"COLLECT MOMENTS NOT THINGS"
Rome is virtually an open air museum when you take into consideration the number of sculptures on display in the open, in public places. Two of the such famous public places are the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
It is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome. Designed by Nicola Salvi, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous in the world. During the Baroque era, competitions had become popular to design buildings and fountains. In the contest for this fountain, Nicola Salvi initially lost to Alessandro Galilei from Florence, but due to an outcry over a Florentine having won, Salvi was awarded the commission and work started in 1732. Salvi is credited with hiding behinded a sculpted vase the unsightly sign of a nearby barber. The site is the revival of one of the ancient aqueducts of Rome. The illumination by fllod lights at night time gives it a stunning look,
Like many wish wells all over the world, coins are purportedly meant to be thrown by the right hand over left shoulder. One of the story says that if you do this, you are likely to revisit Rome. An estimated 3000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day.At its centre is the statue of (Neptune) Oceanus, who stands atop a chariot pulled by sea horses and is accompanied by tritons.
A nearby ice cream parlor selling Gelato ice cream was indeed a memorable treat for our taste buds.
The spanish Steps are a set of Baroque style 138steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinita dei Monti, dominated by the church of the same name at the top. The steps were designed by a relatively unknown architect Francesco de Sanctis following a competition. The steps were built between 1723-1726 to celebrate the peace treaty between France and Spain. The name derives from the presence of Spanish embassy nearby at the bottom of steps. At the bottom of steps is a fountain in the shape of a sinking ship. According to a legend the pope had the fountain installed after he was impressed by a boat brought here by a flood in the river Tiber. The spansih Steps' unique design and elegance made it a popular place for artists, painters and poets. To the right of the lower steps is the house where English poet John Keats lived and died in 1821. The steps were made famous by Gregory Peck and Audrie Hepburn in the 1953 film " The Roman Holiday". The tradition of Spanish Steps as a meeting place has lived on ever since.
Marvelous description
ReplyDeleteWell described, the two most iconics of Rome.
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