ROME,
CENTRE OF THE WORLD AND OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
Italy's capital, rises on the banks of the Tevere river about 25 kilometers
from its main outlet in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is situated at the center
of an undulating plain, the Campagna Romana, which is confined one side
by the hills of Monte Mario, Gianicolo and Monteverde and on the other
side by smaller hills of volcanic origin - the so-called "Seven Hills."
Almost
three thousand years of history have made the artistic and architectural
patrimony of Rome so rich that the tourist feels overwhelmed. Starting
from the Roman monuments, famous worldwide, like the Coliseum or the
Roman Forum, through the medieval masterpieces, up to the Baroque magnificent
churches and palaces...
it has been estimated that 50% of the world art is located in Rome!
Don't miss the opportunity to visit this magnificent city and to feel
the flavor of "la dolce vita".
ROME
HISTORY AND ART
 ANCIENT ROME
The
legendary Romulus, in founding the future world capital in 753 BC, led
his flock of shepherds and farmers up the Palatine Hill to protect them
from the flooding Tiber river below as well as from the rival Etruscans
across the Tiber (literally Trastevere) and Sabines on the Quirinal
Hill.
From the beginning, Roman life was a fight, against nature and enemy
tribes. Soon they spread over to the Capitoline Hill and Etruscan engineers
drained the marsh in-between to create the Roman Forum. Here and in
the adjoining areas they established the Republic with its Senate and
rule of law, and later the Emperors built their Colosseum and staged
their military Triumphs.
This, then, was the center of civilization from the early days of Western
European history until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4C AD.
The Space-and-Time concept called Ancient Rome stretches for about a
Millennium from the banks of the Tiber to the Colosseum, passing through
the Forums and the Palaces, with rays stretching to the Imperial Mausoleums
to the NorthWest and along the Appian Way to the South East.
CHRISTIAN
ROME
The
key to understanding Rome, and its layers of human endeavor, is to separate
its 4 historic epochs into the 4 corresponding areas of the city.
Christianity came to Rome with St. Peter, who was crucified on Vatican
hill in 64 AD.
It was declared the State Religion of the Roman Empire in 379 AD by
Emperor Theodosius. And for 1,000 years the two centers of Roman Catholicism
were the Vatican hill and St. John of Lateran hill (Rome's Cathedral).
We define Christian Rome as centered in the Vatican area, with St. Peter's
Basilica and its fortress of Castel Sant’ Angelo, to which we
add the adjacent Medieval quarter of Trastevere and the places of Catholic
pilgrimage: basilicas, catacombs and leading Churches.
We date Christian Rome from the 5 C to the 14 C, roughly from the Fall
of the Roman Empire to the eruption of the Renaissance: the Popes ruled
the city and the hearts of all the faithful.
Christian Rome and its religious establishments throughout Europe preserved
Western Civilization during the Dark Ages virtually and all representational
art was religious. Where the Medieval candles burned the brightest was
CHRISTIAN ROME.
RENAISSANCE
& BAROQUE ROME
 From 1450 to 1600. Renaissance is literally the
rebirth of the classical styles of ancient Rome and Greece in all the
arts: literature, music, architecture, sculpture and painting. The advent
of the Renaissance meant mankind was emerging from the Middle Ages.
The Papacy had returned to Rome after three quarters of a century in
Avignon; artists and patrons were in a celebratory mood. In architecture,
Romanesque with its heavy rounded shapes, as well as Gothic with its
pointed windows and doors had lost their charm. Suddenly, the ancient
Roman edifices, that had been pillaged or neglected for a millennium,
seemed perfect prototypes for the buildings of this exuberant age.
Many historians say this movement started in Florence with the rediscovery
of ancient Greek and Latin poetry, and soon spread to encompass the
visual arts. Pope Martin V (1417-31) is credited with launching the
Renaissance in Rome with his vast program of reconstructing Rome including
its ancient buildings as well as restoring the early churches.
This movement culminated in the High Renaissance (1500 to 1520) when
the three giants, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael were spreading
their enlightenment in Rome.
From 1530-1600. Mannerism is the name given by art critics to the last
phase of the Renaissance which started the transition to the Baroque,
roughly 1530-1600.
Michelangelo, in the second half of his life, was principally responsible
for spawning this style, typified by the distorted figures in some sculptures
and portraits, with long thin necks and heads. The poses are "mannered"
in the sense that they are exaggeratedly dramatic rather than natural.
This esoteric movement led to the irrational treatment of space and
a sense of psychological unease, such as we see in "The Last Judgment"
in the Sistine Chapel and even some of Michelangelo's architecture such
as the Laurentian Library in Florence.
From 1600 to 1750. Baroque art, and especially architecture, emphasizes
decoration and movement, using classical elements but in an exaggerated
manner meant to inspire religious spirituality.
It reached its apogee right here in Rome with the palaces, fountains,
and sculptural tableaux of Bernini, as well as his churches, and those
of the apprentice who surpassed him in architecture, Borromini.
This style, too, erupted at a period of enthusiasm and optimism, the
Counter Reformation, when the Catholic Church had emerged from the ugly
skirmishes with Protestant antagonists and the Popes were eagerly spending
the Holy See's riches to enhance their families and their fame.
Grim and cheerless unadorned buildings were so repugnant to the Italian
temperament that this new, dynamic style, which at first was greeted
with derision, was then accepted enthusiastically by the Romans.
MODERN
ROME
This was the last part of the city to be developed, from the 18C till
today.
Before that, there were gardens and orchards with few houses. There
was a large monastery just inside Porta del Popolo, which was the grand
entrance to Rome before the age of trains and planes.
The first TOURISTS gave this part of Rome an impetus; when they arrived
from the north in their carriages (Via delle Carrozze "carriages" is
here), hotels and shops sprang up to welcome them. These travelers were
"Culture Vultures". It was for Ancient Rome that they came, unlike the
pilgrims who had come for Christian Rome.
Rates:
Seat in a Coach Group Tours in Rome
Roman Countryside . Papal Audience . Papal Blessing
. Illuminated Rome
Monuments
of Rome . Ancient Rome . Vatican Museum . Christian Rome . Tivoli
Tivoli By Night with Dinner . Rome by Night
With Dinner and Music
OSTIA ANTICA - Something really special to crown your roman holidays.
The Ancient Harbour
Full Day out of Rome ASSISI & ORVIETO
. FLORENCE . NAPLES - CAPRI- ANACAPRI . NAPLES, POMPEI
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