All of my pictures for this on the page for the church, Santa Maria De Cosmedin. Sorry I had no…read moreidea this page existed Coming here was on my to do list and I am glad I made it here. I got here early and I was the only tourist here. By the time I left there was a long line The Mouth of Truth (Italian: Bocca della Verità is an ancient Roman marble mask in Rome, Italy, which stands against the left wall of the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, at the Piazza della Bocca della Verità According to an enduring medieval legend, it will bite off the hand of any liar who places their hand in its mouth Some of you would walk away with one hand LOL Just saying PRO TIP this is very near the Adventine Key Hole and you can walk to that from this location

Continuing on with the sites I needed to see, thanks to Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck and Eddie…read moreAlbert: the Mouth of Truth. We actually saw it the day before we stopped by, but didn't realize what it was. All I saw was a line of people queuing up in the sun, which didn't look pleasant to me. It wasn't until we actually set our minds to finding this piece of Roman history that I realized: they were waiting for their moment with the Mouth. There was a short line when we got there, which I didn't mind, as it gave me a chance to soak in the area in front of the Mouth and to see some of the signage around the church attached to the Mouth. It's free to step up to the Mouth, but they do suggest a donation. I think we were the only ones to drop €5 in the bin, which is just incredible to me. You're putting your hands on a Roman treasure for your own amusement, you can't be bothered to drop a euro in the box to support them? At any rate, I did get my pictures with the Mouth, and did get to internalize my inner fan-girl at knowing I was standing where Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck stood more than 50 years ago. It was a quick thrill, something fun that ticked a box on a list I've been curating since I was a lass.

This Palazzo is better known as "The Square Colosseum". There are 216 arches lining the palazzo. In…read more2015, the fashion house Fendi moved its headquarters into the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana. The 75-year-old building was never occupied prior to Fendi's arrival! Fendi has been in Rome since its founding in 1925. The have a wonderful exhibition area on the first floor which has changing exhibitions. When we were there, we were able to see the movie studio, plush theater, employee café, and a special exhibit of Fendi clothing and accessories used in the movies. Speaking of movies, Fendi shows a different movie each night at 9 pm, and the public is invited to come free of charge. Not a bad deal!

You can quote me for saying that fascist architecture is fascinating. This giant square colosseum…read moreand its surrounding is so symmetrical that it will almost drive you mad. The arches go on forever, and dont forget that they spell the name of this deceased dictator - vertically "Benito", horozontically: "Mussolini". When you are done taking a close look (as close as you can get - the building is behind fences) go down Viale Pasteur and check out how far the building is visible.

Rome's Tempio di Adriano, or as it is known in English, the Temple of Hadrian (Hadrianeum), is one…read moreof the city's lesser-known attractions, it's a similar building to the Pantheon, which is located nearby but also far less busy. It dates back to the Roman era, with the building dedicated to Emperor Hadrian after previously being known as Basilica of Neptune before Hadrian's adopted son and successor, Antoninus Pius, dedicated to him. It is located in the Piazza di Pietra. Nowadays, it is home to the Rome Chamber of Commerce. There is free entry for tourists to sit down and watch a quick video and explore the rooms of the building, there also appear to be some ticketed events too. The craft of the pillars and columns both on the inside and outside of the building is truly impressive, and the Roman structure which stands to this day adds further beauty to the eternal city. The employees seemed happy to let tourists sit down inside without being too pushy or bothersome, and the atmosphere inside was nice, being able to sit and watch the free video. The layout could have been easier to follow when inside, but this wasn't too much of an issue as most tourists will only be using the main dome anyway. 4* - Certainly not the most essential and must-do activity while in Rome, but certainly worth spending some time here, especially on a longer stay in the city, and the central location right by the Pantheon means you won't have to detour to visit.

As we were just wandering about Rome for a day, we happened across this place by accident! Located…read morein the Piazza di Pietra, the surviving wall of the Temple of Hadrian is now actually built into a Borsa bank! lol You can't actually walk into this structure (at least not this side, anyways), but to see those beautiful columns is still pretty cool! Did a little googling and it looks like it has been standing since 145 A.D.! It was cool to take it in for a few and snag some pics, but do be careful of some of the scam artists in the area. There were people set up at a small folding table right in front seeking signatures for "troubled children". I almost got lured in to this thing. I told them I'm sure I can't sign since I m a tourist and not a citizen. "No, no.", they said. "We just need any signatures." Once you go to the table to sign, they ask how much your donation will be. I don't think so. I donate often to plenty of people and organizations in several countries, but I refuse to do so under false pretenses. They actually pulled out a credit card machine (yea, right!) to make it more "convenient". I don't think so. Anyways, back to the Wall of Columns. Very cool. Very classic. Very Ancient Rome. 4 stars.

