Category: Travel

Travel writings from around the world

Rome – the Baths of Diocletian & the National Roman Museum

The Diocletian baths seen from across Piazza della Repubblica with The entrance to basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri that was later built in the ruins of the baths.
The Diocletian baths as seen from across Piazza della Repubblica with the entrance to the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri that was later built in the ruins of the baths.
Part of the ruins of the baths of Diocletian can be found a few blocks away from the main parts with the museum.
Part of the ruins of the baths of Diocletian can be found a few blocks away from the part where the museum is located.
Rome the baths of Diocletian
Rome, the baths of Diocletian.

The Diocletian baths sits on one of Rome’s seven hills, Viminal which is the smallest of the hills. The baths were commissioned by Maximian in 298 in honor of his co-emperor Diocletian. The water for the baths came from an aqueduct, Aqua Marcia which had supplied water to Rome since the early parts of the second century. The Diocletian baths were the grandest and most impressive of Rome’s baths

Model of the Diocletian baths in Rome
Model of the remains of the Diocletian baths in Rome.
Entrance to Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri built into the ruins of the Diocletian baths
Entrance to basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, a basilica built into the ruins of the Diocletian baths.

In 1561 Pope Pius IV ordered a basilica built into the ruins of the baths of Diocletian, it was to be dedicated to Christian martyrs, known and unknown. Michelangelo worked during the years 1563 and 1564 to build the basilica into a part of the ruins of the baths. There has also been later additions to the basilica, among them a meridian line (a type of sundial) added in the beginning of the 18:th century. The meridian line was added on the order of Pope Clement XI who wanted to check on the accuracy of the reformation of the Gregorian calendar, predict Easter exactly and least but not last he wanted to give Rome a meridian line as important as the one just built in the cathedral in Bologna. At solar noon (varies in time throughout the year, 10:54 a.m. UTC in late October to 11.24 a.m. UTC in February ) the sun shines through a small hole in the wall and hits a 45m long copper line inlaid in marble on the floor. The sun would hit the meridian line in different locations between the summer and winter solstices allowing the length of the year to be calculated.

Fountain outside the Diocletian baths
Fountain outside the Diocletian baths
Tub fit for an emperor at the Diocletian baths
Tub that seems fit for an emperor at the Diocletian baths
Pool in the Diocletian baths
Pool in the Diocletian baths
Looking the other way in the pool
Looking the other way in the pool.

The Diocletian baths site is also home to what is nowadays a part of the National Roman museum. The museum is mainly housed in the 16:th century Charterhouse designed by Michelangelo. It was built on the site of the baths (see model previously where in the middle towards the bottom of the model, you can clearly see the large courtyard surrounded by the Charterhouse structure). It was made into an exhibition space in time for the International Exhibition of Art 1911 (a worlds fair held in Rome celebrating the 50:th anniversary of the unification of Italy). The museum holds a large number of artifacts from archeological sites in and around Rome.

Armor and weapons on display in the museum at the baths were found in a 5th century BC tomb in Lanuvium, which was near Rome
Armor and weapons on display in the museum at the baths were found in a 5th century BC tomb in Lanuvium, which was near Rome
Remains of a chariot found during the excavation of a tomb at a site found in connection with roadwork in 2010
Remains of a chariot found during the excavation of a tomb at a site found in connection with roadwork in 2010. Please see below for a layout of the tomb and the articles found. The white “skeleton” parts of the chariot is to be able to display the chariot fragments found in the tomb where they would have been on the chariot..
This is a layout of tomb 3 with the artifacts as they were found when excavating "Tomb 3" at the "La Rustica" site
This is a layout of the tomb with the artifacts as they were found when excavating “Tomb 3” at the “La Rustica” site.
The interior of the new part of the National Roman Museum
The interior of the new part of the National Roman Museum at the Baths of Diocletian.
Funeral Stele (stone or wooden slab used as a monument) of Licinia Amias is one of the most ancient christian inscriptions in Rome from the 3:rd century AD.
Funeral Stele in marble (stone or wooden slab used as a monument) for Licinia Amias. This is one of the most ancient christian inscriptions in Rome from the 3:rd century AD.
A partial mosaic of a boxer from the baths of Caracalla from around 200 AD
A partial mosaic of a boxer in the museum, it came from an different bath, the baths of Caracalla and is from around 200 AD.
View of the courtyard at the National Roman Museum on the grounds of the baths of Diocletian.
View of the courtyard at the National Roman Museum on the grounds of the baths of Diocletian.
Another view of the Courtyard.
Another view of the Courtyard.
Bust of Gaius Octavius, before he became Augustus, the first Roman Emperor
Bust of Gaius Octavius, before he became Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.
Domitian, the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, emperor 81 - 96.
Domitian, the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, emperor 81 – 96.
Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor 161-180, co emperor with Lucius Verus 161 - 169 (when Lucius Verus died).
Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor 161-180, co emperor with Lucius Verus 161 – 169 (when Lucius Verus died).
Tragic theatre mask on display in the cloister of the museum.
Tragic theatre mask on display in the cloister of the museum.
Fountain in the courtyard.
Fountain in the courtyard.
This elephant head is one of the animal head sculptures that is placed around the fountain in the courtyard.
This elephant head is one of the animal head sculptures that is placed around the fountain in the courtyard.

 

Rome – Harry’s Bar

Harry's bar Via Veneto in Rome
Harry’s bar Via Veneto in Rome

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 side
Harry’s Bar Rome view from the side
Harry's Bar sideview with no holiday lights
Harry’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
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 dessert with espresso and a Grappa

Harry’s Bar, Via Vittorio Veneto, 150, 00187 Roma, Phone 06 484643

Rome – the Spanish steps

The Spanish steps - Italian "Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti"
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.

View of the Spanish steps from Via dei Condotti
View of the Spanish steps from Via dei Condotti

Rome – Fontana di Trevi

Fontana di Trevi in Rome
Fontana di Trevi in Rome

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.

Fontana di trevi closeup
Fontana di trevi closeup