Holding myself together after the Zabione episode, we walk onwards towards Piazza Popolo
While the square used to be The Place for public executions back in ancient times, today, it is a vibrant , wide open space that draws in droves of people....none of who even want to harm a hair on the head of the Lady ? Liberty swathed in white
Naturally the Flaminio Obelisk is its focal point.
After defeating Anthony and Cleopatra, the son of Caesar, Augustus, took this granite centrepiece dating to as far back as 1280 BC home .
Brought to Rome by Augustus in 10 BC, the Flaminio Obelisk was originally from Heliopolis , Temple of the Sun and built for Pharoah Seti I by Rameses II.
Fontana dell' Obelisco is a set of 4 mini fountains with Egyptian lions atop stepped pliths, sprouting water in the 4 corners of the obelisk. The inscription at the base of the obelisk, declares that it is a victory gift dedicated by Augustus to the people of Rome and the sun
Sat myself at the base of the obelisk and listened to 3 mesmerising sets by this exceptional street musician.
He's so good, he eventually got the attention of this man who not only bought his discs, they had such a long chat session going that I got bored and moved on. When he tried picking off where he left, his fender skills found a challenger in a South American native across the square, playing some annoyingly loud flute instrument.
Roll eyes.
Porta del Popolo, the main gate , was spruced up to commemorate the arrival of newly converted royal abdicate Queen Christina of Sweden in 1655.
Topped by the Pope's coat of arms and flanked by 2 side pillars from the old St.Peter's Basillica this imposing gate served as a gateway for pilgrims and travellers coming from north.
And today, guess who's the keeper of the gate ? A street performer in the form of a golden Pharoah . No . Nothing escapes his eye. All he does is stare at it all day even past sun down.
Next to that main gate is this circular wall. Nice place to sun or read a book or get lovey dovey ,but do keep a look out for the mini sphinx statues on top.
Allegorical sculpture by Filippo Gnaccarini
called Spring. One of four.
Fontana della Dea Roma .
Depicts all legends associated to the founding of Rome in a nutshell....or rather seashell in this case.
Pincian Hill lies behind . Villa Borghese beyond that.
In the middle is the Goddess of Rome in helmet and lance , flanked by Tiberio and
Aniente . The She-Wolf and twins Romulus and Remus, lay in front
Via di Ripetta is the sunlit passageway on the right of the photo where the first of the Santa Maria twin churches are. One of the churches were built to counter the ghost of Nero who haunted that site. People were afraid of him returning from the dead and it's constrcution somewhat did the trick.
Am now taking Via del Babuino all the way on the left ,to see if I can get to savour one last plate of pasta before we fly home
Location : Rome
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