Harry’s Bar in Rome was established in 1959 and has been a hangout for some of the famous people from around the world ever since. Frank Sinatra used to come and jam at the place and since the US embassy is close by, all kinds of diplomats, politicians and others from the embassy come to join the fun as well. Live music every night starting at 21:00.
Harry’s Bar Rome view from the sideHarry’s Bar sideview with no holiday lights
The kitchen at Harry’s bar is decent, well – actually quite good. The pasta with Black Truffles was excellent and pair that with a glass of Chianti and you’ll feel like an Italian, – Saluti!
Main dish pasta with black truffles
Harry’s is not exactly a budget place and given the location on the posh Via Veneto (actual full name is Via Vittorio Veneto) expect to shell out a few bucks, but enjoy the old world charm and good service and feel happy!
Harry’s dessert with espresso and a Grappa
Harry’s Bar, Via Vittorio Veneto, 150, 00187 Roma, Phone 06 484643
The Spanish steps – Italian “Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti”
The Spanish steps or in Italian “Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti” has 135 steps, it was built between 1723 and 1725 and paid for with monies bequeathed by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier. It was built to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy and the nearby Trinità dei Monti Church supported by the Bourbon kings of France with the Holy See located in the Palazzo Monaldeschi that was situated below.
Fontana di Trevi sits at the terminating point of one of the aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. It was constructed in 1762 and on it is depicted the event when Roman technicians, supposedly with the help of a virgin, located a pure water source only about 13 km from the city.
It was made world famous in the 1960 Federico Fellini movie La dolce Vita which starred Swedish actress Anita Ekberg and Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.
Palatine hill or in Italian “Palatino” is where Rome as a community started, it is the place where the oldest dwellings have been found. The Palatine is one of the seven hills of Rome, it is 40 meters high and it is the centermost of Rome’s hills.
Casa Romuli pictured above was the dwelling of the founder and first king of Rome, Romulus (771-717 BC) it is on the South Western side of the Palatine hill and close to where the slope down towards Circus Maximus below starts. It is a one room hut and it would have had a straw roof. See also the Romulus and Remus legend.
The Hippodrome or the Domitian stadium on the Palatine hill
The Hippodrome built by the Emperor Domitian as a part of the Domus Augustana constructed in 92 AD was a magnificent palatial home for the Emperor. The exact purpose of the stadium is not exactly clear. It is too small for chariots, but may have been used to exercise horses or maybe just as a garden for the Emperor to enjoy.
Domus Augusti
Domus Augusti or Domus Augustea “House of Augustus” was the home of Caesar Augustus when he was in power. One should note that this was not part of the above mentioned Domus Augustana built by Emperor Domitian.
View of the Circus Maximus from the Palatine hill
Circus Maximus situated below the Palatine hill, actually in the valley of Murcia between the Avantine and Palatine hills were the largest stadium in ancient Rome, measuring in round numbers about 600 x 100 meters (about 2000 x 400 feet). It was first constructed in the 6;th century BC but altered and added to throughout time. It hosted chariot races and other ‘mass entertainment’ events. It held more than 150,000 spectators and became the blueprint for circuses built throughout the Roman empire, today it is a public park.
Forum Romanum as viewed from the Palatine hill with the Colosseum at the very right end of the picture
Forum Romanum or just ‘the Forum’ was for a long time the center of public life in Rome, a marketplace but also a celebrated meeting place, some say the most celebrated meeting place in the world. It is surrounded by Shrines and temples as well as statues commemorating the most important people in Rome. It had Royal residences such as the Regia from the 8:th century, and temples such as the temple of Vesta from the 7:th century.
A view of a part of the ForumRemains of another arch
Arch of Titus
Arch of Titus on via Sacra, many later arches where modeled on this archArch of Titus on via Sacra close to the Forum
Close to the Forum is Via Sacra where Emperor Domitian erected this arch in memory of his brother Emperor Titus whom he succeeded upon Titus death. The arch has sculptural details depicting his victories including the siege of Jerusalem in 70AD. This arch has been the model for many arches built, including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris France.
Inside of the arch of Titus
The interior top of the Arch of Titus in center shows the apotheosis (also known as divinization and deification) of Titus. See detail of this below.
