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Ancient Tuesday: The Theater of Marcellus
The theater of Marcellus is an ancient theater (as the name suggests) that is currently in use as a modern apartment building. The...

Rick Bessey
Jun 241 min read


Masterpiece Monday: Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Bernini was the greatest sculptor of the Baroque period and his St. Theresa in Ecstasy presents the moment that St. Theresa of Avila...

Rick Bessey
Jun 231 min read


Pilgrimage Sunday: San Giovanni in Laterano
I thought it would be interesting to treat the Seven Pilgrimage Churches of Rome on Sundays. The tradition of visiting pilgrimage...

Rick Bessey
Jun 221 min read


Saints and Relics Saturday: Saint Agnes
The Church of St. Agnes in Agone contains the relic of a young martyr — Saint Agnes — whose story is one of the most moving and...

Rick Bessey
Jun 211 min read


Churches Friday: Santa Prassede
One of the most fascinating types of churches in Rome are the titular churches — churches that were once house-churches, and still today...

Rick Bessey
Jun 201 min read


Curiosa Thursday: Fontana dei Libri, Rome
This little Fountain of Books is located in a wonderfully rich part of the city, and is easy to overlook. It borders the Piazza Navona,...

Rick Bessey
Jun 191 min read


Walkabout Wednesday: Via Delle Quattro Fontane
At the intersection of four Roman streets, each corner features a fountain with a river god or symbolic figure. The site sits directly between Santa Maria Maggiore and the Spanish Steps, with obelisks visible at both ends — a product of papal urban planning. Don’t miss San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Borromini’s unforgettable little church tucked into one corner.

Rick Bessey
Jun 181 min read


Ancient Tuesday: Arch of Janus
The Arch of Janus is a four-sided structure located near the Tiber River, close to where Romulus and Remus reportedly washed ashore. Adjacent to it is the church of San Giorgio al Velabro. While named for the two-faced god Janus, there is no historical connection to the deity.

Rick Bessey
Jun 171 min read


Masterpiece Monday: The Risen Christ by Michelangelo
Michelangelo's Risen Christ is located in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, behind the Pantheon in Rome. This masterpiece by Michelangelo is accessible to visitors away from typical crowds. The church has recently undergone renovations, making it an opportune time to visit this significant work.

Rick Bessey
Jun 161 min read


Brevia Italica: Snippets of Italy
I am starting a new series called Brevia Italica , which is Latin for Snippets of Italy , or Italian Briefs . While I have written about some magnificent churches and my favorite things to see in Florence, is so much more to see in Italy beyond my go-to favorites, such as Michelangelo's David and St. Peter's. This series will allow me to provide you with a snapshot of a specific site or image in Italy. I will present these every day of the week, with the following themes:

Rick Bessey
Jun 151 min read
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