|
Neil (the bearded one)'s photostream
|
|
Rome: Walking in the Centro Storico, I fall in love with this old street: cobbled, dilapidated twisting, chairs outside, motor scooters parked, cyclist bumping down... then zzz, wzzz, wzzz, the film rewinds, and this was the last picture I took in Rome
Rome: We visit the church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza on behalf of a friend. At the end of the courtyard of the City Archive, it boasts an unusual spiral top to its cupola, and look under the scaffolding at the "blancmanges", symbol of the Chigi family
Rome: After coffee in the piazza – thank you, Christine – I take this external shot of the Pantheon, showing the inscription attributing it to Agrippa. Just imagine the tympanum filled with a bronze relief, and the dome sheathed with bronze
Rome: Christine in the Pantheon. I said "at least AD 125" because although Marcus Agrippa originally built it around 27 BC, it was rebuilt by Hadrian. Still, this is an amazing building. I especially like the coffering inside the dome (last image)
Rome: The Pantheon, Rome's best-preserved ancient Roman building. The diameter of this dome equals its height (43m), and that disc of sunlight comes from the 9m diameter hole in the center of the top. It's survived since at least AD 125
Rome: In the old town, the "Centro Storico", the next day, we find the Jesuit church of Sant'Ignazio. Stand on the brass disc and this trompe l'œil painting makes the shallow vault seem much higher. There's a trompe l'œil cupola, too
Rome: After leaving St. Peter's (and thankfully recovering my Swiss Army Knife from the place where I'd reluctantly hidden it at the police officer's suggestion), we find that the sun has gone down enough to even out the light and show the façade well
Rome: Now there aren't any faithful left. Apparently the statue is dressed up in papal vestments and tiara on feast days. Already too late on entry to go up and visit the dome, we continued to look round St. Peter's until everyone was thrown out
Rome: I, on the other hand, was happy to pose touching the famous toe, worn down by so many touches that it's likely to drop off in the next hundred years or so
Rome: A member of the faithful touches the toe of the statue of St. Peter. Oh, all right: Christine did it because I asked her to. As an Anglican (Episcopalian), she was extremely reluctant, though I won't rehearse the debate here
Rome: The interior of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Designed by Michelangelo, it was completed by Giacomo della Porta and Fontana. I'm getting the feeling in here that no one expects me to like it, only to be impressed, which I suppose I am
Rome: The nave of St. Peter's Basilica. Not in this picture: a series of labelled brass stars on the floor at increasing distances from the back of the apse, put there to boast how much longer St. Peter's is than (almost) any other church on earth
Rome: Christine inside St. Peter's Basilica. It's a gloomy place to try and photograph. Flash is obviously out of the question (except for pictures like this). I tried Michelangelo's Pietà, but a reflection on the glass from the other side ruined it
Rome: The façade of St. Peter's Basilica, executed by Maderno. It's getting late, I've had a problem at security (don't take a penknife with you – unlike the Vatican Museums, they have no official facility to look after it), but we're on our way in
Rome: Christine in St. Peter's Square. Can't think why they've posted all those armed security guards up on top of the colonnade – she's harmless
Rome: The visit to the Vatican Museums just about did for my feet, but we're safely out, and now in St. Peter's Square in bright late afternoon sunshine. We swap picture taking with another couple
Rome: The view back northwards from the window of one of the Raphael Rooms
Rome: An "impression" of Raphael's School of Athens, covering the whole of one wall up to the vault
2005 02 Egypt 1
246 photos
677 views
2005 02 Egypt 2
355 photos
1,699 views
2005 02 Egypt 3
256 photos
516 views
2005 07 Cornwall
145 photos
159 views
2005 09 Dundee
62 photos
15 views
2006 03 Sahara 1
610 photos
890 views
2006 03 Sahara 2
629 photos
465 views
2006 03 Sahara 3 + Paris
296 photos
241 views
2006 07 Dublin
79 photos
120 views
2007 03 Lake District
280 photos
100 views
» More Sets
