Rome, Italy

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Rome, Italy Destination Unknown
Almost There
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
According to Google Maps, we should be very close to Piazza Navona. It's been a bit of a walk, but, so far, I'm okay with it. As always, I'm lagging behind everyone else. That's Bryan and Kathy up ahead at the end of the street. I don't know why he's going at almost a run. What's the big hurry? Take your time and enjoy Rome!Read more
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Kathy and a Friend
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
As we turned the corner, and entered Piazza Navona, this was the first thing that we saw there. Pinocchio was standing outside of a very interesting looking toy shop. I love toys so I'm hoping that we have some time to look around this store later. At first glance, it looks quite expensive. Seeing where it's located, right at a popular tourist spot, I'm sure that it's even more expensive than I think it is.Read more
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Pinocchio
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
To me, Pinocchio will always be the version from the Walt Disney movie, since that's the one that I grew up with and, until recently, I never knew any other version. This is the way Pinocchio looks in Italy and, since it's an Italian story, maybe this is how he's really supposed to look. I've been seeing these Pinocchio toys all over Rome and I'm thinking about bringing one home with me. If I do, I want to find a well made quality doll, not some cheap tourist junk. I'll have to be watching for a good one.Read more
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Gelato!
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
This gelato place was right next to the toy shop and, as tempted as I was, I didn't get any. Every guide book about Rome tells not to get gelato in the tourist areas because it's a lesser quality gelato, usually made with artificial ingredients and food coloring. I still remember an Italian chef on YouTube saying, "If the colors too bright, the gelato ain't right!"Read more
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At the Piazza
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
It didn’t take us very long to get to Piazza Navona. I’m glad that it’s still not very crowded and we’re able to see the fountains up close without having to deal with lots of people around us waiting for their turns. Crowds and congestion are never fun.Read more
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Fountain of Neptune
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
The Fountain of Neptune is located at the north end of the Piazza Navona. It was once called "Fontana dei Calderari" because it was located close to a small alley with blacksmith's workshops, makers of pots and pans and of other metal based businesses, all of them generating heat.Read more
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Mermaids
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Fontana del Nettuno was designed in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta, who had also designed the basin of the Fontana del Moro. The work was sponsored by Pope Gregory XIII.
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Fountain of Neptune
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Anywhere else in the world you'd be raving about this fountain, but this is the Piazza Navona where you also have Bernini's astonishing Fountain of the Four Rivers! Be sure not to overlook this beautiful Baroque fountain though. The statuary is magnificent and well set off by the colourful buildings behind it. It's all quite lovely.Read more
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Happy Travelers
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
I like how this photo came out. Rather than just standing there and staring at the camera, Bryan chose to lay down on the fountain, making the picture more interesting and fun. Shots that are different from the norm are always more memorable.Read more
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Street Performer
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
This street performer was doing something that we've never seen before. He would approach people with what looked like a big old fashioned camera and take their picture. The photo would then print out on what looked like an old time newspaper, telling everyone that you're here in Rome. We thought that this was so original and clever that we simply had to do it!Read more
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In the News
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Here's a peek at what our old time newspaper looked like after the guy printed it out. We usually don't give much money to street people unless they are doing something very creative and original and this guy was, far and away, the most unique act that we've seen yet. He never asked, or even hinted, at asking for money, but Kathy gave him a few euros just the same. He deserved it!Read more
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Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Next we came to Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, the middle fountain in the Piazza Navona. It was designed in 1651 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, faced onto the piazza as did the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone of which Innocent was the sponsorRead more
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Together Again
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Here’s another shot of Bryan and I, this time at Piazza Navona. The scarcity of our being in pictures together is quickly dropping. I’d say that’s a good thing.
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An Unpopular Beginning
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
The crafting of the fountain was originally met with opposition by the Roman people. During the time of the construction, Italy was in the grip of a severe famine and people could barely support their families let alone pay taxes for the fountain.
Despite this, Pope Innocent X had the fountain built throughout 1646-1648. Throughout the plaza where the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was being built, there were endless talks of riots.
In September 1648, protesting writers inscribed “We don’t want Obelisks and Fountains! It’s bread we want. Bread, bread, bread!” into the rocks used to build the obelisk. Innocent X quickly had the authors of the inscriptions arrested and then placed disguised spies to monitor the area around the fountain at all times.Read more
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Kathy
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
I'm glad that it wasn't too crowded around the fountain so we were able to take lots of pictures and spend time posing for that perfect shot without having other people getting in the way.
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Fiumi Fountain
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
This 18th century marble-made fountain is a tribute to the 4 major rivers known at the time of it's creation; the Danube, the Nile, the Ganges and the Rio de la Plata. It's so hard to capture all of it's details and beauty in one shot though!Read more
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The Horse
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Although Bernini gets all the credit for the fountain, the majority of the actual construction of the fountain was carried out by his assistants; Bernini was only responsible for the design. This was common practice for the time: major artists like Bernini could not possibly complete all their commissions by themselves, and needed an army of helpers to finish them in a timely fashionRead more
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So Well Preserved
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Day and night, the Fountain of the Four Rivers brims with energy. The clear water continuously splashes and cascades over a clean travertine masterpiece. What surprises me the most about this structure is it's remarkable state of condition. Even after three centuries since its grand unveiling, the fountain continues to function in excellent shape. With hardly any signs of wear and tear on the marble, the fountain looks as if it was just constructed yesterday. Read more
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The Obelisk
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
At the center of the fountain is a towering obelisk that was recovered, at the behest of Pope Innocent X, from the ruins of the Circus of Maxentius, along the Appian Way. The obelisk was made in Roman times with Egyptian granite, which before being moved to the circus had been either in the Circus Agonalis or at the Iseum Campense, as the hieroglyphic inscription on it states it was made under Emperor Domitian, who had those two monuments built.Read more
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Sant'Agnese in Agone
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Rather than moving on to the third fountain in Piazza Navona, we decided to go inside Sant'Agnese in Agone, the church that's right next to Fiumi Fountain. We've only seen one other church in Rome so far, by the Spanish Steps. I hope that this one is more impressive.Read more
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Breathtaking!
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
What a difference this church is when compared to the one we saw at the top of the Spanish Steps! I'm so glad that we decided to go in and see this church. It's breathtaking!
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Beautiful Architecture
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
There were signs posted inside this church stating that photography was forbidden but, yet, so many people were taking photos and not even trying to hide it. The people working there were just ignoring all the people taking photos so I decided to join them and take pictures myself. I don't understand their no photos policy. Maybe they mean no pictures when they are having a service?Read more
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Always Look Up
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
I'm so happy that we decided to come into this church. This is what I always imagined the cathedrals of Rome to be like. I hope that we have more opportunities to see these wonderful places before we have to leave Italy.Read more
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Background History
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
The building of this church was begun in 1652 at the instigation of Pope Innocent X whose family palace, the Palazzo Pamphili, is adjacent to this church. The church was to be effectively a family chapel annexed to their residence.Read more
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Back in the Piazza
November 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
We didn't stay inside the church for a very long time. It was only a single room so we were able to see it quickly. That's good because there's still so much more for us to see in Rome.
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