History – Maurizio Rome Guide

The Pontifical Virtues

The seven pontifical virtues are: Three theological virtues (concerning God): Faith (white), Hope (Green) and Charity (Red); Four cardinal virtues (related to the human soul and enunciated by Plato): fortitude, justice, prudence and temperance (moderation). Allegories are personifications of ideas, virtues and vices commonly used in the universal artistic language of painting and sculture

Forum of Peace

In 70-75 AD. at the end of the civil wars for the succession to the Empire and the bloody repression of the Jewish revolt, the Emperor Vespasian built a sanctuary dedicated to Peace called the Forum of Peace consisting of a large square with porticoes. The complex became part of the five Imperial Forums, theContinue reading “Forum of Peace”

The Ghetto of Venice (the oldest in the world)

The word ghetto had nothing to do with Jews or segregation.It derives from a place in Cannaregio (Venice) where the waste from copper processing was thrown.In 1516 the area was chosen as a place where the Jewish community could live, with lots of restrictions, and nevertheless many Jews moved there to find refuge from theContinue reading “The Ghetto of Venice (the oldest in the world)”

The Square Colosseum of Rome

The building in the picture is commonly known by Romans as the ‘Square Colosseum’. The real name is ‘Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana’ and is located in the EUR neighborhood, a district with modern buildings recalling ancient monumentality. It was started by Italy’s dictator Benito Mussolini in the 1930s with the aim of hosting ‘Rome’s UniversalContinue reading “The Square Colosseum of Rome”

Inside the Pyramid of Rome

Pyramid is a greek word meaning ‘fire-shaped’. Its architecure was introduced in Rome after the conquest of Egypt in 31 BC and the arrival to Rome of Cleopatra. The Romans were fascinated by this ancient and advanced civilization and an Egyptian fashion spread out, especially in the capital. Roman women walked around showing Egyptian haircuts and wearing eastern jewellery whereasContinue reading “Inside the Pyramid of Rome”