A piece of Egypt in Rome: the Lateran Obelisk

The historic center of Rome is a world to discover, indeed walking through the San Giovanni neighborhood, near the Colosseum, you can admire a piece of Egyptian art: the Lateran Obelisk, located in Saint John Lateran square (Italian: piazza San Giovanni in Laterano).
The obelisk is made up of red marble and is about 32,18 meters (105,6 feet), which makes it the tallest surviving ancient Egypt obelisk in the world.
In 15th century BC Pharaoh Tutmosis III commissioned it for the courtyard of Amun Temple in Karnak, a little village near Luxor. It remained unfinished for many years, until Tutmosis IV, the successive Pharaoh, completed the obelisk, decorating it with hieroglyphics which allow to relate it to Amon Ra, the Egyptian sun god.
In 4th century AD Emperor Constantinus tried to remove the obelisk and bring it to Constantinople, the new capital of Roman Empire, but he died suddenly, and his son Constantius II decided to transport the monument to Rome, erecting it in Circus Maximus.
During the Middle Ages the obelisk was forgotten, collapsing and it was found, broken in 3 pieces, only in 1587, when Pope Sixtus V ordered an excavation of the Circus Maximus area.
After being restored by architect Domenico Fontana, who created the marble pedestal decorating it with inscriptions about its history, in 1588 the obelisk was moved to its present site in Saint John Lateran square, which also houses the Cathedral church with the same name, the Lateran Palace (the old Papal residence) and the Baptistery.

Lateran obelisk

Lateran obelisk and its hieroglyphics



Saint John Lateran square view

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The Crescenzi House

In the centre of Rome, you can admire an ancient Patrician house, settled in the South of the Tiber Island. It is regarded as a rare example of a Medieval aristocratic building, which housed the Roman noble family of Crescenzi. The house, built between 1040-1065 thanks to Niccolò Crescenzi, had a tower in order to protect the residents; its location, in front of a bridge called "Pons Aemilius", allowed them to control the access, charging a fee for passing the bridge.
The house had originally two levels, but today we can only see the ground floor and a part of the first floor; the walls are made up of several architectural elements (such as capitals, columns, ledges) which come from different historical periods.
The tower collapsed due to a popular revolt in 1312.
In the Middle Ages, during the Good Friday Way of the Cross, the building was used as Pontius Pilate's house (Italian: casa di Pilato) and the people started to call it so.
Before being restored in 20th century, the house was forgotten for many centuries, becoming a stable.
In 1939 and still today, the house became a History of Architecture Centre, which holds an interesting collection ranging from monuments renovation to urban studies.

The Crescenzi House



Architectural elements

Architectural elements


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Santa Maria della Scala and the ancient Apothecary

The church of Santa Maria della Scala (English: Holy Mary of the Staircase), built between 1593 and 1610, is set in the historical district of Trastevere.
According to the tradition, the church takes its name from a picture of the Virgin Mary, which in 1592 was located in the stairs of a nearby house. This relic was regarded as miraculous since it saved a child.
In the 16th century the Carmelities built one of the most ancient urban Apotechary in the monastery near the church. At the beginning only the friars could use it but in the 17th century it was opened to all the citizens.
The Carmelites were excellent chemists and they became famous for preparing a lot of remedies for every diseases using the herbs of their garden, such as the water of the stair for neuralgia, the melissa one as sedative and the samaritana one as disinfectant.
Even Pope Pius VIII (1761-1830) used their preparations, so the workshop became known as the Popes' apothecary.
The friars cessed their activity in 1954, but the Chemistry is still open and you can visit its laboratories, located in the first floor of the monastery.
These rooms conserve apothecary vases, mortars, balances, herbals and recipe books.
King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele I and other historical personalities visited the chemestry and these events are testified by paintings on the closets.

Santa Maria della Scala

Paintings on the closets

Apothecary

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A Pyramid in the heart of Rome

There is a strange Pyramid in the center of Rome, near the Acatholic Cemetery. The funereal monument was built in the 1st century BC on request by Gaius Cestius Epolo, a rich Roman praetor and member of a religious order, which organized holy banquets and games.
Thanks to the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC, Gaius, as well as all members of the upper class, had the opportunity to know and appreciate the Egyptian culture.

The Pyramid is about 36,40 meters tall and it is covered with white marble; according to the inscription on the East side, this work was completed in 330 days.

The small burial chamber is located inside the building and it is decorated with paintings, which represent nymphs, winged Victories and women offering votive gifts.
During the Middle Age someone desecrated the burial chamber, ruining the inner paintings and stealing the ashes urn.
In 271 AD the Pyramid of Cestius was incorporated in the City Walls, known as Aurelian Walls, and surrounded by urban buildings, which helped to preserve the construction.
In the 14th century many intellectuals, such as the Italian writer Francesco Petrarca, named the Pyramid as Remus' tomb, brother of the legendary founder of Rome, Romulus. In the following centuries it has been tried to convert the Pyramid into a church, designed by Borromini, and also into a lightning rod placement.
Just a little curiosity! Near the Pyramid there is one of the most ancient Roman cattery called "I gatti della Piramide" (English: The Pyramid Cats), managed by an association which allows to adopt abandoned cats.

