Gladiators and the Colosseum
Imagine…it’s the first century. The hungry crowds are clamoring to catch a glimpse of the gladiators, sometimes slaves, more often criminals, or even prisoners of war! Occasionally there were free men (and even women), who longed for the glory, the praise, the spotlight. Wedged in tightly between 50,000 of their closest friends, the crowd erupts as the first animals and/or gladiators appear out of nowhere, emerging from hidden trap doors and a complex set of lifts, ropes, and pulleys. The excitement is palpable! The Colosseum, completed in 80 AD, was used mainly for gladiator… Read More
Hidden Intrigues of Piazza Navona, Rome
Meandering through the narrow, cobbled streets of Rome late one evening, we stumbled upon this masterpiece of a location… Piazza Navona! It is a spectacular piazza, filled with gorgeous architecture, open air restaurants, musicians, vendors, and “starving” artists. It also boasts a beautiful fountain designed by the renowned Bernini, and named Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (aka the Fountain of the Four Rivers). The story of Bernini and his Fountain of the Four Rivers alone is quite fascinating, though there are several versions. Bernini was one of the most talented artists of his… Read More
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