Month: December 2018
Ponce City Market
Roma | The Most Amazing Square in Rome Italy
Piazza Navona is one of the most famous squares in Rome, Italy. It is built in the same style as the stadium on which it was constructed, the Stadium of Domitian.
This fountain in the center of Piazza Navona is called the Fountain of Four Rivers. It was created in 1651 by famous Italian sculpture and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The obelisk atop the fountain is called the Obelisk of Domitian. It was brought there from Circus Maxentius.
This church is called the Sant’Agnese in Agone. It was built in the 17th century as well. Its’s a Baroque style church and was built by Francesco Borromini, Girolamo Rainaldi, and Carlo Rainaldi.
On either end of the square, there is a fountain. The northern fountain is called the Fountain of Neptune. Both of these fountains were created by Giacomo della Porta. The southern fountain is called the Fountain of Morro, and it was also created by Giacomo della Porta.
This one is the Fountain of Neptune.
This is the Fountain of Morro.
The square today is busy with people enjoying being out in the fresh air. There are many shops, restaurants, and artists that spend their days entertaining and selling their merchandise.
It is one of my favorite spots in all of Rome. It is a good place to grab some gelato, sit down, and people-watch. Because of Rome’s high level of tourism, you will see and perhaps meet some of the most interesting people. Make sure you make it to this beautiful square during your next Roman excursion!
Amanda Gets a Tattoo
Special Thanks to Blenner for doing Amanda’s tattoo. We can’t wait to get part 2 going on this one!
Go see Blenner at this link! Or go see him at the Planet Ink Shop in Kennesaw, GA!
First Vlog!
Here is a link to the very first vlog! It’s just a short video about our Thanksgiving. There is more to come soon! Stay tuned!
Roma | There’s Almost Nothing Truly Spanish About These Steps
La Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti, as the Italians call them, are not quite as Spanish as the English name implies. 
The Spanish Steps
Here’s the deal. At the top of the steps there’s a monastery built around 1494 because of Pope Alexander VI and a church beside it built in 1502 because of Louis XII of France after he successfully invaded Naples.
During his time as Pope, Pope Gregory XIII had some drawings made for a set of stairs to the church and monastery. Then Cardinal Mazarin took interest when the French Diplomat Geuffier allocated money for the stairs in his will. When he died in 1661, since the project included a statue that Romans saw as a French intrusion to the Eternal City and a nephew of Gueffier successfully contested the will and received half the funds, the project for the steps died with him.
It was revived when Pope Clement XI Albani showed interest. A competition ensued and Francesco de Sanctis became the architect of the stairs. Over the years, the steps have been restored many times.
So the “Spanish Steps” are actually a French creation. We call them the Spanish steps because of the piazza at the bottom of them. The Piazza di Spagna is called so because of the Spanish Embassy that resides there. So the Spanish Steps are actually a French-funded, Italian-designed structure.
Piazza di Spagna
The fountain in the piazza is called the Fontana della Barcaccia, or fountain of the longboat. It was built between 1627-1629 by Bernini. Pietro Bernini is most famous for fathering the really famous architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It’s recently been proposed that the two even collaborated on the project. Folklore dictates that Pope Urban VIII was so impressed by a boat along the Tiber that he had the fountain installed.
As you can see from my pictures, this place is crowded. It was really hard to move around the piazza. It’s definitely a gorgeous spot visit. Don’t bring a lunch and expect to have a picnic on the steps. Even if the tourism in this spot would allow it, Roma says you can’t do so. They have a few guards keeping a close eye on all visitors.
Allora Studios 