Tag Archives: Mediterranean Vacation

In modern Italian, Piazza del Populo means “People’s Square”, but the name of this popular city square in Rome, Italy, actually derives from the word for the poplar tree. Piazza del Populo was designed between 1811 and 1822 by Giuseppe … Continue reading →

Villa Medici in Rome, Italy has offered guided tours of the gardens for some time but, this summer, the apartments of Cardinal Ferdinando I de’ Medici were opened to the public for the first time this summer. The most striking … Continue reading →

In the gardens of Villa Medici in Rome, Italy stand copies of statues of Niobe and her children. Niobe, proud of her ten (or fourteen) children, was scornful of Leto who had only two children. Leto’s children, however, were the … Continue reading →

The Villa Medici was established by Cardinal Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany who acquired the property in 1576. The villa is located on the Pincio Hill, next to the Borghese Gardens, and enjoys a grand vista of … Continue reading →

The International Exhibition of Sculpture in Rome which ran from 24 May 2011 to 31 July 2011 included a number of sculptures in the vicinity of Casina Valadier in the Pincio Gardens of Rome, Italy. Included were such sculptures as … Continue reading →

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinití  dei Monti) in Rome, Italy are a popular hangout for tourists. The steps lead from Piazza di Spagna to Piazza Trinití  dei Monti with the church of the Santissima Trinití  dei Monti at the … Continue reading →

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy is one of the most famous fountains in the world. Legend says that if you toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. Nicola Salvi designed the fountain which was … Continue reading →

While in Rome, Italy during the last few days of my Mediterranean vacation, I stayed at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel. I chose this hotel because, while in elementary school, my class was assigned to write to our local bishop who … Continue reading →

The Colosseum (or sometimes spelled Coliseum) in Rome, Italy is so called because of a colossal statue of Nero that once stood near the structure. Upon entering the Colosseum, visitors pass through hallways with numerous arches forming doorways to the … Continue reading →

The interior of the Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater) in Rome, Italy included a basement area or hypogeum which held the staging area for the events in the Colosseum and the cages for the wild animals used in some of the … Continue reading →