There are lots of famous sights to take in and sites to visit if you book a vacation rental in Rome but beyond the most familiar spots that everyone has in mind to at least see once with their own eyes, we have some particular details that we think you should savour. So, if you’re in the Eternal City, pause in your darting around to see it all and make the time to really take these wonders in...
Bernini’s Ability to Carve Flesh from Stone
Michelangelo once spoke of how each sculpture he made was already inside a block of stone, simply waiting to be freed and brought to life. While he certainly freed remarkable wonders, it is Bernini’s figures that look as though they are truly living and breathing forms that have broken out from stony confines.
An artistic figure who looms large in the city, Bernini’s monumental work in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican and his other great architectural achievements are awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping, but if you are seeking out his work, be sure to take the time to admire the details of his sculptures.
Head to the Galleria Borghese, where you’ll find a wealth of incredible works of art, but make a point to focus on Bernini’s astounding Abduction of Proserpina. See how Pluto’s hands sink into the flesh of Proserpina’s thighs and side as though she were made of flesh and blood, at how her hair flows behind her, despite being carved from stone. Surrounded by the gilded splendour of the museum, it is a true wonder to behold.
The Other Hall of Mirrors
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj is a stunning house-museum, a lush palace dating back to the 17th century, and owned by the family of then-Pope Innocent X. Inside, there are endless rooms painted in extraordinary frescoes and a collection of works by the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Velázquez, and Bernini.
However, we recommend taking the time to get a little lost in the sumptuous detail of their astounding Hall of Mirrors. The museum itself is rarely busy and their Hall of Mirrors is not overrun with visitors as the one in Versailles so often is. A truly magical space of incredible craftsmanship and artistic talent, it deserves more time and attention than many give it.
Summer Concerts Among Amazingly Romantic Ruins
The Colosseum is the most famous of Rome’s ruins and amphitheatres but it is not the only instance of either in the city. Take the Teatro Marcello, for example, an amphitheatre dating all the way back to 12BC that once seated 20,000 guests. Not only is it topped by a 16th century palace that makes it a fascinating reflection of the passing of time in the city but it is generally a rather romantic spot that is crumbling around the edges in an especially picturesque manner.
In the summer months, this wonder also hosts a series of concerts, making for an incomparably atmospheric venue. So, avoid the more intense crowds at the Colosseum and come here during a gig to soak in the living history and incredible beauty of the city while staying in one of our holiday rentals in Rome.