Built in the 3rd century BC and unearthed in the 15th century, this "talking statue" is a symbol of…read moreprotest. Since the 16th century, people posted pamphlets and letters onto Pasquino to speak against the government. Until recently, letters and signs were posted on the statue; now there's a bulletin at the foot of Pasquino. Right next to Piazza Navona and at the beginning of Via Del Governo Vecchio, a street with lots of shopping and great food (lots of restaurants I consider my favorites)! Give Pasquino a visit and continue your detour down the "via!"

I have a surprise for you and can't tell you what it is... Just follow me. Is what I was told…read more.. Walking up a hill, I really didn't want to walk much as my feet hurts and I was cold... There it was, San Pietro's dome! How? I don't know, I guess you can see San Pietro from anywhere in Rome? The night I went, hardly anyone was there. Just us and another group. Perhaps we avoided tourists by going there in the evening. If you happen to be around, stop by and take a peek through the hole!

#154-2016: This time…read moreI wanted to tour Rome with the eyes of the tourist that doesn't know she is a tourist. So, yes, I did fall for main attractions (though skipping über-crowded spots such as 'bocca della verità" "colosseo" "palatino" "pantheon") and then, one day, after eating at the Testaccio market.... boom... I decided to open yelp and find the nearest landmark..and came across Fabrizia's review of this location... Armed with patience, motor skills and a good set of lungs, I walked up the hill on to the Cavalieri di Malta square.... I was huffing and puffing by the time I reached the top of the steep walk but I was all the more worth it... The square itself is very anonymous.... it is the contouring locations that hold all the magic. The Knights of the Order of Malta have kept guard to to the place of birth of Jesus in Nazareth for centuries and have provided the Vatican with their services for a long while. As compensation, they have been gifted thus amazing location (among other possessions) up on the hill overlooking an amazing view. So, you cautiously approach this door (shut to the public) that divides Italy from Malta. Yes, across this door is a beautiful garden which belongs to Malta and allows the eye to overview 3 countries in one: Malta, Italy and the Vatican City. Yes... because through the peeping hole, you will be able to see the dome of the S. Peter's Cathedral. Trying to snap a picture that shows all 3 is a nearly impossible event (with a normal phone camera) but the naked eye sees all things.... and what a view So, next time you are in Rome... allow yourself a detour, the view will be worth the walk up that hill ...

Should have posted previously…read more.. A darling neighborhood to stroll and should be added to any Tiberina itinerary since it's so close. Wonderful history to explore.

Jews have lived in Rome for over two thousand years. Their presence in Rome predates Christianity…read more It is probably the oldest continuous Jewish community outside of the Israel and the Middle East. Written records trace the Jewish community as early as 161 BC when Judah Maccabee sent envoys to Rome. For hundreds of years, Jewish families coexisted with their neighbors. They worked as bakers, butchers, physicians, money lenders and craftsmen. As the friction between the papacy and the Jewish community in the 1500s escalated, walled off Jewish ghettos were created following the model in Venice. The Roman Ghetto was established as a result of Papal bull Cum nimis absurdum mandated by Pope Paul IV on 14 July 1555. The bull required that the 2,000 Jews who lived in Rome at the time to live in the ghetto, which was not only walled off, but the gates were also locked from the outside at night to keep them in. The Jewish community was also forced to pay 300 Roman scudi for the construction of the wall and gate. The location was prone to flooding and quite undesirable. By the late 1580s, roughly 3,500 inhabitants were living in inhuman conditions. During the plague of 1656, 800 of the ghetto's 4,000 inhabitants died. The bull revoked almost all the rights of the Jewish community. It placed many restrictions on Jews including prohibition on property ownership (even within the ghetto), not being allowed to provide medical care to Christians and compulsory Catholic sermons on the Jewish Shabbat. Life in the ghetto was harsh filled with poverty, epidemics, such as plague, cholera and malaria, diseases due to lack of fresh water and overcrowding. Roman Jews were limited to unskilled jobs such as pawn brokers, fish mongers or ragmen. Many Christians hated the Jews because they were allowed to "lend" money throughout Rome and Europe. Jews had to wear a yellow cloth if they left the ghetto. The yellow veil worn by Jewish women matched the color worn by Roman prostitutes. During Christian feasts they were forced to run naked or be ridden by the Romans as a way to entertain the Romans. They had to petition for the privilege annually to live in their homes and swear loyalty to the Pope at the Arch of Titus which celebrated the Roman sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD. As in most of Rome, there was no fresh water in the ghetto. When the Pope decided to use the old aqueduct system to provide fresh water via a series of fountains designed by Giacomo della Porta, a fountain was due to be placed at Piazza Giudea, the site of a market, inside the ghetto. However, Muzio Mattei used his influence to have the fountain, the Fontana delle Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain), located in the Piazza Mattei instead in front of his residence. Outraged, della Porta changed the design of the fountain so that it provided a small trickle of water to the Mattei family. In 1888, the ghetto walls were torn down. In 1904, the Great Synagogue of Rome and a number of apartment buildings were erected on the site. The Roman Ghetto was the last remaining ghetto in Western Europe until ghettos were reintroduced by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Today, the Jewish Quarter is a thriving community filled with delicious Kosher restaurants, street musicians and shops. The Great Synagogue in Rome has a very visible square dome and a Jewish Museum. Look for the stumbling stones scattered along the cobblestone streets that remember Roman Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust and a tribute to Stefano Tache Gay who was murdered at the age of two as the synagogue was attacked on Shabbat in 1982. Sit at a sidewalk cafe for lunch or dinner. Try the Jerusalem artichokes and pistachio crusted sea bass at Renato al Ghetto and the pizza and pasta at Ba'Ghetto Milky. Delicious! Thank you to Mircea from GURU Tours who shared the rich history and secret sites of the Jewish Quarter during an amazing, and free, night tour. Highly recommended if you like history and cultural insights.

