Rome – Day 4
Wednesday, 19-Apr-2023
Tags: Travel
Wednesday was another work day for Larry, but he had some time in the morning to walk with Eileen to Trajan's column and back.
Eileen had hoped to go to the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, the best-known private gallery in Rome, housing works by Raphael, Caravaggio, and others. But it was not to be as the Galleria was closed on the third Wednesday and this was the third Wednesday.
The new plan was to visit the remaining two sites of the National Roman Museum. The first stop was supposed to be Crypta Bilba, which contains finds that have been excavated at this archaeological site. Again it was not to be. Eileen walked the 1.25 miles only to find it inexplicably closed, with no signs as to why. The last site, Palazzo Altemps, was about another .5 miles, with Largo di Torre Argentina and the Pantheon on the way.
Largo di Torre Argentina is a square with four Roman Republican temples and the remains of Pompey's Theatre. Julius Caesar was assassinated in this square.
The next stop was the Pantheon. The place was mobbed with tourists and school groups. There was actually a line (which moved fast) to enter. The exterior shot was taken by Larry Wednesday night when he was walking to a MEF dinner, as it was impossible to get a good picture during the day.
Eileen then stopped for a gelato!
Finally the last site, Palazzo Altemps. The Palazzo Altemps houses an important collection of Greek and Roman sculpture and of Egyptian art that belonged to several families of the Roman nobility between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The works are on display in beautiful rooms decorated with frescoes on the walls and ceilings.
The courtyard.
The museum was extremely well-signed. Each sculpture had a description in Italian and English, with a sketch of the sculpture showing which parts were original and which had been restored to form a complete sculpture.
One sculpture was of Apollo with his lyre.
One of the Egyptian pieces.
Some pictures of the rooms, with their decorations and frescoes.
Finally it was time to walk 1.5 miles back to the hotel and relax. Larry went to MEF group dinner, Eileen went back to the Indian restaurant with Donna, the partner of Manfred, another MEF attendee.
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Larry and Eileen Samberg
