November 2018 – Allora Studios

roman, roman architecture, roman ruins, rome, roma, roma italy, palatine hill, roman forum, roman forum photography, roman forum pictures, roman forum images, arch, arches, roman structures, italy, italian, italian winery, italiano, italiana, italia, travel photography, travel, travel hack, travel hacking, travel affordability, affording travel, budget traveling, traveling, world traveling, photographer, travel photographer, photography, travel photography, atlanta photography, atlanta photographer, architectural photography, architectural photographer, italian photography, photography italia, allora studios,

Roma | Ruins of the Eternal City

Posted on November 24, 2018August 3, 2018 by Allora Studios in Travel Blog

When you visit the Roman Forum, you usually visit the Palatine Hills, too. Chances are that most visitors see them together because they are connected! There’s not a divider between them. You essentially keep walking through one until you’re inside of the other. They say it is less of a wait to get into the Palatine entrance, but I waited just as long.

Fortunately, despite being May, my fiancée and I were able to stay cool with the fresh water fountains that were scattered among some of the ruins in Palatine Hills. There were endless ruins with thousands of years worth of history. So I will pick a few of my favorites and tell you a little bit about the history and purpose of the structure.

Known for being an icon of the Roman Forum, this is the Temple of Castor and Pollux. According to Roman legend, when the last king of Rome and the Latins attacked Rome, the Roman Republic dictator Aulus Postumius Albus Regillensis vowed to erect a temple for the Dioscuri if the Republic prevailed.

When the battle ensued, the twin gods Castor and Pollux joined the fight, leading the Republic to victory! After the battle, the gods were said to appear in the forum, watering their horses. The temple was built close to where they were said to have appeared.

It was built in 495 BCE.

The Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina was constructed in 141 AD. Antoninus Pius had it dedicated to his late wife. He deified her when she died. After Antoninus Pius died, he was deified and the temple was rededicated to both the emperor and his wife.

It was converted to a Christian church, called Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda, some time during the Medieval period. It’s said that Miranda came from benefactors and the martyr Saint Lawrence was sentenced there, hence the name.

I’ve talked about it before, but when visiting Rome, I recommend purchasing tickets for the colosseum, forum, and Palatine together. It’s about €12. It saves you money. There’s a little pizza and panini place just inside the Metro station that is right beside the colosseum. It’s really easy to make a day out of this. You end up being done around 3 pm, perfect for a sietsa. You’ll need one on a hot day. The lack of shade makes the ruins a really hot attraction. Stay hydrated and don’t forget the sunscreen!

Roma | Everything You Needed to Know About the Colosseum

Posted on November 17, 2018August 3, 2018 by Allora Studios in International, Italy, Roma, Travel Blog

First thing’s first. The real name of this wonder of the world is the Flavian Amphitheater. Tourists and most modern people call this place the Roman Colosseum.

This beautiful work of Roman Architecture was built around 70 to 80 AD and is still the biggest amphitheater ever built. It is made from a mixture of concrete, travertine, and tuff. It sits just across the way from the bottom of the Roman Forum, caddy corner to the Arch of Peace, and down the street from the Palatine Hills entrance.

Its construction began during the reign of Vespasian and completed by his successor Titus during the Flavian dynasty. Further restorations were made during the reign of Domatian, another member of the Flavian dynasty, insuring the name Flavian Amphitheater.

This marvel of architecture is estimated to seat 50,000 to 80,000 people. It was used for gladiatorial games and public spectacles. During the reign of the Romans, this was used almost constantly.

During the Medieval era, the Colosseum fell into disarray. It, along with most of Rome was abandoned and looted. Between stone robbers and natural disasters, the age of the Colosseum shows. It was once one complete oval, but the half-destroyed structure that remains today has become something of an icon representing the eternal city.

The Colosseum is open until 7 pm daily. The cost for one ticket is set at about $12, but this gets you into the Colosseum, Palatine Hills, and the Roman Forum. For more information on the Colosseum or to plan your visit, click this link!

Roma | Ruins in Rome – A Hidden Roman Gem

Posted on November 10, 2018August 3, 2018 by Allora Studios in International, Italy, Roma, Travel Blog

These are the remains of a hidden gem in Roma. This was a temple dedicated to the deified Emperor Hadrian by his successor Antoninus Pius.

The pieces that remain today are what you see, eleven columns with Corinthian bases and capitals. The rest disappeared some time ago.

This set of Roman remains is located close to the Column of Aurelius. It is another one of those that if you are interested in Roman history, you should make the detour to see what’s left of this temple. There’s nothing cooler than seeing ruins from 1800 years ago.

Roma | The Most Overlooked Roman Ruins

Posted on November 3, 2018August 3, 2018 by Allora Studios in International, Italy, Roma, Travel Blog

In Latin Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae

In Italian Colonna di Marco Aurelio

In English Column of Marcus Aurelius

This towering column sits in Piazza Colonna in the historic heart of Roma. It’s modeled after Trajan’s column in Trajan’s forum. It stands about 130 ft. from the ground.

The spiral tells the story of Marcus Aurelius during the Marcomannic Wars. It begins when the soldiers cross the Danube River. The story is divided by a victory on the column. There are a few theories as to what this was meant to represent, but the current common theory is that the lower half represent the Marcomanni and Quadi in 172 and 173. The upper half is said to represent the Sarmatian in 174 and 175.

Marcus Aurelius is often considered to be one of the better ancient Roman Emperors. He’s actually thought to be in the top 3 emperors, usually losing to Trajan and the Great Augustus. His reign lasted from April 121 AD to March 180 AD when he died of natural causes. He was immediately deified and sent to rest at Hadrian’s Mausoleum (Castel Sant’Angelo).

The top of the column has a statue of Marcus Aurelius himself. Actually, it did originally, but it was replaced with the current statue of the Apostle Peter.

The column is a site to see. It isn’t overly crowded with tourists. As a matter of fact, my fiancée and I were the only 2 stranieri (or foreigners) in the piazza. It’s free to visit. You can get really close to it. There is a small gate around the base. It’s truly impressive.