la notte

Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Gesù at night.
First image participates in this month's Theme Day in the CityDailyPhoto community.

pigneto_2

Some time ago I posted images of this wonderful part of town, Pigneto. I like the gritty ambiance, the ethnic diversity and the general urban feel. In this series, the tram line on the Via Prenestina main boulevard, runs underneath the tangenziale raised beltway.

termini

The Rome Termini central train station building––inaugurated in 1950––is characterized by the extremely long, modernist façade in travertine marble, and by the gravity-defying double curve of the concrete cantilever roof. The anodized aluminium friezes that decorate it are by Hungarian artist Amerigo Tot, and they represent the dynamics in sound and speed of a train.

gps + vespe

Did I mention how much I love riding in taxis?
I don't indulge that often, but lately I've had to rush around town a lot. Waiting for the bus in the scorching Roman sun only adds to the frenzy and frustration, so in the last few days I've been treating myself to the luxe pleasure of il tassì, as we call it here. While I stretch my legs in the air conditioned back seat, I take pictures.
I'm on taxis so often recently, that the other day I even bumped into a colleague who–similarly to myself–has left the movie business, and is now making a living driving a cab!
Lucky him, he gets to ride one every day.

19

On my way back home from work, I can either take the #19 tram or the #926 bus. In this case I was riding the latter and photographing the former. In this point the two separate, each going separate routes. Both take me fairly close to home.

muro torto

The Muro Torto (meaning, "askew wall") is an ancient Roman supporting wall located behind the Pincian hill, that cuts through the Villa Borghese, running all the way from Via Veneto to the Piazza del Popolo. 

Don't be fooled by this picture, weekday traffic here is always bumper-to-bumper. There are actual sayings to that effect, like for example, "Jammed like the Muro Torto at rush hour..." or, "Growing old on the Muro Torto," etc. I'm kidding, the maxims don't exist. But the traffic is indeed very real.

The wall–dating to the end of the Republican era (509 BC to 27 BC)–supports the sloping hillside that once housed many patrician mansions, like the ones belonging to the Anicii, the Acilii and Pinci families.

The wall was later included in the monumental Aurelian Wall complex; and in the late 1800s this is where suicide victims, thieves, vagabonds and prostitutes were buried.

For more interesting history and lore surrounding the Muro Torto, you can read this very well-written article (in Italian) by Domenico Augenti.

vespa show

Just as I was saying good-bye to some friends visiting from LA after a gargantuan gelato session, a buzzing platoon of Vespa scooters zoomed by. They all had numbers on the front, so maybe it was some sort of competition. Judging from the models, it was probably for vintage classics.

Check out the cream-colored one equipped with sidecar... Also, I think I spotted a Lambretta out there somewhere...
Ah, bliss. Almost better than gelato.

This post is dedicated to my vespa-buddy, CHUCK

piazza buenos aires

See all the other contributors to James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

via veneto

 In the rain la dolce vita is not as sweet

giostra

Horses, elephants, trains and automobiles

Every Sunday morning my son and I take a long walk in the park. When the weather is nice, we even stretch as far as the Pincio, where I like to sit on a park bench and read the paper, sipping a cappuccino, while my little boy rides the merry-go-round, blissfully.

Spot a familiar subject in this photo?

For More Sundays in My City images, click HERE

rossa!

hot rod

I have a new obsession, can you tell? My latest fixation is photographing old model Fiat 500 cars. They are so sexy!

Contrary to my first poser, this one's very well kept, and the paint job is fantastic. Pity it's parked in a way that the two trash bins block it completely from backing out and going for a spin!

For more Ruby Tuesday images click HERE.

neve a roma!

dredged

The last time snow had completely covered the city of Rome was February 11, 1986. At 8:00 in the morning the city woke up buried under several centimeters of snow. 

This year the flurry lasted about an hour and stuck on trees and window sills for a couple more, but the sun soon melted everything away. Only the sweet memory of the awe on my son's face lingers.

cine città

Cinecittàdue mall

Cinecittà film studios

Centro Sperimentale di Cinematogrfia

Rome's very first shopping mall was built in 1983 in the block adjacent to the  world famous Cinecittà Studios, home to majestic Ben Hur and Fellini film sets, and many other famous Italian and international productions.

The shopping complex is relatively small compared to its newer counterparts, and it has maintained an interesting "piazza-like" feel. Across the street from the mirrored galleria shopping center on the via Tuscolana, is the fascist-style building that hosts Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Rome's first most and celebrated film school, inaugurated in 1938. 

Here, in an relatively populated, non-descript modern area of the city,  widely different architectural styles and the history of cinema live together within a 1-mile radius.

piazza verbano

Umbertine architecture

I love the grandeur of these mid-19th century buildings flanking the Piazza Verbano and lining the Via Nemorense which cuts across it. Way in the deep background a glimpse of the Villa Ada public park is visible beyond the tall umbrella pines in the piazza's roundabout.

manichini in vetrina

Window shopping

How forlorn and dreamy-eyed these two mannequins look. Perhaps they're wishing they could be outside, each doing their own thing in the busy street, instead of standing together in the same sad window.

mercato ortofrutticolo

Marketplace back door

My camera and I took a walk in a less notorious part of the city today. The Quartiere Africano owes its name only to urban layout, not ethnic tissue. The names of the many avenues, boulevards and streets of this particular district are of borrowed from countries and cities of Africa. This specific covered neighborhood market occupies an entire block between Via Dire Daua, Viale Libia and Largo Somalia.

The colorful stalls and busy agora vibe provided plenty material for my photos. Plus I managed to shop for fresh produce and groceries at very affordable prices. Today is a good day.

promesse

Mobile snacks

Typically overdecorated yet cheerless roadside junk food trucks like this one commonly promise very very cold drinks and hot pizza, but traditionally carry exactly the opposite, and–however uninviting–the goods sell for exorbitant prices. Despite my best intentions, on hot summer days, when the Roman heat is unforgiving, I often fold and buy a bottle of very very lukewarm water.

cinquecento

Fiat 500, the original

This rusty and battered old Fiat 500 has been parked in the same spot for years. I walk by it every day. I have noticed the interior upholstering is well-cared for and frequently dusted. The flyers and ads planted under the windshield wipers get cleared off every so often. It is not an abandoned car. I'm curious of its story.

driving back home

Tangenziale Est

The Tangenziale Est expressway is never this empty, usually congested with bottleneck traffic in this particular spot, with recently added contruction work. I had to capture it.