luglio a roma

A few re-edits and some new images of sweltering Rome

cruciani

The macrame lace Cruciani bracelet has been the 'it' accessory of the season, and I learned that the stellar record sales saved the company, which was facing bankruptcy before designer Luca Caprai invented the simple cotton wrist toy.

Originally sold in the flagship Forte dei Marmi Cruciani store, the needlework mania item can now be found virtually everywhere, from clothing stores to boutiques worldwide, and is popular with everyone, even celebrities wear it on the red carpet.

Four trendy designs: Quadrifoglio is the original fortune ushering line of 7 four leaf clovers; Chiave e Lucchetto is a his/hers lock and key; Drago is a limited edition celebrating the 2012 year of the dragon; and the ever-loved Cuore hearts.

I have been a little out of luck lately, so I decided to get a lucky Cruciani bracelet. I went with fire engine red between the choice of 28 different colors. Do you like it?

vola vola

A few images of our recent vacation in Texas and California

piazza farnese

Don't stop in Campo de' Fiori! Escape the market and tourist chaos, and find some respite in the quieter and breathtaking Piazza Farnese, with its twin marble basin fountains, and the stunning Palazzo: one of the most important High Renaissance palaces in Rome. It currently serves as the French embassy in Italy.

First designed in 1517 for the Farnese family, the structure was altered when Alessandro Farnese became Pope in 1534, to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Its building history involved some of the most prominent Italian architects of the 16th century, including Michelangelo, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, and Giacomo della Porta.

festa della mamma

 

~ Today is mother's day in Italy ~

(thank you, my sweet child)

maggio

Welcome springtime! Benvenuta primavera!
Rome at this time of year is spectacular, don't you think?
I've not been posting as often as I should, I know. It's that I'm always out with my DSLR, phone and point-and-shoot compact digital camera capturing the beauty of the Eternal City in this amazing light and perfumy air.


Go ahead and click below the photos if you'd like to purchase prints.
If you can't see the buttons below the photos, to place orders please visit the page where I sell my photos

sanpietrini

This month's theme in the City Daily Photo Blog community is COBBLESTONES. Unfortunately the server is down but thanks to Eric of Paris Daily Photo, I was directed to Julie, who worked out a system: you can see more Theme Day participants HERE.

primavera

Yep, it's officially spring in Rome.

Mole Adriana

I'm a little obsessed with this location. This particular curve in the Tiber river, the bridges that cross it, the nearby embrace provided by St Peter's colonnade, the statues, the castle.

Castel Sant'Angelo was not always a fortress, it was first and foremost a family tomb, Emperor Hadrian's. That's why this massive structure is also known as Mole Adriana.

The original Roman monument has since then been transformed in many different incarnations over the centuries: fortified outpost; Papal escape route; obscure prison; Renaissance dwelling, again penitentiary during the Risorgimento, down to the present modern day museum. The giant bronze angel on the summit of the vast circular viewing platform sheathes his sword to announce that the AD 590 Black Plague has been defeated.

Something about the sun flare divine light hitting the beggar in this second photo gives me chills.

piazza cavour

Finally! The long awaited remodeling of Piazza Cavour was unveiled 3 weeks ago, and I for one was very happy about the new look. I'd had enough of the towering cranes and fenced off construction site, bus detours and loud noise surrounding the central Prati neighborhood square. Now Romans can finally admire the massive Palazzaccio again, salute the statue of Camillo Benso di Cavour, and enjoy the nice grassy areas between the gravel paths.

ponte #100

Ponte Sant'Angelo ~ Roma

I'm posting one of my favorite bridges to celebrate «Louis'» 100th Sunday Bridge Series, in which our dear bovine friend portrays the many souls of the Golden Gate Bridge from his window. Every Sunday, «Louis» invites participants from all over to world to share the bridges of their cities.
To see more images, head over to San Francisco Bay Daily Photo ans show some photo-love.

neve

Rome hadn't woken up to this in 27 years, but some say this year's flakes beat the 1985 snowfall. I certainly never remember Rome seeing anything like this before.
Here are a few images of my neighborhood and Villa Borghese, taken Saturday morning. I wish I could only portray the silence and the awe.