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.

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.

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.

fori imperiali

It's one long stretch of cobblestones (and a few potholes) betwen the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia.
Whe I shot this, it was a "Domenica senza traffico" meaning that on this particular Sunday several central roadways were blocked off for pedestrian access only. Beautiful!

giallo

It's forbidden to ride a vespa on the autostrada highway. Yet this fearless centaur does, and even succeeding in passing us. We were on our way down to Positano, driving through an area known for cameo carvings, volcanic lava tunnels, and lax traffic law enforcement.

pigneto_1

Pigneto is the "it" contemporary culture neighborhood. I like the relaxed vibe, the rainbow of cultures that populate its humble perpendicular alleys and wide tree-lined streets, the shabby-chic bars and edgy boutiques that sit adjacent to the old corner shops that still sell buttons and zippers to local housewives. To spend a lazy day at Necci, window shop at the Iossieliani flagship store, or just for the great restaurants and wine bars, I take numerous buses and cross the train tracks into the gritty pedestrian-only Via del Pigneto, and stroll in the footsteps of Anna Magnani and Franco Citti, in the original filming location of Pasolini's Accattone and Rossellini's Roma Città Aperta.

turisti

Rome is still flooded with tourists. Despite the heat, school calendar, and worldwide economic crisis, people still travel to the Eternal City, and flock to the Colosseum.
I'm obsessed with the Flavian Amphitheater these days, I'm drawn to it and can't avoid shooting it from all angles. I promise to stop. Really.

basilica di san pietro

musei vaticani

luglio

The heat wave is relentless in the Eternal City. Well, actually no, it did give us ONE day of respite on Friday. Then it was back to +35°C (+95°F) with Borneo-style humidity.
Working in these conditions is not easy, especially if your daily occupation involves walking and showing people around in the hottest hours of the day... Still, I can't complain, because I do have the best job ever.

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.

seduti

I missed posting for Theme Day yesterday,  because I totally forgot it was July 1st. I however posted Green doors on my other blog a few days ago, totally unaware that 'green' was going to be the July theme. I must be some sort of psychic...

Today I spent the morning in the park, relaxing under the shade provided by umbrella pines and European sycamores. Here are some images of others doing the same.

via del governo vecchio

This street is all about the people. But also home to vintage clothing shops, stylish boutiques, funky bookstores and great food.

signore che pranzano

The family-run kosher pastry shop Bernasconi, on Via dei Giubbonari, has only one table outside. Actually one table, period. Indoors the place is very tiny, and besides the sales counter, cash register, and a fridge for milk bottles and water, there's only the bakery workshop in back.
These three ladies managed to occupy prime people-watching real estate.

nap  
(verb) [intrans.] sleep lightly or briefly, especially during the day.
(noun) short daytime sleep.
Eg. catnap, rest, siesta, snooze, catch forty winks, get some shut-eye, catch some Zs.

The warm Roman spring weather––and blooming foliage––trigger lots of napping these days.

famiglia

Last week I did a photoshoot with a Danish newlywed couple I met through Roma Every Day, and their two gorgeous daughters. We skipped on cobblestones, splashed in fountains and threw armfuls of leaves at each other in the park.
You can see more images we shot on Christina's Uni*C blog, along with their lovely seaside wedding pictures, also taken by friends and family.

taxi

I love taking taxis. If I could afford it, I'd take taxis to go everywhere. I have fantasies of selling my car and using only taxis to get around the city. I even worked out that it could cost me less to take taxis than it is to keep a car, mintenance costs, gas, insurance, etc.
But then I never do it. I keep taking the bus, and when I absolutely must, I use my car and regularly get parking tickets. Which never would have happened if I'd just taken a taxi.

unità

Italy celebrated its 150th anniversary as a unified nation last week, and it was a holiday. Green, white and red flags and decorations fluttered everywhere, schools closed for the day, and many people took Friday off for "ponte."
Here is the relaxed line for a table at a typical Roman trattoria.

studenti alle belle arti

How can you tell these are foreign exchange students?

Their happy smiles and carefree attitude. The sweet life.
(shorts, sleeve lengths and sockless boat shoes in February were a dead giveaway)

se non ora quando