Pyramid Opening hours
The tomb can only be accessed by special permission
Reservation numbers: (+39) 06 39967700, (+39) 06 5743193

Cattery Opening hours
Open 7 days a week: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Pyramid of Cestius

Burial Chamber



Pyramid cat

Other guests of Pyramid Cattery

Happy Birthday Rome!

Today we celebrate Rome's Birthday (Italian: Natale di Roma)! The legend says that Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars and the Vestal Rea Silvia, decided to build a town on the banks of the river Tiber. They quarreled over founding the city and Remus was killed by his brother. Romulus founded Rome on the Palatine Hill in 753 BC and Romans started to count years from this date, using the Latin expression "Ab Urbe Condita", which means "from the founding of the city".
Emperor Augustus decided to commemorate this day with an ancient rite called "Palilia" which was dedicated to"Pales" or "Pale", an archaic rural goddess.
Romans celebrated this ceremony on 21 April, which was regarded as the first day of spring.
During this event, the shepherds were used to wash their cattle, prepare flatbreads and the "burranica", a drink made up of milk and must.
For many centuries the Foundation Day was put on the back burner but it became popular again in 1870, when Rome was incorporated into Italian Reign.
The first historical parade was organized in 1902 and a lot of citizens took part in it dressing as Ancient Romans.
Every year the city celebrates its birth organizing different events, such as shows, free museums and the parade, obviously !

Parade Starting Time
Circus Maximus: 11.30 am (Imperial Fora: 12.00 am).

Museums open with free admission
Centrale Montemartini, Museo dell'Ara Pacis, Museo Barracco, Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale, Museo Canonica, Museo della Memoria Garibaldina, Museo delle Mura, Villa di Massenzio, Museo Civico di Zoologia, MACRO Testaccio.

Temporary exhibition fees apply in the following museums:
Musei Capitolini: € 3,50; special ridottissimo ticket € 2,00;
Musei di Villa Torlonia - Casino Nobile: € 2,50;
Mercati di Traiano: € 1,50;
Museo Carlo Bilotti: € 1,50;
Museo Napoleonico: € 1,50;
Museo di Roma: € 1,50;
MACRO (via Nizza): € 4,00.



Rome seven Hills



Romulus and Remus

Parade

Way of the Cross at Colosseum

This Friday Pope Francis will lead the annual procession of the"Way of the Cross" at Colosseum.
The Flavian Amphitheatre is the symbol of Rome and its construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD. It hosted gladiators and many public shows, but in 1750 Pope Benedict XIV decided to commemorate the Passion on Good Friday with a procession. He ordered to place fourteen representations of the Stations of the "Way of the Cross"in the Colosseum, but they have been removed years later and today we can only see a cross in memory of it.
As Rome became part of the Italian Kingdom in 1870, people started to be less interested in this Catholic custom .
When in 1964 Pope Paul VI brought back the"Way of the Cross"in the Colosseum the procession was broadcast in Eurovision for the first time and later, in 1977, shown on tv worldwide too.
In 1984 Pope John Paul II composed the comments to the stations and thanks to him, since 1985, actors, authors and celebrities can write the texts of reflections.
Every year thousand of pilgrims and Romans see the rite outside the Amphitheatre praying all together. The procession starts at 9.10 p.m. and you can join the spiritual atmosphere going there today early or watching the event live on RaiUno.

Way of the Cross at Colosseum

Other view of Colosseum

The mistery behind the Mouth of Truth

Everyday a lot of tourists visit the Mouth of Truth (Italian: “Bocca della Verità”), which is set in the portico of the medieval Church S. Maria in Cosmedin, near Circus Maximus.
The Roman marble disc was created during the 4^th Century BC  and represents a colossal face, portrayed with eyes, nose and nostrils opened, probably a river god.
The most accepted theory about the “Mouth” is that it was used as manhole cover in order to canalize large amounts of water into the Cloaca Maxima, the first Roman sewage system built by the king Tarquinius Superbus in the 7^th century BC. The nickname comes from a medieval tradition which tells us that the face closes its mouth if a liar sticks his hand in it.
According to the legend the emperor Julian the Apostate cheated a woman and the crowd forced him to prove his honesty to the Mouth. The devil spoke to the emperor from the sculpture and helped him, who promised to restore the Paganism in Rome.
The other stories talk about an husband, who having doubts about his wife’s loyalty, asked her to put the hand in the Mouth. She managed to save her life thanks to a stratagem planned by the lover .
The sculpture was placed in the Church in the 17^th century  and became more popular in 1953 thanks to the film Roman Holiday. In the “Mouth of Truth” scene the American journalist Joe tricks the frightened princess Ann into believing his hand was bitten off.
Gregory Peck told that the scene was improvised by him and so the Audrey Hepburn’s terrified reaction is real.
Are you ready to put your hand in the Mouth of Truth?

Opening time
Open 7 days a week
Wintertime (nov-mar): 9.30-17.00
Summertime (oct-apr): 9.30-18.00

Tickets
Free admission

Mouth of Truth

Roman Holiday

 

S.Maria in Cosmedin