Italian Monuments
Pat & I just returned home from two weeks in Italy, one of the world’s most popular places to visit. There are familiar sights everywhere. But the country also holds treasures that are fantastic. One of the great treats of the vacation was visiting some of the Italian monuments that reminded us of the ingenuity and sometimes cruelty of our forefathers.
We first visited the Roman Colosseum, an elliptical amphitheater completed in AD 80. It could hold 50,000 to 80,000 spectators and was used for gladiatorial contests, executions and even re-enactments of famous battles. Typically slaves were engaged to fight to the death. It is still the largest amphitheater in the world and is a marvel of architectural innovation. The photo above shows the main stage.
Palatine Hill is considered to be the birthplace of the Italian capital and is believed to have been inhabited since the year 1000 B.C. Check out the view of Rome from the top of Palatine Hill.
Our next monument foray took us to Taormina where the Teatro Antico is located. The Teatro Antico di Taormina is the most fascinating historical monument in the pearl of the Ionian Sea, and a world-famous tourist attraction. Dug out of the hard rock of Mount Taurus in the 3rd century B.C.,(yes, you read that right), it could already then accommodate thousands of seated spectators. It is well known that the Greeks erected their most important buildings as if Nature could be a part of them. In the same way, the light and air, creeping in between the columns, emphasized the natural scenery perfectly integrated with the architecture of the theatre. The shape allowed for perfect acoustics in all areas.
In 2024, there will be many concerts at the Teatro, including a performance of La Traviata in September. The following photo captures the scope of this amazing monument, Mount Etna and to the left, the Ionian Sea.
The last stop on the monument circuit was Pompeii. Seeing Pompeii has been on both Pat’s and my bucket list. Visiting it for a few hours was a dream come true!
Pompeii is one of the most significant examples of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city has re-emerged from the darkness of centuries. Archeologists have worked to unearth the city as it would have been when it was unexpectedly buried in the thick layer of ash and lava which poured down from the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city's quick burial preserved it for centuries before its ruins were discovered in the late 16th century.
The city of Pompeii was served by an aqueduct system called Aqua Augusta. The aqueduct was built to connect cities along the Bay of Naples to Serino's springs. Pompeii’s streets were ingeniously designed for drainage and water capture.
In Pompeii, the rich and poor lived near each other but very differently. The rich had big homes with lots of rooms, gardens and beautiful entrances like the one below.
Additionally, the rich were very vocal about their wealth. One home’s entrance said ‘Welcome to Money”. The poor however cooked communally, in locales, like the one below.
The residents of Pompeii also loved their sex. Check out the photo of Priapus pointing to the residence of the ladies of the night.
Some of the most heart-rending relics in Pompeii are the casts of the individuals unearthed during the excavations. Pompei was destroyed so quickly that people had no time to hide. This one needs no explanation even from behind a glass enclosure..
As a photographer, finding new ways to show these monuments, was quite a challenge.
What can I say: run, don’t walk, to Italy to view these amazing monuments.