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Modern Rome thrives tumultuously on the streets above literally layers
upon layers of history. For thousands of years, travelers and pilgrims
have journeyed to Rome seeking power, religion, art, culture, and
wealth. The significance of Rome to the world's history simply cannot be
understated. However, far from being stuck in the past, Rome earns her
reputation as the Eternal City - continually remaking herself in
infinite variety. Throughout Rome there is a liveliness and energy of life
being lived passionately in the present tense.
Romans savor the evening, enjoying the pleasure of good food, drink,
and company well into the night. Heavily geared towards the outdoors, a
typical Roman evening includes the charming Italian passeggiata, in
which people leisurely stroll the streets, stopping for a drink or an ice
cream, greeting acquaintances, generally enjoying the scene, sights,
and sounds of the night. Rome may even seem tame in comparison to the
cutting-edge nightlife of other European cities. But this relaxed, take
it easy attitude within such a monumentally busy place, makes Rome all
the more appealing.
The Forum, the Colloseum, the Pantheon - the historical magnitude of
Rome does not outweigh the beauty of her monuments. The Pantheon in
particular, perhaps due to its perfect proportions, exudes a harmonious
peace that transcends time and place. The Forum, most famously home to
Republican Rome, is built between the Palatine and Capitoline hills.
Entering the Forum is like taking a portal straight into the past.
Columns, arches, and temples rise from the grass, easily engaging the
imagination into a reverie of what once was.
Michelangelo is also well represented in Rome. His statues of the
Dying Gaul and Boy with Thorn can be found in the Museo Capitolino. Also,
on Capitoline Hill is the classic Renaissance Piazza del Campidoglio,
designed by Michelangelo in 1538. And of course there is the ceiling of
the Sistine Chapel. Perhaps Michelangelo's most famous image, that of
the white-bearded God giving Adam the spark of life, continues to live
on in the world's collective unconscious.
Rome supports a weight of history that is unparalleled. From early
pre-Christian temples to the Romanesque churches, Renaissance palaces, and
Baroque fountains, Rome is living archaeology. These various layers of
history are the framework of today's Rome, a bustling capital city with
its own thriving culture and ambience. The life of the Romans is
pleasurable indeed - leisurely meals, good wine, and lively conversation.
Now that is eternal.
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