Oh Hadrian. You egotistical little f#*^ stick! This is not a Villa, this is a giant vacation home…read morewith a spa built as a flex. Located in Tivoli, it's what happens when the most powerful man in the world decides he's tired of the city, craves a countryside retreat, and also wants to recreate the entire known world while he's at it. This spot means I saw this in Egypt and I want one; meets, I got a guy in Turkey; meets, let's throw in a library, several baths, temples, theaters, and enough gardens to make Versailles feel uncomfortable. Emperor Hadrian, the guy behind the project, fancied himself as an architect and travel influencer. Walking through the ruins, you get to see what's left of his vacation compound, crumbling columns, sunken pools, mysterious underground tunnels (because who doesn't want secret tunnels?), and just enough scattered mosaics to make you regret every bathroom tile you've ever installed. While you visit, pretend you are the emperor himself probably sipping wine and ignoring whatever empire-wide crisis was happening that week. Ask yourself this: How many fountains is too many fountains?

Hadrian's villa is a must-see, but be ready to walk because Hadrian created a private city for his…read moresummer getaways. His private swimming pool has an island with columns surrounding the enclave. It is worth the visit just to see it, but there is so much more with layers of history, mosaic floors, and even better, original statues kept on site in a museum from the lovely pool which wasn't uncovered until the 1950s so the best stuff didn't get carted away. I visited years ago and was happy to see on my recent visit that more items have been displayed and is just as fascinating the second time as the first.

The street shrines (edicole sacre), which one sees throughout the heart of Rome, are known locally…read moreas madonnelle. The shrines are most commonly situated at street corners, and, as their name suggests, they mostly depict the Madonna, with or without her Son.  Of the thousands of street shrines that once existed in Rome, only five hundred or so remain. They are part of what makes the Eternal City a plein-air, or open-air, museum. Many date back to the Renaissance or Baroque periods, reflecting Rome's deep Catholic heritage. While my partner, our friends, family members, and I were on our golf cart tour last September, we spotted this beautiful Madonnelle around Ponte Sant'Angelo. They can be found throughout Italy, decorating Italian cities, villages, and towns alike.

The Ponte Sant'Angelo, or St. Angelo Bridge, is a historic and stunning bridge that crosses the…read moreTiber River in Rome. I first saw it when we were in Rome recently and was amazed by its beauty. The bridge was completed around 134 AD by Emperor Hadrian and was originally called the Pons Aelius. It connected the city center to Hadrian's new mausoleum, now known as Castel Sant'Angelo. During the Middle Ages, it became the main route for pilgrims traveling to St. Peter's Basilica. The bridge's current appearance is due to renovations in the 17th century. Pope Clement IX asked the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his students to add ten beautiful marble statues of angels holding symbols of Christ's Passion to the bridge. Today, visitors like myself admire the bridge's artistic beauty and historic link to Castel Sant'Angelo.