When in Rome

There is never enough time for a Roman holiday. People who have lived there all their lives have still not seen all it has to offer. So, stationing yourself as close to the attractions as possible has distinct advantages.

The Piazza Navona is enormous, built on the ruins of an ancient stadium (you can still see the ruins at the North end of the Piazza, but only by appointment). It was built in 86 AD and there were games and jousting held there until the late fifteenth century, after which it was paved as a market and public square.

The pride of the Piazza is Berninis masterpiece, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), the rivers being the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio Plata. The fountain was built over four years and completed in 1651 the unfortunate Roman citizens had to pay a bread tax to cover the funding.

The Piazza today attracts an enormous number of visitors to enjoy the outdoor cafes, gaze at the beautiful sculptures and relax with their packed lunches on one of the many stone benches found throughout the square. Artists gather in the Piazza and it is possible to watch them draw and paint, and to purchase original works at a fraction of gallery prices.

In the Campo de Fiori, the flower and vegetable market is open every morning except Sundays It was at one time a place of execution, during the Inquisition.

There are some things which absolutely must not be missed when visiting Rome, such as St Peters Basilica and the Trevi Fountain, where Anita Ekberg waded into the waters in Fellinis famous film La Dolce Vita. If you want to return to Rome, you must toss a coin into the fountain. The proper way to do this is to turn your back to the fountain and toss the coin into the basin over your shoulder.

The Botanical Gardens Open Apartment (see it on www.selectvillarentals.com) is a few steps from the Piazza Navona and also the Campo de Fiori, a splendid city centre base.

The splendid Colosseum at one time sat over 50,000 people. Legends repute the Colosseum to be the heart and soul of Rome, and that when it falls, Rome will also fall. Until then, however, it is open from 09.00 to 16.00 and 18.00 in the summer.

Jan Gamm writes reflections on life with an emphasis on world travel. She has lived in many countries and traveled extensively in the Far East, the Middle East, America, South America and throughout the South Pacific. She writes for fun and for money whenever she can manage it.

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