An Historical Masterpiece (5 photos) and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

The Trevi Fountain has become one of the most endearing symbols of Rome. This Baroque creation is Rome's largest fountain, 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. Situated at the site of three roads (tre vie) in ancient Rome, it delivered pure water from a source outside the city and brought via an aqueduct named Aqua Virga, after the alleged virgin who found the water source. The original fountain worked for 400 years till the Goth invaders destroyed the aqueduct, one of the prime reasons for the fall of Rome.
During the Renaissance, the Roman custom of building a fancy fountain at the end of an aqueduct was revived. Several fountains were built on this site on order of various popes, but the fountain we see today was built between 1732 and 1762 at the order of Pope Clement XII and designed by Nicola Salvi. In 1998 the fountain was refurbished with the addition of recirculating pumps. The last 3 images predate the cleaning.

There is a lot more to the symbolism of the Trevi Fountain than some buxom movie actress splashing around in the water. Like so many Italian classic sites, mythology plays a major role in the characters depicted. The overall theme is the taming of the waters. The background is comprised of an Arch of Triumph with 4 Corinthian-style columns and an upper level filled with statuary. The center piece is the imposing Neptune guiding a chariot drawn by seahorses, one described as placid and the other agitated, to characterise the changing moods of the sea. They are guided by tritons, one aged and the other young, representing the extremes of humanity. Smaller niches to the side contain the figures of Abundance (wealth - on the left) and Salubrity (health - on the right). The statues above are of "Agrippa approving the plans for the aqueduct" and "The Virgin leading the soldiers".

Current legend states that one should throw a coin with the right hand over the left shoulder to ensure a return to Rome. The true legend ---
1 coin - return to Rome.
2 coins - get married.
3 coins - get divorced.

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Directions: There are traditionally about eight million tourists gathered in the small square in front of the fountain, making itone of the most congested touristic sites in Rome. This is a great work - you should be one of them.

After his execution, St. Paul was buried outside the city of Rome along the road to Ostia. An early shrine was replaced by a church commissioned by Emperor Constantine in 324, and rebuilt and restored by multiple popes over the next 1000 years. In 1823, large parts of the basilica were destroyed by a major fire and the following year Pope Leo XII began a major restoration which lasted into the 20th Century. The only remaining features of the ancient church are the interior portion of the apse, mosaics, and the de Cambio 13th Century tabernacle of the confession.

The included esterior images include the 19th Century statue of St. Paul by Giuseppe Obici with the inscription "To the preacher of truth, the teacher of nations". The facade is covered with mosaics in the Byzantine style, made with gold glass. They were created in the Vatican workshops in the mid-19th Century. From the top, Christ is seated on his throne with a hand raised in blessing and with images of Sts. Peter and Paul on either side. Just below is the Lamb of God on the Mountain of Paradise from which 4 rivers flow symbolizing the gospels. Twelve sheep symbolizing the Apostles drink from the rivers. Between the windows are statues of four major prophets -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel.

The center bronze door is inlaid with silver and depicts scenes from the lives of St Peter and St. Paul. Images of St. Paul include his conversion, his teaching, his welcome in Rome, and his martyrdom by beheading. On the far right is the Holy Door with 55 panels depicting scenes from the lives of the apostles, the old and new testament.
The interior is so complex as to defy description in 2047 characters. Features include the triumphal arch modelled after ancient Roman arches, mosaics and statues of popes, saints, and martyrs, a 5 foot 12th Century candlestick depicting Christs's passion, death and resurrection, and a 19th Century altar. Inside the altar is a perpetual red light to indicate the burial place of St. Paul.

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This church is most famous for its contents - the relics of St. Peter and Michelangelo's Moses. The church was built between 432-440 by the Empress Eudoxia to honor the chains from Jerusalem and Rome used to imprison St. Peter. When Eudoxia gifted the Jerusalem chains to Pope Leo I, he compared them with the Rome chains and they miraculously fused together. The chains are kept in a reliquary under the main altar and can be illuminated for a brief period by inserting a small coin into the light machine.

Michelangelo's Moses is part of an incomplete funeral monument for Pope Julius II (whose remains are at St. Peter's). Of interest are the horns on Moses' head - these are attributed to "rays of light" said to be rising from his face after his meeting with God on Mt. Sinai.

As with most major Roman churches, there have been multiple renovations and rebuildings over the centuries. there are multiple examples of sacred art, of which perhaps the most famous is the 18th Century ceiling fresco Miracle of the Chains by Parodi.

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