facebook
Duplicating
Tour copied successfully!

Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.19mi , Attraction : Public Square
Map Pin
Via del Mascherone angolo, Vicolo dei Venti, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
POI 1 Tour Image
Piazza Farnese
Once again, welcome to Historic America & UCPlaces’ audio walking tour of Rome. We’re glad you could join us! I’m Aaron, your guide (but I also respond to professional history nerd). This is the part of the tour where I fit in my shameless plug for our websites (www.historicamerica.org & www.ucplaces.com) and invite you to use #historicamericatours on social media while traveling alongside us today. Let’s begin the journey. 

Behold, one of Rome’s great Renaissance palaces (the one with the French flag). This is the Palazzo Farnese. Way back in the 1500s, the palace was built by Italian nobles from the Farnese family in order to show off their newly achieved wealth.

Sparing no expense, they hired none other than Michelagelo to design the place. I’m sure you would too if money was no object! Michelagelo emphasized symmetry in his work and made sure the central balcony was the focus of the facade. That’s where the Farneses would give their speeches to the crowd gathered down in the piazza below where you now stand.

Michelagelo’s clever design, including the enlarged central window and jutting roofline, has become the standard for Roman architecture since the Renaissance. We will see plenty of the buildings he inspired along the way today.

Notice the old rustic looking stones by the main doorway, the half columns (pilasters) embedded in the facade, the triangular and arched pediments above the windows, and the balustrade railing of the balcony. These will all be common features you can spot on other buildings along the way. Keep a sharp eye out for these and you’ll be an expert in Renaissance architecture in no time!

If you are wondering about the French flags and security presence, the Farnese’s palace is now home to the French embassy. 

Now walk over towards the twin fountains behind you in the piazza.

Read More

  External Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Farnese
Place #2
Distance: 0.54mi , Attraction : Fountain
Map Pin
Piazza Farnese, 106, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
POI 2 Tour Image
Piazza Farnese Fountain
Romans love water. Always have. You will see lots of spectacular fountains on the tour today. They’re everywhere!

Beginning in ancient times, the Romans could rely on waters flowing from municipal aqueducts, marvels of ancient civic engineering, to drink and wash with. These two fountains date from the third century and were once tubs in the great public baths of the emperor Carcalla.

The Romans loved a good bath almost as much as they loved conquering new nations to enlarge their empire! Emperors were constantly building great public works to impress their citizens and win their love, and baths were a popular means toward achieving this  end.

The water which flows from these fountains comes from an ancient Roman aqueduct, the Acqua Vergine. The Romans were so skilled at hydraulic engineering that even now after the better part of two millennia, the Acqua Vergine still brings flowing waters into the heart of the city! In fact the Acqua Vergine feeds just about all the fountains we will see today. 

Now turn your back to the palace and walk past the fountains. Walk along the Via Dei Baullari for one block until you emerge at our next stop: the Campo de’ Fiori, a bustling public market on a small square

 

Read More

  https://turismoroma.it/en/places/fountains-piazza-farnese

This is a premium tour, click below for complete access!