TOUR D) WATER (3h, on foot, by private car or public transport)

1. The Pantheon
“The Pantheon is a single room. A circular cell made of stone and cement. It has one entrance. No windows. One narrow entrance”.
“The dimensions of the Pantheon’s main chamber were a tribute to Gaea – the goddess of the Earth. The proportions were so exact that a giant spherical globe could fit perfectly inside the building with less than a millimetre to spare”.
The huge temple devoted to all pagan gods and goddesses that became a Christian church.
It is covered by the largest dome ever built in ancient times.
The secrets (still unsolved) of its construction (2nd cent. A.D.).
The mysterious oculus (famous circular opening) at the top of the tremendous cupola, the subject of sinister folk stories.
Raphael’s tomb.

2. Piazza Navona
Once a stadium built by order of Emperor Domitian, now one of the most peculiar Roman squares. In the middle, the famous

3. The fountain of the Four Rivers
“A flawless tribute to water, Bernini’s fountain glorified the four major rivers, one of his most celebrated sculptures. Everyone who came to Rome went to see it”.
“The fountain’s most arresting quality was its height. The central core alone was over twenty feet tall – a rugged mountain of travertine marble riddled with caves and grottoes through which the water churned”.
The four colossal male figures around portray the four continents: America, Africa, Asia and Europe and, of course, the four most important rivers of the Old World, i. e. the Rio della Plata, the Nile, Ganges and Danube. In the middle, the obelisk with the dove atop. Again, Bernini. Nearby,

4. The church of St. Agnes in Agone
Very much celebrated baroque church designed by great Francesco Borromini, Bernini’s friend and rival, in honor of St. Agnes, “a ravishing teenage virgin banished to a life of sexual slavery for refusing to renounce her faith”.

 

4. St. Peter’s Church
“Crossing the open expanse of St.Peter’s square he sensed Bernini’s sprawling piazza having the exact effect the artist had been commissioned to create – that of humbling all those who entered”.
The largest Christian church in the world, mother to all Catholic churches and also known as the “museum church”.
The Swiss guards The papal altar “the golden coffer surrounded by ninety-nine glowing oil lamps. It was said they would burn until the end of time.”
The baldachin (or canopy) covering the very tomb of St.Peter and hiding place of the anti-matter canister. The dome The obelisk The grand staircase.