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Since the unification of Italy, that took place in 1870, the topographical city center of Rome is considered Venice square, which is located between the Colosseum and Via del Corso, the longest street of Rome. If you are able to book you accommodation in the area of the spanish steps or near the Trevi fountain, you will have a better chance to arrive at the Colosseum in few minutes admiring the baroque piazzas of Rome too. First of all no better walking tour of Rome can start from the Spanish steps, considered the most famous staircase in the world. They are called "Spanish" because when they were built in the eighteenth century, the land belonged to the Spanish kingdom and the pope was called to arbitrate the competition that originated in that part of Rome between the Spanish monarchy and the French king. Underneath the steps there are the underground remains of one of the 14 aqueducts built by the ancient Romans: the Aqua Virgo. This aqueduct was built by the son in law of Augustus, Agrippa, in the first century in order to feed the the first thermal bath complex of Rome. This public areas was once located in front of the Roman Pantheon and if we admire still the beautiful fountain in front of the Pantheon, we have to understanfd that that water runned once at the Spanish steps, crossed the Trevi Fountain and then ended in Piazza Navona, where is the marvelous fountain of the four Rivers built by the sculptor Bernini. The Spanish steps have a shape of a butterfly and in one of its wings there are two important vestiges: the column dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the house of the artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The column of the Immaculate conception was inaugurated in 1854 by the pope Pius IX at the time when the dogma stated that the Virgin was born pure, without the original sin, although she did not receive the baptism. Every december 8 the pope goes in the afternoon to pray at the bottom of this column and he is waived by the Romans: this very short ceremony is considered a way to get in closer contact with the people of Rome as the pope is, by canon law, the bishop of Rome. The house of the sculptor and architect Bernini is located between the Spanish steps and Trevi fountain and was bought by the artist to house his numerous family: he had a wife and nine children and his brother lived with him. Bernini was able to buy this house at the age of 40 years old when he became official architect of saint Peter's Basilica and was able to have a big monthly stipend by the Holy See. This is also the house where he died at the fortunate age of 89 years old. After the house of the Baroque art master, there are the remains of the Roman aqueduct that links together Trevi and Spanish steps: the functionality of its waters were restored by the pope Sixtus the IV during the Jubilee of 1475,to allow the pilgrims to have fresh water to drink from the fountains. Once you get to the Trevi Fountain, the noise of the water will become familiar to you: this artwork is famous around the globe mainly because of a cute superstition: you are guaranteed to return to Rome if you toss a coin over your shoulder into its water.
By: stefano sandano
Visiting Rome requires a strategic planning for the immensity of its art treasures and if you want to know more about rome hotel you can take a look at the main search engine resources while sightseeing in Rome properly and all that is related to rome car rental with its issues can be explored in travel related websites about Italy.
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