumental St. Peter’s Square. It is the most important papal basilica and is
often described as the largest church in the world and the centre of Catholicism.
It is some 115 metres wide and almost 46 metres high and was built by Carlo Maderno
between 1607 and 1614, and can boast gigantic columns which frame the entrance
to the Loggia from
which the announcement of the election of a new Pope is made to the faithful.
The Borghese Gallery is at Piazzale Scipione Borghese inside the Villa Borghese Pinciana in Roma.
The museum has a collection of works by great artists including Agnolo Bronzino,
Caravaggio, Raphael, Pieter Paul Rubens, Titian, etc. It was built in 1902 after
having been purchased by the Italian state and the first curator of the gallery
was Giovanni Piancastelli (1845-1926) who was succeeded in 1906 by Giulio Cantalamessa,
who had been curator of the Accademia Gallery in Venice.
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The Pantheon is an ancient Roman monument which was built as a temple dedicated to all the
gods. Since the start of the 7th century, the Pantheon has been a Catholic church
called Santa Maria ad Martyres.
The Romans nicknamed it la Rotonna ("la Rotonda") and it is from this name that
the square it stands on got its name.
"The most beautiful remains of ancient Rome is without a shadow of doubt the
Pantheon. This temple has suffered so little that it really does give the impression
that you are seeing it in the days of the ancient Romans".
(Stendhal, Passeggiate Romane)
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The Trevi Fountain is the largest and one of the most famous fountains in Rome and is universally
considered one of the most famous in the world. The 18th century fountain was
designed by Nicolò Salvi, is a blend of classical and Baroque. The theme of the
sculptures is the sea and
the main figures include a shell-shaped chariot carrying a large statue of the
Ocean by Pietro Bracci, flanked by lateral niches with statues of Health and Abundance
by Filippo della Valle; the chariot is drawn by seahorses lead by tritons. In
the fountain sculpture and Baroque architecture blend perfectly to create a splendid
aquatic spectacle. A famous tradition would have it that it is good luck to throw
a coin into the fountain, tossing it over you shoulder to ensure you will return
to the Eternal City.
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