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Natale di Roma: Rome Celebrates Its Birthday

The city of Rome was born on April 21, 753 BC. In Italian, it is known as the Natale di Roma—the birthday of Rome.
A Show of Hands: A Look at the Marble Hands of Ancient Statues in Rome

It all started with David. Michelangelo’s statue of David was one of the first pieces of sculpture that I knew I had to see in person. Recognized worldwide as a symbol of Florence, David is marble come to life especially when you look at his hands. My European Art History professor many years ago urged us…
Visiting the Colosseum Dungeons on a Guided Tour [Review]

My review of the tour: Colosseum “Dungeons, Third Level and Arena Floor,” Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Everything is Authentic

Trying to decide if a travel experience is authentic or not is like trying to separate “travelers” from “tourists.” That debate separates those who travel along class and age lines, with travelers proclaiming their experiences better, richer, more true than those of the tourists. There’s even a famous quote by G.K. Chesterton that delineates these…
The Monumental Trees of Italy

Have you seen this book? Many years ago, I found this book while browsing the clearance stacks at a used bookstore in Washington, DC. Published in 1990, Gli Alberi Monumentali d’Italia is a beautiful coffee table book full of color photos of legendary trees from Italy’s islands and central/southern regions. Roman pines, Holm oaks, olive,…
Will the Vatican Museums Finally Limit the Number of Visitors?

The Vatican Museums welcome up to 25,000 visitors per day. Is it time for them to limit the crowds?
Lost in Translation: A Look at the Gruesome Stories Behind Rome’s Monuments and Art

We admire Italy’s art and monuments for color, style, and the skillfulness of their creators. But the gruesome stories that many of these famous works depict are a reminder of real human suffering.