Capitoline Hill
Rome, Italy
Santa
Maria in Aracoeli, on the top of Rome's first base, the Capitoline
Hill.
This
Santa Maria - and there are many Santa Marias in the city -
is an exquisitely different form from the rest. Built around
1260 the wonky steps were added in 1348 to celebrate the end
of a plague. Emperor Augustus later had an altar constructed
called Ara Coeli, the Altar of Heaven, thus the church's name.
The interior is also fine, with huge columns, a gilded ceiling
and impressive frescos, if you can make it up the 124 steps.
The
Capitoline Museums, also on the Capitoline Hill.
The
Capitoline offer a couple of museums replete with extraordinary
sculptures including giant body parts, a porky Venus, a young
and effete Hercules, Medusa and her snake hair, an Etruscan
bronze of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus (the founders
of Rome), varied centaurs, kids playing with snakes and much
more, but also some fine Renaissance paintings.
Apart from the terrific art and historic, central location the
museums are cool and uncrowded, an excellent place to chill,
literally and metaphorically.
A
narrow view from the Capitoline Museums over the Forum.
And
in case you were wondering, the brides and grooms we have featured
in some of these photos were separate, unconnected to Bugbog
and just happened to be around on a sunny Rome Saturday when
the BugForce were shooting pictures.
Another
view of the Forum and two of the three remaining triumphal arches,
those of Titus and Septimus Severus.
Triumphal
arches were a Roman concept built to commemorate a great military
victory, bearing bas-reliefs scenes of the conflict and the
victorious heroes. The returning army would march through the
arch dragging the spoils of war and captives while the grateful
population cheered in welcome.
The Vatican
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