Rome via Brooklyn

418 Words, 2 Minutes

Ciao! Day three in Rome has come and gone, and so far it was my most active, most exciting yet.

Beginning the day with the Temples of Portunus and… maybe Hercules was exciting. The Temple of Portunus feels especially ancient, albeit fairly well preserved. Perhaps this is the simple design of the Ionic columns or the relatively simple rectangular build. Standing in front of something that was crafted so long ago while being surrounded by honking cars and medieval churches alike was awe-inspiring, if not slightly existential.

The Circular Temple on the other hand, while not feeling modern, comes off as much more complex and eye-grabbing. Again, possibly due to its columns (Corinthians), as well as its marble build. I also wondered about something mentioned by Pliny the Elder: “In Rome, neither flies nor dogs enter the Temple of Heracles in the Forum Boarium (Encyclopedia 34.33).” This passage is used as an argument that the temple was dedicated to Hercules, but I was considering whether or not his statement was true, and if so, what scientific explanation was there for the phenomenon. On a side note, Hercules was a recurring figure today, as I saw multiple representations of him in Villa Giulia.

Before and after our visit to Villa Giulia (I must mention, seeing the Sarcophagus of the Spouses in person was a treat), I spent some time alone in the city. I visited three Catholic churches, the first being Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin. My first time visiting an Italian church was as awe-inspiring as I had hoped; reading the Latin inscriptions, gazing upon the art, the architecture and the design, the bones of St. Valentine (my middle namesake), and exploring the underground chapel. From here, I worked my way to the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione at the Roman Forum, and then the Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Cœli on the Capitoline Hill. Climbing the steps for the latter was a challenge, but the beautiful Romanesque-Gothic architecture made it all worth it. The sheer amount of jaw-dropping, highly historically and aesthetically significant sights in Rome continues to amaze me. I feel like I see so many on every street. Catholicism may indeed have the hardest aesthetic. Visiting churches that represent different eras in Catholic and Architectural history, and observing the differences and similarities between them, is likely to be one of the highlights of my time here. 

After 10.34 miles (20,684 steps) I’m feeling pretty worn out, so that’s all for now. Arrivederci!