a curious Yankee in Europe's court » Rome

Springtime flowering along via Appia Antica (Rome)

rebecca — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:27:43 +0000

Two images from a walk we took Sunday along a short stretch of the old Roman road, via Appia Antica.

Rare snowfall in Rome: Feb 4, 2012

rebecca — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:35:24 +0000

Man walking his dog in the snow

We don’t often get snow in our neck of the woods here near Rome, and when we do it’s usually no more than a three-minute wonder. But recent weather forecasts predicting arrival of the beautiful white stuff were raising my hopes.

So yesterday, I loitered near our front windows watching the steady fall of the rain, hoping for the magical transformation into winter wonderland. Finally ’round midnight, my vigil was rewarded. I would say at least five inches fell — and it’s still here!

Stopping by Rome’s MAXXI on a September afternoon

rebecca — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:30:59 +0000

Popped into Rome this afternoon to have our first look at the MAXXI museum which opened only last year. Full name: MAXXI – National Museum of the 21st Century Arts.

As the name reveals, the MAXXI’s official mission is to celebrate modern art and architecture (see website here). The museum was designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

I liked the reflection of the blue sky, white clouds and nearby buildings in the museum’s big window high above, so I snapped a few photos, as you see.

The Guardian has a slide show here, if you want to see more.

Romulus and Remus and the She Wolf: La sala della Lupa (Palazzo Montecitorio)

rebecca — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:57:10 +0000

Life-sized bronze statue of She-Wolf nursing Romulus and Remus in the namesake hall, La sala della Lupa, of the seat of the Italian parliament in Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome. Photo by Tarcisio Arzuffi (June 2011).

Describing the photo in an email to me, Tarcisio wrote:

This year Italy celebrates its 150th year of national unity. Last week I had the opportunity to be in Palazzo Montecitorio, the seat of the Italian parliament, and there I took this picture. It represents the symbol of Rome — the two children Romulus and Remus raised by a She Wolf. This bronze statue sculpted in natural dimensions gives its name to the most known hall of representatives in Montecitorio: La sala della Lupa. The colors you see next to the Lupa in the photo are the Italian flag.

Antonio Pappano talks about Rome and Respighi

rebecca — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:43:36 +0000

In yesterday’s missed links post, I included a link to a Guardian interview with Antonio Pappano, music director of Rome’s Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Googling around later, I found this 2009 short EMI Classics video of Pappano discussing Rome and the music of the Italian composer Respighi.

The video’s too good to be tucked away into obscurity, I think.

A winter’s day walk: Ostia Lido, Rome

rebecca — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:04:09 +0000

Fountain of the Naiads, Rome

rebecca — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:48:07 +0000

Piazza della Repubblica, Rome (Jan 16, 2011).

Painting the Tiber with a Blackberry

rebecca — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:35:36 +0000

Yesterday when we were in Rome I snapped some shots of the Tiber river, swollen and muddy brown from the heavy rainfall here for the past few weeks. Having forgotten my camera, I used our Blackberry, hoping its two megapixels might serve well enough.

I was struck by how much the photos have the appearance of oil paintings. Perhaps a combination of the late afternoon, overcast weather and a nature palate of browns and unilluminated greens.

Singing merrily in Rome: Russell Crowe

rebecca — Sun, 16 May 2010 17:48:15 +0000

For celebrity watchers, this is fun. Russell Crowe was in Rome yesterday promoting his new film, Robin Hood. And singing. See local news report here.

Crowe also appeared as a guest on popular Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa and he and his fellow co-stars sang again.

In Italy the wisteria is blooming

rebecca — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:12:30 +0000

If it’s April, in Italy the glicine (wisteria) is blooming. Here the flowering vine cascades down the facade of a hotel in Rome.