Saturday, 9 August 2014

Il Gianicolo

This morning we went up the 127 steps beside our gate. They lead to Janiculum Hill or Il Gianicolo, a popular recreation spot for Romans. Here is what we saw.

San Pietro in Montorio, founded in the Middle Ages but rebuilt in its present form in 15th century by order of the King of Spain. It contains art works by noted artists.



A memorial to all those citizens who lost their lives in the Risorgimento, the battle for the Unification of Italy, in 1849.


Fountains - the Fontana dell' Acqua Paolo was built in the 1600s.



Garibaldi Monument - commemorating the occasion when Garibaldi's Republicans fended off the French attack in 1849 for weeks before finally  being overwhelmed.


Fabulous views of the city


Pony rides for the children


Busts of the great men of Garibaldi's cause. On the grass people are reading their newspapers, playing with children or walking their dogs.


Palazzi with gorgeous gardens.


Kelly has his hand in his pocket ... what has he spotted?


Ice creams!!


The puppet theatre where children are entertained very Saturday and Sunday, and have been for generations.


The tomb with statue of Anita Garibaldi, the wife of Giuseppe, who was always at his side. In the statue she has a new born infant in one hand and a gun in the other.


Water fountains are a part of Rome. You can drink perfect water from any of these fountains around the city.


A lighthouse? This was a gift to the city from Italians who had migrated to South America. On special occasions the light beams red, white and green.


More entertainments for the children.


Also on the Gianicolo you can see the Botanic Gardens, museums and galleries.
Eventually we came out at the Tiber River, known to Italians as the Tevere.



In the afternoon we covered a huge distance visiting new things and revisiting old ones.

Shock, horror,... oh, so sad! The Trevi Fountain is undergoing restoration and is drained and covered in scaffolding. On every visit to Rome we have thrown our coins in the fountain to guarantee our return (and photographed it).
The city fathers have made some small concession and have a small bowl of water with a photo of the fountain behind. About six people at a time can toss their coins, rather than the many hundreds that are usually doing it.
On the bright side, at least the fountain is being preserved.



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