Home again

I spent my last morning in Rome wandering around the Castel San Angelo. Its the perfect blend of classical (Mausoleum of Hadrian), Renaissance and Baroque (Papal Apartments), and the modern city (spectacular views over the whole city.) It was really a perfect way to spend my last morning.

Back at home now after some issues getting to the plane originally, or rather some issues getting to correct terminal. All is settled and now I think I'll post some of my favorite pictures and places for the next few days. Thanks for traveling with me.

Churches and a Palace

Today I went to Santa Maria della Victoria again. I spent a good half an hour or more looking at the Ecstacy of St. Teressa. Its so beautiful. I was also thinking about how a long time ago I managed to write a paper about the sculpture but I don't think that paper had a thesis of any sort. Just "oooh! Pretty!" Maybe will have to go back and read it again sometime.

Then I went to San Andrea dalle Vale. IT WAS SOOO BEAUTIFUL! I know nothing about it either. It was just giant and beautiful and the sun was coming in the nave windows casting this beautiful yellow glow across the whole church. Everything was glowing like gold. So cool. It also had these mosaic banners of text much like San pietro. In fact, now that I think about it, the whole church looked like a mini san pietro only with less decorations and no baldicino.

Then I went to Palazzo Altemps where Cardinal Ludovici Ludovisi lived and where the Ludovisi collection of classical sculputre is now housed. Totally cool. The Galatian Suicide is there as well as lots of other fun things. I cannot believe we didn't go here when Sophia, Gessica and I came to Rome. Sophia in particular would love it! Also my ticket is also good for 2 other museums and should be good for another 2 days. I think tomorrow I will wander to those museums.

The real questions is what to do on Thursday and Friday, my last two days in Rome! Perhaps visit the Capitoline museum? I definately want to visit San Pietro again! Also I want to convince someone to go into a catacomb with me, because I don't want to go by myself. I'll work on that. Sorry no pictures today, maybe later.

PAUL V PONT. MAX.

This morning I wandered to Santa Maria Maggiore. Its freaking amazing. I have to say that I can't believe I had never been there before! It was so full of Pope Paul V it was awesome. Also is where Bernini is buried. The museum in the basement is wacky fun, full of drawings for original designs of the church, papal vestiments, lots of challaces, portraits, and the handle of Bernini's sword which was originally buried with him but taken out of his tomb in 1920s or something. Also the full size portrait of Paul V by Bernini. I had only seen the mini one that is at the Villa Borghese before. Very cool.

Next I walked across the city of Rome, getting really lots around the Forum of August and Trajan. Before power walking my way to the State Archives to meet with my adviser. She showed me around and then gave me a couple quizes on the heraldry of the popes (which I failed) and then italian (which wasn't suppose to be a test but I failed that one too.) Then we tried to pin down what I was going to do next semester for classes. The answer is TAKE ALL OF THE CLASSES IN THE WORLD! while also teaching, coordinating a wedding and getting married. Hurr.

In conclusion, be careful what you ask for when you want an involved adviser.

Ex-Pats July 4th

Not actually an ex-pat but hey... This morning wandered to Palazzo Colonna, which has spured many art historical questions that I will ponder at a later date. Then off to St. Ignatius (yay for pretty ceilings), drank an expensive cappiccino and then went to San Luigi ai Francesi again.

This evening I plan on moving the last of my stuff from my professors apartment and then going out for cheep american beer and french fries in a pub. Hopefully they will put on a baseball game for us.

In a move that suprises no one MORE CHURCHES!

This morning was spent at San Andrea al Quirinale and Santa Maria del Popollo. Both are fantastic. The Chigi chapel was closed "for restoration" aka to keep all those Angel and Demons fans out! Muahaha suckers. I had many thoughts on how pretty they are but I'm rather tired now so I give you a few in bullet form.

-Butts! Next time you are looking through Caravaggio paintings look at the butts, they are everywhere. People always talk about the feet but the butts they are the real kicker. (All of those puns intended)
-San Andrea al Quirinale seems really small when you first enter it, then it seems to grow larger and larger!

Without futher ado, I introduce you all to Lucius, the dog I've been watching for the past week...



Sorry about the flash, hes hard to capture because hes dark and so is the apartment.

In which our heroine gets deined

I spent a lazy morning at the apartment because I had only one task today, visit Palazzo Altemps (which used to be the apartments of the Ludovisi family.) I took a leisurely walk to the museum by way of a few twists and turns and attempting to stay in the shade. Only to get to the museum and be TURNED AWAY because I didn't have correct change for the ticket. The museum costs 7 euro and I only had a 10 euro bill. She told me to go ask the bookstore for change and before I could even get the words out she promptly said "NO CHANGE!" Bah. I was so frustrated. I just wanted to go to a freaking museum. What kind of a place doesn't have change when you want to visit a museum. Grrr!! I'm tempted to not even try and visit again, on principle. How are people suppose to get this mysterious change if no one will ever give it to you?

By this point in the morning I'm totally frustrated and upset so I went to Boromini's St. Agnes in Agony and sat staring at the beautiful architecture until I calmed down enough to function. This took like a half an hour or so becuase I was so trustrated and tired and all that stuff. Anyway, I decided to spend the rest of the morning church hopping so I went to San Luigi Francesci and spent about a half an hour gazing at the Caravaggios and then to Santa Maria sopra Minerva where I just spent some time gazing around the big, cool church. It was pretty nice. Tomorrow I will have to decide if I want to try again or if I want to just visit more churches.

Two days of Wandering

This morning My baroque Friend met me at my apartment and we wandered to see Guido Reni's Aurora which is open to the public the first day of every month. She found the palazzo by asking a cabineri where it was. The only problem being that the cabineri then proceeded to ask her out for coffee or a drink, even after she told him that she is married. Apparently it didn't matter. "Is your husband a jealous man?" he asked. Sketchy! The Aurora, though, totally worth it. Absolutely beautiful. Best kept secret in Rome. Sorry no pictures allowed.

Next we wandered to St. Augostino where we saw the Carravaggio picture here, before heading to St. Agnes in Agony again. It was a pretty eventful morning followed by eating the largest lunch ever! I am now, once again, absolutely exhausted and now I begin class. Hmm... there must be a better method to this madness...