Pincio Promenade

“"Villa Borghese" is a large city park in the city of Rome which includes various types of green accommodation, from the Italian garden to large English-style areas, buildings, small buildings, fountains and ponds. It is the fourth largest public park in Rome (about 80 hectares) and extends largely over the Pinciano district and a small part over the Campo Marzio district, divided by the Aurelian walls. Villa Borghese contains several buildings and has 9 entrances: the most popular are those of Porta Pinciana, the one from the steps of Trinità dei Monti, the one from the ramps of the Pincio to Piazza del Popolo and the monumental entrance of Piazzale Flaminio. The "Giardino del Pincio", in the southern part of the park, offers a well-known panorama over Rome. The building of the villa, now home to the Borghese Gallery, was built by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, who developed the sketches of Scipione Borghese. When Pontius died, the works were completed by the Flemish Giovanni Vasanzio. The building was intended by Camillo Borghese to contain Bernini's sculptures, including "David" and "Apollo and Daphne", and by Antonio Canova ("Paolina Borghese") as well as paintings by Titian, Raphael and Caravaggio. The villa also houses the Rome Zoo recently transformed into a Biopark and the Civic Museum of Zoology, while the "Casina delle Rose" is now the seat of the Casa del Cinema. Near the latter is the Cinema dei Piccoli, the smallest cinema in the world.”

“The Trevi Fountain is the largest and one of the most famous fountains in Rome. Built on the facade of Palazzo Poli by Nicola Salvi, the competition launched by Pope Clement XII in 1731 was initially won by the French sculptor Lambert-Sigisbert Adam but later the task passed to Salvi: it is said that the change was due to the fact that the pontiff did not want to entrust the work to a foreigner; instead, another version explains that Adam had to return to France. Begun in 1732, it was completed thirty years later by Giuseppe Pannini; stylistically it belongs to the late Baroque.”

“The Piazza del Popolo (meaning The People’s Square) is located inside the northern gate of the city, which was once called Porta Flaminia. The square is situated at the beginning of Via Flaminia and was the main entrance to the city during the Roman Empire. Once on the main route to the north, Piazza del Popolo is still strategically located. Three important streets part from the square: to the left, Via del Babuino; to the right, Via di Ripetta and to the centre the Via del Corso, one of the main high streets of Rome. What to see An Egyptian obelisk dedicated to Ramesses II, called Flaminio Obelisk, is located at the centre of the piazza. Erected in the Circus Maximus during the tenth century, it was transferred to Piazza del Popolo in 1589. Many visitors come to Piazza del Popolo to see Santa Maria del Popolo, a basilica that features two magnificent canvases by Caravaggio and splendid Renaissance decoration. Two other churches look onto the square; Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. These two temples look identical from the exterior, but hide several differences inside. Visitors can get an impressive view of the piazza by climbing the stairs, located on the east side of the square, to Pincio Park. ”

“The Pantheon is a former Roman temple, now a Catholic church (Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres), on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD). It was rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126 AD. The building is cylindrical with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43 metres (142 ft). Since the Renaissance the Pantheon has been the site of several important burials. Among those buried there are the painters Raphael and Annibale Carracci, the composer Arcangelo Corelli, and the architect Baldassare Peruzzi. In the 15th century, the Pantheon was adorned with paintings: the best-known is the Annunciation by Melozzo da Forlì. Filippo Brunelleschi, among other architects, looked to the Pantheon as inspiration for their works.”

“The square occupies the area of ​​the ancient stadium of Domitian (Circo Agonal), with a capacity of 30,000 spectators, where the Romans carried out their sporting and competitive activities. The fountains of Piazza Navona Undoubtedly, the most fascinating elements of Piazza Navona are the three fountains built during the mandate of Gregorio XIII Boncompagni: fountain of the Four Rivers In the center of Piazza Navona is the Fountain of the Four Rivers, designed by Bernini in 1651. The four statues of the fountain represent the most important rivers of the time: the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges and the Río de la Plata. In the center of the square there is a 16 meter high obelisk, which was previously located in the Circus of Maxentius on the Via Appia. Fontana del Moro Created by Giacomo della Porta and perfected by Bernini, who later added dolphins, the Fontana del Moro was initially known as the Snail Fountain. It is located in the southern part of the square. Fountain of Neptune Like the Fontana del Moro, that of Neptune was also designed by Giacomo della Porta. It was abandoned from its creation until 1873, when the work was finalized by Zappalà and Della Bitta. Curiosity Until the mid-nineteenth century, in summer the water outlets of the three fountains were closed and the central part of the square flooded, becoming "The Lake of Piazza Navona". A pleasant area The square is surrounded by bars and restaurants and is surrounded by a pleasant atmosphere during the day. It is a very lively area where, at any time of day, you can attend performances by street artists such as magicians or dancers. Among the buildings that delimit the square are the famous Palazzo Doria-Pamphili and the splendid Church of Santa Agnese.”