• Destination Unknown
  • Destination Unknown

Rome, Italy

Une aventure de 8 jours par Destination Unknown En savoir plus
  • Almost There

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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!En savoir plus

  • Kathy and a Friend

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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.En savoir plus

  • Pinocchio

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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.En savoir plus

  • Gelato!

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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!"En savoir plus

  • Fountain of Neptune

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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.En savoir plus

  • Street Performer

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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!En savoir plus

  • In the News

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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!En savoir plus

  • An Unpopular Beginning

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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.
    En savoir plus

  • The Horse

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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 fashionEn savoir plus

  • So Well Preserved

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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. En savoir plus

  • The Obelisk

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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.En savoir plus

  • Beautiful Architecture

    9 novembre 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 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?En savoir plus