PANTHEON IN ROME

PANTHEON, SAN LUIGI DEI FRANCESI, PALAZZO MADAMA and NAVONA SQUARE

This itinerary surely is one of the most fascinating of Rome by night as it touches some of the most popular places of interest such as Navona Square and will immerse you in the most fascinating and joyful atmosphere of the eternal city. Starting from the famous temple Pantheon dedicated to Marco Agrippa, Augusto's son-in-law and lieutenant, it will lead you through narrows streets in the historical center of Rome till Campo dei Fiori, the centre of the Roman nightlife, where it's possible to have a good glass of wine or a traditional dinner in one of the several restaurants and wineries scattered in the area.

The Pantheon is one the most well conseved monument of the ancient Rome as it's been transformed in a church during the medieval time by the Vatican. Pantheon dome has been for long time the biggest in the world till the moment it was built Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. The columns of the facade substain a pediment with an inscription attributing the Pantheon to Marcus Agrippa even if it was built by Emperor Hadrian in 118 AD. This is becouse first pantheon was really based on Agrippa's project but it completely burnt in 80 A.D., then rebuilt by Domitian and once again burnt as struck by lightning. Emperor Adriano then constructed it with an original shape and lines. Visit the interior is a must as here are buried famous painter Raffaello and some kings of Italy such as Victor Emmanuel II, to whom was

PANTHEON IN ROME

also dedicated the Vittoriano. Just behind the Pantheon there's Santa Maria sopra Minerva's obelisk, a Bernini's work, composed by an elephant sormounted by an original egyptian obelisk of the VI cent. B.C., representing the Chrstian virtues leading to the wisdom.

From the Pantheon walking "Via Giustiniani" through a series of shops selling every kind of titbit you'll be in a while in front of San Luigi dei Francesi Church, the National French Church built on a project by Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Fontana in obedience to King of France's will. The church is a must for those who like the Caravaggio as it kept three paintings of him: San Matteo e l'Angelo, the Vocazione di San Matteo and Martirio di San Matteo, all painted for the Contarelli Chapel for the jubilee year of 1600.

In the same street is also present Palazzo Madama, Italian Senate Seat. This palace was the Medici's Residence in Rome and hosted also Giovanni and Giuliano de' Medici. The first became Pope Leone X in 1513 and was Lorenzo de' Medici's son. The second became Pope Pope Clemente VII in 1523 and was born to Giuliano, Lorenzo de' Medici's brother who was murdered in the famous Pazzi conspiracy. The name of the palace is due to Madame Margherita d'Austria, Emperor Charles V's son, who married Alessandro de' Medici, Clemente VII's son.

Carrying on with this itinerary through Via del Salvatore you'll reach famous Navona Square, one of the center of nightlife in Rome. Navona Square immediately impresses the visitor both for its size and fountains all projected in XVI century but the Four Rivers Fountain that is a Bernini's project. Evocative aspect of this beautiful place is the origin of its geometry: it was exactly drawn following the perimeter of Domitian's Stadium built in 86 AD, hence its shape. The stadium known as 'Circus Agonalis' was mainly used for horses' races. The name of the sqaure seems to derive from the changement of the name of the stadium in 'in agone' to 'navone' and finally to 'navona'. The image of this place is strongly linked to its particular shape and the presence of the three fountains, one in the north, one in the middle and the last in the south of the square. Two of these are Bernini's works: the southern "Fontana del Moro" (1653) and the central "Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi",

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM
SANTA MARIA MINERVA OBELISK	INSCRIPTION ON THE PEDIMENT - M AGRIPPA L F COSTERTIUM FECIT -	PALAZZO MADAMA SENATE SEAT	BERNINI'S FOUNTAIN

a real baroque masterpiece wanted by Pope Innocenzo X, Bernini and Borrmoni's patron, and inaugurated in 1651. This mouments is an allegorical image of the pacification role that Innocenzo X intended to have toward the entire known world. Hance four rivers represent four continents: Danubio for Europe, Gange for Asia, Nile for Africa represented with a blindfold as its sprimgs were unknown yet, Rio de la Plata represented by a Negro with some coins on the base representing the richness of Americas. In the middle a big rock sourmounted by an obelisk, a roman copy dates back to I cent, and a pigeon on the top, both symbol of peace and Pope Innocenzo X's family. Finally the message is clear: The entire world pacificated under the guide of Pope Innocenzo X. The closeness are one of the most interesting area of Rome for the baroque period but we leave you discover by yourslves the palaces and the curiosities of this area as we want to take you to meet a rela tidbit: the Pasquino's Statue.
This statue was brought here in 1501 and suddenly it started to talk to the population. Pasquino's statue took its name from a cobler who had been working close to here in XVI cent. As right of thinking was not easy to achieve in the ancient Rome governed by Popes, Pasquino used to attached to the basement of this statue his political and social complaining and soon was imitated by the rest of the population. Still today is possible to see and read ironical complaining to the Italian Government.